Praying for Barbaro

Well, kiddies, Saturday really broke my heart. My father's ghost ensured that not only did I dream of him the night before, I tuned into horse racing where Barbaro, this year's Kentucky Derby winner, snapped his leg in three places. It's a miracle the jockey was able to dismount without being thrown overhead.

Horse racing was a passion of dad's, having lived part of the year in Haverstraw NY with acres and acres of land as a boy. He didn't become a cat person until I came into his life, but he was a horse and dog lover. I think he loved to watch them run. He wasn't much for the saddle (they hurt his hips and back), but many a carrot was shared when they nuzzled him at the gates. I'm not romanticizing his Damon Runyon-esque existence since he did gamble a bit too much on the ponies at times, but I understood the roots--watching these creatures run is exhilarating. I get caught up in it myself and can almost forgive those $20 bets that should have put milk and bread on the table.

Barbaro reminds me of the first time I heard about Ruffian, one of the greatest fillies that suffered a horrid demise. The year was 1975 or 76, I was a baby and everyone--particularly women--were talking about this horse. The name is seared into my memory. It was set to be a match race, one on one, and this horse was supposed to take it all. For the life of me, I can't remember the competitor's name. She did what she was trained to do: break out of the gate, run, run, and cross the finish line. That didn't happen. Ruffian's leg snapped midway through the race and she had to be put down. In the early years of the women's movement, many bemoaned that they had to live their victory through a horse. A horse that failed. Ruffian was buried on the track.

I thought of this yesterday and wondered just how well Barbaro's holding up. They're certainly giving this magnificent creature some real chances--in year's past, they'd grab the needle and put him down. Today's CNN coverage shows Barbaro wrapped in blue blankets and his back leg bandaged. Horses need all fours. Two main arteries are the only blood supply to the legs right before the hoof. Imagine that: such perfect creatures with a tiny design flaw. Lose circulation, and essentially, you lose the horse. They can put him to stud, but no triple crown. There's still a 50/50 chance something could go wrong, but I hope not. Barb was only doing what he was trained to do--I hope he outlasts the odds.

What would Dad say...I can only speculate.

What's Up with Britney?

Other than her trying to mother her child. Ok, most of us wouldn't hold a baby and a glass of water at the same time, but most of us wouldn't have bodyguards helping us get in a limo, either.

Ok, the baby car seat incident aggravated me, but yesterday was just ridiculous. Is she really supposed to not slip if stalkerazzi are getting that close? She's walked in 5 inch heels, I don't think flip flops are the problem. I enjoyed her comment, "This is why I need a gun." I also enjoy not giving Bonnie Fuller and her glossy rags any money whatsoever.

Does anyone remember Princess Di? And no, we can't continue to blame the drunken chaffeur. He was only part of the problem. Numerous celebrities have cited this same problem, and it's only a matter of time before someone ELSE gets killed trying to escape some asshole with a sports lens.

This is the main reason I read that Scarlett Johannsen fled L.A. She was sick of being photographed and chased. Good, let her stay in the city I love. If I run into her at a Starbucks, I'll tell her I'm proud of her decision. These idiots need a smack in the head.

And of course, that second-rate fish-wrapper The NY Post puts Britney front and center. Um, didja know we still have a war going on? This country is going to hell? Hurricane season is around the corner and Nawlins is still in shambles? Noooo, Sean's little baseball cap is more important.

My god, they call themselves journalists???? Pardon me while I go puke.

Ahh...a difference

What a difference a week can make.

The new temp is here, and she's the complete opposite of Brunhilda. In true Grinchy fashion, work has been dumped on her desk. Somehow, I know I will get blamed for holding onto contracts when certain people could have asked for them. But then again, narcissists like YOU to ask THEM. I'm beholden to no one, kiddies. And I get down on my knees for no man. I've become accustomed to The Sneer.

The Sneer consists of saying one thing with your mouth and another with your eyes. Since facial expressions tend to lean one way, this eye/mouth conflict creates some serious tension in the face. The result? I know the thought, the look, and the resounding words don't match the intent. This amuses me no end. They think I don't know. It's like a game. What fun. I can win this one: cats have taught me all I need to know. They can sit for hours annoyed before pouncing after a good opportunity. Their opportunity is a mouse, string, a bird. Mine will be nicer people at my job and more $$$.

In other news, Simon & Schuster wants me to meet the Sr. VP. That excites me. And plenty of people have called, some agencies, some direct employers. Monster is a godsend!

We're halfway thru May, and I'm just plowing through. When June hits I'll have the Mermaid Parade and Pride week to jump around in and have fun.

I've really got to start planning my summer books, and no, The Da Vinci Code isn't on my list. Yes, I will break my own rule and see the movie without reading the book first because I adore Tom Hanks. Then I think it's time for me to go back to the beach and enjoy the water. I could barely move last summer with my fibromyalgia, this summer, I'm cranking out the anti-inflammatory pills and not letting it ruin my weekends.

Then it's off to visit Gus, the Central Park Polar bear. I haven't seen him in a looong time. I wonder if they got him a new red ball.

Well, off to lunch. I need a break from the Almighty and Powerful Beings that Work Here.

(as if.)

Say Goodbye to the Middle Class

Yes, Our Commander in Chimp and His Ridiculous Krewe (yes, I'm listening to Nawlins jazz as I write this) have seen to it to push their 70 BILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT PERMANENTLY. Isn't that sweet? Here's the reaction from Chuck Schumer from CNN.com.

The Bush administration and the Republican leadership are far more interested in helping their wealthiest friends than hardworking, middle-class Americans," said Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "The GOP made its choice, and they chose millionaire investors and oil companies over middle class families."

Ya got that right, Chuckie! And what will Albany do with this? If Spitzer doesn't win, that is. Suozzi's already thinking of adding a fine to the LIE. Like tolls aren't high enough? Nice. Does anyone really expect someone trying to survive on a WalMart salary and actually KNOW what the AMT tax is? Are you shitting me?

Naturally, oil companies will be eating this up, and use more and more of their profits to cushion their CEOs while the rest of us scream at the pumps while paying $7 for a gallon of gas. It's almost $4 now, and barrels of crude have hit $72, $7 is a REAL possibility. Not like I have a car, but surcharges are gonna be biting me in the ass like starving mosquitoes for the pizza delivery, the Circles delivery (I still love my Czarina Sauce dish), the flower delivery, etc etc etc...

ANYTHING THAT BENEFITS THESE ASSHOLE OIL COMPANIES WILL NOT BE PASSED ONTO US, KIDDIES.

So, for those of you that have friends that voted for Dubya, feel free to lean over--after you've polished your brass knuckles, of course--and THWACK them right in the head. They deserve it.

2 1/2 more years to go...will we make it under this administration? Those of us that don't see 100K a year, that is...

I think I need to lie down.

Face down.

And sob.

Where Would Dante Put those I work With?

Here are the results of my test. I'm in the 5th Circle for the Wrathful and Gloomy. Gee, they caught me on a good day.

I say everyone else I work with would be in the 9th. Here's my results, kiddies!

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Fifth Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	High
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Moderate

Take the Dante Inferno Hell Test