Kentucky League of Cities Christmas Lunch...

Friday, December 16th was the culmination of this year's service with KLC for Claude. He spent that week and the week previous criss-crossing the Commonwealth of Kentucky helping with COO's (City Official's Orientation). This is free training provided to any city official in Kentucky but especially pertinent to those who were elected in November. Cities were selected across Kentucky and invitations were extended to all city officials to attend at a location near them. The KLC staff would hold a training in the morning, travel to the next city for a training in the evening, travel to the city where the next morning's training was to be held and spend the night there, and then repeat the process the next day. It is a grueling two weeks and Claude managed to attend all sessions. He had to travel on his own for some of them like the Tuesday morning one the second week. He had a Sadieville City Commission meeting Monday evening. As soon as it was over he hit the road and drove most of the way to where the first training that week would be held. He spent Monday night in Central City, Kentucky and got up early Tuesday to travel the remainder of the way and make all the training's that week.

Friday, December 16 would be the Christmas luncheon for KLC followed by the final Board Meeting of the year. I drove to Lexington to have lunch with everyone. This year the lunch was held at Red Mile Racetrack. This is the harness racing track for Lexington. On the property is this old barn called the Round Barn and it houses a museum named Standardbred Stable of Memories. It has a collection of 'sulkies' which are used in harness racing. Here are a few views of this grand old structure and the sulkies it houses.

This year KLC held an ugly sweater contest and several participated. My favorite was the young mother too be with a snow man face for her and a snowman face over where the little one is peacefully gestating. So cute.

The meal was delicious. The conversation was enjoyable. Then it was time to head back to Sadieville after a few brief shopping stops and Claude would head back into downtown Lexington for the final Board Meeting.

I did get Jon Steiner to pose for a picture in his magnificent ugly sweater. Jon is the Chief Executive Officer and did not participate in the contest. But he proudly wore his sweater in support of those who did participate in the contest. Jon was leaving after the Board Meeting to go to the airport to pick up his daughter from college. She will be soooo happy to see her dad in his sweater. That is right, it is a sumo wrestler. Goodness!!

Great party. Thanks KLC for inviting me again this year.