It’s turned cold in Socal – a damp, chilly Pacific breeze started yesterday. Fireplace weather again. Rumor has it that the breeze is bringing some rain in the next couple of days. That would be nice.

Calfire has just arrested a person they say is responsible for setting the Jan 21 fires near our house. As an arsonist he’s by definition mentally ill, but I hope they throw the book at him. In Socal an arsonist is just a different kind of mass murderer. There’s no place for that person in free society.

Spent a lot of time today making final arrangements for the big Derby weekend. Lots of logistics. But in addition to the Oaks and Derby race days, we have VIP tours of Rabbit Hole and Castle & Key distilleries. Add lunches/dinners at Volare, Jeff Ruby’s, River House, Watch Hill Proper, North of Bourbon, Proof on Main, and Porcini, – it’s a big set of events. I’ll probably need an organ transplant or two after all that.

Yesterday’s UK hoops game felt like the end of the season for me. UK took a beating at home – the injuries have taken their toll, and we’ll be lucky to win another game or two beyond this point. Both Jaxson Robinson and Kerr Kriisa are gone for the season, and with Butler still playing-while-hurt, we’re just not deep enough to compete. While it’s a bit sad, I’m very satisfied with Mark Pope’s first year as coach. The man is a treasure. The team had some memorable wins, and without the injury jinx could have made a deep run in the SEC or NCAA tourneys. I’m hopeful for the future – a very different feeling than I’ve had the previous 2-3 years.

The recent Donny Convict-Vance-Zelensky Oval Office meeting is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in US politics. The US government is now a bullying rogue state, reneging on longstanding friendships and partnerships. We seem to be on Russia’s side. Donny certainly is. Our citizens need to say that our “leadership’s” position is NOT America’s position. I for one want to be on the side of Europe and NATO, not Putin. It’s a dark moment.

Finally, it’s Oscars award day in Socal. Meh…