quick vacation wrapup - with photos!
Wednesday we flew into Cleveland, Rick's Dad picked us up from the airport & we drove straight to Geneva and ate at Eddie's Grill. This place has been there since 1950, and it still looks the same. Total throwback burger joint, it's awesome. And... Rick worked there when he was about 14. Aww yaa.
His parents have a house in Geneva, but then also own this nice condo in Geneva on the Lake, which is where Eddie's Grill is. It's like a mini little resort that sits right on Lake Erie. Very quaint and cute. We got to stay in the condo, which was luxurious. A 2 bedroom, 2 bath is a huge place to have all to our selves compared to our little closets here in SF.
Thursday morning, after Rick & I enjoyed making breakfast in the comfy condo, we all hopped in the car & drove down to Columbus. A video of the insane rain storm we hit on the way down will come later. But any of you from the midwest know the kind: Your winshield wipers can't go fast enough to keep the pounding rain off enough to even see! It was fun :)
We arrived at the Franklin Park Conservatory, where Michelle's wedding was being held, just in time for the rehearsal. The Conservatory had the Chihuly glass installations there and it was just amazing!! Really incredible. It was here I got to meet the rest of Rick's family for the first time!
Saturday night we all enjoyed a delicious rehearsal dinner at Braddock's in Grandview. Many, many glasses of wine were had - some really yummy food - and I got to doodle with my new little friend Alex, which was so great!
Friday we all did our various things throughout the day - most of the ladies hit the salon, I stayed back at the hotel & got a little work done - and by 5 we were headed over to begin the evening. It was a very beautiful wedding - the conservatory was a fantastic place to have it! They not only had those incredible glass installations, but they have a butterfly room, too - with tons of butterflies flying around. It was really neat.
We danced the night away - I met lots of family members and friends of the family. It was a blast!
The next day we all went over to the newleyweds house for food and gift opening. Nice & relaxing. All his relatives are so sweet... I felt very welcome and was so honored to be able to share the entire event with their family. Michelle & Ron are now in Hawaii!
Saturday night we drove back to Geneva to spend another night at the condo and catch some of the good ol' GOTL nightlife. Because we'd been grazing all day and then sitting in a car all afternoon (it's a 3 hour drive), I proposed we take a sunset walk before we started our evening.
The sunset on Lake Erie was beautiful... We had a nice walk along the coast to the marina, and then back through some woods. I love how lush the forests are there!
We ate some yummy pizza from (count em) 2! places on the strip (we split 1 at one place and 1 from another to compare)... and then headed back to the condo to clean up & get ready for the evening ahead.
Rick's buddies from HS came over: Jake & Jop (nickname) - and Jop even brought his girlfriend who coincidentally knows my friend Eric! They both grew up in Marietta. Such a small world!
We had a few yummy gin & tonics at the condo & then headed out to the local bar: The Cove where we set out to see SON OF GLAM - a hilarious 80's hair band tribute! haha!!
We had a BLAST!!! And I quickly took to making it a personal goal to taking as many photos with "the locals" as I could. We're talking MULLETS GALORE! This place hasn't changed since the 80's!! I told this first guy he looked like my brother to get him to take a photo with me. And this middle one here seems to be a Son of Glam fanatic! And of course, the one on the right - me with the lead singer - aaaww yaaaa. Makin friends all over the place!
After we closed down the bar - where by the way they were still graciously serving beers to well around 2:30am! - we headed back to the condo. On the way I had Jake take a photo with this crazy girl on the street - we had a 3 way with Mr. Putt Putt and then went back to the condo where Andi proceded to totally kick all our asses in Texas Hold'Em. Such a rockin night!!! In Ohio even - who knew!?
Sunday morning we slept in and hit breakfast (well by that time they'd only serve us lunch) at Mary's Kitchen. It was gorgeous weather and we luxuriously hung out and chilled in the condo till Rick's parents showed up.
We went & enjoyed Eddie's Grill one last time - which I just realized I forgot to mention how DELICIOUS the chocolate malt was!! We toured downtown Geneva and I got to see his Dad's store... and then the moment I'd been waiting for all weekend: We visited the largest rocking chair ever! My life is complete :)
It was a fantastic weekend and I must admit I'm so relaxed from having some time away! Yay for vacations!
Oh ya - and here's the full photo album (by request, I took these down) from the trip, if yer interested - there's some pretty funny shots from Saturday night!
