I love Derby day. Brings back memories of when I went 5 years ago. It's really a spectacle and great fun. I sat on the infield and had a blast. What you don't realize watching it on TV is that it's really a whole day of racing that starts at noon and it ends with the Derby and lots of great food and fun between. You go through a tunnel under the track, drop $20 in a bucket and you're in. Warning, be careful what turn you sit in if you ever go, they have very different intentional environments. Turn #1 is for people watching, #2 is like a family picnic area, #3 is like Mardi Gras and #4 is the serious betting crowd. The year I went it rained like crazy early in the day. There was so much water that people were up to above their knees and were jumping off of things into the lakes that were forming in the infield. The rain lasted an hour or so and then it was a sunny day for the Derby and then it rained when it was over. God held the rain back for the perfect window to run the race. That year Smarty Jones won and I actually made enough with my bet on the race to pay for going and still have a bit left over. The hats really are crazy and it rocks for people watching and meeting new folks. Something I think everyone in this part of the world should try once with it only being 6 hours away.
Went to a wedding last night and knew 3 people (the bride Kristi and 2 of the bridesmaids, Christin and Kim), but like 20 people knew of me from a story I told one of them, Kim. The story was one I told over an UpStreet lunch on a weekend where Kim was visiting Kristi (this was also the weekend Kristi lost in b-ball after much smack talking). We got on the topic of airport security and I told them about Wisconsin issues of cheese being mistaken for plastic explosives on x-ray because the density is similar. Here's an article about it. Kim decided to test this and actually put a block of cheddar in her carry-on last time she flew and was disappointed to not be pulled aside by security. Now I don't know what your idea of a good time is, but quality time with TSA isn't it. So I guess she told everyone the story and I was the "cheese" guy. She vows to try again and I wish her the best of luck in being added to the terror watch list as she exercises her constitutional freedom to carry cheese. I'm guessing if she or Kristi caused trouble I know who the instigator was. So it was a weird feeling to have everyone know you, but not really know anyone. Ever have that?
