Jackson Center, Ohio Community Days

Who doesn't love a community fair?  I know I love them and I was lucky enough to attend the Jackson Center Community Days fair in, you guessed it...Jackson Center, Ohio.

As I approached the event, I knew it was one not to miss hearing the live music streaming through the town and all of the blow up jumpies for the kids to enjoy.  Jackson Center is a small town with about two stop lights and the only fast food restaurant is a Subway.  The main drag also has a bank, hardware store, movie theatre, small grocery store, family diner and a bar.  Oh, I don't want to forget the drive through pizza and liquor store.  That was a sight to see.  

As I approached the fair, there was small car show at the entrance and one of the participants allowed me to take his photograph in front of his pride and joy.  As I walked in the fair, it was a mixed bag of entertainment.  You could bungee jump in the air, play in a sandbox full of uncooked pasta, listen to live music or get the party started by buying a "bag of beer."  They were selling a party in a bag for $10.  For this small fee, you too can get a plastic grocery bag full of ice and 6 bud lights in the bag.  

For me, my entertainment was walking around and taking photographs of people attending the fair.  Everyone was happy to be there and it was a well run fair with something for everyone.  I remember going to a similar fair as a child in my hometown and taking my pet turtle, Pokey to the fair to enter a turtle race while my father entered the arm wrestling contest.  Pokey won.

Summer is here so I am sure there will be many fairs in your area to enjoy.  I look forward to attending many more in these upcoming months.  For more pictures of Jackson Center, Ohio, click HERE.

Setting Goals For The Road

I think I do pretty well with setting goals and making them happen as much as I can.  Most of the work comes in actually writing the goals down and figuring out what I really want to do.

I've always hated the typical "where do you want to be in 5 years" interview question.  I mean, really.  How many people answer that truthfully?  I usually answered the question with what would benefit the company.  The tendency is to answer along the lines of: "I want to grow this company x amount and perhaps work my way up and fill the x position."  When you are really thinking, "I don't know if I will be happy here in five years and if you don't pay me enough, I am sure I will look elsewhere." Then 5 years comes along and you are doing the same thing and wondering why you are still there hating your job.

Good news is...you can do something about it!  I know this economy is pretty shaky and the future is uncertain but what future is certain?  I know that it took a long time for me to quit my job and let go of all of the security that surrounded it.  Even at the beginning I mourned not being needed anymore. Yes, I know...so sad.   I woke up and thought, "now what?"  I wasn't the type of sales person that did it just for the money, but I have to admit that getting a paycheck was nice.

I've lined up some people to live in my house and that means it's time for me to get out!  Time to get back out into the uncertainty...the unknown of the everyday.  For me, it's a welcome experience.  I love waking up each day, looking at a map and deciding where to go.  Although it hasn't always been the best way to plan a trip, it takes you to places you would have never had the chance to see, especially when you get lost.  My GPS navagator, "Cindy" tends to lead me to dead ends and takes me the wrong way sometimes.

Uprooting your home to live in a car for an extended period of time takes some planning.  There are so many things I want to see this time around.  I am completely hooked on the website, Roadside America and I am planning to visit the odd and weird.  It makes sense because I am typically drawn towards things that are different and freaky. There is so much to see and do. I've already seen the palace made of corn...very exciting.  I hope to become my own Hewell Howser and learn about different people and places along the way.  Of course I can't wait to share them with you here.  So, it's back to planning at least the first few weeks.  I can't wait to see the worlds largest, smallest, and greatest (insert something really facinating here).