My Mesopotamia Family

I won’t write as much as I normally do when I blog about an event or happening. I will just let the photos speak for themselves.

Though I will quickly say I need to quit being such an excitable boy and go with the spontaneous which I am known for. But I was irked for sure sitting around until after 1:30 waiting for a phone call on Sunday from someone so we could take off to the Mesopotamia Ox Roast together. When I found out he was already there I told Ruth lets go and off we went.

As it turned out it was for the better that the initial plans didn't work out. I may not have stopped at the yard/barn sale where I met my Mesopotamia family. What a blessing they were. Their hospitality was as if we knew each other for years.

Just keep in mind and I have to continually remind myself, your plans may not work out but slow down better things could be right around the corner as in this case where we made new friends, had a full meal and can't forget the cup of coffee. Thanks Nucci!

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

Day Trip to Dunkirk

Recently I took Mom and my sister Cindi on a road trip. The trip I planned was one I took a few years back, Rt. 90 east get off at Peach St. in Erie, head north, go till that just about dead ends, then take Rt. 5 east to Dunkirk NY., though on this trip I was adding a stop in Salamanca, NY to visit a cousin then loop back home.

Rt. 5 once outside of Erie is a beautiful route to take a leisurely drive. It hugs close to Lake Erie, passes through farms and vineyards and beautiful older homes. The sad part is starting in Erie all the way to Dunkirk then Salamanca there were so many places out of business and run down.

Rt. 5 lighthouse Westfield, NY

Town of Westfield Barcelona Harbor

The day began with a nice surprise which was a perfect start to an outing that turned into a trip down memory lane. My sister had Dads photo hung up in Wickliffe. Wickliffe honors its veterans by hanging banners on light poles on Euclid Ave.. Dad’s banner was right by the middle school (maybe if it was there while I went to school I may have behaved) and Sussex Fish which was perfect. Dad loved Sussex’s and remembered their first location in Cleveland close to where he grew up.

After looking at Dad we hit the road. I wanted to eat breakfast closer to our destination so we waited until Erie to start looking and looking we did. On Peach Street we found nothing but corporate and pizza places. We didn’t eat breakfast till almost 3:30 when we finally arrived in Dunkirk at a restaurant called Demetri's On the Lake. I pulled in and that’s when I noticed this is the pier, one of the places on my list to see. Their food was really good.

 Demetri's On the Lake's patio

I decided to backtrack and look at the lighthouse first then return to the pier to browse the shops. Many times I just rely on my inner feelings on where to go and what to do and the timing turns out to be just perfect as in this case.

The lighthouse and museum were already closed but I still wanted to pull in front of the gate to at least take a photo. There was a car parked there with a gentleman talking to another car that was idling in the road. So I parked across the street and walked over to the entrance. The gentleman said if you wait I will unlock the gate for you so you can pull in.

We waited a few minutes, he unlocked the gate, we pulled in and he allowed us to walk the grounds another unplanned blessing for sure.

Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum

The man's name was Dave. He gave us some history and information on the lighthouse and told us how he landed a small part in a movie yet to be released called Lighthouse Unmanned. I am anxious to see it.
http://dunkirklighthouse.com/

After the lighthouse we went back to the pier.

Walked around a bit then tried to follow the directions taken off of Mapquest that turned into one huge rigmarole. I don’t care what anyone says paper maps are still the ONLY way to go. The route took us way off course. We found a nursery that I bought some plants. I asked the lady manning it if she could help with directions. She said yes and proceeded to use her Smart Phone. She wrote the directions down and guess what? We never found the roads on the paper. We ended up in Jamestown and eventually got to Salamanca by way of the interstate.

The cousin I wanted to visit was Dads first cousin on his Mothers side. Because I wanted to surprise Mom I never asked for the address or my cousins last name, I always knew her just as Marge. I figured once in town I would ask Mom for her last name and start asking around. Salamanca is not that big. Unfortunately Mom didn’t remember.  So it was up to me to find the house and I was doing it strictly from memory. I was at my cousin’s house once as a child and again in 2005. We drove around for at least a half hour before Mom suddenly remembered the last name. Cindi tried finding Marge on her Smart phone but no luck. That’s when I remembered I have a photo of the house on my website maybe we could grab the address from it.
Once more Cindi used her Smart phone but the photo from gogobus.cc was way too small. So I said I am going to the library that we passed and use a regular computer to look at the photo.

Salamanca’s library is a real time warp. The furniture is straight out of the 60’s as is the whole place, card file cabinets are still being used but they do have computers. I logged on and found the photo of the house. I walked over to the librarian and asked how long she lived in town and if I could show her a photo of a house. She had to thing I was batty.

http://www.gogobus.cc/travels-remembered/#!
Look for the photo horsing around with John.

I told her my mission and the name of my cousin. The librarian said of course I know Marge, she worked in the library - I worked with her. She remembered the house because years ago my cousin ran a little convenience store out of it and she would go in there as a kid for popsicles. Unfortunately we were told bad news. My cousin died 5 years ago but her nephew whom I never met lived there. Directions were still given and off we went to look at the house and talk to the nephew.

Marge's house happened to be on the street we drove up and down on twice but I was looking on the wrong side of the street. Not bad. The nephew unfortunately wasn’t there so we left a note and off we went towards home. 

I drove through Jamestown on the way back to show them the wild eyed statue of Lucile Ball which was no longer there. Someone told us they removed it and put a new statue up of Lucy that looked exactly like her. What is weird is Jamestown has buildings with paintings of Lucy, signs everywhere and a museum but the new statue is now in a neighboring town called Celoron.

When I first saw the statue I was taken aback as it looked nothing like the famed actress. Thank goodness it is now corrected with a lifelike one. Do an online search and give me your thoughts on the old and new statue.

Anyway Cindi had a taste for fish. I remember just a week prior I went through my notes and placed Alfie's on gogobus.cc. She used her phone again for the hours. We asked someone how to get there and he said follow me. http://www.gogobus.cc/alfies-jamestown/

Hey even if not many people use gogobus.cc it sure helped me twice in one day.

Leaving the restaurant Mom got a call. It was Marge's daughter. Plans were made for a return trip to visit her. A perfect way to end the day.

In summary what a wonderful trip filled with great timing. Some things sure have changed but the memories will always be there. And now a new memory of taking Mom out on a day trip that I can look back on years from now and presently I am looking forward to another road trip back.

Well Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

Carey’s Day March 23rd

Sometimes I feel like my life is one continuous Coast to Coast show. Thursday proved it.

I headed to my rental in Euclid to meet a prospective tenant. The interview went OK but there were a few areas of concern.  I was not completely at peace. After the meeting I left for a bite to eat. During the drive to get food I called a few people and asked their opinion. Ruth said pray about it, Eliot the same and Paul said go with your gut feeling.

I accidentally passed the entrance to the restaurant so took the street after it and thought I would just loop around. I mindlessly drove the length of the street while missing a few side streets that would have led back to the place I wanted to go. As I went to turn around I spotted a restaurant I never been to before. So instead of my first choice I decided to get something to eat there.

I asked the man what do you have cheap, I just want a snack. He recommended something and I said fine that’s what I want. Right now I will omit the name of the restaurant as this story is still unfolding. He asked how my day was going. I replied been real busy at my rental cleaning and painting it. OH yeah, well I am looking for a place. With that I made a more formal introduction and gave him my contact info. He turned out to be the owner. I said I believe in divine connections and this seems like one. He agreed. We made tentative plans to meet later.

I may as well add this bit to my story though it has little to do with it. As I approached the parking lot where my van was a car pulled in and parked next to it. Out came a boy and his mother. For what reason I am not sure but the boy stopped and just stared at the back of my van. He looked mesmerized and so solemn. Not the look a little boy should have. I conjectured it must be the Trump bumper sticker. I am sure by now you guessed the color of the boy and no - it’s not yellow or white. His mom then got out and as I neared my van I said loudly you like Trump? Trump’s great isn’t he? The mom just laughed and laughed as she walked away. The boy never changed his expression. Weird.

So back to the rental to continue working. I wrapped things up about 7 not paying much attention to the constant blaring of sirens. Maybe I got a bit hardened who knows. Monday while working on the same house I look out the window and noticed my neighbor outside peering down the street. I said what’s up? Look! OH that’s why the sirens. Cops were surrounding a house with guns drawn. I go back to painting.

Anyway… back to Thursday. I leave and cop after cop car go zooming past me and then a hook and ladder screams by. That’s when I noticed that’s the street my other rental is on. I start thinking wonder if it is my rental… it could be my rental… hey it is my rental what the hey is going on? The street was blocked so I pulled in a neighbors drive to look and sure enough there are cops with guns drawn leaning up against my house. Another patrol car skids to a stop; a policeman jumps out with his assault rifle and loads it on the run. Instead of sticking around I decide to go home to eat, big deal, swat, police surrounding my house, guns and weapons drawn, I’ll watch the news, I am going to eat, hmm maybe I am hardened.

That was about 7:15 pm, at 9pm I return to my rental that I was painting but not before passing by my other rental house. A huge van marked mobile crime unit or something like that along side of multiple cruisers with lights flashing were still blockading the street.

I leave the scene. My cell rings it is the owner of the restaurant. Hello are you at the house? I am pulling in right now. OK I see you. Talk about timing, he was right behind me, hmmmm!

He looks at the house, loves it and is anxious to move in. After he left the neighbor next door comes out and asks hey is that your house being surrounded on the street over? We thought they got Shawn. NO, Shawn is in Columbus but I will be finding out shortly what is happening, I am heading over there. I proceed to tell my neighbor about the man I just met and whom I may rent the house to. He said really, I know that guy. His daughter was excited and said yay Dad will have a friend living next door. Another hummina moment.

Paul then drops by for a visit. I said let’s take a ride and see what is going on. We had to park down the street and walk. I received clearance from the cops so I could get to my house. I pound on the door. My tenant just about poops himself as he thought it was the cops. He tells me about 7:15 or so he just stepped out of the shower when he heard repeated BANGS, about 8 gun shots in total. That’s all he knows.

Thank God my tenant is safe but my neighbor well he may be dead. He is such an excellent neighbor always keeping an eye on my house and informing me whenever he sees something out of the ordinary. Let’s pray he survives.

I will update this as I find out more. Until then….

Gotta Go-Go!

Carey

At the same time the shooting in Euclid happened a shooting occurred in Beachwood. I watched the news but didn’t see any reporting of the incident in Euclid but all channels had the Beachwood story. Guess which is the upscale city?

 http://www.wkyc.com/news/crime/one-injured-after-shooting-near-beachwood-place/425161701

http://www.cleveland19.com/story/34986604/2-hospitalized-after-euclid-shootout

After 8 years of the vilest US president ever our streets in America are cesspools of violent Godless thugs. Sad!

Update 3-25-17

OK I received conflicting updates on the shooting incident and my weird Thursday sort of spilled over into Friday.

First the update:

The lady across the street said when she heard the shooting she got on the floor but her neighbor watched it go down. This is the report I received second hand. XXX (the neighbor next door to my rental) was shooting as he was backing up into his house and then slammed the door. It seemed as if he was almost firing at people fleeing six doors down. She thinks he was shooting at his friend. XXX is OK but he killed one and two others are critically hurt.

But my tenant told me: XXX was killed along with one other and another was seriously wounded. The police are looking for two suspects who fled.

That’s all I have.

One other interesting tidbit concerning yesterday’s shootings in Euclid and Beachwood. Both occurred at almost the same time and the victim in Beachwood is from Euclid.

So how did my Friday go?  OK except for a Dollar General incident.

 I was leisurely shopping, don’t most people when at Dollar General? I was in the snack aisle. I was going past the next aisle when I spotted a lady stuffing candy in her purse. I busted her and made sure she knew it. I said Hey! She gave me a smug look and showed me a bag of candy as if to say it’s only this. I said you’re stealing? She replied this doesn’t concern you.

The back and forth then went like this: Sure this concerns me. Move along it doesn’t. Sure it does. Mind your own business. Each reply from both of us got louder.

She then removed the bag and said now get away from me and mind your own business. At this point the manager came over to see what is going on. I said loudly this woman is stealing. I put it back and this is none of his business. Get away from me before I thump you. You stealing and now threating me? Are you? So what - this does not concern you. You bet it concerns me, your stealing affects me. Wait till you step outside I am going to beat your white ass! OH so now it’s a white and black issue, well it isn’t, it’s a right and wrong issue.

By now we were really loud, yelling loud. I went to the register and she was still jawing and said again I am waiting for you to step outside. And she did, she stood outside the door waiting.

The managers thanked me though I was a bit upset at them that they didn’t do more since I was threatened in their store. Another worker explained what could we do, we could be charged since she put the stuff back, we couldn’t hold her. I excused myself from the line and went to the back of the store to call the police.

I explained to the dispatcher what was going on and that they should send a car because I have an attitude, a real bad attitude and if I step outside there will be an altercation as I am going to defend myself, understand I will defend myself.

Hey a woman is a woman until she acts like a man then she is my equal and I will take her out as I would take out any man that violates my personal space or causes bodily harm. Period.

Anyway back to the register. I repeated to the cashier my white ass, I am so tired of this racist crap, this has nothing to do with black vs. white. The cashier who was black said I agree this race card has been over played.

One manager went outside, came back in and said she left. I was thanked again.

After my blood pressure dropped I laughed thinking about that woman. Here is a woman about the age of 35 or so with a shopping cart filled and yet she is stuffing candy into her purse. CANDY! Kids steal candy, from a grown woman, CANDY, this is nuts.

Obama should feel proud.

Welcome to the Badlands of Cleveland.

I was on my way to Carnegie and instead of taking E.55th I decided on taking the E. 72nd exit to roads that pointed in that direction. GPS – no, inner compass – of course.

Man talk about taking a drive on the wild side. This is the part of Cleveland that is not all glammed up. I remember most of Clevo looking like this back in the day, it made me feel like popping open a can of warm POC. You from Cleveland know what I mean.

Forget about Aleppo what about these neighborhoods?
I saw a minimart that had a sign that said OPEN 7 DAYS – CLOSED THE REST, not bad open 7 days a year. The playground had barbwire around it, not sure if that was to keep the animals out or in? The only thing white was the snow and even that was an off-gray. I thought the artwork/graffiti was neat until I realized it wasn’t artwork but police outlines of victims’ bodies.
Maybe Lebron needs to dribble a ball down these alleys.

I did receive some stares and one car was on my bumper at every light blowing his horn and glaring at me. Do you think it was the Trump bumper sticker displayed on my car or am I being paranoid?

I drive fast to begin with but in certain areas it gives me a license to do my thing, after all does anyone really follow all laws in the underbelly of any city? One car was playing catch up with me; I caught him in my rear view mirror. I thought this could be interesting. Instead he swerved around me and out of sight. It was a white guy, prim n proper in a nice car. Either a probation officer or someone that strayed of the main and found himself cruising the forgotten.

In all it was very scenic. Boarded up buildings, run down houses. So how about taking a drive on the wild side, just call, I'm ready but I'm also driving.

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

Gee, was this really made for my blog?
Sometimes the dim has to be shown so the light is even brighter.
I guess.

Cook Forest / Clear Creek Pennsylvania

Hey Gang,
Instead of writing an in depth review as I normally do I will instead let the photos speak about the trip.

In short will say this.... I avoided the toll roads to save some cash but in turn I didn't save time. Rt. 422 which is the old main route towards where I wanted to head is a direct road but once entering Warren it is nonstop traffic lights one after another. This cost us so much time.

We could have jumped on 80 once in Pa. but I was adamant on saving the change so instead took Rt. 280 which is hilly and slow especially in a 5,000 pound Purple People Greeter machine. Yes the scenery was beautiful but it delayed us and well scared my passengers who may not want to be mentioned by name in case they have to be summoned to court as a witness to my Mario Andretti driving.

The Go-Go Bus crawls up any kind of grade but coming down LOOK OUT! I had to blow past a slow driving car on a double yellow around a curve because my brakes were screaming Hey man we be smoking! Yes I can handle the rolling  barge like a slot car but stopping well now drop the anchor, slam the brakes and pray. I told them please relax would you! They replied how can we when you are saying oh no this is bad, I can't stop, I may run over this car. Gee they didn't have to listen to me.

In summary.... the weather was terrific, the full moon at night light up the campground where flashlights weren't needed and the scenery was gorgeous.

A quick shout out to Beth and Jeff that I met at the campground who restored a cute little "62 Shasta. I told them I wanted to hug their lil trailer. Earl the Indian and his friends. Chris and Red who run a variety store. And all the others who smiled and gave a thumbs up, life is beautiful and yes I have a friend in Pennsylvania, um make that friends.

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

Homewood Bound Conclusion

I wrote about a lot of things but now I will sum up the Homewood Heritage Days Festival.

Many times a festival is rated by how big it is which is not always accurate. What Homewood may have lacked in size was more than made up with what it did have.

The festival had a pancake breakfast, crafts booth inside, a running model railroad, a roaming juggler who kept dropping her pins, wagon rides pulled by Clydesdale horses, a children’s area with barrel train rides, face painting, a caricature artist, a magician, a period encampment with a black smith, a car cruise, food vendors, entertainment with a DJ and different musical acts.

I have been to many festivals with the entertainment geared specifically towards the demographics of the area. Not in Homewood. The bands were varied and included a country band El Dorado, a doo wop band The Wee Jams, a rock band The Sensations and something totally different Ibeji Drum Ensemble. All top notch, what great entertainment.

OH I almost forgot about yours truly who took part in the Heritage Cruise In and had a successful book signing.

I like to tip my hat to Alan the Chairman of the festival and Homewood the little community with a big heart for a wonderful festival. Homewood is a hidden gem that has so much potential.

Lastly I like to say hi to Sylvia who bought my book and said if I am ever in Arizona look her up, the gentleman at the Kettle Korn stand for giving me a large bag of popcorn, PJ Favorite who left the festival and came back in his custom 1985 Dodge Caravan just to show me and I can’t forget about the gentleman who I forgot his name of Mulefactory a Bluegrass band. We talked at length about many things.

He hosts at the Homewood United Methodist Church the HUM Church Music Winter Gospel Concert Series and if I heard correctly it is Bluegrass.
It’s held the first Saturday of October through April except January. Doors open at 6 for desserts & fellowship followed by music 7. And it’s free!
If that ain’t good enough he also gives stringed instrument lessons the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month at 5-8pm at Homewood United Methodist Church. And this is also free!

That’s all, maybe I’ll see you at the HUM Winter Concert.

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

http://thesensationslive.com/audio-video/

http://weejams.com/songs/WeeJams-ComeGoWithMe07142014.mp3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxHHK5mOJyU