My hometown

Tiburon posted today about her hometown, and it made me feel nostalgic for where I grew up. I've actually been thinking a lot about my formative years, since I just hung out this weekend with my BFF from growing up. So, out of nostalgia, this post is dedicated to my hometown:

I was born a poor white girl in Kentucky - (just kidding) - I actually was born in Gary Indiana in the same hospital as Michael Jackson. I was the only white baby though, so I suppose the poor and white part is true ;). But, I actually don't remember much about where I was born, and my family moved around a lot when I was young. I moved to Northern Kentucky when I was 10, and I consider that to be where I grew up. Northern Kentucky is really just a suburb of Cincinnati, but it does have some of its own unique features. It was such a great place to live, and I have some wonderful memories. Here's the top 5 things I remember.

1. Cincinnati Reds - I loved going to Cincinnati Reds games. We would park across the river in Newport, and walk across a bridge right to the stadium - the old stadium (Riverfront) before they had this nice new one. The cheap seats were only $3.50, so we would go numerous times throughout the summer. Good times! The Reds were actually good back then, and even won the world series one year (they swept the A's in 1990, and I can still name every single starter from that team). Although they totally suck now, I still follow them, and hope one day they'll be good again.

2. Kings Island - Kinds Island is the best amusement park ever! Seriously - I'm not biased. They have the best coasters - The Beast (once the longest wooden roller coaster ever), The King Cobra (where you stand up) and many others. Also, the Smurf Cones - blue soft-serve ice cream. I've been to lots of other amusement parks, and nothing else has been as much fun.

3. Natural Bridge State Park - The beauty of Kentucky is difficult to beat, so it wasn't easy for me to come up with my favorite place there. Land Between the Lakes is stunning, as is Cumberland Falls - but my favorite is Natural Bridge State Park. It is a large limestone (?) arch (see, they aren't just in Utah) surrounded by lush folliage.

4. Skyline Chili - many of my friends will be suprised to know this about me (seeing that this is not typically my type of food) but Cincinnati Chili is the food of the gods. It is a chili with an unusual combination of spices (including cinnamon and cocoa) with kidney beans served over spaghetti noodles - and piled high with cheese. YUM! I know it sounds disgusting, but it is so freakin' amazing. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it. I've tried to replicate it myself - which I've done fairly well, but nothing compares to fresh Skyline straight from the source.

5. My amazing friends - which I don't have a picture for. I was so lucky to have some of the best friends, both at school and at my church youth group. There aren't a lot of LDS kids in that part of the country, and we really had to stick together. I remember how much fun it was playing mud football in the McBride's yard on snowdays (because the snow never lasted) and playing spin the bottle just so I could kiss some boys. We also took some of the most fun youth trips to Nauvoo, New York, and DC. Some of my best memories come straight from those trips (like the time Sister Hardy's luggage opened up on the top of the van, and her underware flew out over the freeway. Or the time she got us lost in ChinaTown, and some scummy guy tried to sell me "14 carrat gold") - Good times.

I could go on and on, but I'd only bore my readers. I did have a great childhood though. NK is the best EVER! Although my parents moved to the Ohio side while I was in High School, I still consider Kentucky my hometown.

**What is up with the spacing??**