"So Long Barbaro..."

I cannot think of any animal that united this country the way Barbaro did. For those of you who do now know who he is, Barbaro was the winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby and since he won by such a great amount he was the odds on favorite to win the Triple Crown. Race two was the Preakness and everyone was excited...especially the ones who placed a little wager on Barbaro not to place or show, but to win. The gun went off, the horses took off, and Barbaro...stumbled. A lot. he completely shattered his hind leg and could barely walk. Now in the past the only humane thing to do was to euthanize the horse, but his trainers thought there might possibly be a way to save him. And they did. Months of rehab and medical treatment were involved but eventually Barbaro managed to stand up and walk again. He could even run to the point that he was entered in a race. Unfortunately, he destroyed his hind leg again and this time, there was nothing anyone could do to save him. So on Wednesday he was put to sleep and not just the racing community mourned him, but the country as well. I honestly don't know if there's an animal heaven. Look at all the animals we eat every day. Are you telling me all those cows and chickens and pigs are in their own Utopia? Hmm...

Took Wednesday off to participate in yet another On The Border taste test survey. What's sad is I make more at these things then I do at work. And it's an hour and a half! (sigh) Was going to work till 12 since it started at one but that's just wasting gas. Plus, I hurt my knee last Sunday and ever since then it hurts to walk or work or...heck, pretty much do anything. I was getting up off the couch and it twisted the wrong way. The darndest thing! The good news is it feels better everyday.

It is unbelieveably cold here right now! Plus we got snow yesterday! Huge flakes falling faster and faster...and then...they all went away and melted...and more is on the way! No matter how cold it gets, we'll all be missing it come June when the 100 degree days come back...and we all know they will.

The Super Bowl is Sunday! I have a little wager of my own with a guy at work. He picked the Colts to win by eight and I get the Bears to win or lose by 7. Can it be done? A lot of people think the Bears are the underdogs here. What's cool is when you're the underdog you have a little more fight in you...something more pushing you to be your best. Hopefully the Bears come through for me.


Emily: "Toad's a little stiff, but once you loosen him up he's 'good to go'!"