And what is reality, if it isn’t how we feel about things?
– The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick
My house has all of the charm that comes with age. It can be expensive to maintain and the “charm” gets old after a while. I can’t deny the envy I feel when I walk into a new home and see the smooth drywalled walls or the poured cement foundation. But the reality is, I love my old house and all of its quirks. There are stories hidden within and I love that.
Built in 1900, I don’t think there is a single corner in my home that is square. In the kitchen, if I stand on one side and my husband on the other, I am several inches taller than him (versus shorter by one inch like everywhere else).
We’ve been told that our single family home was likely once a three family tenement home. The only way that could possible work is with shared bathrooms. Each renter probably had his or her own kitchen, though. I have chimneys in some rooms with thimbles on them – metal coverings near the ceilings that look like paper plates and which cover the hole where a stove pipe would have been vented out.
There are three inoperable fireplaces in the home, each surrounded by beautiful woodwork and Rookwood tiles and the opening covered in ornate metal plates. In the basement, I see where a coal chute would have like been. While out house has modern electrical wiring, there are inactive remnants of knob and tube strung through the basement rafters.
Wonder Boy and I have done some remodeling over the last nine years of living in our house. We’ve updated our kitchen, during which we found some very dated wallpaper behind the cupboards. (We left that exposed behind the new cabinets so that future homeowners can make the same discovery.) While updating bathrooms, we learned that there had once been a house fire and that at one point someone thought wallpaper the bathroom walls and ceiling was a fabulous idea!
Evidence of old fire damage in our home.
Wallpaper everywhere!
I don’t know specifics about the history and residents of my home, but I’m curious. I’d love to know who lived in my house before me and know more of their stories. What I know of my neighborhood’s history is sort of lovely. It’s right at the top of the old Bellevue Incline in Clifton Heights, just north of Cincinnati, Ohio.. There used to be the Bellevue House, where people went for dancing and leisure, and now there is Bellevue Park, where there are playgrounds, ball fields and great views. Just like my home still holds the remains of old fuel sources and past décor, nearby streets have the skeletons of the old incline.
The Bellevue Incline, running between Cincinnati and Clifton Heights.
Structure in Bellevue Hill Park on Clifton Heights. This is part of the park’s pavilion, which was designed by architect R. Carl Freund in 1955 to serve as an outdoor dancing venue.
View from Bellevue Hill Park in Clifton Heights.
This post was inspired by The Mapmaker’s Children by Sarah McCoy, a novel about two women are connected by an Underground Railroad doll. Join From Left to Write Book Club. on May 19th as we discuss The Mapmaker’s Children. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
“99% of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, and global warming.”- DoSomething.org
Last month Wonder Boy and I toured the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens and were able to get up close with some animals whose species are endangered. Specifically, we met a camel, a red panda and a Sumatran rhinoceros.
The experience was pretty unbelievable. I was struck by a few thing in particular:
- The work of a good zoo is so important. They help build up a body of research that is used to help support species in the wild. Often, the animals at zoos have been born in captivity, which means they would likely not survive in the wild. Zoos can provide good homes and care for the animals. (I know that there are plenty of sad zoos out there, where this is not the case. I am speaking specifically to good zoo programs.) Animals at zoos have the opportunity to serve a very important role. They can expose the public to different species and foster interest in and love for all animals.
- We humans are sort of assholes. Seriously, We kill animals for food, sport, medicine, decor, clothing and more. With the possible exception of the food (which I’ll grant, but only with also pointing out that you don’t need to eat meat to survive), those reasons don’t cut it. In most cases, it’s just cruel and the end effect is that we’re losing animal populations that cannot be replaced.
- Animals are awesome. That sounds trite, but animals really are awesome. Seeing them up close always reiterates that fact for me.
The Bactrian Camel we met, Humphrey, was a little disgusting. He was experiencing rut, which is sort of like going into heat. TO make himself attractive to lady camels, he was constantly covering himself with urine and was slobbering all over. Despite being gross, he was still so sweet. He was way more interested in male humans then female ones, but both Wonder Boy and I got to give him some pets.
Bactrian camels are listed as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Fewer than 1,000 Bactrian Camels survive in the wild.
The red panda we visited looks like a creature from a George Lucas or Jim Henson movie. She peeked down at us from inside a little doghouse-like structure and lowly made her way down to the ground for the promise of grapes. While she was distracted by the grapes, Wonder Boy and I both were able to pet the red panda. (Have to avoid jaws and claws!) Not the cuddly teddy bears they look like on YouTube videos, red panda were still about as awesome as I’d hoped.
Red Pandas are classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN list. It is estimated there are fewer than 10,000 left in the wild.
The highlight of the Cincinnati Zoo tour, for me, was Haripan, the Sumatran rhinoceros. He seemed as big as a dinosaur but so excited for the company (which meant food for him). I only ever saw four teeth in Haripan’s mouth – all on the sides, so when he picked up food from my hands, it was like he was gumming me and it was slobbery and cute. It was easy to forget that my fingers could have been trapped in between some powerful jaws. And just to reiterate what I sort of just said in passing there, I hand fed Haripan! I got to pet him and feel his weight against me when he leaned in for more food or just touch. Hairpan is thought to be one of less than 100 Sumatran rhinos left on earth. That is so massive a thing – that I got to see something of which there are so few left – that it’s hard for me to wrap my brain around it.In a short while he was will be going to Sumatra to join other rhinos and hopefully breed. The zookeeper on our tour said that predictions are that Sumatran rhinos will be extinct by the end of our lifetime.
Sumatran Rhinoceroses are classified as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN list. They are estimated to number fewer than 100. Total numbers today may be as low as 80.
I left the Cincinnati Zoo feeling fortunate for the experiences but also motivated to expose myself to more of mother nature and to take better care of our limited resources. That, I think, is what the purpose of a zoo should be all about.
I recently received some anti-aging skincare products from ERA Ageless to test out. My contact asked me to test the products for one week and report out using before and after pictures. One week! To assuming I would see differences in only one week had me intrigued.
I was using the ERA Starter Kit, which includes:
- Firm & Lift Eye Cream
- Firm & Lift Eye Serum
- Concentrated Age Defense Facial Serum
- Intensive Age Defying Moisture Cream
- Complete Renew & Recharge Elastin & Beta Carotene Mask
- Repair & Restore Facial Peeling Gels
I view myself as a challenge to any skincare products. A lot of things make me break out in hives and it’s hard to say why – perfumes, dyes or maybe just weird skin. (I’ve also been diagnosed recently with cradle cap, or seborrheic dermatitis, on my face and scalp, which adds additional complications.)
ERA touts its products as being natural, using natural botanical oils to reverse and slow down signs of aging. Using products that don’t include harsh chemicals increases the chances that my skin won’t freak out.
In addition to the ERA products, I’ve also been using a Clarisonic brush and prescription face wash for my seborrheic dermatitis.
After having used ERA Ageless skincare products for one week, I can say with absolute certainty that my skin looks great. I have had no hives or breakouts (I know … I set a low bar). If I’m being honest, I’m not sure my skin looks younger exactly, but it’s more consistent and brighter looking and feels softer. I’ve been using a lot less makeup, which is always my indicator that I’m feeling more confident about my skin.
Some pros to the whole set of products is that they were all very easy to use and apply, including the peeling gel, which I think sounds scary. Everything went on so light that I didn’t feel like I was wearing multiple layers of stuff on my face, even if I was. This was fast to apply and an easy step to work into my routine. I experience no cons. Truly.
Here is a before and after picture:
Like I said, I’m not sure if I look younger … and I definitely think my selfies are super awkward-looking but I think my skin looks better and I like the ERA Skincare products. I’d definitely recommend this set of anti-aging skincare products to others and especially to people with sensitive skin.
I received the ERA Starter Kit for free from ERA Ageless. All opinions shared are my own.