Belle dame de diner

The inner voyeur in me comes out when I'm out & about. 

26 Things

These pictures was taken with the very poor quality camera on my iPhone. Bucks is one of my favorite Louisville restaurants. Located in "Old Louisville" it's been in business more than 20 years. On my trip there Friday night however I learned that Buck will be retiring and heading to Florida. He sold the restaurant and he said that no changes were planned. I sure hope not. Although the food is 3.5 stars, the ambiance is off the chart. The restaurant is located in the lobby of a once nice hotel, but I suspect that part of the building has seen its day. But sitting at the bar, one can imagine being taken back to 1940, with the pianist playing and the ever present fresh flowers crowding the patrons at the bar. Check it out:   http://www.bucksrestaurantandbar.com/

With this photo I learned that I need a better camera phone  (hint, hint)

Hunter S. Thompson wasn't at my reunion...

...neither was F. Scott Fitzgerald. Both literary giants with  a middle initial of S. They weren't there primarily because they are dead. Not that they wouldn't be invited. (even a StX guy was there) They each have a Louisville connection, one eminently more interesting than the other, but I've digressed even before I've started. (Gatsby is a particularly compelling side story)

Last night was my 40th high school reunion. Out of a class of 114 about 40 showed up. Pretty good considering we already have a mortality rate of 15%. Rumor has it that AIDS, diabetes, and suicide are the top reapers. I don't have any of those maladies...so far. This was our best turn-out to date, and I expect it will not be superseded. Like Debbie said, the 50th will be the true acid test of who's really in the game. We took pictures, and the most poignant moment is when we sang the fight song. I hope someone recorded that. 

Nevertheless it was great to see the classmates. Flaget was a catholic all boys school, taught by the Xaverian brothers, most I'm sure in hiding from the mafia. Those were 4 wonderous years. I never had a bad day there. Except the time that Brother O'Toole hung me out the window. Kevin last night said he was sad when he accepted his diploma because the run had been so much fun. I agree. We were then, and still are, a proud bunch. Many successful, some not so much. Interestingly all I talked with are still working. Just another hard fact of where our economy and retirement programs are. Most like me are still married to our first wives, but I've seen a few new spousal faces over the past decades. Billy's wife said she's the trophy wife, and she looked it. I've seen my grade school fellow alumnus Janice at all the reunions, still married to Tim. As an aside, there's a huge football connection intertwined in the Flaget story, probably the main reason for pride of the alumni. 

This reunion like the  2 or 3 others I've been to have given me pause to reflect. Life is too damned short. Good experiences deep in the memory have a way of bursting to the surface. Some things never change, but we'll never be the same. I wouldn't change any story from those days. 

It's a windy, wonderous road. 

This blog was deleted at the discretion of the administrator

Morning after remorse. Never blog after 3 bourbons at 11PM.

Cool guys

just so you know that the last post wasn't too gay:

B-school

(by popular demand I'll post the withdrawn post. All are correct, if at my age I can't say what I want, why even try to say anything? Plus, I had 3 very weak bourbons at Malibus tonite. Larry complained that the OJ in his screwdriver was more potent than the vodka. In my man-cave this week we plot our next middle-aged frat excursions. Tomorrow we'll do Mexican, followed by a boat excursion and comedy club Thursday. We made light of the 43 yr old patient with tattoos and who never worked a day in his life. I don't even feel bad that Im getting jaded about that. We did meet a former Bengals cheerleader tonite. That was pretty cool.)

HERE IS THE ORIGINAL POST:  

As promised. There are races to run, there are mountains to climb, there are songs to hear, there are paths to hike, there are hearts to break, there are hugs to give, there are wines to taste..I've done all that. What's left? I've held beating hearts in my hand, I've consoled broken hearts, I've repaired hearts. I've raised kids, I've raised grandkids. I've kissed dogs, I've kicked dogs. I've gangbanged, I've been stomped. I travel, I contemplate. I love, I hate. I'm proud, I'm ashamed. In a very short time, I've done a lot. I study. I read. I think. I fantasize.

I'm me.

I want more.

The stars have aligned. The universe is mine.

So, I'm going to torture myself once again. I'm going back to school, I think. I've applied, I've been accepted. The deposit monies are sent. I need to decide. Do I immerse myself once again, get my 4th degree? Or do I just get a hobby? Or just..do nothing?
I'm confused. Universities of Michigan,Florida, Ohio State, Auburn..all call. They are perfect. They are not needed.

I don't know. Eli Lilly interview this month.

......and the beat goes on.


I take solace in my photos.

Ann Arbor seems nice.

Used to ride the chrome horse with your diplomat

..Princess on the steeple...



This song truly does rock.