Extremes

Yesterday ended up being cloudy here in Boulder, while this morning, the skies are cloudless, but we have higher than normal humidity (for Colorado).  At least we're not suffering from tornadoes and flooding or from wildfires at the moment.  In California and New Mexico, however, the continuing drought is taking it's toll.  The Powerhouse fire, near Lake Hughes in California, has burned over 25,000 acres and is about 40% contained.  More than 1,000 homes are in danger, and more than 2,400 people have been evacuated.  And the territory burning in California hasn't seen a fire  since 1929.  There are two fires burning in New Mexico, with the largest being the Pecos fire, that has already destroyed 7,476 acres of Ponderosa pine.
  Europe, in the meantime, has flooding problems due to heavy rains.  A meteorologist in Austria stated they had more rain fall in two days than usually falls in two years.  Austria, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic have all undergone flooding so far.  Slovakia and Hungary are preparing themselves for the onslaught of the water.  So far, the flooding has caused six known deaths, and eight other people are missing.
  And, if fires, floods, and twisters aren't enough for you in the US, go to Moody, Texas.  Over the weekend, a 62-year-old man was stung to death by an estimated 40,000 Africanized "killer" bees.  He was on his tractor, clearing some property, and hit a woodpile that bumped into an old chicken coop.  The bee expert who removed the swarm estimated the number of bees as at least 40,000.  Regular bees and honeybees protect their nests by stinging, but only 10% of their population will attack an intruder.  In a hybrid, Africanized hive, every bee except the queen will attack.
   Finally, looking at Saturday's Belmont Stakes:  It has been decided that Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner, is working well enough to be entered in the third leg of the Triple Crown.  Two other definite contenders will be Will Take Charge and Oxbow, the winner of the Preakness.  Gary Stevens has been in Oxbow's saddle for the previous two races, and will be again on Saturday.  But this past Saturday, Gary's mount broke down under him during a race, and he suffered a fall, which caused him not to ride his mounts on Sunday.  He Tweeted trainer D. Wayne Lukas, reminding him that he fell a week before he and Winning Colors won the Derby, too.  Keep on riding, Gary!!

Dog Allergies

It's a beautiful morning - 79 degrees, a breeze from the southeast at 4 to 10 mph, 30% humidity, and visibility is rated at 50 miles. Lovey, Mocha and Nedi are all on the patio, lying in the shade, and watching the squirrels and birds play. I have opened the drapes that cover the window and the door in hopes of catching a bit of the breeze.... Have already taken Remy and Rosie out for a long walk this morning; their owner is still worried about their itching, although Rosie's skin allergy is much worse than Remy's. I really think it's a plain old pollen allergy - they seem to itch more after they have been outside, or if it's damp out. They are going back to the benadryl again. I think that if we use that consistently, things will be OK. I took the kids on a walk over to Palo Park, through Winding Trail Village, and then back north on 26th Street. We spent 80% of our time in the shade, and on either pavement or sidewalks - the kids got into the creek three times for water and to cool off during our walk, so I'm pretty sure they had a good time.
The Wallow fire in Arizona and New Mexico has now burned over 703 square miles - and there are two pretty good-sized fires also burning in Colorado on properties that belong to Fort Carson, not to mention numerous ones in Florida and Georgia. So we've got fires in the southeast, and flooding in the northeast and the entire western half of the state. Mother Nature seems to be a little confused.
***And, 91 years ago today, the US Postal Service ruled that children could not be sent via Parcel Post through the mail system. ***

Smoky Haze

It's a very hazy day here - 92 degrees, winds from the south at 7 mph, and 7% humidity. The kits are on the patio, except Mocha, who is prowling the apartment. My kits slept on either side of me last night, almost as if they were guarding me from an imminent attack from Mocha - it was cute, but warm. This past Friday, Nancy said to take the red kids over to Kathy and Jim's - since Rosie was getting steroids, the possible pollen allergy should be OK. Both Rosie and Remy were very itchy all Friday and most of Saturday, so today we walked over to the Elks Club and chased squirrels in their ball park. We returned to the house 55 minutes later, and Remy was starting to drag his right hind a bit. I'll have to see what the report and requests are in the morning. Lynn left me a message regarding 5 sets of dates that she wants me to care for the house and Tessa and the kits... I need to check previous commitments before I can tell her yea or nay.
The reason it's so hazy here is that we (Colorado) have a few small wildfires burning again, plus the smoke from the 5 big fires in Arizona. The Wallow fire has burned and is burning over 365 square miles, and is 0% contained. Another fire, farther south, has burnt 156 square miles and is 5% contained. There is an uncontrolled fire near Lake George in Park County, CO that is helping the haze. The Colorado Department of Health has warned that those people with heart problems, respiratory problems, and the very old and very young should not spend more that 5 minutes out doors due to the smoke particulates. - On the other hand, the Elk, Colorado, Big Thompson, and Cache le Poudre Rivers are flooding their banks. The Elk and Colorado are on the other side of the Divide, but the Poudre and Big Thompson are located to the north of Boulder County....
Versus and NBC have announced their schedules for racing coverage from Belmont for this Friday and Saturday. Versus will show "Classic Belmont Wins" from 4 to 5 p.m. EDT, and two live races, the Grade 3 Poker Handicap and the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday. Saturday, Versus will start the coverage with undercard races from 3 to 5 p.m. EDT; NBC will take over live coverage from 5 to 7 p.m. EDT; and then the Belmont Follow-up coverage will be on Versus from 7 to 7:30 p.m. EDT. - Multiple races were named that will be covered live, but no mention was made of the Acorn Stakes for the fillies that will be run on Saturday.

At Home

I arrived home around 2 this morning, got all my stuff in, and then loved Lovey while Neddy was crying at my feet. Lovey still thinks Neddy is a little demon - doesn't want to be in the same room with him, and definitely not on the same surface (as the bed, or my body). Lovey can't understand why I brought this interloper home yet - but I'm certain that in time she will enjoy his company. It took a while to get everyone settled, and before I fell asleep. Then I had to be at the hospital at 7 for my ultrasound, so I didn't get much sleep. Got through the test and realized that I was asleep on my feet, so I cancelled walking Rosie and Remy. Got home and went back to bed. Lovey got into bed with me and stayed, purring, on my chest until Neddy decided to join us. - I don't know when I'll find out about the ultrasound results; but the MDs office did call me this afternoon and said only that I just needed to have my LFTs drawn again (the lab work that needed to be done "immediately"). The nurse couldn't figure out why I was upset with that word and told me that people just don't get their labs done unless it sounds important. I was ticked off.
My apartment building is under a Flood Watch, along with a lot of Boulder County - snow melt due to high temperatures has caused flooding throughout much of Colorado. The water took out a bridge across Boulder Creek in the western end of the Canyon, and authorities were afraid that the water would back up behind the bridge debris and then burst outward and down. However, the county workers have been able to remove the bridge, and the chance of a blasting flood has decreased significantly. (Neddy is curled up on the corner of the desk, giving me love blinks.) ... In horse news, Rachel Alexandra is expected to run Saturday at Churchill Downs. She currently has 11 wins and 4 seconds to her name. On Sunday, at Hollywood Park in the 1 1/8 miles Vanity Handicap, Zenyatta will defend her 16 race undefeated streak. Zenyatta will carry 129 pounds, while her rivals will carry anywhere from 112 to 120 pounds. If Zenyatta wins on Sunday, she will become the only race horse in North America to have won 17 consecutive races. (The 16 race undefeated streak belongs to co-holders Cigar, Citation, and Mister Frisky - and Zenyatta.)