Bits And Pieces

Today's a bits and pieces day - little bits of left-over and follow-up news -
  If you haven't yet looked at the Kentucky Derby entries, there's a great article that touches on every runner at:  http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84795/kentucky-derby-preview-bring-it-home-chrome
and, if you'd just like to look at photos, pedigrees, and racing or sales history, check out the main page of The Bloodhorse and scroll down to the listings of the 19 entries (I always look at the expanded 5 generation pedigree, myself) at:   http://www.bloodhorse.com/
   The two attacked ducklings here in Boulder are doing better, but must still get much stronger and heal well to actually recover.  Wildlife and police officers are seeking the two boys who threw stones at the babies.
   Denver is celebrating Cinco de Mayo today, with all kinds of activities.   Today is also the day of the Furry Scurry, a 5 or 10 kilometer walk/jog with your dog.  A small entry fee is requested; but all proceeds are divided between our local no-kill animal shelters,.
   Chincoteague is celebrating the first Saturday in May with their Chinco de Mayo festival.  Today is also the day of the annual  Chincoteague Seafood Festival.
   I can't conceive of tubing in Boulder Creek at the moment - with it being early May, and with the snow melt beginning, the water temperature in the Creek is at 43 degrees...  But Boulder Creek is now open for tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming between Boulder Falls (a couple of miles to the west in Boulder Canyon) to 38th Street (here in Boulder, just west of the new hospital).  I can understand wanting to jump in the water when the outside temperature is in the 90s, or 100s...  I just can't find enthusiasm to freeze on the first day with a temperature of 80 (hopefully).
   And I am very sleepy today.  I stopped reading and turned out my light at 10:30 last night, and fell asleep almost instantly.  I was awakened at 11:03 by neighbors coming home and, apparently, switching their party area to their apartment and balcony.  There was no loud music, but, just as I was about to drift off to sleep again (and again and again and again...), the folks would hoot and holler, or all the women would squeal - and that kept waking me up.  At 1 a.m., I dressed and stepped out onto my patio.  I ascertained which apartment was having a party above me, and then I called the non-emergency police number, and asked them to shut the party down.  They responded in less than 10 minutes, and, after a lot of loud cursing on the balcony, people became quiet (and, I assume, left).  But I awoke as usual at 5, and couldn't go back to sleep.  Rats.

Kentucky Derby Today - & Other Things

Looking at the radar, it seems that there will be rain at the Kentucky Derby today.  The questions are:  how much rain, how well is the track sealed, and whether it will be pouring during the race itself....
Without the rain, I would bet on Java's War, Will Take Charge, and Lines of Battle; with rain probable, I'd bet on Revolutionary, Falling Sky, and Itsmyluckyday.  I'm not going to make bets other than for a winner today, as I did yesterday - and the Derby really is wide open.  I don't like betting for the favorite, and at the moment, the co-favorites are Goldencents and Revolutionary.  I will place $10 to win bets on four horses:  Frac Daddy, Oxbow, Vyjack, and Charming Kitten.  We'll see what happens - it's a guessing game today.
** Also, Dr. Larry Bramlage has not returned to work at Churchill Downs following a head injury and hospitalization on Thursday.  Veterinarian Dr. Mary Scollay will be the vet on call at the Derby  (and other races) today.**
  More than 43 square miles have been burned in California by several wildfires.  My heart and prayers go out to these folks; if not for the last 4 weeks, and 5 feet, of snow it could very well be Colorado with that headline.  ....  Cinco de Mayo celebrations are taking place all over the West today.  .... On the Eastern Shore of Virginia, today is the Chincoteague Seafood Festival and Chinco de Mayo; there is a Fire Department Celebration in Parksley; and there will be an auction of 3,500 decoys from the Waterfowl Museum.
   Nedi has developed a craving to line his favorite sleeping places with the calico I'm using for my niece's baby quilt.  He steals the pieces from the sewing bag during the night, or when I'm out working.  The only reason I noticed it was because I saw some bright fish swimming across the back of one of Nedi's hidey-holes yesterday.  I found ten different lengths of calico and one plastic template in his hoard....   - Kids!