Thanks for stopping by my Blog! Normally, I update daily

but you have caught me while I am away from the country.

Please stop back after May 3, 2008 as I will

update and share my travel adventures.

All my best,

Carbo

Wrapping it up ...

As I wrap up the weekend, and prepare for my departure ... I have a handful of thoughts ...

First - Last evening was Cookin' Men - where I made 13 pies for the fundraiser - there were to be 14 but one pie had a broken crust and I thought, 13 is still plenty. It was fun to see so many faces of friends and acquaintances that I had not seen since last year's event but even came across someone I had not seen in 7 years.

Second - What is up with the forehead? Is that in vogue now? Recent pictures of John Mellencamp and Donny Osmond show them sporting forehead transplants or something. Who knew that this was possible!

Third - the Presidential election must be much more tight on the democratic side than I even must imagine. You know this is true when former President, Bill Clinton, will make a stop Monday in Decatur! Even the people of Decatur don't stay in Decatur. Which means people from Hoagland, or Poe, or Zulu are going to Decatur to hear the former President on Monday.

Fourth - Well, this may come as a shock, but Marriott may pull porn off the selection of things to be found in your hotel room. This will keep a group of conservatives from making hay while others do it for pay. Hilton will not be removing it from their their selections, because their daughter makes her living that way.

Finally - I do believe this to be my last blog post until I return. Please have a great three weeks as I plan to do the same. I will be back starting with a May 3 or May 4th post. Until then, eat a bowl of pasta and think of me.

Carbo Makes His First Visit to Italy ... Pope Makes HIs First to USA

I have waited a life time to go to Italy, and I am nearing the day that I can say reality beats out fantasy.

Isn't it funny, the day that I depart for Italy ... the Italian icon, the Pope, is departing for the US. This marks his third year sitting in the big chair at the Vatican.

So as I go on vacation for three weeks, the Pope is also going on vacation - I bet though he is not going on a food adventure like I will. Nearly everyday of the trip will be food related - whether it is a cooking class on the mountain top of Tuscany or a gourmet food tasting of Venice, I will be taking in the best of the culinary of my mother land. If I come back a tad larger, please don't hate me. However, right after I return my kitchen will be removed for three months so I will quickly shed what I put on - at least in theory this is how my mind is thinking.

My blog will go on hiatus for about three weeks. I will be without a telephone, without a cell phone and no Internet access. I plan to take a boat load of pictures, drink plenty of Italian wine and roll around in olive oil.

Another Brick in the Wall

Even though it is just days away before I depart for Italy, I still have many things I am working on ...

When I return, I will break ground on the room addition, remodel and the demolition of my current sunroom and kitchen. Last night, I was able to confirm that the thirty three foot brick interior wall has been purchased along with the thirty three foot back splash above my counters.

My kitchen should look 'old world' when all is said and done. The tile, which I have above, is a combination of marble, onyx and granite. This will run the entire length of the counter top which is a continual thirty three feet of counters. Perfect for cooking but even better for a buffet when I entertain. There are not going to be many above counter cabinets, instead, I am going to have tumbled marble bricks that will create the wall.

My kitchen will expand by twelve feet, it will have double ovens, a new stove top, virtually all new appliances. I am going to have custom made cabinets with glass fronts for the three above the counter cabinets.

Ah yes, and this will all begin when I return from vacation. So, in my spare time, I need to order appliances. Can you imagine what amusing (meaning frustration) experiences await me?

Million Dollar Smile ...

Yesterday was the routine trip to the dentist. I go every four months to have my teeth cleaned and this time a check up.

All was going well, until they got back to the molars and shared with me that though the teeth look good on the Xray, and that visually they are "solid as horse teeth" (which I don't think that is a compliment) I have the beginning of periodontal pockets.

Uggh, what? Well, this is a bacteria that forms in the gums, and normally is genetic, and can be treatable without surgery - if caught early enough. Since it was not there in December, we should be in good shape.

I thought just my luck, but it is nearly every one's luck - 80% of all Americans have this ... shew, I am just part of the norm. So, what happens to me and my teeth - well, once I return from Italy I will go in and have a slow release antibiotic shot into my gums that will work toward killing the bacteria. I need to upgrade from my standard tooth brush to an electric toothbrush and floss more than I do now and this should, since caught early enough, resolve it without going to the next step which is surgery.

So I was kinda bummed about the news because I have had nice solid teeth over my lifespan of almost 40 years, but a shot may just make it all right. Have you gone to your dentist lately?

Big Man on Campus ...

Last night, Mayor Tom Henry sat down with the leadership of the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana.

Who are the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana? Simply put, your future - Fort Wayne - the people who plan to take Fort Wayne by storm either in business, social services, volunteerism, politically and synergy of collaboration. An all volunteer group that can tout over 1,000 interested and informed young adults normally between the age of 20-40. [This reads, Carbo will out of the club in about a month]

I serve in the capacity of secretary to the board of directors. A role that gives me great 10,000 miles above the organization view. I have to say that this has to be one of the most exciting volunteer roles I have had in my twenty years of volunteering. Okay, back to the Mayor.

The Mayor gave up his time to share ways in which the average, everyday young leader can get involved to make a difference. He shared that many boards, committees and task forces need fresh ideas, fresh blood, new hands and hearts to get in and make a difference. He shared the road map on how to get onto those appointed roles.

He spoke of the future of our rivers, how the tax structure will effect home owners, the Harrison Square project but more importantly the growth and interest in downtown Fort Wayne. Of course we spoke about the death rampage that seems to be on the media's mind - we are not Gary, but if you read the paper you may think you just slipped off into the ghetto. I am not keen on drug dealers and drug users, so my thought is this is the perfect way to clean up our city - have at it - gun each other down. Have a block party or something and just execute each of your drug infested damaged souls. (The Mayor never said anything of the sort, this is me ranting)

Truth be told, Tom Henry was the right choice for Mayor. I could only have imagined what his November competitor may have spoke to us about if the vote came out any different -- hmm, lets see - how important the architecture to the Arby's downtown that was freshly painted.. hmm, that his myspace account has more than 8,000 kids under the age of 17 ... hmm, that he needs a bit of money to help with his legal fees so he won't have to sell his modest home, living his modest lifestyle. Oh, how thankful I am for Tom Henry and YLNI.

Check out Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana on the web at www.ylni.org.

Cooking Out Loud

One of my greatest passions has been and most likely always be - Cooking! I have taken classes on how to make sushi, cookies, cakes, and appetizers all here in our own backyard. I have taken classes in Savannah, New Orleans and New York too. I have shadowed my grandmother, who was a chef, my ex-wife was a fine cook as well.

Today I began to make sure that I had all my ingredients for Cookin' Men - the fundraiser through Parkview Hospital which benefits Francine's Friends. You know, I was one of Francine's friends - she was a dynamic, powerful and lovely woman - a person I miss dearly. These are the type of fundraisers which make sense all the way around.

The premise of this cooking event is not really to showcase any one person or anyone's skills. Rather to turn the tables in a world where most people think of the lady of the house as the person who prepares all the meals. Practice makes perfect. Well, this event has the men fumbling through the kitchen figuring out the difference of a whisk over a garlic press. Some men cook well and the others have women in their life to help make them look good.

My cooking for this event is so simple it is embarrassing. The one thing I can say, anyone who can open a tub of cool whip can make this dessert. Try it for yourself and see what happens in this sneak preview recipe:

1 tub of chocolate cool whip

1 bar of cream cheese

1 4 oz semi sweet chocolate bar

1 cup of toasted coconut

1 already whipped up pie crust - like Oreo or chocolate

Those are all the ingredients - so melt the chocolate in a microwave. Then in a larger bowl put the cream cheese and mix the melted chocolate to it and mix it until it is well blended. Fold in (that is a fancy way of saying gently put it in the bowl) the chocolate cool whip. You could use a vanilla flavored or a regular flavor but then again, it would not be MY recipe. Do not beat it, just combine them gently. Toss in the coconut, but save a small amount out. Pour into the pie crust. Sprinkle those last few handfuls of coconut on top of the pie. There you have it. Put it in the refrigerator for a couple hours and cut it up, plate it up and eat it up.

Making my lists ...

The last week in town before I depart for Italy has put alot of things on my plate. It is all clear who is taking Clyde, who is at the house, what happens to my mail, my bills, my plants, my work load - all of those details have been delegated.

Of course, my life could not be simply that easy - that I am only leaving for three weeks and I have nothing else to plan. Nope, the 45 - 45's are being hand delivered. What? I am turning 40 years old this May and I having an amazing evening of fun, but it was limited to 45 invitations being presented - all on a 45 record. It has been mighty challenging to determine who received the coveted invitation. My holiday party has over 200 invitees.

I have canvased the list of friends and acquaintances and selected those which would receive a hand delivered invitation. As of today, about half of them are in the hands of those invited. Ha, at one time I kinda felt like Willie Wanka passing out chocolate bars with gold tickets inside.

This is not an ordinary Carbo party - where I will be able to open my home to everyone and fun ensues. Nope, this is in a controlled environment with a national recording artist that will perform at a private venue. I am not even cooking for the party, so the control factor that I have always prided myself of being all knowing that I have the right food for the guests is out the window. I have taken a picture of the Indiana Hotel Lobby to figure out where I will set up everyone, the vocalist, the Catablu cateering and the bar. Pretty darn exciting.

I have to do all my laundry before I go ... I wash once a month and it is that time of the month. Why once a month? Well, I have plenty of clothes that I could go two months, but I have been roughly the same size for years and it is amazing how many clothes one can accumulate in a life time. Since I am so green, I wash when I have a full load - and that is once a month. Most of my clothes go to the dry cleaner - not as green.

Today I hit the road again to make deliveries. Maybe I will see you?

Just put it in my juice ...

I was shocked to find that there are many more uses for my favorite drink - Vodka - than simply adding no color to my favorite fruit juices.

• To help get rid of zits, apply vodka with a cotton ball - it will tighten your pores.


• To have stronger hair, apply a jigger of vodka to 12 oz of your shampoo. It removes toxins, cleans the scalps and makes your hair healthier - now I have to find cranberry soap!


• Bees buzzin' ya? Put vodka in a spray bottle and spray at bees or wasps. They will die!


• Got an ear ache? (or work with someone that you are sick of) Pour an ounce into your ear and then let it drain ... it will kill the bacteria (it really won't do much for your crazed co worker.


• Have a bandage you got to take off? Well, apply vodka and it will ease the release from the skin.

I am kind of looking forward to being sick or sore. Just need to make sure I have my favorite drink on hand to make the pain go away.

A penny for my thoughts

Now, I am all about saving things ... well things worth saving ... like Marshall Fields, or the smell of bread puffing out of Perfection Bakeries or clothes for Goodwill when they out grow me. Sometimes you got to know when to hold'em.

Have to say, that I commend those who want to save the Lincoln Museum, but don't you think that is ain't going to matter what we say or do. They had to weigh out that this was a "significant" year --- yet they said close. They had to know about the license plate --- yet they said close. They had to know of one of largest fall festivals in northeast Indiana named after it --- yet they said close. Even the idea that 1,000's of kids hop on yellow buses to learn about it --- they said close.

Tell me, what reason might anyone come up with the "search for ideas to keep the museum here" campaign would work? The Friends of Lincoln or their board of some group of good-dooers are working hard for people to write in and give ideas of what we can say or do to keep the museum in our community.

Here is my suggestion, save your pennies and let life unfold. Oh, and with those pennies, share them with others and say "look that is Lincoln, and we had a museum about him in our hometown". Trust me no one is going to then say ... "would you take me there..." because few people did and won't.

All aboard?

Perhaps a little known fact about Carbo is that my airline of choice is Northwest Airlines.

Okay, why, of all the things I could talk about ... state this? Is it because in less than two weeks I will be flying Northwest to Italy? Well, some of my trip is Northwest, but most of it will be with their partner flights.

Is it because I use a Northwest Airlines credit card and I get points for every dollar I spend? Well, sure that is a given. I like to shop and I love a credit card that gives me something. Plus I pay off my credit cards every month so I don't get socked with any interest rates.

Enough already, asking myself questions and giving an answer is not getting us any closer to why I am talking about Northwest Airlines....

Northwest Airlines is celebrating their newest nonstop service between Fort Wayne and Minneapolis/St. Paul with special introductory airfares in our Fort Wayne market. Daily service to Minneapolis/St. Paul starts May 3, 2008.

I cannot tell you how pumped I am to know that I can hop a plane in my own backyard (literally, it is in my backyard) and be in Minneapolis so I can go to the Mall of America and use my Northwest Airlines credit card, get points so they can send me home for free.

I love being an American - well not American - the flight, because they do not fly from Fort Wayne to Minneapolis direct. But you get where I am going ... I am going to Minneapolis

Faces without names

Yesterday as I was flipping through a magazine, I came across a picture of a person who I thought to myself, I have no idea who you are! However the name was someone that I have heard 10,000 times.

It made me wonder, how many other people do I know by name - that have made fame and fortune, their own celebrity that I would not recognize if I was sitting next to them at a restaurant.

Test your wit :