rajafacesbothways

Back To Keenland

Returned to Keenland track yesterday, not to photograph but to get rich by betting on the winners. Should have brought my camera instead. Actually after 5 races, I ended up only $1 in the hole for the day. Beautiful weather, magnificent horses, and a great place for people watching. There are only 15 days of fall racing; another 15 days occur in the spring. In addition, the track is used year around for training and holds several auctions of thoroughbreds.

Blame It On the Zebra

Living alone I have had no one to blame for anything that goes wrong here except myself. Until now!

In the novel The Art of Racing in the Rain, Enzo, the dog placed all blames on a stuffed zebra. Therefore during my sister's visit we began condemning an imaginary zebra for anything out of order. And last week, she sent me this zebra as a gift.

Enzo was right! The Zebra has hid my keys twice, ate an important list, Spilled my coffee, froze my computer and keeps scattering my shoes from room to room.

He lives on my computer table and watches with a look of total innocence. Cute lil' fukker, ain't he!

Rhino Ranch--a Review

Larry McMurtry's 30th novel, Rhino Ranch (2009) revisits Duane Moore, whom readers first met in The Last Picture Show (1966).  This loosely structured novel inserts a billionaire Texas woman, K.K. Slater, into his life in Thailia, TX as she sets up a preserve to protect African rhinos. Unfortunately once a strong fence is built and it is discovered they don't like hay, the story becomes weak on rhinos and focuses on how Duane deals with reaching 70 and being alone in the world--i.e.Texas.

This petered out aging oil man deals with age by wandering about, surrounding himself with horny, mostly weird female companions,and dumb ole Texas boys who kill time by drinking whiskey and fishing. And while Duane seems to be searching for a final purpose, McMurtry seems to be searching for a plot. 

Maybe if I was a big Larry McMurtry fan who read all of his writing, this one would have more appeal. I did appreciate some of his earlier books. Rhino Ranch only reinforces my belief that if Texas seceded from the U.S., as some of that state's politicians keep threatening, it would be no great loss to the country.

Main Street Commercial

At the end of the PBS News Hour tonight, downtown Main Street appeared in a Toyota commercial. On August 6 my entry, "Show Time on Main Street"  had 3 photos that covered the filming of this commercial. I had forgotten about it, but recognized it on TV immediately. (after all, I reside here).

I had thought the empty centered-in-the-street silhouette frame of a car they used when filming would eventually be replaced by inserting an actual model into that space, but no.  Just the outline of an auto appears. If you look quickly in the background on the left, there is my building.

If this is my five minutes of fame, I've been screwed.

Showtime is Over

Removed the photos from the exhibit today, after a fine brunch at Galvins--finally something is open on Main Street on a Sunday.

The exhibit had a good turnout and I made some sales.  The gallery was converted from the old jail; below is my infrared photo of the building which has been reproduced on a large canvas and hangs in Galvins' permanent collection.

On Location: Keenland Race Track

The Sunny 16 photo group met early this morning at Keenland, and after a breakfast at the Track Kitchen (I fortified myself with bacon, two huge biscuits covered with sausage gravy and steamed apples) we wandered about taking photos. Despite the damp drizzling weather, it was a fun experience.

After existing about 5 years, we finally got a group photo:

The thoroughbreds get a warm up:

Followed by a track workout:

Ending with a lather and rub down. Racing begins at 2 p.m., but all the many horses stabled at the track go through this routine almost every day:

Breeding Drops Ten Percent

The above headline in today's Lexington Herald gave me hope until I read further.

It was referring to a reduction in Kentucky's thoroughbred foals and not the natives. Since in all the states in the U.S. Kentucky is #1 in fatal baby bashings, a 10 percent drop in people breeding here could only be beneficial.

Fall Garden

Finally a sunny warm day; it has been a very wet and chilly month. Since my loft's insulation is  equivalent to a Styrofoam cup, this is not a good omen. The  garden has mostly succumbed to the weather except for the potatoes still in bins.

Here's what is left of the tomato plant:

 

The hollyhock plant still looks great:

This is what happens to non-suburban grass--uncut all summer. Mama rubber ducky and baby still enjoy their private pool.

Currently Reading

Greetings From Wisdom, Montana by Ruth Rudner (1989) The author feeling like it is time to leave New York, embarks on a quest for her real home and finds her interior Home is not in Paris, France or other big cities but with the rugged beauty and people in Montana.

Women Who Run With the Wolves  Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Chrissia Pinkola Estes (1992) This is my third reading of Estes' book; I find new inspiration revisiting it at different stages of life. She is a  Ph.D Jungian analyst who weaves myths, fairy tales and folk tales into awareness of knowing of one's soul.

Rhino Ranch by Larry McMurtry (2009) Part of the iconic saga of Duane Moore's story that began with the Last Picture Show (1966). Review later.

Ignore Everybody and 39 Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod (2009) A fun pick-up-and-read to stimulate the imagination

Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (2009) held no interest when I heard about it.

A dog as a narrator? Naw. Car racing? Good grief. The only car I've ever cared about was the Norse Horse. Full disclosure: I am astounded by how much I enjoyed this book.

Amazing. I couldn't put it down. We meet Enzo, this cool dog at the end of his life, still resenting that monkeys got opposing thumbs and he didn't. His owner is Denny, a race car driver with a young wife and daughter. Tragedy strikes. Enzo relates their story with keen observations on hope, courage, endurance and love, as he learns the art of being human to prepare for his next life's return to earth. It sounds schmaltzy, but it isn't; it's fine story telling and filled with humor.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is a quick read, because you cannot put it down. "You go where your eyes go." Enzo knows it applies to life as well as racing. And my eyes kept speeding through the book because it really was a great read.

I'm shocked!