Bits and Pieces

It's nearly noon on Wednesday and the parking lot is almost dry after we had 8.2 inches of snow fall in the last 24 hours.  The sun is shining brightly, and the temperature is up to 45 degrees (F).  I had to scrape 2 inches of frozen ice and snow off the windshield this morning to head for the library, bank, and grocery store, but it came off easily.  I am so lucky that Donn loans me his vehicle while he's in California, Texas and/or Mexico.  It's pretty nice to have a 4-year-old SUV - a VW Touareg - to get my stuff done in - and all I have to do is pay for the fuel I use, and, occasionally, replace the wiper blades...  Donn takes care of everything else, and recently he's been gone for stretches of 4 weeks at a time.  Unfortunately, I am getting very used to having the convenience of a car at my disposal.
   Our raven family hadn't visited the dumpsters next door for three or four weeks, and we were getting worried about them.  They returned this morning and had good breakfasts from Chez Thuy...  Beatrice and I went to Sam's Club and stocked up on nuts, so Bertrando and his gang of squirrels won't go hungry.  And the finches and sparrows are having a ball at the tree feeders, along with the small feeder and water bowl on the balcony.
    It's normal Colorado weather, but it seems really strange to have 8 inches of snow on Tuesday, then temperatures in the 60s and 70s Thursday through Saturday.  We're both getting tired of Boulder, so we'll probably take a day trip out and about - either over the Divide, down south to Manitou Springs, or out to the eastern plains - we need a change of scene.  I'd like to go to Grand Junction, Hanging Lake and Steamboat Springs - but right now we'd have to take I-70 west, and I'd rather not do that, which means waiting until June or so.
    Beatrice and I are going to a Town Hall Meeting with Jared Polis, our Representative in the House on Friday evening.  We have to get there 30 minutes before it begins to get through security - but at least it's nearby, on the CU Campus.  I'm not sure whether either of us will speak, but we are attending.  I loved seeing the news headlines this morning that Bannon is off the National Security Council.  That bigot  had no reason to be on the council in the first place - and I laughed hysterically when a source said that he'd been placed there by 45 to "watch over Mike Flynn's dealings."  As if that did any good...
     We ate at the Cheesecake Factory on Monday night - was stuffed to the gills, and brought home enough for two more meals...  Delicious!
    And - if you're in New York, or nearby, please go see a play that will open on Broadway, in the Cort Theatre, on April 18.  The play is titled Indecent - and it's an incredible musical ...   I give it a High Five in voting ranks!!!  Go - see it - you will never regret it!

Anniversary Celebration

Yesterday was my sister and brother-in-law's 33rd wedding anniversary - and I remember their ceremony and reception very well.  We celebrated by having supper at the Cheesecake Factory - and we arrived before the end of Happy Hour, so all of the appetizers were half price.  Other than having to ask to see the Happy Hour menu, we all had a great time and super food - so much so that everyone took home leftovers.
  I am able to relax a bit, since I'm currently caring for Cyrano de Biggercat and Pounce de Leon, and walking Rosie, only.  I was able to spend 5 hours with my own kits yesterday, and I'm hoping for six hours today.  I was surprised to find a boxed book inside my mailbox this morning; I had to dismantle the cardboard box inside the mailbox to be able to remove the book.  Then I was able to fold the box enough to withdraw it from the mailbox - I wonder how much force the mailman had to use to get the package to go into the box?  It took me 5 minutes to get it out....
  Kathy is beginning to get excited about next year's family reunion on Chincoteague during Pony Penning.  Our first cousins Aleda and Kathy Ann live on the island, along with their spouses, kids an grandkids; first cousins Nancy, Peter and Johnny live nearby with their spouses and kids and grandkids...  Kathy and her Snow clan will be there, and I'm hoping I can get a couple of my step-children and grandkids to also attend (they're in the DC area)...   It will be grand!  I might have to change our reservations and get a larger house for the week.
   I am still upset with the suicide of  Robin Williams.  This morning I heard that he had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, according to his wife.  I wish that he had been able to contact Michael J Fox and speak with him about the effects of Parkinson's...  I know that it's an uncomfortable disease and diagnosis; my Mother had it, as well as Alzheimer's.  Perhaps that diagnosis was what put Robin "over the edge" to the point that he felt suicide was better than survival.  All I know is that I am still melancholy due to his passing.
   Thoroughbred horse racing...  Both the son of Zenyatta, Cozmic One, and the son of Rachel Alexandra, Jess's Dream, are continuing their training at Saratoga Springs.  I hope to see these two colts race against each other next year.  What I have to admit is that I don't like Rachel's eyes; so I have always preferred Zenyatta to RA.  I think I'm favoring Cozmic One over Jess's Dream already.