Two views of Kentucky

So here is Barbara having the time of her life this past weekend at the whole Kentucky Derby Weekend. Barbara (and mine you I have another name for here that only I get to use and am not going to abuse my privilege and use it here on the blog) is in the travel business and we met back in like 2002 on a winery cruise in California. We have been in touch ever since. Well, over a year ago she met the two gentlemen with her on a cruise and they live in France. Last summer she went to visit them at their country manor. It appears that one thing lead to another and poof she was arranging tickets for them to the Barnstable Brown Derby Gala the night before the Kentucky Derby to box seats for the actual event. Well, let me tell you, Barbara was a princess for the weekend including wearing the wonderful evening gown and people, this is a girl who does not like to wear a dress! But heck, there are exceptions. Here is the article from the Courier-Journal newspapaer talking about all the who's who of who would be there:

What do baseball's all-time home run leader, pop music royalty and the anchor of the CBS political show “Face the Nation” have in common? They'll all be among the guests at one of the most delightfully eclectic Barnstable Brown galas on Kentucky Derby Eve. Barry Bonds, Tito, Marlon and Jackie Jackson, and Bob Schieffer are hardly the only boldface names on this year's guest list for the internationally known party.

"We've got music covered, we've got sports covered, we've got drop-dead gorgeous covered,” Tricia Barnstable Brown said with a laugh. She plays host to the party with her sister, Priscilla Barnstable. “We've even got edgy-cool covered.”

Flamboyant figure skater Johnny Weir and gold medal-winning skier Bode Miller will bring some Winter Olympics glamour to the Kentucky Derby weekend event. John Calipari might not have gotten to the Final Four with his Kentucky hoops team, but he will make it down the Barnstable Brown red carpet with former players John Wall and Patrick Patterson.

Other sports superstars on hand will include the New England Patriots' three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Famous musical acts always take the stage at the legendary Derby bash, and this year's party looks like a reunion of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members. Three of Michael Jackson's brothers — Tito, Marlon and Jackie, all founding members of the Jackson 5 — will perform.

Barnstable Brown expects that one of the highlights of the party will be their musical tribute to Michael Jackson, also starring R&B legend Jennifer Holliday. In addition to old-school rap icon Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Motown superstar Smokey Robinson will attend. They'll be joined by 1980s hitmakers Taylor Dayne and Salt-n-Pepa, as well as country chart-toppers Travis Tritt, Rodney Crowell, John Michael Montgomery and Little Big Town.

Boy band alums will be well-represented, with Barnstable Brown regulars Joey Fatone and Nick Lachey.
And Lachey might be part of the most-anticipated paparazzi moments of the night. Ashlee Simpson will be at the party, along with her husband, Fall Out Boy singer Pete Wentz. Ashlee, of course, is the younger sister of Jessica Simpson — Nick's ex-wife. Ashlee won't be the only glamorous woman setting off flashbulbs. Supermodels Marisa Miller and Rebecca Romijn and Vanessa Minnillo, former Miss Teen USA and MTV “Total Request Live” host, will do the red carpet. They'll be joined by Hollywood stars Jerry O'Connell (“Jerry Maguire”) and Terry O'Quinn, from “Lost.”

“We've got two more episodes of ‘Lost,' and we're going to have John Locke (O'Quinn's character) here. In my living room,” Barnstable Brown said. “I get very excited.”

On Monday, the signs of preparation were everywhere. Workers had decorated the Highlands house with glittering, silver lamé decorations, making every trip downstairs feel as if it were choreographed by Busby Berkeley. “I get to live in a fantasy world,” Barnstable Brown said.
With the most consistently eye-catching guest list of Derby week, the Barnstable Brown party has long been a coveted ticket on the Louisville social calendar. Barnstable Brown has been organizing this most glittery of Derby events for the past 22 years.

“We raise lots of money, I'm proud to say. That's very meaningful,” Barnstable Brown said.
Proceeds go to support the Barnstable-Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center at the University of Kentucky.

So there you go! But all was not so fabulous in the state as heavy rains covered the state. In fact, the Derby on Saturday was so muddy and nasty that Barbara ended up changing outfits to survive the rain. She shared that the infield at Churchhill Downs was like looking at Woodstock!

In addition to knowing Barbara I know two wonderful people by the name of Kate and Eric who have a farm. That would be Frog Hollow Farm outside Lexington. Well, there is a little "creek" that babbles near their road and driveway that is usually about 4 feet wide and oh 8 inches deep. Well, that was not the case this weekend by the two photos below!

The do appear to be surviving but my oh my, Kate was all worried if the dryer repairman would be able to make it to the house on Monday. Kate, I don't think so and I would not put the laundry out on the line either.

This storm just dumped on Tennessee and there have been over 15 people who have died so far. Between this storm and the oil spill in the gulf coast it has been a blistering weekend down there. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with y'all! Until next time.