Fort Wayne i-mazing!

I saw this picture in the Journal Gazette. I am sure few others did, because the circulation is around 7 or 8 on a Saturday edition. People actually were sitting outside with anticipation of the new Iphone. I have a phone, but I am not sure that I would have stood in line to get it. In fact, I would be more likely to stand in line to give the phone back, and my land line too. Hmm.


Friday when I was headed downtown I saw a dancing cowboy right outside the the courthouse! Who knew, but it is comforting to know that even the cowboys get the blues! He had the Brokeback Mountain plaid shirt and Toby Keith-esque straw hat. He learned his dancing from an old Paula Abdul video, but it was entertaining.


I also saw about four "In God we Trust" hell-terror drivers on the road. I am amazed that someone else has not gone vigilante to stop these nuts from driving in two lanes or running red lights or going 20 under the speed limit.


I am just thinking, what would I stand in line for twenty hours to get? Would I have done that for a television? A radio? A signed picture of Dolly Parton? A quick divorce? A high interest rate on my CD? A big bowl of tuna casserole? What would you stand in line to get?

Too much booty is not good....

So you say you don't want someone to have you in the death pool!?! Well, too much of this booty will kick you to the curb. Veggie Booty has been pulled from the shelves! Lifted from headlines: A popular snack food sold nationwide is being recalled because of concerns about contamination. All lots and sizes of Veggie Booty Snack Food are being recalled, the company said, following a report of 51 cases of salmonella poisoning that may be associated with the product. Veggie Booty Snack Food is sold in supermarkets, health food stores, vending machines and online in the United States and Canada. It is sold in flexible plastic foil bags in 4 ounce, 1 ounce and half-ounce portions. The brand name is Robert's American Gourmet, and all codes and expiration dates of Veggie Booty are being recalled.The company said consumers who purchased Veggie Booty and still have the product in their homes should discard the contents and contact the company at 1-800-626-7557 for reimbursement. So stay away from the Vegan Booty and you should be just fine. Sorry health nuts, you are going to need to find a substitute.

Six months of nuts!

This has been one crazy year with crazy happenings. I flash back six months to recall that somehow Kelty is the Republican candidate for Mayor. I have a write in planned and it is Mickey Mouse. All in favor?

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The View rose from the ashes, or is that Rosie from the ashes. Good gracious, this lady is so far left that she is in her own little planet. From talking about the war to the President to even just yesterday dressing her child up in bullets, she should be held for 72 hour observation.

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The entire blonde ditz society: Brittney, Paris, Nicole, Lindsey that made every newscast with some sort of drama, hysteria, legal woes to hair cuts - these ladies were the only thing of key importance.

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Anna Nicole Smith - well, the way I found out about the Death Pool national phenomenon, was that someone had picked her. Trust me, she will be the biggest name to pass in 2007 and perhaps this decade. More tv hours were devoted to her than any other topic. Even Law and Order and CSI (all of their shows) do not add up to the number of viewing hours of Anna Nicole Smith television viewing opportunities.

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Imus is no longer a morning person, in fact he is not allowed to do or say much of anything because he said "nappy headed-ho", which lead to the death of Don Ho.

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Indiana introduced and issued "In God We Trust" drivers license plates which gives those drivers free reign to drive like a nut, cut people off, drive slow in a fast lane or fast through a neighborhood or sway between yellow lines because they feel God is with them. I wish someone would commission a study (even just as we drive around count) how many crazy drivers have the God plates on their car. You will be amazed, that this is more truth than fiction!

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Finally Patty Duke came to Fort Wayne for Tapestry and helped to raise money for a scholarship, so not all things were shake your head nuts. Oh wait, no, I won't go there....

Zip ... nada!

Every month I attempt to give an endorsement of a product that seems fresh, exciting, something you might just need to try. Well, many years ago I gave up soda. Every now and again I will have one. No real rhyme or reason, I just feel the urge for a soda.

Sometimes when I have a Patty Melt at the Waffle House or standing around a junk food alley kinda of situation.

Well the soda I tried and remarkably liked was Coke Zero. Now perhaps it tasted good because I have not had soda in a long time. Like an alcoholic, top shelf and freshly distilled Vodka "taste the same", this may be the case with this Coke Zero that is without Sugar!

I even tried the Vanilla version and was remarkably impressed. So perhaps when you are at the store and want to try something new, try Zero and see what you think.

There has been no monetary rewards given to Carbo for the endorsement of this product.

Stand Back!

I am a fallen Catholic. Meaning I was born and raised in a Catholic home, even attended a Catholic College but I have given up the "Fish on Fridays" and conduct drive by prayers to the church. No, I was not abused by a Priest! I was too old when I went to church to be eye candy for the men of the cloth haha. I just have not found much comfort in a Sunday morning ritual that does not include me ordering sausage gravy and biscuits.

I am not big on 'love thy neighbor'. Heck! I do not even want to wave to them as I see them outside. The idea of congregating in a large room on uncomfortable wooden slabs that have Cheerios and gummy bears slime all over them just does not make for a good time.

Now, our friend Paris Hilton, who has done hard time for drinking the hard liquor, has found herself religion. We will soon find out what religion when she sits down with Larry King. (That is, if Larry King is still alive in a couple days... now there is a Death Pool name for someone!) Oh, yah, and this is the other reason I do not go to church. I have moments where I am not the most righteous or politically correct.

Anyway, I have done very well at not breaking many of the commandments. I can careless about my neighbor's house, I don't covet nor care to go inside. I would not bear false witness to my neighbor because I avoid making eye contact. Though murder has crossed my mine, I have not, shall not. Speaking of shall ... I have taken the Lord's name in vane and then speaking of taking, I did steal a rock from a garage sale when I about 9. I do honor the parents and I do not speak of many Gods, but it is hard not to - Katie Curic is always introducing new Gods on the nightly news. As for adultery, my married life did not have much heat and sneaking women on the side was something that never even crossed my mind. I know Sunday to be the day of worship, but I also know that if I get to Sara's by 8:30 a.m. I will beat the church crowd! Which brings me full circle to my sausage gravy and biscuits. The nice thing about being a fallen Catholic, at least I can still eat my sausage, bacon and other slabs of meat.

I think it just stands for nuts!

I have never followed the life and lips of Angelina Jolie. I guess I had no idea she was marked up like a large graffiti board. I really don't know how many of her movies I have seen, because I think she is kind of forgettable. What I did find out is she has about thirty movies to her credit, that she is about 32 years old (probably older), and has a football team of a family that she has recruited from all over the country.

Her popularity is down, and ranks at 62% so she is better than Bush in that category! She has been on 154 magazine covers! So I guess I have seen her alot, but I guess I just figured she was just a logo of a magazine.

In 2004, Angelina was made an honorary citizen of Cambodia by the Prime Minister of Cambodia because of her social work there.

Angelina has a tattoo of a blue window on her lower back, which she claims is because no matter where she was at any point in her life, she always found herself looking out a window, wishing to be elsewhere. Which does not explain the nine hundred word essay on her back, but low and behold, she has one.

I guess I have finally became aware that she is everywhere. I just thought she was part of the wall paper, but really, she is "out there".

Fort Wayne, Indiana

As a Hoosier by blood and life line, I have found this city to provide me with many great opportunities that other cities would not without incurring much higher price tags. I have a grand home for a spittoon of a price. I have a career where I can earn a decent living and not have to drive an hour to work or be forced to carpool with neighbors, who I don't communicate with currently.

There is a festival every weekend in Fort Wayne during the summer. Some are more exciting than others. Greekfest is now and this one was a fun cut of culture. The food seem authentic, though I would not know it to be, because we don't have a Greek restaurant in town. So, Fort Wayne is not a utopia, but it is fine and fun.

I read in the paper that 82% of the people in Fort Wayne own their own home. However 15% actually have an MP3 player! What? How is this possible? Nearly three fourths of our community -residents own a computer but about three percent have never been online.

People do come to Fort Wayne as a tourist. So all the people who think, 'what a hell hole'... well, your hell hole is a cement pond to someone else. We have 87 parks in Fort Wayne. We have a skateboard park, we have a water park and rose gardens too! We have pretty moderate winters with about 30 inches of snow (boo hoo for my snow cone factory!) We have 13 colleges/universities.

29% of visitors will spend four of five nights visiting Fort Wayne. So, when we say there isn't much to do, or fun attractions or things to keep us active, perhaps we should talk to those who vacation here to find out what they are doing.....

A few pigs rejoice....

The creator of the Bob Evans restaurant chain has passed away, his name WAS Bob Evans!

I had always wondered if there really was a Bob Evans. There was, and he was just a state away. What started out as a truck-stop style place grew into the magnificent chain of home-style restaurants. There were $1.6 millions in sales this past year covering 18 states with 590 restaurants. That is alot of biscuits and gravy and whole hog sausage!!

As you pass the red style home-restaurant remember the man who invested 54 years in creating the restaurant dynasty! (One more person gone from the death pool)

More stuff from nuts to bolts

So many random thoughts!

Like the fact Target is going to sell Wedding Dresses under $100! Do you have any idea how many white trash trailer gun toting weddings are now going to be possible. Target needs to also sell easy divorce papers.

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Another happening is that Matt Kelty was found not guilty for money matters with his campaign. This still DOES NOT make him a good candidate to be on the ballet. Our city needs someone like New York Mayor Bloomberg to break away, become an independent, and take our city by storm.

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Price is Right could see Rosie O'Donnel with the long microphone saying "Come'on down!" Talk about end of an era. The poor ladies who work on the Price is Right thought they had a slim chance of being molested, touched or abused. Guess they may lose that hope!

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Mitch Daniels says if you are going to put your butt on a motorcycle, cough up ten more bucks to register. Why? He feels you motorcyclist have more medical issues, and the fee will go toward research on spinal cord injuries.

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What is up with the gas prices? They have gone up and down like Carnie Wilson's weight. I guess I should be happy at 285 but as any good dieter knows ... 285 is nothing to shout about.

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Finally, this weekend is Greekfest. It is also the architectual walk in Forest Park Blvd. So much to see and do... just get out there and have some fun!

Now, stand up!

The Three Rivers Festival does have a few fun things in store... the return of the bed race. Not as exciting as the raft race, but the bed race helps to add some competition back into a normal food fest. The Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana will lend support to the bed race. It will be the highlight of the Three Rivers Festival for some, and disturbing to others who are jealous that they can not participate because at their home they do not have a bed, which is under the viaduct, but they always have the junk food alley to "party - hardy".

Stay tuned for more information and begin to plan your four wheeled bed!

Oh, you better be sitting down for this one...

In 1986, I graduated. I remember the music very vividly! One of the songs that I recall was called "Keep Your Hands to Yourself". It was from the second album released by Georgia Satellites. Their first album was not stellar, nothing really made motion. In fact it was called an EP, just a few trial songs.

The 'hand' song went to number two, but the number one song that kept it from going to the top was Bon Jovi, "Livin' on a Prayer". Not like we have heard that song before, or after 1986! Well the Satellites struggled until 1991 when they released there Greatest Hit CD. Which included one more notable song "Hippy Hippy Shake". This Best of package did not sell well either, though I am not sure why since they had two hits in seven years! Shut up Shania and five top songs in one year!

The group released one more album in 1996 but broke up. But guess what!?! They are going to reunite in Fort Wayne. NO shit!?! Yes, they are coming to Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Festival as the headline act July 21, 2007. No advance tickets available, the ticket price is $5.00. Save up the pennies, look under seat cushions, because we all got to see history in the making. After eleven years of being broken up, they will come together for the night.

Lifted from their web page, I found this as the last paragraph on the Georgia Satellite page, you can just tell they are rip-raring-ready! Since the late 1990s, band members Richards and Price still play together as The Hellhounds, with Pitts on drums. Dan Baird continues his solo career in Nashville, and Mauro Magellan has left the music business altogether, working a regular job in Wisconsin. Besides his commitments to The Hellhounds, Richards also plays with former Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin in his band, The Ju Ju Hounds. It is not known whether or not there will ever be another Georgia Satellites album, or a reunion of the original band.

Artists at work...

Yesterday was the Covington Art Fair (in Fort Wayne). A friend and I went there when it opened and spent a good chunk of the day looking at local artists and artists from a far showing what they do to add to the world of art. My friend purchased this print. It is a Terry Ratliff. Not to be out done, I purchased three different ones which are being framed. She picked up a Santa Brink too! I made a purchase for my parent's anniversary. It was fun to bump into friendly faces and it was even more fun to stuff our faces with Indian fare as we stopped for lunch in the Covington Plaza. There are so many fun things to do in Fort Wayne, and I am really glad this is home. In the past two days I have experienced two wildly different community activities and both allowed me to see people and things that I would not if I just stayed in my own little neighborhood. Today is Father's Day. The fun fest will be a nice change of pace also, to just have calmness. To all the fathers, or to you who may be fathers but do not know it, hats off!

This little piggy went to the market....

but the rest went to the bank. Here is the deal, all the pigs had jobs at Ribfest! One went to the market, while the rest collected money. Four dollars to park, which is not a big deal when you think of other cities. Then it was six dollars to walk into the vending area. So, at this point (for my non mathematical friends, I invested ten dollars to just look at what was for sale). Oh, yeah, one of the pigs was a sign maker. There were signs nearly two stories tall touting how wonderful their ribs were, the awards they won. Speaking of awards, one of the pigs made trophies, because these trophies were as tall as six foot tall. I am talking serious about their trade!

My friend and I decided to squeak like a pig and split samplers. We had two sampler baskets: Griffin (which was a drier style sauce and not one of our favorites). The bet we made was the rib that came out of the trailer, meant for us landed on the table. Of course, we received a fresh one, but 10 to 1 odds, that little rib made its way into the next person's basket! The second was Texas BBQ. A tangy, meaty rib with a very thick sauce. this group seemed to have better ribs.

Every rib sampler was $6.00.

We also split a dessert. If we were in a fancy restaurant, it would have been called Bananas Foster. Rather in a vending style setting, it was called Tropical Delight. Which sounds more whoreish, but for what we paid for it, a whore may have been cheaper and we would have got more whip cream! Anyway, this is a banana, fried with a bit of strawberry, and chocolate syrup, and whip cream and sprinkles. All for the amazing price of $5.00.

Now mind you, festivals are for fun. They are not meant to be looked at a way to save money rather they are investing into a feeling. For nearly two hours, we stood around watching people and talking and we were surprised that nearly two hours went by before we saw anyone we knew! Finally, we did and we felt better about being there ....

Oh yeah, we also received a free sample of a summer sausage which was cooked on a grill. Here is the real kicker, it was cooked on a grill and the outside was crispy and the inside was soft but not in a good way. The outside tasted like a fire cooked marshmallow, and the inside was cold as a marshmallow. Never had I tasted meat that tasted like a marshmallow --- and not chicken!

So, the moral of the story festivals are not for the poor, but I'd be damned to know we had so many rich people in Fort Wayne that I have never met before, or know by appearance.

Cookies... she is doing it for the cookies!

I never knew why I was a Girl Scout fan, but today when I heard this bit of news, I knew exactly why.... Dolly Parton will become an Girl Scout on Friday. Here is the story I lifted from headlines: June 11, 2007 — Dolly Parton will finally get to join the Girl Scouts on June 15 at a presentation at her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
"While I was never a Girl Scout myself when I was a kid, I always wanted to be," she says. "This great honor lets me live out a dream and to be part of an organization that stands for many of the same values I do and Dollywood does."
Girl Scouts from Dolly’s native East Tennessee will join the icon on stage to lead her in the Girl Scout Promise and present her with the lifetime membership pin. More than 1,000 Girl Scouts are to take part in the event.
Dolly claimed another honor last week when she received the Johnny Mercer award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She told the AP that she considers songwriting the most important part of her career. 'I would always give up everything before I give up the writing, because it's really my way of expressing myself and the song just took me everywhere I've been so far, she said. "To be honored for it and recognized for it is a great, great compliment."
Accepting her award, Dolly joked, "Throughout my whole career, I've been known for two things. I'm talking about my music and my lyrics."

An empty desk awaits ...

Growing up, I thought I had the coolest relative. She was on television and she had her own following and it was pretty darn cool. I think part of my love for the media, whether it is television or radio, may be because I saw (or perhaps glamorized) the industry. The person was Ann Colone. I say was, because she recently passed away. I am sure somewhere a glass or two or three is being tipped in honor.

During the 80's most of my closest relatives passed away from many reasons but cancer being a top cause. My grandmother (s) and Ann were a couple that lived on and beyond. So this closes a chapter in the extended branches of my genealogy tree.

Lifted from headlines:

Ann Colone is a retired Fort Wayne, Indiana broadcaster. She began as a secretary for WGL (AM). She eventually became a DJ on the station.
Once she moved to television, she hosted "The Ann Colone Show," a noontime homemaker show on WANE-TV. The show began as a half-hour show, but grew to an hour, then to an hour and a half. She interviewed numerous and various celebrities of the time such as Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, and The Rolling Stones. The show was local but a great hit and was a precursor to the Johnny Carson Show. She was also a well known star in many local plays for years. Ann also hosted a show similar to Bandstand. She was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was a renown celebrity in the area.
Ms. Colone died on Tuesday June 12, 2007, at the age of 77.

Make a Wish!

As with any good things (or bad things) it has a beginning and an end. I have reached the end of this vacation in Nashville Tennessee! The adventure to CMA Music Fest - Fan Fair had been like a "Make a Wish" dream come true. The four day concert series concluded last night with me gathering in the following shows: Stephen Cochran, Kellie Pickler (who is really not talented at all, and her first CD may also be known as her farewell cd), Big and Rich (with special guest Cowboy Troy and Two Foot Fred), Gretchen Wilson, Taylor Swift, Billy Currington, some guy from Australia who I didn't care for, Rodney Atkins, Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley. Overall, I saw an amazing array of singers perform. It has been music overload. My head has been spinning for days now trying to take in all the events which take place. I attended 38 concerts in four days! That is alot of music.

Nashville really has this event mapped out well. Traffic really is not a problem in the least bit. Pricing gouging really is not seen. Volunteers and shuttles are plentiful. The natives are friendly (but people from Ohio are really a pain in the ass!)

Yesterday our group went to Opryland for brunch with singer/songwriter Jana Stanfield. Opryland is an amazing hotel and campus. We had a delight talking with her and enjoying the view of the property.

Today begins the trek back to reality. Vacation ends and work begins. However, this has really been like a special dream come true. From a very youthful age I had aspired to see this event in real life. This month, it happened. I could not be more pleased at everything that has transpired to get here and experience it.

I've got the music in me...

The biggest night of the trip so far included concerts by: Josh Turner, Jo Dee Messina, Angela Hacker, Billy Ray Cyrus, Leann Rimes and special unscheduled appearance by Rascal Flats! The last act, and the highlight of the evening was Martina McBride. She blew the roof off the place, oh it is an outdoor arena - guess someone blew the roof off sometime before her! Phenomenal evening!

Weather was hot during the day but at night a gentle breeze kept the night's heat at bay. I can say that I am slowing down, I have had music overload and still have one more day! It has been an amazing adventure. I have seen and heard more artists in one day than I might in a year. Traffic has been pretty decent, and the only thing that I would complain (again) about would be the weather. I have drank more to keep hydrated than I would normally consume in a life time too!

Yesterday, also, we went to get signed autographs. Carrie Underwood was surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of people deep. Though I never got close enough to see her, those that did, said she was petrified of the mob of people. I met Chad Tyson, Rachel Williams, Kyle Wyley, Angela and Zac Hacker, Dee Dee Dillion, the Well Hungarians, and Deborah Allen (who remembered me from the dinner I had with her a couple years ago). We took a break and that helped to recharge, but my battery is dead this morning. One day left and it should be a great way to cap off a fabulous vacation. Coming up: Headed to Opryland for brunch with singer/songwriter Jana Stanfield (from Tapestry - the IPFW fund raiser). Stay tuned the fun continues.

Over 66,000

Yeah!!! Sara and I...

Sugarland!

Josh Turner


Reba and Kelly

Here are a few pictures from the concert venue. Lot of country folk rockin' out!

It even rains in Nashville...

Well, CMA Music Fest - Fan Fair continues. Yesterday I woke up and went to the signing area -met a new artist, Sherry Lynn, who gave me her brand new single. Met Kassie DePaiva (who plays Blair on One Life to Live or played Chelsea on Guiding Light a stretch ago) met two Nashville Stars Melanie Torrez and Dustin Wilks and country-cowboy Trent Wilmon. After that session I made my way to fill up my tummy with good ole fashion BBQ with some sweeeetttt teeaaahhh. Had a great lunch and when I stepped outside I noticed the sky had turned grey. The storms were approaching but I kept walking anyway to the outdoor concerts when smack bam boom the lightening began to strike and officials closed it up ... Josh Gracin and Angela Hacker were cancelled. Boo hoo, that was who I wanted to see! I ducked under a bridge and took a phone call about work and finally pulled a cab to get me back to the hotel. Now mind you, this is my second cab ride and the first one was a psychotic adventure. This one was just as freakin crazy too. The driver spoke little English. On the highway he was going up to 40 mph and then the car would die and he would restart it and get it back up to 40 in the passing lane mind you. He rolled down the windows ... he claimed it was helping the car but I was getting wet... he said something about a light. I assumed he saw the light and we were driving into it. However, I made it back to the hotel and rested a tad. To my surprise while I was having fun, poor Paris Hilton was sent back to jail. Life just seems so unfair for the haves and the have nots! Sorry Paris!

Dinner time rolled around and we went back downtown and had dinner at an outdoor venue. It was time for the music to begin and we saw Carrie Underwood (who was awarded on stage a 6th platinum CD for sales of her album), Sara Evans, Montgomery Gentry (who brought out special guest Ted Nuggent), Jason Aldean, Sugarland and Little Big Town! Wow what a night, it truly was better than the night before. The weather was beautiful, cloud free night and the temperatures dropped to a livable heat. Stay tuned for your Nashville Update!

Spiritual Quest

Yesterday was the kick off of Fan Fair. Concerts beginning at 10 in the morning and lasting until midnight. We got to the fan fair portion of the day around 10 am. This is where you can get autographs by country music acts. You can have your picture taken and they will sign something. I met Carmen from American Idol, Brad Cotter the Nashville Star winner, country music veteran Mark Chesnut, another Nashville Star contestant Jason Meadows and an up and coming singer named Stephen Cochran. Oh yeah, and met this one lady who I had never ever heard of. In fact everyone in the line kept saying, "who is she?" Her name is Maggie Austin. I asked her when she signed the picture, 'are you singing?' She said no, just signing autographs.

Scratch my head on that series of events. About 2 we left the fan section and went to the Wild Horse Salon. This place rocks. It is a 66,000 square foot restaurant, bar and concert site. My friend and I had 42 oz margaritas with a red-headed cowboy shot. Okay, I was blitzed in just one drink. We split food but truthfully I would have probably ate my napkin. This was my first and only drink so far in Nashville.

We then went to be entertained with endless concerts as it seemed. The following acts performed yesterday: Ty Herndon, Bucky Covington, Darryl Worley, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Trent Tomlin, Whiskey Falls, Sarah Buxton (who was the worst of the bunch) Povertyneck Hillbillies, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bently, the Wreckers, Brooks and Dunn and the final singer was Reba McEntire! She performed at fan fair 11 years ago, and this is her first time back! The crowd was wild for her. She also brought out a singer many may not know by name... Kelly Clarkson! It was amazing. A great evening, kick butt music and live performances. I love live music and though some acts I would never have paid for, the fact they just kept coming out on stage one after another just made for a grand day. I got a bit of sun with 70 blocker. This is just telling you that 95 degrees is not a damn dry heat. The number of people at fan fair 160,000 (or a little less than half the size of Fort Wayne!) You stay in touch as I stay in touch...

Da pool don't work.

Day one of the travelogue to Nashville's Country Music Festival! After leaving at the crack of dawn, we made it to Nashville around 2:30 p.m. We went directly to our hotel which is a Laquinta. We found that southern hospitality is not a universal or in-breed trait given to all people past the Bourbon distillery line. For lack of knowledge we will call her Lil (not because she is was little, but because that was a name I saw on the Waffle House menu which we ate it next door to our hotel and for that the ENTIRE trip has been worth it). Well, Lil was full of bad news, the pool does not work (it had water, looked blue I think she thought 'oh dear, the pool filled up with water and we got to wait until it gets all dried out!mmhmm!'

She continued to prop herself up at the desk with her can of soda and said no rooms available yet since we were a half hour early. I felt bad for the cleaning person who had to clean 200 rooms in thirty minutes! Well, we began to fume and we ended up switching hotels to the Days Inn (which is right across from Opryland). Okay enough about the hotel.

We got our check in packets for the music fest and Cowboy Troy was singing his 'hick-hop' brand of music at a street side concert. We stopped for a drink at Legends (where my drink was spilled before I had a sip) but I was not going to tear up because it was soda and not beer or vodka or something of great value. At this point, I broke away from my party and wandered the streets. First stop was a hole in the wall and had sweet tea with a hot dog and tater tots and listened to another live performance.

I got up and started toward my private party with Sara Evans. Stood in line for an hour and a half. Got inside and she had a full buffet dinner -pulled BBQ chicken, baked beans (that were spicier than hell) potato salad with cornmeal muffins. Topped off with sweet tea. We ate in a dinner show set up, I was about three rows back from the stage. Her brother in law came out to warm up the crowd (which he really did not need to do, cuz it was already 97 degrees!) Sara came out and performed for an hour! Great show and for those who read this blog earlier this winter, she was dressed in clothes that fit her and NO TAGS were visible! Following the concert, pictures - but no autographs.

I hopped a cab back to the room about 11:00 p.m. because I was just plum tired. But my friends called and they were headed to see Brooks and Dunn. More to come....

Oh how the years go by...

For thirty years, I have had a dear friend. Considering that I have just turned 39 that is a huge portion of my life. Considering my sister is 34, I have known my friend for just a few years fewer than my sister. Well yesterday I received word that she will be relocating from Fort Wayne to the land of the Wild Kingdom. No, not an African adventure, but an adventure that seems just as scary - Omaha! This transition won't take place for a bit of time, but it has made me sad, very sad actually. When I think back over the past three decades and the fun and the memories we have shared there are enough to write a book. From riding bikes as kids, to senior high school pranks to Chi Chi dinners to bowling to college letters back and forth that would rip open a gut from the dry humor to marriages (we both had one and don't now) to box wine to trips to Minnesota to gossiping about the reunions we never attended to holiday parties to countless other memories that have made this the most important friendship in my life. Another friend said I should be happy, and I am sure someday I will. For now, I am just sad to miss the comfort of a friend who was just a bottle of house wine away.

Everyone knows your name...

So yesterday after cleaning and all the fun Sunday chores, I wanted to just unwind, relax, kick up my feet and not think. So I did and then I thought. Which was the entire reason of sitting down, but what I thought was "your direct tv is out!". So I had to think what could I put in the DVD player. So I slipped in Cheers! I somehow had forgot why this was my favorite television program until I heard the one line smacks from the characters. The wit of Diane Chambers or the goofy lines from Woody. The show did the trick as I watched eight episodes from season four before I retired to bed. I miss television. Not so much my Direct Tv television, television where the shows were funny, engaging and warm. A friend of mine does not have cable. She had the "Ghetto Five" package. All the local stations but I don't even qualify for the Ghetto Five so until my new receiver come by mail I will enjoying not watching television. Cheers!

A page from the book

Some had requested some of the recipes from Carbo's Brunch Bunch:

The first one is Ham and Cheese Muffins (but I made it in a pan because it was easier for portions and time).

2 cups of self-rising flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup of milk

1/2 cup of mayonnaise

1/2 cup of mini-chunked ham (I think I did more)

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I know I did more)

Preheat over to 425. Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin pan. In a large bowl combine flour and baking soda (mix baby, mix). In a separate bowl, combine milk, mayonnaise, ham and cheese. Add milk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring to mix well. It will be sticky and lumpy. Spoon batter into muffin cups filling each 2/3 full. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. This entire dish can be prepared in thirty minutes to include cleaning up.

Bee by your side.

Following the Brunch yesterday, I went outside to get the mail and the paper, my servant must have been off. From the time I left my front door until I got to the mail box I had two bees that continued to swarm me like I was the Earth circling the sun. With the mail in my hand I swatted at one and killed it, the other went for my jugular and bit me. So perhaps I had it coming but little did he know, I had been drinking grapefruit martinis, so sorry little bee, you were probably a bit surprised to find my blood too be pickled. I don't think that bee won't be making honey any time soon. On tap today is the continuation of dishes and pots and pans.

Worth getting out of bed for...

Today was Brunch Bunch! It was a chance for me to try out a dozen new recipes with a couple dozens of my friends. A few hours before the chickens crackled, I was hustling my non-proportioned body around my kitchen. Mixing and baking and reading the recipe and then doing something totally different than what it said, for all the right reasons of course haha. The stands outs (from what I can see were devoured first) were the croissants that were sliced in half and coated in a cinnamon sugar/egg/milk batter and cooked to perfection as true French Toast! Another stand out was my dear friend Paula Deen's inspired Biscuits and Sausage Gravy. The food, the wine and the special drinks my friend whipped up from fresh mint she grew in her garden allowed the gang to taste, touch and feel why people gather for brunches in the south! A friend brought some killer flowers to add to the ambiance of the house too. It was fun to meet new people too! The fun thing about a Carbo bash, normally, it just takes one opportunity to attend to be on the guest list and from there, you never know when your name will get pulled out of the hopper for future events. Coming up, Carbo will be sending out save the date cards for the Annual Holiday Open House. This years theme is MEXICarbO. Just a bit further south than Paula Deen! If you are reading and wonder how you may score an invitation to the most coveted event of the year, leave me a comment, you could just be added.

White or black smoke, all the same....

In Fort Wayne, officially today many things you could do yesterday can not be done today. For example, you can not light up a cigarette in a public restaurant. You can not have a smoke in a bar or a bowling alley (who goes to bowling allies anyway?) You can not light an incense in a church (but you can light them in your home if you are trying to mask... you know perhaps bad cooking, yeah, bad cooking!) You can't get "smoking mad" at your boss! You can't have a smoked turkey leg. You can't have open pit BBQ. You can't have a campfire to roast, toast or burn food items. You can't burn your leaves (or you house, that too is illegal, but that may have always been a law). So where there is smoke there is the right to be fined, arrested or assaulted, insulted or something similar. But you can light smoke bombs on 13 days of the year, so every smoker in town is awaiting the fourth of July. Ah, just like electing a new Pope!