This was an after gig party in the promoters hotel room. A back east trip passing through Pittsburgh, Pa.

So I’m in the corner near the ‘cannoli’s’ and this gentleman after MANY an Ouzo drink tries to hold a conversation. He slurs, “Well Don, how do you like Cleveland?”. And so I said, “Ya know, I really
love it except for the cold (Lake Erie looked 80% covered in Ice from my hotel room view).

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, he pauses … zones out for a minute, then perks up and says, “Well
Don, how do you like Cleveland?” I figure the Ouzo had kicked in… and being quite satisfied with the way I
answered it the first time, I thought, heck he doesn’t remember I’ll just say it again …. I gestured more this time as not to be too redundant. Again, pondering my answer as if Deja vu had kicked in… he started to say something … but, instead blacked out and keeled over onto the table of pastries and glasses.

Having my hands full of pastry already I wasn’t quite adapt at the moment to catch him. But.. wanting to be polite I did however pick him up, dust ’em off and suggest that “When the hotel spins that fast ya gotta
sit in a chair and HANG ON!’ I found him a good solid chair with solid arm rests to steady himself in.

So I left him there and moseyed on over to the other side of the room where a very talented artist and a new fan, showed up at the party. He sketched the band as we played and
was now sketching people as they partied. It reminded me of the 60’s where eclectic people would gather
and … be eclectic and in this case with lots of Wine and Ouzo.

As I turned around my new buddy who moments ago was gripping the chair got up and wandered/weaved around and
over to the bathroom… Suddenly a very loud THUD was heard. Well… I had to look, and sure enough he ‘keeled over’ into the bath tub. I ran and got him a pillow and put it in the tub telling him “It’s the safest place for you since you’re lying down now anyway… (he can’t fall any further…”) and promised not to run the water.
However, he explained how embarrassed he was and insisted on standing. I explained “That’s the problem,
the hotel hasn’t landed yet… still spinning as we speak.”

And so… figuring he’d have another rough landing at some point, we made him a “Crash Pad” in front of the
door, where he keeled over again.

I didn’t see him (or hear any falling noises) for the next couple hours and had a blast socializing and
eating some Baklava… oh Very good stuff.

The roaming artist was doing a great job of Sketching Lana Lane and Michelle Moog, music was playing, lot’s of great conversations to join in on and listen to… But it was getting late, like 4:am late. (I like to be in my room before the Sun comes up… just a personal goal).

Since I hardly drink, I watch the pastries mostly and a dent was made in them (I do my best)… and upon
thanking the hostess for a lovely party… (She had taken her lovely Italian leather boots off in the
corner hours ago) – we again noticed these lovely Italian boots in the corner on the way out.. unfortunately someone had gotten sick all over them. “Cream of Ouzo and Cannoli’s” all over the shoes…”Hey, where did that guy go?…” Ah, he apparently didn’t feel well again and was now in the bathroom…. (He should of just stayed in the tub).

I told the hostess, I’m thinkin’ “Cannoli’s and Ouzo don’t mix well.” but he obviously liked your ‘cannoli’s’ as there’s bits all over your shoes..

Cannoli’s may never look the same to me again.
Have you ever had a food ‘change the way you think about it” from
some strange occurrence? Let’s hear it!

Excellent!
Don