Mood: Happy Now Listening: "Justice"- Coming Century (from Samurai 7) Now Reading: "The Daily Gazette"- May 30th 2007 Saratoga County Edition Well, I passed all my classes the last semester, so that worry's out of the way. --- Well, it's a week late, but I did see the Preakness, among some other races: *At first glance, we can sit around and whine about not having a Triple Crown again. Then, we can realize that there is a reason it's a big deal. It's not supposed to be easy. That's why we haven't seen one in almost thirty years. Take another look and the three-year-old division got a lot more interesting. And, if all goes well, the Belmont will be the same. We have the Derby winner Street Sense. We have his rival and Preakness winner, Curlin, who is living up to those good first impressions that led to a three-million-dollar gamble. We have Hard Spun, a front runner with a surprising amount of staying power. Plus, any number of additional surprises. Among them could be Kentucky Oaks winner Rags to Riches, if Pletcher grows a spine. Remember, he could have tried her in the Derby and chickened out. Right now, the strongest three-year-old he has is his filly and he won't let her prove it. Pletcher's a wimp in a sport that is, sadly, full of them. *The Metropolitan Mile had a field full of interesting horses. Including Corinthian, who went from running like a drunk as a three-year-old to becoming quite the interesting contender now. And....Political Force?! Wow, he's moved up in the world since I last saw him. I remember betting on him as a two-year-old and losing because he made had a tantrum in the starting gate. Now, he's almost winning Grade I races under the guidance of the legendary giant killer Allen Jerkens. Hmmm......giant killer....especially at Saratoga....and if he and Political Force come back...I might have a longshot bet to try this summer, but after that finish, I can't say he'll stay a long shot for much longer. *I came home from work and flipped the TV on just in time to see my favorite turf horse, The Tin Man, come back and win the Shoemaker Mile. Nice to have the old guy back, they don't build them like him anymore. Not since John Henry, or maybe even Kelso. --- My work situation might be on it's way to being handled. When I first put in my summer availability, I pretty much said I could come in anytime, but prefered later shifts. If I don't have to come in till three or four, it gives me more time to try and relax before I go to work. Go the library to use the computer. Get my paper. Get something to eat. Maybe a little quick shopping. If I have something that has to get done, I'll have the time. Having to stay till eleven or midnight is a worthwhile trade-off, especially since the place is open later in the summer and we actually get a lot of late night traffic. What ended up happening was that I was getting dragged in as early as my availability allowed. Which left me little time to get my paper and get anything in my stomache. Which left me overworked, overheated, starving, and stressed out in the heat of lunchtime. My shifts tended to leave me in an awkward situation in regards to breaks, usually having to be an hour late since nobody was there to cover for me. Even if I was getting out earlier than usual, there is only so much you can do at seven or eight at night, especially when you've been worked into the floor by both lunch and dinner traffic. So, reluctently but with my sanity at stake, I put in a note asking for the later shifts specifically. Recently, the manager that writes the schedules told me she saw the note and gave me the impression she was taking it seriously. She said she liked me at the shifts because, like I said, they're weird hours and she needs someone to cover them, but she'd find someone else. Tonight I was hopeful, though, because she was also happy to have someone to handle the late traffic. So, hopefully, I haven't disappointed too many people. I'm a door mat, I swear. A door mat and a wimp. But, for Christ sake, next year is my last year of college and this will probably be the last real summer vacation I ever get. Might as well get to enjoy it. --- I've always wanted to go to the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, the harness track we have here. I went once when I was a kid, with Mom, to see a fireworks display for the Fourth of July. But, that was a while back and the harness track has since undergone a massive remodeling that turned it into a gaming hotspot. Or so I've heard. I haven't actually seen what happened and I'm anxious to go and see what the place is like now. And a recent invitation in the mail offered an interesting oppertunity. Thge cousins on my dad's side of the family seem to get married every month or so. We get the periodic inviation, but it's usually in another state or for someone Dad's fighting with at the moment, so we can't go. Consequently, I haven't seen any of these relatives in several years. But, this time, one of my cousins is having a marriage party of sorts at the "Racino", as it's often called. On the one hand, it wouldn't mind going to a party at a place I was going to visit anyway. On the other hand, I can always go on my own and I imagine they'll get a little aggrivated with me if I show up and spend all my time at the races. --- After several years, Saratoga has another batch of horse statues scattered all over town. My paticular favorite is one that looks like it's wrapped up in a foil wrap, except for the head and neck, which is painted to look like chocolate...complete with a missing ear! ~Sammie "Now The Tin Man may face the other great older gelding, Lava Man, in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Can't wait to see it."- Message Board User (Now that I'd like to see...) | 
