Crisp Wednesday and NCIS

It's all of 32 degrees this morning, but the weather folks say we'll get up to 57.  It's partly cloudy and gorgeous outside - Lovey is out (I think she's taunting the cream colored cat in building B), while Nedi is sitting on the top of the cat tree, watching the ravens and crows in the back yard.  I'll be leaving in a bit to go walk Rosie, and to sort through some of my belongings at the Snow house.  I have several bags  there, mostly full of items that I will be donating to ARC and a large amount of books for either donation to the library, to ARC, or to return home and be replaced on my book shelves (currently being constructed).
  I thoroughly enjoyed last night's episode of NCIS - between Mark Harmon, Ralph Waite, David McCallum, and Tom Fitzpatrick, I became teary-eyed at least four times.  Having cared for my Mother, who had Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and a stroke, this story really hit home.  I highly recommend it to every one who can see it - and the NCIS case that Tony, McGee, and Abbie work on is also a nice little surprise. It was good.   -  I have to admit I faded away watching Person of Interest, and will need to re-watch the entire episode.

Television Programs and Snow

Wednesday evening's snow is still just sitting there on the ground - it's all of 15 degrees at the moment (in the single digits overnight), but the sun is shining, and we're supposed break the freezing mark this afternoon. Expecting more snow Sunday and then again Tuesday. The kits are pretty bummed with the snow, but they did have a couple of wild chases this morning, running up and down the lengths of every ones patios. Nedi is asleep in the cat tree, soaking up sunshine, while Lovey is curled up on my pillow in bed. Tomorrow evening I start "working" again - I'll be house-sitting for Aiko and Yoshi, the Shih Tzus, through Wednesday night. I'll start walking them Sunday, and, thankfully, with their short little legs, I won't have to exert myself too much to keep up with them. I will, hopefully, start working with Rosie and Remy again on Monday. I've recently lost two clients due to the "illness" of old age: Brandi, the Zen Australian Shepherd, who was blind, passed away last month; and Peach, a wonderful and very lovable yellow Labrador, left us two days ago. It doesn't seem possible that they are no longer here, in the fur. I'm sure, however, that they crossed the Rainbow Bridge in loving company and they are running happily through heavenly fields.
  While waiting for Person of Interest last night, I ended up on the BBC America channel, watching Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan. I was amazed and entranced by the young man, and was immediately reminded of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Young Mister Monaghan was very interesting and knowledgeable about the things he talked about, and he had the verve, excitement, and intensity that Steve Irwin had. Last night, the episode was about seeing the white Goliath beetle in it's natural habitat in Cameroon. The show introduced us to the insect collection trade, the country of Cameroon, the customs of the local people, and introduced the local wildlife that was seen during the search for the beetle. I haven't been so riveted to the TV since Steve Irwin passed away. Dominic Bernard Patrick Luke Monaghan has always had a spot in my heart since he portrayed Merry (Meriadoc) Brandybuck in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He certainly has my attention now, as a master craftsman of a very informative wildlife show.
  Speaking of television, I thoroughly enjoyed Person of Interest last night, and both NCIS and Vegas on Tuesday night. But then I realized that I kept seeing ads for a new show called Golden Boy that will be showing in the Vegas time slot beginning next week. - I admit that my TV is on quite a bit, without me truly watching whatever is on. I use it as background noise, since I live in a downtown area with frequent heavy truck traffic, fire trucks and ambulances, plus the fact that I can hear my neighbors in the building without any problem, if there is no background noise. I don't like being an eavesdropper, and it can be very embarrassing at times, if one does not have some background noise covering the sounds that come through walls and ceilings. (You must remember I'm living in an apartment building that is older than I am.) - I was upset to see that Vegas will more than likely, not be on the air next year, due to low viewership. Now I don't sit camped in front of the TV: I watch local news and weather; I watch Jeopardy!; I faithfully watch NCIS, Vegas, and Person of Interest. If I have nothing that has seduced my attention, I usually watch CSI:NY and Blue Bloods. All of those shows, with the exception of the game show, are on CBS. I watch local NBC news, and Jeopardy! is on ABC. So, in trying to find out why the new show was coming on in the Vegas time slot, I was amazed to find out that both CSI:NY and Vegas are under the proverbial hatchet... If they go, I'll just have more time to read and do research... I truly like both shows, but I love Vegas. Too bad that people don't enjoy a good, twisted story line involving family, the law, crime families in Vegas, gambling, and classic cars and clothing. I have a blast each time I watch the show. Apparently very few others enjoy the same thing, however. That's just too bad.

Happy Birthday, David McCallum!

I have been serenaded by crows since sunrise today - and I don't know why.  It started at Alexy's, then moved over to Sasquatch and Tugger's, then on to Kathy and Jim's, and now, at home.  Do I smell like carrion?  Or is Jeffrey following up on his threat to haunt me as a crow or raven?  I do have an appointment to see a dermatologist this afternoon, but I don't see the reason for a murder of crows to sing to me...
   The kits are running in and out - they've both gotten a good bit of love from me, plus being fed.  I stopped at the "other" grocery store this morning, and found they are selling the kit's favorite food for much less than Safeway.  I just might have to start walking a couple more blocks for the meat shreds in gravy the kids like...
   Last night I watched the season finale (from May) for NCIS, and even though I know that David McCallum is returning in his role as Dr. Donald Mallard (aka: Duckie), I was again anguished to see him topple over, onto his knees, and then his side in the incoming Florida tide.  Now I will be eagerly awaiting the renewal of my favorite CBS series next week - NCIS on Tuesday, and Person of Interest on Thursday.  - Oh, and, happy birthday, today, David McCallum!
   I feel badly for the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton Windsor.  It does seem as if the paparazzi are trying to do the same thing to her as they did with Princess Diana.  Why is there such an interest any one?  In this day and age, I like my privacy; and if I had to be in the public eye 24/7, I think I'd be a goner.  I am a normal person (kind of) - I have my likes and dislikes, my allergies, my illnesses; I cough and sneeze and belch and fart.  So does every human being on the earth...  Kate is a very nice-looking lady; she has a nice sense of style; she is married to Prince William, and one day may be the consort of the King of England.  But every single person needs, and deserves, "down time" - when one isn't on display.  Please, paparazzi of the world, let Kate (and the entire Royal family) be normal people some of the time.  Vacations are vacations - breaks from the real world.  Let Kate have a true vacation, please.

Person of Interest Season Finale Tonight

It's a lazy, warm day.  I just woke up from a nap, and am getting ready for lunch.  The kits are basking on the patio, and Ernest Borgnine is playing a Basque on "Wagon Train" - oh, my, there's Leonard Nimoy...  He must be playing either a son or nephew of Ernie....
   About 6 last night, a very insistent squirrel demanded some nuts through the window screen.  He (definitely a he) ate  or buried all but two of them - then at 9:30, two raccoons cruised by and the the nuts.  The critters provided good entertainment for my kits.
   Saturday is the Preakness, and it's also my niece's birthday.  Sunday night, the 20th, I'll be watching CBS to see Tom Selleck in a new Jesse Stone movie.  On May 26, Encore Westerns is celebrating John Wayne's birthday by showing 19 of his movies - a wide sampling from his career, including Rooster Cogburn.  And tonight is the season finale of Person of Interest;  I'll definitely be in front  of the TV to see Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel tonight. 

Usual Mish-Mash

It started out nice and bright this morning - now clouds are coming in from the west, and some look like thunder storm doozies...  We are expecting thunderstorms this afternoon.  I'm definitely in favor of any precipitation we can get (just, please, not hail).  I've already exercised Rosie and Remy and have returned home; the kits were on the patio until a minute or so ago, when the maintenance man went by on the riding mower - now they're inside, peeking out through the curtains.  The weather folks say we'll hit 90 by the end of the week, and I'm ready for it:  I have my two fans unpacked and ready to go, once the warmth gets to be a little too much.
  I didn't have anything on my hallway door for the past month - yesterday I saw an iridescent metal gecko, and had to have it.  It's now on the front door, with it's tail curled around  the apartment number and name holder. ... The wildfire in Poudre Canyon has grown to be 1000 acres now.  People are still on alert to evacuate at any minute - and these afternoon thunderstorms are supposed to kick up the winds to 40+ mph, which will not be of any help to anyone.  ....  Denver is having a security drill today, with Nighthawk choppers making landings and hovering above public buildings.  And we had three choppers hovering over the CU campus for an hour this morning, doing a very detailed aerial survey.  It's been a little noisy.
   Pretty soon the post positions will be drawn for Saturday's Preakness, and I'll be able to look at names, pedigrees, and posts.  I know that Bodemeister and I'll Have Another, the one-two finishers in the Derby, will both be running.  That means I've got to dig deep for my analysis.   ...  I totally freaked out at the ending of the season finale for NCIS last night.  I like the group as an ensemble cast, but I really watch it just to look at two people - Mark Harmon and David McCallum.  When Duckie collapsed on the beach, with an incoming tide, I was completely horrified.  I even had trouble sleeping last night - and found myself saying,  "Not Duckie!  Anyone but Duckie!",  every time I turned over in bed.  -  Now I'll have to see what's in store for the season finale of Person of Interest on Thursday!

A Mish-Mash

Eight days before the Kentucky Derby, and I can only name two or three colts that are running...  that is far from usual for me.  But there has been no big stand out star - either last year, as two-year-olds, or this year as threes.  I like a lot of the trainers and jockeys - but I haven't really formed any opinions of the colts themselves.  I guess that I'll have to wait until the post draw on Wednesday, then look at the kids' pedigrees, connections, and any film I can find on-line.  Of course, my opinion might change on Derby Day itself - depending on the track condition and the way the colts carry themselves.
  The Department of Wildlife got to visit CU campus here yesterday - there was a 200-pound black bear on campus, that ran into a female student, and then went and "hid" in a tree.  The bear was tranquilized, tagged, and moved back into the mountains.  ....  I spent yesterday (a) with a headache that wouldn't end, (b) taking Kathy around to various needed appointments, (c) taking care of Sadie and Lucy, and, finally, (d) wandering over to the Snitman's to borrow their XR7 for the weekend.  When I walked to the Snitman house last night, the wind was whipping down the foothills from the west, layers upon layers of dark clouds were scurrying across the sky, distant lightning could be seen to the east, and I walked through a few light showers.  I had left the Stone house and was wandering through an open area I didn't know - I just kept taking the branch of the trail that I thought would take me in the correct direction.  I, luckily, made the right choices and cut about a half-mile off my walk.  That made me feel good about my decision making.
  I left my kits yesterday morning, and then re-visited them in the afternoon.  This morning, it's grey and cooler out (we did have a nice rain late last night), and a dog just barked outside the patio, here at home, causing both Nedi and Lovey to flee inside.  It appears one of the neighbors had his lady friend and her dog over for the night...  My kits are fine.  They are a little disgusted, however, that I closed the patio door (since I didn't know if the dog would trespass or not).  So I'll be caring for Sadie and Lucy today, and I add Alexy's kits at 10 this morning.  Poor Cloudy; she has been at the Vet ER twice in the last 5 weeks, as a new neighboring tabby has been attacking her and has done quite a bit of muscle damage to her thigh.
   I have to admit to stopping by McDonald's this morning, and grabbing a sausage and egg muffin and a mango-pineapple smoothie.  I let Nedi have some of the smoothie, but I drank most of it.  And I really enjoyed Person of Interest last night...  The show proved that Reese had not killed his last CIA partner, even though he had orders to, from Agent Snow.  His partner, it turns out, had the same orders, from the same person.  Somehow, both of them made it out of China alive - and now she is back, confronting Agent Snow in NYC. -  Cool!