Dreaming of a White Christmas

Winter has finally come to this part of the country. As much as I enjoyed our prolonged Indian Summer, I was invigorated by the sunny, brisk cold that followed. Now we're getting a rare smattering of snow, with promises of more to come. Three snow storms in less than a week. Gotta love this "global warming!"

Most of my Holiday social events were scheduled this week. And, just like the gal's white board calendar gets "opened up" when the guy in the cranberry bog spills juice that washes away Wednesday's notations, the storm fronts are erasing my holiday schedule day by day. I don't know if the white stuff will stick around for Christmas, but one can hope. After all, 'tis the season.

All of you who are looking out your window in hopes of seeing more snow and dreaming of a White Christmas have soul-mates here. I hope that all of your Christmas wishes come true! God bless us every one.

Louisville

You just thought I was never going to post another entry in my blog. You weren't alone. Let me catch up from October...

The National AMWA Conference was in Louisville this year. It was, by far, the best one I've attended. Maybe that was because I had fewer sessions and more time to network. Not to mention that the amazing sky bridges of the Galt House made it so convenient to leave jackets, et al, in my room.

That's not to say that I didn't go outside. Walking is my favorite sightseeing mode, and I ventured out more than once. The Ohio River was less than a block away from our venue, replete with paddle-wheel boats and a floating visitor's center that used to be a rescue vessel. The riverfront was a great place to shake off the lethargy of too much sitting.



Of course, a three-hour time difference made fewer scheduled sessions a wise choice. Listening to someone lecture at my body clock's 6 AM is less than beneficial. Almost as much fun as trying to go to sleep at a corresponding 7 PM. I found that an afternoon power nap helped me manage the time change.

Louisville has a rich and varied history. Home to Ali, "The Greatest," and Colonel Sanders, the city boasts tributes to both. The museum honoring Ali was just across the hotel plaza.

The visitor's center had a life-size wax figure of the Colonel and a pictorial history of his life. I had forgotten that he was past retirement age when he launched the Kentucky Fried Chicken venture. We may have that in common...

The most striking impression I had of this city was that it seemed happily stuck in a by-gone era. The new housing developments visible from the plane window had large lots. The music, even at the local Starbucks, was of an earlier time. Lyrics you could actually understand and lots of jazz.

Speaking of Starbucks, the beverage for which Louisville is most famous isn't coffee (a sad commentary that had this Northwesterner searching for the nearest franchise at the first opportunity). Bourbon-related gifts were everywhere. And our welcome reception featured mint julips —without the stately front porch and lazy summer day. That, along with a tour of Churchill Downs, will have to wait for next time.