Let's give you a quick recap of the past month since I haven't had a ton of time to write on here. September was the Keeneland Fall Yearling Sale... that pretty much took up all my time until the last week of the month. I then joined the Paulick Report as a Weekend Editor, which took up the time that had been opened up with the Sale ending.
I flew to Texas the first weekend of October for a friend's wedding.... came back to get back to my seven day a week schedule. During all of that, I was putting the finishing touches on my Fulbright (yes, I was still working on that) and changed my research proposal literally a week before the application was due. That was a mess of double checking to make sure it all still fit in to my original proposal, but that is done and in the judges' hands. Thank God for that.
During all of this, I've been looking for an apartment that I can move into at the beginning of the year when I return from Washington. I've also been maintaining my other blog and writing for the Bleacher Report during the week. Add on top of that the Fasig-Tipton October Sale and my life has been insane. Now see why I'm taking a month off?
However, I am not complaining one bit. I LOVE the craziness and have adopted the motto "I'll sleep when I'm dead". Thankfully, that's not the truth as I will be able to sleep in December when I take my month break (minus the Paulick Report) which I'm excited for.
However, I have to survive November first (this is where we switch to the future).
November is a month full of big races, big sales, and Nanowrimo where I'll attempt to write a 50,000 word novel. I've done it in the past and it is a blast but a ton of work. Nano starts November 1 (next Thursday), which means that next week will be insane.
The first weekend of November is Breeders' Cup. I am only working the actual event on Saturday but Breeders' Cup week is insane. This is the first time in three years that I'll be missing the event and I'm pretty sure I'll be more busy here than I was at the last two (the Breeders' Cup is significant to me because it was the first "real" event I covered onsite when I had a press pass last year).
I literally have a day "off" where there are only a few stakes races that I'll be covering for PR. However, the next day starts the last big auction rush of the year. Monday night is Fasig-Tipton's night sale and it will be insane. Some huge mares, such as Havre De Grace will be selling there and I'm fully expecting to go both during my lunch break (F-T's grounds are 5 minutes from the Horse Park) so I can look at some mares then that night since it starts at 5pm.
F-T is only one night but the next day, Keeneland starts. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to go look at the sales horses during the weekend (although, I'm trying to figure out how to on Sunday) but you can bet that I'll probably be out there every night both weeks of the Sale.
Because I like pretty colors, I took a picture of my calendar for the month minus packing days.
This may sound crazy... but I can't wait! No Sleep November starts in exactly seven days!
Until next time,
Mel
