Arizona Day 2

Hey Gang,
My sinuses acted  up so Monday night was a bust. I slept in till 9 am which would be noon Cleveland time. I wanted to stay on schedule like at home.

We are staying at Jami's father exclusive condo at Las Brisas  and yes its gated. Just beautiful, surrounded by a man made river and next to a large pool.

Jimmy directed us around Scottsdale. This place is just crawling with money, ultra expensive cars and corporations. I got antsy seeing nothing but stores and lots of corporate owned places so even though Jimmy was in charge of planning our day I suggested lets get out of here.

After an hour or more of circling Scottsdale. With neither of us knowing how to get lost I said OK I know where we are going, to the library and I will ask someone or find a paper map. Walking in I saw an older man. His name was Jay and originally from NY, like Florida is anyone actually born in Az?

I asked and he said you do not want to be in Scottsdale, this is the only place in America that didn't feel the recession, there was none here and Phoenix is the 7th largest city in the US. He drew us a map and told us to get a real feel for Az go to Carefree and Cave Creak. I hate GPS, maps and humans are far far better. Old school is the only school.

We took Jays suggestion and loved it. Thats more of what we wanted to see. Tacky tourist shops, recreated old western stores and good burgers at Greasy Eddies. I am hoping to go back to Carefree and see the free bull riding events tonight.

We ended the day in old Scottsdale. lots and lots of cool shops and stores, more upscale but well worth a visit. Actually we ended the day in the large hot tub, can't forget the hot tub.

I was here last in 2000 and wow has this place exploded with people and built up. Too much.

Day three is around the corner. Stay tuned.....


Gotta GoGo!
Carey

Arizona 1

Hey Gang

Monday Morning

Well I finally went to bed at a wee bit past 6 am and let me tell you 10 am came way to soon. But believe it or not I was ready when Jimmy and Jamie arrived.

The airport check in was uneventful. I still think its ridiculous they make us take off our shoes and jump through hoops. There should be a simple test, if you can say I think Allah is a fake you go right through, After all how many non-Allah believing people strap on bombs to kill random infidels? Exactly.

We are flying Southwest our destination and airplane, Southwest is a little confused. They have you start out orderly by standing next to numbered poles corresponding to your ticket. When they call all A's then B's and C's you line up and enter the plane. But once inside its a mad scramble. Its open seating. The number on your ticket doesn't matter. Good luck trying to sit next to who you came with. And free WIFI, Southwest has it but you can't connect to it. At least the thought of free WIFI is a nice gesture. I was able to finally log on minutes before landing. I was then told to log in to your email costs money. Confusing.

Well we landed and it was a smooth landing as was the flight to Arizona, hardly any bumps. Thats all for now.

Gotta GoGo!

Carey

well friends i am out of here... but lets quickly take a look at gogobus.cc

Hey Gang,
I am out of here for a week heading to Arizona with Ruth and the Kelly's. We will be staying in the Scottsdale area. The trip is a Christmas gift. So hold the fort I mean emails until after Easter; make that all emails. I will have my cell so call if there is an emergency. Doubt I can get to you but call anyway.

Now for those who know disregard but for those that don't, you now will know.

After a long absence gogobus.cc is back up and running... for the most part.

It is hard to believe how long I've had this site. I started the concept way back in 2001 way before Myspace or Facebook. The site has led to so many opportunities and meeting new friends. And yes I am still enjoying it along with many others.

Sometimes I forget how long 15 years is. Friends have come and gone, others are no longer with us, the Hey Gang emails are fewer and far between but some of the core group are still in touch with me. And my outlook on life and zest for new experiences hasn't changed much even through the ups and way downs of life. I am still having fun.

Likewise concerning the GoGo Bus there are still people enjoying it when I travel or pull up to a cruise in/car show. Not bad for a vehicle close to 50 years old and one that I've owned since 1997. WOW that is a long time. So it also marches on or in many cases sputters on.

Anyway the new gogobus.cc is a Wordpress site. I am not too keen on a frame or a template site but this is far easier to add and arrange photos and links myself, finally there is a way Virginia. I had many webmasters in the past and not one understood what I was after besides Jeff Bedoll, I finally remembered there are two L's in his name. Jeff is a real web designer/artist who was able to capture exactly my likes and feel for the website. The problem with the old was with the updates, little time. And it does take time especially when you consider it is more of a hobby with little to no cash flow but that may be slowly changing.

Sooo the new gogobus.cc is up but we are still fine tuning it. I just about grabbed most of the old content and slid it over. Some features from the old are gone and others are on the way out. My main focus on the new gogobus.cc will be A. Promote my book and the upcoming new Hey Gang Part 2, don't go sending me checks just yet, its still in the works. B. Promoting independent Restaurants and Diners C. My blog writings D. Current videos I take while out n about. E. And near the bottom I have space to rent to promote your band, store, book etc....

Finally the look on the new site has changed also. Before I was after fun, uniqueness and hokey, lots of hokey. The new when we are finally all done will be less hokey but still fun and unique.

So that's all. I am off. I will be posting on my blog when time allows updates from the trip.

Gotta GoGo!

Carey

PS: Even though the book Hey Gang! has been out over a year now I am still promoting it. I lost plenty of opportunities for book signings and car shows last year because of many issues, what a year, so if you know of a little book store or shop or events where I can set up and do signings let me know.

PSS The latest editions to the site are I added comments to the book page and added some new videos.

OH take a look www.gogobus.cc

2016 Winter Cookout/Freeze Fest Wrap Up

Hey Gang,
Another year and another Winter Cookout/Freeze Fest in the books. I have been hosting this event for years with only last year that I can remember being cancelled. Last year was cold but not as cold as it was way back in I believe it was 2001 where it was 5 to degrees, now that was a real Freeze Fest. This year, 2016, set a record as the warmest ever, low to mid 30’s.
I decided at the last minute to hold it and my sister said watch this will be the biggest turn out ever. And it was. Was it because of the last minute notice or the warm weather or both? The official count was 31.

The rookies in attendance were Kevin, my neighbor Michael, Michael Smith, Dan and his sister Diane, Elaine, Carol Mikes girlfriend, Billy with the return guests being Ruth, Paul, Jamie, Jeff M., Rich, Brian, Mike B., Dennis, Janet and Phoenix, my sister Cindi and her boyfriend John, Walt and his family Jamie – Jimmy – Cassie –Dani – and their two friends, Nick, Chris, and the late arriving Jeff Bedol.

Food was more than plentiful. Dan brought pizza, Kevin chicken, Janet brought a potato dish with the rest using the grill. Nick really went over the top with everything he brought especially the perked coffee which flowed. Thank you Nick.

The best part besides everyone who was there, no ranger showed up to check on us. We stayed late, very late and just sat back and enjoyed conversation and the fire.

OH I almost forget what I posted on Facebook the night before -
The Winter Cookout/Freezefest will have a new event. 9 pm sharp the bread toss will commence. Epic battle between attendees and bread tossing. Who will survive? The winner we will be sure to toast! 
Everyone wondered what the hey did it mean? Well what would you do with five loaves of bread that aren’t up to human consumption standards? Why you bring it to the Freeze Fest and toss it. And you thought only salad could be tossed. What a hoot that was. Too bad the photos of the epic bread toss didn’t turn out but those who were there will verify it happened. Then again they may deny it.

Oh well, we had fun and lots of it. Till next time….

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

The forgotten photos

Hey Gang,
Boy oh boy was I excited. This is what I wrote on Facebook:

I am about to view the photos, the time warp photos, photos that were taken many years ago, 1955. 1940.. maybe older, what will they hold, to bad its so late, I should have done it sooner and invited people over to view them, hidden now revealed, what will be seen???


So what in the world was I talking about? In my hoard of treasures and miscellaneous collectibles that I have accumulated was an old box camera. Similar to this one I found online:

I am not sure where I found it originally, maybe an auction, garage sale, a house cleaning who knows. How long was it hidden in my garage? That's another question I don't know.

Anyway when I dug it out last summer I noticed it had film in it. I have seen news reports where someone develops old film and historical pictures were found. My mind raced... could I have Marylin Monroe before she was famous? JFK? Big Foot? WOW who knows?

So I brought it to a camera shop and when I told them I peaked inside and found film they didn't want to develop it and kind of hinted they don't do that anymore.

 Well months passed. In December I met a gentleman who belongs to a camera club. He took the camera and removed the film. He said go to Dodd's camera they will develop it. Hmm that's the same shop that said it was a no go. But I did anyway and lo n behold they said sure we can develop this roll. It will be ready in a week.

With me was a newer camera. OK one from the early 90's, to me that's new. It also had film in it. I used this camera back in 2009 on my trip to Niagara Falls with Gary. It was working fine until the mist from Maid of the Mist caused my camera to go dim. Dodd's removed the film and I had both rolls developed.

When I went to pick them up I was told I could view them there but I was so excited I wanted to view them the first time with family. Hey it was like Christmas.

Well the Niagara Trip photos came out OK and brought back fun memories.

Now about the old camera with the 120 film... well now... that was disappointing. No famous stars before they were stars, no Big Foot nothing but well look for yourself.

How deflating. There were a few more but these were the best of the batch.

What's weird is I believe this is Ridgeview the street behind me. I should show this to my older brother. He may say Hey that's me and.... which would make it once again exciting.

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

If the Cleveland Browns held their coaching search via presidential debate style
On the Democratic side
Bernie Sanders: Let me tell you the NFL is not the NFL - it is the Not Fair League. If I was hired to be the Browns coach you can bet I will demand one good player from each team. Now it may not make the Browns a winner but it will make every team lose a couple of games and things would be even and fair and with free hot dogs paid for by people who hate hot dogs.

Hillary Clinton: I can promise you just because my husband slept with an intern does not necessarily mean I will sleep with the cheerleaders. So they should be safe. Besides what does it matter, the Browns are losing games, does it matter who the players are. We need a strong coach and I am that woman.


On the Republican side:
Donald Trump: I demand to know one thing, where was Johnny Manziel? Where was he and where was his birth certificate, is he even old enough to drink? Let me tell you if I were the coach you can bet all hotel rooms and all of the players houses would have armed guards with walls around them making sure no one escapes in or out without my knowledge. This open door policy is over. And small skinny imported players, don’t even think about it, I want big brawny men, no Bruce Jenners. Jeb what are you smirking about? You’re still upset that Saudi Arabia refused the Browns to practice there, wasn’t that your brainstorm or your brothers who said Pittsburg Steelers were not a Cleveland rivalry but an ally. I want to make the Browns great again.


Jeb Bush Donald trump is not a serious coaching candidate. Donald trump is not a serious coaching candidate. Donald trump is not a serious coaching candidate. Donald trump is not a serious coaching candidate. NEW FOOTBALL ORDER. Did you know my brother was co-owner of the Texas Rangers?


Marco Rubio I am Latino and I feel I can bring more Latinos into the NFL as well as the Browns. Besides that I like Jeb and Jeb likes me. NEW FOOTBALL ORDER.

Ted Cruz Let me be clear just because I was born in Canada you can rest assured I will not try to lure the team to Canada and call them the Canadian Seals or Ontario Otters. I like the Browns and they should stay in Cleveland, they just need to read the play book more.

Rand Paul The Browns and the rest of the NFL need to go back to the original rules and down size. George Blanda played multiple positions; we don’t need so many players. The football was originally round. The stadiums are too extravagant; we need simple stadiums, wooden seats, cheap beer and cheap hot dogs. And we don’t need high priced college players. We can find cheap players off the street who are willing to play. And if they want to get lost in Vegas and get high let them.

Chris Christie The Browns need to fatten up. And just because some of you bring it up that I was seen smiling and hugging the Pittsburg Steelers coach doesn’t mean a thing. I will be loyal to Cleveland and you can be sure I would have shut down that bridge that Manziel escaped across.

Rick Santorum The Browns problem is this and I will do this, they did not pray before games, they didn’t pray during games, now the fans they prayed a lot, I mean prayed a lol lot but not one player prayed, and I would get Tebow over here, he prays and he prays a lot. Lastly not one Hail Mary was used.

Ben Carson Now I am a brain surgeon so I think you need to look at the entire Browns organization and see if they have been concussed because they coach and play like it. Now I would do things differently because I am not a coach or an athlete. I would put brain scanners in the players helmets so I can see when they are about to do something stupid on the field, I would then send an electric jolt to make them play better.


John Kasich I am a homegrown boy. I get this. So what if I latched onto Obama’s healthcare plan, the way the Browns get beat up they need this coverage and so does our pass defense. We can do better.


Carly Fiorina I am the only one who can keep the Browns tradition alive. I failed as an advocacy for John McCain's presidential campaign, my bid for senate and as Hewlet-Packard's CEO. Things will be safe in Cleveland.

Maybe someday someone can eventually let some of the air escape from our balls instead of them always going completely flat. Oh well that’s life in Cleveland.
Gotta Go-Go!!
Carey

OK This is really late, like to late but I still wanted to share this.

Hey Gang,
OK This is really late, like to late but I still wanted to share this.

My notes after seeing Crown Point Parkway Festival of Lights:

WOWEE what a display! We were in complete awe. The one house is comparable to something you may see at Disney or a place like that.

This is the description taken online:

Crown Point Parkway Festival of Lights
Approximately 32,500 lights adorn just one of the homes, and the 30 moving decorations include trains and a merry-go-round.  Santa Claus makes appearances on Fridays and Saturdays.  You can drive or walk around the display. Find out more about the display by visiting their facebook group here
Where: Crown Point Pkwy Strongsville Ohio 44136
Cost: FREE

These are some of the better photos but it still doesn't do it justice.

ps: Sorry it's to late - oh well next year.

    Gotta GoGo
    Carey