OT: Kentucky Derby

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comnospam (LC aka Fiddy) :

]I'm dreading it!!

why?

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

newest creations: ----------- I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all.

Luckily for me my DH is as disinterested as I am in this sort of event. However, because we ended up in Louisville, KT for our honeymoon and loved it we have been back many times, and there are a lot of nice things to see and do there. We always stay in a beautiful victorian mansion that is now being used as a B&B (unfortunately I think it is always booked way ahead of time during the Kentucky Derby). It sounds like the entire town is very very busy during the Derby. However if you can have some away time from your DH maybe you can see some other parts of the town...I am guessing cultural things might not be as busy during the Derby events as other parts of town...?

They have a lot of self guided walking tours through the old victorian neighborhoods, nice parks, etc in the old downtown area. In that same neighborhood is a nice art museum (free entrance, extra for some exhibits) and some other interesting things. There are also several artsy neighborhoods with unusual food and cute shops. If you like antiquing, there are several big antique malls.

My memory is horrible, but if you want I can ask DH if he has some pointers regarding where all of these places are.

marisa2

LC aka Fiddy wrote:

Get a really great hat and nothing else will really matter, I'm thinking.

~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

HUGE crowds of people, all dressed up; sitting in the heat, watching horses run round and 'round from early morning till evening...(boring)...did I mention crowds?..

ew. Oh, and dh is a sweetheart, but when he's handicapping horses, there's no visiting...

dread.

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Bless you, I'd love to be there to have the time to do any of these things. We fly in to Louisville on Thursday night, go to horse racing all day Friday and Saturday, then fly home Sunday.

Oh, dear, this is turning into a rant, sorry, I'm having major bummer over this.

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

If you knew how stoopid I look in a hat, you'd understand my apprehension.

*sigh*....

anybody suggest a really good (small) book? I need stuff I can smuggle in in a purse, since they don't allow backpacks or duffles...

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

OH MAN! I'd say, "Sorry, I adore you, but there's no way in hell I'm going." All you'll have to do is show him how much the hat's going to cost (find one that's $300+ -- not hard to do). ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

Well, I'm being the "Good Wife". Attending the triple crown races (yes, all three of them...in different states, a couple weeks apart...and we're in California) are his reward to himself for finishing law school, and he thinks this is the creme de la creme of experiences, and wouldn't have gone without me. *sigh*

Being a goodwife has it's costs, but then, I get the goodhusband in return. (Ok, mebbe THAT'S the perspective I need...to shut up and let him enjoy)....

I'm rambling, ain't I?

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Honey, do you *have* to go to the races? Can't you just go bead shopping? Let HIM go to the race day extravaganza. ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

I've seen your picture. PRETTY. I'd say you've been looking at the wrong hats.

And you don't have to *buy* a hat.....just tell DH you've found one that's "inexpensive", then show him the price tag of $400! Haw haw

~ Devious Sooz ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

You have to stay by his side during this entire boring affair?

One time I went with to a baseball game because it was a work-sponsored event and "everyone was going". Never, ever ever again. I don't have fun. And apparently I look it. And either spoil the time of everyone around me or get ignored by them, or probably both.

Will he notice if you sit there reading?

marisa2

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*sigh*...just call me the "goodwife"...and wish me luck in shutting up and letting him enjoy...ROFL..

(and when I get home, I'll spend a crapload of money at the beadstore!! ROFL)

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

That's a good thing. But -- not always necessary. (I like to pick my Goodnesses.)

I understand. (Kevin, my DH, graduated from Boalt law school in 2002.) That's nice that he thinks so highly of the experience. And it's wonderful that he wants you along. But you would both have so much fun if you could spend the day at bead stores in the area, then compare notes that evening, right? Wouldn't that be fabulous?

Does he know how you feel? I do *not* mean to badger you. And you can tell me to buzz off. But I've had a ton more experience being married than you have, and time to look back on my mistakes......

Well, yeah, but being a Good Wife doesn't have to mean being miserable, and apprehensive, and least of all -- filled with dread. I strongly suggest you guys have a loving little talk about this -- it could turn out really cool. ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

Louisville bead stores:

Afterglow:

Friend's Lapidary and Jeweler's Supply Inc.

106 Fairfax Avenue Louisville, KY 40220-4906 502-893-7855 V/MC/Discover - 14K gold findings, beads, lapidary supplies, quantity discounts available.

There could be more in nearby towns, but I don't know what constitutes a nearby town there. Here's the Kentucky bead store index:

~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comnospam (LC aka Fiddy) :

]HUGE crowds of people, all dressed up; sitting in the heat, watching horses run ]round and 'round from early morning till evening...(boring)...did I mention ]crowds?..

ah - okay - understood now. i don't deal well with those sorts of crowds, either. is there someplace "else" you can be, or does he really, really want you to stay with him?

]ew. Oh, and dh is a sweetheart, but when he's handicapping horses, there's no ]visiting...

yuck! and all those people jumping up and down, too! Kentucky, *IMHO* is one of the most beautiful states we have, but it DOES tend to go a bit "horse crazy".

if you scroll down the page, past all the hype, there is a menu on the left that has other stuff going on at the same time. there is a museum and several restaurants - granted the restaurants are probably packed that day, too, but if most people are watching the races, maybe the museum would be quieter? i noted there are also "Jockey Club Suites" available, too. have NO idea what your budget is like, but if he's going to be busy . . . otoh, if you don't want to stay: click on "business directory" and then "arts". bead stores!!!!!!!!!!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

newest creations: ----------- I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all.

Except that I'm not adventurous enough to head out alone...so I'll go alone, and make the best of it. I just need to talk to someone who's been to the derby to know what to expect...and how to minimize my angst...

hey, I've been married 12 yrs! LOL...ages!! (and I'm wife #3, and I look REALLY good in comparison to #1 &#2)...

He knows how I feel about it, and admires me for being willing to go with him to share it ...and that's why I'm using y'all as a sounding board, and lookin' for someone who's been there...

and I'd never tell ya to buzz off...(till ya needed it, of course)...

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Hmmm... what kinds of books are you into?

I would recommend fiction for a loud and busy place (I couldn't concentrate on non-fiction there myself!)

The books I recommend to everyone are the "His Dark Materials" series by Philip Pullman (

). Children's books, and some copies aren't too thick. You can bring in one on Friday and if you finish it a different one on Saturday or whatever :). The author claims they are philosophy wrapped in fantasy. Lots of good philosophy, but also one of the most amazing fantasy universes I have ever read. The first book reads like a very good childrens'' fantasy novel, the second and third book blow my mind. If you like science fiction and fantasy, pick up a copy of the pulp-sized F&SF magazines at a better book store. These are quite small - fit very easily in a purse - and if you get two or three (eg "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction", "Asimov's", and "Analog" ) they should last pretty well for the entire weekend, and give good variation. There are similar magazines for some other genres.

A book I just finished reading was Silas Marner (sp?) by George Elliot (who turns out to have been a woman). Although it is moralistic, some of the "people" scenes are hilarious. It is a relatively short (=small) book. This and other "classics" are often sold in relatively small paperbacks. My old favorites are anything by Jane Austin (if you've read one of her books in highschool, pick up the others... they are all kind of similar after a while, but the dialog and details are clever and fresh in each). Maybe you can find something set in the US or even Louisville to match any brief glances you might get of the beautiful old city there. "The Little Knights of Kentucky" (or something like that ) is set there. the B&B we stay at is in the "town" house of the children these books were based on. These are really children's books so might not keep you that entertained, but it is an interesting factoid.

If you are into non-fiction I can definitely recommend "Genome" or "Nature via Nurture" by Matt Ridley. I can't believe how readable these books about genetics are; I can actually follow them and get lost in the interesting anecdotes, but am learning a lot. At least "Genome" is available in paper-back, though it is a slightly larger size then the typical fiction paper-back...I guess it depends how large your purse is.

I can go on and on endlessly about books... what are your interests?

Marisa2

Nah, if I really REALLY wanted, he'd set me loose. But, I want to share in his excitement, and I'm not the venture off type...I really thought that the Friday day would be free for he and I to explore, but it's not to be...

hugs to ya for looking around for me...

oh yeah, the jumping around, I forgot about that...*sigh*..

ROFL...(I'm a whiner, aren't I?)..

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

I think I've been to the second place.

Expensive, but has interesting stuff.

marisa2

"Dr. Sooz" wrote:

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