Sinister Cincinnati

Anyone miss me? Anyone even notice I was gone?

I have now been a solitary drinker in three midwestern cities. I travel on these trips with my boss but she was sick and even when she's not sick she's content to dine in the hotel, most likely in her room. I just think that's a waste.

I love Chicago but I already knew that -- I was there last year. There are loads of Irish pub and everyone in town really seems to like baseball. They're all White Sox fans but no one's perfect. And men look you in the eye before they stare at your tits while talking to you. That is one thing about New York -- no one looks you in the eye. They may look at you as you walk by but they don't do it when you can see them. It's very odd. In the Midwest, people really LOOK at you. It's a bit disconcerting for a borderline personality such as myself.

Detroit is home to the Red Wings hockey team. Do you know how I know this? There are fucking RED WINGS posters on every freaking stationary surface at every restaurant and bar. They have this great neighborhood called Greek Town where they have Greek pizza and bars (with Red Wing posters, of course) and a casino. Yes, Detroit has casinos. And since I was still in Vegas mod (READ "losing money needlessly" mode) I had to stop and plug some money into a slot machine. I pretty much broke even and then blew it all on beer.

Cincinnati is surprisingly sinister. I thought it would be this quiet, harmless little city. But it dies down after 7:00 pm and then everything closes and there are people lurking -- in doorways, on street corners. They are usually alone and they just look... well, sinister. Best word I can come up with. I went to a bar called Rockin' Robins and some guy wouldn't stop calling me Francoise. Don't ask. Odd city.

Anyway, I am off to Paris tomorrow. I will be back from Europe on Sunday the 12th. Will you guys miss me this time? I'll miss you. Yes I will! After Paris I will be in London, Lincoln and then Edinburgh, where I will hopefully experience the wonders of scotch and haggis. Stay tuned.