BIG BIG news

So yeah, it's been more than half a month since my last update. The reason for that is that no news that I could give between then and now could hold back the excitement that was bottling up inside.
I was holding in the fact that I had bought and engagement ring for Deanna. Yeah, now you see that if I put anything up it would ruin the suprise. That's the one drawback to public forums. Anywho.... this Memorial Day weekend Dee has traveled down to visit for the 4 day weekend. That's when I planned on popping the question.
Friday afternoon, after spending a good 5 hours at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, we came home pooped and hot from spending all that time standing in the sun waiting for some great roller coasters. I took that birthstone ring that I had given to her as a birthday gift into the kitchen to clean as she watched TV in the living room (which is customary for me to do when we visit one another).... and when I returned, I gave her the engagement ring.... Much to her suprise. With that I asked the all important question and she replied with a weepy, but joyous "yes".
So we are now an engaged couple. Nothing feels too different, other than the thought of having to plan a wedding....which Dee has already started doing with the purchase of several Bridal magazines later that night when we went to Borders and for ice cream. This will be interesting with us here in KY and the wedding in Alfred, NY, Dee's hometown. We'll get by. So for now we will enjoy the rest of the weekend together until I have to reluctantly let her go back home to Rochester. I'll see her again 4th of July weekend.
Till then.... happy day.

The couple 

The Ring 

The Kentucky Derby

Have you ever been to a horse race? If not, I highly recommend it. And if you get to hit up one of the largest races in the country, the Kentucky Derby, do it. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. That's right, I was there. Ryan and Vinny came down this weekend to the Bluegrass State to go to the Derby with me. They've done it before at Belmont, so they had a system. A system that I will gladly take part in, in any following trips that the future holds.

So there we were, sitting along the fence at the end of the back straight away. Maybe 30 feet from the dirt track and less than 12 feet from the turf ring. From 8 to 11 we explored and enjoyed the serenity of a seemingly empty infield. At 11 the races started and the majority of the infield began to fill up. The races went off on time all day long. Most of them only 30 min or so apart, and growing in separation as the day progressed and the temperatures rose. By the 6th race, they were almost and hour apart, ample time to take off your shirt, lay under the blazing sun and take a nap. The temperatures held steady at around 85 degrees and the breeze blew all day; not as strong in the afternoon as the morning, but still there nonetheless.
I want to thank Ryan for his patience in teaching me the finer points (even the broader points) of betting. I placed my bets and enjoyed the atmosphere, that was the infield, for the rest of the day.
RACE 10 - The 131st running of the Kentucky Derby (The Run for the Roses) started about 11 min later than scheduled in the 6 o'clock hour. The crowd multiplied exponentially. The Down's building was a wall of people, on the balcony and roof lines, the stands and even the tops of the porta-johns on the infield. All gaping for a glance at history. And there I was, in the same spot that I occupied at 8 am that morning... on the fence at the end of the back straight. My camara armed and ready, I tried to capture at least a portion of the huge 20 horse field. And that I did. (In studying the photo later to caption it, I noticed the winner in the back of the field. What an awesome moment). Out of no where in the last 100 meters, the long shot, 50-1, Giacomo flys by the lead horses to take the race. WOW! Nobody saw that coming. My horse, Afleet Alex, showed, for a winning of $6.90. Woo-hoo, that could have bought a beer. In all honesty, if I didn't win a penny I would have been perfectly happy. The day was an absolute success.

Thanks fellas.

For pictures of the Derby: http://photos.yahoo.com/cremirun

The KY Derby Race- Coin Silver 5, Anderomeda's Hero 2, Wilco, Noble Causeway, Greeley's Galaxy, Sort it Out 1, and the Winner with the pink stripe Giacomo 

First week

This week was my first week on my own patient schedule. Frankly, it's like riding a bike. I feel like I was just in the clinic with Jannel, Kimmy, Kate, Abby and Renee a few weeks ago. In reality, I haven't worked with a patient, other than the hand full of walkins last week, since mid-August of 2004. I was rusty at first with getting stuff done efficiently. But durring the week it picked up. I am still a new therapist, so I have alot to learn, but I think I'm doing all right.

Last night was the Hail and Farewell party for SPC Cress (91WN9 - PT tech) and me as the hail, and a fare well to CPT Cass and SSG Beattie. I am replacing CPT Cass. Well, not replacing, but taking over her job. The party was at LTC Stang's house south of post. Beautiful area; quiet, nice, and cows in the backyard. I ate extremely too much BBQ. But the ribs....once they touched your mouth, they were soooo gooood. They fell off the bone as soon as you picked it up. I have to say, that the people that I work with are definately going to make Ft. Knox a great place to work.

Lastly, tomorrow is the Kentucky Derby. The infield has been described as a "Mardi-Gras" type of atmosphere and more of a social event rather than a horse race. Ryan McKenna and "Mikey" (aka Vinney), are coming down tonight around dinner time to enjoy the festivities. They are my first guests and I am extremely greatful for the opportunity to see someone familiar around here. Also, I probably wouldn't have gone to the Derby otherwise. In any case, I'm looking forward to one of the most tiring, but exciting weekends of the spring time.

My bet: Afleet Alex to win. (all the purse winnings go to Cancer research.... Bonus)