Together on Tuesday - Staying In Touch

Happy Tuesday, All!  I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend!  Mark and I had the opportunity to spend time with some great friends over the weekend...some pool time (THANK YOU Gidget & Michael for having us over Saturday - you are wonderful pool party hosts!), as well as some lake time.  Of course we also got in our fair share of cookouts as well.  All in all, it was a GREAT weekend.  We 'played' most of the weekend, so my house is a bit of a mess...but I've got all week to get that back in order...right?? 

This week, we are discussing how we keep in contact with our friends...old ones, new ones, and all those in between!  What methods do we use most often to keep in touch, do we have regularly scheduled get-togthers?  How have we kept our longest lasting friendships going all these years??

This is a pretty sporatic thing for me.  I don't have one particular way that I keep in touch with everyone.  A lot of that has to do with my own preferences as well as the other person.  For instance, I don't really talk on the phone that much (confession:  for some reason that I cannot explain, I hate voicemail...I can't tell you why, but I do...I am horrible about checking messages.  Typically if I see that I have a message from someone, I'll just call the person back rather than listen to the voicemail), and I am not good at keeping up with e-mail, and some people prefer that...but I do like using Facebook as a way to stay in touch and I am more likely to text than call...and I know that some people find that impersonal (which I understand).  I have also taken notice over the years that some people are just easier to stay in contact with...specifically, I am referring to the ability to pick back up after not talking for a while.  Some friends have been amazingly easy to just sort of always 'pick back up wherever we left off' and others, not so much.  I have also found that the friends that I have stayed in long-distance touch with the longest are actually those friends with whom I can really easily just pick back up where we left off.  It is unfortunate, but the truth is simply that sometimes, life just happens...and before you know it, time has passed by...usually more than I would like...before I have realized how long it has been.  It is nothing personal, its just life (or...'Just Living' as fellow 'Together on Tuesday' blogger Sarah has so appropriately titled her blog).  Some people are more sensitive about this...they end up feeling slighted or snubbed in some way - I can assure you, that is never my intention.  Then as I mentioned before, there are others who are in the same boat as me and we are just happy for those times when we are able to make our crazy schedules connect for a phone call, visit, etc...

I will say that Facebook has made it MUCH easier to keep up with a lot of people and being able to keep up with them all in one place gives Facebook the efficiency advantage.  Currently, Facebook is probably the most common way that I keep in contact with people.  It is the one place where I can gather up and provide updates to people from all facets of my life, whether it is folks I grew up with, college buddies, friends we've moved away from (or have had move away from us), or former or current co-workers and friends that I see regularly.  Facebook has provided a great forum and has provided the opportunity to keep in daily touch with current friends that live in other cities as well as reconnect with friends that I had lost touch with over time.  And besides...how else are all of you going follow all of my CRAZY dog stories???

My friend Elizabeth is the friend that I have managed to stay in touch with the longest...AND...across the longest distance as well.  We have been friends since around first grade, so we have known each other for a very long time.  After leaving Indiana, she had lived in San Antonio, but then moved to Alaska last summer - which of course makes traveling between here and there longer and more expensive.  But, I am fortunate that her family still lives nearby, so when she makes it home to visit them (typically around Christmas) we make a point to set aside time to see each other - which is only once a year right now.  So everytime she comes home we plan to have lunch or dinner and we usually find ourselves sitting in a restaurant talking literally for hours.  We always let the waiter or waitress know when we get there that this is our ONE time per year visit, and that we will be there for a while!  You would be surprised how accomodating they are once they hear that this is all the time we get in person until next year.  Of course, it is always sad to say goodbye at the end of the evening with her.  I always want to refuse to let go when we hug goodbye in hopes that she'll stay! 

Mark and I also like to go up to visit our friends in Bloomington as often as we can - although, that is not nearly as often as we'd like.  While we are there, we usually try and do the whirlwind tour to make sure we see everyone at least a little bit while we are there.  We also have a  great group of friends here in Louisville that we get together with on a regular basis.  Typically several of us will get together and grab drinks and/or dinner about once a week.  It is nice to have a great group of friends here that we can share some laughs with and sometimes even commiserate our way through the work week with from time to time! 

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So, now that I am feeling a bit guilty about not doing a better job keeping in contact with some of you great, wonderful folks...I must ask...how do you keep in touch with everyone?  Is there something you do that I'm not...and you think that I should???  Do tell!

Together on Tuesday - To Spend, or Not to Spend...THAT is the Question

How do you manage money? Do you have a budget? Do you do this as a family or is one person responsible for the budgeting? If needed, how could you improve your budgeting skills?

We don’t really have a hardline budget with certain dollar amounts set for each type of everyday living expense (i.e. grocery, clothes, household goods, etc…), but we do still manage to live within our means.  For larger expenses, we do discuss and keep in mind the larger picture and how we want to spend money whether it be on home-improvement projects, vacations, etc..  For these things, we usually create a ‘wish list’ of bigger items we would like and then prioritize and take things off the list based on how much we can afford to spend on those things.  I feel very fortunate that Mark and I pretty much have identical philosopies when it comes to family finances so there is never that struggle of one of us having to reign in the other's spending habits or money management.

Neither of us are overly frivolous spenders - that being said, Mark and I are both aware that we do indulge ourselves in things that aren't necessary and that the money we spend on those things would probably be put to better use in savings or go toward more important things.  We are both level-headed and reasonable people, so we have an underlying trust in each other’s spending judgment.  We tend to have an unspoken threshold of discretionary spending of around $100.  Typically, if something tops over the hundred dollar mark, then we will discuss it out of respect for one another and to get input on whether we should be spending that money on some other higher priority expense.  Our two biggest splurges are eating out and vacations.  We love to do both.  We are fortunate to be able to do both.  I am sure that being able to afford these splurges is greatly due to the fact that we don’t have any of those small people (I am referring to kids…not midgets – but for the record, we don’t have any of those either) to be financially responsible for - you know all those expensive things that they need and want and must have.  Sure, the dogs have some expenses…but they don’t need childcare, clothes, schooling, and all those other fun things that many parents (my own included, back in the day) have to make sacrifices of their own in order to provide. 

Last year, actually, Mark and I made an assessment of things we were paying for that either weren’t necessary based on usage, or that we could reduce the amount of what we were paying each month.  If you haven’t done this recently, I really recommend it – you may be amazed at how much you can save without really even noticing what has been cut.  The biggest single expense we eliminated was reducing our cable down to just a few VERY basic channels and then signing up for a Hulu Plus subscription.  I am amazed at how much we save each month by cutting out the cable (and no we don’t even miss it…we were watching LESS than three hours of TV per week so it was a total waste).  Also, with the mortgage rates being down from when we bought our house, we were able to refinance the house and reduce our monthly mortgage payment.  Another big one was that my last car payment was last year, so that was another good chunk of change we didn’t have going out every month – granted that wasn’t one that we could really just choose to get rid of – but the timing worked out really well.  So anytime I drive by a car dealership and have the urge to stop and look, I just think about not having a car payment – that usually works!

So, while Mark and I don’t particularly set a certain dollar amount that we budget for individual types of living expenses, when it comes to the major life purchases and credit cards, we do have some financial principles that we live by so I thought I would share some of those with you this week as well:

Credit Cards

One of our biggest philosophies is regarding credit card debt.  The most important thing regarding credit cards that Mark and I live by is…pay the TOTAL balance due in full EVERY month….I repeat…PAY THE ENTIRE BALANCE DUE EVERY MONTH.  Aside from precious few circumstances, we never let a balance roll from one month to the next.  It can so easily turn into this conglomeration of debt that just keeps growing and rolling over from month to month (did anyone else just have a flashback to that old movie 'The Blob'??).  I have seen it become a vicious, vicious cycle for people and I hope to never be in that situation - which is why we have such a strict 'rule' about this.  This is almost one that you have to put in place from the moment you first get a credit card, because once that debt starts rolling, it can be really difficult to dig your way back out in order to start fresh with no prior balance due.  It is certainly okay to have and use credit cards, let’s face it…we no longer live in a time where people have that one credit card locked away to use for ‘emergencies only’.  Anyone who spends much time with me will tell you that I live and die by having my credit card.  I very rarely have cash on hand, so I always use my card.  This does have certain advantages…it makes it easy to track where you are spending your money.  Yes…I am referring to that dreaded end of the year summary booklet from Visa that provides that sobering breakdown of much we spent by category…let’s just say the ‘restaurant’ section makes Mark and I want to vomit every year when we see the total dollars spent on that!  Woof. 

Cars

Thankfully, neither Mark or I have any particular need or desire for expensive or fancy cars, so we both drive relatively inexpensive vehicles.  We do require one SUV (or truck) – we have a Saturn Vue which we bought used in order to pull the boat to and from the lake.  Mark drives that because his daily work commute is much shorter than mine so it is cheaper on gas for him to drive the larger, less fuel efficient vehicle to work.  My daily round-trip commute for work is 70 miles, so I drive a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle (Nissan Sentra).  This car has been wonderful in regards of cost and saving money on gas.  I got a GREAT deal when I bought it new, and aside from regular maintenance and upkeep, we have literally had to put NO money into mechanical repairs for my car…but yes, I admit…there are some cosmetic things that could be done – stupid, stupid concrete pillars in the parking garage at work!  The Nissan is now paid off, and I plan to keep it as long as it holds up – having one less car payment is really nice!

Home

For most of us, buying our home will be the biggest purchase we ever make.  Before we found our house, Mark and I had found a different house first.  We loved it and made several rounds of offers on it.  We came to within a few thousand dollars of having the offers and counter-offers meet.  But that is as close as we were going to get.  So, we walked away.  Period.  No pouty faces, tears, or sadness about it.  Of course we could have afforded an extra few thousand dollars spread over the life of a mortgage, but for us that wasn’t the point.  We set the amount we would spend on a house and took a hard line when sticking to it.  Our simple home buying philosophy is this: buy the house you can afford…NOT the house that costs how much the mortgage company will LEND you…those are TWO different houses…most likely in two different neighborhoods!  A lot of people have convinced themselves that ‘the bank won’t lend me more than I can afford…right?’...WRONG.  Need I remind you of the less than dismal housing market??  Exactly. 

Retirement Savings

You have to start saving early for retirement, even if it is just a tiny little bit at first.  Every year that you put it off, that is money that isn’t earning income for you (yes, I know…insert market jokes here).  We feel that it is important to contribute at minimum whatever your company will match.  If you don’t maximize your company’s retirement matching program, that is literally free money you are letting pass by.  We have also come up with a plan to increase our contributions while minimizing feeling it in our take-home pay.  Every year when we (hopefully!) get raises, THAT is when it is easiest and least painful to the pocketbook to go in and increase your percentage of contribution.  It doesn’t have to be your whole raise either, just a small portion of it. 

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Now that we have covered spending on ourselves, there is one more area to address - giving something back...whether it is to your community, church, or favorite organizations...Mark and I both feel that it is important to give something back out of appreciation and gratitude for the things we have been blessed with.  Regardless of your income, there are always ways to give something back – whether it is through donating your time, skill set, or money.  Not only does it fill a need and help others, but it also makes you a better person.  It is important to recognize that somewhere in the world, there are always needs that are much greater than your wants.  Plain and simple – it’s just good karma…need I say more?

So...I would love to know...how do manage the family funds?  Do you have any advice for the rest of us??

Together On Tuesday - Location, Location, Location!

Happy Tuesday All!  Its that time of the week again, when all of you have the opportunity to climb into my head and see what is (or isn't!) going on in there!

Is the grass REALLY greener in that other, more fabulous place?  If by some twist of fate, you had the opportunity to move to the location of your dreams, would you go?  Where is your dream location?  Would you leave the place you live to go there?

I have several places, so I am just going to go ahead and assume that money is no issue and that I can afford all of these places! 

First...would I leave Kentucky?...umm...is that even a question...YES, OH YES, I WOULD LEAVE!  I would hate to move away from being so close to my family, but it is no secret that I am not a fan of living in the state of Kentucky...  Don't get me wrong, there ARE things I enjoy about where we live (refer to last week's blog, if you missed it).  We are close to my family, and that is worth a lot to me.  Especially as my mother is getting older I am glad to be nearby incase she needs anything.  I also love our home here.  We have what I would call a lovely home (not huge, or expensive, or fancy, but I think it can still be lovely without being any of those things).  We were fortunate enough to be able to buy a brand new house four years ago so it has been easy to make it into what we really want it to be.  It was sort of a blank canvas for us to make our own.  I finally have most rooms decorated to my satisfaction and we just completed construction on a large garage/workshop for Mark.  We also have amazing, wonderful neighbors on BOTH sides.  We can trust our neigbors with anything, and we can rely on our neighbors to be there when we need them...the Newson and Hunt families have come to be an extension of our own family over the last four years, and that is priceless to Mark and I.  We have also made some wonderful, great friends here also people that have become like family to us.

Oh, The Places I Would Go...

Somewhere Tropical...Bahamas, perhaps!
I absolutely LOVE the Caribbean.  I have been fortunate to be able to travel the Caribbean a lot and I love it.  The beaches, the warm weather, palm trees, the resorts, shopping.  All the things I enjoy right there on a beautiful island.  I wouldn't need a fancy home, just a place to crash at night and a place to keep our belongings.  But, if one of the fancy resorts offered me up a home (or...wait...I can afford it in this scenario that I have conveniently set up for myself!), of places I have stayed at down there I would choose to live at the Viva Wyndham Resort - Fortuna Beach, Bahamas.  That was a really amazing, beautiful resort, the food & drinks are outstanding, and it is a short ride to the airport.  When we stayed here, the people at the resort were so wonderful, fun, & friendly.  I absolutely love being at the beach down there.  I could just spend my days relaxing on the beach.  This is where you could find me most days between 10am and 4pm:

View at the Viva Wyndham - Fortuna Beach:

Living on a Houseboat...wherever we decide to dock it
Because we love boating so much, I do have this little dream I have cooked up in my head about living on a houseboat with Mark...and yes...the dogs (I have not yet thought through exactly how it would work living with Austin on a houseboat...THAT my friends would be more than interesting!).  How great would life be...we would just go from place to place docking in where ever we feel like, and when we grow tired of one place, we just pull anchor and move on...



Bloomingon, Indiana
We love, love, love Bloomington.  I went to IU so there are lots of fond, nostalgic memories there for me.  We have a GREAT group of friends already established there, some of those folks are like family to us.  We were so very sad to move away from Bloomington, but our careers beckoned and that landed us in Louisville.  Having the opportunity to go back would be amazing.  Several of our friends there also have boats, so during the summer our group takes to Lake Monroe as often as possible.  Even during the work week, in the evenings if we don't have time to go out on the water just hanging out and having dinner & drinks at the dock is always a good time.  Oh, the memories of Lake Monroe!  So many fun things to do in Bloomington - IU games, tailgating, Oliver Winery, great restaurants, the 'keep-you-young' feeling and energy of living in a college town, VERY dog friendly town, and meeting up with the gang for drinks...just to name a few! 


A Winter (yes, you read that correctly...a winter) in Cape Cod
I don't know WHY I have a particular desire to spend a WINTER in Cape Cod...but I do and I have for some time now.  Cape Cod is typically a summer getaway place, but for some strange reason, ever since my first visit there some years ago I have wanted to spend a winter there.  Maybe that's just it...that is when people and tourists typically LEAVE.  I just have this image in my mind of being inside a cozy warm Cape Cod house looking out onto the cold water and crashing waves though a big window.  I am sure the scene outside would be grey and overcast, but that would be the pefect setting to be inside with a fire going in the fireplace, pajamas, wrapped in a blanket with something warm to drink.  Seems like a great setting for a winter full of writing! 

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After writing this, I still have not figured out whether the grass is greener at one of these places...actually, I've just made myself desperately want to go on vacation!  But, at the end of the day... no matter where we are located, home will always simply be wherever Mark and my dogs are.  As it turns out, THEY are my greener grass...so, maybe I did answer it after all...

 

Steeped In Tradition...Talk Derby to Me

This was my week to suggest our topic, and knowing that we would be coming right off the heels of Kentucky Derby 138, I wanted us to discuss local events in our respective areas that have become tradition…part of our local culture…and more importantly, part of our lives.  For me, this is the Kentucky Derby.  Growing up in ‘Kentuckiana’ as we like to call it, the Kentucky Derby is engrained in me (for those living elsewhere, Kentuckiana encompasses the Southern Indiana counties that lie along the Ohio River across from the Louisville area as well as Louisville and its surrounding areas in Kentucky…I would consider Kentuckiana to be the places that pick up their local news coverage from our fair city).  I could literally write a month’s worth of blogs about the Derby, so I apologize in advance if I fall into long-winded nostalgia.

The Kentucky Derby is THE biggest event of the year here.  People travel from around the globe to come to the Derby.  Here it is treated like a holiday, and I would argue that there is a sort of 'Kentucky Derby Culture' with the locals, especially for those of us who have grown up here.

Fast Facts About the Kentucky Derby

• ALWAYS the first Saturday in May
• ALWAYS ran in Louisville, Kentucky at Churchill Downs
• Churchill Downs is famous for the image of its Twin Spires located atop the spectator stands.
• The race has been dubbed ‘Run for the Roses’ as the winning horse always receives a blanket of roses in the Winner’s Circle after the race.
• The blanket of roses is made every year at a local Kroger store the night before each Derby, and you can go there and watch it be made by hand.
• The race has also been dubbed as ‘The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports’
• Is considered to be the 'First Jewel' of the Triple Crown.
• Saturday was the 138^th running of the Kentucky Derby; 165,000 were in attendance at the track
• Queen Elizabeth II has attended the Kentucky Derby
• The weather is unpredictable…the ever-changing weather forecast leading up to the Derby each year drives us CRAZY!
• Mint Julep is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby (muddled mint, Bourbon, sugar syrup, and typically garnished with a fresh mint sprig)
• Honorable Mentions…The Who’s Who & What they Do of Horse Racing:
• Pat Day –Jockey (Retired)
• Bob Baffert –Trainer
• D. Wayne Lucas –Trainer
• Calvin Borel –Jockey
• Todd Pletcher – Trainer
• John Velasquez – Jockey

The Full Experience

Locally, Derby festivities actually kick off two weeks prior to the day of the actual race.  The official Derby kick-off is Thunder Over Louisville, which is the largest fireworks display in North America.  During the daytime you will enjoy an amazing air show and then the fireworks that night.  If you have never been, you must go at least once.  Thunder is an accurate description.  You can literally feel the ground shake from the fireworks blasting off the Second Street Bridge and Ohio River barges.  Between Thunder and Derby, there are literally HUNDREDS of Derby related events, including:  the Great Steamboat Race, the Rush-hour Hot Air Balloon Race, the Chow Wagon, concerts, the Pegasus Parade, and of course the Oaks Day/Race on the day before, just to name a few!

Derby can be experienced in a multitude of ways...everything from home Derby parties to the infield to the box/stands to Millonaire's Row.  This year, Mark and I decided that we were going to jump right in and do the Derby infield this year (for those not very familiar, the infield is exactly what it sounds...the grassy area inside the track).  This is definitely the wildest way to experience Derby at Churchill Downs.  You can get infield tickets on the cheap (this year tix were $40 per person in advance / $50 if still available at the gate the day of).  You won’t see the race (unless you are near one of the big screens) but you CAN say you’ve been to the Kentucky Derby – and anything goes in the infield...you name it, it’s a huge drunken party.  Maybe...someday...we would get lucky enough to be in a box in the stands, but I'm SURE we will NEVER watch the Kentucky Derby from Millionaire's Row!  As a side note, we HAVE gone to Oaks in a box and we HAVE actually been to Millionaire's Row...on a regular race day...in the middle of the week...when Mark's company sponsored a race, the 'Radio Sound Classic' back in 2007 right after we moved down here.

On a personal note, I would like to throw out props to my sister Cathy & her husband James.  They throw a spectacular Derby party every year.  Typically, this is where we go for Derby, but we decided to go to Churchill Downs this year.  Cathy & James' Derby party is EASILY the best food day of the year for us!  As far as food goes, it actually trumps Thanksgiving and Christmas.  If I listed all the foods, this blog would never end!  Their hard work every year is certainly appreciated by all who are fed and entertained. 

Growing Up Derby

When I think about the Kentucky Derby, I don't just think of how I have experienced as an adult.  Having grown up in the 'Kentucky Derby Culture' I immediately think of all the years of spending Derby with my family as a kid.  During Derby season, I often think of my Dad, because Derby day was a day that he always enjoyed SO much.  I do not remember a year of my childhood that my family didn't spend the day together enjoying the time together as well as watching local news coverage and then the race itself.  Just hearing the names of the Derby winners from the 80's and 90's evokes memories from those days.

I also have fond memories of selling homeade 'Derby Tickets' to my parents.  We would make up little pieces of paper with all the horses' names...we would usually pick out the horses WE wanted first...and then con our parents into buying the rest from us before the race.  Of course this was always a losing bet for Mom & Dad...regardless of who had the winning horse's name we always seemed to keep the 'winnings'...funny how that worked out!

These are childhood memories that I cherish, and wouldn't trade for anything...not even for a Derby day on Millionaire's Row! 

Controversy, Scandal & Tragedy

Horseracing as an industry evokes controversy.  There are animal activist groups that protest the industry due to what they consider abuse to the horses.  PETA has publicly denounced the horseracing industry and this type of outcry is tyically strongest after a public injury or public death of a racehorse (and by public, I mean televised...these things happen...but they typically only make news when the camera crews were around).  Most recently was the tragic loss of Eight Belles moments after she placed second in the Kentucky Derby in 2008.  Within moments of finsishing the race, Eight Belles collapsed from having suffered broken bones in both front legs.  She was euthanized on the track due to the severity of her injuries.

Another notable tragedy was Barbaro who won the Derby in 2006.  Barbaro suffered career-ending leg fractures in the Preakness that year.  Following his injuries, Barbaro underwent extensive surgeries and rehibilitation.  However, due to further complications from his Preakness injuries, he was later euthanized. 

In addition to equine tragedy, there has also been human tragedy.  Unfortunately, this year included.  To be totally honest, I had not even planned to put this section in the blog until yesterday when I learned of the murder that occured at Churchill Downs in the hours following the race.  In the very early hours of Sunday morning, the body of stable worker Adan Fabian Perez was discovered at Churchill Downs near the horse barns.  Police have not released the cause of death, but have ruled it as homicide.  They have not yet named any supects.

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For this particular topic, it seemed appropriate to end my blog by quoting something that I heard retired and famed Jockey Pat Day say during a local radio interview last week.  When asked, “now that you have had since 1992 to reflect on your Derby win on Lil’ E. Tee, how would you describe the feeling of winning the Kentucky Derby?”  Mr. Day simply replied, “there is only one word to describe the feeling of winning the Kentucky Derby:  indescribable.” 

Together on Tuesday: Foodies Gather Round...this is OUR Week!

Happy Tuesday, Readers!  We all know that I am like a Guppy in that I will literally eat until I die (I don't even know if that is actually true about Guppies, thats just something I have always heard), and today is one of my favorite topics...food! 

What are your favorite restaurants, and why do you love them? 

Typically, Mark and I both prefer to find unique places to eat as opposed to chain restaurants.  We do the chain restaurants, but mostly when it is more convenient, or we are feeling too cheap to drop a few extra bucks to go to one of our more unique restaurants.  When we are on vacation we try to NEVER eat at chain restaurants, because we can eat at those places anytime at home.  We feel like part of vacation is trying new things that we can't do at home.  We love trying new food, and that has led us to discover some really great restaurants in lots of different places.  Once in Virginia Beach, we decided that for lunch, we were just going to hop from place to place ordering an appetizer and drinks.  Very fun.  Try it sometime!

**Note:  All of mine listed below are located in Louisville, KY**

Dinner

Havana Rumba: Traditional Cuban full-plate meals.  Absolutely divine!    Even better and more convenient since they opened a second location to handle the high demand.  We have not ordered anything there that isn't absolutely delicious.  Our favorite server there is Maggie (at the new Shelbyville Road location), we adore Maggie and I get the feeling that given the opportunity Maggie could Tequila drink both Mark and I under the table!  She always remembers us, and is slowly teaching us a little bit of Spanish as we see her.  I can tell you that learning Spanish after a couple Margaritas is HILARIOUS.  I think she is doing it more to entertain herself than to actually teach us Spanish!

Mojito's:  The sister restaurant to Havana Rumba.  Same owners.  However, Mojito's specializes in traditional Cuban Tapas style fare.  Tapas style really works well for Mark and I, because sometimes we prefer to try lots of different things, rather than just a regular meal.  I can honestly tell you that Mojito's has some of the best tasting morsels that I have ever had.  If I were marooned on an island and could only bring two (selfishly, I cannot pick just one) foods, I would bring the Chicken and Ham Croquettes and the Steak Chimichurri from Mojitos...mmm....  As a side note, according to Mark, they have the best Mojitos in town! 

Saki Blue:  I am going to stick my neck out there and say that, in my opinion, Saki Blue is the best Sushi in Louisville.  High quality, great atmosphere, and if you go on Thursday evening you can catch some great music by our friend Odeen Mays.  Also, I believe that every Tuesday is 'Penny Saki Night'.  Yep, a regular size Saki for a penny.  For the non-Saki drinkers like myself...I have suggested a 'Penny Martini Night'...not holding my breath on that one though!  We typically sit in the regular restaurant area and order Sushi, but they do have a section with Hibachi grills. 

Lunch

Bendoya: A great place for Sushi lunch downtown.  Great sushi, great price.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays Sushi rolls are buy one get one free.  So you can get a lot of sushi for around $10 (or less depending on what you get). 

Safier:  Traditional Mediterranean.  I am pretty much stuck (because it is SO good, I haven't been able to move on yet) on ordering the Tawook platter (chicken on a stick...I have learned by going here that by definition 'kabob' means beef...not 'on a stick', like I thought, so if you go there an order 'kabob' you will get beef on a stick - if you try and order 'chicken kabob' you will learn that there is no such thing, LOL!). 

Chick-fil-A:  one of the chain places that I LOVE, and nearly the only fast food that I eat anymore.  Sorry KFC...you don't have anything on Chick-fil-A.  Additionally...am I the only one who thinks that their workers are SO much friendlier than any other fast food place?

Sol Aztecas:  Great Mexican food.  On a nice day, it is a great little walk (but not too far) from the office.  They do have outdoor seating if the weather is right.  One of our favorites.  Other Tuesday Blogger Tish and I go there often for lunch.  Typically when it is warm, but sometimes in the winter we have a craving and brave the cold for a Sol Aztecas fix.  I could literally sit there and eat all day!  Also, if you go there for dinner (or you are afforded the luxury...we are not...of a drink on the lunch hour), the Margaritas are also really great!

Just for Drinks

60 West Martini Bar:  HUGE martini list.  A lot of times (including Saturday evenings!) are $5 martini specials.  Enough said.

Ri Ra:  I think this might actually be a chain, I seem to think that I have seen or heard of them in other cities.  But, they make my list because they serve my favorite vodka, Ciroc.  It is difficult to find a restaurant or bar in Louisville that carries Ciroc.  I am a vodka snob and typically have to settle, but Ri Ra has Ciroc, so they make the drink list, just for that!

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In looking back at my list of favorites, I love that most of them are international foods.  I can eat a sandwich or whatever at home.  If I am going out to spend my hard-earned loot on a meal, I like to make it something neat and unique.  If you are not familiar with very much international fare, then I challenge you to try something new.  What is the worst that can happen?  You don't like it and end up eating something else.  That's a small risk for opening up literally a world of possibilities!

Enough from the Crazy Dog Lady...what are your favorite restaurants?  Why are they a favorite?