Sochi, Standardbreds and Chincoteague Island

The Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia are now officially over.  The warmer than normal (sub-tropical) weather conditions caused a few problems, but, overall, the Games were a success.  The host country of Russia earned the most medals - 33 in total, with 13 of them Gold.  Then - well, it depends on how you want to count the medals - if you count the total amount as the "right" way, then The United States came in second, with 28; but if you count the number of Gold medals, then the next country in line is Norway,  with 11 Golds, and 26 medals total.  Canada garnered 25 medals total, with 10 Gold.  The USA had 9 Gold medals, with a total of 28.  The Netherlands tied Germany with 8 Gold medals, but the Dutch had more medals (24) than the German total.  All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the televised Winter Games.
  In horse news, I'll change strides, and report that in harness racing, the US Champion Trotter is a 3-year-old filly named Bee a Magician.  She won 17 of her 17 races, including the Hambletonian Oaks.  The Champion Pacer is Captaintreacherous.
  And the website TripAdvisor.com has made a list of the best islands to visit.  The first place winner was Marco Island in Florida.  In second place was Chincoteague Island in Virginia.  Third was Anna Maria Island in Florida; fourth was San Juan Island in Washington; and fifth was Maui, of Hawaii.  SInce my Mother and her maternal ancestors were all Chincoteaguers, I am very happy with Chincoteague placing second in a list of "Best Islands to Visit."
  TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice of Best Beaches in the United States ranked the Assateague National Seashore Beach at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague Island, Virginia as number seven in the Top Ten.  The others were:  first, Ka'anapali Beach at Lahaina, Hawaii; second, Siesta Key Public Beach on Siesta Key, Florida; third, The Gulf Islands National Seashore at Pensacola, Florida; fourth, Fort De Soto Park at Tierra Verde, Florida; fifth, Lanikai Beach at Kaliua, Hawaii; sixth is Wailea Beach at Wailea, Hawaii; seventh is Assateague Beach, Virginia; eighth is La Jolla Cove in La Jolla, California; ninth is Laguna Beach, California; and the tenth place is Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in Honolulu, Hawaii.
  And Coastal Living magazine is having a contest in which you can vote for the "Happiest Seaside Town" - and guess, what?  Chincoteague Island is on the voting list.  Voting ends on March 31.  You can vote for your "Happiest Seaside Town" at:  http://www.coastalliving.com/travel/happiest-seaside-town-00414000077606/
  (And I just learned that the privacy fence that blew down is the property of the Millennium Harvest House Hotel.  I guess I'll need to give them a phone call....)

A Short Follow-Up

Today began clear, then clouds and snow came in from the west at 8 this morning.  We received only a dusting of snow, which has now melted - it's half-time for the South Carolina Gamecocks bowl game.  I just had to add that my hat is off to the owner and trainer of a Standardbred, who retired 28 December at the age of 14.  Anvil Raider N won the last race of his career, and won 95 of his 280 races.  Harness racing does not allow horses to compete at the age of 15 or older, so three horses retired after the race that Anvil Raider N won.  Here's to longevity in harness racing!

Anvil Raider N wins his 95th race before retirement at age 15

And I also had to laugh at this photo in our local newspaper - it is supposed to show a delicious and easy to make salmon dish that has a thick herb garnish.  To me it looks like moldy vomit .....   Sorry....