May 2017 Chit Chat

It's almost May day so let's start a new chit chat! How are you all doing, folks?

So far, so good. How are you? Are you safe where you are? I've been worried by the news and wondered if you were affected by any of it.

Please stay safe.

What news?

Ok, I've got to go and get ready for dinner. Thanks so much for the concern and yep, all's well here!

Happy May Day! 

Mayday! Mayday!


[sorry - old joke]

http://www.foodandwine.com/syndication/cost-of-kentucky-derby?xid=NL_DISH043017•


The average Derby-goer is spending thousands.
It’s been called the most exciting two minutes of sports. But what can you expect to pay to attend the Kentucky Derby and sip a traditional mint julep from the sidelines?
The Derby, as it’s called, takes place every year on the first Saturday in May and is the kickoff of the Triple Crown horse racing championship. Thousands gather to watch the nation’s best thoroughbreds zip around the two-mile track at Churchill Downs. And they spend a lot for that privilege. The average cost of a hotel in Louisville on May 6 is $1,227 a night—roughly 10 times the price during the rest of the month, according to travel booking site Trivago, and three times higher than what hotel rooms in Houston went for during the recent Super Bowl.
Here, MONEY breaks down what you can expect to spend for a day (or, perhaps, a weekend) at the races. And don’t forget to bring your cash if you’re feeling lucky. Under Kentucky laws, you can’t put any bets on your credit card.
For the Budget-Minded
$75 for general admission tickets: No assigned seat, but you’ll get access to the paddock area to see the horses saddled before the race.
$50 for gas: You could road trip to get there, rather than flying.
$154 for a hotel room in Lexington: You’ll save your pennies by staying in this city, about 80 miles away.
$75 for “Rally Bus” from Lexington to Churchill Downs: Saves on a parking pass and allows you to generously sample that Kentucky bourbon.
$70 for food and drinks: Stop by the grocery store to grab a boxed lunch—but since you can’t bring in alcohol, skip the lines by ordering via the Churchill Downs app.
Total: $424
For the Weekender
$747 for ticket to Clubhouse seating: This includes both the Derby and the Oaks race, held the day before.
$325 for roundtrip airfare to Louisville.
$700 for two nights at a mid-range hotel near the airport: Hotels within walking distance to the race start at $1,900.
$129 for a rental car for the weekend: You’ll want to get around town before and after the races.
$20 for offsite parking: Walk to the racetrack from there.
$70 for dinners after the races: Clubhouse seats include drinks and food at the track, but stop at the Brown Hotel later for the original “Hot Brown” sandwich.
$22 for drinks: Because you can’t resist at least a couple of mint juleps, at $11 a pop.
Total: $2,013
For the Big Spender
$6,999 for ticket to the Stakes Room: You’ll get stunning views of the track, plus an all-day open bar and gourmet food buffet.
$325 for roundtrip airfare to Louisville.
$3,000 for two-night stay at Galt House: It’s both historic and luxurious.
$30 for shuttle to Churchill Downs: These shuttles run all day long from downtown Louisville.
$599 for the weekend kickoff Fillies and Lilies party: Make sure to pack your hat.
$1,000 for a limited edition Mint Julep: It’s made with Woodford Reserve bourbon and served in a commemorative cup.
Total: $11,953
________________________________________
How MONEY Calculated the Costs
The organizers of the Kentucky Derby have a variety of resources, including several planning guides that MONEY used to price out ticket packages and dining experiences. Hotel prices for Louisville and the surrounding area were provided by Trivago.
Airfare to Louisville International Airport was provided by flight booking app Hopper. The cost was based on an average price of flights booked from other U.S. cities. The best time to book is at least 25 days before departure, after which prices rise an estimated $6 each day you wait, Hopper reports.
The cost of gas for a road trip was calculated using the national averages for price and car fuel efficiency for the average road trip of 261 miles, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The average cost of a car rental was gathered from CheapCarRental.net.
This story originally appeared on Money.com.

PP - Which package are you getting? - Or are you staying with Nick and Nina for the weekend? I'm sure they can find an extra bed for you.

Here's an ignorant question: do the Clooney's live anywhere near the races?

Ascot is less than half an hour away to the east, Katie, (as is Wentworth and Virginia Water where George has stayed from time to time) and Sandown another half an hour on from that. Oh and Epsom a bit further east of that

Why, Katie? Are you off to the races?

I hope our favorite guy has a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY ... a great day topped off with some Casamigos and surrounded by people he loves.

I think his favorite gift will be arriving sometime in June. It will undoubtedly be unlike any gift he has ever received. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!

*I know we aren't supposed to talk George here but didn't want to start a new topic under 'George News'

party animal - not! wrote:Ascot is less than half an hour away to the east, Katie, (as is Wentworth and Virginia Water where George has stayed from time to time) and Sandown another half an hour on from that. Oh and Epsom a bit further east of that

Why, Katie? Are you off to the races?

 I think PigPen was referring to the Kentucky Derby, wasn't she?  

yup 

Damn, I just hate being on a different time zone from everyone else. Where iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis everybody????

Just waking up! What time is it where you are? (I'm awful at sorting out time zones.) Don't know why but Theminis' name just popped into my head. Has anyone been in touch with her? It's been a long time since she was here. I miss her (and a lot of others). I wonder why they've stopped dropping by. Hope it's all good.

I see theminis on facebook and she seems to have a life outside of Clooney (gasp!).

She always did! Hope she and the kiddies are well and happy. They seem a lovely bunch.

Katiedot wrote:Damn, I just hate being on a different time zone from everyone else.  Where iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis everybody????

sobering up from the derby and b'day parties 

I'm just watching the European Song Contest from Kyew with my family.
Is anybody else watching this event?

Yep, Carol. One eye on it

All power to Ukraine, despite the Russian shenanigans.

Witty commentary from Graham Norton here - but why all the nonsense from the guys who are introducing?

PAN,
I also like that Ukraine didn't indulge Russia's extortion.
Don't know why these three guys make so much nonsense but if I remember shows from previous years, this seems to be part of the game.
Graham Norton is really good, does he always comment the ESC? In Germany we have an iconic commentator who does this for decades.
Some really interesting and unusual songs you would never hear anywhere else than at this contest.

........and a glass of something definitely helps! Folks in the UK have been known to have parties while this is on!








Norton took over from a brilliant and witty guy called Terry Wogan who died just before last year's event (altho he'd retired from commentating) and on the 13th song Norton raised a glass to him, becaused Wogan had always said that by that time every year you definitely needed a drink!

Voted here for Portugal - very La la Land - but probably not your children's choice!

I also liked Portugal, also Croatia and Hungary. Romania was very funny and uncommon, combining rapping and yodeling.

So now the voting starts...

Congrats PAN, you voted for the winner!

Sweet song.

Glad his sister, who wrote the song, was there. Poor guy is awaiting a heart transplant apparently and can't join in the party fun

Oh no! Have I missed the Eurovision song contest?  Yet again!??  How on earth does that happen every single year?

I saw some clips from Brad Pitts War Machine last night...it will be on NETFLIX late May, and looks really good....but it did make me think...
This role (Brads role) would have been a perfect fit for George...Why does he not get offered these roles?....Is it up to his management to lobby for a role....or what....

Every turn of Brads head and nuance in a sentence I could see George doing it as good if not BETTER....

I think he needs to get his running shoes on....or at least try the brand Hanks Pitt etc are wearing.....

Might be he counts himself out.....As my Grandad said to me "Never refuse yourself, let that job to somebody else"....

AND on that score I never refused myself or excluded myself from George....I just never got a chance to pitch.....Life's a bitch....sometimes....

No Baba news yet?....or as they say in my neck of the woods at such times.....

"Anything stirring?".....

Love and Prayers to our COH family in England.  Be safe, be strong .  We're all with you in spirit.

Terrible, terrible news about the bombing.

Roger Moore passed a way he was 89.

Dina Merrill passed away, too. Sad, but seems somehow so "normal" compared to the victims of the Manchester atrocity. How anyone can take pride in something like that is beyond me. Sad, sad, sad - and sick!

So many of our generation's contemporary figures are dying. I had forgotten about Dina Merrill. She was such an elegant and refined woman. She was an ok actress but she was a very active philanthropist throughout her adult life.

She and Roger Moore got to live full rich lives. Sadly those 22 young people who died in Manchester on Monday will never get that chance.

Hello, It's Me! How are you?

It's Me is here? You've been missed. Come on and chat with us

I am waiting



As usual

I've been watching "e.r." re-runs. Doug Ross became a daddy today. Wouldn't it be funny if George did, too?

it's me wrote:I am waiting



As usual

We're all waiting .... hope you are well!



Lizzy last Saturday I was watching a few ER episodes and Eva Mendes showed up in one ... for about 20 seconds. I hadn't realized she had been on the show too.

It is interesting the way George's love life in a way did mirror Doug's .... and now having twins too!

Ohhhhh, I'm so boooooooored of waiting to hear about the twins' birth!  I keep logging in here to see if there's any news, but nope.  Nothing.

You're not the only one, Katie! I guess we all do!

Yep, but honestly don't think we'll hear anything 'til June - even if she's already had them. Could be completely wrong of course!

One exclusive - maybe with pic - lots of money to all their charities......

I refuse to believe they could have them secretly!  [stamps foot]

Katiedot wrote:Ohhhhh, I'm so boooooooored of waiting to hear about the twins' birth!  I keep logging in here to see if there's any news, but nope.  Nothing.

Just a suggestion, to occupy your time....................  or you could knit a couple of bunting outfits.

I spent the last weekend in Berlin, the trip was a present for my god daughter, her other godparents and I presented it to her for her confirmation. She didn't want any jewelry, had no idea about what she liked, and since in her family money is very important, we didn't want go give her money. So we opted for time - a weekend trip - and tried to get tickers for the national soccer cup final. We couldn't get any and ordered tickers for the Blue Man Group in Berlin instead. It surely was the busiest weekend in Berlin you can imagine: about 100,000 fans who went to see the cup final (or just wanted to be in the same city...) plus the lutherian church gathering with about 250,000 visitors plus ten thousands of visitors for the international flower show plus the usual visitors who visit Berlin during a bank holiday weekend...

Combine that with real hot weather, and you know how much fun we had!
But in the end if was really nice. We had a great day with shopping and a boat trip on the river, combined with sweating and a heavy sunburn, while watching thousands of drunken soccer fans (I have no idea weather they were still awake when the match started). When we left the Blue Man Group theatre, we found out that our godchild's favourite soccer club had won the cup final, so she was in a really good mood. Then we realized that the theatre just across the street to the Blue Man Group had been decorated in the club colors and the Hyatt Hotel next to it hosted the club. So we decided to wait and see what would happen. We sat outside and watched the staff finishing the decoration, the arrival of many officials, coaches with friends, family members (our god child knew them all while I'd never heard of most of the players), wives and girl friends. She wanted go ask some of the wives for a selfie (don't ask me why she wanted pics with them, I can't tell you), and at about 1 a.m. the coach with the team reached the hotel. There was hardly any security, which was actually auite astonishing. Especially since there had been a bomb attack to this team when they had left their hotel for the Champions League match in April (we had talked about that). So we went to the coach and applauded the team leaving the coach to the hotel and watched their best scorer carrying the cup. Since there were only about 30 fans, we were really close to the team. We wanted to watch them leave the hotel to the party but gave up after a while since it was really, really late and our god child is only 15. So we were back at the hotel at 3 a.m. (we really could have saved the money for the hotel), and do you know what we did in the morning after having had breakfast? We took a bus to the airport to watch her team leaving. So we waited more than one hour with about 100 other fans, and when their coach arrived, we were nearly as close as the night before (but the police was there to guard them). Our godchild followed them into the airport and got selfies and autographs of most of them, then we went to the observation desk to watch their plane being loaded and leaving before we went to the station to leave Berlin ourselves. I've never done that for my favourite team, and now I did it for another team - well  in fact I did it for my god child...
Yesterday I took a day off from work to recover from that weekend (and give my feet a rest). It was fun but I'm not sure if I'd do it again for somebody except my own kids...

The secret to George's thin frame:

https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/tequila-linked-weight-loss-study-112500943.html


Tequila is linked to weight loss, study claims
The Independent Mon, May 29 7:25 AM EDT
[email=?subject=Tequila%20is%20linked%20to%20weight%20loss%2C%20study%20claims&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Fbeauty%2Ftequila-linked-weight-loss-study-112500943.html%3F.tsrc%3Dfauxdal&.tsrc=fauxdal] [/email]

If you want to slim down, nutritionists and fitness experts will tell you to cut down on alcohol. It’s highly calorific and fattening.
But many of us are both health-conscious and like a drink, and the classic vodka-lime-soda is just, well, a bit boring.
Good news, then, that a study has found a link between tequila and weight loss.
According to research presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, everyone’s favourite party spirit can help lower your blood sugar too.
Specifically, it’s the sugars that naturally occur in the agave plant from which tequila is made.
These sugars are called agavins - which is not the same as agave syrup - and are non-digestible which means they act as a dietary fibre and won’t raise your blood sugar.
“Agavins are not expensive and they have no known side effects, except for those few people who cannot tolerate them,” said Dr Mercedes G. López.
She added that agavins, like other fructans, are the best sugars to help support growth of healthful microbes in the mouth and intestines.
What’s more, agavins can help people feel fuller and thus eat less.
Dr López explained that agavins are better than artificial sweeteners which are absorbed by the body and can cause side effects, like headaches.
However agavins don’t taste as sweet as their artificial counterparts.
To reach their conclusions, the researchers fed a group of mice a standard diet but added agavins to their water.
They found that the mice who were given agavins ate less, lost weight and their blood glucose levels decreased in comparison with other sweeteners such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, agave syrup and aspartame.
Whilst this probably shouldn’t be taken as the go-ahead to down tequila shots in an effort to lose weight, it might just be worth considering when choosing a drink next time you hit the bar.

Carolhathaway - You really are a great god mother! Your god daughter must be over the moon. It sounds like you gave her a weekend she'll never forget, but you sound like you could use a spa day to recuperate. I hope you had a good time, too. I haven't done anything like that since I was a teenager, but I remember how exciting it was - and how much fun!

CaroleHathaway: that sounds like an AMAZING weekend!

And W2O4D: yay! Tequila diet!!!

Oh carolhathaway......you sound an amazing god mother and good friend. 
Well Done.

Change of subject.....

I assume that with me, you'll all be sending good wishes
to Amal and George during the coming days and 
hoping for a safe delivery of their little ones.




I can't wait for the NEWS !!!

Katiedot wrote:I refuse to believe they could have them secretly!  [stamps foot]

A bit late...... but this made me laugh Katie.

With all the phone cameras around now,

nothing appears to be done in secret.


So I had a vision of a Peeping Tom/Thomasina popping an

"Exclusive !"  on you tube any time now.