The word coddiwomple is said to mean “to travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination.”
This is one of the very most rewarding ways to spend an adventure day and my recommendation is that you give it a whirl. All you have to do is know that there’s some random place you want to maybe see. Maybe it’s a great downtown district or a diner.
Have that place in mind?
Good! Now set off in that direction. Go with purpose but remember to enjoy what’s along the way – travel the backroads, go around the block for a closer look at something random, shop the cute shops, stop for ice cream, read the historic markers, talk to strangers, and go completely off script.
Hopefully you’ll eventually make it to that original destination. Maybe you won’t. Who cares? After all, you are coddlewompling and that’s great fun!
I believe that life is a series of choices and that, under normal circumstances, we have the ability to choose the kind of day we will have. What kind of day do you choose to have on this last Wednesday of July 2025?
Wellness Wednesday
Wine Wednesday
Weird Wednesday
Wacky Wednesday
Wholesome Wednesday
Watermelon Wednesday
Wise Wednesday
Winning Wednesday
Willpower Wednesday
Watchful Wednesday
Waiting Wednesdays
Wandering Wednesday
Welcome Wednesday
Whistling Wednesday
Worship Wednesday
Wowful Wednesday
Wishful Wednesday
Wondering Wednesday
Wakening Wednesday
Warm Wednesday
Wordy Wednesday
Do you have another word in mind? Tell me about the kind of Wednesday you want to have today!
If you visit the Ted Lewis Museum in Circleville, Ohio (read about it here), step across the street to admire this mural.
It was painted in 2010 for the city’s bicentennial and depicts some important local subject matter, namely early modes of transit, Native Americans, agriculture, and the legend himself, Mr Ted Lewis.
That’s Chief Cornstalk on the left. He was a Shawnee leader whose tragic murder threatened the delicate peace in the Ohio Country. The woman on the right side is identified by a nickname – Grenadier Squaw. I’m curious to know why they chose to use the nickname for this Shawnee leader and sister of Chief Cornstalk.
Although, I suppose Cornstalk was a nickname too. Ignore my musings. I may just be overprotective of the ladies.
Her real name was Nonhelema Hokolesqua and I thought it was interesting she helped compile a dictionary of Shawnee words while being held at Fort Pitt. I would like to learn more about her.
Look carefully and you’ll see that Ted is depicted all dressed up and ready to catch a trolley on the right.
Don’t just walk or drive by something like this. Stop. Get out of the car, walk right up to it, and study this massive painting. It’s larger than life, vibrant and extremely well done. The longer you look at it, the more there is to see.
Superman’s origin story begins in Cleveland so he has been a favorite son in that city for decades. The popular comic book hero was created when writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster were in high school together in 1933.
That’s right! One of the world’s coolest super heroes was the brainchild of a couple of teenagers over ninety years ago. Superman has been the man of the hour around Ohio this summer because so much of the new blockbuster was shot in and near Cleveland.
If you’re a fan, know that the main library in downtown Cleveland has a really nice collection of Superman memorabilia and artifacts in a well done exhibit. The thing I geeked out over the most was Jerry Siegel’s writing desk.
He bought it for his home in 1940 and sat here to write scripts for Superman comics and other comic strip characters. He mainly used a typewriter to do this work and I could almost hear the clickity clack of an old Underwood as I studied the desk and considered the creative mind it would require to create a character with such staying power.
The library exhibit features items like comics, clocks, valentines, pajamas and lunch boxes. Many things are quite old and a few are from my own childhood – also, quite old – but at least I could feel a nostalgic connection to those old things.
This exhibit includes a snapshot of Jolan Kovacs who was the original model for Lois Lane. She would later marry Jerry Siegel. The museum card tells just enough of her story to make me want to learn more but I thought it was interesting she spent years campaigning for author’s rights and seeking wider recognition for the artists who gave us the Man of Steel.
It’s not an enormous exhibit but it’s quality and worth your time if you’re in the neighborhood. Also, it’s just across the street from The Arcade where they shot an iconic scene for this new movie and there are other Superman movie landmarks in the general vicinity. It’s all worth a visit if you’re a fan. The library and the Arcade are worth a visit even if you’re not a Superman fan!
The lending library also has an impressive wall of books about Superman and the comics. Remember, before he was a movie/tv show/ icon/merchandising gold mine, Superman was just a good old fashioned comic book hero!
By the way, Union Terminal in Cincinnati also got a nice chunk of time in the movie. I wrote about that art deco masterpiece last year. See it here!
If you stop by the library, be sure to ask the security guard for a map. It’s useful as you nose around and points out some interesting assets.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Felllowship Of The Rings
Sometimes it feels like I’m wishing my life away by always looking forward to the weekend, to the end of the workday, to the vacation or day trip. And then I remember that having something to look forward to is an important key to happiness. And then I remember that looking forward to something we enjoy is not the same as wishing away what we have right now.
I like my job and don’t mind my work day. I like doing chores at home when time allows. I even like running errands that others don’t enjoy, including grocery shopping. For the most part, I’m satisfied about everywhere I am.
So, I guess what I have decided to do with my time is just make the best of it.
