derby

First, let me say HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY to Andrea & Frank-a-ma-doo. It seems like just three years ago I was keeping the crazies away from Andrea as she tried to get dressed in her gorgeous gown on their big day. As you can see, I was partially sucessful, and the bride looked completely perfect, as usual (I've been jealous of that hair for 12 years now).

Once when Andrea and I were still in school (and I was over 21, really), we watched as our friend Brian attempted to make his own mint julep without the proper bartending supplies. Needless to say, it was utterly disgusting and quickly went down the drain of Brian's Parker Hall sink. Speaking of mint juleps, I was happy to watch the Kentucky Derby on Saturday - horses are "pretty much my favorite animal, bred for their skills and magic," (name that movie) and I love love love to watch them run. If I were an animal, I'd be a dark, dark brown/gray filly racehorse. Basically, I'd look like her:

That gorgeous girl up there is Eight Belles. I think that horse racing is generally an amazing sport. It's pure speed, coordination, and athleticism on the part of horse and rider. We watched Saturday as Big Brown coasted to victory and then saw Eight Belles come in second. As they followed Big Brown with the cameras, interviewing his jockey, it was quickly clear that something was wrong with the filly. And then they pulled the veterinary trucks in front of the sight of Eight Belles laying down on the track. I started crying when they said that they had to euthanize her right there because of her two broken front ankles - an impossible injury for an animal that large to recover from. I'm not sure what I think about horse racing now. It was the saddest thing I've seen in a long, long time. What a waste of an amazing animal.