ABOUT ME:
Playing the piano paid my way through college and graduate school and has given me pleasure all my life. I like writing my own arrangements and have more than 200 in memory. I still play virtually every day at home and occasionally at parties or small neighborhood gatherings.
When we went to New York City, I played at the Steinway store (photo) and at dinner in the hotel. Leslie and I enjoy sharing, and a piano is a people-magnet that draws folks together for a good time.
Piano Arrangements by Charles Isbell: (These are on the YouTube channel my son Baraq Isbell made and will open in a new window. To get back here, close the new window.)
Saint Louis Blues Unforgettable The Rose The Shadow of Your Smile Annie
This is my first experiment with putting my arrangements on my (under development) channel: Georgia & Baraq's Unforgettable.
When we went to New York City, I played at the Steinway store (photo) and at dinner in the hotel. Leslie and I enjoy sharing, and a piano is a people-magnet that draws folks together for a good time.
Piano Arrangements by Charles Isbell: (These are on the YouTube channel my son Baraq Isbell made and will open in a new window. To get back here, close the new window.)
Saint Louis Blues Unforgettable The Rose The Shadow of Your Smile Annie
This is my first experiment with putting my arrangements on my (under development) channel: Georgia & Baraq's Unforgettable.
Lap dogs: Shomer & Trixie
Dogs are another of my major interests, especially training them. In Kansas City, I trained a Doberman Pinscher police dog that successfully nabbed a robber in my home and was later accepted on the KC force. Since then, I have rescued and fostered giant breeds in Louisiana, finding them good homes with good people.
One of my foster gals (abused and starved to near-death when I found her) spent almost a year with me, during which time she graduated from a complete regimen of obedience training and was officially named "Sweetpea." She then moved in with her adoptive "forever" new owner and in 2010, was named the “Mayor of Pittsburgh” in a Pennsylvania parade for rescue animals.
I no longer foster dogs, but I do continue to help owners and potential owners select, train, work with and understand their dogs (including both medical alert and service dogs).
One of my foster gals (abused and starved to near-death when I found her) spent almost a year with me, during which time she graduated from a complete regimen of obedience training and was officially named "Sweetpea." She then moved in with her adoptive "forever" new owner and in 2010, was named the “Mayor of Pittsburgh” in a Pennsylvania parade for rescue animals.
I no longer foster dogs, but I do continue to help owners and potential owners select, train, work with and understand their dogs (including both medical alert and service dogs).
Here's to our wedding day!
My wife Leslie and I are both stroke survivors, so each of us needs a service dog. Our English mastiffs have the laid-back attitude, patience and great size to give us the support we require. Leslie’s Trixie was her constant companion. My dog is Shomer (Hebrew; Shomer means “Guard”). Shomer goes with me everywhere, including LSU.
Just recently, Shomer has begun doing double duty, covering for Trixie who has died at nearly nine. Our family celebrates Trixie's life and remembers her with joy. We may choose to honor her memory by giving Shomer a little sister next year.
Leslie is a University of Florida, College of Journalism graduate, a former English teacher, a former editor of a Florida newspaper (The Citrus County Chronicle), a professional photographer, and a certified Louisiana Travel Planner.
She has ten years' experience touring full-time in a 40-foot motorhome towing a Jeep and has written self-guided tour guides for RVers in various areas (the Smokey Mountains, New Mexico, New England, Cajun Country) of the USA.
Our interests have become mutual. Both of us, we’ve discovered, have always tried to “live large.” To us, this appears to be an attitude toward life that comes naturally, needs to be encouraged and is never too late to start.
Together, we are creating "Living Large Late: A Practical Approach to Enjoying Life" --- a website and accompanying YouTube channel to be launched in 2024.
We will also be presenting The Rabbi & the Widow. Written before I'd met Leslie, this is a novel about the woman I wanted to share my life with but could not seem to find. Just after we met, Leslie read my book and announced: “I am Sarah!” This was the opening gambit in a whirlwind romance that resulted in our marriage.
Just recently, Shomer has begun doing double duty, covering for Trixie who has died at nearly nine. Our family celebrates Trixie's life and remembers her with joy. We may choose to honor her memory by giving Shomer a little sister next year.
Leslie is a University of Florida, College of Journalism graduate, a former English teacher, a former editor of a Florida newspaper (The Citrus County Chronicle), a professional photographer, and a certified Louisiana Travel Planner.
She has ten years' experience touring full-time in a 40-foot motorhome towing a Jeep and has written self-guided tour guides for RVers in various areas (the Smokey Mountains, New Mexico, New England, Cajun Country) of the USA.
Our interests have become mutual. Both of us, we’ve discovered, have always tried to “live large.” To us, this appears to be an attitude toward life that comes naturally, needs to be encouraged and is never too late to start.
Together, we are creating "Living Large Late: A Practical Approach to Enjoying Life" --- a website and accompanying YouTube channel to be launched in 2024.
We will also be presenting The Rabbi & the Widow. Written before I'd met Leslie, this is a novel about the woman I wanted to share my life with but could not seem to find. Just after we met, Leslie read my book and announced: “I am Sarah!” This was the opening gambit in a whirlwind romance that resulted in our marriage.
RV: Charles drives & Trixie watches.
RV travel is another area of interest for Leslie and me. When we met, Leslie had spent 10 years traveling full-time in an RV and I had driven trucks doing farm work, so now she plans our trips and navigates, while I drive.
We started in 2012 with a 35-foot Tiffin Class-A Motor home, which accommodated us and our dogs. In 2022, we down-sized to a 32-foot Newmar and added a 21-foot Entegra Ethos Class B to drive around town.
We take the bigger RV whenever we leave Baton Rouge and rent cars as needed. The vantage point, high up in a motor home, lets the world pass by easily and comfortably. It makes travel delightful.
In 2021, when Hurricane Ida impacted Baton Rouge, we had already evacuated to north Louisiana, where we spent a month. Our staying away was best for everyone: Ida made fuel and groceries scarce: electricity was interrupted; utilities were desperately trying to recover; and debris littered the area. Our RV offered us safety.
Both of my out-of-state children work for the federal government. Baraq lives in St. Louis and helps keep our nation safe by preventing computer hacking for the Department of the Interior, while my daughter Danielle lives in Overland Park, Kansas, as does my college-age grandson, Thomas. Danielle is an agent with the IRS.
For me, life continues to be interesting because I have so many things that I love to do.
We started in 2012 with a 35-foot Tiffin Class-A Motor home, which accommodated us and our dogs. In 2022, we down-sized to a 32-foot Newmar and added a 21-foot Entegra Ethos Class B to drive around town.
We take the bigger RV whenever we leave Baton Rouge and rent cars as needed. The vantage point, high up in a motor home, lets the world pass by easily and comfortably. It makes travel delightful.
In 2021, when Hurricane Ida impacted Baton Rouge, we had already evacuated to north Louisiana, where we spent a month. Our staying away was best for everyone: Ida made fuel and groceries scarce: electricity was interrupted; utilities were desperately trying to recover; and debris littered the area. Our RV offered us safety.
Both of my out-of-state children work for the federal government. Baraq lives in St. Louis and helps keep our nation safe by preventing computer hacking for the Department of the Interior, while my daughter Danielle lives in Overland Park, Kansas, as does my college-age grandson, Thomas. Danielle is an agent with the IRS.
For me, life continues to be interesting because I have so many things that I love to do.