Rosemary Clooney Festival 2008

10th Annual Rosemary Clooney Festival

As has become our tradition, Amy and I attended another Rosemary Clooney Festival. Tonight we brought a friend, Jennifer, with us to the festival. The three of us, all decked out in our “festival” attire headed for Maysville this afternoon and arrived at the little river town of Maysville, KY, that was once again bustling with excitement. Fortunate again this year, we had beautiful weather, we had perfect “Rosie Weather.”

After parking a few blocks away we decided to have drinks at a popular local restaurant in anticipation of the gates being open to tonight’s event. As we finished our last cocktail, we made our way to the door when Amy noticed a friend of ours (from Newport) coming into the restaurant. It is normal to feel at home while at the Rosemary Clooney Festival, and seeing our friend solidified our feeling of being among good friends.

We noticed that it was 5:30 and time to enter on Market Street. We quickly found our way to our reserved table and waited to meet tonight’s dinner companions. As more and more people were arriving, we had a very nice couple join us that were celebrating their anniversary. Next, three lovely ladies joined our group.

Within a short amount of time dinner was served. The salads were wonderful, however the entrée was unrecognizable. As a matter of fact, one of the ladies at our table was in culinary school in Lexington and she did not have a clue as to what was being served. After several attempts to try this mystery food, our table of guests simple stopped eating although we all complained we were ravenous.

It didn’t take long for the creative juices to flow tonight. And of course, the wine flowed freely as well. This table of dinner partners was not to be excluded from enjoying dinner. No. One gal picked up her cell phone and ordered pizzas to be delivered - to our table! Within the promised delivery time the boxes were stacked on our table. Out of nowhere we spied a man with a white uniform walking our direction. He was a very handsome Italian man that did not seem to be concerned with our Domino boxes. He simply walked over to say hello to the girl at our table that he worked with in Lexington, in culinary school. Yes, it was the chef.




After dinner the opening performance was by comedian Rich Little, known for impersonations of celebrities. That is when things at our table got a little loud. The group of three women seemed nice enough, and resourceful with the pizza delivery, however, one of them, Wilma, was a little rambunctious. My guess was that she, like us, had stopped for drinks before the gates opened. Yet, I had the feeling that she may have started around noon with drinks. And then, add a bottle or two of wine, and she was totally uninhibited. Wilma was seated next to me and began yelling for “MICHAEL!” So loud, that Rich Little shot her a look that seemed to say BEHAVE.

This continued for quite some time until Amy called my cell, from across the table, and asked if we could take a walk. Amy, Jennifer and I walked up to the stage. It was then that we all knowingly looked at each other. We could still hear Wilma screaming for MICHAEL!!!

Michael Bolton finally came on stage. He was much more handsome than I had ever realized. His voice was extremely powerful and full of emotion as he sang the legendary aria Nessun Dorma. Bravo, I applauded with tears. He was absolutely fabulous!

Somehow, I could feel a chill in the air as he stole many a heart while singing his signature song, "When a Man Loves a Woman." Next thing I know, Amy is standing next to the stage directly in front of Michael Bolton. She could not take her eyes off of him, and strangely, as I looked at Michael Bolton, he seemed fixated on Amy. The next song he seemed to sing to her alone.

He even put the microphone down to Amy as if he wanted Amy to sing along with him.

The concert ended too quickly for me, I could have listened to Michael Bolton sing all night. But the night did not end so quickly. Can I just say that we ended up at Capronis for the next couple hours while Amy got to socialize with Michael Bolton.

Sorry George –Amy has a new obsession.

Touch-a-Truck

Yep, it is Saturday and we made our usual stop to Frisch’s for lunch. Afterwards we were going to take a quick drive through Tower Park in Fort Thomas to look for soft drink cans (we are collecting for the environment and will cash in the proceeds to a Catholic charity).

As we drove through the park we saw about a dozen trucks with kids all around them. Ft. Thomas Recreation Department was holding their annual “TOUCH-A-TRUCK” program. This program is designed to introduce kids and their families to different trucks and equipment. Many adults and children are able to see and explore trucks up close.

Brandon and his cousin, Larry, always play “army guys” at home. They both have all the military camouflage clothes and even dog tags. Well, wouldn’t you know it, Larry was there admiring the army trucks, too.

We didn't come across one aluminum can there, but were happy to come across some unexpected fun.

Rachel should have been in M*A*S*H!

Brandon in a police cruiser!

Ambulance...

An Uninvited Visitor - IKE

I have never seen such a wind storm in all my life. I was certainly not ready for this unexpected visitor - Ike.

The effects of Hurricane Ike are reaching the Midwest. It is by no means wreaking the same havoc it did in the Texas gulf areas, but it is still quite a strong storm.

Amy and I felt like “storm chasers” as we scouted the neighborhood to photograph the damage during the midst of this storm. The wind sounded much like a tornado as it forcibly whistled up the hill through all the trees. We found strong gusts of wind ripping off shingles, gutters and siding from neighbors’ homes. Against the street curb we found several tomatoes, apparently blown there from someone’s garden. Around the corner we saw walnuts piling up in the street. Limbs and branches seemed to be hanging on by a thread.

Wind gives Amy's hair a new look...

The storm has finally seemed to move on. Yes, trees are down, power is out in several places, and people are scrambling to retrieve items from neighbor's yards.

Not unlike any unwelcome guest, this one took too long to leave… and has left behind some unexpected remembrance of its visit…

And, by the way, we don’t like Ike!

Tree blocking street

Looking south on York Street between Eighth & Ninth Street

Rembering Seven Years Ago

Today is the seventh anniversary of the day the terrorists attacked. The World Trade Center destroyed, the Pentagon devastated, the plane crash in Pennsylvania. This video is a tribute to those whose lives were lost.

Not since Pearl Harbor has such a terrible thing been visited upon us. We must never forget the horrible destruction, the thousands who died needlessly.

It is difficult for me to think of that day. I remember my disbelief as I watched television that morning. I called my mother and asked her to make sense of what was happening - she could not.

Then, to see the US Congress stand strongly united, side by side, as Americans, while fires still burned at the Pentagon. My pride as an American soared as they sang, "God Bless America." I stood and sang along with them with my hand on my heart, as tears rolled down my cheeks.

These are things we cannot forget.

God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home.