We Are Family

On the last Sunday of July every year you can find the Carson's in Oakland, Nebraska for our family reunion. This year was no different except that we added a Hot Dog Extravaganza on the Saturday at Janell and Randy's place.

There were horses to ride, water to swim in, people to visit with and as always, food to eat. Lots of food to eat. The best food you've ever tasted.

We had one rodeo but no one was seriously injured. Trevor even got back up and on a horse (not the same horse but, hey, that's ok)!

Horsing Around

Once we got back from St Louis but before we set off for Nebraska we had a few days just horsing around (thank god for that!).

Hat

My hat for Ascot this year was extra special. My dress was far too big so I told the shop I needed a hat which would ensure no one noticed how big the dress was. I think they succeeded. I loved it!

Racing Results

Despite having horse racing in my blood (my father was a jockey), I walked away from the racing yesterday without winning a single race. I was the kiss of death. Even if I bet on the favourite, it didn't win! The other racegoers suffered no such kiss of death. They were betting based largely on whether they liked the sound of the horse's names. And they were winning! Hmmmm, what would the bookies make of this? I never even got to look at a horse up close and personal. It was a bit of a frenetic pace.

But I had a ball! A big thanks to my hosts, Pip (left) and Gary (right) at Microsoft, who were ever so gracious. And they looked fabulous, dahling!

The champagne and Pimms flowed unfettered. The lunch of salmon (starter), beef tenderloin (main), and a caramel dessert was served before the racing began. In between eating and drinking we raced back and forth between the pavillion and the track to catch snippets on the big screens. To be honest, there were so many people it was difficult to see the race course. You could just catch the sound and a glimpse as the horses raced towards the finish line.

The highlight of the day was simply people watching. Many men were dressed in top hats and morning suits and they looked so sophisticated. So many women made such a huge effort and really wore amazing dresses with equally amazing hats! Where do they get these creations? I could have missed the racing altogether and just watched the people for most of the afternoon.

We enjoyed high tea before the 5:35 (last) race which included, sandwiches, scones, and cake with our tea/coffee.

The sky was a bit gray early on and it was windy. The only rain that fell was just immediately proceeding the very first race. By the time of the Gold Cup (3rd) race the sunshine had appeared and it was a glorious sunny midsummer day!

And this is where it all went just a wee bit pear shaped. You will remember that I needed to be at Sebastian's school immediately following the day's festivities for his Parent's Evening. This is where we review all the work he has done throughout the year. It gives us a great perspective on how much progress he has made.

I ordered a taxi at 17:04 to pick me up at the petrol station in Ascot High Street at 18:00. After many fraught phone calls and a temper tantrum (mine) he finally turned up at 19:23 blaming the traffic. Well, duh! 80,000 people go to Ascot on Ladies Day. This isn't the first time it has ever happened. I told him he should have set off immediately after my telephone call. He was very apologetic.

I arrived at the school in my hat and dress with aching feet (I'd been in my 3" heels since 9 am walking all over the race course) looking decidedly worse for wear. Sebastian didn't care. I had made it and that's all that mattered.

Ladies Day at Royal Ascot

My very first summer in England (June 1997), I got a ticket to the races at the Royal Meeting at Ascot Racecourse. I won it in a raffle at an American women's club event. I didn't know what to expect. I went alone. It was raining which completely ruined my hat. I didn't know how to bet. I was horrified to witness numerous women ending the afternoon by drinking far too much champagne and mud wrestling topless. I was not directly involved (or indirectly for that matter).

OK, so my experience wasn't great and I was so disappointed as I had been looking forward to it virtually all my life. It was in my top 50 things to do before I died. And I never wanted to do it again. I hate it when that happens.

But the years have moved on and I've become ever so slightly more English which means I know how to approach these occasions. And the racecourse has had a serious renovation. In fact, they didn't have races there for 2 years whilst the refurbishments were being completed.

First, if it is raining, don't go. Or bring a large brolly (umbrella). The weather forecast for tomorrow is sunny with some showers. Guess that's the brolly for me.

Secondly, secure the best tickets you can afford or better yet, get corporate hospitality. I am a guest of Microsoft this year and my invite is a very generous thank you for my participation in their European Utility Forum in May. Funny, I thought the trip to Rome was payment enough!

Thirdly, go with people. And make sure they make you laugh. I am going with a woman named Pip, who is the Microsoft account manager for my company. She also happens to one of the funniest women I know. I mean, the gal kick boxes for god's sake. She is witty, clever, and good fun!

Fourth, wear the right shoes. If it is raining they will get muddy so they better be disposable (read don't spend an arm and a leg). You will be doing a lot of standing and walking. This is where the dilemma is. Ladies Day at Ascot is a lot about what you wear: the hat, the shoes, the dress, the handbag. I don't really care. I mean, I've got a dress, well, actually a skirt and top. I've got a hat. I've got the hand bag. And I've got some shoes. But let's face it, my feet are a size 1 (UK) and a size 3 (US). My options are limited. What shoes I will wear is my first consideration when buying an outfit. So I'm afraid my feet will be killing me by the time I get home. And I can't pack my slippers in my handbag because it is too dang small. Oh, curse fashion.

Fifth, hire a hat. Do NOT buy a hat. You can really only wear it once if it makes a big enough statement. So hire one. There is the most amazing hat hire shop in Datchet just down the road from us. I love going in there. My mother went with me once and she was in awe. I've got the best hat in the world. I can hardly wait to put it on. Let's just hope they are looking at the hat and not the shoes!


Sixth, (boy I've learned a lot over the years) study the racing form before you go and bet early. After many summer evenings at the local race course in Windsor, I've figured out how it works and it wasn't nearly as hard as it looked. It just looked so dang intimidating. But now I'm older and wiser and a whole bunch more confident. Study the racing form before you go. Otherwise you are dipping into socialising time. And you can't be doing that! Then bet. Walk on up to the bookie. Tell them your horse name and number. Tell them how much you are betting. Tell them what you are betting the horse will do, eg win, each way (1, 2, 3 or 4, depending on the number of horses racing). That's it. If you are chicken, go to the tote. it's a whole lot easier but not nearly as exciting. Bet early if you fancy a favourite. Bet late if you're confident in a long shot.

Lastly, pace the champagne consumption. You start at 10:30 am and you've got to last the entire day. Racing doesn't end until after 6 pm. To make matters worse tomorrow evening is the Parent's Evening at Sebastian's school. I won't be entirely sober when I get there but I must be upright.

OK, so that's the game plan for today. I mustn't forget my camera. For those of you in the USA, if you'd like to follow along with the racing action, go to the website and listen to the podcast. If you are in the UK, watch out for me on television. I'm certain my hat will catch the attention of the cameraman. Photos to follow!

Another Racing Pic

Here is another picture of my father at the racetrack. This time he is on a horse trained by my Janell's grandfather. Keep in mind that Janell married into my family!

Not According to Plan

Friday Sebastian came home from school with a bit of a headache. I gave him some ibuprofen, we wrapped a present and signed a card for the birthday party he was supposed to be at by 4:30. At 4:05 I got a phone call informing me that we had a problem at work that needed my immediate and undivided attention. I tried to call my husband for help. His mobile phone went straight to answer phone. I focused on the problem and managed to get a temporary resolution implemented by 4:50. I jumped in the car with a very upset little boy and we headed off towards Windsor. What is normally a 10 minute journey turned into a 25 minute journey due to really bad traffic caused by The Royal Windsor Horse Show (more about that later). I managed to drop him off with tears flowing down his (and my) cheeks. One of the mums sensed the panic of the situation and generously offered to take Sebastian home with her after the party so I could focus on work. (HUGE THANKS to Joy! What would I do without you?)

I returned home feeling like a failure at both work and home. At home I focused on the problem with work and until we definitely had a solution in place. Marc went and picked up Sebastian about 7:00. He now seemed to be running a low grade temperature but it wasn't bothering him. Off he went to bed.

Yesterday was The Royal Windsor Horse Show. This horse show is the premier equestrian event in the UK (maybe even Europe). It is set in the grounds of Windsor Castle (bascially the Queen's yard). It started on Thursday and we had tickets for Saturday. Sebastian had really been looking forward to this and he wanted to go no matter what. There had been lots of rain overnight and some in the morning but when we left the house and arrived at the Home Park the sky was blue and the sun was shining. Marc asked if I thought we needed the umbrellas. I declined saying I didn't want to carry them around. This, of course, meant it was going to rain.

We watched some jumping. Seb was absolutely transfixed. I've never quite seen him watch with such concentration. He was awed and fascinated. I think he appreciates how difficult it is to get man and beast to work togethr with such grace. We walked around for all of 20 minutes and then the rain started to fall. We ran for the Food & Wine tent until the rain passed (max 5 minutes). We did some more shopping with me admiring all the beautiful tack and saddles. Sebastian and Abigail picked out some gorgeous Lazy Jack riding shirts. We stopped for lunch. And just as we sat down, the rain started again. Marc ate sitting in the rain. I moved the children under an awning, sharing a seat. Sebastian wasn't hungry he said and wouldn't eat. Abigail ate her chunky chips (french fries). I ate my lunch standing up. Sebastian fell asleep in his chair. The rain stopped. We were wet and muddy.....very muddy!

We moved to the grandstand (which was thankfully covered) but full. We waited a while and found one seat. I sat down with Seb on my lap who promptly fell asleep despite his best attempts at staying awake to watch the jumping. Marc and Abigail decided to go walk around (she wasn't all that interested in the jumping and kept walking up and down the stairs). Seb and I finally got 2 seats next to each other. I sat down. He sat down. He feel into my lap and fell asleep. For 40 glorious minutes I watched some of the best show jumping I've ever seen. The riders were very aggressive and competitive. The horses were graceful, responsive and well trained. It was nothing short of poetry in motion. But people kept coming down our aisle which meant I had to keep waking up Seb to stand up and let them pass. Finally, Marc & Abigail returned and we decided that we should really just throw in the towel for the day and take this sick little boy home. I was gutted. Seb was gutted. We had been looking forward to that day for weeks. It is an all day event and we got stay about 3 hours! Seb was upset! We didn't even get to watch any carriage events. Dang!

We got home and he feel fast asleep for about 6 hours. Upon waking he went right to bed. After sleeping for another couple hours he vomited. Better out than in, I say! We cleaned up that mess and changed the sheets and his pjs, brushed his teeth and tucked him back into bed.

This morning he seems better and has managed to keep his breakfast down. At his insistence, Marc has taken him to his riding lesson. He is changing ponies this morning, from Manny to Penny. Penny is a bit bigger and has a smoother gait which should make his trotting a bit easier. He's been excited all week. Hope he doesn't vomit all over Penny.

I'm a bit afraid to make any plans for the day. Maybe I'll just take it as it comes!

Horse vs Man

Watch this Horse Race.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

My dad was a jockey. How cool is that? I used to be embarassed by this because it meant we were all short. But then I learned that short was cute and cute was good. My dad is short and cute.

Then someone once told me that him being a jockey also meant that he used to be a professional athlete. Now that is seriously cool. Especially to a child. This boast brought me lots of street cred.

He was a good jockey. He was the leading apprentice jockey and I've seen some of his trophies and awards. I've read the newspaper articles out of the sports sections extolling his genius. (I already know that - don't need a newspaper to point out my father is a genius.) I've seen the photographs of him in the winner's circle. I'm even in a couple of those photos usually wearing matching outfits with my proud mom (complete with hats, gloves and matching shoes). This was the 60s.

I once asked my dad if he ever got hurt riding. He said yeah. Then I asked if he had ever broken any bones. He said yeah. Then I asked which one. He said "Pretty much all of them."

That's when I realised this is a dangerous sport. Not like football, basketball, or baseball. I mean really dangerous. A very small person (the smallest you can find) gets up on a large powerful beast. This person then encourages this beast to run as fast as it possibly can around a whole bunch of other people encouraging their beast to do the same. This is madness.

He once fell off the leading horse and just rolled up into a ball hoping that none of the horses behind him run on top of him. Luckily, he escaped without any serious, permanent injuries.

Riding was a good living. Dad was real proud of the fact that he bought a brand new car with cash at 21 years old.

He stopped riding when I was about 6, I think. Riding is a hard life. You have to travel from race course to race course. Not an easy thing to do and still raise a family. He had friends who stayed in the business. One of his best friends, Brad Rollins, just recently passed away. He had stopped riding but was still training horses.

When asked if he had always wanted to be a jockey he would tell you "No, it's just that I was good at it and I was so small no one would hire me to do anything else."

Dad decided to try his hand at owning and training once. We bought a horse called Tommy Rock. He was a bum horse but he was beautiful. Couldn't run to save his life. Dad did try real hard. We sold him on and I think he became a successful show horse (like I said - he was beautiful).

My son Sebastian is a natural in the saddle and today if you ask him what he wants to be he'll tell you a jockey. We watched a film called "Dreamer" about "Sonador" a filly with a broken leg who went on to win the Breeder's Cup. Here is the true story. At the end of the film, Sebastian announced "That was a fabulous film. I bet I'll ride like that some day." I know his popa did!