Progress?

It was a little strange to walk through the extremely familiar neighborhood of Githens Acres today.   I had to do a classic double-take while walking by property well-known to me.  I was a pet- and house-sitter for the previous owner for several years; I loved the lay-out of the one-story house, that had a huge English-park-like back yard, with multiple bedrooms and baths and a large art studio.  A new person purchased the property for $1.25 million (most of the cost was in the land itself), and had rented the property to friends for more than a year.  I hadn't walked by and looked at that property since I left on my vacation.  I was amazed to see an ugly chain link fence around the front of the property that had an inner facing of green plastic.  I had to step to a corner and climb up on the stump of what had been a beautiful tree to be able to see the yard.  The entire house and garage have been removed.  The garden shed and less than half of the trees have been left standing.  As I was staring at the scene of devastation, a truck pulled onsite that had a drill bit that was wider than I am tall on it's bed.  What the heck are they going to drill for?  The water table is only 3.5 feet under the surface at that property!    And, the thing I miss most of all, there was a blue spruce that was over 100 years old at the corner of the house.  The previous owner and I had both watched the birth of countless deer over the years underneath the boughs of that tree.  Deer that were born there came back to give birth to their young at the same place - and a big buck that had been born there made that spruce his winter bedding area every year.  And now it's gone - in, seemingly, the blink of an eye.   So, so sad.
   Later, while catching some sun with Rosie in the park near Crest View, We made friends with three dogs, and a visiting 18-month-old child and her parents.  The family was visiting Boulder from Minnesota, and they came out for an early excursion, so Hazel could enjoy the park.  The first two dogs had moved on, with their owner, and Rosie and I were both sitting in the sun, absorbing its warmth.  Then we heard a squeal of delight, as baby Hazel had seen the "dob" - Rosie.  Her parents checked with me first, then allowed Hazel to come pat Rosie.  Rosie laid very still and allowed the little girl to pat her all over, and then Rosie licked her hand.  Hazel, her parents, and, I think, Rosie, too, were happy with the outcome.  Hazel squealed and danced, yelling, "Dob! Dob!"
   Walking back from the park, we passed the house on Redwood that raises Silky chickens (in three colors).  As we were almost past, I heard what I thought was the word, "Me."  Rosie and I both stopped to look for the speaker.  I couldn't see any people out and about.  There were no signs of the Silkies, either; and while I've heard chickens make all kinds of sounds, I haven't yet heard one say, "Me."    We started to walk on, and heard, "Meeeee,"  So we both started doing an inventory of the Silkies' property.  We saw nothing, so we took another step.  "Meeeeeeeeeeeee!"  We stopped short, again, and looked again.  Finally a young goat, almost  a pure cream color, parted the bushes and stepped into our view.  I scratched its head vigorously, while Rosie investigated its mouth and lips.  After about five minutes, we started walking back home, and had to hear plaintive "Meeeee"s for most of the block.  It's a sweet kid, but lonely.
 

Baby Critters

Calf

Chickens

Goats and adult rabbits

Too Bummed to Blog

I didn't blog yesterday because I was too blue, low, bummed out... whatever expression you choose to use.  The North Boulder Little League team lost their Semi-Final game on ESPN2 yesterday by one run.  The boys played East Texas, represented by Pearland.  Aiden played catcher for all 6 innings in the 105 degree heat.  Both of his brothers, Levi and Ty, and his parents, Blair and Pete, were frequently on screen.  There were quite a few close-ups of Aiden's eyes, showing his concentration and intensity - it was super coverage.  East Texas took the lead, then Boulder battled back.  But East Texas got the tying and go-ahead runs in the 5th inning.  Pearland had no errors, but Boulder had 6 -  The final score was Pearland, TX 5 to Boulder's 4.  All the boys played hard and tough and fair.  It was a very good game.

Victor and Xena escaped the back yard yesterday morning while I was walking Rosie and Remy.  I put them back in the yard; one of the neighbors called me at 11:15 and said she had just put the dogs back inside the fence, and that as soon as she had, Animal Control came cruising by.  I locked the dogs in the breezeway so I could watch the game.  They leaped the fence twice more last night, and twice this morning.  Thank goodness the family came home this morning!  -  I walked Rosie and Remy this morning, having walked Xena and Victor earlier.  Then I played with MeyToch and Sunbeam, and had to refill the second drinking pan for the chickens. (And Charlie pecked me again.) I ferried my overnight stuff and food across the street to Alexy's house, and then came home to my kits.  Alexy was quite impressed because while I was there, Cloudy came in and wanted to be petted - I had just withdrawn my hand, when she decided to attack, and so, didn't touch me.  Then Shady came running for love.  Alexy leaves this afternoon for England, and I'll be at her house through the 29th.  And then I have Maggie May and the rats for the Labor Day weekend.  ....  Things never really stop or change, do they?   ....   Lovey and Nedi and Mocha all got tons of love yesterday, and they have all had a lot again this morning.  Everyone has had their favorite crunchy snack, besides the fresh dry and canned foods, plus fresh water.  The potty boxes have been cleaned, too.  I'm about to sit on the sofa and finish reading Catherine Coulter's Split Second.

Lovey Loves Me

Since I arrived home this morning, I fed and watered and loved the kits, then sat down at my desk.  Once I sat down, I have had Lovey either in my lap, or on the desk, talking to me constantly, and marking me with her chin.  She must miss my usual presence.  Mocha got some loving and then turned her attention to her food.  Nedi has been running in and out - he got love when I arrived, but I think he's waiting for Lovey to leave me so that he can receive some more.  Rosie and Remy slept with me last night - and were upset when I got up at 3 a.m. I had to get dressed and go over to the Chandler's and close Victor and Xena up in the breezeway.  They hadn't barked all evening, but Victor started at 3, and after 15 minutes of continuous barking (it was making me crazy from a distance of two blocks, so I can only imagine how the neighbors felt...), I arrived and penned him up.  He has to learn that barking in the night, unless it's for an intruder, is not allowed.  And, of course, the goats heard me arrive and they started bleating, so I had to give them a small amount of sweet oats to get them quieted.  ...  The Silvermans return tonight, so I'll move over into the Chandler house, instead of heading home. 

Since the North Boulder Wildcats have won two games, they are guaranteed a play-off game berth tomorrow.  At this time, I understand they are to play at 4 p.m. (MDT), and their game will be televised live on ESPN2. If they win that game, they will play for the Regional Champion title  on Thursday at 6 p.m. (MDT), also being televised live on ESPN2.  If they win that, they are off to South Williamsport, PA for the Little League World Series.  Or, you can visit http://www.littleleague.org/series/2011divisions/llbb/qualify/southwest.htm/    -  Go Wildcats!!

Books and Critters

Felix Francis has out-done himself in his first book.  The title of the book is Dick Francis's Gamble, which I'm guessing the publisher wanted because of his father's name.  After the death of his mother, Felix collaborated with his father on several books.  He learned well at his father's side; as usual with any Dick Francis book, I didn't want to put the book down.  The main character is an ex-jump jockey who is now a personal financial advisor with a London-based company.  He and a coworker go to the Grand National Steeplechase together, and, as they arrive, his coworker is killed, execution style.  The question is why?  The characters are fully drawn and the book moves at a quick pace.  I believe that if his following books are as good as Gamble, Felix will be a fitting successor  for his father's writing chair. ....  And I've just begun Preston & Child's Cold Vengeance.  It starts off with a bang, hunting stags in Scotland...  I love all of these writers!

Rosie and Remy seem to enjoy their early morning walks - this morning I could see my own breath when we went out at 5, and I can tell you that my legs and arms were chilled.  Both red kids are stretched out on the tile in the den, and I'm blogging from the sofa, while a Gene Autry movie is playing on the TV.  The baby goats were a blast yesterday evening, and Alexy came over to enjoy their antics.  Besides Rafael, there is another white rooster in the group of pullets who has long silky feathers on his neck and wings; I've named him Shanghai.  Poor Victor.  He started barking again about 8:30 last night; I could hear him from the Silverman house, two blocks away, so at 9:30, I penned Victor and Xena up in their breezeway for the night.  My kits were very happy to see me this morning - Lovey was talking at the top of her voice as I opened the door, and both Mocha and Nedi joined in. They all got love and attention, and food and fresh water.  A book I had ordered from Chincoteague came in the mail on Saturday, so I got to take a good peek at it.  -   It's a limited edition print (I got number 369) of A Field Guide to the Chincoteague Ponies, and has photos of most of the mares and stallions on Assateague, as well as their registered names and the nicknames.  It's nice to find out what the newer crop of breeding ponies is named....  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Go Wildcats!

Yesterday evening, the North Boulder Wildcats played the champion team from New Mexico in Waco, Texas.  At the bottom of the fourth inning, things were not looking good for the Wildcats, being down 6 to 2.  But the boys rallied and scored 5 runs in the fifth inning, and won their first Regional Tournament game with a score of 7 to 6.  They play again at 6 p.m. both tonight and tomorrow night.  Go Wildcats!  Go Aidan!  Go Chandler Clan!  -  The band has done it's work and MeyToch is now a gelding.  He is still a short, stocky little guy, and I love the way the hair on his spine stands up - it's almost like a wild boar's dorsal stripe.  Sunbeam, on the other hand, has long and graceful legs, and looks every inch the prima donna.  Sunbeam has the typical Roman-nosed goat face, while MeyToch has a dished face, like an Arabian foal.  Sunbeam's collar was making a groove in her neck, so I removed and loosened it, then replaced it this morning.  MeyToch's collar is a little on the large size, but his horns keep it from popping over the top of his head.  And MeyToch has finally put me and the hanging chair back together - as soon as I sit down in it, he comes running and wants a hand-out.  I really love the sound of little goat hooves on a sandstone patio!

Rosie and Remy looked terribly guilty when I returned from taking care of the Chandler critters and gardens this morning.  I looked and saw they had grabbed a styrofoam box that had held the chicken from my supper last night - Lemon Chicken from the China Gourmet.  The box was empty, because the kids had eaten the leftovers with their rabbit for breakfast, so I wasn't worried.  But they knew they had done something wrong - when I entered the house, they had both looked at me, dropped their tails, and went out  through the doggie-door and onto the deck.  I just picked up the box and carried it out to the recycling bin; never said a word to them.  When I came back inside, they both greeted me with wagging tails and prancing feet.  - A true case of  "out of sight; out of mind."  ....  I saw Kathy walking Suki and Boo early this morning.  Boo seems to be doing extremely well; she had her 13th day of radiation therapy yesterday, and then has the final five next week.  She looks good.  Suki is a great-grandmother; the breeder had a party last night for the new litter of puppies - 7 of them, all in good health.

And I had not realized that actor, director, and writer John Huston was born in Nevada, Vernon County, Missouri, just like my grandmother.  John was the son of actor Walter Huston and roving reporter Rhea Gore, and he was born in Nevada in 1906.  There is a story floating around that John Huston's grandfather (which one?) had won the town in a poker game.  Somehow, I can't see that happening....

Cool Morning, Hot Day

I was looking at MeyToch's bottom this morning, and forgot to be on the lookout for Charlie.  So I now have a hole in the heel of my thumb to match the one on my ring finger.  All of the critters in my care are doing well, with the exception of Charlie's temper, but since he's like this with everyone, I won't take offense.  Little Miss Sunbeam ran out of the pen area and I had just enough time to grab her before Victor showed up.  Victor is part cattle dog, so he wants to herd, but he also loves to lunge at Charlie, even through the fence, so I don't really trust him.  Anyway, I was able to grab Sunbeam and get her back inside the pen before Victor showed up, with Xena hot on his tail.  Victor is out-going, extremely confidant, and a little too aggressive when it comes to other dogs in his yard.  Xena just wants love and affection, and is so cringingly eager to please that I wonder about her puppy-home before she was taken to the Humane Society.  But they are generally very good young dogs - and they love being taken for a walk!  I also walked Rosie and Remy early this morning - the temperature was 58 outside, and I have to admit my legs were a little cool this morning.  My kits seem to be doing well - they have declared a truce with Mocha, and she avoids them as much as possible.  Both Nedi and Lovey are outside right now, and both have come running back in multiple times his morning, talking to me from the patio until the get in my lap.  They are wonderful kits.

Aidan's North Boulder Wildcat team plays their first game in the Little League (12 year olds) Regional Championships at 8:30 tonight, down in Waco, Texas.  They are then scheduled to play at 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.  If they win and keep on winning, they can go to the World Championships.  Aidan is hoping for that, mainly so he can miss school - he likes learning, but currently enjoys playing baseball more.  ....  We're less than a week away from the Broncos first game for this season.  The big buzz has been about the quarterback position - will Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow be named the starter?  Right now, it looks like Kyle Orton, as he has gotten all of the snaps from the "A" team during practice this week.  ....  We had a couple of rain showers last night, and about 15 minutes of booming thunder yesterday evening - but Remy didn't react to it.   I did laugh this morning - on my way back from the Chandlers',  our local 10- and 12-point bucks bounced out from a yard about 200 feet away from me, trotted down the road and neatly jumped the post and rail fence.  I heard what sounded like a jogger coming up behind me, and I turned, to warn the person about the deer, and realized the sound was Jonathan, our 6-point buck, trotting up behind me.  Jonathan was struck by a car last year, and both of his hind legs are weak, so he rarely moves faster than a trot.  But he passed right by me, grazing me with his shoulder as he passed, to join the other bucks.  It's weird (but nice) to have the local wildlife  almost ignore your presence.  ....  We got back up to 90 yesterday, and are expecting another long string of days of 90s temperatures.   -  TGIF!

Poor Little MeyToch!

I really empathize with MeyToch Chandler, the little male pygmy goat.  I understood that the vet was going to geld him (neuter, castrate, whatever you want to call it) on Tuesday.  Instead of a quick slice and dice, he was banded instead.  The vet places an extremely tight plastic band at the base of the scrotum, and the band causes a lack of blood flow, causing the testicles to (eventually) drop off.  The poor little guy is walking around with his back hunched up, and his scrotum is swollen to 4 times it's normal size.  He doesn't want me to touch him, as he now associates that pain with humans; but he also wants to be comforted.  He and Sunbeam ( a very pretty cream and white  girl) are also in the process of being weaned from their mothers - this is their third day of being separated from Mom's udder and Mom's protection.  Sunbeam currently wants to be with a person constantly; MeyToch wants the comfort and love he remembers, but each step he takes reminds him that he hurts.  I'll have to take my camera back to the house and take more photos of all the critters.  ...  Lemony, the little yellow chick from my last stay with the Chandler's crew, has turned into a white hen with black speckles on her back.  And Topgallant Charlie, the rooster, managed to draw blood from my right ring finger this morning - I had just glanced away from him, when he came at my  hand - so I have a round hole at the fleshy base of that finger.

The red kids managed to get into my chicken jerky treats yesterday evening - and ate all 2 pounds of them, having just had their supper of four raw chicken wings each.  I guess they were sated, as they both slept through the night.  We had a nice 90-minute walk this morning when the temperature was still below 65.  After their walk, I took care of the Chandler crew and walked both Victor and Xena.  While I was walking them, I met one of the new neighbors, and we had a nice chat.  They have an 8-year-old cat, and are interested in hiring me to cat-sit for them. ....  Even though the sky looked ominous several times yesterday afternoon, we only had one loud thunderclap.  There were a few very light sprinkles of rain - but just enough to dampen the grass. ....  I'm at home with my kits at the moment - Lovey is stretched out on top of the room divider, and Nedi has just gone back outside, having nursed on, and kneaded, the insides of both of my elbows.  And I just discovered a knot in his pantaloons - I'll have to comb that out .   -   Have a great Thursday! 

Adopt a Feline at NO Cost

If you live near Boulder, the local Humane Society is once again sponsoring a free adoption period for all cats aged 6 months or more through the end of August.  Our Society is a no-kill shelter, and we also take in unwanted pets of all kinds from other states that do kill the animals.  As usual, there has been an explosion of kittens, who are very adoptable at almost any cost, but the older kits then get ignored.  Any cat, aged 6 months or older, is available for free adoption; that includes free spay/neuter, free vaccinations, free micro-chipping, and a free follow-up visit to the vet of your choice.  If you can, please adopt a new friend!

The lawn is being mowed at my apartment building, so all the kits are currently inside.  They seem to think that the riding lawnmower will gobble them up without a thought.  I've walked the Rs, and just returned home to blog and get a few needed overnight items.  The Chandler family was excited this morning, also, as they leave for Waco today for the Little League Regional Championship games.  ESPN2 will be showing the regional playoffs, so please root for the North Boulder Wildcats!  (And I get to meet Sunbeam, the baby female goat, who is now is residence with MeyToch.  -  Poor Meytoch was gelded yesterday afternoon, so I know he won't be in the best of spirits today.)  We have a 50% chance of thunderstorms today, and as the humidity is over 60%, I'm sure we'll have a few.  We were under a flood warning through midnight last night because of the slow moving rain storms up in the mountains, but luck has been with me so far. So I'll be at the Irish kids' house, and taking care of the Chandler menagerie until Monday night.  I get to spend Monday night in my own bed, and then move into Alexy's to care for Cloudy and Shady while she's back in England. - 'Twill be interesting!

Sickening Abuse

Today has been warm  - so far, it's up to 94 degrees and the humidity is 10%.  I've had the window and patio door wide open since I arose this morning (and I've been surprised that Lovey and Nedi are respecting the screen door).  Kathy Sabin just said that Denver is expecting a high of 99 tomorrow - and that the late afternoon cloud cover should keep the temp. below 100.  Firefighters and the US Forest Service hope to have the Maxwell Fire 60 to 70% contained this evening (it hasn't been very windy today, thank goodness).  Mocha spent yesterday evening on the sofa with me, watching Russell Crowe's take on Robin Hood.   Lovey came in and laid down on my other side, and it took her 30 minutes to realize that Mocha had dared to come out of hiding... then I had to break up a cat fight, which was mostly yowls and hisses.
Rosie and Remy are doing well - I walked them early this morning, finishing at 9:30, so we wouldn't have to contend with the heat.  Rosie's itching has slowed, so apparently she had a mite infestation.  Remy's hip was a little ouchy this morning, so we walked slowly and took several rest breaks.  ...  I was flabbergasted when the Chandler family returned home Sunday evening and called to tell me that MeyToch was a female baby.  I told Blair that I was 99.999% sure that MeyToch was a boy - unless the kid was a hermaphrodite.  I spoke with her this morning, and the family is still getting used to the fact that MeyToch is, indeed, a little boy.  They had thought he was a doe kid - but he is definitely a billy kid! (And they had really wanted a girl...)
I'd be happy to take the law into my own hands in the following two cases:  A man was arrested at one of the local King Soopers for beating and punching his dog.  A witness called 911; the man and his girlfriend are under arrest, and the dog is being evaluated at the Humane Society.  The couple left their pit bull, named Hercules, in their van this morning (at 9:30, when police received the call, it was already 88 degrees outside) and went into the store to shop.  One of the large side windows is broken out of the van.  Hercules jumped out through the missing/open window, and followed his people into the grocery store.  The man dragged him out of the store by the scruff of his neck, opened the van's side door, threw the dog inside (this is according to the witness) yelping, and proceeded to beat the dog with his fists, while Hercules trembled, whined, and turned belly-up.  The man was arrested for animal abuse; his girlfriend, who told the police that one of them "probably should have stayed outside with the dog", was arrested on an out-standing warrant for trafficking in stolen items.  The dog, according to the Humane Society, does not appear to have a stable personality - going from being friendly to attack mode without any warning.  - Poor, poor Hercules! -  The owners made  him that way!! ...  The other case is a young man, in Denver, who stabbed his American Bulldog puppy because the man got angry "because the dog bit him."  Police and animal care agents could find nothing on the owner that looked like a bite mark.  The man lost his temper, grabbed a carving knife, and slashed and stabbed the puppy more than 5 times.  Then he got mad because the dog was bleeding on his carpet, so he tossed it out the window.  The puppy was taken, when found by a neighbor, to the closest emergency vet, and police were called.  The puppy underwent 3 hours of emergency surgery, and was then placed in an oxygen tent, as one of his lungs had been collapsed by the knife.  The vets say that the puppy's prognosis is "good."  -  Let me have both of these men.  I'll strip them, smear them with honey, and stake them out on ant beds in the broiling sun.  And even that seems too tame to me!

A Lapful of MeyToch

Rats!  I left my camera at the Chandler house, and the photos I took of the menagerie yesterday are on it's memory card.  I did have a fun morning, as MeyToch decided that my lap (I was sitting in a hanging hammock chair) was the place to be.  First thing he did was put his little butt right next to my nose - just like the cats always do. Then he sat down with his rump on my shoulder, and looked out over his new kingdom.  He jumped on and off me, and has decided that the black soles of my shoes are the best things to butt.  That decision caught me off guard, as I was looking at Hazel when MeyToch first butted the sole of my shoe and sent the chair and me banging up against the side of the house! The pups and chickens and bees are doing great - and I'm watering the gardens before 6:30 each morning, so they look fine.
Lovey has decided she does not like the scent of the hen house on my shoes - she keeps trying to cover them, like mess in her litter box.  Nedi and Mocha just want love and attention. ...  Boulder Creek has been closed to tubing, rafting, swimming and body surfing because of the unusually high and rapid water flow.  Canoes and kayaks are still allowed, though.  ...  And we have a really weird guy out here.  He was first spotted hiding in the holding tank of a portable toilet at a yoga festival (in Boulder, naturally) - for some reason, a female user looked down and saw the guy's face.  It was reported, and the guy took off.  He was finally captured in Aspen, still with dried feces on his body.  He claims he started his "potty peeking" when he was traveling in Europe as a college student (he's 30 now), and that he has several permanent places where he "peeks."  The Boulder police have actually found several of his hiding places.  This guy claims that he wants to start a new religion of "woman as Goddess", and that the mysteries of her body are the best way to get to know her....  (GAG!) 
All I know is that it's summer.  It's getting warmer and warmer - and one of my clients, who has already hired someone else to stay in their home and care for their dog, has now asked me to stop by several times a day, too - as she thinks Lucy won't be cared for correctly by the new hire.  This is definitely an "Oy, veh" situation!

I Want A MeyToch!

As usual, I have been totally charmed by baby MeyToch.  He is just such a cute little bundle of energy - and I'm sure that if I were his mother, I'd want him to nap all the time.  At five weeks, he jumps on top of his mother's back, butts heads with her, is starting to graze on his own (his teeth are breaking through right now), and delights in running, jumping and cutting a caper.   He and his mom, Hazel, are pygmy goats, and I can carry him under my arm - he weighs about 12 pounds right now.  Hazel seems to accept the fact that her baby gets all the attention - I groom her and make sure that I make much of her, too (but MeyToch is plain delightful!).  ...  Victor and Xena, the two young pups, have very different personalities - Xena is the shyer of the two, and quietly asks for attention; Victor just runs up to you and tries to get you to play with him immediately, without any overtures.  ...  Topgallant Charlie is still going strong as the rooster of the family- he's down to 6 adult hens, so the family has added 10 10-week-old pullets to his harem (I think 3 of them are young cockerels).  Barbara has hatched five chicks, and Nell and Nancy are both brooding on nests that have at least three eggs each....  Charlie pinched the top of my foot so hard this morning that I have a penny-sized bruise - and I was giving everyone fresh water and several scoops of scratch and cracked corn! One would think he'd be appreciative!
After being gone over with a fine-toothed comb (literally), as well as having skin scrapings taken, the vets at CSU could not find a single identifiable source for Rosie's itching.  There was no sign of a mite infestation, but since that is the only thing she hasn't been treated for, they gave her a bath and mite treatment, and sent home the bath stuff and treatment for Remy, too.  ...  Suki has a shaved band that goes from her shoulders halfway down her back, and from mid-rib to mid-rib.  Her skin is a mass of scabs from her itching - but it seems to be slowing down, as she gets more thyroid medication into her system.  ...  Boo is still wearing the "cone of shame".  This is one week after being spayed and having the cancerous growth on her hind leg removed.  She seems to get a kick out of whacking people's legs with the edge of her hard plastic cone.  ...  Mona is doing great.  ...  My  kits were very excited to see me arrive, got loving, ate and immediately ran outside. Mocha is laying in the sun on the patio, while both Lovey and Nedi are out playing in the grass. I don't think I'll get a real response from them until I get all my gear back home on Sunday, and then when I pack it up again on Wednesday.  Well, dirty litter boxes await my vigilant scooper - I'm off and away!
**Photos of MeyToch, Hazel, Victor, Xena, Topgallant Charlie, etc.  are coming soon! **

Missy, Victory & Indiana

Missy, the bay mare, and her two companion black goats, Victory and Indiana, are becoming famous. They belong to Alan and Cindy Martin, who live near Franktown. They were the animals rescued on live TV by the helicopter pilot and two fire trucks during the Burnt Tree fire on Thursday. The Martins were stuck in traffic, trying to get home to rescue the critters, and had to listen to what was happening being relayed by a friend on a cell phone, who was describing the scene as shown by 9 News. (I would have been a basket case!) The work of a South Metro Fire crew and helicopter pilot Brian Toomey helped douse the flames. "I've had days where I can't hit the broad side of a dang barn," Toomey said. Toomey is a pilot for Rampart Helicopter Services, a private fire-fighting helicopter service near Castle Rock. On Thursday, his accuracy was spot on. "It's luck, and I don't get 'em all," he said. Toomey says he dropped a total of 70 buckets of water at 350 gallons each in a three-hour period. (I thought they were 100-gallon buckets...) "It was attacked very well," Alan Martin said. "The firefighters were amazing, and the helicopter drop..." Cindy Martin said, "I watched it this morning, and I can't believe how precise and how amazing - if it hadn't been for him...."
CU Buffs are continuing to advance in the NIT and WNIT. Gators play Butler today in the Elite Eight. ... Today, the Louisiana Derby will be run at the Fairgrounds (1 and 1/8 miles on dirt); at Gulfstream will be the Pan American Stakes (1.5 miles on the turf); Santa Anita will host the 1.5 mile Tokyo City Cup (on dirt); and Aiken has the restricted Budweiser Imperial Cup over a 2-mile flat course. The Dubai World Cup races are underway at the Meydan Racecourse: JJ the Jet Plane has won the 5-furlong Al Quoz, the first race, by a head. Kinsale King, last year's winner of the Golden Shaheen (with a $2 million purse), has broken out in hives and has swollen legs; he has been scratched from today's race.
Lovey and Nedi are making much of me, and I, of them....