Stuff

It's already 44 degrees (F) this morning, and the weather guys are predicting a high near 70 in Boulder, over 70 in Denver.  Almost all the snow that fell on Wednesday has melted, and we're expecting highs in the upper 60s for several days.  February is certainly strange this year.  We had a high of 62 degrees yesterday, but one year ago, the high for the day was -1, with a low of -19.
  I heard a helicopter circling overhead yesterday afternoon, and wondered what was happening, but the Denver news station informed me, in less than three minutes, that a large truck had overturned on the bank of Boulder Creek, and a huge Caterpillar backhoe has holding the truck in place, so it wouldn't fall into the Creek.  That was three blocks from my apartment - along the edge of Folsom Field, where the University of Colorado Buffaloes play football. They've been working on the sports area for more than a year, and I'm amazed that there haven't been any more accidents.  What was really interesting was that the Boulder Fire Fighters and Boulder Police learned about the accident via the television coverage - no one had bothered to call an emergency number.  That's being investigated by OSHA at this time.
  I just saw the young, grey marmalade tom moving along the fence line.  He's been trying to catch a squirrel for the past month, and though he occasionally gets close, he's never yet caught one.  I do feel sorry for the poor boy - I think he needs a lot more human company and plain old loving.  If I go out to visit him now, since Lovey whaled the daylights out of him, he runs.  I don't blame him.  I certainly have Lovey's scent all over me, since she sleeps on top of me, on my towels, on my clean and dirty clothes, and has to walk all over my chest and legs each morning after I'm dressed.
   Heading out shortly to catch the bus and go walk Rosie and Lucy Lu.  I received an e-mail from Rosie's female owner late last night, asking if I was available for more time spent with, and walking, Rosie today and tomorrow.  The owner has been ill for two weeks, and her husband will be away, so I told her I'd happily be there - all she has to do is let me know when, and for how long...
   I loved  the new episodes of The Blacklist and How To Get Away With Murder last night.  So many twists and turns...  We know that Red has burn scars on his back, and I had decided that he was there, the night Lizzie's house burned down.  Last night we found out that her memories have been tampered with.  So, is Red actually her father?  Did he fire the gun that night?  And what is "the Fulcrum?" And, oh, the twists and turns on Viola Davis' show - wow!  The writers really have me hooked!

Jon Embree, I'll Miss You

Boulder, Colorado is white bread. Having grown up in various areas in the southern United States, and having been a minority in my high school, I feel comfortable with "people of color." I'm not sure of the exact demographics of Boulder, the city or the county, but I can tell you that the majority of people living here are white. (I saw a young black man sitting in the back of the bus the other day and felt that I had to join him - it felt like I was in Alabama in the early 1960s...) In any event, Bill McCartney, who was the head football coach at CU from 1982 through 1994, has stated that he feels that a part of the reason that Jon Embree was fired from his job on Monday was due to racism. (McCartney is white, like me.) Hmmmm. If Bill McCartney sees the firing of Jon Embree as racism, shouldn't all people interested in civil rights and job equality - especially the liberals here in Boulder - take note of that?

  I like Jon Embree. He's a nice guy. He wears his heart on his sleeve - if he is happy, everyone around him knows it; if he's sad, he cries, and everyone knows it; if he's angry, he yells, and everyone knows it. I have yet to hear one bad word about Coach Embree from the young men that he coached here in Boulder. I have yet to hear a bad word about Embree from the other football coaches at CU, either. That really makes me wonder... I, personally, am dismayed and disgusted with the decision to fire Jon Embree - but I'm just a citizen who likes watching football....

  My only question is: What is going to become of the CU football program? Since I live here, I'll continue to support the players - I'm just not satisfied with those who make the decisions about the hiring and firing of head football coaches.

Jon Embree encouraging his players on the football field

 

Former head coach Bill McCartney believes racism is a part of Embree's firing

 

Embree, in his exit interview, in tears

 

CU Football

I'm going to stick my neck out a bit and blog about college, football and coaches. If you know me, you know I love football - collegiate and professional. For me, I enjoy it because I can yell at the players, coaches and referees from the comfort and privacy of my own home, and that's my way of venting all of my frustrations that I find in this world. I love to watch a good defensive game. I like to see and hear the hits and the grunts of the men exhorting themselves. I am not going to delve into the very real problems of traumatic brain injuries and concussions. They are an existing fact, and I wish the game could be played without their occurrence. (But as long as the players accept their paychecks and go out and play, I have to admit that I'll watch them.)

  This all started when the University of Colorado at Boulder, whose proud stadium is two blocks down Folsom Street from my apartment, fired their head football coach of a little less than two full years. CU will be borrowing money to pay off Coach Jon Embree, so that CU can legally break their contract with him. They had to pay-off the previous coach, Dan Hawkins, too. That, to me, means there's something fishy in Denmark. Some one, some where is not doing their job; but is it actually all on the head football coach's shoulders? Jon Embree was hired to take the place of Dan Hawkins; he has coached the CU football team through 25 games, and was fired this past Monday morning. Last year, the Buffs played in their old Division and won three games. This year, CU began competing in the PAC-12; they won one game. As I said before, I love football - but, but, but, but the collegiate sport of football should never be the be-all and end-all for any university, college, or assembly of alumni of any educational institution.

  I've looked at the University of Florida head coach position as opposed to the University of Colorado head coach position - Between the years of 1950 and today, each university has had 11 head football coaches. Bill McCartney coached longest at CU; 12 seasons - 153 games, with 93 wins, 55 losses, and 5 ties. Steve Spurrier was the coach at UF for 11 years; 150 games - 122 wins, 27 losses,and 1 tie. UF had a head football coach for one single game in 2004 - Charlie Strong (the Gators lost). In 1962, CU had their shortest tenure with Bud Davis for 10 games, with a 2 and 8 record. So what is the big difference between the two colleges and the two athletic directors and the two head coaches and the players who go out for both teams and almost bust their guts trying to play well?

  I honestly have no idea. Will Muschamp started coaching the Gators when Jon Embree started coaching the Buffs - the Gators were 11 and 1 this season; the Buffs, 1 and 11. Jon Embree was told to pack his bags and leave on Monday. I'm pretty certain that Will Muschamp hasn't received that directive. Is "the problem" recruitment? Is it CU alumni? Is it the Athletic Director? Is it the Board of Regents? Is it the whole university? I don't think the problem is those young men who go out and practice so hard on a daily basis. They give their bodies and their pride to the game and to the fans.

  Whom has failed who in the CU football program?

Football, Critters, & Ward Churchill

Oh, what a wonderful football Sunday!  The three teams that I root for won their games - the Redskins, the Jets, and the Broncos.  And I was able to see all three - it was great.  For tonight's double-header, I'll be rooting for the Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland Raiders.  RGIII did the Redskins proud; the real offense showed up for the Jets (and Tim Tebow recovered a Buffalo on-side kick); and Peyton Manning threw for his 400th touchdown while leading the Broncos over the Steelers.  I make no bones about the fact that I heartily dislike Ben Roethlisberger - if he had been anyone else, he'd be in jail for his sexual escapades - so I really wanted the Steelers to lose, but there are also 3 Gators on the first-string offense.  I finally decided that Big Ben's transgressions were too great, and, so, rooted for the Broncos only.
   Shady slept with me last night, but Cloudy rubbed up against my hand, and then spat at me.  Lovey and Nedi have been really sweet this morning, and Remy was well enough for him to walk with me this morning.  He was very unhappy being left at home over the weekend when Rosie was out walking.  And the skunks are out and about in the neighborhood - Chelsea (a dog) was sprayed last week, and Bernie got sprayed Saturday, trying to stop a dog from chasing a skunk.  And someone broke into a series of cars in the Githens Acres neighborhood late Saturday night, or very early on Sunday morning.  Mark arrived home at 9 Saturday night, and was going to leave to ride in the Buffalo Bicycle Classic race at 5 in the morning on Sunday, when he discovered that all three of his family vehicles had been broken into.
   Ward Churchill, the ex-professor at the University of Colorado (CU), was finally heard by the Colorado Supreme Court; he wanted his job back at CU, as well as back-pay.  He was dismissed 5 years ago for plagiarism, but claims it was due to an editorial he had written about the bombing of the Twin Towers on September 11.  The Colorado Supreme Court found against Ward Churchill.  He and his attorney now state they will go the the US Supreme Court...  From The Denver Post:

'In its ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court said Churchill had five opportunities to present his own witnesses, cross-examine opposing witnesses and argue his case before the board following allegations Churchill plagiarized some of his academic writings, fabricated evidence and violated the university's academic standards. "Although we are mindful that a full-fledged, years-long investigation into a professor's academic record taken in bad faith could chill the continued exercise of free speech, we conclude that the federal case law in this area is too unsettled to defeat the regents' claim of qualified immunity," the state Supreme Court judges ruled. A civil jury in 2009 found the school unlawfully fired Churchill but awarded him only $1 in damages. However, a Denver District judge set aside the verdict and said university regents, who are elected, are a "quasi-judicial" panel with immunity from the lawsuit. Lane said the civil verdict was not about the damages but whether Churchill should get his job back with back pay.'

Impressive Speech for 13,000 Plus

Back in 1988, I think it was, I finished working my night shift at Shands Teaching Hospital, went home, showered, grabbed a breakfast sandwich, and went back to the University of Florida campus to see a campaign appearance by Bill and Hilary Clinton and Al and Tipper Gore.  The old rock played before the candidates appeared was soothing to me.  I was delighted with the messages that were delivered by both Al Gore and Bill Clinton when they spoke.  I was even more excited (more like P. O.'d, at that time) to be caught up in the Secret Service sweep as the Clintons and Gores were leaving - I'd taken a few shortcuts through the Student Union on my way home, and found myself plastered against the black suit of an agent.  But - after very limited questioning, I got to stand and talk with both couples until their limo arrived, and I was allowed to go.  All four were quite nice and seemed to be interested in my 'story.'  (Of course, they are/were politicians...)
   Today I got to see President Obama in person on Norlin Quad at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  It's estimated that over 13,000 people were there to hear his address. (And I do not like crowds.)  We were originally told that he would appear between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. - I put it at the later time, just because of my age and experience.  The President stopped off at The Golden Buff restaurant before coming on campus.  He joked, during his speech, that after seeing all the Mimosas and Bloody Marys being served, he was afraid that Boulder was having too much fun to remember to vote on Election Day.
   I missed the name of the female black pastor who led the invocation, but she really impressed me.  A Hispanic student then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance; then we were spoken to by Joe Neguse, a member of CU's Board of Regents; Michael Bennet, our Colorado State Senator; and then Governor John Hinckenlooper.  Sarah Andrews, an Obama organizer at CU spoke next, and then Ryan Case, a senior at CU, who has recently lost both parents to illnesses that insurance companies would not cover, as they were considered pre-existing conditions.  He made me cry.  Ryan introduced the President to the crowd.
  President Obama started out slow, then built up speed and energy through his speech.  He was wearing chino slacks and a light blue shirt, with the sleeves rolled to just below his elbows.  He spoke eloquently.  I did laugh when, during his comments about the Republican Convention, some students booed - and the President said, "Don't boo.  Vote!"  He called the repetition of the Republican standards  the same old "snake oil" that the GOP has repeated for the last century.  He said that, as a nation, "we're not looking back - we're going forward" and that America "leads" the world "with her strength of ideas and her power of example."  Of course, he asked us to vote for him.  I shall.  (Romney and Ryan's plans about retirement, women's health care issues, Medicare, and Social Security frighten me.)

Pieces

Tabby tummy tease

CU's Ralphie is actually a girl, because females are half the size of males...

Broncos' quarterbacks (left to right) Tebow, Quinn, and Orton

CU Homecoming Equals OUCH!

The poor Buffs!  Yesterday was CU's Homecoming game; the annual parade route was changed from University Hill to the Boulder Mall, which meant no floats, and bands scrambling around planters and statues and benches; there was some controversy about having a previous Athletic Director as the grand marshall of the parade, so he didn't appear; and then the Buffs were scheduled to play the Oregon Ducks (ranked number 9 in the nation).  The Buffs have won only one game this season - and getting the Ducks for the Homecoming game was not good.  The only score the Buffs made yesterday was a Safety in the third quarter; the final score was 45 - 2.  At least Ralphie had a nice run around the stadium before the game!

I spent most of yesterday tidying up my place and doing more laundry.  The only game that I was interested in, other than CU, was the Oklahoma State - Missouri game; and I was rooting for both teams. The Cowboys won and the Tigers lost.  -  Now I'm getting ready for the Broncos game in Miami.  And for some totally strange and weird reason, at half-time, there is a program and presentation for Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, and the Gators for their 2008 National Championship win.  In Miami.  When the Broncos are playing the Dolphins.  It didn't make any sense to me, until a friend pointed out that Miami has been having trouble selling tickets to home games, and that Miami was probably trying to cash in on Tebow being back on their field....

Lovey decided to walk with me to the grocery store this morning.  She sat at the foot of a tree while I purchased a fresh bagel and came back out.  She walked along beside me all the way back home, making numerous comments.  A couple drove by us twice, and then stopped and wanted to know if  I was really walking my cat.  - So I told them, "Of course! Doesn't everyone who lives in an apartment?"  They looked at each other and shrugged and asked how long I'd been walking her, and I told them it started when I first adopted her and we'd go climbing Steamboat Mountain in Lyons, which was behind my apartment there.  It seemed to totally freak them out.  (I did ask Nedi if he wanted to come, too, but he didn't want to.)  ....  Both kits have been climbing in and out of my carry-on bag for my trip.  Nedi thinks it's one of the best places to sleep, 'cause it's all black and I can't see him inside it at night.  Then he can jump out and surprise me.

Cougar on Buffalo Campus

I don't have internet access while I'm at Lynn's, so I'll be checking my e-mails and doing my blog and catching up on all my news sites just once a day until the 18th.  I had a blast with the girls last night - Tessa, Dhisana, Lilly and Lyra were all in fine fettle and we played and chased and acted the fool for quite a few hours.  I walked Rosie and Remy this morning, but Remy started favoring his hip a block away from the house, so I took the red kids to visit with Tessa.  Tessa  and Rosie chased each other in circles around the back yard, while Remy stayed sitting or lying down for most of the time.  If I had internet access at Lynn's, I'd just take Lovey and Nedi over there and we'd all stay together happily - but I need my PC time these days, too. 

There was a Winter Weather Advisory on the Western Slope last night - anywhere over 9,000 feet got between 3 and 18 inches of snow.  We got down to 50 degrees - but we actually have a cooling trend going: today's high is supposed to be 68, tomorrow's 62, Saturday the high will be 48 with rain all day, and then 56 on Sunday.  It'll be nice, if it's correct.  And Coffeepot is supposed to pick up Mocha on Sunday, between noon and one.  She is currently crouched in the patio door way, and Lovey and Nedi are sunning on the concrete.  The kits have all had 15 minutes of individual attention, and once I take care of my e-mail, I'll need to head back to Lynn's.  I love her house, I love her critters, I love her yard.  I miss being home with my kits, though.  Maybe I'll take them over once Mocha is gone....

The big story around here is that a 2-year-old male mountain lion was spotted yesterday in a tree next to one of the CU dorms.  College kids clambered around, being noisy, and taking lots of photos and videos with their cell phones.  The young man who first sighted the big cat, and called the Division of Wildlife, said the cat looked petrified with fear, because he was drawing so much attention.   The cougar was tranquilized, fitted with a radio collar, and turned loose on the farthest Boulder County Open Space lands (40 miles and several mountains away to the west). He was estimated to be two-years-old, and his spine length (not counting the tail) was four feet.  This is the time of year when male youngsters leave their mom to establish their own hunting territory, and they frequently end up on the west side of Boulder and the CU campus.