Celebrating 101 Years

Grandpa turned 101 years old on Wednesday. We had a great party for him, incorporating a cowboy theme. What a wonderful man. He is still in good health and his mind is as sharp as ever. If we can all be so lucky! Am attaching a picture of us sharing the traditional Falls City Beer (last can of the stash....they aren't manufacturing it any more) and of the party.

Living in Oz

I hope you and your families have all been safe in the storms and tornados. What a spring! It has been amazing watching this storms develop so quickly. So far, we have been hit with high winds and hail at our home, but no damage. Take care and be safe!

BACK ON THE PATIO

We were back on the patio Friday night at the wine bar. What a fun night! It was so nice to be outside again. It was the perfect night for drinks and dinner outside, and then dancing and singing under the stars.






The place was packed, both inside and out. It seems that everyone is getting there earlier and earlier to get tables. Some were there at 5:30 for an 8:00 show. Thanks everyone, for your ongoing support! And a special thanks to our very talented"special singers".
Mark your calendars. Change of date in June! I will be there on June 10 (NOT June 17).


Wasn't it wonderful to have sunshine and warmth for the weekend? Like most Ohio homeowners, Brenda and I spent the weekend working outside and trying to tame our yard which was beginning to look like a jungle! The grass is cut, the flowers are planted and part of the mulch is down. Now, we are too tired to move! Come on summer! We are ready for you!

Time to sing!

Lots of opportunities for singing in the next few days. I'll be at Taste of Wine Friday, April 15, at the West Carrollton VFW Saturday and at the Middletown Senior Center Tuesday evening. Would love to see you! Let those tax blues fade away.

NOLA

Just returned from a wonderful trip to N'Awlins with Brenda and our boys. Walked for hours every day, had great food, did some shopping, went to Mardi Gras World and also to the Katrina exhibit. Love that city!

Singing In The Rain

Beignets at Cafe De Monde

Toss me some beads, Mister!

A big thanks to everyone who came to sing last night at the VFW. It was a great night. Plan to join me there again on April 29.

Have a great week! Cary

Do A Little Jig, Sing A Little Tune

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Get decked out in green, drink a green beer or drink a green wine! Yes, there really is a natural green wine being served at the Taste of Wine tomorrow (or so we are told!).
The world looks better when it is green. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you. May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.


Upcoming events this weekend: I'll be at the Taste of Wine Friday night for the usual 3rd Friday of the month gig. It is always a great time, and standing room only. Arrive early!

Saturday night, I am hosting Karaoke at the VFW in West Carrollton from 8 - midnight. Brenda is making her famous cheeseburger soup, so come early for dinner.

May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Cary

Four Letter Words!

Brenda here! Four letter words in our household are "snow", "rain" and now "pull". It sounds like we will be experiencing all of that this weekend. Cary just had two teeth pulled yesterday and is still loopy. The tooth fairy will be bringing him a bottle of wine so that should assist in his recovery. It's been raining since yesterday and the temps are dropping, so snow is probably developing soon. However, the "Noble Household" is fine. Hope you are all having a good weekend. Brenda

101 Ways To Live To Be 101

Grandpa is 101 days away from turning 101! The countdown is on! So, Brenda and I sent him a huge box of gifts....101 to open. The theme is "101 ways to live to be 101". Each gift is wrapped and contains a card with the message. These include "Always Count Your Blessings" with a giant calculator, "Greet Each Day With A Smile", with a huge smiley face, "Strive For Financial Security" with candy money, "Never Pass Up An Opportunity To Go Fishing" with gummy worms ...and 96 more!! The newspaper is planning to do a feature on it. Grandpa is amazing! He is sharp as a tack and has been in great health. He lives in an assisted living facility but strives to be as independent as possible. He keeps current on events and fills us in on these during our Sunday calls. If we can all be so lucky!

Here's to living a good, long, healthy and happy life!

Musically, Cary

Different Music!

We just returned from Vegas and a great visit with our Awesome A's....Awesome Autumn, Awesome Austin and Awesome Alexis. Autumn is 12 and just had her first violin recital while we were there. Check out this AWESOME girl with the AWESOME pink violin!

Our Awesome A's.......

We also went to see "The Rat Pack Is Back". We crooned along with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra to a 12 piece orchestra. The setting was "Old Las Vegas" and it was easy to imagine that we were transported back in time. I wasn't lucky enough (or old enough - Ha!) to be chosen for the lap dance with Marilyn Monroe who stopped by for a visit. But, it was a great evening nonetheless! We ended up with front row seats and could literally touch the stage!

Hope your week is going well! Put next week on your calendar and join me at the Taste of Wine Friday night and the West Carrollton VFW Saturday night. Brenda will be cooking for the casserole dinner at the VFW.

Musically, Cary

Almost February!

Well, February is almost here! Usually, February is our month with the most snow and cold, gray days. But it seems like we have had a lot of that in January this year! We are leaving town next weekend to go to Vegas to see our nieces and nephew. We just finished packaging up our Valentines gifts for them.

Some of you know our friend, Skip Hoyt. Skip performed at our wedding reception and has also performed around town, and joined us on a few karaoke nights. Skip is in Atlanta this weekend performing for America's Got Talent. Way to go Skip!!!!! You can hear Skip perform most weekends at the Dock.

Stay warm and listen to some good tunes.

Cary

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful.......

Here comes the snow! I got off early today and joined hundreds of others in the slide down I-675. Hope you made it home safe and sound if you were out in it.

We have been ready for snow at our house for weeks. Down came the Santas and Up went the snowmen. Here are some glimpses of a few of the men who have taken over our home. There's much more~

Our snow should stop by tomorrow afternoon, then hopefully we will get some sun shining on our winter wonderland. Calling all wine drinkers!! Bundle up and come to the Taste of Wine for some singing! It is always a great night and standing room early, so come early to get a seat.

Musically, Cary

01-01-11

I hope you all had a great New Years Eve. Brenda and I celebrated with friends and the band 24/7. Good music and lots of dancing.

We asked our 100 year old Grandpa if he ever made New Year's resolutions. He said he had made them in the past but doesn't do them any more because they are just something to be broken. However, he has made 2 that he was able to keep. One was to never eat watermelon in the winter, and the other was to quit chewing tobacco (that was easy cause he tried it once and hated it)!

Today, Brenda and I sat down to review our "to do list". This is actually a "bucket list" but we developed it while sitting at the wine bar a few years ago, before the movie Bucket List appeared. Here is our progress, thus far:

1. Plan for retirement - We are back on track again this year, following 13 months of unemployment. We are so grateful for my job and we can plan for our future retirement once again.

2. Get together with Denise and Bill- These are our wonderful friends in Scotland. Since writing this, we have seen them in Mexico, Scotland and Malta! Keeping on track with this goal.

3. Celebrate our 50th anniversary! On track with this one! Brenda says she is not tired of me yet!

4. Go to Napa Valley- Not done yet, but we are certainly drinking more wine!

5. Go to the Greek Isles- Not done yet. Still a goal. Until then, we eat Greek food and go the the Greek festival....not a great substitution, but it's all we have!

6. Stay home one weekend night a month- We've been more of this, if I'm not working!

7. Entertain guests again- Yes, we have been doing more entertaining. Just small groups now, since we have downsized to our "cottage".

8. Get away every winter quarter. - Yes, have met this one. Florida 2 years ago, New Orleans last year and going to Las Vegas this February and New Orleans again this March.

9. Get back to Mexico! - Yes, met this one! We went to Puerto Vallarta in October. Wonderful!

10. Go see our Awesome A's - Yes, we were there in July and we had an Awesome stay with us for over a week this summer. We are also going back in February.

11. Make Christmas less chaotic - hmmmm. Making some progress. Our Christmas shopping was completed by November. And, we had a great Christmas in Evansville this year with a fun couple of nights thrown in staying at the boat (casino).

12. Become the "glue" - We have been working to get our family back in touch with one another and have accomplished that. We have reconnected with Brenda's cousins and brother and we have reunited my family through planning grandpa's 100th birthday party and continuing our contacts with one another.

13. Health and fitness- Well, this is ongoing!! End of discussion.

14. Save $3000 - On target. Uhhhh....would do better if we quit spending!

15. One week per month, do not go to the grocery - We have been striving to do this. Continued.

16. Hawaii cruise, or Alaska - Yes! We are booked for an Alaskan cruise in June! Can't wait!

17. Vacation with the "boys"- Yes! We are going to New Orleans with them in March!

18. Go to Sante Fe and Lake Garda - Future plans!

Happy New Year everyone! Whether you make resolutions, a bucket list or just let "come what may", I am wishing you great things in 2011!

Cary