Well, another long holiday weekend is upon us!  I'll be offline until Monday.  Still no big plans for tomorrow.  I'll probably just watch some DVD's to pass the time.  Be back next week.

I hope everyone has a great & relaxing holiday weekend!

I did some checking on the internet to see what restaurants are open for Thanksgiving in the city, if any.  I found some.  However, they charge a little more than I'd like to pay.  The one thing I did find that I would have jumped at was a Thanksgiving dinner cruise on the Gateway Clipper's Majestic!  Naturally, by now, it is sold out!   That would have been so awesome!  I've been on the Gateway Clipper cruises before and they are a lot of fun.  I would have taken my camera and gotten some nice shots of the city.  It's definately something I'll have to remember for next year.  So I guess I'll be at my apartment on Thanksgiving.  I hate to cook, which is why I said I'll be having a sandwich.  Maybe I can find something else to eat...I'll have to see.

Note to self:  Check to see if the Gateway Clipper has any other cruises this year for Christmas or New Year's!

Looks like I'll be able to watch Smallville tomorrow night at 7 pm.  I checked my program guide last night and I found that it will be on then.  Hopefully it is the episode that should have been on yesterday.  I watched some of the Steelers game, but not the whole thing.  I'm just glad they won.

Tonight is Light Up Night in the city ~ the official kickoff to the Christmas season.  I should get myself outside with my camera and take some photos!

Once again, it's been over a week since I've updated this.  I think I'm spending way too much time on Yuku!   But I love those boards and playing the games!

We've sure had a change in the weather.  It has gotten much colder and there is a winter weather advisory starting in 15 minutes and going until 6pm tomorrow evening.  We could get anywhere from 1-6 inches of snow, depending where in the area you are.  There is always more snow in the mountains and East of the city.  Hopefully it won't be too bad right here in downtown.  At least I don't have to worry about sweeping/shoveling the snow anymore!   My cousin from Maryland was going to come in this weekend and bring her parents for a visit.  They are all originally from Pittsburgh.  I got an email from her today that they won't be up after all.  Her Mom heard the weather forecast and wasn't comfortable making the trip with the possibility of snow.  Her parents aren't young anymore and both have health problems.  She said they'll be up some weekend in December.  Hope the weather cooperates so they can make it!

The Steelers are playing a home game tonight against the Bengals.  That would be OK except for the fact that they are showing the game on the CW channel and pre-empting Smallville!   I'm not too happy about that!  Tonight's episode of Smallville looked like it was going to be a good one (Chloe's wedding, Lana's first appearance of this season, etc).  I hope I can catch it somewhere else or I hope they show it another time.

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow!  Like all holidays, it's going to be rough for me being alone.  I should check and see if the hotel restaurants in town are open that day.  If not, it'll probably be a turkey sandwich in my apartment for Thanksgiving dinner!  At least the Friday after, I have something to do.  I have an appointment to get my hair cut.  It's starting to drive me crazy againa and I always love getting it cut and how good it feels after!

I can't believe it's almost a week and a half since I last updated this! We have been exceptionally busy at work with several projects going on.

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I had to go over to the doctor's office again last Thursday.  When I went to see her the Tuesday before, she wanted to do a blood workup but I couldn't do it that day because I had eaten breakfast and I had to fast.  So I was off again last Thursday and took care of that.  I haven't heard anything yet about the results.  Before I went over to their office, though, I did something I've been putting off for a long time...I finally went back to confession!!!  It has been 1 1/2 years since I've been there!   I've NEVER been away so long in my life.  After my Mom died, things just got very hectic and I didn't get there for last Christmas, then at the beginning of this year, it was my health problems, etc., etc.  I know that's not really an excuse.  At least I got back there and feel good that I did!

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Nothing major on the horse front.  Harlem Rocker is being pointed for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct at the end of this month.  Lord Justice has been moved to Palm Meadows in Florida and will be given some time off.  His next start will be at Gulfstream Park.

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I'm still trying to watch what I eat and walk more to lose weight.  Over the weekend, I walked a lot.  I had gone to the local Hallmark store to buy my Christmas cards since last weekend was their open house.  I couldn't find anything I liked, so I ended up hitting most every store in town that sells Christmas cards before I finally found something I like.  You don't realize how much walking you're doing when you're determined about something else!

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Another reason that I haven't updated this sooner is that I'm sort of hooked on Yuku right now.  I belong to a few Yuku boards and I love going to them and posting, especially playing the games.  They are so much fun!

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I'll try to update this more regularly!

Last year on November 30, I moved from the house into my downtown apartment and I was so excited.  I was so thrilled to be out of the house and so glad I didn't have to worry about the outside work anymore (cutting grass, pulling weeds, sweeping/shoveling snow).  I'm still ecstatic that I'm away from that, but I'm finding that I'm not as happy in my apartment as I thought I would be.  I think one of the reasons is that, given the choice, this is not the apartment building I would have moved into.  There is another apartment builidng a block or so away from me, which I would have LOVED to move into.  They are called "luxury" apartments, so that tells you about the price.  It would have cost me about twice as much a month to live there as it does where I'm at.  I don't know why I can't stop thinking about that place.  Everyone that's been to my apartment thinks I have a very nice place.  Why can't I be happy and content there?  I even went so far as to pick up two of those free apartment finder books again on my way to work this morning.  That's what I used last year to find the place I'm at now.  I'm going to look through them and see.  I just wish I was happier where I'm at.

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Well, I got through the Halloween food fest pretty well.  I ate a little more than I had wanted to, but it was an improvement over previous years, so I'm pleased about that.  Tomorrow is the first of November, and I've got to recommit myself to losing weight.  I'll be walking over the bridge again tomorrow to go grocery shopping.  That's always a good walk. 

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And Sunday is my 21st anniversay with the company where I work.  I can't believe it has been that long.  Now, I'm one of the "old timers."  I can remember looking at other folks who where here for a long time right after I started and marvelling at being with the company so long.  Now I'm one of them!

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And daylight savings time ends this weekend, which means it will be getting darker earlier.  I always hate that!

The 25th running of the Breeder's Cup World Championship races are officially in the record books.  It was a great two days of racing, even though the foreign-based horses outran our US horses more than I'd care to admit! On Friday, Zenyatta (US horse) was absolutely amazing in the Breeder's Cup Ladies Classic.  She is now undefeated, a perfect 9 for 9.  And a perfectly named horse, Stardom Bound, is just that if she's not there already!  She is a 2 year old filly and if she keeps progressing, she is going to be something else as a 3 year old.  The big disappointment of the weekend was Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year and Breeder's Cup Classic winner, who was trying to defend his title in the race.  He finished 4th!   The race was taken by the European Raven's Pass with another Euro, Henrythenavigator, finishing 2nd.  The best American finish was by Tiago, who was 3rd.  He ran very well.  This 4th place finish could have an effect on Curlin's bid for a second Horse of the Year title, especially with the mare Zenyatta running so superbly the day before.  I know if I had a vote, it would go to Zenyatta.  She is undefeated and has never even been tested.  Her connections have said they are leaning toward keeping her in training and running her again next year.  That would be awesome!

I took off work yesterday.  I had an appointment with my doctor for a regular checkup.  She is soooooooooo nice.  I haven't gotten back to my diet faithfully.  In the spring/summer of 2007, I had lost 28 pounds, then my Mom died and it seemed that one thing after another happened and I got away from my routine.  I have been trying to walk more recently (in fact, on Sunday, I walked around the city and covered 14 blocks!).  My problem is not eating well, especially on the weekends.  The doctor was quite understanding.  She knows that I've been through a lot in 2007 & 2008.  She just told me now that I'm past all that, I can look at this as the beginning of the rest of my life.  She said I wasn't in control over those other things that happened, but now I'm back in control.  She said she is not looking for any radical weight loss either, just take it slow.  I had to laugh.  Tomorrow is our annual Halloween Food Fest here at work.  We're having it tomorrow because several folks are going to be off on Friday.  When I told the doctor about it, she told me to call in sick!  I'm not going to do that, but I am going to try and be better than in past years.  This will be a good test for me. 

When I went out at lunchtime today, it was snowing!   I don't think I'm ready for that yet!  I know winter is coming and I'm not too crazy about it.  I can take the cold.  Now, even the snow shouldn't be as bad since I don't have to worry about sweeping/shoveling the steps and sidewalk.  I think the thing I hate most about this time of year is how it gets dark so early.  And after we turn the clocks back on Sunday, it will be even worse!  Oh well, only 5 months or so to get through!

The Living Legends race yesterday at Santa Anita was so much fun to see.  It was so neat to see these jockesy standing in the paddock again wearing silks.  They looked like they never retired from the sport.  They are still in awesome condition!  They were introduced to the crowd and each got a great ovation.  The race itself wasn't a long one (only 7/8 of a mile).  Even though they are still in great shape a long race would have probably been too hard.  Some of these jockeys haven't ridden in a race in 10 years!   Here is the official order of finish

• Sandy Hawley
• Jerry Bailey
• Gary Stevens
• Pat Day
• Julie Krone
• Jacinto Vasquez
• Chris McCarron
• Angel Cordero, Jr.

Personally, I was rooting for Pat Day.  He was always a favorite of mine.  He and my favorite trainer (D. Wayne Lukas) teamed up for some big wins (1999 Breeder's Cup Classic, 2000 Belmont Stakes, 1994 & 1995 Preakness Stakes, etc).

Gary Stevens has even said that he's been offered a mount in one of this coming Friday's Breeder's Cup races.  He was going to wait until after the Legends race to see what his fitness level was like.  If he feels he can be 100%, he'll take the mount and ride in the Breeder's Cup again.  That would be fun to see too.  However, I do feel a bit bad for the regular rider of the horse he'd be on.  That jockey would be losing his shot at a Breeder's Cup win.  So I guess I have mixed emotions about this possibility.

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I do know that I wasn't happy when my Blood Horse racing magazine didn't come Friday or yesterday!  This issue would be the Breeder's Cup preview and I was hoping to have it to read over the weekend.  I hope it comes tomorrow, but it will be tougher reading the previews of all 14 races before Friday/Saturday!  I ususally get that magazine on Friday.  It is dated Saturday, so technically it's not "late" even if it comes Saturday.  Naturally, this had to be one of the weeks during the year that it is late.  It happens every now and then during the year and it's not a big deal.  It's just that I know this issue is going to contain A LOT of information I want to read before next weekend.  If it doesn't come tomorrow, they'll hear me screaming in Kentucky!   I got my Smallville magazine yesterday.  That one is published every other month.  I would have gladly switched them.  If the Smallville magazine didn't come unitl tomorrow, I still would have had plenty of time to get it read before the next one arrives!

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Also this week, I received a movie I had ordered from the Columbia House DVD club...Citizen Kane.  I only saw that movie once, but I remember enjoying it very much.  I'm looking forward to watching it again.  Some feel it is the greatest American film of all time. 

I'm going through a down stretch right now.  I just feel depressed and like I don't really care too much about anything anymore.

I know some of it is coming from the stress at work.  We have a big project that got dropped on us with a deadline to meet and we're all killing ourselves trying to get everything done that we need to before that date.  It's been CRAZY around here this week, to say the least.

Then, I sometimes get lonely living all by myself in my apartment and I get to missing my parents.  It's just rough sometimes not having them around anymore.  And I don't really have any friends I either.  The couple that helped me out so much is still there for me and I talk to Marianne on the phone from time to time.  But I'd love to be able to call someone over the weekend and head to the mall or to see a movie and grab a bite to eat.  There is one lady in my building that I talk to.  She and I have discussed going out to lunch sometime, but we haven't done it yet.  Maybe soon.

Tomorrow is grocery shopping day! I'm going to walk over the bridge tomorrow morning if the weather is nice and do the shopping.  When I get back to town, I need to run to the drug store and pick up a few items there.  Then I'll grab a bite to eat and go back home.  I am looking forward to one race tomorrow.  Santa Anita is running a Legends race.  They got 8 retired jockeys to come out of retirement and ride against each other one more time.  That should be a lot of fun...It'll be cool to see those jockeys ride again!

Next Friday and Saturday, 10/24 & 10/25, are the Breeder's Cup races.  I was planning to take off work Friday so I could see the ones that are being run that day.  I sure hope I can still take it off.  I said something to my supervisor and she said to wait until next week and see where we are Thursday, then we can decide if I can have the day off or if I need to come in.  I hope not!

The Breeder's Cup is now a little less than 3 weekends away.  There were several more prep races this past weekend.  Each weekend's racing just makes me that much more excited for the event to get here!

One of "our" horses, the most successful to this point in fact, Harlem Rocker ran yesterday in the Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park.  He broke toward the back of the field like he usually does and made a steady move around the turn.  He didn't seem to have his usual strong finish this time though.  He ended up 3rd behind Tale of Ekati and You and I Forever.  Tale of Ekati won a major Kentucky Derby prep in the spring and finished 4th in the Derby itself in a good effort.  The track at Belmont yesterday was sloppy, but jockey Eibar Coa said that Harlem Rocker seemed to handle it fine, so we can't use the track condition as an excuse!   Harlem Rocker's next start may be in the grade 1 Cigar Mile in November, again at Belmont.

I'm taking tomorrow and Thursday off.  Nothing exciting planned.  Just getting those days taken before the end of the year.  I may head out tomorrow and look for a new clock radio.  I need a new one for my bedroom.

This past Saturday, there was a party in the city.  Pittsburgh is celebrating its 250th birthday/anniversay this year.  There was a fireworks display at 10:00 on Saturday night.  It was the largest one ever in the city, with fireworks being launched from 17 different spots.  I didn't go out to see them, but I sure heard them and I could the reflections from some fo the bursts in the windows of the building across from me.  I don't think I would have been able to be outside for this.  It was LOUD!  My ears can be sensitive...I don't think I would have been able to take that display from a sound standpoint!

Too bad I couldn’t see it, but Lord Justice was a big winner at Philadelphia Park on Saturday, by 11 lengths!  My two racing channels weren’t covering Philly Park because there was so much other big racing over the weekend.  From what I’ve read, Lord Justice won the race VERY easily and it didn’t seem to take anything out of him.  The competition at Philly was obviously easier than what he faced in his debut at Saratoga in August.  Now the question becomes…How good is this colt?  I’m sure he’s better than his first race, but is he as good as Saturday’s effort made him look?  Maybe; maybe not.  But Smarty Jones did get his start in Philadelphia and was one length short of being an undefeated Triple Crown winner.  I can’t wait to see Lord Justice face some tougher competition again to see how he fares next time.

It was an awesome weekend of racing with lots of graded prep races for the Breeder’s Cup, which will be on October 24-25.  I’m starting to get excited about the big event!

I can’t believe it’s the end of September already.  Before you know it, Halloween will be here and then we’ll be staring the holidays right in the face!  They already mentioned the upcoming holidays on QVC this morning, saying they’ll be here before you know it, so it’s never too early to begin shopping.  I’m sure before too long they’ll be starting their holiday gift shows!