What I'm Into

I offer three new (to me at least) fun sites for whiling away the interwebs time. More addicting and timesucking than Facebook Scrabble and especially handy while waiting-in the school pickup line for example.

F My Life (http://www.fmylife.com/)

Brief true (supposably) tales of poor souls whose troubles are far, far worse than your own. Great for that schadenfrede, "neener neener neener" high.


Today, I was leaving work when some creeper start following me. When he asked me for my name, I immediately gave him a fake one. He just laughed and proceeded to say “I hope to see you soon.” He used my real name. First AND last. I was still wearing my name tag. FML

Picture is Unrelated (http://www.pictureisunrelated.com/)

Crazy, great wtf pictures from all over. Further confirmation of what we all occasionally suspect- we are the lone sanity in an insane world. Warning: some of these photos may be scarring-once seen they cannot be unseen. (example seen above)



Texts from Last Night (http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/)

For still more schadenfrede glee check out these batshit crazy texts from people having a far worse night (and life) than you.


(281): Any toy can be an adult toy. Location, location, location.

She Did It

Now can we please stop with the endless loop of stories about the dangers of fillies racing colts already?

Racing is a dangerous sport, as I have said before it is the only sport where the ambulance actually follows the participants as they compete, but there is no evidence that fillies racing againest colts is any more dangerous than any other race. Or a workout for that matter. Yes, there's a certain physical type necessary for this particular challenge-big, bruiser fillies tend to do best againest the boys, but that's true of any challenge. As Rachel Alexandra's new co-owner said, "It's not boys vs. girls it's champion vs. champion."

I was also pleased by Mine That Bird's second place finish, he proved himself to be the opposite of a fluke-a game little guy who, now that they know how he runs best, should have some more success in his future.

Whether it's at the Belmont or not, I look forward to whatever these champs do next.

Good Word for a Monday

God Bless Calvin Borel

Or "50 to 1 Baby!"



Every track has at least one. A local jockey, loved by the natives, but mostly unknown elsewhere. They toil, exercising horses in the mornings (and not just the champion types either) and riding every race in the afternoons. Occasionally they find themselves on a quality mount, usually because of the quirks of chance or their long years of networking, but more often than not the longshots and also rans are their mounts. Even more occasionally, they find themselves with a monster win.

That happened for Louisville jockey, Calvin Borel, a few years back with Street Sense but that success (he got to meet the Queen and everything) is dwarfed by his preformances this weekend. On Friday he rode superstar Rachel Alexandra to a 'Secretariat at the Bemont' like 20 length victory in the Kentucky Oaks (you had the love camera adjustments necessary in the stretch just keep her competition in the frame with her). And then yesterday in the Derby, Borel triumped with one of his patented rail hugging rides (they don't call him "Bo-rail" for nothing) on 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird. Hopefully this Oaks/Derby double trick will earn his skills their due respect by placing him in august company like Isaac Murphy, Eddie Arcaro, Don Brumfield and Jerry Bailey. He's more than a little guy (and I'm talking profile here, not stature) who got lucky once-he's a good rider.

But more than that, and more importantly than that, Calvin is also good people. Anyone who saw him chatting up and cuddling with the Make-a-Wish Foundation girl on Oaks Day and holding her and the trophy up in the Winner's Circle could see he wasn't just being nice, he was nice. Yeah, his crinkle eyed 1000 watt smile is out for Grade 1 race victories sure, but also out for the paddock birds who call out to him on a $5000 claimer running in the 4th on a no stakes Tuesday. After his first Derby win he threw some of his racing goggles to his self described #1 fan, Jamie Harris (I've seen them together and she likes him, she really likes him.) After his weekend victories he did the same. Harris said it best when she told reporters, "we love him here on Derby Day and every day."

God Bless Calvin Borel.

(photo totally stolen from ESPN.com)

Have a Great Derby!

I'm so enjoying this Derby Week. It's different to live here while it's going on as opposed to just visiting. Everywhere you go-the grocery, the gas station-people cheerfully call out "Have a great Derby!" as naturally as if it were Christmas or Thanksgiving. I was at the thrift store down in the hood on Thursday (my Derby outfit was a $10 dress and $3 shoes-dirt ass with style being my motto) and the customers were all merry, chatting about what they were going to wear and eat. These people were SO not going to be found in the Turf Club or Millionaire's Row. These people live in Portland and their parties were more likely taking place on grassless lawns with cars on blocks and chained pit bulls (hate to be stereotypical but it's true) yet they were excited, happy and demonstrating way more Derby Spirit than any VIP just flying into town.

I. LOVE. THAT.

My Old Kentucky Home indeed.

Superstar

She took my breath away. I saw her in person earlier in the week and can say she truly does have "the look of eagles" the old horsemen used to talk about. Don't even try and beat her, just enjoy watching her run.

Happy May Day!