YES, THIS WAS A GREAT WEEK

 As the past few day have been featuring ridiculously expensive Japanese Whiskies, to all mothers:

But how many mothers actually receive whiskey for their day of the year?  Mothers get $25 billion worth of gifts/meals, compared to $16 billion for Father's Day.  Also 84% of mothers are recognized and only 76% of fathers.  Are mothers better respected or loved or good at inspiring guilt?  Whatever, here is what mothers most get:

• 47%  flowers.
• 36%  chocolate.
• 29%  gift cards (150 million/year, next to Christmas and Valentine's)
• 26%  dinner.
• 22%  jewelry.
• 19%  beauty products.

Also:

• Spending is up in the USA:  $134 this year, up from $97 in 2020.
• Surprisingly enough, only around 50 countries follow this American tradition, which some say was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe, writer of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  
• But only a few use the second May, and it is never a public holiday.
• Which countries most celebrate Mother's Day?  Those with companies that early on promoted this day for profit.

With that, I need to complete a truly great week with more about my third straight day of greatness.

• Watched the entire Kentucky Derby from 8:30AM to 1:30PM, of course enjoying Mint Julep, which features Kentucky Bourbon. 
• I long thought Woodford Reserve just outbid Old Forester for Kentucky Derby Rights.  Not so, for both companies are owned by Brown-Forman, which celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2020.  Perhaps the reason is that Woodford Reserve is more expensive than Old Forester.
• There is also Tennessee Whiskey, and Brown-Forman also owns Jack Daniels.
• So we taste-tested the two Kentucky bourbons, and when mixed with syrup and mints, you really can't determine any difference.

After a while, getting close to the playing of Old Kentucky Home, I thought it was an appropriate moment to crack open a special Kentucky Derby bottle of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay.

While boiled peanuts and deviled eggs are not the traditional fare served at Churchill Downs, this party of mine was in Hawaii.  The finish was incredible, as 80-1 shot Rich Strike won.  In addition this was the first Kentucky Derby win for trainer Eric Reed and jockey Sonny Leon.  Rich Strike entered only because another horse got scratched.  The biggest upset occurred in 1913 when Donerail won at 91-1.

But that was not all.  Next the Hawaii softball team played the league leader Cal Fullerton.  No problem at the beginning, for Hawaii jumped out to a 10-1 lead.  But later on the game was tied 11-11 and into an extra inning.  A two-run home run won it for Hawaii, meaning we took the series from Fullerton.

This was followed by Hawaii sweeping Long Beach in volleyball on ESPN2, making us repeat NCAA champions.  I told you last Sunday that THIS WILL BE A GREAT WEEK.

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