Am I Old? A Curmudgeon? A Fuddy-Duddy?

First things first.  I am fifty-seven and a half years old, and grew up in a poor-middle class family.  My father's father, grandfather, great grandfather and great-great grandfather were farmers with large families. On my mother's side of the family, my forebears were fishermen, watermen, and farmers on Chincoteague Island, Virginia and in Denmark and Sweden.  Dad retired after 21 years in the US Navy on my fifth birthday, and we moved to north-central Florida.  We had a black and white television set until 1966, and were able to receive CBS, NBC, and the local WUFT , which turned into PBS.  We lived at the edge of the suburbs, the nest-to-last house on the end of a street, where the dirt run ran almost seamlessly into pin oak and pine woods.  We played a lot of memory games and read aloud, we played board games and cards, and we listened to the radio.  We watched the "local" (Jacksonville) news and national news, and then one or two national televised programs each night.  There was a set of encyclopedias from 1956, two dictionaries, and a family health book for reference and lots of other books that we owned, or were from the public library, for our edification.
  Now, skip to the present day.  I have a satellite television connection that gives me a choice of almost 800 channels; I have my desk top personal computer with an internet connection; I have a land-line telephone; and, reluctantly, I now have a cell phone that is only turned on when I am caring for animals away from my home, or when I'm on vacation.  I use the cell phone for emergency communications only, to or from owners; or for use on vacation when I'm mobile.  I have a CD/cassette player that also has an AM/FM radio; and I have what I call my "film viewer" that will play either a VHS video tape, or a DVD.  And I have books - lots and lots of books.   I walk between 5 and 20 miles each day, unless I'm ill; I do not own a car or truck.  There are three different grocery stores within a five block radius of my apartment, three shopping malls within that area, eleven movie theaters within that radius.  I can walk to the public library or to the library at the University of Colorado within 15 minutes.
  I have not watched more than 3 to 5 minutes of any reality show on television - and only that when I cannot escape the room gracefully.  I watch the local and national news;  I watch college and professional football; I watch any program that has to do with horses - training, showing, racing, jumping, Three Day Eventing.  Other than the game show, Jeopardy!, which I try to watch every week night, I have six televised shows that I watch weekly - or try to, anyway.  They are:  Almost Human, Sleepy Hollow, The Blacklist, NCIS, Person of Interest, and Blue Bloods.  Other than that, unless I have the Western Channel on for background noise, the television is off.  I play specific CDs and old cassette tapes for music.  If I listen to the radio, it is usually NPR, a classical station, or an Oldie Goldie Rock station.  I grew up listening to classical music, country and folk music, jazz, swing, the blues, and early rock-n-roll.  I appreciate a song that tells a story, or music that I find emotionally or physically moving.  I don't like "music" that is extremely loud, has offensive (either hate words or lots of profanity) language, or is degrading to anyone or anything.  I can listen to the new, "smooth" jazz, but I prefer the old, crisp songs.  I visit the movie theater once or twice a year - I don't like most of the films made, or re-made, today.  I'd much rather watch an old B Western  movie than one of today's dramas.
   I don't recognize most of the so-called stars or celebrities these days - I just saw an advertisement on the TV for the Grammy Awards, and while I recognized the names of most of the people, I could only identify Stevie Wonder, LL Cool J (because of NCIS: Los Angeles), Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.  I have the top ten "Entertainment" news headlines pop up on my screen, and I'm lucky if I recognize a single name.  I recognize the name of "Honey Boo Boo" but can't tell you what it looks like - the same for the Kardashians, or any other television celebrities.  Who the heck are they?  Why should I be interested in anything (much less every thing) that they do?
   I know the world changes every second, with every decision that any person makes.  I realize that a lot of people grasp every bit of technology they can, and there are those who avoid it at all costs.  I like the technology that I have and use.  But I'm not a tech geek.  I like using my PC to seek information quickly and easily; I use the telephone as a tool - it is not attached to me, nor I to it.  I like music that I can hear clearly and understand.  I am not enamored with explosions and profanity.  I enjoy going out for a hike in the woods or mountains without hearing someone else shouting on a cell phone.
   I was just notified that my high school class is having a meeting this Saturday, in Gainesville, at the downtown public library (at 1 p.m. EDT), to set up our 40th graduation reunion.  Am I old?  Am I a curmudgeon?  Am I a fuddy-duddy?  An old hag?   -  I don't care how others view me, in actuality.  I love my cats, I loved my husband, and I like who I am.  Period.

Bits and Pieces

Lots of bits and pieces today... It's 30 degrees and partly sunny out. Lovey and Nedi have been outside playing, but have settled down in bed right now. Remy's hips seem to be OK for a few days and then he has a a few bad days - yesterday I had to help support his hind end all the way home. If I hadn't used the hand grip over his hips, he would have been walking on his hocks... it was sad. But he was back to normal (for him) within an hours time - he took a nap, and then his legs worked pretty well again.

  Frankel is the Cartier Horse of the Year in Europe; the first time a horse has won back-to-back titles in Europe. ... Jockey Frankie Dettori, who has recently ridden exclusively for Godolphin Stables, has been released from his contract. He tested positive for a banned drug at Longchamps in September, and will have a hearing before the French Racing Board (Galop) later this week. ... Summer Bird has been sold and will soon be shipped to Japan to stand at stud there. ... Shackleford will be standing at Darby Dan Farm upon his retirement.

  There was a panic here in Boulder during the weekend: a 17-year-old CU student from Kuwait walked into a movie theatre to see "Sinister" wearing a Joker mask and wig. A lot of people, mostly female, ran out of the theater in terror - dropping their belongings as they ran. The young man said he he been in the US "only about a month" and, when asked if he realized why he frightened people, he said, "Oh. You mean that thing in Aurora?" Police say the young man was extremely flippant in his responses to questions. He has been barred from attending any movie theater in Boulder, and will be charged with "Menacing." .... Then there's the man who was arrested yesterday and is in federal custody - he wants to be remembered as "the guy who killed Obama." He had plans to kill children during a Halloween party in Jessica Ridgeway's neighborhood. And he had applied to attend West Point, saying he wanted "training and a carte blanche to kill anyone." (His application was denied.) This man is mentally ill and has been seeing a therapist for the past 9 years. Thank goodness the therapist contacted the FBI...

  Several weeks ago I posted an article about the BLM and the Adopt-a-Horse Program. It mentioned that the man accused of purchasing mustangs at $10 per head said that he was good friends with Ken Salazar. The reporter who wrote that expose appeared at an Obama campaign office (with a camera crew) on Election Day and started asking questions of Ken Salazar, who was there to boost the vote for Obama. Salazar told the reporter that he was there to show support for Obama, and didn't want to discuss the BLM Adopt-a-Horse article. The reporter insisted,and approached the Secretary of the Interior very closely. So closely, in fact, that the Secretary raised his arm and "pushed" the camera-man away. The reporter kept repeating his questions, and finally, Ken Salazar told him, "... if you do that again, I'm going to punch you out." Once a true cowboy, always a cowboy....

A Potpourri

A friend and neighbor passed away yesterday morning.  Jim Cunningham, who lived at the corner of Topaz Drive and Garnet Avenue, died peacefully at home with his wife Bernie at his side.  Jim had been a long-time diabetic and was recently diagnosed with inoperable heart troubles.  Anyone who walks in the Githens Acres neighborhood will instantly recognize Bernie - a small powerhouse of energy with a cap of silver-grey, almost white, hair, blue eyes, and a terrific smile.  She is always working on the house, in the yard, in her garden, on the irigation ditch, chopping ice off the road, etc.  My heart goes out to Bernie and the kids.  Jim was a wonderful, kind man, and I thoroughly enjoyed his company, whether we were talking about growing up in the old days, or discussing Clive Cussler's latest book.  He will be missed tremendously by his family, friends and his neighbors.

If you like Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series, you need to look at the following URL:
http://collider.com/david-hayter-dragonflight-dragonriders-of-pern/85654/  It looks as if we will finally get a Pern movie, and they are going to start with the first written book in the series.  I hope it turns out as good as it should!!!  (Thanks for the information, Kathryn!)

The only thing I can say about college football yesterday was that at least South Carolina and West Virginia won.  The one touchdown the CU Buffs scored looked very good.  I have to admit I dozed through the Gators' game.  ....  I am looking forward to a USA TV-movie.  Certain Prey is scheduled to air Sunday, November 6 (9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central and Mountain); it stars Mark Harmon as  Lucas Davenport, the main character.  USA owns the movie rights to all 21 Lucas Davenport mysteries (written by John Sandford), and if the public likes Harmon's portrayal of Lucas, then there might be a series of movies a la Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone on CBS.  Harmon meets the physical description of Lucas Davenport, who starts out as a police dectective in the series and progresses on to state investigator for the governor. He is also independently rich, as he developed several PC games that have continued to grow and spawn more games. The movie should be interesting; the books certainly are.

My kits are trying to figure out what's going on...  I packed Mocha's food up (again) this morning, and Lovey and Nedi are getting edgy.  I believe that I will leave them here tonight, so they can realize that Mocha is no longer here with us.  Then I'll take them over to visit Lynn's on Monday - that way I can move things outside while I clean the apartment, and it won't freak my kits out.  They are used to dogs, so Tessa won't be a problem.  I think the weirdest thing will be for Nedi to be the only male with four queens in the house. - But at least Nedi and Lovey will be able to run up and down stairs and play while I strip my bed, wash everything, and scrub the floors at home.  (Mocha has been pottying on the edges of my bedspread and  generally just under my bed for the last couple of weeks - so it will be good for all of us to clear out, while it airs out and the scrubbed floor dries for a couple of days.)  And Mocha will be stress free and back with her person.

A Movie and Books

Kathy, Jim and I had a very nice dinner last night - roast chicken, fresh corn on the cob, a wild greens salad, and dessert was vanilla bean ice cream with fresh strawberries on top. We watched Julie & Julia, talked, and before we ate, I gave them a tour of the yard; after the movie, we took a house tour. It was almost 11, so they decided not to hop into the pool before going back home. Their friend Jane couldn't come, and when they first arrived, we went down the street and filled a trash can with fresh manure from the horse and pony at a neighbor's home. The film, Julie & Julia, was extremely fun to watch and was a great way to relax. I've been waiting for the tree service guys to call and let me know they are on their way, so I can unlock and open the gates to give them access to the back yard. It's after noon and the wind has picked up considerably - blowing about 30 mph out there now. I'll need to call and check to see if St. Vrain will spray in this wind - if not, I can relax and take a nap. I just finished the fourth book in Ann Ripley's mystery series, and have started on the fifth, which is set here, where I live. The last book was about murder during a garden tour, and I was excited and delighted to read an acknowledgement to someone I personally know - Catharine Long Gates, of Long's Gardens, in Boulder. She and her family have been iris specialists for three generations, but I know her from her work on the Silver Lake Irrigation Ditch. She is a super lady. I'm 3 chapters into the fifth gardening mystery, and have already been laughing up my sleeve about descriptions of people and places I know. This book will be a fun read.