During the grey winter months when the ground is frozen and the deciduous trees are bare, motionless, and dormant, I often find myself daydreaming of plush summers. Summers when the stench of the stockyards has crept its way abnormally further than usual, and peaked its putrid head far across the railroad track barriers of our Germantown neighborhood. Summers when the heat has reached ninety or above, and the humidity weighs on you like a soaking wet sweater worn in the sauna.  The same summers that blow the cap

National Farm Machinery Show
farmmachineryshow.org
Feb. 10-13, 2010
9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, EST
Kentucky Exposition Center
Admission: Free
Parking: $6

Welcome the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville! Here’s a glimpse of what Louisville can offer you as you enjoy America’s largest indoor farm show at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

The Voice-Tribune's New Year's Eve Soirée
Louisville Marriott
280 W. Jefferson St.
9 p.m.
Accent aigu denotes class. So even though the Voice-Tribune is promoting its event as "everyone's favorite time of year to let loose," you'll still probably want to wear pants. At least until midnight and the balls drop. Tickets are $125 and available online or by calling 502-897-8900.

Veterans' Day, the holiday on which we honor those who've sacrificed so much for us--unless we choose to sacrifice the holiday itself in exchange for getting off the day after Thanksgiving. Honor, duty and freedom are great, but they won't get you 25 percent off at early bird specials.

Here are some area venues that are honoring our veterans--mostly through free admission.

Churchill Downs
700 Central Ave.
11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Admission for live racing and simulcast is free for all veterans and active-duty military members with a military ID.