Denver National Western Stock Show 2015 (And Football Playoff Comments)

Well, it's 5 degrees outside, and three inches of fine, light, powdery snow fell yesterday, starting at about 11:30 in the morning.  I finally discovered that the reason our heating system works so poorly is  because the boiler that provides the heat for our 50+ year old radiators is also the same system that provides our hot water  -  and the owner is afraid of getting sued for having the water temperature too hot because someone got scalded in the shower or tub.  With the overnight temperature at 1, my apartment interior temperature dropped to 55 degrees, even though the thermostat is set at 72...   I've started wearing a night-cap to bed, to conserve my body heat.  Sheesh.  Just knock on every door, talk to each tenant, and give them written notice that the water temperature will be going up.  It would diminish their responsibility greatly if someone could devise a system in which the cold water tap had to be turned on first, with one gradually adding the hot to make a comfortable water temperature for shower or bath...
   It's that time of year again - the Denver National Western Stock Show will open on Saturday, 10 January, and run through Sunday, the 25th.  For more information, please look at  http://nationalwestern.com/ ;  for information regarding the actual judging and showing of livestock, check out  http://nationalwestern.com/2015-schedule/ .  The DNWSS will kick-off the event with the annual Parade, from Union Station down 15 blocks of 17th Street.  This year's Grand Marshall is Denver basketball legend Chauncey Billups (and his family).  The Parade starts at noon, and will be followed by the annual barbecue lunch at the Wells Fargo Building at the corner of 17th Street and Broadway.  Denver Mayor John Hancock and Chauncey Billups will address the luncheon crowd.
  Besides the usual horse, donkey and mule shows, there are various livestock shows (cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, etc), educational events for children, a Barbecue Cook-off on January 10, rodeos, stock-working dog trials, a huge trade show, team penning, and the Cinch Equicross. The Equicross is a gymkhana style rodeo consisting of four events: Rescue Race, Key Hole Race, Ring Race/Musical Ropes and Flag Racing.  The contestants are between 14 and 18 years of age, and they compete for scholarship money.  I hope to spend at least one full day at the Stock Show - two or three days would be a wonderful treat.
   With the College Playoff game set between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes, I'm cheering for the Buckeyes.  Two professional games were played yesterday, and two will be played today.  Yesterday, the Baltimore Ravens and the Carolina Panthers were victorious  (and I admit I was happy that Big Ben and the Steelers were defeated).  Today, the games are Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltim Indianapolis Colts (the winner of this game will play the Broncos in Denver, next week) and the Detroit Lions against the Dallas Cowboys later in the day.  I really don't have a preference between any of these four teams - so I'll just sit back and watch, and do my usual commentary on the defensive players.  Thank goodness all my neighbors know that I talk back to the television set during football games!

South Fork Evacuees Allowed to Return

South Fork is the small community of 400 souls that was evacuated more than a week ago because of the West Fork Complex wildfire.  The fires - West Fork, Windy Pass, and Papoose - are still burning, over 95,000 acres now, with 2% containment.  The town of South Fork has had large fire breaks plowed around it, and the fire managers have deemed it safe for residents to return - but there is still heavy smoke and lots of particulates in the air.  Some of the citizens have returned, while others say they will wait until the air quality gets better.  The town of South Fork is kept alive by tourism - once the air clears a bit, I hope visitors will return in droves.
  About half of the wildfires that were burning last Sunday have either been totally contained, or are now extinguished.  But, two new wildfires were started by lightning strikes yesterday, and the others are still growing slowly.  -  And then there is the heat wave that has the southwest area of the United States in it's death grip.  Extremely high temperatures for this time of year have caused the deaths of multiple people - from infants to the elderly.  Today, here in Boulder, we have mostly cloudy skies (so far), and the humidity is an unusual 60% - usually we're at 25% or below...  And we even had a brief rain shower while I was in the grocery store this morning, getting kitty treats and kitty food.  Hopefully there will be more rain today, but fewer lightning strikes.
  Boulder County has seen the reappearance of the river otter, and now it seems our moose population is also rising.  I'm happy about it, and think it's grand.  Now we need to get badgers,wolverines and wolves back - and I'm not kidding.  I think the original wildlife of the area should be brought back and allowed to thrive - even if it means keeping my cats inside at all times.  This is a wild and open country in Colorado - people, though really get me upset:  they move out West because they want to be near nature; they build their homes in isolated areas so they can see wildlife; but once Mother Nature actually shows her face, the people are upset.  The people have moved into places that wildlife have ruled for centuries, and then the people are upset when the wildlife does what comes naturally...  They forget about the survival of the fittest and that most creatures of the woods and mountains are true predators.  Suddenly, they want the bear (or mountain lion, or mule deer, or moose, or elk, or bobcat, or lynx, or whatever) removed from "their property" because they don't feel safe.  These are the kind of people that I have no time or sympathy for.  You can't have things both ways.  The woods and mountains are not civilized, and were never meant to be.
 

Rain Over the Weekend!

We actually had rain fall and hit the ground on Saturday and Sunday - both times in the afternoon: early afternoon on Saturday, and around 4:30 yesterday.  We finished the month of August needing 6.5 inches of rain to bring us up to our "normal" rain level.  The weekend rains dropped a few heavy downpours and then quickly dissipated.  It's been breezy this morning, but we're told the high will be near 90 today and definitely 90+ tomorrow...  But, the forecasters say that on Friday our high temperature will only be 75.  That will be a relief.  Almost 70 days of 90+ is hot for Colorado.  I am still  enjoying the remembrance of yesterday's Presidential speech at CU - at least I stuck it out through the heat and the crowds and saw a sitting President speak.
   Skippy has been a big love, and has been positively glued to me since my arrival Saturday.  I hate to tell him that Finn will be returning this afternoon, with the owners.  Skippy has started to show his unhappiness with Finn by not using his litter box, and by using the parlor carpet (which is cream colored); he is not allowed in that part of the house any longer. But I had no problems with him at all.  I'm pretty sure he misses Pilot, the dog he grew up with.  And Finn, Pilot's "replacement", is a large guy who likes to pin Skippy down with one paw.  Skippy has not been happy with this at all.
    I leave here and return to Lovey and Nedi this afternoon.  They have already had breakfast and a quick run outside.  When I return, I'll open the patio doors for them again.  Usually though, both kits like to go out in the early morning, and then again at dusk - right now, we're all sleeping through the heat of the afternoon.  The only thing I have to do tomorrow is visit my psychiatrist -  I plan to read and vegetate and play with the kits at all other times tomorrow.
    I am currently reading Carolyn Haines' Bonefire of the Vanities, and having a blast giggling through the scenes with Jitty, Sarah Booth Delaney, and Tinkie - and Cece.  This book is a fantastic read - funny and mysterious at the same time.  I can't wait to get my own copy.  Believe me in this - if you like fun and adventurous mysteries, you need to read Carolyn's latest Sarah Booth Delaney book!

Hot - Just Plain Hot

It is just plain hot here.  If I were still living in Florida or Virginia, I'd really laugh at that statement; but I've become accustomed to the dry weather here over the past 8 years, and right now, it's 75 degrees with 38% humidity outside, and I am sweating like stink!  Yuck.  I've taken care of Sasquatch and Tugger, and have fed the Thore critters and walked Tessa.  My patio door is open, but Lovey is sprawled out in the sling chair, and Nedi is lying on the tile floor.  I have both of my fans running on medium speed.  Believe me, I do know that it is much warmer at my favorite places in Florida and Virginia, and on days like this in Boulder I wonder how I survived the heat and humidity of the east coast.
  Chincoteague ponies are being rounded up as I blog, and the US Equestrian team is getting settled in England.  I want to be in both places.  I want to be at Tom's Cove on Assateague in the heat and humidity, wearing a thick coating of Deep Woods Off!, and leaning against the Holding Pens wooden fence, with my camera and a huge bottle of cold water.  I also want to be in London - more specifically, Greenwich - so I could wander about and see the layout of the equestrian competitions.  I want to look at the arenas where the Dressage and Stadium Jumping will be held, and I'd love to be able to walk the entire Cross-Country course for the Three Day Eventing test.  (I'm also interested in the Track and Field, Swimming and Diving competitions - but the critters always take first place in my attention.) 
   Today, I'll be rooting for Tiger Woods in his golf tournament, and I'll be thinking about the folks who have displays at the Boulder Summer Arts Festival - but I plan on staying inside, until I go take care of the Clark boys again tonight.
   I hope you have a calm and peaceful Sunday.

Ramsah and Local News

It seems that even though it wasn't visualized on the ultrasound Ramsah as a fatty liver, or hepatic lipidosis. (- Hey! I have that!)  So we are going to try to keep her weight at 11 pounds, and give the vet a daily report on her eating, weight, and general disposition.  I'm going to get a toddler weight scale tomorrow for her, and then I'll get it back when either she has (a) recovered, or (b) is no longer with us.  I hope the final outcome is the (a) option, but it doesn't seem likely.
   This past weekend, in a nearby town, there was a hit and run traffic accident.  A truck plowed into a couple who were just leaving the obstetrician's office.  The vehicle struck the pregnant woman full-on, and brushed her husband.  The woman is in critical condition; the baby boy, who was due in 14 days, was killed outright.  The husband was treated and released, but is at the hospital, at the side of his wife.  Several motorists saw the accident.  911 was called immediately, and while three vehicles stopped, one vehicle followed the truck that had struck the woman.  The person following the driver also called 911, and the police arrived as the man who caused the accident parked his truck.  He was given a breathalyzer test before being arrested.  His blood alcohol level was 4 times the legal limit.  He has been arrested more than 9 times before for DUI, in multiple counties.  Today, as he was appearing in court, facing a vehicular manslaughter charge, his family was pleading with the press that the public had to understand that the driver of the truck had been told the previous week that his lymphatic cancer had recurred, and that he might not have long to live.  When I read that, I blew my top.  So, according to his family, because this guy received bad news, we are supposed to forgive him for taking some one's life while extremely intoxicated....  I don't think so....
  There are two new wildfires over on the western slope - the Cedar Mountain fire and the Molina fire.  We can see smoke sitting on the continental divide, and occasionally smell it.  But we are very lucky in that the fires here on the eastern side of the state are all contained, or extinguished. 
   The biggest stories are the continued high temperatures here - more than 5 degrees hotter, on average, than any time since 1895.  Crops are ripening early, others did not get enough rain and are a total loss.  Colorado Palisade peaches usually arrive on the market the last week of July, or the first week of August.  They are pouring into local markets and grocery stores...  and while this is nice at the moment, it means the prices will be much higher later on....

An Amazingly Nice Morning

It's 66 degrees outside, the sun is shining, there is 24% humidity, and no visible smoke over the mountains.  There is no smell of smoke, either.  We are supposed to reach a high temperature just below 100 today, so it may not be so "nice" later - but it's wonderful outside now.  I've gathered Miss Maggie May inside for the day, and fed her breakfast.  I've let Boo and Mona out and fed them breakfast.  I stopped and picked up my breakfast on my way home to my kits;  whom I have fed (and cleaned litter boxes), and have allowed out to roam.  Next, I need to walk and feed Peach, and leave her on the veranda with plenty of water.  Then I can read for a couple of hours before starting my animal rounds all over again.  Lovey has been talking to me at the top of her lungs, while Nedi is being his usual silent self.
   The Ironing Board fire here in Boulder is contained.  The fire fighters performed a back-burn yesterday on one side of the Flagstaff fire, so there was new, dark smoke in the sky; but local citizens had been forewarned about the back-burn.  In the Waldo Canyon fire, the remains of a second person were found in a burned out home; at the moment, only one person is reported as missing in that area. It is hoped that the High Park fire will be in full containment tomorrow or Monday.  But that still leaves a lot of fires burning; even though the Waldo Canyon fire is nearest homes and businesses.
   Nephew Mike is at a weekend party at a lake; Kathy and Jim are in Leadville, with Jim competing in a half-marathon.  Since I have transportation, I might swing up to Nederland or Estes Park before the Fourth is over....  Maggie May doesn't need me during the day, and I only care for Peach until noon tomorrow, while Kathy and Jim are due back tonight...  So I might become a "tourist" and visit some of the shops.  We'll see.  It's supposed to continue with very hot and dry weather through the Fourth - I might end up just kicking back and doing research and reading.
  I hope you have a great weekend!  Don't get over heated, and stay hydrated!

Last 5 Days of Free Feline Adoptions!

The Boulder Valley Humane Society has 61 cats and kittens available for adoption this morning -  there are 5 days left in the month, during which, you can adopt any cat or kitten (aged 6 months or older) for absolutely zero cost! The wonderful cats and kittens have had a vet exam, are current on all vaccinations, have been spayed or neutered and have a microchip ID implanted under their skin. As usual, most people want a young kitten or puppy before they will choose an older animal -  this is why the free feline deal is for cats that are 6 months of age or older.  As I always plead, if you have the time, the space, the funds, and can give some of your love (that will be returned a hundred-fold), then please adopt one of these needy kits.    -  Did you know:
* Ailurophilia is the "love of cats."                                   
* The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.                                   
* A cat will almost never "meow" at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans. The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak to you!                                   
* Cats knead with their paws when they're happy. We like to call this "making biscuits"!                                   
* If your cat is near you, and her/his tail is quivering, this is the greatest expression of love your cat can give you.
    We are still expecting another 100+ degree day.  There are now 13 wildfires burning in Colorado - the latest fire is near Last Chance, over 38,500 acres burned last night; an area of 15 by 9 miles.  It was amazing to watch the news reports this morning, showing how the extreme heat melted a glass windshield into the interior of a car; looking at runnels of melted aluminum from hubcaps; melted steel from the tire rims - and, in the remains of a house, a melted porcelain bathtub....
    My kits are spending most of time inside, either laying on the tile, or in the bathtub - the coolest places in the apartment.  I am still running three fans, all at medium speed, but just sitting and reading (or researching) leaves my shirts soaked with sweat and my hair dripping sweat from my scalp... and that's with only 5% humidity.  I'm making sure the kitty fountain runs constantly, and both regular water bowls are filled.  Me?  I'm drinking only 20 ounces of Coke a day, plus a quart of Gatorade, and at least 3 quarts of water per day...  trying to keep all of us hydrated correctly!

Eight Wildfires and a Hurricane

It is still hot - we hit 102 again yesterday, and expect the same for the next three days.  It's also windy in the afternoon - especially up in the hills and down in the canyons, where most of the fires are located.  I can not thank all of the fire fighters enough for all that they do throughout our state - it's such an overwhelming job!
   Hurricane Debby is cuddling with the Gulf Coast, and a warning is up from the Mississippi-Alabama state lines over to the Ochlockonee River on the Florida panhandle.  Good luck to those folks!  I'd love to get the approximately 10 inches of rain that forecasters are predicting for that area...
   There are now eight wildfires burning in Colorado - the High Park fire, which has grown to 82,190 acres, to the west of Fort Collins; the Woodland Heights fire, on the outskirts of Estes Park, blew up yesterday and has consumed 21 homes; down in the southwest corner of the state, near Durango, the Weber Canyon (6,000+ acres), Stateline, and Little Sand (18,000+ acres) fires are burning; the Springer fire, near Lake George is still burning; a new fire near Leadville, called the Treasure fire, is rapidly spreading; and the Waldo Canyon fire is rapidly expanding near Manitou Springs, and officials have called for the evacuation of four entire towns.  The Stateline fire is causing some trepidation because there are several natural gas and oil pumps in that area.
   At least cousin Aleda is doing much better and is out of ICU in Salisbury...  she will need a great deal of follow-up care, but hopes to go home soon.  I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers for Aleda's recovery!  And, on another good note: A nearly 8,000-square-foot, $2.8 million research facility in Wachapreague was dedicated June 23 in a by-invitation event at which College of William and Mary President Taylor Reveley, Director of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Nicholas DiPasquale and state Delegate Lynwood Lewis were slated to speak.  Some 250 people -- among them a delegation of scientists from China -- were expected to attend the ceremony to dedicate the Eastern Shore Seawater Research Laboratory, which is part of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science campus. (Go, Eastern Shore!)

102 Degrees; Fires; Bears; Thoroughbreds

We certainly broke the record high today - it's currently 102 degrees outside and the humidity is at 6%.  The record we broke was set in 1874.  We're expecting record-breaking heat for the next 4 days, too.
  The High Park fire has exploded again - 733 more homes were evacuated this afternoon.  The current number of homes lost to the fire is 190.  -  And in Utah, the Dump fire, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City, has doubled in size in the last couple of hours.  3200 people have been evacuated there.
  Here in Boulder, the drought and low humidity are making normal bear foods disappear.  Last night, there were break-ins into two different cars on Hurricane Hill - both break-ins were committed by hungry black bears.
  I'll Have Another, the winner of this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness, will be standing at stud in Japan.  ....  And, on the final day of racing at Royal Ascot, Black Caviar, the phenomonal mare from Australia, will face 14 opponents in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (at 6 furlongs).  TVG will broadcast live from Royal Ascot between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT tomorrow (Saturday).  I'm putting my money on Black Caviar - she's undefeated in 21 races, and I have to root for the girl.

Record Highs Yesterday

It's only 70 at 7:40 this morning.  Yesterday, Boulder reached 98 degrees, breaking the record from 1936;  Denver reached 100 degrees.  It's been very warm, and we're expecting today's high to be 95 - just a trifle cooler than yesterday.  Besides the oscillating fan on the room divider, I have turned on the fan in the entrance hall... hopefully, this will help keep us cool.  The thermometer says it's 98 on the patio, but, then, the sun is shining onto all the glass and then is bouncing back out onto the pale concrete block walls and cement floor.  That's why I don't try to grow plants on the patio - they'll burn to a crisp in the summer.  My kits are both outside at the moment - Nedi slipped out quickly this morning, while Lovey has spent a lot of time on the corner of my desk, talking to me.  They seemed to like sleeping in the bed with me last night as much, or more, than I enjoyed sleeping with them.
   The wildfire down near Lake George has grown to over 1100 acres.  The High Park fire consumed 8 more houses yesterday, and has now burned over 96 square miles. There is a new fire burning near Pueblo, and the Pagosa Springs fire is still spreading.  The sky is hazy with smoke every afternoon, and one can smell smoke everywhere.  With today's heat, low humidity (it was at 4% yesterday), and high winds (again) today, the outlook continues to be bleak.  There are now over 1700 fire fighters at the High Park fire, and they have 30 planes and choppers dropping slurry and water up there.  More than 500 homes are now on stand-by to evacuate in Larimer County.
   Besides being "homesick" for Chincoteague Island, I think you can understand why I keep yearning for the sea and rivers, lakes, and bays....  We're a little over a month away from Pony Penning, and both Island Fever and Horse Fever have taken a strong hold of my mind.

Hot, Hot Monday (Free Cat Adoptions Reminder)

We are expecting a high of 99 degrees today - at 7:30 in the morning, it is already 75 outside, and I have the oscillating fan on here in the apartment.  I've cared for and walked Rosie and Remy, and I'm at home with the kits right now. It seems silly, but I am so excited about being home and sleeping in my own bed tonight! And I'm actually going to be sleeping at home until the 28th...  sweet comfort, wonderful kits, lots of love, and all sorts of goodies.  Yes.
   The Springer fire down south of Lake George in Park County doesn't seem to be the monster that the High Park fire is.  Up in Larimer County, a lot more homes have been evacuated; and, unfortunately, there are now signs of looting taking place.  A man was arrested yesterday after having been stopped inside the fire area...  He had stolen government tags on his truck, forged documents claiming he was a fire fighter, and several stolen items from homes in the burn area.  That is totally unacceptable in my book.  ....  There is another Colorado wildfire down near Pagosa Springs, that has burned over 12,000 acres and is about 30% contained.  And besides the huge fires in New Mexico, there is now one burning in Arizona, along the Tonto Rim - that's at 3,100 acres and only 15% contained.  (If you grew up reading Zane Grey westerns, you'll recognize the Tonto Rim area...)
   And a reminder that the Boulder Valley Humane Society is offering free feline adoptions through the rest of the month of June.  Any kitten or cat aged six months or over is available for no charge - that includes a vet check, all vaccinations, spay or neuter, and an ID microchip.  Kittens less than 6 months old are available for adoption at half the usual charge.  There are currently (as of 7:51 a.m. MDT) 68 felines needing a home at the BVHS.
   Here's hoping your week isn't too long or too hot!

Heat & Thunder

Normally, the high temperatures for Boulder are in the mid- to upper-80s in late July and early August.  Yesterday was our 17th day in a row with temperatures of 90 and above (99 yesterday).  When I left to walk the red kids this morning at 7:10, it was 73 degrees with 38% humidity, when I returned home, it was 83 degrees with 33% humidity.  The weather people say they  believe that we'll have  "normal highs" today and tomorrow because of thunderstorms in the afternoon.  Right now, I kinda doubt it.  The Rs were their usual super selves this morning, and we stopped by to say "Hello" to Suki at the Snow house as we went by. We had an evening thunderstorm yesterday, and Joel said that Remy spent more than an hour huddled in his arms due to the thunder.  Joel also let me know when their flight leaves on Wednesday, so I'll be arriving at their house around 6:30 in the morning.  I also got to speak with Lucy's mom for a few minutes; I'll start walking her again in September, once we cool down a bit.  Lovey is laying across the end of my desk; Nedi is curled up in his red plastic tub; Mocha is asleep under my bed.

I washed and dried three loads of laundry yesterday - bed linens and towels, darks and lights.  Boo is back in Fort Collins for her 9th day of radiation therapy - and Kathy and Jim are exhausted, as this past weekend was Jim's 50th High School Reunion, plus being an irrigation night for the ditch (so he was up every 3 hours, rotating the sprinklers).  It was too hot to cook this past weekend, so I've been living on cereal, fruit, and sandwiches, GatorAde, water, and Coca-Cola.  I started reading the second book of the Blending Enthroned series last night.  I need to get the Catherine Coulter FBI book that (finally!) came out, and I need to visit the public library again to replenish my reading stock.  It's definitely the Dog Days of summer!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

One hundred degrees today and 99 yesterday - yes, it's been a trifle warm here. I've been keeping the dogs in between 10 in the morning and 9 at night, and allowing them out at night. At least the irrigation ditch and stream are running at full spate, so the dogs can cool off in the water, as well as get fresh free-flowing ice-melt water to drink. The cats and I stay indoors as much as possible. I walked Rosie and Remy at 8 a.m. these past mornings, walking Suki and Boo at 6:30, after taking Brandi for a short stroll at 6. Luckily I start back with only the Rs to walk on Monday! On Monday, I also start taking care of Twister, Tinkerbell, the gerbils, mouse, 8 hens and Perle the rooster - just stopping by, not living there. On Tuesday, I start staying with Aiko and Yoshi, and the day their people return, I move next door with the Rs. When the Rs' family returns from Europe, I'll move back in with Suki and Boo; and then, finally, back to my own apartment....
Lovey and Neddy are having a blast here at the Sammies' house. They have stairs to run up and down and all sorts of nooks and crannies to explore - and they chase each other, too. Neddy is still crazy about the dogs' fox toy, and drags it everywhere he can. (If the toy were stuffed, and didn't just look like a flat pelt, it would be larger than he is.) Lovey is spending as much time as she can in my lap, or laying on the book or newspaper I'm reading. I think she's jealous of the attention the dogs are getting. Anyway, I should be back at home in my own bed at least for Monday night... We'll see. Have a good Sunday!

Heat and Home

Wow! We hit 104 degrees yesterday and 103 today. That's a record! And we broke the old high temperature record for today that was set 130 years ago - in 1878 the record high was 100. This was one record I wish we had not broken.

My pet-sitting family came home this afternoon, and I arrived home just before 6 this evening. The kits were frantic, thinking I'd forgotten them this morning. I loved them and fed them, and then took some paperwork for my brother-in-law over to my sister's workplace. Got back home and loved them some more. Had a fresh fruit salad for dinner - too hot for anything else.

In the morning I can get back into my home routine - up early, walk, feed the birds, squirrels and critters, take care of business on -line, and check the news. My change in meds is making me cranky - so I apologize to anyone and everyone if I seem a bit short-tempered. I am aware of it and am fighting it.