This is downtown Dayton. As suspected, there's not much there.




Except this nice park.










Donny Osmond was hanging out by this statue too, but he declined to be photographed.

Something is wrong with these birds. Look at the ducks, guys. Seriously. ZOMBIES.


Tony approaches with caution.


Swan likes the menfolk.


Then Tony and I played a rousing game of Scrabble.


Which I won. 8D

Ben and I took one of our periodic excursions into the depths of Ohio to visit this crazy six-acre food mart.


I wish I could share some pictures of the interior of this monstrosity of a grocery store, but Ben told me that if I started acting like a Japanese tourist he would leave me there. Even though we took my car.


And then I saw the best church ever.


I'm seriously thinking of joining. I hear they have an Olympic-size swimming pool.

For some reason when Ben's brother stepped out onto the patio the swan decided he wanted to come over and hang out.


This has never happened before. It was...very strange. Perhaps it was trained to detect illegal substances like those dogs at the airport.


This was my celebratory I-got-a-job lunch, since Ben and his family ditched me to go fishing.


When I got home from work today this note was stuck to the fridge. MAYBE I WILL AND MAYBE I WON'T.


Then I opened the fridge to find some dinner and saw something strange and unfamiliar on the bottom shelf.


What could it be.


Oh no he did not leave live bait in my fridge.


:(

Lesson in composition.


Me and Emanuel chillin' on the steps of the Art Institute, trying to get away from the parasitic tourists at the Taste of Chicago.


I call this "Tony and Emergency Pop."


Back to Ohio. Taking a break in the Arby's/Steak 'n Shake parking lot, Japanese tourist style. Oishii!

The other day I caught this stupid wasp trying to build a mud nest in the underside of our patio door.


Fat chance. I waited until it left to get more mud and then I sprayed its house with bathroom cleaner.


Unfortunately, when I looked the next day, it had already completed a new nest in a different corner. EWWWW.


I KNOW THESE PICTURES ARE REALLY EXCITING. TRY TO CONTAIN YOURSELVES.


Here is a bonus picture of the ridiculous earrings Mom bought me.

My final gift has arrived.


It fits nicely in my intellectual corner. Music, art, TV.


When I first came here there were only about four geese. The swan is clearly not doing his job. (Though, at least he has one.)

One of my belated gifts finally arrived. Feels waffle iron-y.

Ben gave me a heart attack for my birthday.




Actually, due to less than stellar planning on the part of someone who shall rename nameless, my "real" presents are still in transit somewhere. In the meantime, I received stickers, a tea set, and various sugary goods.






Scrumptious!