Saturday Mish-Mash

It's a beautiful Saturday morning - slightly overcast, and more humid than usual, but very pretty.  I've arrived at Lynn's, walked the dog, put her dirty dishes in the dish washer, fed the fish, and taken a new type of food over to the Snow house for Boo to try.  I've also opened the majority of windows on the ground floor of the house, and have the French doors open and the screen doors closed…  I much prefer fresh air!  I can hear the water fall emptying into the koi pond, and multiple birds singing.  I can also watch the drift of the cottonwood seeds in the air and across the yard.
  Lovey and Nedi were not happy when I left them this morning - I managed to put my alarm clock in the overnight bag without Lovey seeing me do it, but she knew something was up.  After walking Tess again, I'll go pick up Beatrice, and we'll have brunch - possibly at Turley's, possibly at the Cheesecake Factory.  Leslie Kinder's memorial service yesterday afternoon was extremely moving - I cried several times.  She was only 53 years old, and it just seems incredible that she's already left us.  I cared for Peaches, her yellow Lab, for about a year, before the dog succumbed to cancer.  And I'll never forget how delighted Leslie when she read my copy of The History of the Fork.  We both found it interesting and unusual.
  I'll try to finish up my State Parks postings this weekend - but I'm much more confident on my PC than on Lynn's, so we'll see what develops - two different operating systems occasionally confuses my mind.  I am saddened over the loss of four of Lynn's carp - she says she had a catastrophic pump failure  and came home to find the pond water bubbling as if in a caldron, and her four largest fish floating dead on the surface…  The pond still doesn't look right - the workers put in a new load of gravel on the bottom, and have shelved it so high on one side that the fish can't even swim in the area….
  And I'm hoping that the Denver metro area will calm down over the weekend.  I was invited to a dinner with Senator Mark Udall this evening, but I can't afford $1,000 for a dinner plate of food I probably couldn't eat…  I did contribute to his campaign earlier in the week, when Cory Gardner said something that made me angry with him.  I'm always angry and upset with Gardner, but this was a more stupid than usual statement about women.
   Have a wonderful weekend!

Puzzled....

I have to admit I was very puzzled this morning when I read the newspaper headline, "Cornhole Tourney to Raise Funds for Patient."  I was brought up believing that a "cornhole" was a person's rectum - at least, that's what Mom usually called it.   I read the article and laughed at the construction of one sentence, that stated the patient found out he needed a liver transplant "after going to the hospital jaundiced with chest pains."  I had no idea that chest pains could cause jaundice!  -  In any event, I found out that a Cornhole Tourney was a bean bag tossing game....  Then, my local paper identified the body in Boulder Creek, at the north end of my apartment house.  When found, the description given was "a white male, in his 50s." It turns out that he was 38, and has lived in both Boulder and Broomfield.  This second press release also stated that a gun was found near the man's body.  According to the reporter, "Asked if police consider the death suspicious, Kobel (the Boulder PD spokesperson) said there is no public danger."  Why does that answer bother me?  Maybe because it didn't answer the question?

I didn't blog yesterday evening because I was so drained after Jim Cunningham's Memorial Service. It was a very good service, in which we celebrated Jim's life, looked at photos, and shared reminiscences.  Then it was food, drink, and fun time.  I kept refilling the punch bowl, and the cookie and cake platters, as well as the fruit and veggie and dip bowls, while Connie kept the cheese and crackers going.  And we talked to family and friends  - and Andy, Bernie and Jim's son, got a kick out of telling people that I had called him "Bernie" yesterday morning....  And I had, so I didn't care.  I was walking Rosie and Remy past the Cunningham house, and I saw a pair of legs in jeans at the shed door.  A maple tree was blocking the rest of my view, and then I saw Chama, the neighbor's dog run up to the door, with her tail wagging furiously. So I called out, "Is that you, Miss Bernie?"  At which time Andy stepped forward so that I could see him, and said, "I hope not!"  Then I told him that he couldn't be Bernie because his hair was the wrong color...  and we laughed.  It was nice to be able to meet him before the service, since I already knew his sister and nieces.

Yesterday, Black Caviar, the Australian mare, added to her winning ways by being first under the wire for the 15th straight time. Unfortunately, she will not be running in the Breeders Cup at Churchill Downs next month.  .... And Daisy Devine, who last won the Fair Grounds Oaks back in March, was switched to the turf for yesterday's Pin Oak Valley View Stakes at Keeneland.  She was sent off at 43-to-1 odds - and she won, coming along the rail under jockey Calvin Borel.  She paid $89 for a $2 win ticket.  (Now, that's a nice profit!)  ....  Zazu, the gorgeous grey filly sired by Tapit, will not be running in the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic as planned.  She has developed inflammation in her right shoulder and will get a 90 day vacation from work.  ....  And Awesome Gem, the 8-year-old gelding, who has raced in the last 4 Breeders Cups, will not compete this year.  Instead, he'll be pointing towards  next year, when he will continue to race as a 9-year-old.  He's already won $2.7 million in his career so far.

Have a great weekend!

Getting Florida Excited

How cool!  I just checked my e-mail before starting to blog, and there was a note from Carolyn that had been sent just one minute earlier.  So I called her on the phone - and we laughed and talked and planned things to do while I'm visiting.  Gator Football against Georgia on Saturday; horseback riding on the beach Sunday morning; Redskins at the Bills Sunday afternoon; and whatever we feel like in between! I'm sure we'll have a great time.  I'll also be spending time with Mary, Kathryn, Jack, Diana, and Carolyn's mother -  I am really looking forward to this trip!

Friday I'll be helping Bernie with Jim's Memorial Service (it's at 1 p.m.) - I'll probably be in charge of the food set-up and replenishment.  That's no trouble.  I actually have a black jumper that I can wear - but I'll need to find some black shoes.  Of course, people know I'm crazy, and if I show up in hot pink sneakers, I don't think anyone would blink (much).  I've told Bernie that she can call me any time during the day or night; that I'm available to her, if she wants me or needs me.  I know that Jim had hospice care for the last few months, but it is still a shock to your system when it finally hits you that your life partner is gone.

All of Lynn's kits slept with me last night, and Tessa was on the floor next to the bed, as usual.  Their Mom returns tomorrow evening, so I'll be back in my own bed quite soon.  Lovey and Nedi have been stuck to me like glue this morning - but after two hours, they have both gone outside to play and explore.  Alexy is going to come over for tea this afternoon at 4.  Mainly to observe the younger kits outside, to have a few biscuits, and to chat.  .....  There were about 100 protesters for "Occupy Boulder" on Friday and about 700 yesterday.  They plan on meeting again today.  I agree with them that something needs to be done about the economy and the jobs situation, but I'm too busy and dislike crowds too much to want to join in.  .....  The Broncos have a bye week, but the media is still in a frenzy over Tim Tebow being named the starting quarterback.  I like Tim; I think he brings a spark that Kyle Orton lacked; I think he can energize and get the offense and defense to work harder; but I don't think that Tim is "the saviour" of the team.  He's a young man with great collegiate accomplishments.  He has drive, commitment, and a certain pizazz (if we were still in the 1930's, I'd say he has "it").  But it takes a lot of people working together to make a winning football team.  I truly hope that Tebow can provide the cohesion and stability the Broncos need.  But I do not expect an immediate miracle.  (However, I do hope for one.)