Denver National Western Stock Show 2015 (And Football Playoff Comments)

Well, it's 5 degrees outside, and three inches of fine, light, powdery snow fell yesterday, starting at about 11:30 in the morning.  I finally discovered that the reason our heating system works so poorly is  because the boiler that provides the heat for our 50+ year old radiators is also the same system that provides our hot water  -  and the owner is afraid of getting sued for having the water temperature too hot because someone got scalded in the shower or tub.  With the overnight temperature at 1, my apartment interior temperature dropped to 55 degrees, even though the thermostat is set at 72...   I've started wearing a night-cap to bed, to conserve my body heat.  Sheesh.  Just knock on every door, talk to each tenant, and give them written notice that the water temperature will be going up.  It would diminish their responsibility greatly if someone could devise a system in which the cold water tap had to be turned on first, with one gradually adding the hot to make a comfortable water temperature for shower or bath...
   It's that time of year again - the Denver National Western Stock Show will open on Saturday, 10 January, and run through Sunday, the 25th.  For more information, please look at  http://nationalwestern.com/ ;  for information regarding the actual judging and showing of livestock, check out  http://nationalwestern.com/2015-schedule/ .  The DNWSS will kick-off the event with the annual Parade, from Union Station down 15 blocks of 17th Street.  This year's Grand Marshall is Denver basketball legend Chauncey Billups (and his family).  The Parade starts at noon, and will be followed by the annual barbecue lunch at the Wells Fargo Building at the corner of 17th Street and Broadway.  Denver Mayor John Hancock and Chauncey Billups will address the luncheon crowd.
  Besides the usual horse, donkey and mule shows, there are various livestock shows (cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, etc), educational events for children, a Barbecue Cook-off on January 10, rodeos, stock-working dog trials, a huge trade show, team penning, and the Cinch Equicross. The Equicross is a gymkhana style rodeo consisting of four events: Rescue Race, Key Hole Race, Ring Race/Musical Ropes and Flag Racing.  The contestants are between 14 and 18 years of age, and they compete for scholarship money.  I hope to spend at least one full day at the Stock Show - two or three days would be a wonderful treat.
   With the College Playoff game set between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes, I'm cheering for the Buckeyes.  Two professional games were played yesterday, and two will be played today.  Yesterday, the Baltimore Ravens and the Carolina Panthers were victorious  (and I admit I was happy that Big Ben and the Steelers were defeated).  Today, the games are Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltim Indianapolis Colts (the winner of this game will play the Broncos in Denver, next week) and the Detroit Lions against the Dallas Cowboys later in the day.  I really don't have a preference between any of these four teams - so I'll just sit back and watch, and do my usual commentary on the defensive players.  Thank goodness all my neighbors know that I talk back to the television set during football games!