Handwritten Valentine from Sulz
For those that regularly come here for horse racing news and tidbits, I’ll share what little bit of information for the day I have here. For the most part however, this post is really a giant thank-you plug to one of my favorite fellow wordpress bloggers out there. Let’s jump right into the horse racing news and then I’ll continue with my off-topic musings.
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Most of you already know this, but Into Mischief lost to Georgie Boy in the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday 2/10/08. There was only a 4 horse field so it’s tough to make anything from the race. Into Mischief ran 2nd and Richard Mandella indicated he may have needed a race before being in prime shape. I’m not worried about him. Georgie Boy ran an incredibly fast race, but like I’ve said earlier, mules seem to be running fast out there so once again we’re left scratching our heads trying to determine just how good of a performance it really was?
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Curlin turned in his final stateside workout in preparation for his journey to Dubai to compete in the prestigious Dubai World Cup next month. The colt worked 7 furlongs in 1:23.60, and as he has been doing while training with Asmussen, continued further on unofficially galloping a full 1 1/8 miles in roughly 1:51. The plan is for Curlin to get a workout over the Dubai track after shipping this Friday, and then to compete in a preparatory Handicap on the 28th prior to his entry in the Dubai World Cup. He sure appears to be as sharp as ever, and we all know crisp Pyro looked Saturday in the Risen Star. That sure gives me a good feeling about Curlin here! We’ll see how he ships of course, and don’t be surprised if he needs that prep race. Remember that Curlin has always, in Steve Asmussen’s own words, “done things better the second time.”
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We’ve got some minor prep races slated for this weekend, including the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, and the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park. I haven’t looked at either to be honest and am not sure if I will. My focus is largely on the upcoming G2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on the 28th, which should draw some interesting horses into the field.
Okay, so for those of you that aren’t interested in off-topic discussions, thus endeth the update for the day. If, however, you’d like to continue on to something of an unusually off-topic nature (for this blog anyway), or are curious about what you see in the pictures above, do continue reading.
It’s just about Valentine’s day. You know, that holiday that makes husbands, fiances, and boyfriends the world over fret about what to give the special lady? Well imagine my surprise when I came home today and found that my good friend and fellow WordPress blogger Sulz had created a handwritten Valentine for me that even featured a horse! I’m a bit challenged with how to correctly post the picture so that you can expand it, so allow me to summarize the text:
“Kstafford is the friendliest, funniest, and sweetest guy I know. I dearly wish we would be lifelong friends.”
Friends for life, good buddy, don’t you worry about that. The horse figurine in the Valentine has special significance as my Chinese Zodiak sign is the “earth horse” (having been born in 1978). How ironic that an earth horse would grow up to become a thoroughbred horse racing blogger, eh? 
I remember fondly when I first met Sulz. For those that don’t know her, pay a visit to her wordpress blog by clicking on her name in blue above. Sulz is a very friendly face on the support forums here at wordpess.com. Anyone that has had a technical issue has no doubt run into her at some point. She’s also largely responsible for the success of the “off topic” forum here at wordpress, which a bunch of us bloggers frequent for amusing comments, ridiculous banter, and to shamelessly plug our blogs.
A couple of weeks ago there was a noticeable absence in the forums. It took me a few days to figure out what was going on, but fairly quickly I determined that we were missing a familiar face we had all come to know and love. It was Sulz. Some “storm of the century” had knocked out her computer and we were left to converse with each other on the aforementioned forums sans our good friend. It’s a noticeable absence when she’s gone. Sulz is a tireless blogger that is always quick to reply to comments both on her blog and in the forums. Sometimes I wonder when it is she actually gets sleep? She’s also fearless and is incredibly cute when she’s angry - just something I’ve noticed. I call it “mean Sulz” and it’s rather fun when that side of her comes out.
Thankfully, she’s back now and blogging her tail off. I’ve learned so much about blogging from her and have come to appreciate her friendship as something that is very special in the blogosphere. In many ways I think of her as a kid sister, even though it is I that have learned from her and not vice-versa. It’s a shame she’s not stateside as it would be wicked awesome to party with her and a few other buddies here at WordPress. Alas, she’s overseas in Indonesia, a place as foreign to me as the landscape of the moon. I know not the language, the culture, or the customs.
Amazingly, that hasn’t hindered our friendship one bit. For someone that does not live in the U.S., I think you’ll agree that her command of the English language is quite impressive. She actually teaches English to folks over there that are willing to learn it as a second language.
So in case you haven’t figured it out by now, this whole post is an off-topic plug for my friend Sulz, who was thoughtful enough to give me a Valentine’s day card that obviously took a good deal of thought and effort to produce. I never thought such friendships were possible when I started blogging, but thanks to friends like her I’ve been able to meet quite a few interesting people in the great blogosphere. Sulz will always be unique though. I’m quite sure I’ll never find anyone else quite like her. Plus, now I get to wave my Valentine’s day card in my wife’s face and say “nah-nah boo boo - I got a Valentine and you didn’t,” which you know I will sooooo do the first chance I get. Actually, who am I kidding? I’ve already done it!
As far as what my plans with my wife are, you may have picked up in the comments on some of my other posts that a nameless, faceless (to protect their identity of course) entity has allowed the dangerous combination of myself and an addictive video game to once again meet. This is akin to “crossing the streams” in Ghostbusters. Only bad things can come of it. Even worse is that my wife is addicted to the same game. The game in question is Guitar Hero (1, 2, 3, and the 80’s version). In the little bit of time we get to spend together this weekend, we plan on jamming out like uber-dorks to our favorite tunes on the game. Our 3 year old is still foolish enough to think his parents are “cool” when we do so, and we know we must take advantage of such a fleeting era while we can. So don’t be surprised if you are driving through Hanover, Pennsylvania and hear some wicked guitar rifts that sound vaguely like Black Sabbath, Incubus, and David Bowie. Chances are the sound is emanating from my kick-ass Paradigm Monitor-11 based sound system. Coincidentally, Iron Man sounds about as cool as can be on those speakers!
With this in mind, allow me to quote one of our favorite tunes in the Guitar Hero series as my reply to Sulz. This is your Valentine, Sulz, and it’s in honor of all the charm and thoughtfulness that you display to your fellow wordpess bloggers from the moment they become acquainted with you (lyrics to follow are from “Stellar” by Incubus…hope you enjoy!).
Meet me in outerspace
We could spend the night, watch the earth come up
I’ve grown tired of that place, wont you come with me
We could start again
How do you do it, make me feel like I do
How do you do it, its better than I ever knew
Meet me in outerspace
I will hold you close, If your afraid of heights
I need you to see this place, It might be the only way
That I can show you how, it feels to be inside of you
How do you it, make me feel like I do
How do you do it, its better than I ever knew
How do you do it, make me feel like I do
Do oh oh oh oh oh
You are stellar
You are stellar
How do you it, make me feel like I do
How do you do it, its better than I ever knew
How do you do it, make me feel like I do
How do you do it, make me feel like I do, Yeah.
Happy Valentine’s day to all. I’ll be back later in the week with some news and handicapping selections.
I’m a fire horse (66)…
Interesting! I’ve got a friend here on wordpress that does Chinese horoscopes. She’s in my blogroll (rat to pig Chinese horoscopes). I wonder what the differences between “earth” and “fire” horses are?
My wife is a “fire snake” and my son is a “wood monkey.”
What a lovely tribute to our mutual friend. When sulz sees this, she’s going to melt, I bet. That Valentine project of hers is so warm and fuzzy. Well, you deserve what she says of you.
yes, museditions, i’m a big puddle of happiness now! gosh, i never knew anyone else who could talk so much about me other than me! hahaha!
have to point out some things though. for one, i’m a really big chicken. honestly! but yes, when i’m angry, i’m quite a character!
for another, i don’t live in indonesia! it’s malaysia, bro! haha. and even if you don’t know much about malaysia, you will love it. it’s very multicultural and the food… you’ll want to live here just for the food.
and finally, i don’t teach english, but i am reading english at college. but, but, you are not that far off. i love to teach and will definitely consider a teaching job!
thank you for your valentine dedication! i like incubus but i haven’t heard that song yet. will youtube it soon!
wow… i’m still amazed you wrote that much about me, and there were all awesome stuff. i know i can be awesome sometimes,
but not that awesome surely!!
gosh, i love you big bro. *HUGS* happy valentine’s day to you and your wife and kid!
Gee Sulz, this is a tough act to follow! I will have figure something out for Valentines Day. I have 1 day left. Any more creative ideas?
That was a very nice post you wrote about Sulz. She’s a really awesome girl indeed.
But Amy, I thought we were going to play Guitar Hero together? You said you liked rocking out with me while I’m in my skivvies!
If you must try another idea, may I suggest something involving a school-girl uniform and knee-highs?
@Juan: It wasn’t hard to do at all considering how genuinely nice and thoughtful she is. Sulz, Raincoaster, and Dissfunktional were some of the first people that reached out to me when I started blogging and they will always hold a special place in my heart for that. I can’t even imagine how lost I’d be if not for their help….and that doesn’t even count the times we’ve mutually inspired each other. Just a few weeks ago Dissfunktional inspired me to post about Barbaro. I ended up inspiring Sulz to blog about her amazing man-attracting t-shirt, and Sulz valentine’s have caused all of us to be inspired to blog. It’s like a giant wordpress version of “pay it forward.”
Ooops…just noticed the errors I made in referring to Sulz as Indonesian. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ve run into a lot of cool Indonesian bloggers over at blogcatalog and must’ve got my facts confused.
And I thought you did teach, Sulz? I thought you had students that you were giving lessons to? Man, maybe I need to lay off the whiskey for a while?
ooh, hello Amy! nice to meet you!
i’m sure you’ll find something to satisfy your wonderful darling. 
hmm, as for ideas, i don’t know why horses and sex came to mind… i mean, they don’t exactly go together! hahaha…
oh man, kstafford, tmi! i do not want to know you rock out in your undies.
i did had my first student to tutor but i think she doesn’t like me or english very much as she keeps postponing our tutoring sessions.
oh well, i need all the time for my valentine project eh? 
That was a beautiful post! Ehh. Could you teach my hubby how to write something like that for me? hehe
Looks like your doing very well here. Congratulations, you deserve it. It’s a great site and you obviously put a lot of time into it. Just wanted to let you know the Divorce crap’s prettty much over, and I’m set up again. Into The Bit is back up and has been white hot since the change of scenery. Take a look at California since the adjustment to the track. Front speed and stalkers. Also check Point Given firsters on Synthetic surfaces if you didn’t see Lauren Stitches article in the form. Great job here. Good Luck.
Ron
@ Tamera: I can only teach those willing to learn.
@ Ron: Glad to hear that’s all over with, buddy. I noticed earlier in the week that you were back with more regularity. Did I see an $80 winner as well? Outstanding!
You’re absolutely right, it’s speed, speed, and speed. Forwardly placed stalkers have a chance but only if no one is loose on the lead. I plan on checking out Santa Anita again on Friday and Saturday at least.
@ Sulz: Ha ha, I know, but aren’t I the king of “TMI?” She actually hooked me up with a new phone that I can keep track of my blog with. It’ll take me a while to figure out how to play with it, but what does a guy like more than a new electronic toy?
*sigh*…..Oh well. Happy Valentines Day to you and the Mrs.
That was a very sweet of you wrote an article about Sulz in Valentine’s day
I thought Sulz is really live in Indonesia and for a second there i’m thinking which city? I would love to meet her and beg her to teach me proper english 
hehe…
Btw, since i met you in BC there are some weird resemblances that i think you should know. Consider this as an exchange for your request in http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/your-valentines-day-wish
hahaha…
oke… here it is:
- my older brother Sam born in 1978 (earth horse) and married with Esti who was born in 1977 (fire snakes), looks familiar? yeah… you and your wife
- my dearest long distance friendship female best friend name after your son = Randy (Randy Auburn a.k.a auburn28 is my best friend when we were on junior high)
- the one and only human that i’m really trying to forget is one of my ex; Kevin (what?…. huh?… your name is Kevin too?) MUHahahahaha…
- i also work as an EO with my older sister and my 2007-2008 new year party theme was a ratatouille theme. Because we ordering more than 500 mugs with a ratatouille picture on it as a merchandise gift to take home, the company rewards me and my older sister a huge mug with a brown horses running on the field on it. And we just accepted it last week… weird!
And…
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FOR YOU, FOR YOUR WIFE AND FOR THE KID!!!
d^_^b
Pardon my english there, it seems i’ve made a bad grammar in some parts… i got a little distraction from my little cousin (grrr…)
@Tamera: Happy Valentine’s Day!
@Trisna: That’s amazing! I’ve got another similarity just from what you wrote. I’m a diehard Alabama Crimson Tide fan and our main rival, who we play once a year in the “Iron Bowl” which is one of the most heated rivalries in all of college football, is the Auburn Tigers!
Enjoy the time with your cousin and Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’ve never seen a space metal Valentine before. COOL!
I thought you’d like that, Rain! I was wondering where you were?
I found the video for the song on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt7idfsa9hg
It’s pretty tripped out and even seems to feature some midgets….unless that kids I’m mistaking for midgets. I do tend to see midgets where there are no midgets from time to time.
Easily one of the most enjoyable songs to rock out to in the Guitar Hero franchise.
Sulz, I gave Kev his V-Day gift, it is not as creative as yours but I gave him a cell phone w/ internet access so now even when he is on his business trip he can still blog with everyone. Maybe next year I can think of something creative that involves your suggestions!!
I’d say that was a pretty darn good gift there, Ames. But wait….what about my suggestions above? (3rd comment in thread)
Well, the big 30 is around the corner, why wait a whole year?
amy: that’s a practical and totally awesome gift!