Summer Weekends in Columbus

I think the interview last Wednesday went well, and I finished reading Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery and Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer for those of you who have heard of or seen the show) this week. Since Michael and I are going to get a dog once we're in the house, I'm trying to read a number of books about raising and training good dogs. Both books were really good.

While my weeks continue to be the same old, same old, the weekends have been fun. Two Saturdays ago Michael and I went to Columbus's annual Jazz and Rib Festival. Michael got ribs and I got a pulled pork sandwich from Willingham's, which is Memphis style BBQ based out of Minnesota.
With the live jazz music and the great crowd, it was a fun atmosphere, and we enjoyed being part of the community. The next day (Sunday), we went to the Parade of Homes. Each year numerous home builders bid for contracts, and the winners build these amazing custom homes that are then decorated by professional interior design teams. They are then opened to the public to come tour (tickets must be purchased). We went both to get ideas for decorating and painting our house and to admire these unique homes. Despite the grandeur, the most expensive house was still under a million dollars ($949,000). Try getting that in Phoenix, California, or New York. Ha!

The home above is from M/I Homes. It has 4 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths, and a 3 car garage. With 4,700 square feet, it sells for $799,000.

It was crazy how many bathrooms each house had. And the basements! One of the basements had a full bar like what you might see in a restaurant and a home theater with leather chairs that had cup holders and beautiful HD projection. Michael would love a wine cellar like this in our basement some day.

This past weekend we went to the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational golf tournament and to the Dublin Irish Festival. Michael won free tickets for the golf tournament from work. They provided access to the Sky Box at the 18th hole and to the hospitality tent where we got free food.

I had never been to a golf game before, so it was very exciting just to be there. The Dublin Irish Festival is an annual event here in Dublin, OH where the whole city (or so it seems), plus people from other areas of Columbus, come to celebrate our namesake. It has a state fair meets Renaissance Festival feel to it. There is no end to the Irish food and beer vendors, and of course there is the staple funnel cakes and fried food available.

Pop?

Numerous stages are set up for a variety of dance and music shows. We caught an Irish rock concert, some Irish jig dancing, and a bagpipe performance.

I've got to say, taking part in so many of the events that are going on around the city makes it feel like we live in a pretty cool place.