The three-year-old colt (actually, he's a ridgling) Catholic Boy ran away from everyone in the Mid-Summer Derby - otherwise known as the Travers Stakes, run at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga. Bravazo, the D Wayne Lucas trainee, who ran in all three Triple Crown races, was coming up hard to finish in third place behind Mendelssohn finishing second. It was a really great race.
The President is complaining because he Google-searched his own surname plus the news, and found that most of the news stories listed ran toward negativity about his leadership. He is swearing that Google needs to be investigated because they only list "Fake news." - The man is an idiot.
There were voting primaries in Arizona and Florida yesterday. I grinned when I saw that ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio finished last of three candidates where he ran. I was very happy to see the ex-Mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum, won the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination. I could only sigh when I saw that DeSantis, the President's Republican pick, won that race. DeSantis is such a suck-up to the man in the Oval Office - his advertisement for running was creepy, showing him reading a book supposedly written by the President to his son, and then helping his son build a wall of wood blocks, while chanting, "Build that wall! Build that wall! That's right, son, let's build that wall!" And then his statement this morning, telling voter's not to "monkey up the election" by voting for Gillum, who is African-American. That really set my teeth on edge.
I am still working on identifying a bunch of older photos of ponies that lived on Assateague Island - both in Maryland and Virginia. Trying to match body markings on pintos is fairly easy - but when you're looking at anklets, socks and stockings when the ponies are either in sand, water, or grass and bushes can make it hard. Most of the bays, chestnuts and sorrels on the north end of Assateague, in Maryland, have few distinguishing marks, and with the life in the wild, their coat colors can change dramatically between high summer and the dead of winter... I've gotten half of the photos identified, but some of them are single "shots" and no other photos of that particular pony are posted elsewhere. It's like working on a family tree and/or a locked-door murder mystery. Fun, but puzzling.
I've been reading quite a bit recently - still have five Tony Hillerman books to find and read to complete his series. Then his daughter, Ann's, three books. Have read about half of the C. J. Box books so far. I've had several series recommended to me that are only available as electronic books that I have to download to my PC... I might be tackling them soon - but I love to sprawl in my chair in the living room or on the balcony and read... Being tied to the PC is not something I particularly want - and I positively hate reading on a tablet or Kindle or whatever... I want a real book in my hands.
I start eleven days of walks at 7:30 a.m. with the owner of 5 King Charles Cavalier Spaniels on Friday. His wife is visiting family, and he needs help with the furry scurries. On Labor Day, Monday, I start 3 to 5 weeks of cats, chickens and fish sitting while the owners go play in the Canadian Rockies... They'll return when they feel like it, or the weather turns too cold. That means fresh eggs on a daily basis and tons of fresh veggies and grapes from the garden, too.
Showing posts with label pet sitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet sitting. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Bits and Pieces
Well, having taken a mini-vacation from pet-sitting, I'm back at it again. Sunday I took a client to the airport in Denver - well, actually, she picked me up in her car, and drove there, then bailed to catch her plane. I moved to the driver's seat and began driving back to Boulder; I was fifteen miles away from the airport when my cell phone rang. The person I had just left was panicking because she had left her wallet, with her identification, credit cards, and cash in the car. She told me it was in the center console - but I found it in the door pocket. I drove it back to her, and handed her wallet over. I had gone back toward Boulder another eight miles when the cell rang again - she had left her medication in the car. So I returned again to Denver International Airport.... Then I was able to drive back to her house and park the car.
Earlier this week, while taking care of the house and pets of the above client, I took over my paints, brushes and epoxy varnish and several items that will be up on balcony outside my apartment as decorations. I re-painted several items and did touch-ups on a couple; then gave everything several coatings of glossy varnish to protect the paint, wood and metal. I'll be putting them in place later today - two geckos, a butterfly and a fish already have their spots. I need to decide what to do with the owl with out-spread wings - inside, outside, or where?
I'll be taking care of Lola, Cooper and Tipsi at the end of this month; then I have two days at home before going to Roxie and Finney's.
The way the original rumor about two two pony carcasses seen during the Spring round-up led me to believe that a mare and foal were found dead together. The person who reported it has since clarified the information - a dark colored foal was found dead in one area, and a dark colored adult was seen in another area. All three of Chief's bay mares came in for the round-up, but one of them foaled on 11 April; none had a foal with her, so it is assumed that is the dead foal. However, several older mares and one stallion were not gathered in, so until the micro-chip is found and removed from the adult carcass, identification of that individual is unsure.
The stallion that was not found is chestnut Phantom Mist (aka Fabio) - but he is well known for eluding the round-up men, sometimes for years at a time. Right now, it's just a wait-and-see period.
In doing my family tree research I found a distant cousin named Charles Carnahan; we're blood related through his mother. He was born in 1887 in Indiana; his father was a jeweller. In the 1900 Census, I cannot find the father; the mother and maternal grandmother are living together; the son, Charles, is boarding with a family (while attending school), in the same town where his mother and grandmother are living. In the 1910 Census, all four - father, mother, son, and grandmother - are living in the grandmother's house (she has an independent income). The father is employed as a jeweller; the mother is keeping house; and the son is, at age 23, employed as a mail courier for the railroad.
The son's World War I Draft Registration was late, and states that he is housed in the US Detention Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It also states that he has spent 1 year in the US Army infantry; and that he is short, slender, and has dark hair and blue eyes. Charles is not found in the 1920 or 1930 US Census - he might have been missed, his name may have been mangled by the census-takers, or he might have been using an alias. I make that statement because in the 1940 US Census, Charles is an inmate in the Colorado State Penitentiary. The 1940 Census also lists where the person lived in April 1935, and Charles says he was in Denver, Colorado.
The World War II Draft Registration card has been filled out by one of the wardens at the Colorado State Penitentiary, and says that Charles' permanent address is 1405 17th Street in Denver; and that a Mrs. Mary A. Casey will always know how to contact him. Mrs. Casey also lives at the 17th Street address. At that point in time, Charles was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 170 pounds, had gray hair and blue eyes and a scar on his thumb.
Charles died while in prison on 12 January 1948. His inmate number shows that he was processed in mid-1938... Being a nosy person, I want to know what he did to go to the state pen - and I'd also love to know what he did to be in Leavenworth in 1917/18....
I have to admit that sometimes my nosiness leads me to odd places!
Earlier this week, while taking care of the house and pets of the above client, I took over my paints, brushes and epoxy varnish and several items that will be up on balcony outside my apartment as decorations. I re-painted several items and did touch-ups on a couple; then gave everything several coatings of glossy varnish to protect the paint, wood and metal. I'll be putting them in place later today - two geckos, a butterfly and a fish already have their spots. I need to decide what to do with the owl with out-spread wings - inside, outside, or where?
I'll be taking care of Lola, Cooper and Tipsi at the end of this month; then I have two days at home before going to Roxie and Finney's.
The way the original rumor about two two pony carcasses seen during the Spring round-up led me to believe that a mare and foal were found dead together. The person who reported it has since clarified the information - a dark colored foal was found dead in one area, and a dark colored adult was seen in another area. All three of Chief's bay mares came in for the round-up, but one of them foaled on 11 April; none had a foal with her, so it is assumed that is the dead foal. However, several older mares and one stallion were not gathered in, so until the micro-chip is found and removed from the adult carcass, identification of that individual is unsure.
The stallion that was not found is chestnut Phantom Mist (aka Fabio) - but he is well known for eluding the round-up men, sometimes for years at a time. Right now, it's just a wait-and-see period.
In doing my family tree research I found a distant cousin named Charles Carnahan; we're blood related through his mother. He was born in 1887 in Indiana; his father was a jeweller. In the 1900 Census, I cannot find the father; the mother and maternal grandmother are living together; the son, Charles, is boarding with a family (while attending school), in the same town where his mother and grandmother are living. In the 1910 Census, all four - father, mother, son, and grandmother - are living in the grandmother's house (she has an independent income). The father is employed as a jeweller; the mother is keeping house; and the son is, at age 23, employed as a mail courier for the railroad.
The son's World War I Draft Registration was late, and states that he is housed in the US Detention Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It also states that he has spent 1 year in the US Army infantry; and that he is short, slender, and has dark hair and blue eyes. Charles is not found in the 1920 or 1930 US Census - he might have been missed, his name may have been mangled by the census-takers, or he might have been using an alias. I make that statement because in the 1940 US Census, Charles is an inmate in the Colorado State Penitentiary. The 1940 Census also lists where the person lived in April 1935, and Charles says he was in Denver, Colorado.
The World War II Draft Registration card has been filled out by one of the wardens at the Colorado State Penitentiary, and says that Charles' permanent address is 1405 17th Street in Denver; and that a Mrs. Mary A. Casey will always know how to contact him. Mrs. Casey also lives at the 17th Street address. At that point in time, Charles was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 170 pounds, had gray hair and blue eyes and a scar on his thumb.
Charles died while in prison on 12 January 1948. His inmate number shows that he was processed in mid-1938... Being a nosy person, I want to know what he did to go to the state pen - and I'd also love to know what he did to be in Leavenworth in 1917/18....
I have to admit that sometimes my nosiness leads me to odd places!
Sunday, January 14, 2018
This & That
The orange-painted idiot made me upset again with his "shit hole countries" comment, so I've stayed away from the blog. Then the accidental Ballistic Missiles Incoming message in Hawaii on Saturday was frightening, with the White House comment that it was a normal drill for the state, a hateful follow-up. - I must say that I am looking forward to Steve Bannon giving testimony to the Intelligence committee, and to Mueller...
My cats are fine and dandy, and I'm currently watching over (taking care of) Pip and Squeak. They get two meals each day that are served in two separate servings - both girls had intestinal blockages requiring surgery when they were less than a year old. So they get a mixture of canned food, cooked squash, and water for the first course of each meal, followed by a heaping tablespoon of dry food. They also get L-Lysine every other day mixed into the wet morning meal. They are both very loving kitties, and greet me at the door, pawing at the glass each time I arrive. They make me feel good.
In genealogy, I've been cleaning up and placing "standardized" dates and places into the family tree on the Family Search website.... I've spent two days working on straightening out one set of cousins. In Virginia, between 1860 and 1920, births were reported to the city, county, state, and voting district the parents lived in. A lot of the children, while having a birth date recorded, were also marked "sex unknown;" someone has gone through those birth registrations and entered both a boy and girl baby to the family, without checking to see whose birth date matches the registration. It's a bit frustrating, but I also feel good about getting the records set straight. (As in, no, this couple did not have 23 kids, they had 12 - eleven of the entries were over-zealous double and triple entries...)
I'm working on my family tree at the moment, because I know and recognize the names easily. When I'm working on Beatrice's tree, I get frustrated because of several factors - the spelling of French Creole names is very arbitrary, and I needed a respite from trying to imagine any and every way a name could be spelled. I looked a long time for the parents of a lady named Lorinda Cadie (according to her husband's death certificate); I found that her father's first name was Toussan, or a variant thereof. I finally found her parents, whose last name was spelled Cadet, by looking up the first name Toussaint, with a guesstimated birth date, in and around the Parish where the girl was born.
It's always a learning experience when doing the family tree - I've discovered several more Beebe family and Quillen family connections in my clean-up efforts - and also found that we are related to the Captain Timothy Hill family, which I didn't know before....
My cats are fine and dandy, and I'm currently watching over (taking care of) Pip and Squeak. They get two meals each day that are served in two separate servings - both girls had intestinal blockages requiring surgery when they were less than a year old. So they get a mixture of canned food, cooked squash, and water for the first course of each meal, followed by a heaping tablespoon of dry food. They also get L-Lysine every other day mixed into the wet morning meal. They are both very loving kitties, and greet me at the door, pawing at the glass each time I arrive. They make me feel good.
In genealogy, I've been cleaning up and placing "standardized" dates and places into the family tree on the Family Search website.... I've spent two days working on straightening out one set of cousins. In Virginia, between 1860 and 1920, births were reported to the city, county, state, and voting district the parents lived in. A lot of the children, while having a birth date recorded, were also marked "sex unknown;" someone has gone through those birth registrations and entered both a boy and girl baby to the family, without checking to see whose birth date matches the registration. It's a bit frustrating, but I also feel good about getting the records set straight. (As in, no, this couple did not have 23 kids, they had 12 - eleven of the entries were over-zealous double and triple entries...)
I'm working on my family tree at the moment, because I know and recognize the names easily. When I'm working on Beatrice's tree, I get frustrated because of several factors - the spelling of French Creole names is very arbitrary, and I needed a respite from trying to imagine any and every way a name could be spelled. I looked a long time for the parents of a lady named Lorinda Cadie (according to her husband's death certificate); I found that her father's first name was Toussan, or a variant thereof. I finally found her parents, whose last name was spelled Cadet, by looking up the first name Toussaint, with a guesstimated birth date, in and around the Parish where the girl was born.
It's always a learning experience when doing the family tree - I've discovered several more Beebe family and Quillen family connections in my clean-up efforts - and also found that we are related to the Captain Timothy Hill family, which I didn't know before....
Friday, March 3, 2017
Rosie, Tipsi, and the US Government
Let's see.... Rosie is doing much better since her Tuesday morning incident. The carpet cleaners were at the house most of yesterday afternoon to remove stains. She astounded me yesterday by walking, on her own, from the back gate to the far corner of the yard, then she wandered around a bit taking in the scents. After a short rest in the sun, she got up by herself and played "safari" in the spruce boughs for ten minutes, then walked around the garden. After another rest, she walked back to the gate; I had to turn her around and guide her back to the open area of the yard, but she walked without my assistance. When it was time to leave, she was only a few feet from the car when her hind legs gave out again. But she walked inside her house, drank water and then went to her bed.
Last night, she ate a whole chopped chicken breast that I cooked for her, and she got up and drank water several times without assistance. We went out back and she cruised around her back yard three times during the two hours I spent with her. It made me feel good, even though I realize that she is nearing the end of her life cycle...
I visited Tipsi this morning, and took in the mail from yesterday, as well as today's newspapers. By the time I had emptied a small can of food in his dish, it was almost gone... and then he attacked the bowl of dry kibble I was putting out. One would think he hadn't eaten in days - and not since yesterday afternoon. And I know his Momma hid dry nibbles all over the house for him to find....
I can't say that I was surprised that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from any investigations into contacts between "45", his staff, and Russia. He needs to resign, however. - And, after all the fuss over Hillary Clinton and her e-mails, it's very funny that Governor Michael Pence of Indiana (now the Vice President) used an open, un-secure AOL mail address and server while he was serving as the leader of his state.... Can anyone say "double standard?"
Last night, she ate a whole chopped chicken breast that I cooked for her, and she got up and drank water several times without assistance. We went out back and she cruised around her back yard three times during the two hours I spent with her. It made me feel good, even though I realize that she is nearing the end of her life cycle...
I visited Tipsi this morning, and took in the mail from yesterday, as well as today's newspapers. By the time I had emptied a small can of food in his dish, it was almost gone... and then he attacked the bowl of dry kibble I was putting out. One would think he hadn't eaten in days - and not since yesterday afternoon. And I know his Momma hid dry nibbles all over the house for him to find....
I can't say that I was surprised that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from any investigations into contacts between "45", his staff, and Russia. He needs to resign, however. - And, after all the fuss over Hillary Clinton and her e-mails, it's very funny that Governor Michael Pence of Indiana (now the Vice President) used an open, un-secure AOL mail address and server while he was serving as the leader of his state.... Can anyone say "double standard?"
Monday, January 2, 2017
Dogs and Owners
Over my years of dog-walking and dog-sitting, I have never ceased to be amazed by how well-trained dog owners are. When I first go and visit and new client, I get the owners to tell me all about their dogs - their little quirks and cute tricks, and things they will do and won't do for the owners. One of my favorite items is being told that the dog will "never" do this or that... and they do it, happily, for me. I easily and readily admit that my two cats have me wrapped around their whiskers, and that they are spoiled rotten. (And their Auntie Bea, my room mate, spoils them worse than I do.) But dogs and cats are very different - cats may run in a clowder in the wild, but they are not pack animals with an alpha leader, like dogs. When I start taking care of any dog, I am the alpha leader, not them.
I have been told by one client that their older dog will only eat if she's fed by hand - she eats out of her dog bowl for me. I'm told several dogs are extremely picky eaters and that I need to offer them multiple things for their meal, until they deign to choose something. With those dogs, I'm happy to alternate different foods at meal time, but I put one item down and tell them, "That's what you get - eat it or leave it." The dogs might wait a few minutes, but they always eat what I give them.
One of my favorite items involves short-coated dogs and weather. I've been told that if it's less than 35 degrees outside, these dogs must wear a sweater or coat just to walk into the back yard and relieve themselves. If it's below freezing, they must have their booties on. I've been told that one dog in particular does not handle cold weather well - that if it's below freezing, his feet get so cold that he can't walk, and he falls over on his side and lies there, stiff-legged, until his owners pick him up and carry him inside. That same dog is supposed to be allowed to wander for 20 to 30 minutes each time he goes out to potty, because it "takes him a long time to decide it's safe enough to poop." I can tell you that that specific dog, and several others, will run outside, and do their business quickly if they don't have a coat or booties on when it's cold.
Now, if I'm taking the dogs out for an hour's walk, or more, then, yes, they get their coats and boots put on, as well as a good coating of Paw-eeze. The little guy who falls over stiff-legged from having cold feet (for his owners) has never pulled such a trick on me... Dogs that owners can't control when on the leash, or loose and on voice-command, I have no problems with. I know that I'm guilty of letting my cats do crazy things - but I guess I'm the strict disciplinarian when it comes to others...
I have been told by one client that their older dog will only eat if she's fed by hand - she eats out of her dog bowl for me. I'm told several dogs are extremely picky eaters and that I need to offer them multiple things for their meal, until they deign to choose something. With those dogs, I'm happy to alternate different foods at meal time, but I put one item down and tell them, "That's what you get - eat it or leave it." The dogs might wait a few minutes, but they always eat what I give them.
One of my favorite items involves short-coated dogs and weather. I've been told that if it's less than 35 degrees outside, these dogs must wear a sweater or coat just to walk into the back yard and relieve themselves. If it's below freezing, they must have their booties on. I've been told that one dog in particular does not handle cold weather well - that if it's below freezing, his feet get so cold that he can't walk, and he falls over on his side and lies there, stiff-legged, until his owners pick him up and carry him inside. That same dog is supposed to be allowed to wander for 20 to 30 minutes each time he goes out to potty, because it "takes him a long time to decide it's safe enough to poop." I can tell you that that specific dog, and several others, will run outside, and do their business quickly if they don't have a coat or booties on when it's cold.
Now, if I'm taking the dogs out for an hour's walk, or more, then, yes, they get their coats and boots put on, as well as a good coating of Paw-eeze. The little guy who falls over stiff-legged from having cold feet (for his owners) has never pulled such a trick on me... Dogs that owners can't control when on the leash, or loose and on voice-command, I have no problems with. I know that I'm guilty of letting my cats do crazy things - but I guess I'm the strict disciplinarian when it comes to others...
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Crushed - At the Bakery
Yesterday started off pretty well, and, I thought, went well. Got up, had cereal for breakfast, fed my kits, cleaned their litter boxes, spent two hours on the computer checking e-mails and my schedules, plus looking at news and the few comic strips I read. Then I put together a neighborhood wildlife watch bulletin about the recent incursions of prairie dogs in the Githens Acres neighborhood and sent it out to the 60 folks who receive it. Set off for work and visited three homes, feeding and watering various pets, gathering news papers, watering flowers and plants. Stopped by at Rosie's at our usual time, and took her out for a slow one hour stroll. Got home just before noon, and washed and dried two loads of laundry, and swept and mopped the floor.
About three in the afternoon, one of my usual clients called and asked if I would feed her critters that evening. I told her she had set up feedings, and walks for the dog, for Friday through Monday due to her meditation retreat schedule. She had forgotten setting up the work... Then she asked if her daughter had called, or sent an e-mail, regarding her arrival at Denver International Airport on the red-eye flight from LaGuardia. I told her, no - it was the first I'd heard of it; the last I knew her daughter was here in Boulder. The Mom insisted that the daughter was flying back "on her usual 1 a.m. Frontier flight," and begged me to be there to pick her up, because she, the Mom, had the meditation retreat and needed her sleep, plus wasn't supposed to speak to anyone until the retreat was over. I agreed to pick up the car a little after 9, once I left Rosie's, and drive to DIA. Then it was time for my afternoon rounds, so I went to three houses and fed and walked critters; then I went to the Mom's house and fed her animals; then on to Rosie's for a visit until 9 p.m. After that, I walked over to the Mom's house, let the dog out for a few minutes, and then took the daughter's car to my apartment. I tried to take a nap before leaving for DIA, but I couldn't sleep.
My one thought through all of this was that I would treat myself to two doughnuts with chocolate icing for breakfast today, this morning, as I went over to the Jack Russells' house. I got up, checked the DIA flight schedule and saw the flight from LGA to Denver was on time. Due to road construction, I left the house with a 20 minute "cushion" in case of road blocks or traffic stoppages. I arrived at the cell phone waiting lot 15 minutes before the plane was due to touch down, but I went inside to check the arrivals boards. The flight was on-time. I went back out to the car and began to read the book I taken along. Twenty-six minutes after the plane was due to land, I went back inside and looked at the arrivals board again. It stated that the plane had landed and where luggage could be picked up. I went back to the car. After another 15 minutes, I called the daughter's cell phone. It went straight to voice mail. I left a message asking where she was, and telling her where I was. I drove over to the Arrivals pick-up point, but there was no one in sight. I went back to the cell phone lot, sat a few minutes, then call the Mom's cell phone. It went straight to voice mail. I explained where I was and there was no sign of her daughter. I asked if the daughter's boyfriend might have picked her up? I don't have his phone number... I waited a bit more, and tried to call the daughter again. No luck.
So I drove to the economy parking lot, and went inside the terminal. The flight the daughter should have arrived on had already continued it's flight on to California. There was no one waiting near the airline's area; there was no sign of the daughter in the rest rooms; there were no unclaimed bags from her flight. I walked back through the arrivals area, but saw no one who looked remotely like the daughter. I went out to the car, called the Mom on her landline number - and it went straight to voice mail. I told her everything I'd done, and that I was driving back home and would return the car before 9 a.m, when I was due at my first job of the day.
Drove back to Boulder, arrived about 4 this morning - Beatrice was worried that I hadn't come home yet, and was still awake, since I didn't have the sense to call my room mate. I got into bed at 4:10, and closed my eyes, promising myself chocolate iced doughnuts. I got a recorded call from a telemarketer at 5:45 - and I'm on the National Do Not Call list. I was not happy. Then the Mom called me, in hysterics, asking where her daughter was, at 5:53... I explained everything all over again, and she hung up while I was talking. Apparently, she called the boyfriend, as she called me back at 6:20, saying that the boyfriend said she'd spent the night in NYC. Mom was calmer, but still in a panic mode. I was almost asleep again when the daughter called me from NYC, to tell me her side of things.... Her flight is tonight. She will arrive at DIA Sunday morning at 1:04. Kevin, the boyfriend, will pick her up.
Mom called me back to be certain I'd feed the critters and walk the dog today. I got up. I stopped at the bakery on the way to feed the Mom's critters - they did not have any chocolate iced doughnuts, they did not have any regular glazed doughnuts, and they did not have any sugar-sprinkled doughnuts. I bought a blueberry bagel and fed the Mom's critters.... *sigh* ....
About three in the afternoon, one of my usual clients called and asked if I would feed her critters that evening. I told her she had set up feedings, and walks for the dog, for Friday through Monday due to her meditation retreat schedule. She had forgotten setting up the work... Then she asked if her daughter had called, or sent an e-mail, regarding her arrival at Denver International Airport on the red-eye flight from LaGuardia. I told her, no - it was the first I'd heard of it; the last I knew her daughter was here in Boulder. The Mom insisted that the daughter was flying back "on her usual 1 a.m. Frontier flight," and begged me to be there to pick her up, because she, the Mom, had the meditation retreat and needed her sleep, plus wasn't supposed to speak to anyone until the retreat was over. I agreed to pick up the car a little after 9, once I left Rosie's, and drive to DIA. Then it was time for my afternoon rounds, so I went to three houses and fed and walked critters; then I went to the Mom's house and fed her animals; then on to Rosie's for a visit until 9 p.m. After that, I walked over to the Mom's house, let the dog out for a few minutes, and then took the daughter's car to my apartment. I tried to take a nap before leaving for DIA, but I couldn't sleep.
My one thought through all of this was that I would treat myself to two doughnuts with chocolate icing for breakfast today, this morning, as I went over to the Jack Russells' house. I got up, checked the DIA flight schedule and saw the flight from LGA to Denver was on time. Due to road construction, I left the house with a 20 minute "cushion" in case of road blocks or traffic stoppages. I arrived at the cell phone waiting lot 15 minutes before the plane was due to touch down, but I went inside to check the arrivals boards. The flight was on-time. I went back out to the car and began to read the book I taken along. Twenty-six minutes after the plane was due to land, I went back inside and looked at the arrivals board again. It stated that the plane had landed and where luggage could be picked up. I went back to the car. After another 15 minutes, I called the daughter's cell phone. It went straight to voice mail. I left a message asking where she was, and telling her where I was. I drove over to the Arrivals pick-up point, but there was no one in sight. I went back to the cell phone lot, sat a few minutes, then call the Mom's cell phone. It went straight to voice mail. I explained where I was and there was no sign of her daughter. I asked if the daughter's boyfriend might have picked her up? I don't have his phone number... I waited a bit more, and tried to call the daughter again. No luck.
So I drove to the economy parking lot, and went inside the terminal. The flight the daughter should have arrived on had already continued it's flight on to California. There was no one waiting near the airline's area; there was no sign of the daughter in the rest rooms; there were no unclaimed bags from her flight. I walked back through the arrivals area, but saw no one who looked remotely like the daughter. I went out to the car, called the Mom on her landline number - and it went straight to voice mail. I told her everything I'd done, and that I was driving back home and would return the car before 9 a.m, when I was due at my first job of the day.
Drove back to Boulder, arrived about 4 this morning - Beatrice was worried that I hadn't come home yet, and was still awake, since I didn't have the sense to call my room mate. I got into bed at 4:10, and closed my eyes, promising myself chocolate iced doughnuts. I got a recorded call from a telemarketer at 5:45 - and I'm on the National Do Not Call list. I was not happy. Then the Mom called me, in hysterics, asking where her daughter was, at 5:53... I explained everything all over again, and she hung up while I was talking. Apparently, she called the boyfriend, as she called me back at 6:20, saying that the boyfriend said she'd spent the night in NYC. Mom was calmer, but still in a panic mode. I was almost asleep again when the daughter called me from NYC, to tell me her side of things.... Her flight is tonight. She will arrive at DIA Sunday morning at 1:04. Kevin, the boyfriend, will pick her up.
Mom called me back to be certain I'd feed the critters and walk the dog today. I got up. I stopped at the bakery on the way to feed the Mom's critters - they did not have any chocolate iced doughnuts, they did not have any regular glazed doughnuts, and they did not have any sugar-sprinkled doughnuts. I bought a blueberry bagel and fed the Mom's critters.... *sigh* ....
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Odds and Ends
If you watch the Broncos versus Kansas City Chiefs on television today, you'll see beautiful blue skies and probably hear that the temperature is in the 60s (F). It is a totally gorgeous Colorado fall day - it was 25 degrees when I got up at 6, and, now, at 8:30, it's 45 degrees. No clouds are visible, but snow from Wednesday morning is visible in shadowed places along the Front Range. Heck, there's snow in our parking lot, and in Lynn's back yard...
Our forecast calls for rain and snow starting late tomorrow afternoon - but the computer programs vary greatly in the forecast. One says a little rain, followed by "a trace amount to four inches" of snow. One says a half-inch of rain followed by twenty-two inches of snow. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Since Boulder is in a valley in a curve in the mountains Front Range, snow amounts are always a guessing game.
I'm invited to join the Grand Jury members, District Attorneys, lawyers, police witnesses, and various agents for supper at the Cork restaurant on Tuesday night. That's where we get to chat with the DA's office and tell them what we liked about our Grand Jury experience, and what we think could make things better for future juries. We were offered pizza almost every night we met for Jury duty, so filet mignon or prime rib will be a treat... And I'm going to ask #6 if his name is John Drake... (I know it isn't, but I want to see if he understands my question.)
There's a tummy bug going around Boulder, and I had a light case of it earlier this week. Beatrice had to stay home from work for two days, but luckily has today and tomorrow off. She's feeling much better...
We did get her curtain rods and thermal curtains up in her room on Thursday. I thought that Mike was going to put up the curtain rods above the sliding glass doors on the balcony at the same time, but he didn't. That means I'll have to do it. And I special-ordered 95-inch long drapes on Tuesday, and paid extra for two day shipping. I was told they would arrive on Friday, but haven't seen them at all. I've contacted the company, asking where they are, but haven't yet received a response.
Wednesday I begin a three-week pet-sitting job - cats, chickens and fish, not to mention mail gathering and snow-shoveling, as needed. I'll need to let the hens out about 8 every morning, and get them back into their coop before dark... Feed them, gather eggs, check their feet and grease them, if needed. The fish are actually hibernating, so I just need to make sure the pump is running in their pond. The cats will be fed and loved, played with, and I'll clean their potty boxes. The weather will decide whether I allow them out out not - I have no worries about Carter - he has a thick coat and plenty of body heat, but Zuza is tiny, with a thin, silky coat. It'll be a judgement call...
Our forecast calls for rain and snow starting late tomorrow afternoon - but the computer programs vary greatly in the forecast. One says a little rain, followed by "a trace amount to four inches" of snow. One says a half-inch of rain followed by twenty-two inches of snow. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Since Boulder is in a valley in a curve in the mountains Front Range, snow amounts are always a guessing game.
I'm invited to join the Grand Jury members, District Attorneys, lawyers, police witnesses, and various agents for supper at the Cork restaurant on Tuesday night. That's where we get to chat with the DA's office and tell them what we liked about our Grand Jury experience, and what we think could make things better for future juries. We were offered pizza almost every night we met for Jury duty, so filet mignon or prime rib will be a treat... And I'm going to ask #6 if his name is John Drake... (I know it isn't, but I want to see if he understands my question.)
There's a tummy bug going around Boulder, and I had a light case of it earlier this week. Beatrice had to stay home from work for two days, but luckily has today and tomorrow off. She's feeling much better...
We did get her curtain rods and thermal curtains up in her room on Thursday. I thought that Mike was going to put up the curtain rods above the sliding glass doors on the balcony at the same time, but he didn't. That means I'll have to do it. And I special-ordered 95-inch long drapes on Tuesday, and paid extra for two day shipping. I was told they would arrive on Friday, but haven't seen them at all. I've contacted the company, asking where they are, but haven't yet received a response.
Wednesday I begin a three-week pet-sitting job - cats, chickens and fish, not to mention mail gathering and snow-shoveling, as needed. I'll need to let the hens out about 8 every morning, and get them back into their coop before dark... Feed them, gather eggs, check their feet and grease them, if needed. The fish are actually hibernating, so I just need to make sure the pump is running in their pond. The cats will be fed and loved, played with, and I'll clean their potty boxes. The weather will decide whether I allow them out out not - I have no worries about Carter - he has a thick coat and plenty of body heat, but Zuza is tiny, with a thin, silky coat. It'll be a judgement call...
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
This and That
Blue skies, a humidity level of 70%, sunshine, and a nice brisk 49 degrees (F) greeted me this morning. We've had several days of gloomy grey skies, with occasional light rain, and one hail shower. Since it's now October, we have our apartment door and balcony decorated for Halloween. Beatrice is getting used to the demands of my cats, and Nedi is playing the "poor pathetic, unloved kitty" to the hilt with her. Lovey is getting upset with me, at the moment, because she is bound and determined to sit on the keyboard, and I keep blocking her.
South Carolina is still undergoing flooding rain. On "my" islands, the Virginia Department of Transportation closed the 175 causeway between Chincoteague and the mainland for several hours on Sunday afternoon, but it was opened for traffic again Sunday evening. Due to high fall tides and the northeaster, there was some normal flooding on both Chincoteague and Assateague. The usual low-lying areas were under water and the normally high and dry areas stayed that way (other than the rain). On Chincoteague there was minimal damage - but, on Assateague, the parking lots and the beach areas were flooded. There are wash-outs and sand where there wasn't before. The ponies and other wildlife had no unusual problems with the storm - they have weathered hundreds of them. Someone posted a photo of Maddox Blvd/Beach Road from the Hurricane Sandy (2012) flooding on Facebook, and a lot of folks thought it was a current photo.... It wasn't, and the water did not rise that high with this little ol' nor'easter.
Back in Boulder, Rosie has an acupuncture appointment this morning, so I'll be walking her about 1 this afternoon. The Dalai Lama has canceled his visit to Boulder due to ill health. Jane Goodall visited last week and enjoined the 8,700 people in the auditorium to educate other folks about the world's wildlife, and to "Save the prairie dogs!" Naropa, the Buddhist University here, had just applied for a permit to exterminate all the black-tailed prairie dogs living on the campus...
I'll be taking care of Finn and Maggie May this up-coming weekend, then I'll be at Lynn's for 6 nights, home for 2, then back at Lynn's for another 4 nights. Thank goodness the kids love their Auntie Bea! And she and I spoil them rotten!
***************************************
Dreamer's Faith is still missing. This weanling filly was stolen from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's Carnival Grounds corral on September 6 or 7, 2015. There is a reward offered for information leading to her return and the arrest of the thieves. Please keep your eyes and ears open for news about this red paint pony with a 15 freeze brand on her left hip.
South Carolina is still undergoing flooding rain. On "my" islands, the Virginia Department of Transportation closed the 175 causeway between Chincoteague and the mainland for several hours on Sunday afternoon, but it was opened for traffic again Sunday evening. Due to high fall tides and the northeaster, there was some normal flooding on both Chincoteague and Assateague. The usual low-lying areas were under water and the normally high and dry areas stayed that way (other than the rain). On Chincoteague there was minimal damage - but, on Assateague, the parking lots and the beach areas were flooded. There are wash-outs and sand where there wasn't before. The ponies and other wildlife had no unusual problems with the storm - they have weathered hundreds of them. Someone posted a photo of Maddox Blvd/Beach Road from the Hurricane Sandy (2012) flooding on Facebook, and a lot of folks thought it was a current photo.... It wasn't, and the water did not rise that high with this little ol' nor'easter.
Back in Boulder, Rosie has an acupuncture appointment this morning, so I'll be walking her about 1 this afternoon. The Dalai Lama has canceled his visit to Boulder due to ill health. Jane Goodall visited last week and enjoined the 8,700 people in the auditorium to educate other folks about the world's wildlife, and to "Save the prairie dogs!" Naropa, the Buddhist University here, had just applied for a permit to exterminate all the black-tailed prairie dogs living on the campus...
I'll be taking care of Finn and Maggie May this up-coming weekend, then I'll be at Lynn's for 6 nights, home for 2, then back at Lynn's for another 4 nights. Thank goodness the kids love their Auntie Bea! And she and I spoil them rotten!
***************************************
Dreamer's Faith is still missing. This weanling filly was stolen from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's Carnival Grounds corral on September 6 or 7, 2015. There is a reward offered for information leading to her return and the arrest of the thieves. Please keep your eyes and ears open for news about this red paint pony with a 15 freeze brand on her left hip.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Snow, Beautiful Snow
Yesterday morning's snow was damp and crystalline; it paused for a few hours and then came back light and fluffy for another 5 or 6 hours. I didn't see any new signs of snow late last night, but we had that tiny, crystalline snow again this morning, beginning about five. Then it turned light and fluffy, and now it's falling, once again, as a fine powder. I'll take photos around town today, as I have several houses to visit, and multiple pets to see, along with dogs to walk. At least it's 14 degrees out, and the wind is at 3 mph. There was an accumulation of about seven inches yesterday, and it's expected to snow throughout the day and night, slowly tapering off Monday morning. I ran into the ABCs yesterday, and Len stated that Susan had a cold, but he was certain they'd be heading up to Snow Mountain Ranch on Monday, as planned. I hope that either Camilla or Lynn can return home today or tomorrow, so I can come back home, before going over to stay at the ABCs for three nights.
The squirrels have been feeding ravenously this morning - they've already zipped through a pound of walnuts and Brazil nuts, but aren't touching the sunflower seeds out for the birds. Guess I'll put out another pound and a half of nuts before heading back to Tess's. And I'll stop by Bop and Tiko's on the way back, so I can get that morning stop completed. My kits ran outside this morning, took one good long look, and came right back in. Lovey is curled up on my fleece vest on the bed, and Nedi is nestling in the dirty clothes basket. I'll leave the heat lamp on in the bathroom for them, too.
Elaine Clevenger, who lived down the street from our house from 1961 until she was married in 1977, sent a surprise gift to me this week. She and her husband, Russ, have just completed sailing "The Loop," up the Intercoastal Waterway, through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes, then back down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. When they reached Fort Myers, they arrived in time for an Arts and Crafts Festival - and what was the first thing Elaine saw? A whole display of photos of Chincoteague ponies! She immediately purchased two of her favorites and sent me one. What a wonderful surprise! - Much better than snow!
The squirrels have been feeding ravenously this morning - they've already zipped through a pound of walnuts and Brazil nuts, but aren't touching the sunflower seeds out for the birds. Guess I'll put out another pound and a half of nuts before heading back to Tess's. And I'll stop by Bop and Tiko's on the way back, so I can get that morning stop completed. My kits ran outside this morning, took one good long look, and came right back in. Lovey is curled up on my fleece vest on the bed, and Nedi is nestling in the dirty clothes basket. I'll leave the heat lamp on in the bathroom for them, too.
Elaine Clevenger, who lived down the street from our house from 1961 until she was married in 1977, sent a surprise gift to me this week. She and her husband, Russ, have just completed sailing "The Loop," up the Intercoastal Waterway, through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes, then back down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. When they reached Fort Myers, they arrived in time for an Arts and Crafts Festival - and what was the first thing Elaine saw? A whole display of photos of Chincoteague ponies! She immediately purchased two of her favorites and sent me one. What a wonderful surprise! - Much better than snow!
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