Bad News; Pet News; History

The bad news first....   Giant Ryan, a beautiful colt, was pulled up during the running of the True North Handicap at Belmont on June 9.  His jockey was able to stop him soon after he felt the colt take a mis-step.  Two sesamoid bones in Giant Ryan's left foreleg had broken.  He was taken back to his stall, placed in an inflatable cast, and then shipped to a veterinary hospital in Pennsylvania for surgery.  Giant Ryan developed laminitis is his right fore the day before surgery was scheduled; he was put down Thursday morning. ...  The other bad news is that the High Park fire managed to "jump" the Cache le Poudre River yesterday, and is now burning on both sides of Poudre Canyon.  There are more than 1300 fire-fighters working the fire; more home evacuations were ordered; the winds up in the Poudre Canyon area are blowing at about 30 mph, with gusts up to 50; the fire has now consumed over 53,000 acres.  We were told on Monday that 120 homes had been destroyed.  That number has been greatly reduced: about 30 homes are reported burned, with the other buildings being garages, barns, sheds, and out-buildings.  It's scary to watch the reporters near the fire line have their hair whipped around their faces, and occasionally, almost get knocked down by the blustery wind.
   I sat with Rosie and Remy last night and watched numerous - more than 20 - lightning strikes hit behind the ridge to the west of the den...  and I hoped that they didn't cause another fire in Left Hand Canyon or up on Sugar Loaf.  Remy got upset with the storm and electricity in the air, so I ended up giving him a Valium, to get him to stop pacing and panting.  Rosie wanted to stay out in the storm, sitting under the roof eave.  ...  Bret has always told me that Patches is shy.  Every time I've visited his kits, Patches has been asleep on his bed pillow, and has been anxious to get love and attention.  Phoenix, on the other hand, just wants more fresh water.  Tugger and Sasquatch are doing well, but I was surprised to find the garage door at their house open, and the door to the inside unlocked.  I checked through the house, then was able to contact the owners and let them know about it.  Apparently, they just left for their trip without closing the garage door...
   Lovey has been rubbing all over me, and talking loudly, since I arrived this morning.  She has just gone outside.  I wrote too soon, she just came back in, crying, and is rubbing all over my face, while I try to type.  She has now decided to eat her crunchies; Nedi is outside, having eaten his breakfast, and run out as a black streak.
   And, having my love of history, I can't help but note that on this date, the Lords of England persuaded King John of England to sign the Magna Carta; and in 1752, Benjamin Franklin performed his now famous kite and key experiment. ...  A year or so ago, a group of archaeologists working on the island of Saint John in Bulgaria, found an ancient reliquary in an extremely old church.  The reliquary, of white marble, had an inscription in Greek, and included the date of St. John the Baptist's birth day, as well as his name.  The reliquary contained several pieces of human bone.  DNA tests and radio-carbon dating have confirmed that the bones belonged to a man of Middle Eastern descent, who lived in the first century.  So there is a definite possibility that these bones just might be those of John the Baptist; however, proving that is impossible at this time.
   I hope you have a great Friday and a super weekend!