Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

As a child, my parents were always taking me to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It felt like the biggest, most amazing place on earth to tiny me. I was and am absolutely fascinated by animals of all varieties. As curious as I am about people's motives (generally, and as a writer), I have the same interest in animal behavior. I want to know the 'why' of things.

As a teenager, I spent my summers volunteering with the Zoo Crew. I'd ride my bicycle early to work in the mornings, enter with confidence through a side gate, and lie with the red and western grey kangaroos for their morning sunbathe. I was already studying animal biology and behavior in high school, and I brought that knowledge to work with me. My supervisors and the keepers took note, and I will forever be grateful for their mentorship. The experience I gained as a volunteer was incredible, from specialized animal handling to detailed animal enrichment. My first year was 2000, when the Australian Adventure exhibit opened. I was part of the volunteer launch team, hosting story time, performing puppet shows and face painting, and appearing in character costumes. It was a brutal summer; some of those activities were discontinued due to the overwhelming heat. Once established, I supervised the barnyard animals and petting zoo activities, performed animal handling shows, and assisted the keepers as needed. By the time I aged out of the Zoo Crew program, I was treated as an authority within the exhibit.

My time as a volunteer also allowed me opportunities to interact with animals elsewhere in the zoo. One of my favorite experiences was playing fetch with black rhino baby Azizi in 2001. She loved chasing that red rubber dog toy!

I still love visiting the zoo, but the Australian Adventure exhibit feels bittersweet. The majority of the animals I worked with are no longer there. The barnyard goats that I trained have all grown up and moved on. The kangaroos I interacted with were selected for breeding programs and shipped out. The emu with whom I used to race lived out its life. Entering the exhibit feels like stepping back in time for me, but it's missing all the cohorts that made that part of my life so enjoyable.

You can see more photos from the zoo in my Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (2010) album.

Backstreet Boys (2010)

I'm throwing this week's post back to August 2010, when I attended the Backstreet Boys' This Is Us Tour at Nautica Pavilion. It was my second time seeing them live; their stop at Gund Arena in 2001 during the Black & Blue Tour was my very first live concert without adult supervision.

It was a beautiful summer day on the Cuyahoga River, and I felt terribly nostalgic. AveMarie's love of BSB had led me to join her for the concert, and a couple other members of our high school clique were present as well. Impromptu meetups with friends are the best!

I visited Nautica Pavilion for the first time in 2004 with a friend and saw Modest Mouse perform. It was very exciting to be a high school graduate, arriving to the venue by boat, and having men buy me beer. My very first beer was a Michelob. I remember it was smooth and rich and tasted like freedom. Beer is not my drink of choice, but that beer in that situation was the epitome of summer. 

BSB put on a good show (even without Kevin, who was my personal favorite of the group). I felt like they never took themselves too seriously, but obviously put forth a lot of effort for the fans, and the love they received from the crowd was fun and uplifting.

AveMarie & Aerofaux

Shoutout to AveMarie, my perpetual pal and founding member of our #concertsquad

You can see more photos from the concert in my Backstreet Boys (2010) album.

Austin Lake Park & Campground (2012)

I mentioned my brother (codename: Sasquatch) in a previous post. Every summer, he and I take a trip together. It all started the year he turned sixteen...

Growing up, my parents enrolled me in all sorts of outdoor activities. I learned orienteering, trap-setting, identification of animal tracks and edible plants. You get the idea. I loved it. Every weekend we were hiking, biking, canoeing, rock climbing, visiting the zoo. It left quite an impression on me. I feel strong and capable and connected and creative when I'm outdoors, I get an adrenaline rush and feel like I'm doing something important when I try something new, and each experience helps boost my self-confidence.

My brother and I are eleven years apart. We are each other's only sibling. He didn't focus as much on the outdoorsy stuff. So when he expressed interest in camping, I leaped at the chance to be a model big sister and teach life skills. We had so much fun on that first trip that a tradition began: Adventure Siblings!

Our first summer adventure was a two-day trip to Austin Lake RV Park & Cabins in Toronto, OH. Located 2+ hours southeast of Cleveland, near Jefferson Lake State Park, it was a manageable drive and easy to navigate. Austin Lake Park has a variety of hiking trails and water activities, both of which Sasquatch and I enjoy.

He wasn't quite tall enough to have earned the nickname yet, but there were already signs...

I purchased a dome tent specifically for this trip, so Sasquatch's first assembly and overnight experience wouldn't be in the military tent I usually used. Our primitive campsite was pitched with minimal struggle. I was so proud of him!

I'm still proud whenever I look at this photo!

The true highlight of the trip was Sasquatch's first campfire. It took us over an hour to get the flame to catch. I had never had such problems getting a fire started. Burned finger pads and knuckles later, we were both frustrated and losing hope. And then...then...the tiny flame flared and decided now was its time!

And once it was lit, nothing would put out that fire. A thunderstorm raged throughout the night / threatening to flood our campsite / but our campfire burned strong and bright. We were so impressed with it and ourselves that we stayed awake in the tent watching the fire, letting it burn long overnight. He still talks about that epic campfire!

We had a great time hiking and canoeing at Austin Lake Park. Two days wasn't enough to partake in all the activities, but it was the perfect first trip to launch our adventures. I would absolutely return for a low-key, family-friendly camping experience.

You can see more photos from our hike in the Austin Lake Park (2012) album.

Free Comic Book Day

The 1st Saturday of May each year is celebrated as Free Comic Book Day. Comic shops around the country hold late night Friday and daytime Saturday events, including special giveaways and specially-produced comic books with the intention of engaging new readers.

Attending the event at my local shop has been a tradition in my family since Carol & John's Comic Book Shop in Kamm's Plaza hosted their first late night FCBD party. My daddy and I always attend, and Sasquatch often joins us. I love seeing the local cosplayers, dressing up myself, and just enjoying the atmosphere of so many dedicated fans in one place. The nights can be long and cold; my daddy and I line up early to be within the first attendees receiving each year's special gift. We stand, sit, read, play games, listen to music. There is always something to do while we wait. Food trucks visit the plaza, photo opportunities are set up, podcasters chat with attendees.

If you haven't experienced Free Comic Book Day at Carol & John's Comics, I highly recommend their events. Due to the pandemic, this year's event has been pushed from May 1st | 2nd to August 13th | 14th, making it the perfect time to join the fun on a warm summer night. Chris Claremont will even be available for autographs on Saturday!!
Check out this year's offering of free comics, and support your local comic book shop!

Shout out to everyone at CNJ Comics for making every visit fantastic, and for holding an event that my daddy and I continue to enjoy together. Thank you all so much!

2016

2017

2018

2019

You can see more photos from the events in my Free Comic Book Day collection.