In and out of the CLE/art scene/L'Albatros

In exactly three weeks we will be leaving CLE and driving to Toronto, spending one night at our friend Andrea's house and leaving the next evening, Sunday, for Paris. Wow.  I feel pretty well organized but of course still have a lot to do. I'm watching videos on airplane security lines and packing your liquids, keeping your tickets on your phone and other helpful travel tips. The travel bit is always the most infuriating part of a vacation and I'm planning on sailing thru it this time. Intentions!

Last evening we met some friends at the Paper Factory downtown - it was an opening exhibit of works made with paper. I've never been there but it was fairly standard with some beer/wine for sale and cheese and crackers offered along with the works on display. We ran into an old friend, Carlo, and it was great to see him. He's been ill - the second friend of ours to get the septic virus when hospitalized, but he's on the mend. Has to go to the hospital every day for a month to be fed antibiotics intraveneously. Sally, on the other hand, wore a pump with an IV for several months. Be grateful for your health, always! When Carlo moved to the CLE from New York  the first writing assignment he had was to cover our band Separate Checks. He wrote a great article, with big photo, for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. We've been friends since then - 1985.  Currently he's writing a book about Terry Gilbert, attorney, who is a well known guy AND was the sax player in my early '80s band, The Fondells, We were a Motown outfit - trumpet (Tommy), sax (Terry), bass (O'B), guitar (Jeff, an emergency room doctor!), drums (John) and me on vocals. What a blast we had - we played all over town in clubs, at Party in the Park, at weddings (one for Matt the Cat, famous WMMS DJ) among other gigs. My life in music has been wonderful and it was interesting to see Carlo and reminisce a bit. Terry is an interesting guy and Carlo says this is probably the best story he's ever told!
Additionally, I should do a post about the Cleveland art scene - it's very healthy.

Afterward we made our way to University Circle to L'Albatros. No cream of mushroom soup, boo, but we all had a cocktail and enjoyed some chicken liver pate and good conversation. We didn't end up ordering more food, no one seemed hungry, so we parted for the West side and they went up the hill to get another drink on their way home to Shaker.  Nice evening.

Tomorrow is brunch for Mom's 89th birthday. She's amazing for her age - does yoga. volunteers at the hospital (retired nurse!), takes care of Dad who's undergoing chemo right now, keeps her own condo clean etc.....We'll have a pretty good sized group - maybe 16 of us -  for that. Of course she was born one week before Mother's Day so we'll figure that out as usual, later.
Sweet!
La