Post (American) Football

If you're an American, and you're scratching your head about the title, it's because, in most countries around the world, "football" means what we call "soccer."  Other than the Philadelphia Eagles' celebration parade to exhibit the Lombardi Trophy after last night's Super Bowl, the professional football season has ended.
   I grew up watching football on television, and at high-school and college fields.  Dad always rooted for the under-dog team, even though he had a few favorite college teams.  And, of course, he cheered for my sister's and my school teams.  I have never, personally, been to a professional football game.  I like to be able to see the game clearly, via cameras, and to see instant replays.  I can easily go to the bathroom, without waiting in a line, and I don't have to pay an exorbitant ticket fee and outrageous prices for food and drink. 
   I used to be an avid football fan, with a wide array of likes and dislikes on both the college and professional level.  Since almost every single one of my favorite players is no longer playing - except two, but one was injured and missed almost the entire season - I haven't been watching.  I still the the plays and the moves and the fakes, but I'm no longer personally invested like I was before.
   Yesterday, and last night, I was hoping the Eagles would defeat the New England Patriots.  Number one, the Eagles were the under-dogs.  Number two, I really dislike Tom Brady.  So I was quite excited when I checked on-line last night and saw the Eagles were trailing by a single point with over 8 minutes left in the game.   I actually became hopeful that the Eagles would be able to beat the Kraft-Belichick-Brady machine.  When people were running around screaming in the restaurant parking lot last night, I checked the final score - and did a little jig beside my desk chair. 
   When I was a kid, I remember that the quarterbacks and receivers were the "known names," but that they always said it was a team effort and most shied away from the spotlight.  Joe Namath began the change - and I have to admit that I always laughed at Joe, even though he was a good player.  I've always loved the defensive players - they never seem to get that much credit, unless a quarterback sack is made... 
   In any event, there are three professional football teams that are anathema to me, just because of their quarterbacks - Tom Brady of the Patriots, Philip Rivers of the Chargers, and Ben Rothlesberger of the Steelers.  I have to say that I pretty much "hate" all three of those quarterbacks, even though they are good players.  It both their attitudes, and their actions that I dislike. - And, so, stupidly, I dislike the entire team.....
    But, way to go, Eagles!!!  You did it, men!!   A 41 to 33 win!  Thank you!

This Weekend

I've had a wonderful time this weekend - I love to drive a vehicle, and go exploring.  On Saturday, Beatrice, our new friend, Melissa (from Atlanta, Georgia), and I set forth to drive over Trail Ridge Road before the snow closes it for the season.  Melissa had never been inside Rocky Mountain National Park, and the closest thing to her being in the mountains before was a quick look around Nederland one afternoon, several months ago.   I planned on driving up 36 to Estes Park, then through RMNP on Trail Ridge Road, then down to Grand Lake and Granby, take 34 and run into I-70 west of Georgetown, and then close the loop via Idaho Springs and Golden.  We did most of that...
   The views were spectacular, as always.  Beatrice and I had hoped to see some of the larger wildlife in the Park, as we had in June.  Then we saw elk, moose, and big horn sheep.  We were hoping to see all of those, plus mountain goats, and other smaller creatures.  We saw two Stellar jays and two chipmunks...  rather a let down in mammal sightings.   But the aspens were at their peak, and there were streaks of gold along the mountain sides. The Rocky Mountains are truly a magnificent sight.
   On the way back, I missed the 34 turn in Granby, and we came back on 40, then I-70, 6 and 93.  It still made a beautiful sight-seeing loop.  We left at 10:40 in the morning, and returned at 6:10 in the evening.  We had a late lunch at the Blue Water Bakery at Grand Lake.  It was indescribably delicious, as it was the last visit.  This time I picked up four croissants to bring home....  incredibly tasty!
   Late this morning (Sunday) we drove over to Longmont, and showed Melissa Prospect New Town, and then drove through the Old Town residential sections of Longmont.  Beatrice and I needed to pick up a few things at Target, and we lost Melissa for 30 minutes in the Longmont super store...  Melissa was about to call Bea on her cell phone, when Bea managed to spot  her and tapped her on the shoulder. Melissa just about jumped out of her skin.
    Melissa also gave us a copy of her CD, Box of Stars.  She is an amazing singer, and wrote her own lyrics and music for the ten songs.  The second song, Trains, just caught me up and took me to another time and place.  Melissa is a magical lady....
    And, on the football side of things, the Florida Gators won; the Colorado University Buffaloes won; and the Broncos won.  All is right with my world.

Groan and Moan

Sitting at my desk in a red Piper T-shirt and jeans; the sky to the west is a series of clouds with strips of blue skies in between; Lovey is trying to decide on a way to get closer to me than just sitting on me - it's like she wants to be  inside my skin, and not just on me.  Nedi is asleep in the love seat and Beatrice just left to go to work.  Rosie has acupuncture and laser therapy this morning.  I'll walk Tessa first and then take Rosie out for a short neighborhood stroll.
  We were told to expect snow on Saturday, but it never arrived, although the breeze was chilly.  Now the forecast is for rain and snow on Friday, Saturday, and Monday.  I'll be with Finn for most of the weekend, so there will be tons of puppy kisses - even though he weighs 50 pounds these days.
  I miss the islands.  I miss having a football coach in the college ranks to cheer for.  I miss having an active professional football player to cheer for.  I make no bones about it.  When Steve Spurrier resigned from coaching the South Carolina Gamecocks football team, the joy went out of college ball for me.  With Tim Tebow chucked by the wayside by the Philadelphia Eagles, that left me with only Peyton Manning to follow in pro football.  Now Peyton is out, indefinitely, with his bad foot, and Brock Osweiler has stepped in - quite capably, too.  But it's not the same as watching the master...  Of course I felt the same with the retirements of Fran Tarkenton, Terry Bradshaw, and Joe Montana - right now, I'm slightly interested in Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.   Basketball and baseball don't excite me.  Hockey is OK, occasionally.  Gripe, complain, and gripe.....    Sorry.
  The next big thing in Denver is the National Western Stock Show next month.  My sister is still "under the weather" and not seeing or speaking to me, so I'll miss Christmas and New Years with the family, just as I missed Thanksgiving.  If I knew I could find a reasonable rent on the island for a year-round place to stay, I'd put my name on a waiting list - but this current lease doesn't end until 30 June, and finding a place on the island in summer is simply a laugh.
   I broke my right thumb and the small wrist bone next to it, again.  At the same time, I dislocated my jaw on the right side.  I was not a happy person when I went into the Urgent Care Center and had to instruct them how to pop my jaw back into place.  And And this is the third break along the same lines as previous ones in my right hand - they'll probably want to test me for osteoporosis my next trip to the doctor's office,
   Other than my usual groans and moans, everything is normal here.  The cats are fat and sassy, and are waited upon, foot and paw.  Our squirrels enjoy banquets of nuts and stale biscotti.  The birds are enjoying their feeder of shelled sunflower seeds.  (I'm the only one who is down in the dumps.)
 

Red Dawn and the Broncos

The sunrise this morning can only be described as screaming scarlet.  Being a Navy brat, and having 350 years of waterman's blood in my veins, my first thought was, "Uh-oh.  Red sky at morning, sailors take warning."  Of course, the forecast is for rain and snow this afternoon, evening, tonight, and tomorrow morning - but it's odd how the old familiar phrases just roll into your mind...  And, as I was coming into the apartment, I had a single large drop of precipitation land on my thumb - and half of the drop was ice.  Cloudiness levels have risen and fallen since dawn, but at the moment, I can't see a single spot of blue anywhere.
  I was amazed that the Broncos - Coach Gary Kubiak, Manager John Elway, the whole schmear - allowed Peyton Manning to play at all yesterday.  Especially since it seemed that they played him only to break a record.  Manning was injured and in pain well before the game - both foot and ribs - and he was played until he surpassed Bret Favre's record, and then was benched for the rest of the game.  That was totally stupid.  If the player is injured, you don't play him, period.  To play him only long enough to break a record, and then bench him, is extremely crass and tasteless.  My regards for the Broncos, as a team, have dropped to an all-time low.  Why not wait until Peyton could play a whole game, and play well?  Why send him out just to break a record and then bench him because he was injured to start with?  It makes absolutely no sense to me....
  Since we started feeding the squirrels and birds a couple of weeks ago, we have one plump little fellow (a squirrel) that I really enjoy.  He's a dark grey/brown, but the edges of his tail are almost orange in color.  Every morning after eating his fill of nuts, berries and seeds, he climbs to the top of a wood utility pole, and spends several hours basking in the sun.  He only stayed up there for about 30 minutes this morning, and has moved over to the nut pile again.  I'm sure he can sense the change in weather that's coming.
 
 

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.)

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.

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.

Smokey

Due to all the wildfires on the West coast, we were told to expect hazy conditions in Boulder today.  That also means to expect poor air quality for breathing.  It was already hazy out when I arose this morning; by 6 p.m., I could barely see the mountains 30 blocks away from my balcony.  The air doesn't yet have a smell to it - but it definitely dries out your nose and throat.  Another reason to stay well hydrated here a mile above sea level.   I fed and medicated Lynn's cats and dog this morning, fed the carp, and then walked Tess.  Afterwards, I watered the plants in need of assistance - like the clematis beside the mailbox.   I grabbed a few grocery items on the way home, then spent the day cleaning and reading and sorting.
    And watching the fourth quarter of the Eagles game, to see Tim Tebow play.  I watched a bit of the Broncos game during the Eagles' halftime, and after TT's game was finished.  Isn't the quarterback supposed to be protected?  How did RG III  get a concussion and a shoulder stinger in a preseason game?
   And I'll have to call the apartment maintenance team - I called at 11 p.m. Friday night to let them know that the fat-looking insulated pipe/hose that dips down in the front of the utility closet was leaking.   It was a slow, small steady leak for about ten minutes - and fell into a collecting pan that encircles the water heater.  The guy was going to come over then and there, but Beatrice and I wanted to go to bed.  I had pretty much forgotten about the leak until 7:45 this evening, when it sounded like someone was beating hard plastic with a hammer somewhere in the hallway.  I opened the utility closet and watched a pretty heavy stream of drips fall into the collecting pan for about three minutes.  It was loud enough to send my cats into hiding.   Hopefully, there won't be much more drippage tonight or tomorrow, and I can get maintenance to come Monday afternoon, while I'm home.

Tim Tebow Signs Contract

The past few days have been interesting; a mix of rain, sleet, snow, and brief periods of sunshine.  It was 29 degrees this morning, and a small shower of snow had fallen just before I got up.  I can't see any blue in the sky to the east, only clouds.  And a light rain has been falling for the past hour.  My keyboard, monitor, and note paper can easily attest to that, as both Nedi and Lovey have decided the best place to shed rain and mud is in the space between me and the PC pieces.
  And I awoke to wonderful news this morning - Tim Tebow has signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.  He  will be one of five quarterbacks on the Eagles roster and will have to prove himself to play.  This young man deserves credit for still following his dream - to be a winning quarterback in the National Football League.  He has been on the sidelines for three years - has begun a very impressive announcing career - has a full slate of speaking engagements - has a fantastic Foundation that aids people with disabilities - and has his own hospital in the Philippines, where he was born.  If only others with wealth equivalent to his would give as much to society as he does, then this world would be a much better place.
   Believe me, I understand that Tebow  is a polarizing person - just like Steve Spurrier, the first Florida Gator to win the Heisman Trophy.  A person loves him, or hates him, or is just completely oblivious to him.  I think that Tebow's religious views are what makes a lot of people dislike him.  He is the son of a missionary, and he was raised to speak about his own personal belief in God.  In this day and age, most people find that off-putting, silly, or down-right disgusting.  As a player, he thanks God for his wins, and blames himself for his losses.  As a part of his own personal creed, he thanks God for his abilities and beliefs.  He makes these statements calmly.  He does not preach to his audience, he does not try to overtly convince you to join his faith, he doesn't ask for donations to a specific church.  He is a Christian man, who is unafraid to proclaim his faith.  Yes, he leads prayer meetings with other players, but he does not coerce anyone to join in.  He lives a model life, and is always under a microscope, and has been, since he became the youngest person to win the Heisman.  He lives in a glass house, and, as far as I can see, and as reporters can find out, he practices what he speaks of.
   I sincerely hope this contract works out well for Tim Tebow and the Eagles.  I hope that Tim can become, actually earn, the right to be the team's starting quarterback.  I think that he has the drive and desire to do so.  I'm glad that the Eagles decided to give him a chance.  If he stays with the team, they will have another new fan - me.  Believe it or not, Tim Tebow is an extremely complex person.  He has the same dreams and desires and drives that most people on this earth have. He was extremely lucky to get into the University of Florida, and to soar under the tutelage of Urban Meyer.  Since college, every team that has hired, or used him, has tried to change his throwing, his body mechanics, his thought processes.  Let the man be himself.  Let him prove himself, or fail.  But please don't judge him by press releases or other peoples' comments - including mine.   Let the man get on with his life.  Please.

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....

Boulder News

I spent 90 minutes with my sister yesterday.  Her chemotherapy has been hitting her hard, and she has very little energy and is now completely bald.  I first saw her and her husband near the bus stop when I arrived to walk the dogs yesterday.  We spoke for a minute or two, and then they proceeded on, while I continued to gather Rosie and Tess. It was a bright, warm day (we had a high temperature of 73 degrees), and I had walked the perimeter of the yard with both dogs to be certain there was no coyote presence.  SO I sat up my chair, and was tossing the bone for Rosie and the tennis ball for Tess, when Kathy came out and joined me.  We sat in the sun and chatted, recalling places we had lived and old friends and neighbors.  I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, while my sister was wearing two sweatsuits, a scarf, a knitted hat, and a shovel-brimmed sun cap over the hat.  She is having difficulty with the regulation of her body temperature, poor thing.  I'll take both dogs over to Kathy's again today, and I hope she'll feel up to joining us in the sun again.
  The Denver National Western Stock Show ended up with the second-largest attendance number in it's history this year - 682,539 people visited the Show during it's 16 days of exhibits and showing.  That's almost 42,659 per day - and that's part of the reason I did not attend this year.  I am not fond of large crowds.
   A small box was left on the top step of the Main Post Office here in Boulder (at the corner of 15th and Walnut) yesterday morning.  When I walked to the bakery yesterday morning for my bagel, I noted a helicopter hovering over the downtown area.  As I walked back, I started guessing where, exactly, it was hovering.  I decided it was over Central Park or the Public Library, and wondered what was happening.  Upon returning to my apartment, and turning on the local news, I heard the bomb squad had closed down four square blocks of downtown Boulder, and had evacuated several buildings, including the RTD bus terminal at 14th and Walnut.  Less than 30 minutes later, an "all clear" had been sent out, with an announcement that the box was empty.  I guess the bomb squad needed some practice.
   I am looking forward to the Super Bowl commercials Sunday.  I have not looked at any of the early releases, which, I think, spoils the fun and surprise.  I will be half-heartedly rooting for the Seattle Seahawks, because I like their quarterback;  I will be rooting against the Patriots because I've never liked them, and I never will - especially while Kraft is the owner, Belichick is the coach and Brady is their quarterback.  What a trio of ogres!

Bits and Pieces

It was nice and warm yesterday, and I spent most of the day listening to the sound of snow-melt pouring from the roof.  I also finished reading Cabinet of Curiosities, then read a Michael Jecks' Knights Templar mystery, and the started on The King's Curse by Phillipa Gregory...  Today should be nice and sunny again, as well as tomorrow.  The Chinook wind will begin Friday night, and is supposed to end sometime Sunday...  On Sunday, I'l be taking care of Tugger and my kits only, and I will be able to breathe easy again.
   I'm hoping that the Colts and the Packers will be winners this weekend, in pro football, so I can root for Green Bay in the Super Bowl.  If the Patriots beat the Colts, then I'll be rooting for whatever team is facing Tom Brady's arrogance.
   So...  Jack Del Rio, the Broncos' defensive coordinator, is now the head coach for the Raiders.  Adam Gase, the Broncos' offensive coordinator, has had six interviews for a head coach position, including one with John Elway, the general manager of the Broncos.  John Fox's new coaching berth is still an open question...  
   The National Western Stock Show is still bulling along, and has another 10 days to run.  I would love to be able to go and spend several days just soaking up all the exhibitions, all the different kinds of livestock, and all of the rodeos and horse shows.  The local news station has spent the morning with the Petting Zoo exhibition, and it's been fun watching "city girls" learning to catch, pick up, and hold baby goats, baby pigs and loose chickens.  I have to admit I grin like an idiot watching these ladies, dressed to the nines, and listening to their comments as they try to grasp and hold a live, wriggling critter.  (Is that mean-spirited of me?)  I mean, I really giggled when a reporter grasped a chicken, held it to her chest and then yelled, "Oh, crap!" when the chicken did exactly that....
   I hope your week is going well - and that your weekend is something to look forward to!

Miscellany

We had an inch of snow fall yesterday between 2:30 in the afternoon and 10 last night...  Most of the previous snow had melted away, but we've been having freezing fog and hoar frost each morning lately, which has made walking (and driving) treacherous.
   A bobcat decided to visit the city of Boulder on Monday - spent about an hour on University Hill, near Chautauqua, before it slipped back into the mountains.
   The Denver National Western Stock Show had a block-buster opening weekend...
   With a winning percentage of 71.9 in four years, the Broncos and head coach John Fox parted ways.  The team lost the Super Bowl game in 2014, and was blown away in the AFC championship playoffs on Sunday.  John Elway and John Fox said the parting was a mutual agreement.
   John Elway hinted that Peyton Manning might return for another year or two as quarterback of the Broncos.  It turns out that Peyton has been playing with a deep bone bruise and a partially torn and strained right quadriceps muscle since mid-December.
   I walk, bike, ride the bus, and drive a vehicle in Boulder.  I've never had a complaint against a bus driver, but I have observed a lot of idiocy from other pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers in their own vehicles.  I've never had a complaint about folks jogging or running until this week.  I was driving south on a five-lane road, in the outside (slow) lane.  There were bike lanes on both sides of the road, as well as sidewalks.  It was 6:40 in the morning, and still quite dark, as we had full cloud cover, and a freezing fog that made the roads very slick.  I saw what my brain first identified as "miner's lights" - lights on straps around bobbing heads - coming at me, headed north, on the sidewalk, in the bike lane, and in the lane I was driving in.  I realized that some of these bobbing lights were wearing reflective vests.  I then realized that it was a group of 12 to 20 runners, running against traffic, on the sidewalk, in the bike lane, and in my traffic lane.  There was one other, lone car approaching rapidly from the rear in the fast lane.  I flashed my lights at the runners - and most of them merged over onto the sidewalk and/or into the bike lane.  However, three individuals, who were not wearing lights or reflective gear of any kind, continued running straight at me.  I had to come to a complete stop for the unlighted idiots in the driving lane - so I wouldn't be charged with a "hit and run" accident.  One of the men rapped his knuckles down the side of the car I was driving, as he ran by.  By that time, the other vehicle had passed on the inside lane, and I pulled over and finished my drive home.  Then I called the police department and left a complaint.
   We're supposed to be "warm" for the next several days, so I'm hoping all the snow in the yards and on the roads will melt away....

Chinook Winds

I didn't feel warm yesterday until I'd been in bed, with my nightcap on, for 3 hours, last night.  I don't remember feeling this cold when we had the deep freeze for several weeks, years ago, when the daily highs were less than 10 degrees for 10 days...  Maybe getting older and the lower radiator heat settings are combining to make me uncomfortable.  However, we're expecting the wonderful Chinook winds to kick in late this morning - because they're blowing in from the west, with a constant wind speed between 35 and 50 mph (with gusts between 70 and 90 mph), we're supposed to have a high temperature of 51 degrees. The high is supposed to be the same tomorrow, and the wind and heat should do a handy job of evaporating most of the snow on the ground.  Of course, the weather folks also say that we'll get more snow Tuesday night, and have a high of 28 on Wednesday - but that the high temps will bump back up into the 40s and 50s afterwards.  We'll see.
  The Colts ran over the Bengals yesterday; so on Sunday, it'll be the Broncos playing the Colts.  Poor refereeing cost the Detroit Lions the game against the Dallas Cowboys...I'm glad I'm not a die-hard Lions fan; I'd have died from apoplexy!  And, even so, I like the Lions more than the Cowboys.
  My friend Beatrice gave me stacking baskets filled with towels and socks for Christmas.  Lovey and Nedi have decided that the two baskets filled with bath towels are absolutely perfect for kitty beds...

Nedi

Lovey

Christmas Meal?

Poor Broncos fans - we watched in disbelief last night as the Cincinnati Bengals picked the defense apart and totally confused and read Peyton Manning's offense.  It wasn't fun to watch, but watch I did, to the very end.  Not a great Monday night...
  It started to snow about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon and fell until 4:30 - I was certain the hens would be inside their coop, avoiding the weather, but I was wrong.  Xuxa and Carter were eagerly awaiting my arrival on the front porch; but the hens were having a party out in the snow.  I re-filled their water, got their evening feed ready, gave them a cooked sweet potato as an enticement, and still had to herd them up and into the coop.  I have a pound of wheat berries for the girls' treat today.
  I spoke to Kathy on Sunday afternoon and asked if she and Jim had any plans for Christmas.  Usually, everything is planned for the day about two weeks in advance; but not this year.  Sarah, Michael and Evie will be in Santa Fe this week, and Mike and Erin will spend the day with her parents.  When I asked Kathy, she had absolutely no plans whatsoever - so I told her that I would be happy to come and cook a meal at her house, or have a meal delivered for them, and/o just stay away and give them a last, peaceful, "normal" day together (since Kathy begins chemotherapy on Friday).  She was very vague and said she'd think about it.  With Kathy beginning chemo on Friday, everyone in the family and all close friends have been warned that her immune system will be shot - and not to visit, if  they have any illness.  My friend Beatrice has a bad cold, so she's avoiding me.
  I figured that I would just stay at home and make myself a big pot of meatballs and marinara sauce for Thursday.  Kathy called and left a message for me last night, stating that she and Jim would love it if I came over and cooked for them.  The only problem is that I currently have a sore throat and runny nose.  It might just be the change in temperature and my allergies - but it might be the beginnings of a cold, as I have to keep clearing my throat....  I'll talk to them today and see what they want to do.  I have to go out and about, travelling to two different houses on Christmas Day, taking care of family pets, anyway - but I really do not want to endanger my sister's health.
  And it seems that Jim's ruptured appendix has healed enough for him to be released from the hospital in Antigua.  He and Jan should be back home on Friday evening, as originally planned - that takes a tremendous load off my shoulders, as I can just go on with my usual schedule, and not have to keep them added to it.

Just Stuff

It's sunny out, but the sky looks ominous; heavy, dark clouds are piled up underneath higher, lighter colored ones.  It was a little cloudy this morning, but the winds are picking up and the snow-bearing front seems to be barreling in from the west.  The current winds, which are predicted to last until midnight, are at 30 to 45 mph, with gusts up to 75 mph.  The wind was so loud, that when I stepped out onto the patio to put some nuts out for the neighborhood squirrels, Nedi stepped outside and immediately back inside.  Usually the only thing that drives Nedi back inside is hail and window-rattling thunder.
   Well, I enjoyed seeing the Redskins win yesterday, and I have to admit it was much nicer to watch them win, than to watch the end of the Colorado State Rams game...  The Utah Utes stomped the Rams; and the interim head coach, who hoped to step on into Jim McElwain's shoes, informed the news people that every single football coach at CSU had gotten their pink slip.  Ouch.  Now it's a waiting game until Monday night for the Broncos to play the Bengals.
   The new season of Downton Abbey will begin on Sunday, January 4; and I'm looking forward to new episodes of Gotham, Sleepy Hollow, The Blacklist, NCIS, Person of Interest, How to Get Away With Murder, and Blue Bloods, starting on the 5th.  Then, I will be in my glory (ho, ho!) when Vikings starts their third season on Thursday, February 19.  I'm really looking forward to seeing Rollo sack Paris; and to visit all the other clan members, especially Floki, Athelstan, Lagertha and Ragnar Lodbrok.  And I suppose that we'll also see Bjorn Ironside make some moves on his own...
   For once, we have no set plans for Christmas - I have volunteered to cook a fat hen, a pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, peas and gravy for Kathy and Jim this year - as long as I don't get a cold between now and then.  With her first chemo treatment scheduled for the day after Christmas, she shouldn't be exposed to colds (or ill people in general) until she's finished both the chemo and the radiation therapy.  Both of those things will lower her immune systems tolerance, and none of the family or friends want to be responsible for making her worse.  From Boxing Day until the second of January, I will be running around like mad, taking care of four and five (and possibly six) houses full of critters.  It'll keep me on my toes, anyway!
 

Friday and Saturday

I awoke this morning thinking I'd see either a wet patio, or a powder of snow.  Nope.  Dry outside, though cloudy to the west.  I just posted on Facebook, asking, "Where's all the snow?" and, as soon I I clicked on the post button, a few snow flakes floated down.  The computer forecast models say that Boulder will have between 2 and 10 inches of snow today.  With high temperatures in the 50s yesterday, and in the 60s for the two prior days, I have the feeling that most of the snow will be melting when it hits the ground.  I got extra fatty nuts for the squirrels and a bunch of raw sunflower seeds for the birds - but, at the moment, there's no reason to put it out.   I enjoyed yesterday's Army- Navy football game, and was greatly cheered when Navy won.  I'll be cheering for the Broncos today.
   I did something no house-sitter should do Friday afternoon.  I lost my keys.  I keep several keys on my ring (on attached rings, actually) that I use frequently, or ones that belong to clients who call me on the spur of the moment and ask to to walk, or look in on, their pets.  Besides my key and my sister's, I usually have six other house keys with me.  Friday afternoon, I was going to meet Beatrice for an early supper; as I didn't have lunch, eating supper at 4:30 or 5 seemed fine.  I left my apartment at 3:55, having changed into clean, fresh clothes.  I don't carry a purse, so I packed everything into my pants pockets, as I usually do.  I walked up to the corner, saw the bus I wanted to catch pass me, and then crossed the street to catch my "back up" bus.  I showed my bus pass, entered, and sat down on the bus.  When we arrived at my stop, I thanked the driver, jumped down, and patted my pockets - a habit to be certain that I have everything.  There were no keys.  I pulled everything out of each pocket - no keys.  I started pushing my fingers around inside my key pocket, and found a hole that I could insert three fingers through.  I went on down to the Cheesecake Factory and Bea and I had a very satisfying meal.  Then we retraced my steps - no keys.  I called the bus company and spoke with dispatch and with the driver of the bus I had ridden.  No keys.  I called the other bus company.  No keys.  Saturday morning, I retraced my steps twice, then had three friends join me in searching for my keys.  Not found.  I called both bus companies again, and called the police, plus checking in with 15 shops and businesses that line my walking route.  No keys.  I placed an ad offering a reward on Craig's List, and I posted Lost Keys notices on the three bulletin boards in my apartment complex.  Then I e-mailed and called all of the people whose keys I had lost.  Luckily, none of the keys had anything identifying them  attached.  I just knew whose key was where on my rings, so there were no names or house numbers to be seen.  I've heard back from everyone except one family, and they all say that I'm not to worry about the lost keys.
   Luckily, Beatrice had a spare key of mine, so I could get back into my apartment (without having to call the manager and pay a $20 lock-out fee).  The biggest problem that I see is that my mail key was also lost - and I 'll need to find out if  I can get a replacement key from the apartment manager, or if I need to go through the Post Office...  But, all in all, that's not a terrible thing.  -  Still, no keys.

Football, Sister, and Cats

Well, the Gamecocks didn't play this past weekend, the CU Buffs lost, the Gators beat the Commodores at Vanderbilt, and for most of the first half I was worried that the Oakland Raiders were going to pull an upset and beat the Broncos.  But the men in orange and blue finally got on track with about 3 minutes left in the first half.  Peyton Manning threw 5 touchdown passes, and Brock Ostweiler played quarterback the entire fourth quarter.  The Broncos won the game 41 to 17.  It was fun to watch the game with my nephew and brother-in-law - normally, it's just me and the cats at home.
   Kathy is doing well, and has not taken any pain medication (other than Tylenol) since she was discharged from the hospital...  She had a very good day yesterday, and was greatly cheered by a visit from her granddaughter and Evie's parents.  Mike and Jim spent the day making applesauce and slicing apples to place in the two dehydrators.  Bernie acted as Kathy's hands and arms yesterday morning, and I did so all afternoon.  One of the long-time neighbors brought over a thick vegetable soup that was made with items grown in their yard, along with roasted pears.  They also brought a tin of marscapone cheese to slather on top of the pears - it was heavenly!
   My kits were very happy to run outside when I arrived home, just after dark.  I knew that Lovey and Nedi had been in and out, but didn't really pay their trips that much attention.  Just before going to bed, I went to the bathroom - and there was a lone mouse, huddling in on itself, near the rear of the tub.  I turned the mouse loose in the front of the apartment building, and the opening and closing of the hall door brought both Lovey and Nedi inside.  Nedi immediately went to check on his mouse and I watched him search the entire apartment (in vain) for his new buddy.
  It's 54 degrees outside and breezy.  The weatherman just said that we'll have 1 inch of snow on the ground by 6 this evening, and that the temperature will fall 30 degrees over a period of 2 hours.  Yikes!  This is our current forecast  (temperatures are in Fahrenheit) :

Today

57° | 14°

Rain/Snow Likely

Veterans Day

20° | 3°

Slight Chc Snow

Wednesday

12° | 8°

Snow Likely

Thursday

22° | 17°

Chance Snow

Friday

37° | 19°

Slight Chc Snow

Saturday

29° | 14°

Chance Snow

Vacation Rental Complete

Since I asked Kathy to help me decide which place we should choose to rent for our Family Reunion on Chincoteague, I've watched 20 homes disappear from the list, as other folks have rented them.  When my sister told me Friday night that she was cancelling our meeting this Wednesday to make the decision, and she didn't know when it could be rescheduled, I decided to send a message to the other adults involved, and determine their preferences.  I rented a townhouse on the Assateague Channel that sleeps 10; has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths; has two upper decks (or balconies) and an open porch.  All of the porches and decks look over the Channel, and one can easily see the Assateague Lighthouse - and we have the use of a pier, too.  It's about a half-mile from the Pony Swim area, and immediately next to a place where we can rent boats, canoes, and kayaks.  I'm so happy that I've already paid and have the confirmation of the reservation.  Now I feel I can relax again.
   It was pretty chilly here in Boulder yesterday - never got above 56 degrees, and the wind was constantly blowing and shifting directions.  The news reported that Breckenridge had had 4.5 inches of snow yesterday, and that the low last night would be 26.  Arapaho Basin and Copper Mountain are having their usual race to see who will be the first ski resort to open....  After a low of 34 this morning, we're looking at 10 days of clear, sunny skies with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s.  We'll see.   I know I saw cars and trucks this morning that snow on the roofs and the windows were scraped...  I'm guessing they came down from Nederland, or somewhere higher up.
   My kits are having a blast this morning - they keep racing in and out of the apartment, and chasing one another.  Lovey is sitting at my elbow on my desk, while Nedi is out of sight.  Squirrels are eating walnuts and two are sharpening their teeth on the deer antlers.  Rosie and I had a quiet day yesterday.  We went for several short walks, and watched the Broncos game, taking another short ramble at halftime.  Last night, Rosie's folks called a little after 8, as they were going out for a late dinner on the East coast, and I had to admit that Rosie and I were in bed, reading Archaeology  magazine.  (Of course, the Giants and Eagles game was on the television, but I turned it off after 5 minutes of the third quarter...)
   I'll be staying at home again beginning Wednesday - and, unless something urgent happens, I'll be here at home for the rest of the month.  Happiness.

Yum! Raspberries

I have to admit that I used Rosie's Xfinity On Demand and caught up on several television series yesterday...  Had a great brunch at Turley's, and Bea and I were lucky to get seated with one of our three favorite wait-persons there.  I admit, also, that I indulged myself at brunch, getting one of the huge, fresh, buttermilk biscuits instead of toast (or my favorite, a raspberry muffin).  They have been serving carrot, banana, and pumpkin muffins recently, instead of the raspberry ones.  Of course, I've been able to "cheat" in getting my raspberries - Kathy and Jim's patch are still producing like mad, and I usually grab between a half- to a full cup, fresh off the bush every morning.  I also nibbled on the ones in Tessa's garden while I was there - they are growing a combination of both golden and red raspberries.  I spent most of yesterday taking the dogs back and forth between homes - Tessa over to Rosie's, and Rosie's back to Tessa's.  Lynn returned home at 4 in the afternoon.
   It's grey and cloudy this morning - we're expecting a high of 61, with rain mixed with snow in the evening.  The local news channels are full of film showing the snow falling up in the mountains. Thankfully, the Broncos have an 11 a.m. kick-off today in New Jersey against the Jets.  The last couple of weekends have seen a lot of upsets in college football - and I must admit that, while I was rooting 100% for the Gators yesterday, I had a feeling that LSU would prevail (which they did).  I think my biggest shock yesterday was the Georgia Bulldogs winning and not allowing the Missouri Tigers on the scoreboard.
   Rosie and I spent a quiet night, and I'm currently home with my kits.  Nedi is outside communing with nature, but Lovey is curled up on the sofa.  I have fed and loved them, cleaned their potty boxes, washed water bowls and given fresh water.  Both have spent time in my lap, and have been hugged, kissed, groomed, and made much over.  They are the best kits in the world!