Down the stretch they come

It's no secret I'm a huge horse racing fan. This Saturday is the 135Th running for the roses. I usually have a couple horse i like to pick in the race. This year I'm taking just one horse.

Pioneerof the nile is the horse i want to win. he's been running great latley and of course has my favorite jockey Garret (go go) Gomez. It looks like pioneerof the nile could end up the second or third choice with the bettors.

Here's a video of his last race at Santa Anita a few weeks back.Someday i will make it to the derby. Until then I'll just have to watch it on TV like most folks.

Going in for surgery.

On May 4Th I'm going in for hernia surgery. I haven't been feeling like myself for about 4 weeks now. About 3 weeks ago i went to a doctor for the first time in about 20 years. The doc thought i might have a hernia but wasn't sure. He referred me to a surgical doctor over at Evergreen hospital.

A few days later i was in to see the surgical doctor After being there 1 minutes he said i had a hernia on my left side. I told him that it was my right side that was giving me the pain. He couldn't find anything . So i was sent to have an ultrasound which for a small hernia on the left side which was giving me all the pain. So now I'm having hernia surgery on both sides.

I'm going to be out of work for two weeks. I just thank my lucky stars that i have four weeks sick pay saved up.It's going to be strange not to do anything that's to physical for two weeks.

I have also started to eat healthy. No more fast foods or fatty foods for me. My cholesterol was to high. I have been eating fruits and vegetables i also in with other healthy stuff for 10 days now. I switched my coffee to non-fat and no whip. The guys at work tell me to cut out my coffee altogether. Well that's not going to happen. I need my coffee in the morning. I might down size my coffee but it won't be for another month or so at least. Also i will be joining a health club after my surgical doc says I'm good to go.

After 10 days of eating healthy i do already feel some changes. I'm looking forward to getting back into shape. My goal is to lose about 20 pounds by august. It might be a high goal but i think i can do it. I want to lose 40 pounds by thanks giving. That would put me at 155 which is what my first doctor told me i should weigh.

I'll try and blog the day before surgery since i know i won't be writing to a few days after that.

I like square butt's

Saw this video today and it cracked me up.Im a huge spongebob fan and this is pretty funny.

The season is over and just starting

Today's picture comes from 2001. This is me and Tony the tiger in Atlanta before the cup race. I have great memories from this weekend.Kevin Harvick won this race in only his third start after the death of Dale Earnhardt. I remember people asking me who the hell is Kevin Harvick. I had seen Kevin race out west many times before that day in the Winston West.I was never a big Earnhardt fan. But that day was really emotional for anyone who was there.

Well with a big thud the t-birds season is now over. I'm not very surprised this team has been up and down all year long. I will miss Thomas Hickey. He has been a great player for the birds off and on the ice. The good thing is he's a draft pick of the Los Angels Kings. I'm sure I'll get to see him play in person very soon.

The first race of the year at the local track was rained out last night. I was looking forward to having Mexican food before the races with Aaron and Madison. The. heading over to the track to watch the races. Also missed out on coloring and playing with match box cars at the races. Well there is always next weekend.

Only 22 days till Emerald Downs opens up. I have made a promise to myself to try and go down more this season. I always make it to opening night. and 1 or 2 other times during the season. I usually just sit at home and watch on TV and make the bets over the computer. Here's to a great season.

Trying to figure out what i want to do for vacation this year. I keep on changing my mind all the time. The only think i know I'm doing for sure is going to Disneyland for my birthday. You can get into Disneyland free on your birthday http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/disneyland/index?name=CelebrationsDLRFreeOnYourBirthdayPage

I figure since i will already be in so-cal i should go. I had such a great time at Disneyland a few year ago i can't wait to go back. after Disneyland I'll spend the Saturday at Irwindale speedway for the car races. Sunday I'm heading down to http://www.dmtc.com/ for my annual trip. This will be my first time to go on a Sunday. I usually go on a Friday when they have concerts.

So i will have only been on vacation for about 4 days at the end of Sundays races. I'm thinking about going to Vegas for 3 or 4 days. I keep on getting great offers for some of the hotels.Some free night some well pretty much almost free nights.

Another thought i had was renting a car and driving from So-Cal and exploring the western half of the country. This one really intrigues me as i haven't see the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone or some of the major cites.

I have been watching the http://www.soundersfc.com/ the last two weeks. I used to play soccer as a kid. I quit playing in the 5Th or 6Th grade. It sure has been lots of fun to watch. I'm sure i will go to at least one game this year. I won't go till it warms up though.

One last thing stayed up till 1am to watch the first formula 1 race of the season. It was probably one of the better races i have seen in a very long time. Fernando Alonso finished 5Th and things are looking up for him this year.

i should have gone to a doctor

Here's on of my favorite pictures from 2008. This North Long Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota. I took this one morning about 6am. The lake was calm and the sun was just coming up. It was so peaceful that morning i just sat on a bench for about 45 minutes enjoying the peace and quiet. I'm not sure if I'll ever get the chance to go back there. I really would like to but if not I'll have a great memory form my 5 days there.

Not much new here except that i have been sick for about 10 days or so. I don't like to go to doctors. This probably the first time i should have gone to the doctor.I'm starting to feel better and hope by my next days off I'll be good to go.

The Thunderbirds opened their new arena last night in Kent. I wish i could have been there. But chance are i would have left early as i was asleep early last night. Looks like I'm going to try and make the game on the 17Th vs Everett and then on the 21st vs Kamloops. I'm hoping Aaron and Andrea and the girls make it to the games. Well I'm sure Aaron and Madison will make it to the games.

I did see the last ever T-birds game in Key Arena. The boys pulled out a 2-0 win and i was pretty happy i wouldn't be going back to see hockey there again anytime soon.

18 days till my trip to so-cal with Aaron to see the Nascar Toyota all-star race at Irwindale Speedway.Talked to my good friend Carolyn the other day and the weather hasn't been to good down that way. I'm hoping it turns around by the time we get there.

Turtle races

My best bud Aaron and i are heading down to LA in January for the Toyota all-star race at Irwindale Speedway. There will be lots of racing at the track friday night and Saturday night. I'm trying to find lots of things to fit into our weekend down there. We will only be the Thursday thru Sunday morning. Aaron has to be back to work Monday. He owns his own Mission Tortilla route. He has someone to cover thursday friday and saturday.

After some looking around i finally found the bar that has turtle races. It's in Marina Del Ray kind of down by the LAX airport area. If you ever watched Rob & Big on MTV then you have seen the bar http://www.brennanspub-la.com/racing.htm. I'm sure we can get my good friend Carolyn who lives in the LA area to come down with us to watch and have a 1 or 2 or a half dozen beers with us. They only race on Thursday's so this is happening the first night we get to town.

Friday afternoon i haven't really planned much. i need to do some looking around to find something to do. I might see if Aaron wants to see the Peterson Museum. The Peterson Museum. Has one of the best car collections around in the world. Friday night we will be at Irwindale Speedway for Qualifying and a couple main events.

Saturday We will head over to Santa Anita horse track. I just found out the other day that. the 24Th of January is the Sunshine Millions day at the track. It should be a great day and a pretty good crowd. the series of races called the Sunshine Millions are restricted to horses bred either in Florida or in California and is the brainchild of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, Inc., Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, and Magna Entertainment Corporation.


Saturday night we head back over to Irwindale for day two of the races. Sunday we have a early flight back home at 8:30 am. The flight to LA is only 169 round trip the rental car is going to be 125 and the hotel is 99 bucks a night. So this is a quick trip but should be lots of fun. It's been 41/2 years since Aaron and i have been on a trip. I'm just happy Andrea is letting him go. We had so much fun last time i won't even go into details. January 22ND won't get here soon enough.

The Bouncy House

Well i need to update this blog thing. Lets go back a few weeks to my trip to Vegas. I love the city of Las Vegas so much to o and always never enough time. I was there to attend to NHRA drag races. The races were great as they almost always are. I was able to take tons of great pics from my seats and the starting line. Oh there is my favorite driver Hillary Will.

Now for the gambling part i did pretty good. I made most of my money on nickel and penny machines. the roulette Wheel was OK for me. I made enough money to pay for my rooms all my food and tips for the weekend. I came back home with exactly what i left. Not sure when my next trip will be to Vegas but i hope it' around June or July of 2009.

Sunday will be my best buddies daughters 5Th birthday. I just can't believe she is 5 already. I bought her the movie WALL-E . I really like this movie when i saw it. I'm sure she will like it also. Here birthday party is at http://www.thebouncyplace.com/ . I'm sure this will be lots of fun and lots of pain for me.

Now a couple of little rants. while at the airport in Vegas i noticed more then a few idiots. When you are going through screening take out all your bleeping change, You also take out cell phones and belts buckles. I want to beat some folks over the head. Dang people figure it out what part of metal detector do you not get. duh