Get the low down...

Oh, I had no choice but to make a second entry today! This just in...Bob Barker is alive. Who knew? I thought the show was in reruns. Then, I saw a picture of him (and you can see it too, if you are reading this yourself rather than being read to). I have never seen hair so white. For that matter, I do not think I have seen snow that white! My guess the teeth are relatively new. The reason he made the blog, in addition to my new found knowledge that his death had not occurred, is he is retiring. For fifty years he has been a TV staple. Since 1972, Bob ole'Boy has been flirting, provoking and entertaining ... and this is just with his support staff. I do not know when he will put down the two foot microphone. Or when he will leave day time television, but I can tell you that his retirement may just mean the decline of Viagra. Sometimes, with all the money he may have earned, he managed to still rise above his controversial scandal with his show-models. Guess there is validity in the statement that ... The Price is Right.

I am a ghost, and this is my lawyer...

Today is Halloween! Boy, has this event changed over the years. I recall it was a fun, festive time at school. We wore our costumes there, brought treats and we even would eat the treats! Then we would come home from school, and then go out. We would walk to every house we could with a big plastic orange jack-o-lantern that would hold all the candy. The after school walk was a huge window of time. As we walked, we looked for homes with lights on the porch. Flash forward to today's version of the holiday. At school, it is viewed as a religious holiday, so it is banned from the school. Kids cannot eat any candy they get without it being x-rayed at the local hospital or taken to the local fire fighter's hall. Even if the candy is clean, drug free and without metal fragments, kids cannot have the candy because it will effect their A.D.D. medication or an organized group of people will protest that the treats must be heart-healthy. Heaven knows, that some children do not go with their parents on this walk of trick or treat, they go with their attorney, court appointed or other, and threaten law suits if the candy distribution seems to unfair, unjust or even discriminatory. Finally, it is a challenge to find a costume, when all the Christmas garland and lights are in full sight. I guess the holiday is scary but for all the wrong reasons. Bah, humbug!

Making beautiful music

It has been one crazy, action-Jackson packed weekend. I was a DJ at a wedding.

I had a board retreat also. Both unique experiences. The wedding was simple and quaint. Rapid as lightening wedding, it was not the four hour catholic wedding, with half time show. The reception had all the fixins of ham and turkey and beef and an assortment of the frivolity that one can find on a buffet line. I did get an ear full from a lady, and that term is used lightly, proceed to ask me I haaaadddd any ACDC! Just your typical wedding ditty, but I had to tell her no. Not only did I not have it, it did not fit with the ambiance for the evening. Though I did not use that big word. Well, she begins to tell me in a flavorful yet descriptive vernacular, what I should be doing to myself rather than spinning tunes. Hmm. She got mad and decided to walk home. Sunday, at the retreat we shared openly ideas and concerns that help to put the past behind, the history or the roots, to help nourish the organizations future. Daunting task concerning, that when many boards conduct retreats, the founding members are not sitting around the table. It does add a unique perspective when the founding members have new members as part of the mix. An organization experiences many growing pains, no matter how slow or how fast the development occurs. I felt the retreat was extremely beneficial. I gained much perspective about the past and the needs of the future. I also understood more about the people who sit around the table. Everyone has a voice, and the truth is, everyone must use it. There never is any secret that I am not afraid to break down any barriers that exist, real or perceived, to allow for a bit more harmony. It is now bed time, I am a tad exhausted.

A bird in the hand...

Next Sunday, the tradition continues. This is the most famous Carbo holiday outside of the Open House series... Thanksgathering. Fun festivities, plenty of celebratory drinking and truly awesome fixins provided by each and every guest. It is fun to meet new people, share a toast with friends and perhaps a nemesis or two, yet realize Thanksgathering is a time for celebration of what we have to be thankful for - this may be free food! It could be sitting next to that person you have had a crush on, or it could be the fact you are leaving someone home so you can have a good time. No matter what the circumstances, if you are plannin on fixin some fixins for next Sunday's festivities, just let me know. If you are reading this ... you are invited. If you are in Turkey, you may wish to rethink this trip and wait for Carbozo!

Just a gentle hummmm

Alright, here's the deal... I was invited to one Halloween Party this year. So, I guess it has hit the press that I am not a good spooky guy. My Casper licence has been revoked. The party I went to was at the home of a dear friend's that cooked and cleaned and whipped up one casual and relaxing evening. What did I eat? Well, I was conservative in my consumption. I had a bowl of chili, that was grand. I also had a glazed donut. So, this goes against the reason why I got up before the donut maker this morning to work out, but hey, I was only given one opportunity to eat Halloween-ie food this year. One of the activities planned was to carve a pumpkin. I did not bring a pumpkin, even though the invitation clearly mentioned doing this. I just was not feeling artsy wielding a knife. However, women young and mmhmm not old were making pumpkin sculptures. Pricking, prodding, pushing, polishing and pestering to make certain that the pumpkin they created was fabulous. And they were! The topic of course veered right into oncoming traffic as we talked about the classic power tools that could make life more well rounded for the heavily gifted pumpkin carving women. Because this blog could be read by readers of all ages, suffice it to say that the conversation made the pumpkin's smile cracked tooth and all.

Ugly is kind!

I sat through Ugly Betty tonight. Why? I am not sure. I think I drifted in and out but cannot image two reasons I would watch this again. Vanessa Williams looks marvelous. But the rest of the show, spun so slow and out of control that I could not fathom what was happening. Maybe I am just tired? Maybe I thought it was supposed to be funny? However, I am not an Ugly Betty fan. So, in moments Grey's Anatomy airs. Have not watched this show either. Uncertain if I have enough energy to watch another "sure fire" hit.

Egg-xactly what we need to do in the morning.

Well, I woke up at 3:30 this morning. Wanted to make a bit of breakfast before I work out. So, I have shuffled around this morning. Did a few morning chores. Read a dozen emails and just made my way to the kitchen. So, I cracked open a few eggs and made some turkey bacon. Let me tell you, either it is too early in the morning to realize, or I found a great product, but this was really darn good. This weekend I went to the grocery store for the first time this month. I felt like I was just coming back from a Survivor competition. Must have milk. Must have eggs. Must have extra large chocolate bars (for the trick or treaters). Zombie walk, hands and arms extended. Well, I was at the Fresh Market. That is the place to go NOT when you are full or hungry, but when you want to make sure you do not spend the same as you do when you walk into Target for a tube of toothpaste. I made it out under a hundred bucks, good thing I did not buy any fruit! Well, my adventure brought me to the meat case where I bought turkey bacon that looked darn good. Well, let me tell you it was. I just ate it. Clyde said that it was greaseless and very good! He knows his turkey. Anyway, I have about an hour before I depart for the gym. So my morning challenge is, make breakfast. Pause long enough to start the morning with a healthy, yet quick well rounded breakfast. My breakfast took about 5 minutes to make. So, it does not have to be time consuming. Plus, I did not have to wait in any line to get my egg Mcsomething. Do not like lines either. Hmm, I have been the consummate complainer. Hate this, dislike that. Oh well, never get old!

Okay, so yesterday was One now it is two!

Well, I thought I would take a few seconds to talk about the friends that have entered into my life. We all run in circles of peeps engage us, tempt us, prompt us to think and do things that we may or may not thought were possible. It has been a fun road as I have picked up hundreds and hundreds of hitch hikers who have shown me neat and exciting things. It has also been fun to meet new people and to be turned on to new music too. My first college roommate introduced me to Phil Collins. My second college roommate introduced me to Night Ranger. My former wife introduced me to quiet. She was not an avid music buff so I learned that sometimes quiet is calming. Though, that is not a common situation now in my life, I did try to learn to enjoy this time. But musically, she enjoyed the Philharmonic. As my life rolls on, I am certain that I will be exposed to new artists that I have not know and will become a follower of new music.

It is not the loneliest number!

Well, how about today I talk about the one thing that we may all know about - ourselves.

So, what is the one thing people see first when they come into your home? For me, it would be Clyde.

So, what is the one piece of art that you see the most in your house? For me, it would be the Jim Brickman Concert Memorability in the bathroom.

So, what is the one meal you desire to have for supper? For me, it is tuna casserole.

So, what is your favorite drink? For me it is the grapefruit martini!

So, what is your favorite band? For me it is Chicago!

If you have a question, send me a comment! I will answer them One at a time!

Cut it out!

Alright, I am back. I will spare the details, but just know that being swamped, upside down and overwhelmed are not the same haha. Today, I need to go to the grocery store. It has been three weeks since I have been to one. This means I have tons of jars and bottles of items like mustards, dressings, other unique condiments but I have nothing to put them on. So, being the thrifty grocery store miser that I can be (and this is only at the grocery store) I was going through the stacks of coupons that come in the Sunday newspaper. What has set me in motion this morning is that why do coupons have to have expiration dates? Serious business, if you want a consumer to buy your goods, does it really matter if they save .20 today or .20 next month? Wouldn't you just be happy that the bought it? So after cutting the coupons and flipping back and forth to make sure you did not miss something on the other side of the paper, I find that Clyde's dog food coupon has already expired! I am opposed of the usage of coins and I think my next campaign shall be no coupons. I think we should send a message to the manufactures and let them know to cut it out, because we don't want to clip them out!

Thanks for all the cards I got today

Well, today I turn six years old. I have not been showered with dog toys or treats. My dad did not take me any where. I got some cottage cheese, but heck, I get that anytime I turn my head sideways.

I have a very rough life. I wake up very early just to go outside and be told to hurry up. Luckily, I get a treat for all my efforts of performing on command. Then I need to rest, because who wants to get up at 5 in the morning. I wake up about 10 and realize I need to check out the house to see if my dad has left anything around for me to get into. A Kleenex, or a Popsicle stick, perhaps part of a pop tart or a sock. I do love socks. Normally, he has not left anything, so I go back to bed. Then, about 1 I am startled by the noise of the mailman. I bark, but realize no one is listening to me. So, I figure, I should just go back to bed. Then about 530 my dad is home, and I am up. He tells me to eat my food. I turn my head sideways, and then he gives me cottage cheese. I spin around in a circle and then I eat. Then I need to rest. Around 9 he takes me outside again. I have to go. But I am very fortunate, we go right to bed. I need my rest.

Not forever, just two days.

Well, I am upside down with work and life. I am going to be off blog for two more days...stay tuned for more great information about Thanksgathering! and Carbozo! Until then, see you back on Sweetest Day! (You know who you are! Okay, that was just made up haha)

Now that's the spirit...

As luck would have it, driving back to the office after lunch, I witnessed Americana at it's best. Fall has dropped the yellow, orange and red leaves to the ground. The race to push them to the curb for the fall leaf pick up, courtesy of the community. Our community, on alternating weeks, will pick up leave that are curbside. Well many people rake, while others may blow them, but by the end of the day they are to land up just past the curb. In one Fort Wayne community, this recipe for success must have been lost. Picture two elderly people, neighbors, I would assume. One standing in a house dress watching as the other neighbor in corduroy attire was wanding the leaves with jet propelled air. Sounds nice doesn't it. Neighbor watching neighbor, just passing a beautiful fall day together. Well, not exactly. The one neighbor in her house dress was dismayed as her leaf-blowing neighbor was blowing them in her yard and on her rather than the curb side approach. I have not watched the news tonight, but my guess is the lady pulled a gun and she blew him away.

Did you hear this?

Guess what I was doing last year at this time? I was preparing for one amazing evening for Mastodons on Parade. I was busy, writing and rewriting the two hours live event. But the better answer would have been, this is when my voice left my body. Talk about a fearful moment in my life, I was the voice over for half of the live mastodons. Well, who said that history does not repeat itself? No, the mastodons are not going to be auctioned off again, but I did lose my voice. Gone. Not a peep. Not sick, no cold or anything, just voiceless. Timing could not be worse, again. Over the past week I have been on the phone for eight hours straight and I guess my vocal chords have decided to take a vacation. Obviously, without giving me much notice. So, for some people, this is the week of my life they cherish. On the twist side, if you do not receive a phone call from me, or I do not call you back, it is because my voice is on vacation and will return soon...lets hope!

A Scoobie Don't

Sitting with some friends, where I was having a drink or two, the topic turned to Halloween. The art of dressing up to scare the kid-lings who may come to the door. Over the past series of years, I have participating in dressing up as a famous person in some characteur way. Perhaps the year I went as Roy with a tiger attached to my neck just months after the Las Vegas showman was slobbered on by his cat may have pushed the envelope beyond ever closing again. One year, I went to many tanning booths to get a dark golden brown tan so I could be Diana Ross. One year I donned a 9xxx purple dress to be Mama Cass, nibbling on a ham sandwich. Well, the idea I have had in the closet but have yet to open is the one where I am dressed up as fast food restaurant icon, colonel Sanders. Except the twist, is his KFC bucket of bird is not "Kosher Fried Chicken". And rather than dressed in the big white suit, I would have the traditional apparel of a religious Jewish man. Well, as offensive as having Mel Gibson over on the Sabbath, I know this idea is better as a humorous, yet offensive, concept that will probably never be executed. Or if I would, I would face execution.

Never get old...

Okay, so I am driving in my car. (Yes, the same one I spoke of in yesterday's blog entrance) Here's the deal, I am listening to "stupid" radio when I hear a commercial that made me want to swerve into on coming traffic. I think the premise of the commercial was to make us (the listener) to decide to commit parents or elderly loved-ones into nursing home facilities and how wonderful they are for the active aging person. Well, the exiled family member was excited about the activities, the fun, the feeling of home that exist within 'said' nursing home facility. The person who was locking up granny was visiting the captive woman, is loudly told in some flowery words, to hurry up because a 'family' lock-down breakfast was to occur, promptly. Her words were, "The biscuits are not going to get any warmer". Now, I am thinking, that this must mean the food was hot and ready. But then it could say, that only tepid food is served and never gets hotter than it is now. I am thinking, why not say, "breakfast is served just like I would have made myself, without having to lift a finger..." or something acknowledging the amenity of having fresh, homemade food. Oh well, I have decided that I am not going to allow myself to talk about my biscuits to anyone, anytime soon.

Bless me.

Well, today was just your standard day. Weather was decent, not great but decent. Work was chaotic but not out of control. I slept adequately, but not abundantly. So, why is it that I would have a car accident. Mind you, it was not what you see to the right, but it felt like it. I was slowing moping down Coliseum Blvd. when I was sitting at a red light. The light turned green, the car in front of me began to go. Then, I did too. I sneezed, and then booooommmmmm I hit the car in front of me who decided to stop for no apparent reason. No airbags deployed, no cursing, just a simple uggh and I got out exchanged insurance information and then the world got very, very small. The car driver asked where I worked, and I told him. He said, wow, I just applied for a job there. He wanted to know if I could pull a few strings to help get him a job. Sure, happy to! But you can not stop whenever you want to, buddy!

Everyone gather around...

It was Saturday morning, about 10:00 a.m., Clyde and I were standing outside in the front lawn. Not a cloud in the sky, temperature was 65 degrees, a nice breeze. Perfect fall day, or in Florida terms "bitter cold". Anyway, I am talking to Clyde as I normally do when he and I are alone, when out of no where, a big hybrid of a bumble bee flew into my head. He hit with great force, and bounced off my all-to-hard head. Now, I am thinking, what gives Bee? So I tell Clyde, that bee just flew into my head. He turned his head sideways, to provide a listening ear and a bit of disbelief. It was not seconds later that two black birds (not racially motivated, just describing the facts) were fighting in mid air and were flying right towards me head. I ducked down quickly and they flew up darting from my path. At this point, I am thinking the entire natural world has gone crazy or I am just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I go inside, and then I am hit with the moral of the story. It is important to get to know the birds and the bees at any age. Inform someone you love about them today. This is actually a true situation that happened to me.

Whistle a happy tune.

Well the new music circuit has been shallow for a few months now. Luckily, Jim Brickman has released a new CD called Escape. The CD is standard Brickman music, but it does include a song with Sara Evans on vocals. Couldn't have carved that out of every piece of ivory, now could he! Also new this month has been music by Basement Jaxx. The CD is fun, and it is called Crazy Itch Radio. The highlight is "On the Train". It samples some great music with some nice twist. Diana Krall pulls a few good selection from her From This Moment On album. Janet Jackson released a new cd. Overall not bad, but is just ain't Control. All and all, the music scene has been disappointing. More rap less sing-songy tunes. So, as you stand in the local record shop, Ha, can't do that now can you. As you search the internet for new renderings, may the force be with you.

Friday ... In the park!

Tomorrow is a very critical day...it is Friday! Tomorrow is a very critical day...it is the end of the work week. Tomorrow is a very critical day...it is the day my favorite band comes to Fort Wayne, Chicago. I have seen the band many times. But each time is like the first time. They are a very brassy group. I love the sound of the horns. I love the sing-songy lyrics. This week has been long, busy and troublesome at points. The idea of relaxing with friends, listening to a great band in the historic Embassy Theatre is just what the love doctor recommends.

Sex in the City!

Well, I spoke of my adventures to Madison. I had a wonderful time. I met amazing people. Bridgette, Dana and Sian. As we stormed the streets of Madison, I laughed because we walked so fast and had such personal conversations at points, that I felt like I was part of Sex in the City. We stopped amongst our hustle to see window displays of "cute" dresses, "sexy" blouses. I thought I would share a couple of the pictures.

My world began refreshed ...

This weekend has been life changing! People say this all the time, like "Dude, I met this girl and she changed my life". Well, I can understand and state the same crazy phrase, but the leadership conference awoke something deep that will allow me to see my life, work and play efforts through another set of eyes. The other eyes won't be able to function again. What happened? What was the color the punch I drank? Truthfully, I have not been an amazingly religious soul. Nor have I thought of anything I have done as trail-blazing. This weekend at the Young Professionals Summit in Madison, Wisconsin, I heard the words, felt the message of the key note speaker and two day moderator, Rebecca Ryan. The facts were staggering. Like someone who is 70 years old, right now, is surround by his piers at 5 to 1 being white to minority. A child who is five is surrounded by by his piers at 1 to 1 being white to minority. The cultural shift in America is rapid and fast. Within 5 years women and minority will hold 70% of the jobs in America. But those are simply numbers. What I felt that changed my being, is that it truly is up to our generation to make our communities better and in touch with the times. Developing the culture and class to meet the needs of the demographics. How to retain the 25-45 age demographics. How this effects the work place. What employees want from their career. That someone who is 25 has already held at least five jobs. Again, statistics. But the point remains, this is not the America my parents or grandparents have found comfort. This is a culture where a child will text message the parent, one room away to ask if dinner is ready. Being one of two Fort Wayne Indiana delegates to hear this message and know that the responsibility is larger now for our generation to be visible and make greater strides in all levels of our life, is now more clear than anything I have yet to learn in life or in college. The people who I have met at this conference are by far some of the greatest people I have encountered. I depart today from Wisconsin and this conference refreshed. Well, sort of, I am exhausted. Never thought that thinking would take so much out of me. One parting thought, I had the cheese curds. They were okay. Just okay. Which just tells me Wisconsin cheese is like their football team, just okay.