Accomack Arsonist, Books, and Home Details

We had about 9 inches of snow fall here in my apartment area, and about 11 inches up in north Boulder at the Munsinger's. I had to shovel a path out to the back yard's grassy areas 4 times yesterday, so the Shih Tzu's wouldn't have to "swim" through the snow to relieve themselves... Someone was supposed to come shovel the front walkway and the drive yesterday, but I never saw hide nor hair of them. I shoveled the front walkway this morning, so the house cleaner would be able to get inside without having snow up to her knees. The house was put on the market, for sale, on Thursday; it was shown once on Thursday, twice on Friday,and twice on Saturday. The first people who looked at the house had financing already in place (the house sold for $1.19 million), and they signed the contract on Saturday. Now the Munsinger's have to find a place to move into until they decide where they are buying to "down size."
  Our apartment inspection is Thursday, and I still have a lot of trash to throw out, so the place won't look so cluttered. And I bought a new fire/smoke detector alarm system to put in the hall way. The existing one is wired into the ceiling, but it started going off for no reason during a 3-day weekend over a year ago, and one of the neighbors said he knew how to "turn it off." I allowed him to do so, not realizing until the next day that he had totally cut the wiring. So at least I now have an up to specifications combination smoke, fire, and CO2 alarm system. I just put it up.
  The kits were happy to see me this morning - more to get outside than anything else, but they've been stymied with the snowfall. Nedi has been jumping in and out of the snow and chasing imaginary whatsits, while Lovey is sitting in the sun on the corner of the patio looking regal. Yesterday I spent with Aiko and Yoshi, reading and giving belly rubs; this morning I need to give my kits some love, having already fed them, giving them fresh water, and cleaning their potty boxes. I finished reading all 917 pages of Uther, and have now started the story of Clothar, The Lance Thrower. Then, once I read The Eagle, I will have read all nine of Jack Whyte's books regarding the Chronicles of Camulod. And I am really enjoying this man's writing and ideas of how the story of Camelot came about. The books are fantastic!
  There was another fire near Wachapreague, in Accomack County, Virginia Sunday night. If it is confirmed as arson, this will mark the 53rd fire since November 12. The person or people responsible for these fires must be caught. Any unused or abandoned building in Accomack County seems to be within the perpetrator's grasp. This causes higher insurance costs, fire department costs, and policing (both city and county) costs. It's crazy. Let's pitch in to catch this pyromaniac!

Blog Time Change, Camelot, Football

For the next two or three weeks, I'll probably be blogging after 7 p.m. (MDT), as I am at a house where I can't connect to the Internet during the day.  I've enjoyed my past two days with Tugger and Sasquatch, but I must say that it's nice to be at home and sleep with Nedi and Lovey at night.  Both of my kits are outside, running around as dusk falls.  -  And today I tried the "new" popcorn chicken available at Burger King; I had seen the new commercial for the past three nights, and I decided that popcorn chicken would hit the spot for supper tonight.  First, though, I tried to purchase popcorn chicken at Kentucky Fried Chicken, but they no longer sell that item; so I went to BK.  I was greatly disappointed by both the drive-thru service, and the fact that having waited for 5 minutes for the food to be prepared, both the fries and the chicken were not even warm as I drove away from the window.  I microwaved both when I got home, but it just was not a good tasting meal. 
    Camelot was unable to win the St. Leger's yesterday; he finished second to Encke, a colt who had never won a race before.  Aidan O'Brien, Camelot's trainer, said after the race that he should have entered another horse, to assure a quick pace at the beginning of the race.  As it was, the pace was slow and steady, and Camelot just didn't have anything to run at.  So Camelot became the tenth colt to win the first two races of the English Triple Crown, but couldn't win the St. Leger.
    The Gators and the Gamecocks won their collegiate football games yesterday, but Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Colorado all lost.  I just watched both the Jets and the Redskins lose today.  I hope the Broncos can win tomorrow night.  Maybe I should wear my orange and blue again tomorrow?

Miscellany

Greg and Carolyn Remling (with Odie) appear at Piper Pride Day at the Humane Society's new shelter, All for  Paws Boutique at the Indian River Mall, Vero Beach, Florida.  The Remlings and Piper Aircraft, Inc. are huge supporters of the Humane Society; Greg is holding a new pamphlet, Economic Hardship Affects Pets, Too.

 

Camelot winning the 2012 Epsom Derby

 

Tim Tebow's muscular back (wearing Jockey, of course)

Go, Camelot!

Wednesday's rain washed the haze, smoke, and particulates from the sky - but we had a haze building again yesterday afternoon.  I wish we could get all the wildfires under control to our north, west, and northwest.  Our last three sunrises have been beautiful - purple and lavender fading to pink and yellow, with the sun rising as a huge orange-yellow ball; and, once the sun is up, it paints the Flatirons with a golden light.  It's just gorgeous.
   My heart and mind will be with the bay colt Camelot today, as he tries to become the English Triple Crown winner today, running in the 2-mile St. Leger's.  The last English Triple Crown winner was Nijinsky, who raced to glory in 1970, under jockey Lester Piggot.  Of course, I do have an ulterior motive in cheering for Camelot - he is related to the horses I used to ride and work with at Sleepy Hollow Horse Farm in Micanopy.  Camelot is a three-year-old, sired by Monjeu; on his dam's side (out of Tarzah), he traces back to Northern Dancer and *Forli. There have only been 15 winners of the English Triple Crown; nine other colts have gone into the St. Leger's with the first two legs of the Triple Crown under their belts, but have been unable to cover the 2-mile distance.
   Since it's Saturday, I'll be watching football this afternoon and evening - I would do so this morning, too, but I'll be with Sasquatch and Tugger in a house without the internet and without a TV.  I'll be reading and writing to entertain myself, besides playing with the cats.  Nedi is out playing in the yard, while Lovey is asleep on the cat tree.  Today is also brother-in-law Jim's 69th birthday, so I need to stop by their house and drop off his card and gift.  Then I also get to take care of Mona and Boo while Kathy and Jim are off celebrating his birthday through Monday....

Colorado Fires Report and the Irish Derby

Our fire fighters have been working hard, and all residents of the state of Colorado owe them a huge debt of gratitude and thanks.  Several fires are still burning, and, probably, we will have fires burning until winter storms extinguish them.  Flagstaff, the fire closest to Boulder, is now 90% contained.  The three fires closer to Durango  are still a little wild - the Little Sand fire has been burning since May 13, and is only 34% contained; the Lightner fire is 75% contained; and the Weber fire is 65% contained.  The Waldo Canyon fire, near Colorado Springs, is 45% contained - and has caused the most damage so far this year.  There is another wildfire, the Pine Ridge fire, which is 25% contained, but is spreading, near I-70 and Grand Junction on the western side of the state.  The following fires are 100% contained, and are not expected to cause further damage: the High Park fire near Fort Collins; the Treasure fire near Leadville; the Eby Creek fire; the Button Rock, the Hewlett Gulch, the Lower North Fork, the Springer, and the Sunrise Mine fires; the Woodland Heights fire near Estes Park; and the Ironing Board fire on Green Mountain above Boulder.
   I was excited to read that Camelot won the Irish Derby by two lengths yesterday at the Curragh.  Camelot is a son of Montjeu, which means Northern Dancer breeding; and the broodmare sire is Kingmambo, which leads back to Nureyev, Northern Dancer and *Forli.  He's another relative of the Sleepy Hollow horses.
   Nedi is outside, trying to pick on the local crow family, but it sounds as if they are picking on him, instead.  Lovey is laying on the corner of the desk, and I'm having difficulty keeping her off the keyboard...  Maggie May went out with  me last night to turn on the irrigation ditch and prime its' pump; she was waiting outside my screen door this morning, quietly anticipating her breakfast of chicken breast, livers, and hearts.  I fed her, showered, watered the plants, and came home to my kits.  They greeted me as if they hadn't seen me in weeks, instead of hours.  I love them.
   My thoughts go out to those folks on the east coast, who are suffering from the effects of the heat wave and severe storms that have produced power outages.  Having grown up in Florida and Virginia, I know of the humidity there - and how horrible it is to be without electricity in the summer.  I feel for everyone who has been affected and afflicted by these storms.
   I hope your Sunday is pleasant.