Homecoming, of a sort

“Hit somebody! It rang in his ears
Blood on the ice ran down through the years.”
Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song) – Warren Zevon

For the second year in a row I’ll watch the Detriot Red Wings and Pittsburg Penguins battle for the Stanley Cup from the comfort of The Lodge in Hilton Head, South Carolina. For those of you who have been reading this blog from the beginning, you may remember me extolling the many virtues (or lack thereof) of The Lodge during last year’s vacation (click here to read An Evening at “The Lodge”). Even before I leave Lexington in the wee hours of tomorrow morning, my Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights appear to be well planned around Games 1 through 4. Hell, truth be told, I was planning on going to The Lodge anyway.

When we’re young vacation is all about new experiences, doing things and going places we haven’t been before. I’ve come to realize as we grow older it is far too easy to allow routine to set in and just do the same things we’ve always done.

More Pictures from High Hope Steeplechase 2009

Click here to read about the party that almost wasn’t.

More pictures from our annual tailgate party at the High Hope Steeplechase in Lexington. The pictures are from Lori Back, Sarah Speakes and yours truly.

The Party That Almost Wasn’t

Mardi Gras in May Tailgate Party - Winner "Best Food" 2009 High Hope Steeplechase

Click here for more pictures from this year’s High Hope Steeplechase Tailgate Party.

Finally, it’s over. Not just the tailgate party itself, but the whole start to finish preparation, execution and clean-up. The kitchen has begun to resemble a kitchen again instead of a war zone. I can actually see inside of the refrigerator. There is space in my freezer. And most importantly, when I came home last night there was absolutely nothing that I needed to do. The nap I chose to take in lieu of making catering plans, felt really nice. The announcement that we had won the “Best Food” award came in mid afternoon. Many high fives were exchanged, hugs were given, toasts were made. The party had, for months, started to resemble a cat slowing working it’s way through it’s nine lives.

Running with the Boys Cocktail

The Derby Day Sleeper cocktail went over so well we decided to create another concoction for this afternoon’s running of the Preakness. In addition to watching the racing at Pimlico today, we are neck deep in preparations for tomorrow’s 43rd running of the High Hope Steeplechase in Lexington.

The Derby Day Sleeper

It has been said the Kentucky Derby is the most difficult horse race to handicap. It is a day where it is not always a good thing to be the favorite. It’s a good day for a sleeper.