Zenyatta and the Breeder's Cup

I have waited a few days before finally making any kind of statement. I did tweet that I believed that it is probably best for the world of horseracing that Zenyatta won second place in the way that she did, just a wee bit short!

I feel this way because too much expectation was made on this horse, and way too much publicity was given to her, making her the target for those who wished ill upon her to have their way.

I did respond to one facebook discussion of her that involved her being a horse instead of a superstar. As a horse, she is a phenomena for this time period. There is still no horse that approaches Man of War, who actually had to carry the extravagant 130 pound weight to slow him down a bit. It certainly would have put pressure on his heart with that much extra weight. He lost one race also which is the real reason I believe that 90 years later it is only right that Zenyatta maintain the same kind of record...He raced 21 races, lost one; she raced 20 races, lost one.

I do believe had she been put up nearer the front immediately that she would have won! All that dirt in her face did not help her situation. The jockey should have at least made it more comfortable for her by keeping her steady in the center of the back instead of at the back of the pack. But whether jockey or trainer did that to her, one or both will have to live that one repeatedly to consider whether they did right or wrong. I believe they did wrong. She was an easy winner if given the right ride.

So it goes. That is horseracing luck. We, who play the game, understand that very well.

I bet lightly that day! I have no one to blame but myself for my decisions. I was just hoping and praying that she would win. It didn't happen. I realized that it might not happen, but I had hoped otherwise.

I wish she could continue to race. She is certainly well and healthy enough, but breeding it seems is what the game becomes after some years. Guess the owners know what they are doing. After all, it is only MONEY!

The Iliad by Homer/Music by Posit

I am nearly finished with my reading of The Iliad by Homer. I had read it a long time ago and have seen many versions of this same sad story, but this particular book is absolutely so fascinating I can hardly put it down. It is bloody awful to say the least. Heads go rolling right and left, and I am forever astounded when I think that this is Alexander's favorite book.

The fact that the gods and goddesses are in combat with one another amuses me a bit, but I honestly can see how I must incorporate their interference with Alexander's successes as I am confident that he believed that they were backing him all the way to the very final act.

I needed some music tonight and I discovered the song Ete d'Amour, which is one of the most beautiful songs that I have heard recently. There are two other versions, equally beautiful, but this one is the one I like the most so I shared it at both fb and my blogspot. It is so relaxing, and there is a relaxing piano version by Xianning also. That is very nice also.

It is a necessary break from spearing men right and left, cutting off their heads, their hands,and removing their corselets and armor from their bodies. Whee! That kid Alexander really cut his teeth on the worst of life: war! He did believe he was Achilles reborn so it is said. Whether he did or not in reality is purely conjecture. He certainly tried to emulate his character as much as is possible it would appear. I am sure that when he stared reality in the face, he realized that a piece of fiction by Homer was only a fragmented mirror of real life!

I am having my fun. I am remembering that I have an inside track in this life of Alexander and I intend to use it in this novel. I want to see where it goes from here on out...I am thinking to when I was in the Louvre and some god or goddess stopped me to make certain that I saw the portrait of Alexander there. They are still all around us. I am laughing that one of them deliberately tripped Philip when he was so drunkenly murderous! I will use that in my novel my way!

May the Saints preserve us all, and honor to all the gods and goddesses in reality and fiction.

Jean Pierre Posit - Été D'Amour (1977)

More on my novel

I spent a lot of hours today continuing in my effort to write a novel in 30 days time. Actually, I adjust my thinking about this novel as I write it. It is very interesting to me now that I have started it. A friend of mine is also doing the same project and published her first chapter on facebook. I cannot do that. I can only save it and recheck it so that I will wait til I get help on knowing how to upload it for the NaNoWriMo group to have.

I had wondered if I could write it on a blog site, but I would not do that. That way I could send it to facebook too. So far, I have written the story of Alexander's childhood. I have much to add to it but since I finished the part that I had originally believed would be my novel, I find that I have time and room to get into the beginning of Alexander's long journey into Asia himself. So I will see how it goes...That is all for now.

Breeder's Cup

I was really sorry to see Zenyatta come in a close second at the time that it happened. I had thought that she acted a bit strangely when the cameras were sticking so closely to her. I think it annoyed her. I did ask at the time "what's the matter? Don't you think you can win."

I did not insure my small bet on her. I did not even bet her to win but bet a pick four with her and Goldikova as singles. I did not catch the second part of that bet since a real longshot came in to upset the apple cart. The next horse was also a longshot. So it probably paid well.

I did see blame as the best horse next to her, and had him in my small superfecta. I did not win that day though. Bad day for me.

Today,I realized that the best thing is that she came in as she did, because she did prove herself. There is no doubt that the jockey did miscalculate. The horse could have and should have won, but probably for the sake of racing, it may be better that she did not set a mindboggling 20 for 20 perfect win races.

It hurt though I will admit.

I will be back to blogging as soon as I get my work on my novel finished. Right now, I am spending most of my time trying to write this novel about Alexander.

I have some ideas to try, and this is at least getting me started. I have a lot of weaknesses, and I am realizing them. But I am actually learning a lot as well as enjoying myself a bit.

All for now.

UPDATE on NANWRIMO

This was day 4 in my effort to take on this challenge that NANOWRIMO gives to crazy authors. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November from the first to the 30th to win. Anyone who joins and completes the challenge is considered a winner for simply putting out 50,000 words a month, amounting to 1666 a day.

I do approximate word counts and have probably exceeded my goal for day 4 but I did finally get day 4 in earlier this evening. It is quite challenging and I admit I am not fully satisfied but I have made some gains and am coming along. I know that once finished it will be rewrites and edits, as I am heeding advice from others on how to do this.

I have noticed that intent and actually doing it are two different things.

It will be interesting, to say the least.

NANOWRIMO Project

At the very last minute I decided to try the NANOWRIMO writing project which is to write a novel with 50,000 words through the month of November.I had read about it last year but had forgotten it until Live Journal mentioned it again, and my nephew then posted its logo on his facebook post and asked what it is. I then decided without thinking it through to try to do it.

So here I am on day two, writing about it at LiveJournal and here too. I am writing my novel for this crazy monthlong effort enjoyed by writers all over the world.

And I am actually having fun. I found a good word processor,not ever having used anything but emails,and discussion groups at yahoo to write all my pithy thoughts.

I debated between a story and novel about suicides in SF off the goldengate bridge. I had seen a movie which made a strong statement and impact and I considered that, but then I have been discussing, living,and breathing Alexander for so long I decided to do a novel that children could read without too much undue trauma and am in stage one of his life, studying his childhood.

So I am kneedeep in Alexander history and fiction now that I am using historical fiction as the genre.

I have written the required number of words so far as I wanted to develop the battle of Charonea. I will see what happens. He has finally reached his 12th year and has tamed Bucephalus. I have much more to do, and am doing what they advocate, writing,writing,writing.