Well, Harlem Rocker's race in the Travers wasn't exactly what we were hoping for, but it could have been worse.  He finished 4th in a field of 12.  He was sitting toward the back and made a run heading into the far turn.  When they hit the top of the stretch, I was hoping that he'd keep progressing and get the win.  Unforunately, things got a little rough for several horses as they turned for home.  Harlem Rocker got bumped a bit and lost his momentum.  He would have finished 3rd if Pyro hadn't run up the rail and nailed him at the wire.  It was his first race going 1 1/4 miles.  Maybe that distance is just a bit too far for him.  We'll see how he comes out of this and where he heads next.

Also, Lord Justice ran 6th yesterday in the first race of his career.  He was in contention early then seemed to flatten out.  Many times horses improve with racing, so I'm sure there are better races down the road for this one.  Those close to him feel he is a talented horse; hopefully, time will prove them correct!

I can't believe that the Olympics are over already! Sometimes the Olympics seem to drag on, but this year that 2 weeks just seemed to fly by!  I was really proud of our athletes.  They represented the US beautifully.

Watched a great movie over the weekend...The Philadelphia Story with Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, and Katherine Hepburn.  Now there's some star power!  They don't make movies like this anymore.  I actually watched it twice, the 2nd time listening to the commentary of a film historian.  It was really interesting some of the insight she offered into the film.  If you've never seen this one, it's well worth it!

We have two horses running at Saratoga on Saturday.  Lord Justice is entered in a 2 year old maiden race.  This is the first race of his career.  Looking forward to seeing how he runs in his debut.  Then, in the feature race, we have Harlem Rocker (see photo at top) running in the $1,000,000.00 Travers Stakes.  He has post position 8 and is the 2nd choice on the morning line.  However, he's going to have to beat some good horses.  The lineup is:

1. Tale of Ekati, Edgar Prado, 20-1
2. Colonel John, Garrett Gomez, 8-1
3. Da' Tara, Alan Garcia, 8-1
4. Tizbig, Cornelio Velasquez, 30-1
5. Macho Again, Julien Leparoux, 6-1
6. Cool Coal Man, John Velazquez, 15-1
7. Amped, Jorge Chavez, 30-1
8. Harlem Rocker, Eibar Coa, 4-1
9. Mambo in Seattle, Robby Albarado, 5-1
10. Tres Borrachos, Tyler Baze, 15-1
11. Pyro, Shaun Bridgmohan, 7-2
12. Court Vision, Kent Desormeaux, 12-1

In this field are the winners of some big Derby preps and a couple of nice races after the Triple Crown.  This will be a good test for Harlem Rocker to see where he stands in the 3 year old picture.

I'm still watching and enjoying the Olympics.  I'm very proud of the Americans.  I though Shawn and Nastia were awesome on balance beam!  Also, the American team won the gold medal in show jumping.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to see that.  They don't have much coverage of the horse sports on tv, and if they do, it's usually when I'm at work.  I'm hoping the USA does well in the individual jumping competition also!

Adamsdarling, I'd be more than happy to send some of my days off in your direction!   I've had people at work here tell me they wish they could buy some off me.  I'd be happy to give them away, but we're not allowed!

I'm taking the day off work tomorrow.  I still have over 10 days to take before the end of the year!   The thing is, I was off for several weeks earlier this year when I had my surgery and I was chomping at the bit to get back to work.  I just don't want to take a lot of days off now.  But, I know my boss will say something if I get to far into fall with a lot of days left.  She even asked me on her way out today if I had anything planned for tomorrow.  I told her no, I was just taking the day trying to get my days used or she'll be yelling at me.  She nodded in agreement and said, "Yeah."  I get 30 days off a year, which is just way too many for me.  I don't have any family left, I don't travel, so I don't need that many days.  I take a day here, a day there, and it's tough to get them all in.  Usually, I don't!

I do have to go to the post office tomorrow and return 8 books.  I had tried this mystery book club where they send you four books every six weeks.  I just got my first shipment today (I had it sent to the office).  I opened it and looked at a couple of the books and started reading the first few pages of one.  I wasn't very impressed.  So I wrote "cancel" on my invoice, taped the box back up and tomorrow it goes back!   Besides, with all the magazines I'm getting right now, I have plenty of reading material!

I'm having a hard time getting much read right now anyway.  I've been caught up in the Olympics in the evenings which doesn't leave much time to read.  I'm really enjoying the swimming, gymnastics, diving, and equestrian.  The only problem with the equestrian events is that they don't show those in prime time.  I did see about an hour of dressage on Saturday morning.  Maybe there will be some equestrian on during the day tomorrow when I'm home...That would be nice!  We'll see!  I sure am glad to see Michael Phelps and the US swim team tearing up the pool the way the are...It's awesome!  And it was really great to see the men win the bronze in the team gymnastics event, especially after so many people had written them off when Paul Haam had to withdraw.  They showed a lot of heart and fight!

We went from being swamped at work to getting pretty much everything caught up!  I'm not quite sure how that happened.  I was even helping another department today since my desk is in good shape.  I hope it lasts!  Our supervisor has been off all week.  I'm sure when she returns on Monday, she'll have things that need done.  But that's OK, since we all seem to be sitting pretty right now!

A couple days ago, on my way to work, I was walking along and there on the corner was a person wearing a Charlie Tuna costume.  It was only around 8:00 in the morning and I was already feeling the humidity.  I sure felt sorry for the person in that costume.  It had to be VERY uncomfortable, however cute!  They were giving out containers of "ready to eat" tuna.  I didn't take any; I've never tried tuna and I don't really want to.  My parents both liked it, but I could never bring myself to try it!

I have no big plans for the weekend.  Just going to watch some racing (surprise, surprise ) and try to get caught up on some reading.  For some reason, I'm on a magazine kick right now.  I'm not sure how many magazines I'm subscribing to at the moment, but it's a few!  I have 5 at home right now that I want to tackle this weekend, in addition to watching the West Virginia Derby from Mountaineer and Big Brown's return to the races Sunday in the Haskell.  From looking at the field, he should win that one easy if he runs anywhere close to the way he did in the Derby and Preakness.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Last Sunday, I woke up feeling sick as a dog.  My stomach was upset and I felt nauseous, etc.  I didn't even make it to church.  On Monday I felt better enough to go back to work, but I was still feeling some effects.  Well, I couldn't shake them, so I called my doctor's office and they got me in today.  I swear, as soon as I hung up the phone from making the appointment, I started to feel better!   Not that I'm complaining, mind you.  I kept the appointment anyway and talked to the doctor.  I was scheduled to see her on August 8, so I cancelled that one on my way out and made a follow up for 3 months (October).

Just when you didn't think I was involved with enough horses...I got an email from the Horsehats president.  Adena Racing is offering another opportunity to get involved with some horses.  Naturally, I joined up!   There are 8 horses in this group instead of 6.  If you click on the Adena Racing Venture link to the left, you can find out more about them.  They are all 2 year olds.  Five of them have names, 3 don't yet.  Of the 5 with names, Lord Justice has already been sent to Todd Pletcher (trainer of Harlem Rocker).  If all goes according to plan, he wants to run Lord Justice in early August at the Saratoga meet.  This is another horse they think could be a good one!   Sure hope they are right!

I plan on watching some racing this weekend from Saratoga...As the slogan says, it's the August place to be.  OK, so it's not August yet, but you get the idea!

I got a notice last week that one of the horses I own a small part of, Harlem Rocker, was entered in Sunday's Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie Racetrack in Canada.  The Prince of Wales is the 2nd leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.  I got to watch the race on one of my racing channels and Harlem Rocker won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Harlem Rocker is the horse in the photo at the top of my journal.  That's a photo from earlier this year when he won a race at Gulfstream Park in Florida).

I thought he ran a very good race.  He was in 6th place early about 5 lengths off the leaders.  He made a nice move as they hit the turn for home.  He and Not Bourbon (winner of the 1st leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Queen's Plate) moved together and for a moment, it looked like there would be a great stretch battle between the two.  Then Not Bourbon stopped and started to fade.  Another horse came running up next to Harlem Rocker and actually got his nose in front.  I thought HR was beaten, and I was hoping he would hang on for 2nd or 3rd.  The track announcer even yelled, "The favorites are beaten!"  Then Harlem Rocker dug back in and came back on again, passing the horse that had gotten in front of him for a couple strides.  He hit the finish line about 1 1/2 lengths in front.  Right before the finish, the track announcer yelled, "Harlem Rocker...the heart of a champion!"  Guess he felt kinda guilty for writing him off in upper stretch and having him come back to win, LOL!  But I loved the "heart of a champion" line!

The latest I've heard is that Harlem Rocker will come back to the US and may run next at the Saratoga meet in Saratoga Springs, NY.  Can't wait to see what else he accomplishes!

Finally having some sunny weather here.  We've been having a fair amount of rain this summer.  But this week has been nice.  I'm glad to see the sun...It's a nice change!

I'm taking the day off work tomorrow.  I have an appointment to get my hair cut! I wear my hair REALLY short and it's starting to get to me.  I'm pushing it behind my ears and I can feel it on my neck.  I know it's time to get it cut.  I like mine so short that I can reach behind my head, but can't even grasp a handful of hair.  It's so much easier to take care of and I look better with it real short.

I had a 1/2 day off yesterday afternoon.  I was supposed to go to the doctor (my PCP), but I cancelled the appointment last week and rescheduled it for about a month from now.  I've had my fill of doctors and hospitals with everything I've been through this year and I just need more of a break.  Also, I need to get back to watching what I eat.  After my Mom died last year and then I had my problems earlier this year, my eating healthier and walking to lose weight went out the window.  I"ve got to get back to it again and I'm hoping that in a month, I'll at least have made some progress so I don't get chewed out too badly!

We're getting some things accomplished at work this week, which is nice.  We're getting some filing done and other things that have needed our attention.  It always feels good to make a dent in those kinds of projects.

Just stopping in before I head home.  We're off work tomorrow for the 4th of July holiday, so I won't be back in the office & have computer access again until Monday.

This week has been a bit quieter at work; it's been nice...I've been able to get caught up on a few things.  That's always a good feeling.

No major plans for the holiday.  The weather this weekend is supposed to be rain off and on all through Sunday.  Naturally, it's going to be nice again on Monday, when we have to come back to work.  I was going to head out to the fireworks display in the city tomorrow evening, if the weather permits.  I'll have to see.  Fortunately, I live in town now, so I can walk to a good viewing point!

I'll probably be watching some good racing over the weekend.  The 4th of July is always a day for good racing around the country.  I'm always happy when I can get to see good races!

For all my US friends, have a safe and happy Independence Day! 

This has been a hectic week at work.  This is our busy time of the month.  We finally got everything mailed this morning.  That's a relief every month.  Now we can start the process all over again!

A couple of days this week, I actually left work shortly after 5:00.  I think my boss was confused!  I'm normally here longer, on the internet, since I don't have a computer at home.  Right now, we have a summer hour program in place.  You can work extra hours and get additional days off.  That's fine, if you haven't been at the company as long as I have.  I already get 30 days off a year and don't need any more!  Since I don't want to participate in the summer hours and I'm not sure if I can get overtime instead, I left work even though there were things here I could have worked on.  I think next week, we're going to find out more about the summer hours/OT situation.

Also, we are in the middle of a long pay period right now.  We got paid on Friday, June 13.  We won't get paid again until Monday, June 30.  So that's three weekends.  I hate those three weekend pay periods.  It feels like an eternity before you get paid again, so I'll be so happy when Monday gets here!   I wish we got paid every two weeks instead of twice a month (on the 15th and the last day of the month).

Looking forward to some good racing tomorrow.  The Hollywood Gold Cup is being run in California, with several good horses.  Also, Proud Spell is running at Belmont tomorrow.  She's the filly that won the Kentucky Oaks on the Friday before the Derby.  This is her first start since then.  There are only three other fillies going against her, so it looks like she scared off a lot of the competition.  I'll be shocked if she doesn't win!

On Friday, June 20, our company had our summer outing at a park outside the city; not an amusement park, but one where you have a grove and can play volleyball, pitch horse shoes, etc.  I didn't attend.  Those kind of picnics/outings have never been my thing.  So I was looking forward to a nice quiet afternoon that would let me get a lot accomplished.  Anyone going to the outing left around 11:30-12:00.  I went to lunch and when I came back, I couldn't get back into one of the systems I needed!!!  I went to see the one IT person here, but they couldn't help me.  She offered to call the person who could, but I didn't want to have them have to leave the outing, so I told her I'd work around it.  I had other things to do, but I just couldn't believe my luck! 

Friday was also my birthday.  Another department surprised me with a pretty balloon and $20.00 in gift certificates to the shops/restaurants at the complex where I work.  I was absolutely stunned and so pleasantly surprised.  Yesterday, I decided to hit Macy's and buy myself something.  I bought a new watch and a new set of sheets for the bed.  I know, real exciting!!! But they were things I wanted and I really like both.  The watch has a chocolate colored face with white numbers and a chocolate brown strap.  It's different and I thought it was cool.

Stopped in to work today after church to just hit the internet for a while.  Going to head out soon, grab a bite to eat and go back to my apartment.  I'll probably read the Sunday paper and watch some more racing on tv (hopefully, I'll stay awake this time! ).  Might do a load or two of laundry if I feel like it...or maybe not!