Disappointed With Gotham

I was looking forward to the first episode of the new season of Gotham with anticipation last night.  I came away disappointed.  I realize that there are quite a number of characters to follow, now, on Gotham - but the first episode skipped around so much and dealt with so many issues left hanging at the end of the season, that it seemed as if the writers/story tellers just cuffed up a pair of pants and headed off for the next pattern and cloth.  The death of Miss Peabody was not unexpected, but the whole scene seemed rushed - as did most of the other scenes.  It was not a glorious season premiere.  And I greatly dislike the new female character - the reporter.  The whole show left a bad taste in my mouth last night.  If the next two episodes are not better than last night's, I'll stop watching the show altogether.
   I'll watch the two shows from tonight during tomorrow afternoon - I need to see if NCIS will continue to be worth watching, and I need to check out Bull, Michael Weatherly's new show.  Thursday night will find me watching The Blacklist, and Friday night I'll see Blue Bloods.
   My most impatient wait is for the next episodes of Vikings, which won't begin until 30 November.  I've read translations of the eddas, so I don't believe I'll be too surprised...  But I have to admit being delighted that Bjorn Ironsides has contracted with Floki to build the new boat to explore the "Inner" (Mediterranean) Sea.  Michael Hirst, the writer for Vikings, is keeping me very happy.

Pets, Vikings, Photos

It's another cool morning - 45 degrees when I was walking Tess this morning.  The sun is now up and shining, the first time since Sunday, and I am very happy to see it's glow through the trees in the back yard.  Tess is asleep on the floor behind me, having had her walk and breakfast; Lyra is in the cat tree, and I'm pretty sure that Lily is on the bed upstairs (that's her usual spot after breakfast).  They've lost three more carp, or koi, since I was last here.  Pinto, Lumpy, and Red One have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  That leaves only Red Two, Shadow and Goldy, out of 18 fish three years ago....  I know that Lynn puts them into the garden soil, but I always wonder why they died....
    I have now seen 9 of the latest 10 episodes of Vikings, and just read that the series will return on November 30 and show on Wednesday nights until the break before season 5.  Writer-historian Michael Hirst's take on the old Norse eddas that follow and/or mention Ragnar Lothbrok are wonderfully imagined and envisioned on the small screen.  Season 5 (and hopefully, 6 and 7) will be incredibly interesting with the continuing exploits of Bjorn Ironsides, and Ragnar's four younger sons, who will become the scourge of Europe.  I'm also looking forward to see Hirst's vision of Alfred the Confessor  (Ooops.  Alfred the Great is correct, VL G, not Alfred the Confessor.  Thanks!!), who was blessed by the Pope, in episode 9.  And, of course, Rollo, Ragnar's brother, is the direct male ancestor of William the Conqueror, also known as William the Bastard, who became King of England in 1066....  I just love history!
   I'm currently labeling photos from the 2016 Pony Penning for Lynn, as she missed our vacation together, due to a death in her family.  I have about 30 photos that definitely contain Surfer Princess, the filly I purchased with Lynn's money last year, and I have about 300 other photos of Pony Penning, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, and the waters that surround them, and wildlife - both marine and terrestrial.  I managed to get about 50 labeled yesterday evening, and I'm going to work on the labeling until I go walk Rosie this morning.  And you have no idea how happy I am that I already have everything labeled and stored on my PC - that means just matching photos and copying the existing caption - I don't have to look up each pony in each picture, again!
   Beatrice and I are hoping to take our friend Melissa, from Atlanta, over Trail Ridge Road this weekend - hoping we can get across before it closes for the winter.  I'll be taking more photos - especially since I know there is plenty of snow on Pikes Peak (100 miles south of us), already!
 

This and That

We had a few light showers yesterday, but a persistent light rain began about 9 o'clock last night.  It's supposed to rain through tomorrow afternoon.  I'm quite pleased with it, as we need the moisture - always.  Lovey went out for a few minutes this morning, while Nedi stayed out for an hour, and came back inside completely soaked.  He immediately sat down on my note pad, and flicked all the water and mud from his paws onto my keyboard and monitor...  That is so typical of him; he is my little "mannikan."
  After the eruption of Calbuco in Chile, the earthquake and huge aftershocks in Nepal have been horrific.  I have yet to hear of anyone dying, or having injuries, from the blasts in Chile - even though clean-up crews are beginning to arrive there today, and a few people unwilling to leave may be found.  The staggering loss of lives and historic buildings in Kathmandu, along with the loss of climbers on Mount Everest, seems almost unbelievable, in comparison.  I grieve for the loss of lives, for the injuries sustained, for the loss of homes, and for the loss of history.  The loss of livelihoods in both cases is a huge loss to the people who call those places home.
  I've got to go to the library today - I'm out of new books to read again.  And I have now seen all of this season's episodes of Vikings on the History Channel.  I didn't foresee the death of Siggy, and I'd felt that Floki would eventually kill Athelstan for his "poisoning" of Ragnar.  No surprises, though, as life was so violent and short in those times.  I was surprised that Aslaug took a lover, while Ragnar was gone, but Ragnar hasn't been very interested in Aslaug since their son, Ivar the Boneless, was born.  The last few episodes seemed to make a point that Ragnar would die in France - and I couldn't believe that writer Michael Hirst would stray so far from the sagas.  He didn't; at the end of this year's installment, Ragnar, Lagertha, Bjorn Ironside, Kalf and Floki are on their way back to Kattegat and Hedeby.  Emperor Charles the Bald has offered lands, a French title, and the hand of his daughter (Gisela) to Rollo.  Rollo has accepted the offer, with the knowledge that Charles expects him to defend Paris against the Spring raids of his brother. Linus Roache, as the King of Wessex, Ecbert, has been brilliant.  I completely bought into his support of the Viking community, and was amazed by his duplicity. Knowing his character much better, I wasn't surprised when he essentially blackmailed his daughter-in-law into becoming his mistress....  I am completely taken with Ftankie McCafferty's portrayal of Sinric in the last few episodes- he's almost as loveable as Floki!  Many Vikings have fallen in battle and are now in Valhalla - I salute Thorstein and Jarl Sigfried from this season.

Vikings - and Life

I was a television slut Thursday afternoon and evening - I watched nine full hours of Vikings on the History Channel.   They had a marathon showing of all the episodes of this season (eight), plus the airing of the new, ninth episode.  The last episode for this season will air on Thorsday, April 23.  And, yes, I meant to misspell Thorsday.  I can revel in my Viking forebears for another week, knowing that the huge group of wonderful actors that brings Vikings to life, will be getting together again (for the most part) in June in lovely Ireland to film the fourth season.  Time has been twisted - after all, it is a fictional show, and the old Norse sagas can't be documented -  but, unless there's a big trick and twist coming in this last episode, it will diverge greatly from the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok.   But that's OK - this is a wonderful series to watch for the language, the costume, and the fighting techniques.
   We had about four inches of wet snow fall Thursday; yesterday, rain was falling in Boulder onto melting snow - but on the drive to Denver International Airport, fields, pastures, mesas, and mountains were completely snow-covered; there were huge banks of cotton-wool fog; and several highways were closed due to accidents.  The rain and sleet continued to fall until mid-afternoon; then the sun appeared for a few hours, but it began raining again last night.  It was raining this morning when I went home and visited my kits, and was changing to a rain and sleet mix when I headed over to Dellwood to care for the hens, fish and cats.  Xuxa was not happy that I wouldn't let her outside this morning - but I'd rather her and Carter be inside and safe (and upset with me) than have them outside in miserable weather.
   I'm currently back at Tessa's, having taken care of my kits, the critters at Dellwood, doing my shopping, and feeding the critters here (plus walking Tessa).  Tessa and I visited Rosie last night for an hour, and will do so for 90 minutes tonight.  I now have reservations for my vehicle lease for my vacation in July and August, and I have also purchased bumper-to-bumper accident insurance.  The rest of the family purchased their plane tickets last weekend - flying en masse from Denver to Washington National Airport and back.  I'm following the same itinerary, but I'll leave a few days before and follow them home a few days later.  My friend Beatrice will be looking after my cats while I'm gone - and as they both like her, it's wonderful.  She's still not used to Lovey trying to climb her like a tree - but I think I'm the only one used to that habit.
   I'm catching up on missed episodes of NCIS and Person of Interest this weekend, and I did duck into the library and find two new books to read - one's a new mystery by Margaret Coel, and the other is a new Clive Cussler book.  I also picked up a copy of  Thundercloud by Preston and Child, realizing that I haven't read it in over 13 years….
   Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  We'll be getting much needed moisture.

Busey Family and Vikings Spoiler

I awoke feeling completely energized this morning, which is totally strange, because I didn't go to bed until 2:30 this morning, and hopped up when the alarm went off at 6.  During my sleep, I dreamed constantly of two characters on Vikings, Athelstan and Floki; but I can't figure out why I awoke with Hank Williams' original rendition of "Jambalaya" playing continuously in my brain.  I know my brain works on various levels, but I just can't connect an English monk, a Viking shipwright, and the bayou togeth...   Ah. I think I've got the connection.  A wandering Viking visited Ragnar in last night's episode and told him how to find the mouth of the Seine....  OK.  I can accept that....  And two plus hours of Vikings last night - including Athelstan's Journal - it was a fantastic treat!
   If you didn't see Vikings last night, and will see it before next week - don't read anymore of today's blog - it'll be a spoiler for you - just be sure you view all two hours that aired last night. Athelstan has been torn between two cultures and two beliefs, since his abduction by Ragnar.  This comes to an end in this episode - and Floki, too, has a vision.  The handling of Athelstan's religion and views on his friend (first his owner) Ragnar have been handled deftly in this series - the meeting of two inquiring and curious minds discussing beliefs has been understated, yet strikingly portrayed.  It is clear that both men have influenced each other.  Floki, the shipwright, on the other hand, believes in the Old Gods completely and he frequently acts under their influence.  He takes Athelstan's life in this episode, something that I have been expecting since the early shows of the second season...  They are both too different, and Floki does not accept the change that Athelstan represents.  And it seems that Athelstan expects, and even welcomes, Floki's final intrusion into his home.  Floki manages to enter and exit Kattegat without being seen, so the death of the Englishman cannot be laid at his feet.  Ragnar then buries Athelstan  in the place where the priest taught him to recite the Lord's Prayer. It was very fitting.  So was Ragnar's request that Athelstan forgive him for what he would do in the future, while wearing the golden cross that Athelstan had worn.
  I also ran across an intriguing item listed under a cousin's name last night (Matthew Logan Busey)...  I found a page under The Busey Family Organization, located in Fort Lauderdale Florida that was titled: "Unorthodox:  Who Are We? Really?"  The Organization can be visited at:  http://busey.org  and the page I'm quoting from may be viewed, in its entirety, at http://www.busey.org/unorthodox/index.html    The part that I found very interesting was near the end: Sometimes we discover something unpleasant.  Like I wonder what economic hardships caused two of my great-grand-fathers to put bullets into their own heads?  If times were so hard, why did they figure that taking out the chief breadwinner was going to help the family?  The women were pretty strong in those days, and maybe those guys realized it.
Or what about another great-grandfather who died all by himself, thousands of miles from his wife and children?  "Sir, I have the honor to report that the name of the above-described pensioner who was last paid $30, to Sept. 4, 1915 has this day been dropped from the roll because of " . . . and there is blank filled in with that word . . . "death."
Why, when Matthew Logan Busey had applied on 15 January 1898 for a pension to the Department of the Interior, as a Civil War veteran, did he first tell the examiner that he was a widower?  Only to change his mind and to have had that line crossed out?  Did he temporarily not know or not want to believe that his wife was doing quite well, that she had packed up the kids and crossed the continent to start a new life?  This may have been a family secret, but I'm only revealing what is published for the world in the National Archives.
I feel deeply the pain of these people long gone.  I wonder what was going on in their minds.  Did they have the luxury of time to think about where they were going?  Were they locked into a society that had fewer choices than today?  I doubt that they had mental health counseling.  A part of me wants to relive those lives, to see if there's some way we can fix it for them posthumously.
So, what's the point?
1.  The first thing is obvious, that genealogy is mostly about dead people.
2.  That proves the next thing, that life is relatively short.
3.  Next thing is, since everybody dies, it doesn't matter who you are or where you came from.
4.  Which brings us back to #2, which is that it's all what you make of life. "
Guess I'll need to keep digging!

A Day of Ups and Downs - March 19

Yesterday was the 91st anniversary of my Dad's birth.  Dad got married relatively late in life, and fathered my sister and me, six and a half years apart.  I never had children; I couldn't.  My sister, the elder, got married immediately after graduating from high school - but she waited a while before having her kids.  Dad died when I was 24, at the age of 57.  At that time, neither Kathy nor I was married; Dad had no grandchildren - and he dearly loved children.  Kathy had a son and a daughter with her second husband.  Evie, Dad's first great-grandchild, arrived on the same day as Prince George, of the British Royal family.  Yesterday, on Dad's birthday, his first great-grandson was born.  I think that Kathy and I were more excited by Finn's arrival date than his parents were - but then, Mike never knew his grandfather...  So, there was a new arrival of 19.5 inches of Snow in Boulder, Colorado yesterday, and his name is Finnley Kent.  That makes his initials FKS - I pronounce that Fix, and I hope he'll be able to fix things around the house for his old Auntie when he grows up a bit!
   I was sorry to hear that well-known thoroughbred trainer Allen Jerkens had passed away earlier this week.  He was known as "Chief" on the backside of the track, while most fans knew him as "the Giant Killer."  Chief's father was a retired Austrian cavalry officer, and Chief wanted to be a jockey, as a youngster. He grew too tall, and too heavy, and after a brief stint as a jump jockey, he settled down to training.  He got his "Giant Killer" nickname by training horses that unexpectedly beat big-name champions.  He trained Beau Purple, who defeated five time Horse of the Year Kelso; and, after the great Secretariat had won the Triple Crown, Jerkens trained both Onion and Prove Out, who defeated Big Red.  The Chief won over $104 million in purse money, and never ran a horse in the Breeders Cup.  He was 85 when he died from an infection in a Florida hospital.
   And I was totally engrossed by Vikings on the History Channel last night - I was completely drawn into the story, and felt like a participant in those events - until a time/history mistake happened near the end of the show.  I don't know why it disturbed me, but it it.  I realize that this is a fictionalized dramatization of the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, and that the old Scandinavian sagas play fast and loose with dates, places, and times.  In history, the Vikings first attacked the city of Paris in the year 723; in last night's episode, Ragnar stated that they would attack Paris in their next raid, in the Spring.  Near the end of the program, King Ecbert of Wessex is crowing over a very nasty betrayal of both the farming Vikings on his land, and a turn against his own nobles.  He compares himself to Charlemagne...  but Charlemagne was the King of the Franks and most of western Europe from 771 until 814.  How did writer Michael Hirst miss this?  Or was it a "dramatic twist" of history, as happened in Braveheart, where time was also twisted so that it could be assumed that Wallace was the real father of Edward III?   In any event, I felt as if a huge bucket of cold water had been dashed over me....  Maybe that's what happens when you know your history too well?

Sudden Change in Plans

First, the snow has finally begun to fall for our predicted "Big Snow" event.  We were told that we'd get heavy rain, thunder and lightning yesterday afternoon, and that during the night, the rain would change to snow.  No rain. No lightning.  No thunder.  Snow began to fall about 4:30 this morning - and has just managed to cover the grass in the yard.  According to the weather folks, we'll get about 5 to 8 inches of snow by midnight, and then get that amount again tomorrow, with the snow continuing until noon on Monday.
   I was supposed to spend last night here at home with my kits.  I spent Thursday night at Tess's.  Yesterday afternoon, after I had taken all of my stuff home, I got a call from the lady who rents the downstairs apartment - she and her Mom were stuck on the western side of the Continental Divide in a snow storm, and couldn't say when they'd get back to Boulder.  I assured her I'd stay until either she or the owner returned.  Then I called the owner in New York.  She was supposed to fly back in a small private plane on Sunday.  She might not be able to leave until Monday - which has thrown my schedule completely out of whack.  But that's OK.
   I fetched my overnight stuff back last night, and spent the night with Tess again.  Home again, for the moment.  The kits are upset with me, because I'm not giving them enough love…  I'm now back at Tess's and am still watching the snow fall.  The owner called me at home, and asked me to feed the birds, and allow Martine, the gardener, access inside the house.  That's no problem.  I've fed the birds, fed all of her critters, and finished going through my e-mail.  I would really love to snuggle with Lovey and Nedi, but that will have to happen later.
   I was just getting settled down and extremely interested in Vikings Thursday night when the screen started showing the credits.  I felt lost - I had just been drawn back in time, to the early 9th century, and then - boom - it was gone.  I immediately wanted at least three more hours of the show then and there.  And, I have to admit, I watched it a second time, as the History Channel shows it back-to-back on Thursday night.  It was fun to see King Ecbert trying to flirt with Lagertha, and Floki was his usual prickly self.  Ragnar looked concerned about Bjorn's tenderness towards his new wife, and Rollo had his usual "what the…" attitude.
   The Blacklist was also intriguing - and, just as it was getting very intriguing, time was up.  And the writers on How To Get Away With Murder really know how to make a viewer crazy.  Introduce a whole new set of clues, throw Miss Cecily Tyson into the mix, with her own story of sexual exploitation and murder  - and I'm drooling to find out what happens next.  Too bad I'll be at the Grand Jury Thursday night, and will miss each and every show.  I guess I'll have to catch up on-line on Friday...

Snow and Vikings

I misjudged the amount of snow melt in my sister's back yard yesterday.  I walked Rosie and Lucy wearing sneakers, not my snow boots, and found that snow was still six inches deep in Kathy's back yard.  There were a few patches of grass, so I had a good place to stand and play with the dogs.  And Rosie and Lucy had a blast in the snow - they ran and played, chased toys that I tossed, made doggie snow angels, shoveled snow with their noses, ate snow, and chased a few impudent squirrels.  I was happy that I was able to keep my feet pretty dry.
  Our weather forecasters are saying that we'll have highs near 60 degrees (F) today and tomorrow morning.  Then the Arctic Express will back into the area, and snow will begin to fall Friday evening.  At the moment, most computer models say that Boulder will get between 12 and 24 inches of snow.  Oh boy.  I don't mind snow.  We need snow.  But I hate having large amounts fall when I'm committed to making several trips each day to different houses around town on the weekend.  My main reason is that the buses only run once an hour in any direction - which can be extremely inconvenient.  I'll get my shopping and laundry done today, so I won't have to do either over the weekend.
   Tonight, in America, the third season of the History Channel's Vikings will premiere.  Ragnar's hair style changes during this season, and some fans don't like that, according to comments I've seen on "sneak peek" sites.  My only comment is to remind viewers that time is passing in the Viking world - Ragnar's first son is now an adult; his children with his second wife are growing up.  In actual history, there is a 35 year gap between the first Viking raid on the Holy Island to the sack of Paris, which will happen this season.  Ragnar is getting older.  And he will, eventually, die.  I also got a kick out of a comment from a viewer who keeps saying that Lodbrok (or Lothbrook) is not a family name.  That is quite true. Lodbrok means "hairy pants" and was a nickname given to Ragnar  to differentiate him from other Vikings named Ragnar.  Rollo had no such appellation.

Bits

Yesterday was cloudy and cool, but not windy.  We're supposed to be cloudy again today, with a high near fifty; but the weather folks say we'll get about a half-inch of snow Saturday.  That's fine with me - I'll be walking Rosie, Tess and Lucy this morning and then Tess this afternoon, as well as twice each weekend day.  Currently, it's 32 degrees outside and the squirrels are bouncing around like performing acrobats.  My kits have decided to sleep instead of play outside, so I have the patio door closed.
  Watched a new episode of How To Get Away With Murder last night, and saw the plot thicken immeasurably... Violet Davis definitely deserved the Screen Actors Guild award that she won this past Sunday.  Her supporting cast is excellent, as well, and I'm going to be hard pressed to decide what to watch next week.  Television networks are always after the highest ratings.  Starting next Thursday night, NBC moves The Blacklist into the time slot opposite ABC's How To Get Away With Murder; then on 19 February, the History Channel adds Vikings into the mix, at the same time.  I don't have DVR or Tivo service, nor Xfinity On Demand.  I'll have to watch one, and then see the others on-line...  And, while I understand why the networks do this, I really dislike it.
   It's still a question as to whether or not Peyton Manning will return as the quarterback of the Denver Broncos this season.  Coaches are still being sought and hired throughout the professional league and the collegiate leagues, so I'll keep my mouth closed until it seems that most posts have been filled.  Peyton, however is going to receive the Bart Starr Award today at the Super Bowl Breakfast, for personifying professional football and for sharing with the community through his Pey-Back Programs in Denver, Indianapolis, Tennessee and Louisiana.
   I'm still looking forward to seeing the Super Bowl commercials, and I have refused to watch all the "sneak peeks" that have been released.  I know that a "GoDaddy" ad has been withdrawn from the broadcast because of negative feedback, but I believe that the .com has received so much publicity from revealing they've pulled the ad that it doesn't matter.  I prefer to see the commercials as they are presented, and to be surprised.  Of course, I'm also looking forward to the new episode of The Blacklist that will follow the actual game - especially since it introduces Ron Perlman as a new recurring character.  This should prove interesting....

Three Weeks to Third Season of Vikings!

I have truly enjoyed the two past seasons of Vikings on the History Channel.  It is fictionalized history, that follows the saga of a Viking named Ragnar Lodbrok (the last name is pronounced Loath-brook).  He, and his sons, are well known in history for their invasions and fighting in England.  This story also follows Ragnar's brother, Rollo.  Rollo is the person who sacks Paris, then settles down in France, having been given lands by the King to stop raiding in his area.  Rollo's lands become known as Normandy, home of the North (Norse) men, which over time, becomes corrupted to the word Norman; and William the Conqueror is his direct descendant.  The attacks on Paris are a part of this year's series. I am looking forward to it.
  And the third season of Vikings will start being broadcast on Thursday, 19 February!  Hooray!

Vikings logo description

Lagertha

The Seer

Siggy

Rollo

Vikings jewelry

Travis Flimmel, George Blagdon, Clive Standen and Gustaf Skarsgard

Cast, by character, left to right: Siggy, Floki, Athelstan, Ragnar, Lagertha and Rollo

Wild Times in Boulder

All sorts of fun and games going on in Boulder -  I awoke this morning to hear about a shooting involving police officers (not another elk, but a young man).  It seems that there was a dispute very early this morning between a cab driver and his fare.  The driver called the police because the passenger, after refusing to pay, began to threaten him.  Just before the police arrived, the passenger exited the car (through the window), and started to walk away.  When the police officers yelled at the man to stop, he ran away - going two blocks to his apartment building.  He barricaded himself within his apartment for over two hours, and neighbors were evacuated. Then the young man appeared to point a gun through a window.  Police officers opened fire and wounded the man.  He was taken out, and EMTs attended him.  A man who saw the wounded man being treated said that the wounded man did not seem to comprehend what had been happening - he couldn't understand or remember what had led to that point in time.  The observer said he thought the man was "very inebriated."  The intersection at 11 Street and College Avenue is currently closed while the police continue their investigation.
  With the rains of the past week and the past several days of high temperatures, we are expecting more flooding.  The Cache le Poudre River is more than one foot above flood stage, and Boulder Creek, which runs past my apartment, is barely staying within its banks.  At this time of year, Boulder Creek usually has a flow rate of of 80,000 to 110, 000 cubic feet of water per minute; the Creek is running at 800,000 to 850,000 cubic feet per minute.  Boulder Creek has been closed to all tubing, rafting, floatation devices, canoes, etc. from Barker Reservoir (on the east side of Nederland) all the way to the Erie city limits.  Kayaking is permitted; but people are urged to use extreme caution due to the enormous rate at which the waters are flowing.  Tickets resulting in fines will be given out to those breaking the law.
    I spent yesterday afternoon and evening watching the next-to-last and last episodes of Vikings again. I thoroughly enjoyed the bath scene with Kings Aelle and Ecbert, Prince Aethelwulf, and the Bishop.  I also enjoyed seeing Floki tell King Horik that he did not betray the Gods, nor Ragnar - "... only you, King Horik."  And, wonder of wonders, my sister actually watched the final episode with me...  I was completely amazed.
   All of the town of Collbran is now under eminent evacuation orders.  It is believed that the lake forming in the mudslide above the town could break through at any minute, and completely bury the town.  Currently, a memorial service for the three men lost last Sunday is scheduled to take place this Sunday.
  And, yesterday, on the witness stand, ex-Boulder police officer Brent Curnow stated that he did not believe that he had broken the law on the morning of 1 January 2013, when he drove from home to pick up and butcher the elk (Big Boy, aka Edward the Elk) that fellow officer Sam Carter had shot while on duty.  When asked about his guilty plea deal on his charges, he stated that his attorney had suggested he agree with them, because his attorney felt that he'd be found guilty at trial.  Sam Carter's attorney still states that his client is "not guilty of anything."

Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky Derby, Ducklings (& Vikings)

NBC Sports Network will broadcast, live, the running of the Kentucky Oaks  this afternoon.  There are still thirteen fillies entered, and it looks like a very athletic and competitive race.  I'm looking forward to it, and (of course) I hope that one of my choices wins the race.
  With Hoppertunity scratched from tomorrow's Derby, the horses in Post Positions 12 through 20, will all shift over one slot.  If Pablo Del Monte runs tomorrow, he will race from the 20th post gate.  I'll post my thought and choices on the Derby colts later this afternoon, after I post the results of the Oaks.
  The season finale of Vikings last night proved that Floki is a trickster, like Loki.  Helga, his wife, was appalled that Floki named their daughter Angrbroda , the giantess who was Loki's wife.  I wonder how she will figure in later episodes.  Seeing the twists and threads of the story now, I can see how everything came to pass.  Writer Michael Hirst has a very intriguing mind - and, it was very strange that Ragnar's only words in last night's episode were the request to learn a Christian prayer, and his, almost, word for word repetition of Athelstan's lead.  Ragnar appears throughout the episode, but he only speaks the Lord's Prayer...  And I was very happy to see Rollo get to his feet and use his axe again.  One heck of a way to end the season!
  Other than that, I am appalled by the callousness of two boys here in Boulder.  While walking down a path near a stream, a man saw two boys (he thinks they were about 12 or 13 years old), throwing rocks at baby ducklings.  He yelled and ran toward the boys, who ran away.  The man saw a mother mallard duck with nine ducklings launch into the water, and he felt all was well. Then he realized there were two ducklings still on the bank.  He scooped them up into a shoe box and took them to our local wildlife rehabilitation center.  One duckling has a nasty head injury, and is not expected to live.  The second duckling has a wing injury.  Both ducklings still have a prominent egg tooth, meaning they hatched only one or two days ago.  If the first duckling dies, the second one probably will die as well, as they are very hard to raise as singletons.  How can anyone consider harming a cute baby duckling?  They're all fuzzy feathers, big bills, and wobbly orange feet.  I hope that Greenbriar Wildlife Rehabilitation Center can perform miracles and return both of the baby ducks to the wild.  (And, may I have permission to throw 75 pound rocks at those two boys?)
 

Happy May Day!

Just to be silly, I went out just before dawn and gathered a small nosegay of local wildflowers - I figured that I ought to follow at least one of the old traditions today....   I'd love to see a traditional May Pole dance and Morris Dancers on the village green, but I'm afraid that I'll see the usual homeless contingent asking for a handout at Central Park instead.
  Bits and pieces today....
  Tonight is the season two finale for Vikings on the History Channel.  Nine episodes last year, ten episodes this year.  They've been renewed for a third season, and the writer, Michael Hirst, says he'll cover the sack of Paris in it.  I hope that we get twelve episodes next year!  If you know the saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, you pretty much know how tonight's episode will play out...
  Sam Carter, the ex-Boulder Police officer, was charged with killing Big Boy (aka Edward the Elk) on 1 January 2013.  He has yet to go to trial.  Yesterday, it was reported that in 2008, he responded to a call for Wildlife officers.  A multi-point buck was tangled in a wire fence; the buck was frightened, but not injured.  The man who placed the call was surprised that a BPD officer arrived, and immediately drew his weapon, stating the buck was injured and needed to be put down. (This was the same story Carter gave about the elk.)  The man argued with him until wildlife officers arrived, and the buck was helped out of the fence, emerging with a slight limp.  Both wildlife officers and the citizen who reported the buck stated that the buck had a huge rack - definitely a set of trophy antlers...  Does this sound familiar?
  After the Derby has ended, and before the Preakness fever hits, I think I'll write about the Koch brothers and their astonishing empire...  It's amazing how much this family owns.
  Rosie Napravnik, the very good female jockey, is riding in both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.  She will be riding two of the horses that are her usual mounts.  However, she has been given a three day suspension for "rough riding" in the Derby Trial Stakes while on Bayern.  She "allowed" him to drift into and bump another horse, while whipping him, near the end of the stretch.  The other horse lost the race by a nose.  That jockey filed a complaint, and the stewards decided that Rosie had compromised the other horse's run.  However, since she is a top-name jockey, and because she does have mounts in the two best known races this weekend, she will be allowed to ride - but then must serve a four day suspension, beginning Sunday.
  Trainer Steve Asmussen, and his friend and top assistant-trainer, Scott Blasi, were hit with very nasty allegations and undercover film footage 43 days ago.  Just before the big coverage began for the Triple Crown races.  The footage was shot by a member of PETA, and is said to show the use of illegal medications and the use of an electric shock device to make the horses run faster.  I have not seen the footage, nor do I wish to.  Steve has had a few bumps in the road about medication.  But I am amazed over the allegations of the electric shock device...  Scott Blasi  left Asmussen's employment the day after the film and report was given to The New York Times.  One has to wonder about the timing...
   Personally, I don't believe in harming any animal for any reason.  But.  I do not believe in the extremes that PETA goes to, and expounds.  If we follow the reasoning of the PETA guidelinesall the way to the end, then all animals, domesticated or not, should be allowed to run free, breed freely, and look after themselves. Humans should never touch nor feed them.  In this day and age, with highways, cities, airports, etc., turning all animals loose is a completely idiotic idea.  PETA needs to re-think their goals.  I totally agree there should be "Ethical Treatment of Animals," but one must also use common sense.
 

Just Things

A nice, quiet weekend for me...  Currently, Nedi is outside playing with the squirrels, while Lovey is lying in a patch of sunlight on the foot of the bed.  I woke up about ten minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off this morning, so I turned it off.  I drifted back to wakefulness 40 minutes later, with Lovey burbling in my ear and the sound of finches and sparrows singing outside the door.  I gave the squirrels walnuts this morning, and was very happy to see Cashew appear for breakfast.  I hadn't seen him for almost a week, and I know the service dog caught and killed two squirrels last week.  While the owner of the service dog said she'd like to work with me to get help training her dog, she hasn't "had any time" to do so.  The poor dog, meanwhile, howls inside the apartment - and this morning, has been trying to dig his way out through the window.  He's a young dog and needs plenty of exercise, love, companionship, and obedience training...  I feel sorry for both him and the owner, as she will continue to have problems with him.
  I move into Rosie's early Wednesday, and will stay there through the weekend.  Hopefully I can get the family's laptop up and running again.  And it will be nice to see this next to the last episode of Vikings on a 5-foot screen...  I just read an interview with Michael Hirst, the only writer involved with the series (indeed, he's the creator and sole writer), that next year's episodes will include one showing the sacking of Paris - that is an episode to look forward to!  But, as always, I want more; and much sooner than next year.  The first day of filming for the third season has already been set for 2 June, in Ireland.  I'm looking forward to seeing all of the major characters return.
  Zenyatta's filly, sired by War Front, arrived at Lane's End Farm at 12:03 a.m. on Easter morning.  She is a gorgeous bay, with a curling white blaze on her face.  The weather at the farm was so beautiful that Zenyatta and her foal were taken out to the paddock yesterday morning to enjoy the sun, and for the filly to try out her legs.  I still like the name I came up with - Zen Somme - for her;other folks are pressing for Eazter or Eazter Bunny, and a few for Z War Zone or No More Warz.....  I'd like commemorate all of the fallen men along the Somme back in World War I, myself....

14Z outside on Easter morning

Birds in Spring

Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching two red-tailed hawks in a courtship flight, the company of two great horned owls perched in a spruce tree above me, and being able to observe the comings and goings of several other birds, squirrels and a single cotton tail rabbit.  All of this in my sister's back yard, as Rosie and I visited Boo.  Rosie chased a couple of the squirrels, but didn't see the rabbit; and, thankfully, she hasn't realized that a rufous sided towhee has built a nest only two feet off the ground to the east of the kitchen window...  Boo leaves the birds alone, but Rosie is interested in the local magpies.
  My guess regarding Vikings last night was correct - Ivar the Boneless was born to Ragnar and Princess Aslaug.  Floki sailed to Wessex in King Horick's boat, and the King is trying to purchase Floki's loyalty.  Once they arrived in Wessex, Ragnar sent Thorstein with a message to speak with King Ecbert.  Ragnar agreed that they would, all three (Ragnar, Horick and Lagertha), have a discussion face to face with Ecbert, after his son gave Ragnar Athelstan's arm ring.  On the way back to Winchester, all the guards with Aethelwulf were killed, and Aethelwulf was wounded, in a surprise trap by King Horick's men.  Rollo has been training Bjorn to fight, and has promised to always "have his back" in battle. -  I can't believe there are only two new episodes left for this year.  I have to echo the song in the opening credits for Vikings: "More, give me more, I want more!"
   It is another gorgeous day, with high temperatures forecast of 75 degrees.  We might have a few showers tomorrow, or Sunday, but the chance is slight.  And the Colorado Avalanche won their play-off game last night, and that has raised the hopes of local hockey fans.  It would be nice to win some kind of sports title...
 

House Sold, Anniversaries, Vikings, and Weather

We all are enjoying the warmer weather - the kits like having more outdoor time, and I know that both Rosie and I enjoy the warmth of the sun.  We were supposed to have a blast of cold last night, with rain and snow - but we didn't get any precipitation, and the low was only 34 degrees.  Apparently the lower Chesapeake Bay inherited our winds, as a gravel and coal carrier, the Ornak, a 751-foot cargo ship, was run ashore, dragging her anchors by winds over 70 mph.  An hour before the Ornak was blown aground, a 79-foot rig vessel and a 1,065 foot container ship collided, due to the winds, in a heavily used shipping channel.  Neither vessel sustained major damage; nor the the other 12 ships that reportedly drug anchor.
  Tuesday was the 50th anniversary of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel having opened.  I remember traveling across the Bridge-Tunnel in June of 1964 in Uncle Claude and Aunt Ruth's new Jeep SUV...    And today is the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Ford Mustang - I always thought that was one of the best cars ever made - it was the dream car of kids in the 1960s.  My friend, Richard Shuler, had a black Mustang when we were in high school, and I always remember how much I envied him...
  It is, of course, Thorsday, which means I'll get another wonderful hour of Vikings on the History Channel tonight.  My guess is that tonight Princess Aslaug will give birth to Ragnar Lodbrok's fifth son, Ivar the Boneless; and I believe that next season, we will see Ragnar with his third wife...   And, if you read Bernard Cornwell's  The Saxon Tales books, you will find that several of the characters in the multiple books are sons of Ragnar Lodbrok.  The protagonist of the series is Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who fights against the Ragnarssons.
  My friend Alexy's house was placed on the market on Saturday and yesterday (Wednesday) the sales contract was signed.  Alexy is happy and sad at the same time - she, her husband, and son lived there for 30 years.  She slowly had the house remodeled to her tastes - including a large, well-lit art studio - and planned the yard plantings and gardens.  She moves out on 26 May, to a condominium in Louisville.  I think she will miss the yard, which was a quarter-acre in the front of the house, and a full acre in the back.  She delighted in the wildlife that abounds in the area - her only complaint was about the coyotes, not the bears or mountain lions.  I think she'll miss having the mule deer buck bed down under her dining room window all winter; but - I'm also sure she won't miss expending so much energy on taking care of the house and grounds.  I will miss her and her two cats, Cloudy and Shady.

Hatevil Hall, Vikings, Weather

It's glorious outside - upper 40s in temperature, bright sunshine, very light occasional breeze, and a cloudless sky.  The weather folks say we'll have a high of about 75 degrees today, and a high of about 70 with cloudy skies tomorrow.  They say that our high temperature on Sunday will be just after midnight, and that Boulder will get 5 to 7 inches of snow in the afternoon and evening - and the temperature will rebound to the 60s on Monday.  It's our usual wacko Spring weather!
   Last night's episode of Vikings was enthralling. From the hints on Facebook,  I had deduced that King Aelle of Northumbria would be the visitor to King Ecbert in Wessex, and that Floki would wed Helga.  I had not foreseen that Floki would become restive under Ragnar's rule, and did not invite Ragnar to his wedding.  Bjorn still looks up to Floki for some guidance, and Siggy is still telling "secrets" to King Horik - for Rollo's preferment, she says. Jarl Borg met his end via the Blood Eagle, but he did not cry out, so he entered Valhalla as a warrior.  Athelstan, meanwhile, observed the wedding of King Aelle's daughter, Judith, and King Ecbert's son, Aethelwulfe.  And the two Kings made a pact, to take over Mercia (the land between theirs) and split it between them, while agreeing to unite to fight the menace of the Northmen...
  I'm still working on my father's maternal family tree.  While I haven't discovered anything earth-shattering so far, it's nice to see that most were farmers, merchants, teachers, and men of the law.  I have found two surnames to add to my unusual names list - one is a family named Palpeter, and the other is a family named Cripliver.  I wonder how those two surnames evolved?  Some of the names I come across while reading the US Census from many years ago cause me to shake my head - so many grandiloquent names for so many who died so young.  I still have to laugh when I see the old newspaper write up on unusual names that asks if Hatevil Hall hated evil...  He's one of my ancestors, and he was a Quaker elder,so I think I can fairly say that, yes, Hatevil Hall hated evil.  He had a multitude of sons, and each of those sons named their first born son Hatevil, as did the second and third generations.  I have about 70 Hatevil Halls in my family tree, that I know of.  (And, yes, the name is pronounced Hate Evil...)

Books and Vikings

I met an older lady the other day, and we were inside a building, without bright light.  She suddenly asked me how I managed to be so tan...  I was surprised, but I told her that I'm out nearly every day walking dogs, and that I thought if she'd look closer, she'd see my "tan" was masses of freckles.  I guess that means it's time for me to start wearing my sun hat and sun glasses again.  I was going to do so yesterday - but after an hour of bright sun shine, we had a huge mountain wave cloud that closed off the sun until 2 in the afternoon; then it finally moved off to the east.  Today, it's bright out, even though it's almost 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. It reached 75 degrees yesterday, and we're expecting mid-60s through Saturday, but rain and snow Sunday and Monday....  Oh, well.   We can use the moisture!
   I've been waiting for the second book of the Farseer Trilogy to be available from the library.  Yesterday I finished Assassin's Apprentice but was still waiting for Royal Assassin.  So I picked up and began reading the next book in The Saxon Tales series, by Bernard Cornwell, The Pagan Lord.  If you're interested in England, and English history, during the Viking invasions and during the Dane Law, I highly recommend this series of books.  It follows the life of a Northumbrian lad into manhood and old age, including his raising by Danes, his return to the Saxons and his grudging loyalty to King Alfred the Great.  The author has done extensive research into the ways of life at that time, and the beliefs of the different peoples, including the spreading wave of Christianity.  The books are all superbly written!
  Both of my kits are back inside, and I'm preparing to go walk Rosie and Lucy.  I was amazed yesterday evening because the woman who owns the service dog was actually walking around, picking up all the poop in the back yard yesterday.  She had a very disgusted look on her face, but at least she is now following the community rules.  After walking the dogs this  morning, I'll stop by the library to return three books and pick up the second and third installments of the Farseer Trilogy...  I received an e-mail this morning that they are ready for pick-up.  Yippee!
  And, of course, today is Thor's Day - which means another new episode of Vikings on the History Channel.  There have been hints that Floki and Helga's romance might be heating up, and a warning that someone comes to join forces with King Ecbert of Wessex.  I wonder if that means we'll see King Aelle again?  I know that Aelle is instrumental in Ragnar's eventual death, so it seems fitting that he will appear, off and on, in the series.  And, hopefully, all of you know that Vikings has been signed on for a third year!

Bits And Pieces - Again

Thank goodness I'm in a much better frame of mind today than I was yesterday!   Lovey is lying on the top of the cat tree, and Nedi is sitting on the patio, watching the squirrels eat and fuss over the peanuts and walnuts.  The service dog next dog spent 15 minutes barking this morning, and then followed it up with a high-pitched howling for another 5 minutes - it was rather nerve wracking.  ...  I saw my shrink and my new case manager yesterday at Mental Health Partners.  For the first time, the psychiatrist and I seemed to be able to connect.  The case manager is allergic to cats, but loves dogs.  So we have found a "middle" ground.
  My friend, Beatrice, and I are going out to have brunch at Turley's today, after I walk Rosie and return home.  Since we won't arrive there util about 11:30, I don't know whether we'll have breakfast or lunch; but it doesn't matter, because Turley's food is always fantastically good!  And I saw two friends on the bus trip to and from MHP yesterday - my nephew's wife was on the bus on my way there, and my friend Jewel was on her way to the Pearl Street Mall as I returned.
  It is sunny this morning, but we're supposed to get more rain and/or snow tomorrow.  Once again, I can happily stay at home and read and do genealogy research.  Tomorrow will see the running of three prep races for the Kentucky Derby on May 3 - the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the Calder Derby in Florida, and the Santa Anita Derby (and Oaks, for fillies).  Next Saturday will have the running of the Blue Grass Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.  The last day of April will see the post position drawing for the Kentucky Derby entrants - then I'll need to do my pedigree searches....
   I watched Vikings last night on the History Channel.  It looks awful, written here plainly, but I enjoyed seeing the death of Lagertha's second husband.  I also enjoyed Rollo's "playing" of Jarl Borg - and Ragnar's threat of the Blood Eagle as Borg's final punishment.  And, now, I wonder about Athelstan's fate - King Ecbert has opened the doors of ancient knowledge to Athelstan;  what will the ex-monk do when Ragnar returns to Wessex?

Short Post

Well, the service dog barked at me three different times yesterday, while sitting loose on my patio, looking in through the door.  I sent a letter to the apartment manager.  While I feel guilty about it, I also feel that I have the right to move around inside my apartment without having a neighbor's dog (a) sitting on my patio and (b) barking at my movements.  Is that too much to expect?
   I am having a blast taking care of the four hens and two cats on Dellwood.  I'll try to get photos of them all before the end of the week.  And I move in with Boo tomorrow - that'll be interesting.  I will miss sleeping with Lovey and Nedi while Kathy and Jim are off looking at sandhill cranes in Nebraska.  At least I have a good supply of books to read - even though I'm currently waiting for the second book of the Tawney Man series to arrive at my library.  I have about 40 pages left of the first book, and I have a jack Reacher novel to read in between - but I'd rather continue on reading Robin Hobb, even though I  love Lee Child's books.
  And today is Thorsday, so I am greatly looking forward to tonight's episode of Vikings.  And word was released that Vikings has been renewed for a third season.  Yahoo!  Can't wait to see more of Ragnar, Rollo, Floki, Helga, Lagertha, Bjorn and Aslaug...  I really enjoy this series!