Opening Night

It was snowing again last night but not so badly that the opening of the quilt exhibit was cancelled again so I got dressed up a bit and brushed Miss Ruby off and headed downtown to Lynda's gallery where I met with warm welcome from Lynda and her husband Mike -- two of my favorite people -- and some much-needed hugs. {Note: all photos can be 'embiggened' for a better view by clicking on them.}

Armed with a glass of a nice Cabernet and my trusty camera, I wandered around to see the quilts and all the other wonderful examples of art in its many forms. (I lusted over a necklace I loved that, of course, was too expensive. Sigh) The gallery is small so the wall are jam packed with all sorts of lovely things. It's also a working gallery in that Lynda teaches classes for both adults and children and sponsors groups for hobbyists.

Last night, Karen and her quilts were at the forefront. Here are a few photos of my favorites:







Marge, who works with a wide variety of media but mostly creates fabric art, did the interesting portraits below. I missed her opening so I hadn't met her which was remedied last night when she stopped by. She's a really interesting lady and who is retired and exploring all sorts of things and was interested in that I blog. I bought a print of one of her portraits that I'd been wanting. I really want a real one but I have to win a couple hundred in the lottery first. Maybe if I bought a ticket . . .



Here's a lousy but fun photo that resulted when Mike and I played dueling cameras. It also shows that there was a pretty good turnout for a snowy evening.



Happy Blogging!!!!

Kay

Busy Tuesday Thoughts -- a Quick Update

It's Tuesday and I'm suffering from my messed up sleep patterns. I've been up most of the night despite my best efforts. The good news is that I didn't waste the time and got some good things done and off my list.

* I keep getting letters telling me that I'm paying too much for my car insurance. I think we all think we pay too much for that. The only reason I've been giving them notice is that I've been with my agency for three years and have never had a claim or any traffic violation. Because I am a good girl, it seems to me that my premium should be going up every year. If anything, I think they should be going down. I want your input. Should I be checking into changing companies? If you have suggestions you can email me at the addy in the sidebar.

* I had a nice surprise Sunday afternoon -- Brice knocked on my door and had a Styrofoam container in hand. His mom works part-time for an old friend of mine who owns a restaurant and Phil sent me one of his excellent club sandwiches. I think it was a not so subtle hint that he hasn't seen me in a while and I'd best get up there to touch base and have a meal.

* Sunday night was Symphony night and it was wonderful -- it started with Rachmaninoff and ended with Tchaikovsky and in the middle we had a marvelous mezzo soprano from the Santa Fe Opera Company as guest artist singing Liebersohn. It doesn't get much better than that!!!!! We are blessed to have such an excellent orchestra here!!!!

I think I'd better get some breakfast and then go lie down for a bit. I suspect it's going to be one of those days where I'm going to be a serial napper. Sigh.

Hope y'all have a great day!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Random Thoughts Midweek

I'm still exhausted but am trying mightily to get myself on a regular sleep schedule and eat better, too. I'm also trying to get focused on some thoughts I have on the back burner that need to be addressed.

* I hate housework as y'all know. I try to avoid it like the plague but, as we all know, it is always and ever with us. I'm always on the lookout for things that make these thankless tasks easier. I don't usually plug products here but one of the best discoveries I've found is Kaboom Bathroom Cleaner. It's the best thing I've found for cleaning my shower. I can have it sparkling in less than ten minutes. Just spray it on the walls and tub -- take a scrubber sponge to any nasty spots -- and run the shower full blast hot for a few minutes to rinse it down and voila! -- a nice shiny shower/tub!!!! I usually wipe mine down with a towel because I'm my mother's daughter and get picky but it's not really a 'gottado'. Try it!

* I went to the grocery after supper. Does anyone get as annoyed at the grocery as I do? The prices are dreadful --especially for fresh fruit and veggies: $3.99 for raspberries and $4.99 for blueberries -- for four ounces! Needless to say, I settled for bananas and grapes which still cost too much. Don't even get me started on the price of meat. I keep hearing that I'm supposed to eat healthy. I'd like to know how it's done on my income.

* I was stunned when I went to the grocery be cause it was busy. Usually it's empty which is why I like to go around seven. I started to comment to the guy ahead of me in line and stopped mid-sentence as I glanced at the newspaper rack and finished with . . . "omigod it's game night!"
He laughed and my cell phone rang. It was Jeff asking, "Where the hell are you? I thought we were gonna watch the game. " I lied and told him I was at the store getting food and would be there in ten. Sadly, our Cavaliers lost to the Magic by one lousy point. I told Jeff it was all his fault because they win if I watch the game alone. 'Sides, I don't know why anyone would want to watch anything at my house. My television is a little 19-inch with no bells or whistles. He's got a big fancy one that looks like it came off the Starship Enterprise. Men!

* I'm still cleaning a lot. When I leave to go to Toledo in two weeks, I want the burglars to be able to find everything. Not really, but it is definitely nicer to come home to a clean house. I'm also getting things ready to travel. I'm thinking I might take an extra night and do some exploring if the funds are available. The old song "Sentimental Journey" keeps tugging at my brain which isn't too surprising given that I'll be going through northwestern Ohio. Don't worry, I'm taking my camera and the car charger for its batteries so I hope I manage to take some photos.

* After I get back, I'm going to help Jeff and Alex close their houses. Alex wants to go back to Florida and is thinking of selling his house and car eventually. He asked me if I want the car. I was good and just said "No, thank you!" Jeff is driving and going down with Shaughnessy for a month or two and I've already got my marching orders on opening his house. Sigh.

* Friday night is the annual "Zing! in the City!" celebration and the main event will be the Symphony performing Broadway show tunes. Can you say, "Kay won't miss it!"? I knew you could.

Well, that's about it. I'm tired from a busy day!!!! Hope y'all had an excellent one!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Symphony Night

Last night I went to our outstanding Symphony's performance. I am, as some of you know, a season ticket holder. It is one of the bright spots of my usually boring life. It's a chance to get dressed up and get to see people which is a nice break from my mostly solitary existence other than work and volunteer work.

It was another deep freeze day and inspite of my leaning toward hibernation, I dragged myself to the hairdresser because instead of just having the occasional "bad hair day", I was having a "bad hair life" and she actually managed to get my baby fine locks looking good. I usually leave a hairdresser disappointed but not this time. The best part is it's easy to manage. I wish I'd had someone to take a picture because I'm told that I really looked nice.

Saturday night at the Symphony is a "puttin' on the glitz" night. The rich ladies turn out in their designer ensembles and mink coats are common -- especially on a truly frigid night like we had. I can't compete with that but I do try to make a good showing. I wore a black long-sleeved beaded lace top with a long black velvet skirt and my dressup coat: white wool with black velvet collar and cuffs accented with a hot pink scarf for a touch of pizzazz.

One of the first people I saw was Ruth Mary who is nearly 90 and was a friend of my late mother-in-law and I know her children and grandchildren. Her daughter, Paula, owns a resale shop where I shop frequently and Ruth Mary helps out there. She grinned and asked where I got such a fabulous outfit knowing full well where I bought it. I complimented her on her really lovely sable coat. I don't usually like fur coats because they're so dreadfully bulky but hers was just perfect.

The programme was excellent. It opened with Berlioz's "Roman Carnival Overture" -- a really fun piece which set the tone for our guest artist. I like Berlioz a lot usually and this performance was no exception.

Our guest artist was Naoko Takada. She is a lovely young lady who performs concert marimba and has been playing it since she was eleven years old. I'd never really heard of (much less seen) concert marimba so it was a new experience in music for me. It was amazing listening to her as she performed "Prism Rhapsody" by Keiko Abe who is considered the pioneer of concert marimba and is also Ms. Takada's teacher of many years.

I was truly amazed watching her play with five(!) mallets and at the beauty of her performance. Our orchestra's accompaniment was outstanding as they met her energy note for note. I understand why she won the Young Concert Artists Prize in 2002. Our audience, as always, was appreciative and welcoming and the post concert comments were very positive. I hope we have her come again.

After intermission, the orchestra performed Richard Strauss' "Ein Heldenleben, op. 4" which featured our handsome young concertmaster in a truly stellar performance. I hope this was taped for his resume. Then again, I don't -- I don't want to lose him. Yeah, I know that's selfish and yeah, I wish him well as this performance showed that he is destined for greater things and i wish him well. I really loved this piece -- and I think the orchestra did, too, as it was (in my opinion) their finest performances of the season. I could tell Maestro was pleased because he looked positively ecstatic at the end. We in the audience gave them a well-deserved, very enthusiastic standing ovation. It was another night that reminded me how much enjoyment I get from the investment I made in my season tickets.

Afterwards, I met my friend Linda for a sandwich and a beer after she finished her day at work at the Sheriff's department at our (and everyone else's in town) favorite neighborhood pub. It was nice because she doesn't get out much. Her husband is a paraplegic from an industrial accident and she spends most of her non-working time with him.

It was a good Saturday night. I hope all you had a good Saturday night, too!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!

Post-Holiday Random Saturday Thoughts

The drawing above is of the Kay. It was done by my good friend Scarlet over at As Good as It Gets. She has been taking art classes and asked for "guinea pigs" to send pictures and she would draw a sketch from the photo. She is a good friend and I have a lot of faith in her so I sent one along. I am delighted with the result! She also sent it to me because I liked it so well -- even if it does look like me. I'm going to frame it and it will grace a wall in my dining room near my computer.

It's been a busy week and I hope I can recall all the things slithering through my alleged mind!

* The holidays are over. Hallelujah and AMEN!!!!!! I'll be glad to get back to my regularly scheduled program -- with a few adjustments here and there.

* I scratched my plan to go out for dinner New Year's Eve. I stayed home and grilled a steak and made some au gratin potatoes to go with it. Definitely yummy and infinitely cheaper.

* I watched the NBC version of New Year's Eve with Carson Daly. It was pretty good. I got a kick out of Bill and Hillary dancing after the ball dropped. They actually looked happy to be together. I just hope that it's a good year for all of us.

* I made some resolutions. Nothing I haven't made before -- and broken -- but it felt different somehow this time. Who knows? I might even keep one or two.

* I hate the hassle of putting away Christmas decorations, don't you?

* XtremeEnglish has a wonderful post on fixing this country and attaining peace. I like it but the cynic that I've become tells me it makes too much sense to ever be put into action by our Congress Critters unless there's a way they can line their pockets.

* The Friday Groaner needs contributions. It's not my baby -- it's yours. I'm just the publisher/editor. Please help.

* Remind me to stay out of Border's. I was there on New Year's Day and spent too much money. All I wanted to do was to pick up a copy of Writer's Digest. Right. I escaped fifty bucks later. LOL!!!

* Yesterday was the monthly First Friday celebration. It was great -- as usual!!!! Ice-carving and ice skating were the main events and the galleries, bars, and restaurants were jammed. I was going to take photos but my camera's batteries were dead. Someday I'll remember to change them before I leave. Maybe later today I'll go downtown and get a few shots of the Christmas tree and lights on the Central Plaza.

Well, that's about it for this week. Here's to a great 2009!!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

A Local Perspective on the Election

Charita Goshay was the first black woman hired as a news reporter by our local newspaper. She was also the first black woman to have an op-ed column in our city. Her weekly column is always interesting as she comments on local and national events as well as the foibles and failings of society -- politics, social issues, life in our city, ad infinitum. Her rapier wit and style has hit home with all of us at one time or another. I have had the pleasure of meeting her and have heard her speak on various occasions and she is excellent as well as a really nice person. I email her when I particularly enjoy her column and she always writes back -- her mama raised her well.

I was really looking forward to her Sunday column because I knew she would have something well worth reading to say about Barack Obama's election and I wasn't disappointed. Here's a segment from it:

"Chances are, the wealth didn't "spread" your way last week. I'm betting you still have bills to pay.

Because there always will be forgotten corners of this nation, no matter who is the president.
Crime, poverty and discrimination did not vanish Tuesday night.

SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

However, we would be remiss, even naive, to deny that some things have changed.

What's different is, if you're young, gifted and/or black, Obama has all but obliterated your excuses for not trying.

What's changed is, those who have acquired influence and power by peddling the pathology of victimhood should find another line of work, as their words ring increasingly thin. "

Do y'all see why I like her so much? She doesn't tiptoe around -- she cuts right to the chase. Y'all can read the editorial in its entirety here as well as some of her previous columns if you're interested.

And yeah, I emailed her and yeah, she wrote back.

Happy blogging!!!!!!!

Kay

Omigod! Kay's a Witch!!!!!

Ingredients: Stir in the board of our neighborhood association, a passle of kids and their mamas, and a stack of fabric and trimmings with glue guns and scissors. Top it all off with apple cider and treats. Toss in a witch with a camera for good measure and what have you got? Our neighborhood's Make Your Own Halloween Costume Party!!!!!!!! Cool, huh?

The sequins and feathers on The Kay's elegant veiled satin witch hat don't show because, as the evening's photographer, I had to keep it so I could take pictures. Everyone had a good laugh as I'm not famous for turning up in costume. My neighbor across the street saw me leaving and joked that my ensemble was type-casting. I laughed and delivered the Girl Scout salute as I admonished him to read between the lines.



Mike and Lynda -- are cute as the clown and the sunflower.

Deloris. our president, goes Goth!

Spencer is detail-oriented as he carefully plots the trimming for his monk's robe.

Mason's mommy did a wonderfully creative Raggedy Andy costume

Our guests showing off their costumes and/or fancy Trick or Treat bags!

And a good time was had by all!

We would have liked a better turnout but everyone had a great time and we sent home happy kids and happy mamas which means the word will spread and when we do it again next year, there will be more!

I am dog tired after two busy, busy days of go, go, go. Thank the Good Lord that I'm feeling slowly but surely better. Now I'm going to get rid of this tacky makeup and toddle these achy old bones to bed. It's off to work tomorrow and I've a huge project waiting on my desk. Hopefully, I'll get a bit of peace over the weekend.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Neighborhoods and Politicians

Here are a few photos from our 4th Annual Celebrate Neighborhoods and Meet the Candidates night. There were a bunch more but they were they were taken on the fly and didn't come out too well. I was very busy as Scott and I ran registration and schmoozed with the candidates something we both do very well. He surprised me with news that his lovely wife, Kay(!), is expecting a blessing from heaven this winter. It will be their first child and he is delighted and looking forward to being a daddy.




The photo above is the result of the art project our association sponsored for the children in our 'hood. We are intensely proud of it and were delighted to oblige when we were asked to bring it to the event since we had planned to bring it anyway. We are blessed to have as a member, one of the finest artists and instructors in the city and she ran an Art camp for the kids last summer. The main point of the project was to bring the kids together. Husbands and boyfriends were pressed into action to construct and transport it as it travelled (and is still travelling) the city and has been displayed everywhere -- including City Hall and the Mayor has requested it again. The kids developed the concept. I was only at a few of the classes (work intrudes) and I was amazed at how Lynda got them to brainstorm ideas for it and at the depth of their response. The heart at the side has the names of all those who contributed to the project and I am proud that my name is there although I really don't think I helped much.

The photo is fuzzy (someday I'll get Photoshop right) but this is our display table at the event. We also had a PowerPoint presentation about the 'hood that included some of my better photos of happenings.

These are works in progress of our current project. This time we're working with our teenagers. It's called "Canvas the Neighborhood" and it's in hope that we can give our kids focus and new vistas while bringing them together and keeping them out of the gangs. Lynda was creative in getting them involved. We took canvasses, easels and a boom box and set up over by the old high school and played loud music so of course they had to come by to see what was happenin' and talked to us. Lynda is magic with them and the result is above. We hope our efforts bear fruit as the word spreads. I think it is because the group is growing. I truly believe that art is therapy and that it can work wonders. We are proving that right in our own backyard.

My friends Cindy (who turned around when I showed up with my camera) and Diane always manage the food at our events. They say people are nicer when you feed them. LOL

My old friend and fellow officer, Diane, greets the handsome young man who I hope will be our next Congressman. A Democrat, John is Army Reserve and has done a tours in Iraq as a pilot. He gave the best speech of the evening and I heard a lot of people say, it clinched their vote. He was talking to the younguns who were helping me (who were obviously impressed with his smile) and I finally said, "John, talk to me -- I can vote!" He laughed and said, " I know -- and I want it!" I told him that he had it and he had one of his helpers get me a sign for my yard. Cool! And oh yeah, his opponent didn't show up. He just sent a minion with campaign lit. And no I'm not naming him. He has never returned a phone call to me so I am extending as much courtesy to him as he has to me. ANY politician who doesn't return my calls will never have my vote. I figure you should always return calls to the boss and that we-the-people are the boss as we pay their comfortable salaries.

My former councilman and friend, Richard (never Rick or Dick), left me smiling in the morning when I left the house because he put his sign for his campaign for State Representative in my yard. I was glad that he made a point of talking with me when he checked in and and laughed at the note on the box where I kept the candidates' badges that read 'Please recycle your badges' and I asked with a grin, "You can guess whose work that is, can't you?" He answered, "Uhhhh . . . Diane's?" Bingo! He is a Republican thus proving my status as a non-partisan and independent. We joke that he is the "greenest" Republican on the planet and he was the champion of our new curbside recycling program that looks to be working quite well. I am delighted to support him as he is a good and honest man.

We contacted everyone on the ballot and invited both the McCain and Obama campaigns to send a speaker. The Obama campaign called and sent a very personable and articulate young man to speak for him. McCain's people didn't send so much as a pit b . . . er, ah . . . regrets that they would not participate. He is losing ground in Ohio -- fast and I saw up close why. My take is if you're a politician, you lose if you miss an opportunity to meet the constituency and gaining votes 500 hundred or so at a time is how elections are won. Too bad, John.

I was disappointed that our association only took second place in the booth competition and it was kind of interesting that a lot of people from other associations asked if I thought it was rigged because the association that won hadn't anything nearly as impressive as we did and there were lots of others that were better than the 1st prize winner. I simply shrugged and said I couldn't say. But yeah, I think it was rigged against us because I've had the chutzpah to question our dicta . . . er, ah . . . chairman's ethics and practices and she chose the judges.
We were the first association to set up and everyone who came in after us asked, "How do we compete with that?" So the word was we'd win. Sigh. All was not skittles and beer and the meeting in two weeks is going to be a eye-opener for our chairman who will no doubt fall back, as she often does when challenged, call us racists despite that not all of us who disagree with her are white. Playing the race card with me is plain damn stupid as it is with most of us in our city. We achieved integration calmly and quietly long, long ago in our city and nobody really pays too much attention to a person's color -- especially those of us on Neighborhood Leadership Council.
(Sermon over -- say AMEN!)

At the end, I helped our gang tear down after cleaning my table with Scott and it was decided that we (and selected others) head over to The Desert Inn to chill out after a long day with excellent Middle Eastern snacks and beverages. It's lovely atmosphere and our wonderful waiter made it great! We promised we'd be back soon and meant it and told him to give my regards to the owner and his family who I've known seemingly forever. I hadn't been there in ages and I know that the next time I go and the owner is in he'll say: "Kay! Where in the hell have you been?" Such is life in my town. I hear that a lot as I've not been too social the past few years but that appears to be changing. We'll see how I like it.

Happy Blogging!!!!!

Kay

First Friday Fun & Saturday Parade Silliness

First Friday was a blast! Art and music and food galore mostly alfresco!!!! Even a horse drawn wagon (seen above) if you wanted to take a ride around downtown. All my pictures didn't come out but I was finally able to salvage a few.

My artist friend, Eddie, displayed his paintings and worked on a work in progress on the mall near the courthouse right next to the restaurant. Eddie is a piece of work himself! lol!! The galleries were open as well. And my friend Lynda had the art education center open and featured face painting and art projects for the kiddies. She has a continuing project called a life quilt where everyone is welcome to participate in making a panel -- and she keeps nagging me to come down and make one and write a story for it. The theme is how the civil rights movement affected you personally and some of the panels and the stories behind them are really touching.

All genres of music were featured: soul, jazz, classical, ad infinitum and all were really excellent. The band above was unusual in that one doesn't hear zydeco music much around here. I absolutely love it. It's a form that began, like so much music, in New Orleans where I first encountered it. What really surprised and delighted me was that a few people knew how to dance to it!!!!!! I was also thrilled to run into my buddy Gary who calls himself The Mad Violinist who I hadn't seen in ages. I was greeted with a hug and a demand to know where I got my beer and if I would get him one. Of course I did and he played a concerto for me when I returned. He's a great guy who I've known since the old days when he had one of the best rock bands in town.

It was a fun evening for all of our gang as we all ran into old friends and in the process made new ones but Saturday was going to be an early day so we all headed home about at about eleven. My days of staying up all night partying the night before the parade are but a vague memory.

As it was the phone rang when I got home and it was an out of town friend who used to live here to see how the week was going and tease me.

I was up at the crack of dawn to a beautiful morning and started the coffee before I dragged myself to the shower. Marcia showed up with the doughnuts followed by Bren with fresh fruit as I was putting my brunch casseroles in the oven. By eight o'clock, everyone was here and the fridge was full with enough food for a small army. We chowed down and headed to the parade route to whoop, holler and cheer the floats, bands, and enshrinees. I forgot my camera.

After the parade, the guys took over the food and fired up the grill for burgers, dawgs, and brats for lunch and opened the coolers for potato salad, baked beans and beer. Great lunch!! A few went over to the Enshrinement in the afternoon but most of us went home and napped so we'd be ready for Rob and Bev's cookout in the evening -- another good time.

Today is Marcia and Mike's pool party and BBQ and the game. They live in shouting distance of the stadium so we really don't need to go -- we can hear it -- but some of us get tickets. I haven't gone to the game in years and probably won't until it's the Browns' turn.

It's been a fun week but I'm tired and I'll be glad to get some rest.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Ribs & Country -- Yee Haw!!!

Well, we obviously were still up for ribs, a brew, and that good ol' country music as everyone turned out again tonight -- we're a hearty crew. I actually did wear my cowboy hat as did a couple of the guys, but it was too hot for boots.

It was another round of ribs and fixins and, yeah, I finally succumbed to the beignets -- excellent not as good as Cafe du Monde or maybe it was the picnic ambiance. By the time this is over I'm gonna be fat! Ran into an old suitor who asked me out for tomorrow night. Nooooo way! I don't change my plans for anyone. 'Sides, he's a crashing bore who thinks a gal should swoon 'case he asked. My homies were proud of me.

Joe Diffie took the stage later and did a great show that included a lot of his hits. He's acquired some middle age spread but he still sounds terrific and we were on our feet through most of the show! One of the things I like best about country music is it's ability to laugh and Joe is among the best at writing humorous lyrics. Here's a video of his chart-topper, "Pickup Man" -- enjoy!!!



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Rockin' and Ribs!!!!!

Last night my compladres and I met at a fav watering hole, jumped in the van of our D.D. and went out to the Fairgrounds (they charge five bucks to park) for the ribs burnoff to pig out on ribs and assorted other goodies from some of the top purveyors in the country! As usual the food was incredible and my good intentions to not sample too much went right out the window. I always get Armadillo's wonderful ribs but this year I succumbed to getting a couple bones from Desperado's and Smokin' Joe's Hog Wild -- the last 'cause the name made me laugh. All were outstanding -- don't even ask me which I liked best. I did, however, skip dessert despite New Orleans-style beignets being available.

My restraint was partly due to concern for my waistline and partly my contention that the only way to eat beignets is at 7 a.m. at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans with a large coffee. It's a memory I treasure from my misspent youth and hope to relive one day before I die.

We later moved to the grandstand for .38 Special's performance. Boy! Those guys are getting old!!!! (And I, of course, am not. LOL) The good news is their sound is still excellent and they seem to still be having fun and get the crowd rockin'! We loved it!!!!

Here's a video of my favorite song by these guys! Enjoy!




Tomorrow night we'll haul out our cowboy hats for Joe Diffey after we chow down on more ribs!

Sorry I'm not getting around to see y'all -- it's been an incredibly busy week. I'm looking forward to Sunday -- I need a rest!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

Downtown -- Where It's Happenin'

{There's a new segment at How I Got to Be Me. If you're

interested, please feel free to stop and say hello.}

This is the Central Plaza of our city. This photo was taken on a Sunday when no one is downtown. (If y'all click on it it grows!) It spans two blocks where the main streets -- North/South, East/West -- of our city intersect. In the summer there are fountains that make it prettier and it's not uncommon to see a few inner city kids playing in them on hot summer days -- even though they're not really supposed to do so.

And it's not uncommon to see a tired secretary kick off her heels to cool her tired feet! At lunch time the tables are full of office workers enjoying their lunch alfresco. And elders from the nearby high rises find it a welcome place to chat and watch the world go by. In winter, it's decorated for Christmas with a huge tree.

Our previous mayor encouraged civic and cultural organizations to come downtown and hold events and our new mayor has continued what she started. (Frankly, had he tried to stop it, the outrage would have sent him packing!) The arts community has filled a lot of the once-empty storefronts with galleries and there is art on almost every corner and they hold a First Friday celebration where they showcase themselves and area musicians. I've told y'all about the blues festivals and other genres of music have also been featured.




I hope some of the visitors this week manage to take advantage of the First Friday celebration. My friends and I will be there for sure!!!!!


Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!


Kay

Celebration 2008

In case y'all don't understand what's going on here this week, it's the National Football League Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival!!! It's over a week long celebration and we roll out the red carpet for all and sundry to pay homage those who have exhibited excellence on the gridiron.

It's a fun week complete with a queen and her court, lots of old football players and events include hot air balloon festival, a fashion show, a ribs burnoff, parades, fireworks, celebrities, various dinnersand parties, the enshrinement ceremony and, oh yeah, a football game! This year is the Indianapolis Colts vs. the Washington Redskins. (Yawn!) Everything is usually a sellout. It's our tourist season to which I ask: If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot 'em?

I enjoy all the events -- I used to volunteer as a hostess at the Enshrinee's Dinner and Cocktail Party and never missed the fashion show. These days I just hang out with friends at various events. I love the ribs burnoff which not only has lots of great food (I may get kicked out of ElderExercise for this! I do love good ribs!!!) but features well-known entertainment, too! This year .38 Special, Joe Diffey, and Spin Doctors will have the Fairgrounds rockin' on the three nights it runs!! We'll probably go wednesday and Thursday and skip the Spin Doctors so we don't miss the arts community's monthly First Friday party downtown. All the galleries are open and there's music and food and all sorts of activities.

Here's a video of the Hall of Fame to give y'all an idea of what it's about. I'm not a huge pro football fan (unless the Brown are having a good year) but it really is an interesting place.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

Curing the Blahs

It could have been a bad blah day but it hasn't been one. My favorite song from "Funny Girl" is "Don't Rain on My Parade" and ain't nobody or nothin' gonna do that to me.

Yesterday evening we a neighborhood gathering at Woodie's (the drive-in with the pretty young thangs as carhops and good rock & roll muzak!). It was fun and we agreed that these gatherings are a good thing as we are getting to know each other better as well as supporting our neighborhood businesses. We're obviously sometimes a bit slow on the uptake as we stood and watched a summer storm roll in and didn't duck for our cars until the lighting and rain started full force! LOL By the time I drove the few blocks home, it was pouring buckets!

At any rate, I woke up implausibly early this morning amazingly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after going to bed far too late after getting awfully depressed for no good reason. The good news is I could make it downtown to the Farmer's Market. (I'd had a nasty round with the Black Dog and still can't decide what caused it.) I looked outside and saw the grey, wet weather and my first impulse was to scratch that idea. I ignored it and decided that I'd go anyway. Finding a parking place was easy. A lot of the vendors stayed home as as did the shoppers. It was a good thing I stopped at the ATM on my way because I found some really neat stuff. One flower seller had truly lovely bouquets and I bought one with Lilies and Sweet Williams. I have always loved the latter -- my mother always grew them and I hadn't seen any in years. A produce vendor had beautiful red leaf and Bibb lettuce and I bought bunches of each. I couldn't resist the Greek pastry vendor's baklava and almond cookies and got some wonderful cinnamon rolls from the Amish bakers. Another vendor -- a local farmer -- had fresh bratwurst and homemade noodles which triggered memories of summer visits to my Bavarian grandparents' farm so you don't have to guess what I'm having for supper tonight -- with fresh salad of course!!! A local plant nurseryman had perennials at a reasonable price so I bought some gorgeous gaillardia for the flower beds at home. They are happy-looking flowers so I had to have them. I wish now that I'd bought some of the yellow daisies he had. Sigh. Another young lady had some really lovely handmade jewelry that I admired but didn't have sufficient funds to succumb -- probably a good thing and there's always next week! I'm glad I went -- it was a nice way to start the day!

The sun has come out and it's gonna be a hot, muggy afternoon in the 90s. The ground is too wet to plant today but since it's supposed to be nice tomorrow, it will perfect for weed-pulling and planting. As soon as I hit "Publish Post" I'm heading down the hill to my friend Dolores' shop where she sells houseplants, objets d'arts and crafts as she is celebrating its sixteenth birthday! Nice to see a small businesswoman succeed so I have stop by and give her her propers.

I also need another stop at the ATM -- Isaac's going to wash my car today or tomorrow! A potentially bad day has been successfully averted! Hallelujah!!!

Hope y'all are enjoying your Saturday!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

P.S, Don't forget -- tomorrow is Father's Day!!! If you still have your dad, hug him!!!! If not, hug or give good wishes to all the dads in your life!!!!

My Kind of Town -- Two of My Favorite Churches

A while ago Fran at Sacred Ordinary issued a challenge to fall in love with your town again. I vowed to answer to it and decided to take it a step further and will be posting now and again little stories about about places and things that I love most in my town. I'm just sorry it took me so long to do it!


The property was originally the farm of one John Shorb and the first Mass was held under a tree there by a circuit-riding priest. It's where you can find me most Sunday mornings. I am very proud of my parish. It's located downtown and I've written in the past about the wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners we sponsor for those in need. We sponsor a weekly soup kitchen called The Samaritan's Table which I'm told is the best free lunch in town.

"The mission of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church is to give witness as a parish community to our Christian beliefs by celebrating Jesus Christ's presence in Word, Worship and Sacrament, reaching out to serve those in need and sharing the love of God through teaching, actions and living example."

Our pastor, Father Klinger, is a wonderfully kind, intelligent man who gives wonderful homilies. I spoke with him several times when I was going through my divorce -- a scary thing for a girl who the nuns of the 50s taught that divorce is a mortal sin -- and he was really understanding and supportive of my decision. He also has a pretty cool sense of humor and a few years ago when he was invited to the Vatican, when he returned instead of the normal homily he told us all about his trip. We thought it great fun.

Below is St. Peter's Catholic Church which is a mere block away from St. John's. The bells of both compete throughout the days did the parishes for many years.

Back when parishes tended to be ethnically oriented, St. John's was known as the Irish parish and St. Peter's was the German parish. The irony of that old rivalry is that we now have Father Klingler as our priest while Father Finnegan presides at St. Peter's. Funny how things change in life.

I have been asked why I've chose St. John's when I moved into the city since I was raised by a German (Bavarian) Catholic mother. Frankly, I'm a better Scots-Irish lass than I am a fraulein and there's just something about the friendly, caring people (and Father K.) that puts it in my comfort zone.

I hope y'all enjoyed this little window on one aspect of Kay's corner of the World. I'll be wandering around the county with my camera exploring more of my favorite places to show y'all in coming months.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay