Carol and Rebekah's Birthdays

Tuesday, January 27, 7:30 am. A cold January is warmed by the thoughts of Carol's (Jan. 24th) and Rebekah's (Jan 29th) birthdays. We had a little party for Carol Saturday afternoon. Fun. The Ice Cream Cake I bought was a big hit. I'm digging some rehearsals for performances on cello, tuba, bass. Also SwingTown plays Sat. night this week for Rotary. More fun. Steve is helping us around the house with some repairs. Lee M was here Thursday to play some country blues. Hope to put a little band together there soon.
Last weeks checkup at MSK went well. I'm still healthy. Jon Flowers met us at the hospital so we could catchup. He's very busy touring with Josh Radin. Our occasional messages from Ben and Maayan are filling up our message machine. Pretty soon there will be no room for anyone else's messages. We love to listen to their voices. And our live conversations continue to knock us out. Ben loves math problems, he loves a brain challenge. He's got a good brain. And Maayan is the sweetest. A real artist with the sharpest memory in the family. Shoshana makes herself heard over the phone, but it's too soon for words from her. CB goes to see them in a week or so, and I'll follow the next week. Can't wait. Lots of opportunities coming up...performances at Prospect Pres., Beth El, JCC, Womans Club, Ron and Vicki's home, and a few niteclubs. If I can I want to get to Fla. for another week to visit friends and relatives in Feb or March. Meantime the Woodstock house awaits a visit. Maybe in February as we did the last 2 years on the way back from Rhinebeck or Lenox. Ahhhh...winter ....snow and ice.
Mom is fine. Busy as ever. Last night she even put out my cup of coffee. That's unusual, but very welcome. I think she was telling me "..if you stay home more at night I'll treat you better!!..." Hah!!
Well, Thursday is Boo's birthday so y'all go call her. I left her a message on Geni.
So, next time I'll leave a pix or 2. Peace in this lighter brighter world. Things do feel better. I have Obama's picture in my window. That's a 1st since JFK.
Thanks for the thoughts, prayers, messages, hugs etc. I'm a lucky dude! JIMBO

Happy New Year/Captiva

Tues. Jan 6, 2009. Captiva, FL. 4:30 am. As the Gulf waves ripple across the beach, and I sit here in our cabin/cottage having a nice cup of coffee I have to count my/our blessings. We're here to "dryout" after colds. I was in bed from Christmas through New Years and more and am still "fluid". Carol caught it this week from me. Now Mom has bronchitis which she got probably from us. She seemed fine Fri. when Randi and Glenn and Dylan came by, and also with Debra and Elfin on Saturday, but by Sunday night and early Mon. we could hear her lungs were laboring. So Matt came up early Mon and got her to the docs and she seems better already. Mom is the energizer rabbit. This is our 3rd trip weeks after New Years to "Tween Waters Inn". Its like summer camp and a Honeymoon all at once. John took us to the airport by 6:30 am. EZ flight to Fort Myers, then Hertz put us in the drivers seat for an EZ 1 hour drive. After a quick lunch at the Hungry Heron on Sanibel we were in our "Lindbergh Cottage" by 3:00 pm. In my Birkenstocks and bathing suit walking our summer camp here to the hot tubs by 3:30. 82 degrees mind you. Carol and I both fell asleep reading at the poolside. The water was warm for a brief swim. Delightful. I didn't drink and eat there yesterday, but I will today. Chili Nachos and Margueritaville!!! Can't wait. Sooo...we're so boring. We'll probably do the same thing we always do...rent some bikes...hike the wildlife refuge bird watching...maybe kayak again...eat and rest. We sat on the beach at sunset (5:46 pm) and it was glorious. Maybe I can get brother Kim and Jane to come down Friday and play a round of golf. We'll see. He's working pretty hard these days in the banking business up in Tampa. Last night for dinner we went to the bar here called "Crow's Nest". While we ate the entertainer who runs "Crab Races on Captiva" was barking away making fun of people and raising money for United Way. He's very funny and quik. He does this every night, 2 shows, somewhere on Captiva. He teased me on the way in because of my beret. He said I looked like one the members of the band (the Modulaters from Cinncinnati). "They all wear funny hats". He asked "are you from Paris??" and I responded "wee wee!!". That helped him get another laugh. There were kids there for this early 6 pm show, but his 9 pm show is quite raunchy and they don't allow kids in the place. Funny routine. Tonight through Sat the band will play and we'll dance etc. Last year I sat in on bass. Mustang Sally etc. Soooo....we have a checkup at MSKCC on Jan. 15th. All still looks good so far. Then we have performances Jan. 17th and more in Feb and March. My students are preparing for auditions this time of year. Fun, but scary for the kids. Good focus for all of us. I heard an amazing concert Sunday afternoonin Maplewood at the Chicken Fat Ball. Great Jazz. Frank Vignulo and amazing beautiful bassist Nikki Parrot. Then I had a rehearsal and performance with Courtney and the Ripley brothers at Prospect Presbyterian Church with Jason Asbury and Rev. Rick Boyer Sunday eve. Good jazz interpretations of hymns and Carols. Fun.
So, we had a great time with Benjamin and Maayan over the holidays even though I had to stay away due to my cold. Those kids are amazing. Shoshana stayed home with Mom who worked. Carol took the kids to see Alvin Ailey Dance at City Center. We played with the trains, read books, and when Greg came up to pick them up they all went to see a movie. Great fun. Someday I want to bring them to summer camp here in Florida in January!! OK. Gotta go. Have a beautiful winter. Keep warm. Enjoy the snow and brisk air. Again, THANKS for the prayers, blessings, opportunities for love and friendship and the music making. Let's work at bringing some peace to this troubled world. JIMBO