I Went Back to Ohio ...

So, you know all of those jokes about hillbillies with goats and chickens walking around their houses?

Yeah, my family is single-handedly working to keep those stories perpetuated. There are chickens in my sister’s living room. Real, live ones.




Um. So.

It's pretty clear that something is a-foot* (chicken foot) and my assistance is needed, so I went back to Ohio for a bit to chill with the family.

I know it's been quiet in these parts lately, anyway; there have been a lot of moving pieces to wrangle.

I'm not saying I’ve got all of the pieces corralled, but I'm pretty handy with a rope (you know what I'm talking about, Hilary. Hot cha cha!), so I'm certain we'll get everything figured out. Thank God we've got some shine brewing in the shed.

To all my D.C. peeps, I'll be in and out (that's what he said) of the area every couple of weeks, and to my Ohio cats, specifically in the Northeast region, let's totally keep it retro and meet up for pancakes. How's Tuesday look for you?

In the Comments section, tell me if you'd like to meet up for pancakes.

*The chicks, which were hatched from eggs in an incubator, were actually my nephew's project for the local homeschooling science fair. He won a ribbon and free bird flu vaccination from CVS. Score!

They're now going to my other sister's farm which has a chicken coop -- an entire house just for chickens. Crazy.

I may or may not kidding about the shine, though.

The Duke of Kent

Kent State University is known for two things, both of which are equally dark: black squirrels and the May 4, 1970, shootings that left four students dead, 13 physically wounded and countless others with emotional scars.

I'm a Kent State alum (2005, baby) and while the shootings are a significant part of the school's history, this was the first year I attended the commemoration ceremonies. And I am slightly ashamed to write it was largely because of a boy.

You see, there's a boy I managed to meet despite a torrent of cross movements in both of our lives. After meeting and learning that we share a passion for bacon and amazing sex, we realized that we would both be in Ohio -- a state in which neither of us lives (yet) -- at the very same time. Fate, people. You got to give it up to fate.

So, the boy and I met up in Kent, Ohio, which is a city totally synonymous with romance. I mean lookit--how hawt is that?

The boy's people are activists from way back and his ties to the original hippie set are deep and strong. The May 4 commemoration is a BIG DEAL to him and those whom he holds near and dear, and I was glad to be there with him and be a part of it.

It was lovely and inspiring, particularly the midnight candle-light peace march around campus and the all-night vigil that the group holds. Several speakers, including a particularly resonating discourse from former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter, delivered messages of hope and action.

It was truly moving and in the vein of all successful commemorations, it left me remembering those who I've lost and what I can do to make the world a better place for those who are still here.

But, I didn't get any pictures of that stuff. Nope. My attention was focused on the kid who played Reese on Malcolm in the Middle who was also attending the ceremonies. Because I am a dumb American.

OK, wait for it ... wait for it ... here he his getting up. That's his bum on the left.


Here he is walking by! Wizard!

Lord. In the Comments section, tell me where you've been lately. I miss you.