For the next two weeks I’m going to be away from my computer and out of town. That means that I have pre-written the stuff you will read for the next two weeks, and that in turn explains why it won’t be nearly as news-driven or current as it usually is. Hopefully, though, it’s still going to be interesting and worthwhile. I’ll be focusing on two main events – the NFL Draft the first week, and the Kentucky Derby the second week – and I’ll throw in some other stuff as well.

The reason for the absence is a vacation with my wife, but as with every vacation we have been on I have traded in some brownie points to make sure there is lots of good sports content in the trip. We’re starting off in Boston where we will be watching my dad, who turned 60 last year, run in the Boston Marathon on Monday. I’ve never been to the race, but I hear it’s a heck of a party. From there we head to New York. We’re mostly going to do the typical tourist stuff – plays, museums, The Daily Show, food, and all that – but we are going to go check out the new Yankee Stadium for a game against the A’s on Tuesday. CC Sabathia is penciled in to start, though that’s obviously fluid. We’ll be in New York for the Draft, so I might try to get in to see that as well, but that might be pushing my luck. We leave New York to drive through Pennsylvania and West Virginia en route to our ultimate destination – The Kentucky Derby. I’ve been once before – in 1996 when Grindstone won – but this time will be a different perspective since we’ll be in the grandstand instead of the madness of the infield. It’s going to be a spectacular field and a heck of a day.

I’ll report on the sports highlights when I get back. In the meantime, have a great couple of weeks, cheer for your team at the draft, drink a mint julep or six on Derby day, and make yourself some real money at the sportsbooks. And try not to miss me too much.