Critters and Bits

It's a humid Thursday - my kits are on the patio, and I have both fans blowing in hopes I won't sweat to death.  Rosie and Remy had a great walk this morning, and I was able to keep us in the shade for most of the time.  Cloudy and Shady are doing well, but you can tell they miss their real Momma.  I've been reading a book a day, and will have to get new ones either this afternoon or tomorrow from the library.  I'm really in the mood to do genealogy work, but with everything here at home (all my programs and previously gathered info), and with me away most of the time, I'm getting frustrated.  And Chokey, the neighbor who complained about everything, has completely moved out.  It sounds as if folks are preparing the place for a new tenant today.

Bits and pieces; odds and ends -  Michael Matz, the show jumping rider and dressage rider turned race horse trainer, was blind-sided by the sudden withdrawal of 11 horses from his stable by the owners of Barbaro.  The horses, including Barbaro's two full brothers were split between two other trainers.  ....  A British trainer has been banned for four years because he ran a horse in eight races after he knew the horse had "palmar neurectomy" surgery.  This removed the feeling in the nerves of the legs from the knees and hocks down to the hooves.  The horse wouldn't even know if it had broken a leg!  The trainer, Howard Johnson (no relation of mine, though), retired immediately upon the decision of the British Racing Board.  He also had three runners come back positive for pain-killers.  I would have banned him for life, full stop.  ....  The Chincoteague Fire Company now says that they have "out-grown" the old fire station on Main Street, and are seeking a place to build a new station.  They had a car show at the high school to start raising funds to buy the land and build the new place.  ....  In the last week, there have been four armed robberies of women here in Boulder.  All have been conducted by a Hispanic male, armed with a handgun, and using a bicycle as his get-away vehicle.  Last Thursday, three ladies were robbed of their purses, backpacks and pocket contents, while walking on the Boulder Creek Path near the University Rec Center by the man brandishing the gun.  Monday evening, the man robbed three women who had been sitting at a picnic table near the Boulder Justice Center (again, on the Boulder Creek Path), he showed them the gun and had them walk into the Creek.  Then he took their belongings - purses and backpacks - and rode away on his bike, discharging the gun into the air as he left.  Tuesday night, the robber was hiding in an underground garage (next to the Creek Path), and robbed a woman as she was returning home.  This time, besides showing her the gun, and getting her purse and belongings, he also made her pull up her skirt (showing her undies), and then grabbed her hand and made her touch his crotch.  At that point in time, another vehicle entered the parking garage, and the man ran away.  I'm glad I'm wandering around Githen's Acres and not the Creek Path at the moment!