Due to a series of unfortunate bodily events, guess what, I need a blood transfusion. No, this is not an April Fool’s prank; it’s truly the state of my health. Welcome to 2026, where the hits keep coming!
Apparently, this little life medical adventure has been in the works for a while. The very patient and kind healthcare professionals here in Big Bear Lake have been telling me to rush my fat ass to the ER for a blood transfusion for over a year now. But in the last couple of months, things have escalated from “you should probably handle this” to “you’re going to pass out on a hiking trail if you don’t.”
And that’s exactly what’s been happening.
I’m tired of having to lie down mid-hike because the world suddenly starts going dim like someone hit a low-budget dimmer switch. Add in a surprise ER visit this week for chest pains—because sure, why not—and it turns out that’s just lingering COVID symptoms.
Because in 2026, it’s completely normal to have chest pain for three weeks after what used to be called a cold.
Totally reasonable. This is life in 2026.
But here’s the thing about needing a blood transfusion just to, you know… stay upright and functioning: I feel awful going into the local ER for it. You look around and people are dealing with actual emergencies—real chest pains, real crises—and at least two people next to me are actively overdosing. (True story.)
And there I am, sitting quietly with my library book, because I’m old school, feeling like I’m somehow being dramatic over what feels like my own small, inconvenient medical hiccup… even though I logically know it’s not.
A Worse Kind of Pain
But if I’m being honest, the physical medical stuff isn’t even the part that’s hitting the hardest this week.
This has been one hell of a week for horse racing, the sport I am obsessed with.
As someone who has spent 10 years in the Thoroughbred industry—and a lifetime loving it—bad days come with the territory. Bad beats. Missed picks. Watching a 1-5 favorite win that you didn’t include and feeling like a complete idiot in front of your track pals. And of course, the worst days of all… when horses get hurt.
But March 27, 2026?
That wasn’t just a bad day. That felt like the beginning of the end.
The Day the Screens Go Dark
FanDuel Racing—the company that absorbed TVG, the backbone of televised horse racing—announced it’s shutting down operations. Not “restructuring.”Not “pivoting.” Shutting down.
No, you won’t see this on Fox News or CNN. It’s not terribly heartbreaking breaking news unless you, like me, are a lifelong fan of the Sport of Kings.
Over 100 people will lose their jobs in an industry that already has no safety net. These aren’t just employees—these are lifers. Horse people. The kind of people who don’t just work in racing, they live it. These are people who had their dream jobs last week… and now don’t.
And beyond the jobs, this is something bigger.
TVG and HRTV weren’t just networks. They were the voice of the sport. The personalities, the commentary, the storytelling—without them, horse racing loses its connection to the audience. Yes, we call ourselves degenerate gamblers, but behind that is our love for the sport and for these tremendously talented equines.
No coverage means no visibility.
No visibility means no new fans.
No new fans means… well, we all know where that road leads. To a lot of sad little horse girls, like me.
Meanwhile, the sport contributes $11.6 billion to California’s economy and supports over 93,000 jobs—from trainers to hot walkers to media professionals—and yet, it continues to get ignored, misrepresented, and slowly pushed aside. It’s a staggering, horrific time for a sport that I love with a true passion.
You don’t have to love racing to see how devastating this is. My heart hurts for this industry.
When Your Passion Feels Like It’s Disappearing
So yes… I’ve had chest pains this week. Some of them are medical. Some of them are something else entirely.
Because horse racing isn’t just something I watch. It’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. And somehow, just as I’ve fallen deeper in love with the sport—thanks in no small part to a boyfriend who fully enables my equine obsession and degenerate gambling—it feels like I’m watching it take its last breaths.
I have never in my life been more obsessed with the Sport of Kings, and it just happened to be as this sport I love is taking its dying breath.
And that’s a different kind of heartbreak.
So… Why the Greek Antipasto Salad?
Which brings us to today’s coping mechanism:
👉 Greek antipasto salad
Because when life feels slightly apocalyptic, apparently my response is to aggressively assemble a salad like I’m trying to fix everything with feta cheese.
Yes, I eat salad constantly, like a salad and horse-racing-obsessed rabbit. Like, concerning amounts of salad greens. Part of it is wanting to live to 120. Part of it is trying to maintain some sense of control in a world that feels increasingly unhinged. I used to say I wanted to live to be 120. But do I really, if I have to live in a world without thoroughbred horse racing? Will it even be worth it to live to be that elderly?
Time will tell, but if I have to live in a dystopian world where I can’t sit out in my backyard and scream “Nobals” at Fanduel TV like a lunatic, is that any way to live in my golden years? These are the thoughts I’m pondering this week.
So, if I’m going to stress eat, I’m going to do it with imported feta, overpriced pine nuts, and enough cured meat to make it emotionally supportive.
Attempting Zen (Featuring Mild Donkey Chaos)
Earlier today, I tried to clear my head with a hike. Big Bear, California has a way of doing that—until it doesn’t.
The horse girl in me loves seeing the wild burros out here running free in the forests of Big Bear Lake. Something is grounding about being around equines… even the slightly chaotic, questionably behaved ones.
What’s less grounding? Being surrounded by them. At one point, my dog and I realized we were fully encircled by a group of wild burros, including a very curious yearling who was getting a little too interested in my dog’s personal space. And I had one very clear thought:
👉 I do not have the emotional capacity for getting kicked by a horse today.
So we made a strategic exit. Because after a week like this—ER visits, industry heartbreak, existential dread—the last thing I needed was to get taken out by a donkey.
This Is Not a Side Salad, Let’s Be Clear
By the time we got home, there was only one logical next step: Make something tasty yet slightly healthy for lunch. Something fresh. Something indulgent. Something that feels like you still have a little control over your day. When life hands you lemons, you toss them in this homemade Lemon Feta Dressing, and then you sob as you shove the very best Greek Salad at your face.
And if you’ve made it this far, you’re probably wondering:
👉 “Is there actually a Greek antipasto salad recipe in here, or are we just emotionally spiraling?”
Both. Because this is not just a salad.
This is a Greek antipasto salad loaded with crispy meat “croutons,” bold flavors, and absolutely no restraint. And honestly? Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
And Now… Let’s Eat
You know you’ve been keto too long when you turn meat into croutons and call it lunch. And on that note—
Now for the Mediterranean Antipasto Salad — Featuring Crispy Meat Croutons (Yes, Really)
6 slices of salami
4 slices of coppaloa
4 slices of mortadella
1/4 cup of feta cheese
1/8 cup of pepperoncinos, sliced
1/8 cup of kalamata olives, sliced
1/4 of a fresh-sliced red onion
2 Romaine lettuce hearts, sliced very thin
1/4 cup of pine nuts
Homemade Lemon Feta Dressing — Better Than Anything in a Bottle
In your NutriBullet or food processor, combine:
- 1 small roasted bell pepper
- 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- juice of ½ lemon
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 teaspoons pecorino romano
- 6 fresh basil leaves
- 2 teaspoons fresh parsley
- A sprinkle of garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Blend until smooth.
👉 Taste it. Pretend you’re a chef. Or a very aggravated with life food blogger. Adjust if needed.
This dressing alone could fix most of your life’s problems.
🥓 Make the Meat “Croutons”
Preheat your oven to high broil.
Lay out:
- salami
- coppa (or cappacola, depending on how fancy you’re feeling)
- mortadella
Broil for about 5 minutes, until the edges are crispy and slightly ridiculous.
👉 Congratulations, you’ve just made meat croutons, and no one can tell you otherwise. Set aside and try not to eat all of them immediately.
Build the Greek antipasto salad
Thinly slice your romaine lettuce—like, actually thin. This is a Greek antipasto salad, not a lazy toss situation.
Add to your bowl:
- sliced red onions
- pepperoncini
- kalamata olives
- radish sprouts
Toss everything together with your dressing until evenly coated.
Top your Greek antipasto salad with:
- crumbled feta cheese
- pine nuts
Use all the feta, and all those delicious nuts, because we’re not running a cafeteria and you deserve it!
