May is Short Story Month

I just happened to read that May is short story month. I was thinking about the concept of rejection which Mme. Guillotine had raised earlier today in one of her blog posts. I told her about a short story that I had written years ago which was actually a dramatization of an article that I had read on how to survive a hotel fire. I thought that it would be important to children to know what to do in case of fire inside a hotel room, so I sent my story to Cricket, one of the leading children's magazines to see how they would receive it. I sent it there instead of to Highlights for Children, which I probably should have done, because at that time the going rate for a children's story at Cricket was 25 cents a word.* I have gone through life knowing that the words are taken out of my mouth, and my friends mouths, and placed in the mouths of actors on t.v. sit coms, in movies, in books, in magazines,so that I became a walking mouthpiece warning people of it, saying that I had a microphone of some kind on me. In the movie Victor Victoria it is called a bug in her throat. So that when I began the thoughts of writing professionally I became very jealous and possessive of my own words, knowing that they are worth a lot of money. I think it is time that people wake up to the fact that writers do make money from the stories that they write when properly published. So publishing houses annoy the hell out of me. I take umbrage at the fact that they would dare to reject something that is for the well being of the community simply because I did not use my own name, or did not send it to the right publishing company. So when the MGM caught fire in Vegas that same year, I felt a bit like the what they call the "bad" Jan when I thought, well, Cricket deserves that...they could have helped to save some children and adults lives. In other words, after my story was returned to me, and yes, I felt the warmth in it, but that was so much patooey, I decided that it is not worth my time to sit down and pen stories or anything else when immediately afterward I begin to hear my own words coming back to me out of the t.v. or in a movie. Yes, I heard my last sentence resounded over and over for years and years and I know of only one place for that leak, and that personal knowledge, and that is at the place called Cricket.

Winning at the Derby

Ways to win at the Derby Make two lists: one is favorites, second is non favorites or longshots. Use your noodle. Don't listen to every handicapper, friend, or foe who tries to tell you who will win this race. That includes me as well. Think for yourself. Do not bet Jockey or Trainer. Each one of them is the same in one respect...Each really wants to win this as much as the next one. You can rely on statistics. The history is simple. With twenty horses racing, the horses that are in gates 5 through 12 have the best chance to win. Best not to use all favorites or all longshots...if you are betting exotics which are exactas, trifectas, and superfectas. Pick 3's and 4's are best with combinations of favorites and longshots also. I am really writing this for the benefit of those who are not long time horseracing fans but who are just going to have fun or for the first or second time...friends in VW and family. \ Do not overlook horses that have odds of 20 to 1 or 30 to 1 as they may show up in second or third position in a trifecta or superfecta...that is their entire purpose...to pay big paydays to the lucky fan who knows which of those to combine with the favorite who just might make it into the winner's circle. If you think that sharing something in common with my nephew Bryce or my cousin Rita is a good omen, then bet El Padrino. If you think that sharing something in common with me is a good omen, then bet Bodemeister. That is all the tips I can give you for now. A longshot which may work is Went the Day Well, and another I like is Mark Valeski if his heel is really healed up to be in this race. Maybe he should sit it out to go for the Belmont. I saw El Padrino and Mark Valeski as looking like Affirmed and Alydar in the Risen Star...but things change. Neither are like that at all. Personally, I like Gemologist too...he is undefeated so far, and has a great attitude when he is on camera. Truly, the best horses to win the roses are BED...Bodemeister, ElPadrino, and Dullahan, with Creative Cause and I'll Have Another. Mark Valeski is good if his heel is well. If not, forget it. Like I said, choose your own horses. Those are my best bets. Bodemeister is THE BEST no doubt about it...but it is a crapshoot as his trainer says, and anything goes...double arrows up! Hope they are good luck! Good Luck.

Philip Gets Another Statue

Corinith was bustling with excitement. People crowded the streets, cheering, reveling, waiting to see Philip appear with his many delegates who followed him around. I watched the crowd as they elbowed one another, each pushing one another, trying to find a place to watch the dedication of the statue, and the presentation of the City's recognition of Philip's great work which he had just fulfilled. A clean, crisp cool breeze accompanied the brilliant sun as it glared down at the huge crowd gathering in the gardens. The ocean breezes filled the air, carrying the smell of the sea into the hillside. An azure blue sea circled the city when I looked down from the hilltop to gaze out into the distance. I heard a cheer, that soon became a roar, so that I realized that Father was entering the gardens with his delegation. I hurried to meet him, pushed my way through the raucous masses, and saluted him when he saw me. I had to stand as one of his bodyguards along with the other pages who traveled with him. He was about to have a statue dedicated in his honor, and to receive the approval and acceptance by all the populace of Corinth. At last, my father had achieved one of his goals. He had finally united Greece into a single body.

Kentucky Derby Bets Part 3

Usually I say you need a racing form to bet wisely and sensibly. But with the internet providing enough information in videos and handicapping opinions, you do not need to waste the money ($6.00) when the internet provides the answers for you.* Remember one thing...Nobody knows until it is over who is going to win. I maintain that the horses know, that some omniscient force and power knows, but nobody else does...I believe in the powers that give to me the names of the horses just before they win. They are Nearly always right. I could cite them but will let that pass for this entry.* So no handicapper anywhere really knows any more about it than you, I, or the man next door. It is a game, a risk, and an educated and practical guess. Nobody knows when a horse could lose a shoe, could break down, could throw his rider, etc. So count on little but chance to satisfy your penchant for game playing if you play this game.* A win, place, bet across the board will give you the payoff for a single horse. A double will give you the pay off for two winners in two consecutive races. A pick three will give you a payoff in three consecutive correctly bet winner only. These are dangerous bets. After studying horses winning and losing ways for years, I seldom bet anything but a single race and often a single horse.* However, an exacta is the horses that come in 1,2, or win and place. One can make an exacta box. If my horse does win, and he is a long shot, he will pay well no matter if the favorite or a medium horse will come in second. Why? Because the number of people who bet him is so small that the pool will be divided up amongst those of us who use that longshot horse with the favorite, and the payoff is better if he wins rather than comes in second.* It is important that you understand that for winning is the name of the game, and big payoffs is what the professional gamblers look to survive and to win this game.* We do not care that Bob Baffert had a heart attack, that his horse is named for his son, that kind of sentimentality has nothing to do with the end result of the race. The end result is the fact that we put our money up on a horse, and want that horse to win to pay us in a manner that will feed us, house us, and maybe even give us a year's break from the recession.* I once heard a voice from the crowd yell to a jockey, " I have rent to pay". I had a man come up and hit me because he lost a race. I had no idea why he picked on me. When I saw Talk Radio I recognized him as the actor who portrayed the man who shot the radio jockey in the movie...A Hollywood actor hit me!

Kentucky Derby Bet part 2

A track that I soon visited after driving from California to Michigan in 1973 was Churchill Downs. In 1972, I left California during an election to go back to Michigan. In 1973, Secretariat won the Triple Crown. I had passed through Lexington, KY. on my way, and a motel there impressed me with its motto on a card that said, Our patrons are worth it. This was bluegrass country and this was a reminder from the maid to leave a tip. It is one of the few motels that I have ever tipped the maid for her hospitality and work. I was worth it.* Secretariat was the most magical horse that had ever happened to America in that time period. People were tired of politics and needed a hero, and found it in a horse. I can never forget that beautiful horse who thrilled us all in the Kentucky Derby, who went on to the Preakness, and won there. I was at a friends home for both races. But for the third race, I stayed in my own home with my dad sitting behind while together we watched Secretariat make the most fantastic run in history. I was astounded at his performance.* Soon after that I decided to go to Louisville in the first week in May to see the Derby for myself. I had no idea what that entailed but I took a greyhound bus, and bussed myself to Louisville. White tents packed together on the streets of Louisville impressed me no end. I met a man who told me about Edna's restaurant, a key word to me, and I immediately understood when I went into the grandstand and saw Churchill Downs for the first time myself. I recognized enough of it as Edna's place that I realized its significance to me. That is one reason I say the horse that wins loves the track.* I saw Lucien Lauren in person. I had no idea then at the peculiar fact that the colors of Secretariat were the same as on a dress that I had worn (a gift to me as a kind of second hand rose) to the Salk Institute in So. California. That was published in the local newspaper. I have that photo to this day.* I met a man whose name I will omit but who told me that a horse is just a commodity. He has the name of a famous trainer which is why I will omit it but I always think of it.* I attended the Kentucky Oaks race, studied the chances of my going to the Derby, learned what it costs to enter the facility, and decided to place my bet (I lost) and return home. * I said the name of the horse that I thought would win, immediately knew it would not, as I have a spiritual gift that tells me the truth of winners and losers, and right away knew that Snow Chief was not going to win the Derby that year...When my voice is sound and strong, the horse will win...if it weakens, drifts, and fades out, the horse does the same.* I was back in Michigan the next day, and watched the derby from t.v. as everyone else did. I would not fight my way into the infield to blend in with the crowds there. The Derby is one big party and fun! Let us keep it that way always. This year I am going to bet a monster trifecta for the first time. The horse I believe will win is a longshot. I believe that he will win and that I will bet him singly on top of several for exactas, trifecta, and superfecta. I will also insure myself by betting a normal protect yourself bet just in case Union Rags or Bodemeister or some other favorite may be able to do it. I doubt it. I am convinced that the longshot will win. I have given his name up several times. I have a good reason for betting him. I have already placed a $5.00 win bet on a future bet for him. He is IN so he can WIN! but it is still a few days to go before this race is won. Hope I collect on that Monster Trifecta!

Kentucky Derby Race Bets

Betting the Kentucky Derby is a chance, a risk, a payday for many who think straight and know how to detect the likely winners from those who just want to be "in" the race.* A little history on me. On a rainy day in Southern California an old school chum of my dad's who had earned his dough during the depression betting race horses came to visit my dad when my parents had come to California to see me. This fella was a very close pal of my dad's and so he took us to Los Alamitos where he made $50 bets on horses. This was my first outing, and as it was a rainy day, a situation occurred at that track to where the inside rail produced the most winners, something that I have never forgotten to this day. That was my initiation.* I love quarter horses. They are swift, quick, and by golly, it is all over in a few fractions of a minute...wow! What speed! What beauty! I even saw Doc Severinson one time make a personal appearance at the track in Southern California...tooting his own horn for the pleasure of the gamblers.* Eventually, I made it to Santa Anita where I for some odd reason one day just happened to name many of the winners without knowing a dang thing about it but the oddity of it caught my attention. This was done while walking by the horsebarn area, long before I even knew the actual layout of the track or the barns. The track is situated right next to a shopping center there so it was easy for me to get lost going from the shopping center to the racecourse.* Finally, I went back to Santa Anita to bet when a fellow teacher asked me to go with her to the races, and that is when I learned what the inside of the grandstand looked like, found the walking ring, and the paddock area, and learned what the gambling windows were all about. I was very green despite having watched my dad's pal strut his stuff when at Los Alamitos.* I finally went back to Santa Anita, began to pay attention to the horses, noticed that they paid attention to me, and learned that I am some kind of horse whisperer. That is why I became so interested in horses. I found that I could communicate with them.* I have bet a variety of wagers since that first initiation and introduction, but some of the men who befriended me told me that the $2.00 better is the backbone of the track. Notice how large grandstands are in comparison to the clubhouse and the turf club. I have used both grandstand and clubhouse for varied reasons, usually ability to see what is happening, and became acquainted finally with the necessary tools to finally win horse racing. A racing form, a program, and an interest in the horse, jockey, and trainer who is making his living on the success and failure of these beautiful animals.* Santa Anita is and always will be my favorite track of racetracks because it is there that I began to seriously learn the skill of gambling race horses. I have visited many other tracks, but Santa Anita will always be top favorite with me.* Am publishing this to take up in next post as I know from sad experience that the built in paragraphs will have to have a star in front of them so you will know that this is where I made a paragraph.

Credentials

Resume and credentials are things that frankly annoy me. I began working and accepting payment for work when a child. I baby sat for years, worked at being a waitress, cashier, and clerk up until I graduated from college. I then began a teaching career in the state of Michigan, teaching high school students, starting with honors classes at Bay City Handy, to Kearsley High School for my first bona fide salaried teaching position. I had majored in English Education and have a minor in Sociology. I continued to teach in Arizona tenth graders and then in California to high school students from grades 9 through 12. I loved my teaching career, and was more interested in influencing students than in promoting myself in any way other than as a classroom teacher. Sadly, thanks to my students, I became aware that our school system was a model for television programming of all kinds. Being located in California made it easy for the Hollywood writers to use words right out of our mouths so that we became famous through our words, and deeds without our own immediate approval or knowledge of it. Thanks to faculty members, and my students, I soon became aware of the tentacles of Hollywood. Eventually, even the law came to bring oldtimers of Hollywood to our school system so that we could get a closeup view of Hollywood and its treatment of bit actors and actresses. Fame is a game that nobody can quite understand. It pays well to some of its players, but most get caught in a wheel of destruction that is massive and pervasive. For years, because I knew full well that I did not need to write a word myself but that my life story would be plastered in the media, t.v., books, magazines, all covering me with pseudonyms right and left, I would not attempt to use the skills I had to write for any publisher of any kind. The most I did was for our own student newspaper which I once used as a platform to write in response to the murder of Robert Kennedy. I knew that I did not need to do a thing. I have hundreds of Hollywood writers who will say it all for me. I even studied this to learn whether it was a natural phenomena that all my words and those of people around me came back to me immediately either on the Tonight Show or SNL or some other shtick out of Hollywood and New York. I fought it hard and long like some fish caught in a net or on a fishing line...I did not always like it but I soon came to realize it would happen like it or not and so learned to control my words carefully. I tell people about it upfront. They too can see themselves on t.v. if they choose. Students are usually the one's who know first what is going on, and it has continued even here in Southern Arizona, as I found that it followed me to Florida, even in the movie Annie Hall, which I saw clearly showed scenes from my first year in Ft. Lauderdale area, when I met an entire group of people from NYC...Russell Ruth and Eddie Balls, to name a couple. Don't worry. I know it continues now despite my not watching t.v. so much any longer. When I began to see if I could write novels, short stories, etc. I studied this studiously with the help of the Detroit News, and Detroit Free Press, and General Hospital, and One Life to Live. I do have those samples of writing...a novel became a true life story culminating in the OJSimnpson/Nicole Brown story as well as the Jon Benet Ramsey story. I stopped writing then, realizing that I am tapping into universal forces. I have taken up writing again, and am concentrating on again universal forces to which I have been privileged to enjoy experiences unlike most in this world. I am a believer in my experiences so will stop this ongoing explanation of where I am now and why I am here. My students did teach me a lot...I had been told that I had looked like some character on a soap opera. I learned that I look like many characters in many plots...whatever works, and is fair, horsepucky, as they say in Hollywood! Right, Bill?