Stress and Other Things

I've never reacted well to stress.  I've been under stress since my sister's diagnosis of breast cancer in November.  I've worried about having enough money for the family reunion trip to Chincoteague in July and August.  Then, I get informed that my apartment lease won't be renewed and I need to find a new home for myself and my two cats within four weeks.  Stress?  What's that?
  I had to blow my nose last night.  I realized, as the tissue touched my upper lip, that it was painful enough to bring tears to my eyes.  My recurrent shingles have decided to make another visit, thanks to the stress.  That means 5 to 10 weeks of of open, gooey sores on my upper lip, directly below my nose.  That means it will look like I have a boogerey blob under my right nostril for the next month or two.  I did not want this for my vacation.  I don't want the terrible nausea and diarrhea that the shingles medicine causes on top of the way I already feel.  I already have nausea and diarrhea, thanks to the stress I'm under.
   Thanks for listening/reading.  I needed to whine.
The idiot 21-year-old man who shot and killed nine church-goers in Charleston has been caught, and has allegedly confessed to the shootings.  What a stupid jerk.  He says he's afraid that African-Americans are taking over the world.  Maybe he should live here in Boulder, where less than 2% of the population is African-American. - Then again, we don't want him here.
  Yesterday, the prosecution finished their case against the man accused of the Aurora Theater shootings.  The court will re-convene on Thursday to hear the case for the defense.  It's taken 8 weeks for the prosecution to present their case.  Now the defense has to convince the jury that their client was insane at the time of the shooting.  Their presentations should be extremely interesting and possibly entertaining.
   The Larkspur Renaissance Festival opens today.  I'd love to go, but I'm counting pennies.  The Royal Gorge White Water Festival begins today.  The Leadville Marathon and Half-Marathon will be run this weekend.  The Greeley Stampede begins this weekend.
   Fireman's Carnivals all over the Eastern Shore begin this weekend.  Both the Hebron, Maryland and the Wachapreague, Virginia Carnivals began last night.
   And today is the Assateague Coastkeeper's birthday!  Happy birthday, sweetie!  We love you for all the things that you do!

Carnival Season on the Eastern Shore

Yesterday I had a wonderful time watching young cottontail rabbits playing together, and squirrels chasing and playing with each other.  But, on my way back to Tess' in the afternoon, I saw something that made me cry.  Two young squirrels were running across a three-lane road.  One made it safely, the other didn't.  It seemed to take a glancing blow, but was dead immediately.  The survivor ran back into the street several times, avoiding traffic, and tried in vain to get the other to join him/her.  The dead one was not messily squashed - it looked like it was asleep in the middle of the road.  The survivor kept using a paw on the fallen one's shoulder, as if it were trying to awaken the other one.  I saw it go to the dead one five separate times, and try to get the fallen one to join it.  It was so sad….  I don't know if they were litter mates, friends, a courting couple, or what.  All I know was that the death of one little squirrel made the rest of my day mirthless.
   Race horse California Chrome, who is now in England, has a younger full-blood sister.  The filly was supposed to appear  in her first race on 15 May, but was scratched due to illness - a virus, says her trainer.  The youngster is now scheduled to have her first race on June 15.
  The fourth annual Tall Ships at Cape Charles will be taking place in two weeks time  - the 13 and 14 of June.  I'd certainly be there, if I were closer than Colorado.  More information can be found at:  http://www.tallshipscapecharles.com    There are all sorts of cultural, educational and heritage visits that can be made on the Eastern Shore in the summer.  And most of the Volunteer Fire Companies in Virginia and Maryland are holding their fund-raising Carnivals between now and Labor Day…  Please support our local Fire Fighters and EMT crews by visiting their Carnival, and contributing to the local economies.
   I also highly recommend Captain Barry's Back Bay Cruises from Chincoteague - both the daylight and evening cruises - and Captain Dan's Pony Tours from Chincoteague.   Barry Frishman is my favorite Captain and tour guide - and he's very hands-on and knowledgeable, and everyone has fun on his trips and tours.  If you only want to see ponies, birds, and dolphins the go out with Captain Dan.