What's wrong with this picture?

I think the folks of Apple Creek need to use spellcheck! 

My last blog post was about animal cruelty, this one is not! :)

Really Lulu, can you be any cuter??  (I'm not biased at all)!!! :)

Sugarcreek, Ohio is not as sweet as it sounds!

I had a wonderful adventure in Cleveland, but it was time to move on.  I was signed up to take a yoga class in Willoughby, OH at 1:15 so I had some time to kill after checking out of the Marriott. I decided to hit the local Starbucks to catch up on some blogging – that was the idea anyway!

As I was fixing my coffee, I heard the couple next to my table say "her bag is moving"! It didn't take Jenny long to figure out it was lulu. Jenny couldn't wait to ask me all about Lu. I ended up chatting with Bill and Jenny for the next hour and no, I didn't get a bit of blogging done. Bill and Jenny were intrigued by my adventure (although I still don't think they believe I'm traveling alone!).  They were VERY happy to offer suggestions on my next stop. Bill thought Cedar Point Amusement Park would be great, but Jenny argued I wouldn't like it – it was very funny to watch these two work out my next adventure. It was priceless. They both finally agreed that I would love Sugarcreek, Amish Country, and I should stay at the Carlisle Inn. Rolling hills, green pastures, picturesque landscapes, quite and peaceful inns. They gave quite a good sales pitch, so off I went. 

I spent the evening drinking wine and eating cheese on my porch overlooking the town. I felt like I'd gone back in time as I watched the Amish ride by in their horse and buggies on the undisturbed countryside. Sugarcreek is a story book town –– or so I thought!! 

  

As I was leaving Sugarcreek, I got a call from Greg (my new Cleveland friend).  I couldn't wait to tell him about my evening befitting paradise. Greg quickly popped my red balloon. As soon as I mentioned Sugarcreek, his voice trembled. His tone was hurt and angry as he told me about the barbaric and sinister horse auctions that take place in Sugarcreek. Here in America, most of us revere horses as our beloved companions, but that's not the case everywhere. In Europe, horse meat is a delicacy, prompting greedy heartless horse traders to sell perfectly good horses to Canadian and Mexican meat brokers for slaughter. The story unfolded like a medieval novel. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It turns out that Sugarcreek is one of the most nortorious equine "meat-market" auction houses east of the Mississippi. About 60,000 horses, half from the United States, are slaughtered for export each year in Canada.  

Sugarcreek is definitely no paradise, and while I am sad that I spent money in that region, I am glad to know of the cruelty and join the fight to shut  it down.  Please help! Please sign the petition and read more about it here!

The horse racing community in OH, PA and WV is taking a step in the right direction. Any horse owner found to have sold a horse to 'Sugarcreek' will be banned from racing for life. It's hard to believe in 2010 this type of barbaric animal cruelty is still taking place. Leroy Baker of Sugarcreek makes Michael Vick look like an amateur.

One of Greg's horses was sold to a woman for "breeding", instead the woman turned and sold Fighting Flamingo for slaughter. Greg took the woman to court and won! The story unfolds like fiction. It cost Greg thousands of dollars but he was determined to seek justice for his horse, and he did. He donated the money to charity. 

(btw, that little brown spot on the left of the picture is lulu running up the hill)

Couple of my favorite pics so far... :)

Barn is in Punxsutawney, PA and the horses are in Ohio.

thank you lulu

If lulu didn't get us kicked out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I never would have went to Whole Foods at the time I did, and crossed paths with Greg! It's funny how life happens. 

Greg came to my hotel to pick me up at around 8. We were both starving. As we headed down the road, we could see fireworks exploding in the distance. Greg, excited as a little kid, glanced over at me and asked "would you EVER eat 'fair' food". Laughing to myself, I responded with an exhuberant YES. I have been eating so healthy during this trip, but dang I can cheat a little. I can not believe I'm going to a carnival. It's truly the last place I ever thought I'd end up. I literally wear flip flops and sneakers around the clock, but of course I chose to put on my Stuart Weitzman espadrilles tonight! We're going to a muddy carnival dumb-ass!! Oy vey. I never said I was smart (but I look cute thought hahaha)

We had such a fun time, and my Stuart Weitzman's survived! Greg could not have been a more perfect gentleman. He dropped me back at my hotel around midnight and with a parting hug, we said good-bye. As I was walking in the entrance he hollered to me, "be careful out there! Not everyone is as nice as me!"  True, true, true and thank you!

Btw, for those that know me, how INSANE is it that I ended up at a CARNIVAL in OHIO (of all places)!! How crazy and how incredibly surreal. For those that don't know me, there's a HUGE backstory here.  I was looking over my shoulder the whole time. It's definitely not a story for my blog -- maybe my book (someday). :) 

Lulu is riding in style with the Snoozer Lookout 2 booster seat!

Lulu is a MAJOR part of this adventure. If she's not happy, I'm not happy. I think it took me longer to pack for her than it did for me! The Snoozer Lookout 2 booster seat you see in this picture has to be the best purchase EVER! She's loving it – I'm loving it. It's super cozy and she's perched up high enough so that she can see out the window while I'm driving. There's a safety harness, and a place for her food & water.  It's a brilliant invention!!

one more night in cleveland

Woke up this morning and headed out the the stables to meet one of Greg's racing horses, Icy Glance. Icy was heading for an exercise "swim" and I thought it would be a cool thing to see – and it was! Beautiful horse. I LOVE horses by the way! Greg lives on a 18 acre horse farm here in Cleveland. Note to self: you can meet cool single people at Whole Foods! Who knew?

After the horse visit, I got a voicemail and a text from Greg... apparently I'm so "entertaining" (haha) that Greg (my new Cleveland friend) would like me to stay another night! So much so that he's offering to pay for my hotel room!

Am I crazy to accept?

Maybe, but I made it VERY CLEAR there would be NO funny business what-so-ever if I let him pay for my room. No obligation. Nothing. JUST friends. Seriously. I grappled with the decision for a bit, but then thought why the heck not! If he's hell bent on paying for my room, who am I to disappoint him?! I don't want to hurt his feelings. The idea of staying and taking a long nap was SO exciting! Sure I could pay for my own room, but why do that when someone else is offering? I still needed a second opinion before I could accept so I dialed my brother, the voice of reason. When my brother Chris was done laughing, he said go for it – as long as I stay alert and smart –––– I can do that!!

So here I am, still in Cleveland, still at the Marriott! Btw, Greg knows I'm leaving/driving across the country and he knows I'm blogging about him! Hi Greg!

yes, i'm OK! he is not a serial killer

Had a fun night and made it back to my hotel safe, sound and alone!! (except for lulu!)

If you don't hear from me (soon) call 911!!

So much fun, and so many unexpected turns!! Went shopping in the Whole Foods in Cleveland, Ohio today and decided to sit down at their little trattoria for some dinner. Great little spot! It was a mini restaurant right in the store. Totally different than the normal "booths" you find in other Whole Foods. Anyway, had a glass of wine and some yummy chicken marsala, when along came Greg. Greg sat beside me and next thing you know, I'm heading out to meet him for drinks in downtown Cleveland.  I don't know his last name, so if you don't hear back from me (soon)... put out an AMBER ALERT. Photo of the car is his – just run the plates!

Lulu got us kicked out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!

Lu is impressively stealth-like in her bag; however, I was a moron and let her stick her nose out once we got inside the museum. Low and behold a kid spotted her and screamed "mommy, mommy, LOOK A DOGGIE!!". Really kid, did you need to SCREAM it! 

I'm not knocking the museum; however, after about a 1/2 hour I was pretty bored. We actually got kicked out at the perfect time AND they gave me my money back! Bonus! Can't complain about that!

Next stop, Whole Foods!