reVeries

Monday, September 7, 2026

Sixty and Fabulous!

A Milestone Birthday Celebration

Maestro M had a startling realization that he was turning 60.

He asked some friends to help him celebrate (and recuperate from the bleak truth of aging) at his birthday party

On September 6, 2026 at 6 pm

At Wolf’s Ridge at Worthington Inn

The Wolf’s Ridge at Worthington Inn marks the return of refined dining to a building that has served the community in various ways since 1831.

It has been a mansion, a ten-cent diner, a post-fire Victorian showpiece, and a fine dining institution that had held its ground for decades.

Here are a few pics of his especial day.

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, What! You too? I thought I was the only one!

If you can’t sing, just pretend you’re a backup singer for the birthday star.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG FUN FACT:

It was the first song sung in outer space.

It is the most recognizable song.

It was originally Good Morning to You written by Sisters who were teachers.

The gift of oneself from friends

who came from far and near

are the best gifts of all.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

You are what you eat, so eat something sweet.

Behind you, all your memories

Before you, all your dreams

Around you, all who love you

Within you, all you need.

Happy birthday, dearest friend!

You’re not old.

You’re 6 perfect 10’s.

Saturday, September 5, 2026

TELEPHONE DAY: September 2

September Happenings

It is okay to own a technology, what is not okay is to be owned by technology.- Abhijit Naskar

Even though September doesn't officially kick off a new year, the month feels like a fresh start, given that kids go back to school and fall arrives mid-month, bringing a season full of autumn delights like pumpkin spice, falling leaves and sweater weather.

It’s also a month chock full of lesser-known observances that could be fun, but also make us ponder.

Consider TELEPHONE DAY.

Mobile phones have truly evolved. I remember the girls’ mobile phone from several years ago.

Then, we became the proud owner of a high-tech chunky cell device.

Now, there’s the sleek smartphone with powerful capabilities.

My phone’s smarter than me, but I’m cuter.

But I don’t want to talk about that. I’m going rogue, featuring the classic tin-can-and-a-string phone system.

It’s a device that doesn’t need electricity to work and could completely be a DIY project. All you need are a hammer, three small nails, heavy-duty thread about twelve feet long, and two tin cans.

First, punch a small hole in the center of the bottom of each can. Push the ends of the thread through the holes, from the outside to the inside, of each can.

Tie each end of the thread to a nail. Pull the thread until the nail touches the bottom of the can.

Your ”telephone” is ready to use.

Give a friend one of the cans. Stand far enough apart to stretch the thread tightly.

Talk softly into your end of the ”telephone” while your friend holds the other can to one ear. Then have your friend talk while you listen.

Try it!

Technology is awesome, yet it sometimes complicates our life. I’ve finally realized that people are prisoners of their phone. That’s why it’s called a “cell” phone.

How about we all put our smart phone down?

Click Less, Live More.

Make TELEPHONE DAY a PEOPLE DAY.

No one is more important than the person right beside or in front of you.

Saturday, August 29, 2026

My Perfect Summer

Hot Mess

Summer’s lease hath all too short a date. – William Shakespeare

Three words: Jackets. Are. Back.

Alas, summer sun can’t last forever. The days will grow cooler and shorter. August is slipping away like a bottle of wine.

But, as a poet says, when summer gathers up her robes of glory and like a dream of beauty, glides away, I relish memories of all those who have made my summer perfect.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimmed.

Left: Kitty Undercover. Not stalking you. Just watching you. Always.

Right: Life is ruff when you’re this cute.

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;

Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this,

and this gives life to thee.

Nothing but these compare to the beauty and perfection

of my perfect summer day.

Monday, August 24, 2026

Run Like The Wind!

CROSS COUNTRY RACE

August 24, 2026

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically 1.9–7.5 miles long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road and minor obstacles. It is both an individual and a team sport. Runners are judged on individual times and teams by a points-scoring method.

****************

Run like the wind, if the wind were slightly out of breath. - Anonymous

CROSS COUNTRY is the only sport where your only opponent is the clock. You’re not racing against anyone else but yourself.

That was how it was at the CROSS COUNTRY race today where Gahanna East competed with various other middle school teams.

The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race.

Run the mile you’re in.

When you feel like stopping, think about how you started.

When you finish a race, it’s a different kind of high.

You feel like a rock star and a dying old person at the same time.

FINISH TIME: 18+ minutes

It’s not about the finish line. It’s about enjoying the process of getting there.

THIS JUST IN!

Congratulations, Gahanna East!

Outstanding job, FAV GRAND/D!

Fav Grand/D farthest on right

Run often. Run long,

but never outrun your joy of running.

Saturday, August 22, 2026

A Fly-By Vacay

Hot Mess: Diary of a Road Trip, Part III

F R I D A Y , A U G U S T 7

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒟𝒾𝒶𝓇𝓎,

They say the meaning of life can be found in a bottle of wine. Hubby and Second Daughter haven’t found that bottle yet, but they’re enjoying the search.

It was time for another adventure, this time at WAGNER VINEYARDS ESTATE WINERY, one of the oldest, most recognized, wineries and one of the region’s most popular wine tasting destinations since opening in 1979 in the Finger Lakes Region.

Family owned and operated, the fourth and fifth generation Wagners are in the vineyards and in the cellar to bring customers the best quality reds, whites and blushes crafted from 20 grape varieties, all grown by Wagner Vineyards.

The winery is especially recognized for its selection of Riesling wines, from fully dry to dessert sweet ice.

Working nine to wine.

Time for lunch at GINNY LEE CAFÉ.

All menus have been designed to complement and enhance the medal-winning estate wines of Wagner Vineyards and craft-brewed beers from Wagner Brewing Company.

It's not healthy to keep things

bottled up.

Good night! Don’t let the bedbugs bite… unless you’re into that sort of thing.

S A T U R D A Y , A U G U S T 8

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒟𝒾𝒶𝓇𝓎,

I don’t know what my purpose is in life. Perhaps, to be a good example to others? Just kidding, it’s to have fun!

And that was what I exactly had today shopping at the WINDMILL FARM AND CRAFT MARKET.

It is home to over 175 indoor and outdoor shops offering great food, fresh produce, fashion and accessories, and handcrafted items.

Saved the best winery stop for last: KONSTANTIN FRANK WINERY where in 1958 Dr. Konstantin Frank planted the first vinifera vines.

For over sixty years, the winery has been producing highly-acclaimed traditional method sparkling wines, crisp and aromatic white wines, and rich red wines.

We only drink wine on days that end with a 'y.'

INTERESTING! To First Daughter’s attention:

The winery features LENA RESERVE 2022 (most expensive in the barrel selection), a deep ruby wine that reflects the heart and heritage of the Frank family.

Named for daughter LENA, this wine opens with an inviting bouquet of black cherry, ripe plum, and dried rose petals, interwoven with hints of cedar, baking spice, and crushed graphite.

Elegant yet bold, it is crafted with precision, aged with patience, and inspired by the enduring spirit of LENA FRANK.

Another day down, our last adventure awaits tomorrow. Good night for now!

S U N D A Y , A U G U S T 9

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒟𝒾𝒶𝓇𝓎,

Couldn’t/wouldn’t miss this final site.

PRESQUE ISLE PARK is located in the Upper peninsula of Pennsylvania on the coast of Lake Superior.

The park is itself a small, oval-shaped peninsula surrounded by sandstone cliffs, marshes, rocky outcrops, secluded coves, and pebble beaches.

At the park’s entrance is TOM RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER.

It features a two-story structure of brick, glass, and steel; a 75-foot observation tower; and 7,000 square feet of exhibits, orientation theater, research center, gallery, and gifts.

A trail, approximately 2.5 miles, offers beautiful views of Lake Erie and opportunities for birdwatching and fishing.