My favorite Ohio rides

It’s motorcycle season again at last, but I’ve only been out on two wheels once this year. Pathetic, right?! But the weather and our schedule just haven’t been cooperating. So, to keep me from going crazy during this rainy, busy week when I’d rather be out on my beloved Purple Grrl, here are my top 3 favorite rides so far. Bear in mind I’ve only had a bike and my motorcycle license for the past two years, so there are many more cool rides out there for me to discover.

1. Ride east on 161 from Columbus to Granville, then head into historic downtown Granville, cruise up Main Street and turn left onto 661. You pass the lower hillside of Denison University on your left and then suddenly you’re cruising up and down the biggest, most beautiful hills you’ve ever seen. Is this really still Ohio? you’ll think to yourself as you give The Wave to all the other bikers you pass. It’s a superb, curvaceous ride in both directions and you can catch a nice meal or some ice cream in Granville on your way back through.

2. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the gorgeous Hocking Hills area - basically all of the roads in and around the Hocking Hills state park. Just head southeast from Columbus to Hocking Hills and you’ll know when you’re close to the good riding roads because suddenly you’ll realize you’re having a lot more fun. I’m still somewhat of a novice rider, but even experienced riders find these twisty, hilly roads to be a challenge. It’s definitely a rush and you’ll find yourself grinning inside your helmet!

3. Riding through Amish country - nothing on the road but our two bikes and the horse-drawn buggies. I love it! We usually head east on 161 from Columbus, then northeast on 62 all the way up to Berlin. The area up there is so pretty and picturesque, with enough Swiss chalets and cheese factories to make you think you’re in Europe. Once you’re there, there are lots of opportunities to get off the bikes and stretch the legs while you pet farm animals, taste cheeses or shop in quaint little stores. It’s a good time.

Lucky for us riders, Ohio is a fantastic place to ride. There are some great sites available to help choose a route. And as soon as this rain stops and our schedules free up, I plan to be back out there on two wheels again. Safe and happy riding! And if you have suggestions for other great Ohio rides, I’d love to hear them.

 

On PR blacklisting

There’s a lot being said right now in the blogosphere about PR spam and blacklisting. For those not following the conversation, “PR spam” is when PR professionals pitch media (traditional or new) incorrectly and become a nuisance by filling up recipients’ email boxes with irrelevant, self-serving, erroneous and poorly written pitches. No one would like that, so you can’t blame the writers or bloggers for getting annoyed. (Although we all get spam emails these days, and hitting delete seems to work for most of us. But I digress.)

It’s shocking to me that the journalists and bloggers who are blacklisting PR people must never have had a good experience with a PR person. How else could they write off entire groups of people so easily? I’ve worked with many reporters over the years who have thanked me profusely for my time and assistance. I’ve spent days running around, tracking down bits of information or access to spokespeople for journalists. To hear that some members of the media, or at least the new media, are categorically banning all emails from people like me is distressing.

Clearly, PR people need to do a much better job. But some of us are trying really hard to do just that. Bloggers, are we truly so worthless that you can’t engage in a short conversation with us, tell us when we’re doing it wrong, and give us a shot to improve? As members of the social media universe, how can you be so quick to shut down connections and opportunities to engage?

PR blacklisting bothers me as a PR person, clearly, but also as a human being. It’s anathema to me that someone could write off an entire category of human beings as somehow below or less than them. In fact, I think it’s nothing short of bigotry.

 

new blogging policy…and llama love

There’s nothing worse than an unattended, stale blog. I hate that I haven’t posted in so many days! Yet I am so busy right now that it’s nearly impossible to find the time. So I’m laying down a few ground rules for myself.

1. If I’m too busy to write a real blog post of substance, about PR or social media related topics, then I need to at least post a few sentences about a travel experience, dining adventure or some cool aggregated links every few days. I will hold myself to this.

2. I’ll minimize posting in my private/personal blog (livejournal) until I’ve posted something of substance here.

3. If I’m not blogging, I must at least be “out there” reading and commenting on other blogs I admire and respect. This will inspire me to write my own blog, and it will keep me active and engaged with the social media community I love.

And now, a quick travel adventure story since I haven’t posted anything in days.

Happy birthday blog

Welcome to my first ever public blog. I have been blogging privately for about seven years, allowing access only to a few select friends and like-minded acquaintances, although I haven’t always called it blogging - it’s more like journaling. I’ve been wanting to start a public blog for ages and have been inspired by my recent, ever-increasing forays into the wonderful world of social media. I’ve been involved with social media since long before it was called that, but always in conjunction with my personal life. Now my personal interest in this medium is converging with my chosen profession in huge, significant ways and I love it. Hence, it’s time to take the blog public. And what better “birth” date for my blog than my own birthday?

This is an exciting time for me professionally. I’ve been working in PR for what feels like an impossibly long time (18 years - how is that possible? How can I be this old!?). I am still learning and growing as a PR pro, but now that I’m hungrily pursuing social media avenues it feels like an explosion of growth again instead of small increments. I love to learn and always have. All the great blogs, social media tools and communities I’m discovering are opening a whole new world to me. I’m very appreciative of the gurus who offer me counsel and the colleagues and clients who allow me to evangelize about what I’m learning. This is a new beginning - for both my blog and for me.

Thanks for being part of the journey.