The Latest....

Hey All:
Well, I just want to post an update to my last post. Thank you all for keeping myself and my step dad in your thoughts and prayers. My step dad finally went to the Dr. and his blood work was mostly good. The only problem was that his Cholesterol is 321, but that can be managed. The Chiropractor that he went to in Iowa did not help, so he is not in Arkansas getting treatment by a much better Chiropractor. One interesting thing that the Dr. discovered is that my step dad had a broken back. A few years ago he had a really bad horse accident. He broke his hip and shoulder. When they discharged him, he was complaining about severe back pain. I asked to look at his x-rays and saw what looked like a broken vertebrae, but the doctor said it was just a bad image. Come to find out, he did break his back at that time and the hospital missed it. It just so happens to have been St. Josephs Medical Center in Hot Springs, AR that for lack of better words killed my mom. The horses in Iowa all got sick with am unknown virus and had to take a few weeks off from training. They are better now and are beginning to race again. The filly has ran three races in Iowa. She finished fourth twice and had a bad race the other day due to a very muddy track. After meeting the Jockey who was ridding her when I was there last month and watching him ride, we went with a female jockey for the last race she ran. The new jock rode her really well despite the horrible track conditions. The new Jockey gave it her all where as the fist Jockey was an arrogant prick who did not ride her like he was told to do. I am excited to see how her next race goes with good track conditions. After having a rather hectic past year I went out on a limb and booked a trip for me and my roommate to Florida for a week. It is our first vacation in three years and we are both looking forward to a week in the sun. One more thing I want to mention. One of my dearest friends is expecting her second child. I am so happy for her and her husband. They are great parents. Hope everyone is doing well.
Take Care Out There,
Dan

Curretnt Events Part 2.......

Well, I would like to start off with my step dad health. He skipped his Dr.s appointment and went to a Chiropractor instead. I was not happy about this, but he is scared of what the Doctor might say. He is still depressed about mom and he is lost without her. I think he is suffering from a broken heart and is ready for his time to come. I understand and respect his decision. I just want him to be happy even if that means not taking care of himself to join mom sooner. The next event that I want to write about is my recent hospital stay. I was feeding the dogs in the bedroom and apparently I collapsed and had a seizure. My roommate heard my hit the floor from the living room and heard a plate shatter that I was holding. I don't remember much, but I was unresponsive and could not talk. My roommate and my two neighbors carried me to his truck and took me to the E.R. They did a head C.T. and took a bunch of blood tests to make sure it was not a drug overdose. After those tests were all negative the Dr. took my blood sugar. It was 300 at first, an hour later it was 60. I had another seizure in the E.R. A few years back myself and three other employees were exposed to Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide after a water heater malfunction. We were exposed to these gasses for years and did not know it until the hot water heater blew up. The other three girls have been having seizures that began the day after the water heater blew up. I have had sever headaches fatigue, Parkinson like symptoms and various auto-immune issues, but was grateful that I was not having the seizures the others were having. That was until a few weeks back. The final Dr.s report was severe exhaustion, severe dehydration and unexplained seizures. I have a tendency to hide my health problems. I have a lot of back pain from a ruptures vertebrate, bulging disks and a plate in my back from a former horse accident. I have Chronic Lyme's Disease that has been flaring up since my moms death. I am trying to think more positively and take better care of myself.
The next event is a good one. My horse finished fourth in Iowa. It was only her second race and she ran better then her first in Hot Springs. Fourth lace made me a little money and that was wonderful. The last thing I am writing about it a call I received the other night from my sister. As most people know, she did not attend moms funeral and never shed a tear about moms death. She actually called me while mom was dying and wanted to know how much my moms jewelry was worth and that it is hers. I was speachless. If it was not for a friend that heard the phone call, I would have told her mom still had most of it. My friend was so appalled she told me to tell her it was all lost or ad been pawned. I was so exhausted I did not even ave the energy to chew her out. After hearing there was nothing of value she said "well, there is no reason for me to fly in for moms funeral." After moms funeral I sent her some pictures and the DVD of the service. I never received a call. Her dad "my step dad" never received a call. Then, last week she had the nerve to call my cell phone and demand to have mo step dads wedding ring (she stole his first one and pawned it for drugs some years back) and anything of moms of value. She threatened to get a lawyer. I told her that her dad is still alive and wears his ring till this day. I told her she was a heartless bitch and to never call me again. She claims she never called her dad at all because she lost his number. She really hurt him the way she just stopped calling him and would not return his calls. I lied and told her he moved back to Canada with all moms things since he is her husband and I have no way to contact him. I agreed to send her a few pictures. What a sad c**t she is. Someday karma will kick her in the ass. So once again, I express my gratefulness for Mark, Marc, Melissa, Wes, the Frey Family, and all the other beautiful people who keep in touch and share their lives with me through all the ups and downs despite my reclusive times. I care for you all and you are an inspiration to me. So there it is all laid out.
Take Care Out There,
Dan

Current Events Part 1.......

Hey all:
This is part of a series of updates from the last time I posted anything.
Hope everyone is well and staying healthy with the "Swine Flu" making its rounds. Been a wild past month. I went to Iowa to watch one of the horses run. She ran fourth and guy who trains here finished first. My step-dad "just going to start calling him dad since he pretty much raised me" was so busy we hardly spent any time together. He is working 20 hour days in an attempt not to think about what has happened over the last year. He is down to 110 lbs and his body is so wore out. The day before I got there, he got thrown off a horse he was galloping. He had a black eye, big lump on his head and his hip was bruised. This is the second time he has been hurt and not told me because he knows I worry. I begged him to retire and sell the horses, but he wont. I suggested he retire to Canada. He is still a Canadian Citizen and he has a big family in Canada, so he would always have family around. One of the girls that works for him in Iowa pulled me aside and expressed some concern about his physical and mental health. He is still very depressed and misses mom and has been drinking a lot. He told her he plans on working until he drops to avoid feeling alone. He told her he has been experiencing escalating pain all through his body. I had a bad feeling when I saw how much weight he lost as well as seeing him take a narcotic pain pill "He hates taking pills." He told me he is afraid he has cancer, so he is trying to avoid getting a check up. He had prostate cancer two years ago, so he is worried it spread. I made him an appointment for the Dr. tomorrow and he promised to go. He is in so much pain I worry about how long he will be around. It will hurt so bad when he is gone, but seeing him in so much pain with a broken heart is worse. Keep your fingers crossed :)
Take Care Out There,
Dan

Will Check In Soon.....

Just a quick note. My laptop died a while back and I am having to rely on my cell phone for internet. I finally ordered a new one today, so will be posting some updates soon. Will update on the horses and my recent visit to the hospital.
Take Care Out There...
Dan

And There Off....

To my excitement, one of my horses will be running in her first race this Friday. Her name is Cheyenne Sky and she will be making her debut at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. When a horse runs their first race, anything can happen. It would be great if she won the race, but I would rather her first race be without injury or incident.
This is the first horse to run in my name since my mom died. She is one of the two horses that that my parents raised and my mom hand picked when they were babies. My mom would spend hours with them and watching them run and kick out in the fields from her living room window. When she died, one of the two horses stopped eating and lost 200 lbs. Unfortunately, my step father still refuses to go to the race track and will watch the race on T.V. from the farm. He has not went to the race track since my mom died. There is a spot at the race track where my mom always stood when we had a horse run and he can't imagine going to the races without her being there. I really wish he would go with me. It is going to be a very emotional day. I hope that I run into some people I know so I wont be alone. So, wish us luck :) I know mom will be cheering for us from the other side.
Take Care Out There,
Dan

Thinking Of Mom...

A dear friend of mine found a picture of my mom and I from at least 10 years ago. Mom always hated how she looked in pictures, so when I received the email with this picture, it made my week. It was taken back when mom was healthy and looking good and I was feeling good.. Big Thanks to my friend Melissa for sending this picture my way.

Happy Saint Patricks Day!!!

To all my cyberfriends..
Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day.
Cheers,
Dan

P.S. Mark, glad to see your blog is going strong. Thank you for adding me to the blog roll, I am honored :)