American Football

Saturday would have been a huge football (American) day for me, but since I no longer have any favorites to cheer for, it's kind of dull.  I grew up supporting the Florida Gators, and I graduated from there, and I love the Gators - but since Tim Tebow graduated, none of the coaches nor individual players have been able to arouse my football competitiveness.  I guess that Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Errict Rhett, and Tim Tebow spoiled me...  Yesterday the Gators played their arch-rivals, the Florida State Seminoles, and I was bored.  First, I was upset, as always, by the 'Noles' use of "Chief Osceola" on an Appaloosa horse as their school character. I also knew that the Gators were on their way to Atlanta, to vie for the SEC Championship.  And, I don't think the Gators are that good this year...  Their play is extremely uneven, and while the defense is good to great, the offense stinks.  So I wasn't very surprised when the Seminoles won the game.
   The Colorado Buffaloes, on the other hand, have been this year's surprise team, and by defeating the Utah Utes, here in Boulder, last night, they won the Pac-12 South Championship, for the first time since they joined this conference.  But, again, even though I live here, I feel no connection to either the coaches, or any of the players.  It's a weird feeling for me - I've followed college football for 45 years, and now I just don't care.
    And it's the same for our professional football teams this year - there is no one player, or any coach, that really interests me.  There are a lot of players that I completely dislike - mainly those that have gotten away with rape (by paying off the women involved), and there are two players that are quarterbacks that I simply dislike, period - for any and/or all reasons - they just "rub me the wrong way."  So after 45 years of Friday night through Monday night football games, I find myself adrift - nothing to watch or talk about - other than my obsessions with genealogy, history, and horses....  Oh, well.  I guess that's enough to keep me busy and out of trouble...

A Fall Weekend

Fall has definitely arrived, with breezy weather and the temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than they have been.  The weather forecasters said we'd have a high of 58 degrees (F) today and it would be grey and rainy.  The sun is shining, the sky is blue, there's an occasional breeze and the forecast for today's high is 70 (in Boulder).  We had homemade Belgium waffles this morning for breakfast, as well as some turkey sausage - I had juice and Bea had her coffee.  I was surprised when I arrived home this morning at 7:10 and saw Beatrice out on the balcony - usually she sleeps until 8 o'clock, or so.  When I got upstairs, I asked why she was up, and she said that Lovey had been talking to her.  As she (Bea) drifted awake this morning, she thought there was a small child in the apartment that kept saying, "Hello?  ...  Hello?"  The voice got closer, and she looked down and realized that it was Lovey.  I had thought it would be Nedi, but no - it was the girl.
   Cooper had a wonderful time yesterday, chasing the planes that were flying overhead, along with the gliders.  I'm thankful that there wasn't a home football game, or the whole neighborhood would have wanted me to keep him inside.  But he has a good time chasing the planes and barking - and doesn't run into the wooden fence too often.  Lola, the other dog, just sits and watches him act the fool.  Pounce has been having a fantastic time stretched out along my legs while I'm reading, or watching television.  Tipsi has been busy hunting - he's brought me six snakes in two days, along with one bunny, and a partially mashed frog (it looked like a bicycle had run over both hind legs).  I turned everything loose again, except the frog, which was too badly damaged to survive.
   The Gators started out well against the Tennessee Volunteers, but couldn't hold onto the lead yesterday, so the Vols beat the Gators for the first time in 11 games.  Mizzou had a huge blowout, and at the half, the teams agreed to play two ten-minute quarters to end the game.  South Carolina lost to the Kentucky Wildcats.  And, much to everyone's surprise, including my own, the Colorado Buffaloes beat the Oregon Ducks in an away game....   We'll have to see what happens with the Denver Broncos today....

Moving On.....

It's a big football weekend here in Boulder - the Homecoming game for the CU Buffs.   They had their parade last night; and the game is at 7 this evening against Arizona.  My best wishes go to them for a win.   The Florida Gators will be playing at LSU, and they hope to remain undefeated.  Good luck to the orange and blue!
   I was shocked to learn earlier this week that Steve Spurrier, "the Ol' Ball Coach," was resigning his position as head coach with the South Carolina Gamecocks.  As he has since said, he resigned, he didn't retire - but, still, without his presence, I haven't been able to drum up the same thrill about collegiate games that I used to enjoy.  Steve Spurrier was/is a person that has a polarizing effect upon people - you either love him, or you hate him, or you're totally indifferent.  I've loved Steve since he was a junior at the University of Florida.  I met and talked with him many times as a child, and throughout our lives since.  I've always been shocked that he's been able to remember me - but he remembers me via our link, my Dad.  He always recognizes me as "Charlie's daughter."   Coach Spurrier always had such a zest for the game of football, and he loved making his stinging comments about rivals.  I'll always remember his crack (while coaching the Gators) that FSU stood for "Free Shoes University" when an alumni at FSU was in trouble for giving large numbers of free Nikes to football and basketball players.
  Tomorrow the Broncos play the Browns - and I think that the Bronco defense will again supply the win for the offense.  Something isn't clicking in the offense - don't know if it's the new head coach, Peyton Manning, the offensive line, or what - but they are not the team that I cheered for s few years ago.
   (And I try to get my fill of Tim Tebow by watching the Friday evening and Saturday morning analysis shows on the SEC Network.  Tim does his homework and knows what he's talking about...)
   Finally:  Dreamer's Faith.  Closure.  Roe Terry and the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company admit they made a terrible mistake in not searching the corral and fence line at the Carnival Grounds after the filly was noticed missing.  They thought she had been stolen, and did not search the property thoroughly.  They state they have learned from a very painful mistake and will not jump to conclusions in the future.  The CVFC will make recompense to the Beer family for the loss of their filly, Dreamer's Faith.  New procedures are now in place regarding the ponies being kept on the Carnival Grounds - newer, safer procedures.   Period.
   The Fall Round-Up of the Chincoteague ponies takes place today and tomorrow.  There are at least three new foals born since Pony Penning that I know of...  Looking forward to seeing new photos from friends.

Football, Blood Moon Eclipse, Faith Still Missing

Boulder is warm, but a little cloudy this morning.  I'm still a little shell-shocked from this weekend's football - both collegiate and professional, though.  I figured the South Carolina Gamecocks would bounce back and win this week; I did not think that Florida would be able to defeat Tennessee, as they did; and I was amazed by the CU Buffs shutting out Nicholls State.  I was thrilled that the Broncos won in Detroit last night - but the other pro teams I cheer for lost.  And, on the happy and sad list is that Ben Roethlisberger's knee injury will keep him from playing for 4 to 6 weeks; I wanted it to be a career-ending injury.  A multiple rapist shouldn't be a 'worshiped' NFL quarterback, period.
   The full eclipse of the super blood moon was a fantastic sight.  We went up Flagstaff Mountain and parked at one of the eastern overlooks to observe the occurrence.  It was gorgeous!

Dreamer's Faith, and the people who stole her, are still in an unknown, undiscovered place.  Saturday the Chincoteague Pony 4-H Club raised another $634.+ to add to the reward for the stolen filly.  The reward is now over $2,100 for information that leads to the return of the filly, and/or the arrest of the miscreants who stole her.

   Dreamer's Faith is a 5 to 6 month old chestnut paint filly.  She has a freeze brand on her left hip that plainly reads "15" and she has a very easily distinguished coat pattern.  She has a chestnut head and face with a backwards apostrophe white star on her forehead, above and between her eyes.  She has four white stockings - well above her knees and hocks.  On her right side, just behind her withers is a chestnut heart surrounded by white, that extends to her croup.  On her left shoulder and neck is a white marking that can be seen as a dove in flight, or a wind-blown cross.  Her forelock and mane are chestnut until her withers, with the last few inches being white.  Her tail is mainly chestnut, with a small white strip near the base on the left side.  She is stolen property.  She is missed by her owners and fans.  She was removed from Chincoteague Island, Virginia on September 6 or 7, in a white horse trailer pulled by a white Chevy dually truck.  Please keep your eyes open for this much-loved and missing filly. (See previous post on B's Critter Sitter Blog for photos.)

Updates

First, Dreamer's Faith is still missing from Chincoteague.  Since her theft, the thief has had enough time to have her seen by an equine veterinarian, and to have all of her vaccinations and blood tests (needed for transportation across state lines and national borders) performed, and to get the necessary paperwork.  Of course, Dr Cameron, the veterinarian for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, as already done those things.  Since I live in Colorado, I have sent notifications about the theft of Dreamer's Faith to all the local television stations, as well as to 40 equine veterinary practitioners, and have asked them to spread the news with other vets.  The information includes a description, five photos, and information about whom to contact at the Chincoteague Police Department and/or the CVFC.  Since I have yet to find my dUSB camera cord, I don't know which of three buy-back foals Faith was; the three sold for $6,000, $7,500, and $10,000 each.   -   And I'm still reeling from the chutzpah it took to steal her from the Main Street Carnival Grounds corral. This is the first time it's happened since the Firemen took over the Pony Sale 90 years ago.....
   We've had cooler nights here in Colorado, and the CU Buffs showed they drive and courage by winning the Rocky Mountain Showdown in over-time last night.  The Gators managed to win in an ugly game against Kentucky, and the Georgia Bulldogs devastated the Gamecocks.  The Gators will have to become a much better team to be able to defeat the Dawgs this year.
   I've seen lots of local wildlife in the past few days - a doe with twin fawns is staying nearby, and the numbers of rabbits is amazing.  The squirrels are also feeling very frisky.  I miss our fox population; when the coyotes moved in, the fox were either killed, or they moved on.  *sigh*  I really liked the fox, but I don't much like the coyotes.  Fall birds are starting to appear, too, which is a nice change.  Our robins disappear for only a few months and they are still in residence.
   I hope your Sunday is peaceful and relaxing.

Football (Madness?)

I have to admit that a lot of the college football teams surprised me yesterday….  and the CU Buffaloes were one of them.   I was proud to watch both the offense and the defense yesterday, and they made Boulder proud.   I wish that the Virginia Cavaliers had been able to defeat Notre Dame - that would have made me ecstatic for the whole week.  As it happened, ND lost their starting quarterback for the rest of the season - but I do wish Virginia had been able to best the other team.  The East Carolina Pirates could have beaten the Florida Gators, but didn't - which made all my friends in Florida and Jim McIlwyne very happy.  The Gators should have played better, but they didn't.  What happened?   The Kentucky Wildcats were hugely delighted by their defeat of the South Carolina Gamecocks, and they used every second they had possession of the ball to their advantage.  The last few minutes of the game were ugly to behold.  The Kentucky players and coaches were gloating on the sidelines as they ran the clock out, just taking a knee on the off chance that the Gamecocks might get the ball back and score.  I'm sure that's called "gamesmanship" and I do realize that using the field clock to one's advantage is to be encouraged.  But it just seemed to me that the UK team was afraid to play normally because they felt that the Old Head Ball Coach's voodoo would allow the Gamecocks to grab the ball, score, and win the game.  (Or is that just sour grapes speaking?)
  The Broncos will kick off at 2:25 (MDT) this afternoon, and I'll be watching intently.  I didn't really watch any of the pre-season Bronco games, as I was watching the Philadelphia Eagles in hope that Tim Tebow would make some brilliant plays and be placed on their roster.  The other reason that I didn't watch the preseason games is because the announcers tend to get caught up in themselves, and speak passionately about what they care about, and don't give any useful information regarding new players.  A few years ago, I remember watching a Broncos preseason game, and the two announcers spent the entire game talking about the Patriots and the Steelers, neither of whom were on the field.  I think that during preseason professional football games, the announcers should talk about the players on the teams that are on the field, period.
   And I've made no bones about the fact that I dislike several quarterbacks - Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston, Phillip Rivers, and Tom Brady.  One of my bus drivers has a new filk song - sung to the tune of the theme from "The Brady Bunch:"  - There's a story, about a man named Brady, who deflates every single football he can find…."  For some reason that just sticks in my brain.  I dislike the first two on the list because they are rapists, pure and simple.  Phillip Rivers is a nasty bully - I sure as heck wouldn't want him to be a role model for my child - and Colin Kaepernick has turned out in the same mold.  What happened to the nice young man who graduated from college?  Has money and fan adulation turned him into such a monster so quickly?  It's just sad….
    I prefer Peyton and Eli Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers  (and Tim Tebow) to any other quarterback currently in the league.

Working Here, Working There

Heaven in Colorado - three college football games on television; the the Gators and the Gamecocks kick off at 5 and 5:30, so I'll be switching channels like mad for a little while....  The Buffs, here in Boulder, are playing at home, against the University of Massachusetts. I want to watch the game, and I don't want to watch the game.  Twenty-five years ago the CU Buffs were the best team in the nation; now, we're lucky to win three games a season. Oh well, not everyone can be a Gator.
   I've taken care of my kits and done the Saturday house-cleaning.  I've gone to Lynn's house, fed all of her critters,taken in the mail and newspaper, and watered all the exterior plants.  I've gone grocery shopping.  I did laundry yesterday.  My one objective for today is to seek and find the dUSB cable for my camera.  I will accomplish this one task.
   Waiting for client checks to arrive - can't get my meds until the checks are in the bank.  When the MD used to write the prescriptions for one month at a time, I had no problem having the $15 co-pay; now that the meds are being dispensed for a 3 month period, I have to shell out $68 for them...  So, it's a waiting game.  The pharmacy has called twice to tell me the drugs are ready, but I can't pay for them...  I will be able to pay for them tonight, as Beatrice will pay me some of her rent money when she returns home form work.  I just hope the pharmacy is open late tonight.
   I wired my red crab to the outside of our balcony yesterday afternoon.  So far, only Bea and Mike have commented on it.  Nedi is thoroughly enjoying himself, as Beatrice is allowing him out on the balcony while I'm away.  Both kits enjoy sitting on the balcony, especially after being indoor/outdoor cats at the other apartment.  The only worry I have here is high traffic levels and lots of loud, unexpected noises that startle the kits - so they are restricted to our second floor balcony and the interior of the apartment.

Goodbye, Bear.... and Football

I hate to report this, but the young black bear that I met pretty much face-to-face last Friday is dead.  She kept hanging around the neighborhood and several families to the west of our subdivision were frightened by her.  The Department of Wildlife came out and shot her with a tranquilizer dart - but she reacted energetically and broke through the circle of observers.  They lost track of her.  Thirty minutes later, she was found, dead, in a drainage ditch.  The tranquilizer had kicked in and she had gone to sleep - in the bottom of a drainage ditch with four inches of water in it.  She went to sleep, her head fell under the water, and she drowned.  The necropsy showed that she was about two years old, weighed 115 pounds, and had not yet had any cubs.  At least her accidental death did not mean the starvation of cubs, also.  It just goes to show that sometimes, even with good intentions, bad things can happen.  If the tranquilization and capture had gone as planned, she would have been released in the middle of a National Forest, with no human habitations within 10 miles of her.  It's sad.

Once I finish my blog entries for today, I am going to open all my move-in boxes and find my dUSB cord for my camera.  I still haven't looked at the photos I took while in Virginia and Maryland.  I've been busy, but not that busy, and I'm kind of disgusted with myself for letting it go for so long.  

   At least my college football season got off to a good start yesterday.  Even though it wasn't a "pretty" win, the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels, to get me and Coach Spurrier on a winning streak.  Following that game, both the Broncos and the Eagles lost their final pre-season games.  It looks as if I'll be following two pro teams this year - the local Denver Broncos, and, since it looks like Tim Tebow will be on the Eagles' roster, I'll have to tune in for their games, as well.  And, today, the Eagles traded the other quarterback that was battling with Tebow for a spot on the team.  I very rarely positively like a professional quarterback - but I'm all for both Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning.

Happy

I had forgotten what it's like to be able to "sleep in."  I spent last night at Tess, Lily and Lyra's house - and I had last allowed Tess outside at 1:30 this morning, to chase a raccoon from the deck.  I turned off my alarm when  we both went back to bed.  I had the most wonderful dream, and awoke smiling at 5 a.m., my usual time to get up and get going.   I turned over, instead, and went back to sleep.  It was amazing to awaken and have sunlight outside…  It was 8 o'clock, so I got up, fed the kids, got the newspaper in, and looked at the news.  If my kits will allow me to do this on Sunday, I'll be extremely happy.
   I watched the Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl yesterday.  Even though I grew up in Gainesville, Florida, I was rooting for the Oregon Ducks to defeat the Florida State Seminoles - and they did, by a huge margin.  I just don't like their quarterback, Jameis Winston, and how he gets charged with all kinds of wrong-doing, but, somehow, never gets convicted.  It just makes me mad.  I was conflicted regarding the Alabama and Ohio State game - Alabama is an SEC team, but I also liked Urban Meyer, the OSU coach, when he was at Florida.  I would have been OK with either winning, but Dad always rooted for the underdog, and so I found myself wanting OSU to beat the number 1 ranked Crimson Tide.  And the Buckeyes did it.   That leaves the national title game to be Ohio State and Oregon.  Even though I live in Colorado now, I'll have to root for the Buckeyes.
  And I get to spend the next week 9 nights in my own bed, with Lovey and Nedi!   I am happy.

Crowded Shopping

Beatrice and I decided that since it was December 6, a Saturday, with the Ferguson/New York protest happening, and some college championship football games being played, it would be "safe" to do some Christmas shopping and looking downtown.  We thought it wouldn't be too crowded.  Bea called me at 9:20 and said she'd be down in a few minutes; her knock on my door came at 11:35 - by that time I knew the shops would be swarming with people...  We had indifferent service at IHOP, and I admit that I tipped accordingly.  The restaurant was not very busy, and our server was very inattentive.
   Then we went to World Market for stocking stuffer shopping.  They were packed, even though it wasn't the 1/2 price sales day.  But we were both able to find some neat items.  Then we went to Red Letter Books, Liberty Puzzles, and the Peppercorn (on the Pearl Street Mall), and picked up a few more things.  I had hoped to go to two more used book stores, but the Peppercorn had been so crowded that we decided not to do so.  There were also quite a few street performers out on the Mall - a small chorale group singing songs, a quartet dressed in Edwardian clothes singing carols, and a group of mimes and jugglers, and a saxophone soloist who was very good.  After that, we headed for the public library, where Bea returned a book, and I searched the very limited selection of books available.  (The library is undergoing renovation, and the adult fiction, mystery, and science fiction/fantasy collections are not available until mid-January - I'm going nuts!)
  I took Bea into the Home Goods store on the way home, just because I wanted her to see their Christmas display items for sale - I had seen wooden, resin, plastic, and tin figures that were much taller than me last week when I visited.  I had been most impressed with a huge tin rocking horse, whose saddle seat was at my eye level.  All of the large items had been sold - and my descriptions were a poor substitute...  Oh, well.  Such is the world of capitalism!
  It's another grey, cloudy day, even though it began with clear skies and bright sunshine.  Lovey is curled up on the foot of my bed, and Nedi has gone to sleep in the cat carrier on top of my dresser.  It's become his favorite place to sleep, lately - and it always gives me a start when I walk by and see green eyes peering out of the side perforations.  I had hoped that Mizzou would be able to upset Alabama yesterday, and that Florida State would lose - No such luck.  I would have been a nice shake-up in the college bowl standings.
  I hope your Sunday is quiet and peaceful.  Tomorrow is back-to-work day. (Ugh!)

Weather Change

Hoooooo, boy!  What a couple of days of college football.  I was ecstatic when Mizzou beat Arkansas and became the leader/winner of the Eastern division of the SEC.  The only other team I was rooting for, that actually won, was Georgia Tech.  Dad got me into the habit of admiring the underdog....  Now I'll have to see what the Broncos do tonight.
   Since the Wednesday, we've been having unseasonable warmth - the highs have been in the uppers 60s and low 70s.  That changes today; we've already seen our high temperature, and it's supposed to steadily drop as a windy cold front drops in from the north.  The low tonight is forecast to be 14, after a high of 74 yesterday.  Time to get the woolies out again...
   I finally caught the mouse that Tipsi brought in Friday - since Tipsi roams the neighborhood, I just put it back outside the garage.Pounce has slept beside me every night at the ABC's, while Cooper and Lola have been getting two long walks each day.  I made another pumpkin pie last night - finished reading the new Pendergast thriller, Blue Labyrinth, and have started The Palace, another Count Saint Germaine novel.  Lots of new books out that I want to purchase, but I have to save for the family trip to Chincoteague in July.
  My kits have been full of beans, running everywhere, for the past few days.  I don't know if it's been the warm weather, or what has set them off.  Now is when I start looking forward to the Denver National Western Stock Show in January.  And I need to check my calendar for next month's jobs...  Thankfully, people love their animals, and want e to care for them!

Books, Critters and Snow

Three and a half inches of snow fell yesterday - today the sky is cloudless, bright and sunny.  Even though it's 8 degrees outside, I keep seeing pieces of icicles and clumps of snow falling from the roof and balcony above me, and snow is falling from the leaves and branches of trees in the back yard.  The majority of college football teams that I like were able to win, with the exception of Mississippi State, which fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide.  Gamecocks won, Northwestern upset Notre Dame, and Mizzou won handily.  It was a good football day for me.  I also finished reading The Bootlegger by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott - a lively read, as always, from those two.
   The kits want to go out and hunt, but I won't open the doors when we have flocks of birds on the patio.  Rodney, next door, has three hanging feeders, but perches to feed are limited.  My wide, flattened bowl of food draws flocks of small birds, and most get seed that is being tossed out or scratched out by others inside the bowl, seeking the best grains.  There is a mixture of sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and several small grains... There are usually five to fifty birds on the patio, and my kits sit on the cat tree, or on the floor at the patio door, and watch intently.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy the sound of small birds chirping in concert.
   I found a delightful series of books to begin gifting to my grandniece - the author is Judy Schachner, and the main character is a Siamese cat named Skippyjon Jones.  Skippyjon firmly believes that he is a Chihuahua - and performs acts of daring-do wearing a black mask, like el Zorro.  There is also an English/Spanish book titled Say It With/Diga Con Skippyjon Jones.  Since Evie's father attended the university in Columbia, and he speaks Spanish like a native, I think it's a good choice.
 

Warmth and Football

Boulder has just seen two days with the high temperatures 20 degrees warmer than normal - we've been in the low 80s instead of the low 60s.  We had a temperature of 70 degrees at 9 this morning - but our high temp tomorrow is expected to be 52, the Monday night's low around freezing.  Yuck.  Our plants don't know what to do - there are daffodils and iris getting ready to bloom.  Brother-in-law Jim is still gathering 5 pints of ripe raspberries every afternoon (and that's after I eat them off the canes for breakfast each weekday).  Lovey and Nedi have been enjoying the sunshine and warmth - and the squirrels are getting quite plump.  Lovey is sprawled across the foot of my bed at the moment, while Nedi is stretched out on the patio, absorbing the sun's rays.
   Yesterday was Homecoming for the CU Buffs here in Boulder - and they had to play UCLA.  I have to admit that I expected a blow-out by UCLA - but the game went to two over times, and CU lost by a field goal.  I had much higher hopes for the South Carolina Gamecocks playing at Auburn - even though SC hadn't won at Jordan-Hare Stadium, ever.  And the Gamecocks scored first!  The only problem was that two of Dylan Thompson's passes were intercepted - the last one in the end zone that would have tied the scores at 42.  There was less than a minute left, and Auburn kept running the ball, making sure that the Gamecocks couldn't get the pigskin in their hands....  *Sigh*  It would have been wonderful if Steve Spurrier could have won that game!  Thankfully, the Gators had a bye, and so I didn't have to watch their inept efforts.  I don't think Will Muschamp will be the head coach next year...
  I'm starting to get excited about the Breeders Cup races at the end of this week.  As soon as the entries and fields are known, I'll be commenting on them.

Black-Out?!?!

I had my whole day planned for college football yesterday - I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Gamecocks beat Furman, and I also appreciated Steve Spurrier's deprecating remarks.  I watched in awe as the Georgia Bulldogs ripped the Arkansas Razorbacks - I thought the Hawgs were much better.  Just before the end of the Georgia game, I switched over to ESPN2 to see the Florida Gators play the Missouri Tigers for their Homecoming game.  All day long I had remembered Gator Homecomings - the parade on University Avenue, which I saw in person for 33 years in a row, with all the marching bands from high schools all over the state and all the University bands; Gator Growl, the "biggest out door pep rally" in the country - and all the celebrities that guest-hosted; and Game Day itself.  When I was a kid, we played other conference members and the Homecoming game was always hard-fought, and wins were celebrated as real wins.   While I was in college and for several years after, we played non-competitive teams that weren't in our class and pretty much had an assured win.  Once we got Steve Spurrier (back home) as the Gator head coach, we started playing SEC opponents and again our victories could be celebrated.
   I was shocked and outraged that with over 700 channels on my satellite TV, the only one which was showing the Florida-Mizzou game, ESPN2, was blacked-out in Colorado.  I was so ready for the game - I had all of my snacks on the coffee table, and a full 20-ounce bottle of cold Diet Coke at my elbow.  And NO game to watch.  I admit it.  I was totally ticked off.  I closed the window curtains,  made certain that my kits were inside with me, locked the doors, and went to bed.  I did read for a couple of hours - Archaeology magazine, since it was International Archaeology Day - but at 7 p.m., I turned off the light and I went to sleep. (My thoughts were, "So there!" to all the advertisers and the television executives who had decided I couldn't watch a game on TV that was taking place two time zones and 1,751 miles away.)  Childish, I know.
  I would have been cheering for both teams, actually.  The Gators were my team growing up, and where I went to college.  Missouri is where several friends have graduated, and my cousin Sarah is a big fan of theirs, also.  And I just happen to like the Tigers - they joined the SEC recently, and this is only their second football season.  But those Mizzou Tigers know how to hunt, pounce and kill their prey.  When I got up this morning, the first thing I did was check the college scores.  It might have been the Florida Gators Homecoming game, but the Tigers showed they know how to hunt and kill a Gator.  It was an  **ouch** game - the final score was 42 to 13.  I think the Tigers wrapped the team up in orange and blue ribbons and gave them back to the fans, served on toast.  Kinda glad I didn't watch the game, now.  I probably would have been having conniption fits throughout.....

Winding Down

The sky this morning is about half blue and half clouds.  At 9 o'clock, it was 61 degrees outside, humidity was 70%, and there's a light breeze blowing.  A gorgeous day, but with rain expected this evening.  That's fine with me.  I had an excellent "wind down" yesterday - Beatrice and I wandered over to Turley's at 11, and found that two of our three favorite wait-persons were working, both Amy and Ashley.  We were seated with Amy, but Ashley also dropped by at the table for a quick chat, and was, unfortunately, reprimanded for it.  We spoke with the manager on the way out, and told her it was our fault, not Ashley's - hope that smooths things over for her.  Both of these young ladies are working their way through graduate school, and are delightfully personable.
   After our meal, we walked over to Barnes & Noble and looked at all the new books that were in, checked out the DVDs on sale (I purchased How to Tame Your Dragon, while Bea bought a copy of Tin-Tin), and then we checked out the huge selection of magazines on display.  I questioned the positioning of a "Comics" sign, as the magazines stationed above it were Hobby Farms, Antique Farm Machinery and Cowboys and Indians; below the sign was Photography Today, Vanity Fair, and Faerie World.  Then we returned home - I read and watched college football games, and finally went to bed.  Apparently I need to get used to apartment living again - at midnight, I stepped out onto the grass at the edge of my patio and asked the six people on the balcony above me to speak more quietly, so I could fall asleep.  Sleeping in large houses has spoiled my ability to sleep through anything, anywhere.  And I was flabbergasted that when I awoke this morning the alarm clock read 7:55 - the kits allowed me to sleep in without any complaint at all.  It was very nice.
  Since the Redskins played Thursday night,and the Broncos have a bye week, I don't have any specific teams to watch today.  I will probably just read and clean the apartment until The Good Wife is on this evening.  I am currently reading Maisie Dobbs, the first book in the series about her, written by Jacqueline Winspeak, and I am thoroughly enjoying it.  I also have two other recommended books on hand to peruse.  After those, I have two more Saint Germaine novels by C Q Yarbro to read.  I'll have to request more books soon - even though I saw six new ones (that I want) at Barnes & Noble yesterday.
  Most of my college teams won yesterday.  The CU Buffs were playing in California, and the score was tied at 56 at the end of the first Over Time; the second OT saw the Bears win by a field goal.  Poor Buffs.   ....  Then there was the Mizzou Tigers and Carolina Gamecocks match up.  I didn't want either team to lose.  I wanted both to win.  I had hoped for a tie that would hold.  Nope Mizzou won by a single point - 21 to 20.  I know that Steve Spurrier about had a conniption fit.  I almost did, and I was ambivalent about the final score....   Good for the Tigers, bad for the Cocks.
  Tomorrow I start back to work - and for the next week and a half, all I have to do is walk dogs and spend time with my kits.  I am content.

Football

I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed a full day of college football yesterday - especially since all of the teams I like won their games!  I did feel badly for Lynn's gardener, as he showed up at the house, expecting to be paid, and I had to tell him that, once again, Lynn was away and hadn't left any money for him.  Martin is a wonderful man, but I could see yesterday that he was not happy having to wait, again, for his pay.  I made certain that he understood that Lynn would be home after 6 p.m. today, but that she was leaving next weekend for Aspen, and he should collect his pay before Saturday.  I'm sleeping in Christina's room because Lynn believes that Lyra won't pee on Tina's bed...but I think she was peeing on Connor's because of her urinary tract infection, not because it was Connor's bed....
   Anyway, I spent several hours with Tugger yesterday, and will do so again this evening (having already visited this morning).  Then I'll come home and (other than twice a day visits with Tugger on Monday and Tuesday) my vacation actually begins.  Happy, happy, happy, I am.  I have a lot of research to catch up on, and I plan to spend a lot of time just playing with, and loving, my kits.  And I need to start cutting and sewing on a new quilt....
   I am trying to decide whether I want more pizza for supper (left over from last night), or if I want to run up to China Gourmet for lemon chicken when I leave Tugger's tonight.  I guess I'll decide when it's time for me to leave the old man.
  I kept the window barely cracked open Friday and Saturday, here at the apartment, but I opened it fully when I returned this morning.  Lovey keeps rubbing all over me and talking to me, while Nedi spent 30 minutes in my lap, getting stroked and scratched.  It'll be nice to be home for a while...
 

Football - College and Pro

Wow.  The SEC Network kicked off the season with live coverage of the South Carolina Gamecocks hosting Texas A & M; and with a pre-game, half-time, and post-game analysis that included new sportscaster Timmy Tebow.  The Gamecocks were ranked 9th in the nation in pre-season polls, and, under Head Coach Steve Spurrier (whom I have loved for 50 years), it seemed about right.  Texas A & M, having lost Johnny Football at quarterback, was ranked 21st.  I watched to the bitter end....  Texas A & M beat the Gamecocks 52 to 28.  The South Carolina defense had no counter for the Aggie's offense.  Dylan Thompson, the 5th year SC quarterback, was a steadying influence for the Gamecocks, but Texas ran over the home team.  The quiet in the stadium was very strange.  And SC has a hard schedule coming up, too.  I hope the Ol' Ball Coach can regroup and win the rest of his games this season!
  The Broncos won their last pre-season game last night, without putting many starters on the field. The Dallas Cowboys fell 27 to 3 at home.  With Matt Prater out for the first four games, the Bronco tried out McManus  - he managed to make 2 of 4 field goals from beyond 50 yards.  Broncos fans are used to Matt making everything under 63 yards...
  And I had to laugh.  How does the NFL decide the amount that they fine someone?  Last week, Peyton Manning got up in D J Swearinger's face and "taunted" him, after Swearinger had tackled Wes Welker and given him a third concussion.  I imagine that Peyton said a few choice, nasty words, but neither he nor Swearinger repeated what was said.  The reason I had to laugh yesterday, was seeing that the NFL had fined Peyton  $8,428 for his "taunting" (or, dressing down) of Swearinger.  I don't think that amount will hurt Peyton's wallet too much, and it was probably a great relief to give Swearinger a vocal piece of his mind.
  The other NFL announcement made me cheer and pump my fists.  The league is finally shutting down on players (and, I hope, coaches) who abuse their spouses.  Ray Rice of the Ravens was given a two-game suspension after punching his then fiance (now wife) in the face.   Now, any player who is found guilty of domestic abuse will be suspended for 6 weeks and six games without pay for the first offense; a second offense will result in a lifetime ban from the NFL.  Finally, some protection for the spouses!

December First

This morning, as I walked to the bakery for my breakfast bagel, I looked in wonder at beautiful puffy clouds that were painted in colors of pinks and purples against a dark sky.  Less than five minutes later, as I walked back home with my fresh warm bagel, the sight of the mountain-top snows took my breath away.  In the east, the clouds were pink and purple, but they painted the snow on the peaks in the west a glowing, warm lavender.  I miss the gulls and birds of the east coast, but these sunrise visions are gorgeous in Colorado! It's currently 54 degrees outside, the sun is shining, and the humidity is 25%.  I'm sitting at my desk with the patio door and window wide open, while the cats wander in and out.  It's a fantastic fall day.
  The weather has made it easy to get the smell of chemicals and backed-up kitchen water out of my bathroom, closet, and front hall.  And I'll probably be complaining about the fierce cold here beginning Wednesday.  Right now, our forecast calls for highs in the mid-50s Monday and Tuesday; a low of 11 on Tuesday night, and highs on Wednesday and Thursday of 15 and 9 degrees.  I'll be inside, cuddled up with the kits on those days.  The air is so dry that I can't go outside and breathe normally if the temperature is below 20.  I'll be carrying my inhaler at all times later this week...  And I've already sent out warnings to the owners of the dogs that I walk on a daily basis.
  I do have the Broncos and Chiefs game on the television.  I just shook my head while watching the Gators and Seminoles play yesterday.  Poor Gators.  I loved watching the Ohio State Buckeyes win; and I had a blast watching the Gamecocks defeat Clemson.  Of course, the mind-boggling play of all the games yesterday was the Auburn Tigers returning a missed Alabama field goal for 100+ yards and the winning of the game.  I don't think the 'Bama fans have had this first loss even sink in yet...
   And since it's the first of December, my daughter-in-law sent me one of the best photos I have seen this year:

Son Kevin and grand daughter Kennedy getting ready to decorate the house for Christmas!

Weather, Football, Child Abuse

There was an interesting view on the way back from the bakery this morning - pale blue sky with orange clouds almost straight above me, but to the west a haze was hanging over the far peaks.  I could see snow on the top of Green Mountain and Flagstaff; the Indian Peaks were white, but with the haze, it was hard to tell where the mountains and sky parted ways; to the northwest, Mount Audubon was invisible in the haze - or were they clouds? ....  Yesterday was very windy here - winds steady between 20 and 40 mph, with gusts up to 92 mph.  This morning we seem to be leveled out at 20 mph - cold and crisp, with clouds moving to the south at a good clip.
   Boulder celebrated last night - the CU Buffs won a home football game, beating the U of California Golden Bears 41 to 24.  I have to admit I was listening to the crowd in the stadium a block away, but I was watching the Florida Gators - South Carolina Gamecocks game on the television.  I'm a Gator; but I dearly love Steve Spurrier and his team, too.  The Gators have been pretty awful this year - but they have a legitimate excuse, being decimated by season-ending injuries to their starting players.  The Gators had lost the last four games, and the last time they lost 5 games in a row was in 1979 (which I remember) under head coach Charley Pell, who had replaced Doug Dickey...  If the Gamecocks beat the Gators, and if Missouri lost one of their two next games, then the Gamecocks would be in the SEC playoffs.  If the Gators won, neither they nor the Gamecocks would be in the play-offs for the SEC Championship.  I was rooting for the Gamecocks.  I must say I was highly impressed by the first-time starting quarterback for Florida - Skylar Mornhinweg.  He kept his cool, he became more sure of himself with each play, and he made no mistakes until he made a big one late in the fourth quarter.  Overall, his first game was awesome.  I also enjoyed seeing the Gamecocks kicker, Elliot Fry, a 150 pound six-foot string bean, who made 4 of 5 field goals, as well as kicking the PATs.  The Gamecocks won, 19 to 14.  And I'll definitely be watching the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs tonight - the best NFL offense against the best NFL defense.  (Go Broncos!)
   I am, finally, puzzled and outraged by what was found in North Carolina yesterday.  A Sheriff's Deputy had been dispatched in Union County to check out the report of a loose pig on someone's property.  The Deputy found an 11-year-old boy, handcuffed to a porch railing, with a dead chicken around his neck.  The temperatures were frigid, and the boy was shivering with cold, wearing jeans and a T-shirt.  The Deputy knocked on the front door, and was chased by several aggressive dogs back to his car.  He called for back up.  While awaiting assistance, and with the dogs still growling and barking at the cruiser, a man came onto the porch, unlocked the handcuffs and took the boy inside. When back-up officers arrived, the dogs were caught, and the Deputy went to the door.  The 11-year-old was a foster child, and there were four other children inside the house.  The man was a registered nurse at the local emergency room; he and his wife had fostered and then adopted the four other children.  The 11-year-old was a "new" foster child.  The shocking detail was that the mother-wife of the pair was the head of the Union County Social Services!  Both adults are under arrest; all the children are back under the auspices of the County's Social Services, and the woman has been stripped of her job.  -  There is still no word as to why the boy was outside in freezing weather, hand-cuffed to a porch rail, with a dead chicken around his neck...   What were these people thinking - or even doing - how did they get custody of these children?   Heaven help us.
 

Gamecocks Football; Points Offthebench

A beautiful sunrise here in Boulder this morning - the sun painted the snow on the mountain peaks in shades of pink and purple - it was magnificent.   Last night was CU's Homecoming game, with kick-off at 6 p.m.  My kits were a little cranky because they wanted to go out and prowl, but I kept them inside until this morning.  The apartment is a block and a half away from the CU football stadium, and the building owner charges for people to park in the unoccupied spaces - therefore, during home games, we have a lot of traffic and strangers in and around the building, and I'd rather be safe than sorry - especially with Halloween just a few days away.
  But the poor Buffs - I was watching the South Carolina Gamecocks play at Missouri on TV, but could hear the crowd in the stadium.  The Buffs had a 3 and 3 record going into the game - the best record they've had in many years - but they were playing Arizona.  I could hear the crowd roaring and lots of noise through half-time,but after the third quarter kick-off, the stadium got more and  more quiet.  At halftime, Arizona was up by only 7 points  (20 to 27), but the Buffs were not able to score again. The final score was 44 to 20. Ouch.
  In the meantime, I was watching a heck of a game on the telly.  Conner Shaw, the Gamecocks starting quarterback, was injured last week.  He was cleared to play last night, but was favoring the sore leg.  So Dylan Thompson was the designated quarterback.  At the end of the third quarter, the Gamecocks were scoreless, while the Tigers had 17 points.  (Last week I rooted for Mizzou over my Gators, but I wanted "the ol' ball coach," Steve Spurrier, to win last night.)  Steve was seen speaking to Connor  just before the end of the third quarter, and Shaw came out onto the field at the beginning of the fourth.  At the end of 15 minutes, the score was tied at 17.  At the end of the first Overtime, the score was tied at 24.  In the second Overtime period, the Gamecocks could only get a field goal on the scoreboard.  The Tigers sputtered toward the goal line, and on their last play, had to make a field goal to tie, and go into a third Overtime period.  The poor young man who kicked the ball for the Tigers hit the lacings, and the ball bounced off the outside of the goalpost upright.  SC won, 27 to 24.  And it spoiled an unbeaten season for Mizzou.
  The Gators didn't play yesterday, but I also saw the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the Ohio State Buckeyes win their games.  Overall, it was a good football Saturday.
   Today, the Denver Broncos play the Washington Redskins at Mile High Stadium - Mike Shanahan is back in the town that fired him.  I like Mike.  I like RGIII.  I like John Fox.  I like Peyton and his receiving corps.  I have an awful feeling that I'll be rooting for both teams today...
******
  Yesterday, one of the horses exercising for the Breeders Cup Championship races suffered a condylar fracture of his right fore fetlock.  Points Offthebench was galloping under jockey Mike Smith, when the colt took a misstep and went down.  Mike Smith fell easily and was unhurt.  But the big grandson of Alydar was deemed to have an irreparable break, and was euthanized.  Points Offthebench was scheduled to run in the Breeders Cup Sprint on 2 November.