We knew there would be no Triple Crown Champion when Cloud Computing won the Preakness Stakes. I was surprised that neither he, nor the Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming, were in the Belmont. The only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races this year was Lookin At Lee - who finished second in the Derby and fourth in the Preakness.
Twelve were entered in the 149th Belmont; Epicharis could not pass the veterinarian exam in the morning, and was scratched, so eleven horses went to the starting gate. The race is/was 1 1/2 miles on the main dirt track; the purse was $1.5 million, with $800,000 going to the winner. Meantime led the way out of the starting gate and at the first turn, Hollywood Handsome was caught charging up into traffic, clipped heels, and almost lost his rider. Irish War Cry took over the lead in the back stretch, and looked to be the winner, but Tapwrit came charging up, stayed stride for stride, then passed the chestnut, and won by two lengths in 2 minutes 30.02 seconds. Patch was third; Gormley fourth. Lookin At Lee finished seventh. Hollywood Handsome walked off the track, but had surgical staples applied to a laceration behind his left knee.
If you made a $2 bet to win on Tapwrit, you received $12.60; a $2 place on Irish War Cry paid $4.70; and a $2 show bet paid $6.50 for Patch. A $2 perfecta bet paid $45.20; a $2 trifecta paid $624.00; and a $2 superfecta paid $4,486.00.
Tapwrit won by two lengths over Irish War Cry, who was 5 3/4 lengths in front of Patch, who was 4 1/4 lengths in front of Gormley. This is the full order of finish: 1 - Tapwrit; 2 - Irish War Cry; 3 - Patch; 4 - Gormley; 5 - Senior Investment; 6 - Twisted Tom; 7 - Lookin At Lee; 8 - Meantime; 9 - J Boys Echo; 10 - Multiplier. Hollywood Handsome did not finish; Epicharis did not start.
I apologize for having gotten so lax in keeping this blog up to date. I find myself fascinated by the monkeyshines occurring in the 45th administration, and I keep spending more time in front of the television, instead of the keyboard and monitor. My television is in another room, just so I cannot stare at it and try to type and research... Thursday I watched the testimony of James Comey in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee; Friday, I celebrated my birthday by driving over Trail Ridge Road, through Rocky Mountain National Park (where we saw elk, elk, more elk, moose, and a large variety of birds). Yesterday I tried to catch up on household things, and watch the Belmont.
Today, I'm taking care of three houses full of pets, whose owners are on vacation... I have pet duties through the 29th of June, followed by a few days off (if nothing comes up).
And, of course, I'm also trying to keep up with all the new foals on Assateague Island - the ones belonging to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. As of last night, there had been 54 births (and 2 deaths)... including a palomino pinto baby born on my birthday to Marsh Mallow.
Showing posts with label pet-sitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet-sitting. Show all posts
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Friday, October 28, 2016
Weird Happening
Yesterday, I arrived at a regular clients' house to drive the car back from the airport - the client's daughter will be taking care of the pets while the client is gone, but she needed transport to and from the airport. I stepped in and greeted all the critters when I arrived, and we left for the airport almost immediately. The client asked me to let the dog out when I returned with the car, and then put her back into the office.
When I arrived back at the house, I needed to use the bathroom badly. The daughter's car was not visible, so I assumed I was alone in the house, other than the critters - two cats and a dog. I walked quickly into the closest bathroom, dropped my jeans and underwear, and sighed as I began to "go." Then I heard a male voice yell, "Oy!" just outside the bathroom door, which I had left open. I slammed the door closed with my hand. ... After I was finished, re-attired, and had washed my hands, I stepped out into the hall - and saw Lyra's tail flash by. There was no sign of the man I had heard.
I walked into the kitchen and was joined by the dog. I looked around, and realized that the basement door was open, the office door was open, and the rear door, leading to the back yard was wide open. As I was questioning the dog, a young man came up the basement stairs. He said he was a friend of Connor's, and that the family had allowed him to stay in the basement for two weeks. He informed me he was waiting for his Uber ride to show up and take him to the airport.
The young man told the dog and been crying, so he opened the door to the office, and then opened the back door, knowing the back yard was fenced. I asked him about the cat, and he said he wasn't aware that a cat had been inside the office. I asked where she was, and he guessed that the cat had gone upstairs... I was looking out into the back yard, and saw both dog and cat. Then I glanced into the office, and saw that the dog had pooped all over the floor. I decided to leave the critters loose and outside while I cleaned up the office floor. The young man, in the meantime started chasing the cat. He managed to grab her by the neck scruff and the base of the tail. Lyra has never been handled like that. She was hissing and crying as the man brought her inside and closed the door. Lyra took one look at me and ran. I left the dog in the back yard, and finished cleaning the floor. Then I cracked the windows in the office, made sure there was plenty of water, and went to gather Lyra.
Poor kitty... She hissed and hissed as I picked her up very carefully and placed her in her kitty tree in the office. Then I rounded up Tess and put her inside the office.
On my way back to Rosie, I called the client and told her what had happened. It seems the young man was supposed to have left before the client and I went to the airport. She called her daughter and made certain that the daughter would check up on the critters at lunch -
Just another odd happening in the life of a pet-sitter.....
When I arrived back at the house, I needed to use the bathroom badly. The daughter's car was not visible, so I assumed I was alone in the house, other than the critters - two cats and a dog. I walked quickly into the closest bathroom, dropped my jeans and underwear, and sighed as I began to "go." Then I heard a male voice yell, "Oy!" just outside the bathroom door, which I had left open. I slammed the door closed with my hand. ... After I was finished, re-attired, and had washed my hands, I stepped out into the hall - and saw Lyra's tail flash by. There was no sign of the man I had heard.
I walked into the kitchen and was joined by the dog. I looked around, and realized that the basement door was open, the office door was open, and the rear door, leading to the back yard was wide open. As I was questioning the dog, a young man came up the basement stairs. He said he was a friend of Connor's, and that the family had allowed him to stay in the basement for two weeks. He informed me he was waiting for his Uber ride to show up and take him to the airport.
The young man told the dog and been crying, so he opened the door to the office, and then opened the back door, knowing the back yard was fenced. I asked him about the cat, and he said he wasn't aware that a cat had been inside the office. I asked where she was, and he guessed that the cat had gone upstairs... I was looking out into the back yard, and saw both dog and cat. Then I glanced into the office, and saw that the dog had pooped all over the floor. I decided to leave the critters loose and outside while I cleaned up the office floor. The young man, in the meantime started chasing the cat. He managed to grab her by the neck scruff and the base of the tail. Lyra has never been handled like that. She was hissing and crying as the man brought her inside and closed the door. Lyra took one look at me and ran. I left the dog in the back yard, and finished cleaning the floor. Then I cracked the windows in the office, made sure there was plenty of water, and went to gather Lyra.
Poor kitty... She hissed and hissed as I picked her up very carefully and placed her in her kitty tree in the office. Then I rounded up Tess and put her inside the office.
On my way back to Rosie, I called the client and told her what had happened. It seems the young man was supposed to have left before the client and I went to the airport. She called her daughter and made certain that the daughter would check up on the critters at lunch -
Just another odd happening in the life of a pet-sitter.....
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Pets, Vikings, Photos
It's another cool morning - 45 degrees when I was walking Tess this morning. The sun is now up and shining, the first time since Sunday, and I am very happy to see it's glow through the trees in the back yard. Tess is asleep on the floor behind me, having had her walk and breakfast; Lyra is in the cat tree, and I'm pretty sure that Lily is on the bed upstairs (that's her usual spot after breakfast). They've lost three more carp, or koi, since I was last here. Pinto, Lumpy, and Red One have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. That leaves only Red Two, Shadow and Goldy, out of 18 fish three years ago.... I know that Lynn puts them into the garden soil, but I always wonder why they died....
I have now seen 9 of the latest 10 episodes of Vikings, and just read that the series will return on November 30 and show on Wednesday nights until the break before season 5. Writer-historian Michael Hirst's take on the old Norse eddas that follow and/or mention Ragnar Lothbrok are wonderfully imagined and envisioned on the small screen. Season 5 (and hopefully, 6 and 7) will be incredibly interesting with the continuing exploits of Bjorn Ironsides, and Ragnar's four younger sons, who will become the scourge of Europe. I'm also looking forward to see Hirst's vision of Alfred the Confessor (Ooops. Alfred the Great is correct, VL G, not Alfred the Confessor. Thanks!!), who was blessed by the Pope, in episode 9. And, of course, Rollo, Ragnar's brother, is the direct male ancestor of William the Conqueror, also known as William the Bastard, who became King of England in 1066.... I just love history!
I'm currently labeling photos from the 2016 Pony Penning for Lynn, as she missed our vacation together, due to a death in her family. I have about 30 photos that definitely contain Surfer Princess, the filly I purchased with Lynn's money last year, and I have about 300 other photos of Pony Penning, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, and the waters that surround them, and wildlife - both marine and terrestrial. I managed to get about 50 labeled yesterday evening, and I'm going to work on the labeling until I go walk Rosie this morning. And you have no idea how happy I am that I already have everything labeled and stored on my PC - that means just matching photos and copying the existing caption - I don't have to look up each pony in each picture, again!
Beatrice and I are hoping to take our friend Melissa, from Atlanta, over Trail Ridge Road this weekend - hoping we can get across before it closes for the winter. I'll be taking more photos - especially since I know there is plenty of snow on Pikes Peak (100 miles south of us), already!
I have now seen 9 of the latest 10 episodes of Vikings, and just read that the series will return on November 30 and show on Wednesday nights until the break before season 5. Writer-historian Michael Hirst's take on the old Norse eddas that follow and/or mention Ragnar Lothbrok are wonderfully imagined and envisioned on the small screen. Season 5 (and hopefully, 6 and 7) will be incredibly interesting with the continuing exploits of Bjorn Ironsides, and Ragnar's four younger sons, who will become the scourge of Europe. I'm also looking forward to see Hirst's vision of Alfred the Confessor (Ooops. Alfred the Great is correct, VL G, not Alfred the Confessor. Thanks!!), who was blessed by the Pope, in episode 9. And, of course, Rollo, Ragnar's brother, is the direct male ancestor of William the Conqueror, also known as William the Bastard, who became King of England in 1066.... I just love history!
I'm currently labeling photos from the 2016 Pony Penning for Lynn, as she missed our vacation together, due to a death in her family. I have about 30 photos that definitely contain Surfer Princess, the filly I purchased with Lynn's money last year, and I have about 300 other photos of Pony Penning, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, and the waters that surround them, and wildlife - both marine and terrestrial. I managed to get about 50 labeled yesterday evening, and I'm going to work on the labeling until I go walk Rosie this morning. And you have no idea how happy I am that I already have everything labeled and stored on my PC - that means just matching photos and copying the existing caption - I don't have to look up each pony in each picture, again!
Beatrice and I are hoping to take our friend Melissa, from Atlanta, over Trail Ridge Road this weekend - hoping we can get across before it closes for the winter. I'll be taking more photos - especially since I know there is plenty of snow on Pikes Peak (100 miles south of us), already!
Monday, September 12, 2016
Weekend, Catnip, and a Client
I did some small grocery shopping over the weekend, checked the mail, and sat out on the balcony for several hours each day, and otherwise avoided people, other than Beatrice and a few phone calls I had to take. Bea was feeling her cabin-fever itch and went out daily to window shop and just wander around different areas of town. I stayed at home, cuddled with the cats and read and read and read. It was wonderful for me.
I did have to laugh about the phone calls, however. I checked my work calendar for next week (now this week) on Friday, and saw I was scheduled at a house for 5 nights and six days. I also knew that one of the client's adult children was at home, so I called to ask if my services were still required. I was told, no, that the daughter would care for the house and critters while the client was away. On Saturday, the client called and said the daughter was going to Aspen for the weekend, and could I cover caring for the house from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. I told her, sure, no problem. Last night, I received another call from the client - could I possibly cover the originally planned 5 nights and 6 days? The daughter is currently house-sitting for someone else, and thought she could take her new puppy and older dog into another household that already has two large adult dogs and a new puppy in residence. The daughter's job ends on Friday, when she plans on leaving for Aspen - and, oh, by the way, I'll have the daughter's puppy and dog at the client's home over the weekend....I sometimes feel like such a fool. But this person is a very good client, and I've worked for her for over 8 years now, so I acquiesced.
Last night, I opened the catnip jar. The kits are still slightly high. I pull out the dried catnip and roll it between my fingers to make very small particles before I place it on the nip rug. Both Lovey and Nedi eat the catnip, and they both acted as if they were starving. Then I pulled out one of their fuzzy, rattly toys that had been in the jar for a month. Nedi was in ecstasy over that gift. I put two other older toys back into the jar and resealed it. This morning, all visible traces of catnip have disappeared from the rug, and the toy has been making odd appearances in strange places since I arose. It seems I made them happy.
I did have to laugh about the phone calls, however. I checked my work calendar for next week (now this week) on Friday, and saw I was scheduled at a house for 5 nights and six days. I also knew that one of the client's adult children was at home, so I called to ask if my services were still required. I was told, no, that the daughter would care for the house and critters while the client was away. On Saturday, the client called and said the daughter was going to Aspen for the weekend, and could I cover caring for the house from Friday afternoon until Monday morning. I told her, sure, no problem. Last night, I received another call from the client - could I possibly cover the originally planned 5 nights and 6 days? The daughter is currently house-sitting for someone else, and thought she could take her new puppy and older dog into another household that already has two large adult dogs and a new puppy in residence. The daughter's job ends on Friday, when she plans on leaving for Aspen - and, oh, by the way, I'll have the daughter's puppy and dog at the client's home over the weekend....I sometimes feel like such a fool. But this person is a very good client, and I've worked for her for over 8 years now, so I acquiesced.
Last night, I opened the catnip jar. The kits are still slightly high. I pull out the dried catnip and roll it between my fingers to make very small particles before I place it on the nip rug. Both Lovey and Nedi eat the catnip, and they both acted as if they were starving. Then I pulled out one of their fuzzy, rattly toys that had been in the jar for a month. Nedi was in ecstasy over that gift. I put two other older toys back into the jar and resealed it. This morning, all visible traces of catnip have disappeared from the rug, and the toy has been making odd appearances in strange places since I arose. It seems I made them happy.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Back From a Trip Through Time and Space
Sorry, folks; between pet- and house-sitting and getting deeply involved in three new books, I just didn't get around to my blog. I'm embarrassed by my back-sliding (not really). I have been extremely busy in my critter-sitter business, and won't be sleeping at home again until the 26th of May.
I was up at 4 o'clock this morning, showered dressed, walked the dog, fed the critters, watered the garden and the flowers, and was standing at the end of the driveway at 5 o'clock to travel with clients to Denver National Airport. When they picked me up, dawn was breaking, the robins and smaller birds had begun singing, and a few of the neighbor's ducks were wakening and quacking. As we drove out of the neighborhood, there was an oddly-moving eye-shine reflected back in the headlights. The driver asked what it was, and I was able to answer it was a raccoon - although it was moving sideways, more like a crab than a raccoon. I didn't give it anymore thought, as we were soon on the Expressway, where the speed limit is posted as 75 miles per hour - the family had decided to sleep in a little later and then rush to the airport. As we passed one automated signal, it said we were traveling at 98 mph. Oh, boy.... I drove back to Boulder at the rather sedate 65 mph posted for the Interstate, instead of racing back on the Expressway.
First, I fed and walked Roxie and Finnie, the two Brittany Spaniels. Then I went to the house behind Roxie and Finnie's and I walked Cooper and Lola, then fed those two, as well as the two cats, Pounce and Tipsi. I had already fed and walked Tess and the cats, but I stopped by to allow Tess time to go outside again. Then I went to my apartment, fed my kits and cleaned the litter boxes, and took a 50 minute nap. After that, it was off to walk Rosie.
Rosie and I had decided to visit my sister and brother-in-law's yard this morning. (She's visited Tess the past three days.) So we ambled toward my sister's house. As we approached, I saw a raccoon (this was at 10:25) sidling sideways across the road from Olivier's house. Rosie also saw it, and wanted to run and grab it. The raccoon was having great difficulty moving. It crossed the street, and had a seizure. Then it licked it's hind legs, which were completely hairless and looked like raw meat. It started sidling sideways, again, like a crab into the back yard at my sister's. The (d'uhh!) realization came that this was the same raccoon I'd seen about 400 yards away at 5 this morning. It had another seizure before it hid inside an airplane wing beside the shed. I told my brother-in-law and sister what I had seen, and they agreed to call the Animal Control officer.... Rosie and I came over to Tess's house instead.
After walking Rosie, I have bounced back and forth between the three houses of dogs and cats. I have walked dogs, watered flowers and gardens, and gathered mail and newspapers. Tonight is the penultimate presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Boulder Dinner Theater, and Max is back in town to see his Dad on stage. So I'll be headed over to Rosie's soon to keep her company while her family is out for the evening.... I do have to go feed Roxie and Finnie and the ABCs before I go to Rosie's.
I just finished three new books, as well as re-reading another trilogy set of C J Cherryh's Foreigner series. I find myself thinking in the alien language, Ragi, occasionally - and I sometimes throw an atevi into a conversation, because the alien word is a better fit than the English one. Sometimes I feel that I'd rather exist in Ms. Cherryh's universe!
I was up at 4 o'clock this morning, showered dressed, walked the dog, fed the critters, watered the garden and the flowers, and was standing at the end of the driveway at 5 o'clock to travel with clients to Denver National Airport. When they picked me up, dawn was breaking, the robins and smaller birds had begun singing, and a few of the neighbor's ducks were wakening and quacking. As we drove out of the neighborhood, there was an oddly-moving eye-shine reflected back in the headlights. The driver asked what it was, and I was able to answer it was a raccoon - although it was moving sideways, more like a crab than a raccoon. I didn't give it anymore thought, as we were soon on the Expressway, where the speed limit is posted as 75 miles per hour - the family had decided to sleep in a little later and then rush to the airport. As we passed one automated signal, it said we were traveling at 98 mph. Oh, boy.... I drove back to Boulder at the rather sedate 65 mph posted for the Interstate, instead of racing back on the Expressway.
First, I fed and walked Roxie and Finnie, the two Brittany Spaniels. Then I went to the house behind Roxie and Finnie's and I walked Cooper and Lola, then fed those two, as well as the two cats, Pounce and Tipsi. I had already fed and walked Tess and the cats, but I stopped by to allow Tess time to go outside again. Then I went to my apartment, fed my kits and cleaned the litter boxes, and took a 50 minute nap. After that, it was off to walk Rosie.
Rosie and I had decided to visit my sister and brother-in-law's yard this morning. (She's visited Tess the past three days.) So we ambled toward my sister's house. As we approached, I saw a raccoon (this was at 10:25) sidling sideways across the road from Olivier's house. Rosie also saw it, and wanted to run and grab it. The raccoon was having great difficulty moving. It crossed the street, and had a seizure. Then it licked it's hind legs, which were completely hairless and looked like raw meat. It started sidling sideways, again, like a crab into the back yard at my sister's. The (d'uhh!) realization came that this was the same raccoon I'd seen about 400 yards away at 5 this morning. It had another seizure before it hid inside an airplane wing beside the shed. I told my brother-in-law and sister what I had seen, and they agreed to call the Animal Control officer.... Rosie and I came over to Tess's house instead.
After walking Rosie, I have bounced back and forth between the three houses of dogs and cats. I have walked dogs, watered flowers and gardens, and gathered mail and newspapers. Tonight is the penultimate presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Boulder Dinner Theater, and Max is back in town to see his Dad on stage. So I'll be headed over to Rosie's soon to keep her company while her family is out for the evening.... I do have to go feed Roxie and Finnie and the ABCs before I go to Rosie's.
I just finished three new books, as well as re-reading another trilogy set of C J Cherryh's Foreigner series. I find myself thinking in the alien language, Ragi, occasionally - and I sometimes throw an atevi into a conversation, because the alien word is a better fit than the English one. Sometimes I feel that I'd rather exist in Ms. Cherryh's universe!
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Weather and Parental Warnings
So I'm sitting in Rosie's dining room, having just eaten a meal of scrambled eggs and sausage. It's a few minutes after six in the evening, and I've been up and going for twelve hours plus. I had a chocolate iced doughnut at 8 this morning, and a navel orange at 1 this afternoon. I feel stuffed and full of food, but I want something sweet. I say that's "Momma's Curse" since the Swedes were the first people to build a candy factory....
At least I was only skittering between four places today - the ABCs returned yesterday, so I didn't need to be there to give Pounce thyroid medication every 12 hours. Today, it was Rosie, Finn, Seek, Carter and Xuxa; not to mention seeing my own kits twice for an hour each time today. Everyone is inside and has been fed supper. I'll need to leave just before 8 to pick my roommate up from work and take her home. The weather forecasters are calling for an inch of snow tonight - but Boulder weather patterns are very difficult to predict. Rosie's folks will return Sunday evening; and Seek, Carter and Xuxa's two families will return Tuesday morning. I'll be with Finn until Friday, when I switch over to staying with Maggie May. Home again in my own bed on 8 February.... And, of course, I'm walking Rosie and Tess every weekday. Staying busy, I am.
I have the feeling that senile dementia is getting hold of Rosie. Usually she sleeps the night through, unless she has an upset stomach. Last night, she was up every 90 minutes, barking to be taken out. Each time, she did not go to the bathroom, she just walked calmly over to her bed on the deck and settled in. I roused her out each time and took her back upstairs... I hope she doesn't pull this tonight, as I need to sleep. I think I'll bring Finn over to spend the afternoon, until Rosie's folks return tomorrow - they get along well, and maybe Finn's presence will get Rosie to eat her meals in a timely manner. We'll see.
I still can't believe that my hair has grown out so much... if the wind blows, it's constantly in my mouth. I pull it back and pin it up on top of my head when I'm at home because I'm so hot and sweaty. I don't know if I can stand another summer of sweat running down the back of my head and my neck - I might have to chop it off again. It scares me at night when I wake with unknown fur all over my face (my hair); and Lovey constantly parades back and forth across my chest when I'm sitting at my desk. Her weight pulls on my hair unbearably... I have a tender scalp and tender feet soles. Guess I'm a wuss.
I'll need to check with Finn's folks and find out what vehicle I'm supposed to drive while they are gone... I hope it's the Audi, because if it does snow, the MiniCooper is useless. And I'm afraid to take the Tesla out on the road... Forecasters are saying an inch of snow tonight, rain tomorrow changing to snow in the evening, and anywhere between three and thirty inches of snow Monday and Tuesday. At least I know how to use the snowblower at Finn's - that'll get me down the quarter-mile driveway to the gates and the local residential road. I've stocked up with food, drink, books, and a new coloring book just in case the 30-inch prediction is correct.
When my sister and her husband had supper with me Thursday night, to celebrate our Mom's 94th birthday, we were discussing how our parents would tell us not to do something, but not give a reason for not doing whatever. Kathy and I discussed how, at 83, Great-Uncle Ray went on a tour of the western states on a motorcycle; he sent us fantastic postcards from the places he visited. Kathy and I thought that would be the coolest thing in the world to do- but Mom and Dad both told us that riding motorcycles was dangerous. We were never to get on a motorcycle, period. When Kathy was in 8th or 9th grade, she rode as a passenger on a motorcycle - and, the very first time she rode, they were involved in a wreck and Kathy was on crutches for several weeks. Mom and Dad just said, "See? Motorcycles are dangerous." I thought about that today when I read a local headline - One Killed, Several Stabbed At Denver Motorcycle Expo - and my mind just said, "There you go..."
Do we ever really get away from things that our parents drummed into our brains?
At least I was only skittering between four places today - the ABCs returned yesterday, so I didn't need to be there to give Pounce thyroid medication every 12 hours. Today, it was Rosie, Finn, Seek, Carter and Xuxa; not to mention seeing my own kits twice for an hour each time today. Everyone is inside and has been fed supper. I'll need to leave just before 8 to pick my roommate up from work and take her home. The weather forecasters are calling for an inch of snow tonight - but Boulder weather patterns are very difficult to predict. Rosie's folks will return Sunday evening; and Seek, Carter and Xuxa's two families will return Tuesday morning. I'll be with Finn until Friday, when I switch over to staying with Maggie May. Home again in my own bed on 8 February.... And, of course, I'm walking Rosie and Tess every weekday. Staying busy, I am.
I have the feeling that senile dementia is getting hold of Rosie. Usually she sleeps the night through, unless she has an upset stomach. Last night, she was up every 90 minutes, barking to be taken out. Each time, she did not go to the bathroom, she just walked calmly over to her bed on the deck and settled in. I roused her out each time and took her back upstairs... I hope she doesn't pull this tonight, as I need to sleep. I think I'll bring Finn over to spend the afternoon, until Rosie's folks return tomorrow - they get along well, and maybe Finn's presence will get Rosie to eat her meals in a timely manner. We'll see.
I still can't believe that my hair has grown out so much... if the wind blows, it's constantly in my mouth. I pull it back and pin it up on top of my head when I'm at home because I'm so hot and sweaty. I don't know if I can stand another summer of sweat running down the back of my head and my neck - I might have to chop it off again. It scares me at night when I wake with unknown fur all over my face (my hair); and Lovey constantly parades back and forth across my chest when I'm sitting at my desk. Her weight pulls on my hair unbearably... I have a tender scalp and tender feet soles. Guess I'm a wuss.
I'll need to check with Finn's folks and find out what vehicle I'm supposed to drive while they are gone... I hope it's the Audi, because if it does snow, the MiniCooper is useless. And I'm afraid to take the Tesla out on the road... Forecasters are saying an inch of snow tonight, rain tomorrow changing to snow in the evening, and anywhere between three and thirty inches of snow Monday and Tuesday. At least I know how to use the snowblower at Finn's - that'll get me down the quarter-mile driveway to the gates and the local residential road. I've stocked up with food, drink, books, and a new coloring book just in case the 30-inch prediction is correct.
When my sister and her husband had supper with me Thursday night, to celebrate our Mom's 94th birthday, we were discussing how our parents would tell us not to do something, but not give a reason for not doing whatever. Kathy and I discussed how, at 83, Great-Uncle Ray went on a tour of the western states on a motorcycle; he sent us fantastic postcards from the places he visited. Kathy and I thought that would be the coolest thing in the world to do- but Mom and Dad both told us that riding motorcycles was dangerous. We were never to get on a motorcycle, period. When Kathy was in 8th or 9th grade, she rode as a passenger on a motorcycle - and, the very first time she rode, they were involved in a wreck and Kathy was on crutches for several weeks. Mom and Dad just said, "See? Motorcycles are dangerous." I thought about that today when I read a local headline - One Killed, Several Stabbed At Denver Motorcycle Expo - and my mind just said, "There you go..."
Do we ever really get away from things that our parents drummed into our brains?
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Holidays Equal Busy Times
Sorry for the absence from blogging - I'm usually at my busiest over holidays, and this year is no exception. While I am not staying at any specific house until the 27th, I am caring for 5 houses, 2 with cats, and one with hens and dogs - but am sleeping at home with my kits. Lovey is currently standing/lying across my chest, while Nedi was seeing if he could chew through some ornament hangers. We've been rather cold since Tuesday's eleven inches of snow, with lows at night in the single digits (Fahrenheit). However, we're having some melt, as it was 50 yesterday and 60 today, in the sunshine. It was odd - one side of the street, in the sunlight said 60 degrees, while the same corner, on the other side of the street, in the shade, said it was 43 degrees.
I have been experiencing my annual computer difficulties. The blasted thing keeps freezing on me, and I have to do an emergency shut down and then totally reboot, causing me to lose what I've just been working on. I've run all of my virus scans, debugging scans, registry, add-ons and problem solving scans; they all say that everything is fine. Well, if it's fine, then why does it freeze?
I'm going to wait for a couple of weeks to go see the new Star Wars movie - I saw the first one on opening day down in Gainesville, and saw the second and third ones at the theater, also in Florida. I think I saw the fourth one in a theater. Haven't seen the fifth and sixth. I'll be going just to see Harrison Ford reprise his role as Han Solo in this one....
It was crazy at one house earlier this week. I was staying there, with the dog, while the owners were away. The lady of the house employs two house-keepers - one comes for two hours on each Monday and Friday; the second cleaner is a single mother and she cleans on Wednesday for two hours. The cleaner who comes twice a week is Hispanic, and frequently uses her "no speaka da English" as a reason to not follow directions. The husband of the house-owning couple speaks a Mexican, Peruvian, and pure Spanish dialect. She pretends she doesn't understand him, either. She is from a small town, just south of the Mexico-Texas border, so she should understand at least one of the dialects. Anyway, Modesta worked Monday, as usual. Heather came on Wednesday, but could only stay for one hour, not two, as she had to clean a house she had missed on Tuesday, due to it being a "Snow Day" for local schools. Heather asked me if she could come back Thursday, or maybe Friday, to make up the hour. I told her to come Thursday, as the other house cleaner came on Friday, and that Modesta could be very territorial about the house and her cleaning. Heather left her payment on the kitchen counter, as she hadn't finished her work. She called and left a message for the owner, telling her that she was doing two one hour shifts. The owner called both Heather and me to say that Heather should just take her payment and not work on Thursday. The owner had to leave a message for Heather. I called Heather and left the same message. Then I left the door unlocked, so Heather could get her payment, and I left for 70 minutes to walk a neighbor's dog. When I returned, I could see Heather's tire prints in the snow in front of the house; but Modesta's car was also there. As soon as I came in, she started yelling at me about the other cleaner - Heather. Heather's payment was gone. I just grabbed the dog and left, because I didn't want to hear Modesta's commentary. She was upset that another house cleaner was there - and she had come a day early, because she didn't want to have to work at the house on Friday. The only reason she could get inside was because I had left the house unlocked for Heather - neither of them has a house key. When I returned 90 minutes later, with the dog, Modesta had left and left me a note saying that she was the house cleaner and she would see me Monday. In the meantime, Heather called the owner because Modesta had scared the daylights out of her... The owners came home early today, and it seems that Modesta may no longer be cleaning their house.... Weird.
I have been experiencing my annual computer difficulties. The blasted thing keeps freezing on me, and I have to do an emergency shut down and then totally reboot, causing me to lose what I've just been working on. I've run all of my virus scans, debugging scans, registry, add-ons and problem solving scans; they all say that everything is fine. Well, if it's fine, then why does it freeze?
I'm going to wait for a couple of weeks to go see the new Star Wars movie - I saw the first one on opening day down in Gainesville, and saw the second and third ones at the theater, also in Florida. I think I saw the fourth one in a theater. Haven't seen the fifth and sixth. I'll be going just to see Harrison Ford reprise his role as Han Solo in this one....
It was crazy at one house earlier this week. I was staying there, with the dog, while the owners were away. The lady of the house employs two house-keepers - one comes for two hours on each Monday and Friday; the second cleaner is a single mother and she cleans on Wednesday for two hours. The cleaner who comes twice a week is Hispanic, and frequently uses her "no speaka da English" as a reason to not follow directions. The husband of the house-owning couple speaks a Mexican, Peruvian, and pure Spanish dialect. She pretends she doesn't understand him, either. She is from a small town, just south of the Mexico-Texas border, so she should understand at least one of the dialects. Anyway, Modesta worked Monday, as usual. Heather came on Wednesday, but could only stay for one hour, not two, as she had to clean a house she had missed on Tuesday, due to it being a "Snow Day" for local schools. Heather asked me if she could come back Thursday, or maybe Friday, to make up the hour. I told her to come Thursday, as the other house cleaner came on Friday, and that Modesta could be very territorial about the house and her cleaning. Heather left her payment on the kitchen counter, as she hadn't finished her work. She called and left a message for the owner, telling her that she was doing two one hour shifts. The owner called both Heather and me to say that Heather should just take her payment and not work on Thursday. The owner had to leave a message for Heather. I called Heather and left the same message. Then I left the door unlocked, so Heather could get her payment, and I left for 70 minutes to walk a neighbor's dog. When I returned, I could see Heather's tire prints in the snow in front of the house; but Modesta's car was also there. As soon as I came in, she started yelling at me about the other cleaner - Heather. Heather's payment was gone. I just grabbed the dog and left, because I didn't want to hear Modesta's commentary. She was upset that another house cleaner was there - and she had come a day early, because she didn't want to have to work at the house on Friday. The only reason she could get inside was because I had left the house unlocked for Heather - neither of them has a house key. When I returned 90 minutes later, with the dog, Modesta had left and left me a note saying that she was the house cleaner and she would see me Monday. In the meantime, Heather called the owner because Modesta had scared the daylights out of her... The owners came home early today, and it seems that Modesta may no longer be cleaning their house.... Weird.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Vikings - and Life
I was a television slut Thursday afternoon and evening - I watched nine full hours of Vikings on the History Channel. They had a marathon showing of all the episodes of this season (eight), plus the airing of the new, ninth episode. The last episode for this season will air on Thorsday, April 23. And, yes, I meant to misspell Thorsday. I can revel in my Viking forebears for another week, knowing that the huge group of wonderful actors that brings Vikings to life, will be getting together again (for the most part) in June in lovely Ireland to film the fourth season. Time has been twisted - after all, it is a fictional show, and the old Norse sagas can't be documented - but, unless there's a big trick and twist coming in this last episode, it will diverge greatly from the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok. But that's OK - this is a wonderful series to watch for the language, the costume, and the fighting techniques.
We had about four inches of wet snow fall Thursday; yesterday, rain was falling in Boulder onto melting snow - but on the drive to Denver International Airport, fields, pastures, mesas, and mountains were completely snow-covered; there were huge banks of cotton-wool fog; and several highways were closed due to accidents. The rain and sleet continued to fall until mid-afternoon; then the sun appeared for a few hours, but it began raining again last night. It was raining this morning when I went home and visited my kits, and was changing to a rain and sleet mix when I headed over to Dellwood to care for the hens, fish and cats. Xuxa was not happy that I wouldn't let her outside this morning - but I'd rather her and Carter be inside and safe (and upset with me) than have them outside in miserable weather.
I'm currently back at Tessa's, having taken care of my kits, the critters at Dellwood, doing my shopping, and feeding the critters here (plus walking Tessa). Tessa and I visited Rosie last night for an hour, and will do so for 90 minutes tonight. I now have reservations for my vehicle lease for my vacation in July and August, and I have also purchased bumper-to-bumper accident insurance. The rest of the family purchased their plane tickets last weekend - flying en masse from Denver to Washington National Airport and back. I'm following the same itinerary, but I'll leave a few days before and follow them home a few days later. My friend Beatrice will be looking after my cats while I'm gone - and as they both like her, it's wonderful. She's still not used to Lovey trying to climb her like a tree - but I think I'm the only one used to that habit.
I'm catching up on missed episodes of NCIS and Person of Interest this weekend, and I did duck into the library and find two new books to read - one's a new mystery by Margaret Coel, and the other is a new Clive Cussler book. I also picked up a copy of Thundercloud by Preston and Child, realizing that I haven't read it in over 13 years….
Hope you have a wonderful weekend! We'll be getting much needed moisture.
We had about four inches of wet snow fall Thursday; yesterday, rain was falling in Boulder onto melting snow - but on the drive to Denver International Airport, fields, pastures, mesas, and mountains were completely snow-covered; there were huge banks of cotton-wool fog; and several highways were closed due to accidents. The rain and sleet continued to fall until mid-afternoon; then the sun appeared for a few hours, but it began raining again last night. It was raining this morning when I went home and visited my kits, and was changing to a rain and sleet mix when I headed over to Dellwood to care for the hens, fish and cats. Xuxa was not happy that I wouldn't let her outside this morning - but I'd rather her and Carter be inside and safe (and upset with me) than have them outside in miserable weather.
I'm currently back at Tessa's, having taken care of my kits, the critters at Dellwood, doing my shopping, and feeding the critters here (plus walking Tessa). Tessa and I visited Rosie last night for an hour, and will do so for 90 minutes tonight. I now have reservations for my vehicle lease for my vacation in July and August, and I have also purchased bumper-to-bumper accident insurance. The rest of the family purchased their plane tickets last weekend - flying en masse from Denver to Washington National Airport and back. I'm following the same itinerary, but I'll leave a few days before and follow them home a few days later. My friend Beatrice will be looking after my cats while I'm gone - and as they both like her, it's wonderful. She's still not used to Lovey trying to climb her like a tree - but I think I'm the only one used to that habit.
I'm catching up on missed episodes of NCIS and Person of Interest this weekend, and I did duck into the library and find two new books to read - one's a new mystery by Margaret Coel, and the other is a new Clive Cussler book. I also picked up a copy of Thundercloud by Preston and Child, realizing that I haven't read it in over 13 years….
Hope you have a wonderful weekend! We'll be getting much needed moisture.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Weather and Pet-Sitting
My sister's first chemo treatment went very well yesterday, and she's supposed to be getting a white-cell booster shot this morning to counter-act yesterday's treatment. It's so confusing... Kathy didn't have any adverse reactions during or after the treatment, saying only that she felt sleepy afterwards.
The Dellwood family should have made it home by now - I stopped by earlier and fed everyone, and cleaned the potty box about 8. Then I went to the Chandler's and took care of Victor and Xena. I followed that with Tugger on Rosewood, then went over to see the new clients on Sumac. Have returned home for an hour or so, and will head back over to Tugger for the rest of the day after blogging.
NOAA said that Boulder got .7 inches of liquid precipitation on Christmas Day that was topped by 12.3 inches of snow through Friday afternoon. The ski resorts on the other side of the continental divide have had more than 43 inches of snow in the last 72 hours; they'll be getting more snow through Thursday. We're supposed to have mostly clear skies with highs near 30 today and tomorrow - if you watch the Broncos and Raiders game on TV tomorrow afternoon, I'm sure they'll show the snow and people skiing and snowboarding up at the resorts.
We're supposed to follow up this pleasant weekend with another Arctic front, so we'll (hopefully) have a high of 10 degrees on Monday, and, maybe, 5 degrees on Tuesday. The weather gurus are saying that the low overnight Tuesday-Wednesday might be -10, or so.... One of my clients let me know yesterday that she wouldn't need my services (beginning today), so that's a house off my list. I called to check with another client, seeing what time she was leaving her home on Sunday, so I'd know when to show up at her house. She informed me that her kids are going to be there through either the 30th or the 31st, and she'll let me know when she knows when and for how long she needs me. She does this frequently, and I should be used to it, but that irritated me a bit yesterday.
I'll be visiting the new client's house twice a day beginning Sunday evening and running through the following Saturday morning. I re-met Tiko and Bopp this morning, and again went over their routine with the owners. So that's settled; and I move in with Rosie Monday morning and stay until New Year's Day evening....
Apparently there has been an outbreak of tularemia in the squirrel colonies in our area. We used to see 10 to 20 squirrels in the back yard during the day - now, we might see 5 or 7. The CU married housing complex across the street has sent 4 squirrel bodies for analysis in the past five days. I know that our squirrel numbers are down, and we haven't seen Ernie, the raccoon, in a couple of weeks. I know that diseases are a natural culling of the weak out in the wild - but I don't like the knowledge. I'll be rooting for the South Carolina Gamecocks and Steve Spurrier today!
The Dellwood family should have made it home by now - I stopped by earlier and fed everyone, and cleaned the potty box about 8. Then I went to the Chandler's and took care of Victor and Xena. I followed that with Tugger on Rosewood, then went over to see the new clients on Sumac. Have returned home for an hour or so, and will head back over to Tugger for the rest of the day after blogging.
NOAA said that Boulder got .7 inches of liquid precipitation on Christmas Day that was topped by 12.3 inches of snow through Friday afternoon. The ski resorts on the other side of the continental divide have had more than 43 inches of snow in the last 72 hours; they'll be getting more snow through Thursday. We're supposed to have mostly clear skies with highs near 30 today and tomorrow - if you watch the Broncos and Raiders game on TV tomorrow afternoon, I'm sure they'll show the snow and people skiing and snowboarding up at the resorts.
We're supposed to follow up this pleasant weekend with another Arctic front, so we'll (hopefully) have a high of 10 degrees on Monday, and, maybe, 5 degrees on Tuesday. The weather gurus are saying that the low overnight Tuesday-Wednesday might be -10, or so.... One of my clients let me know yesterday that she wouldn't need my services (beginning today), so that's a house off my list. I called to check with another client, seeing what time she was leaving her home on Sunday, so I'd know when to show up at her house. She informed me that her kids are going to be there through either the 30th or the 31st, and she'll let me know when she knows when and for how long she needs me. She does this frequently, and I should be used to it, but that irritated me a bit yesterday.
I'll be visiting the new client's house twice a day beginning Sunday evening and running through the following Saturday morning. I re-met Tiko and Bopp this morning, and again went over their routine with the owners. So that's settled; and I move in with Rosie Monday morning and stay until New Year's Day evening....
Apparently there has been an outbreak of tularemia in the squirrel colonies in our area. We used to see 10 to 20 squirrels in the back yard during the day - now, we might see 5 or 7. The CU married housing complex across the street has sent 4 squirrel bodies for analysis in the past five days. I know that our squirrel numbers are down, and we haven't seen Ernie, the raccoon, in a couple of weeks. I know that diseases are a natural culling of the weak out in the wild - but I don't like the knowledge. I'll be rooting for the South Carolina Gamecocks and Steve Spurrier today!
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
45 Degrees This Morning! - Stupid Accident
It's the second day of September; I'm dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and leather walking shoes. I couldn't figure out why I felt so chilly when I switched the water systems for the irrigation ditch this morning - then I found out it was 45 degrees outside. Gee, no wonder I felt chilly! We are supposed to quickly reach the mid-80s today and then have a high in the low 90s tomorrow. But fall is definitely in the air - and if one travels up to the higher elevations, you can see the leaves are beginning to change colors. I think we'll have an early fall foliage season this time around...
My kits are very clingy this morning. I wish I could make them understand that I'll be home, sleeping in my bed tonight, with them, and for the next several nights. The sun is shining brightly, and I still have some removal stuff to perform at Lynn's, but, other than walking Rosie this morning, packing up my stuff and getting it back home, all I have to do otherwise is pick Lynn up from DIA this evening. Then almost two weeks at home in my own bed, with my kits. It will be heavenly. Then I'm back at Lynn's and over with the ABC's before I'm back home again... And I'll only spend 10 nights away before I'm back home. Yea! Summer crazy-busy is slowing down at last!
I was intrigued by a sign up in Russell Gulch on Saturday that stated they had "horses for rent" and an arrow pointing up a trail to the west. I'll have to check them out next summer - see the outfit, look at the horses, find out the charges and see about the riding opportunities. It might be a new place to ride up in the mountains.
Back to common sense.... A woman was picking up her daughter at school. She was driving and texting at the same time, in front of the school. There was a guard rail made of pipes alongside the school sidewalk to protect the students. The mother was so involved with her texting that she drove her SUV into the pipe guardrail; she was going so fast that the pipe rail entered the front of her car through the headlight - and proceeded to pass through the engine, and ended up in the driver's thigh and piercing her butt cheek, pinning her in the car. The pipe had to be cut off and her car was cut open with the Jaws of Life in order to extract the woman (impaled to the car seat) and get her into an ambulance for transport to a hospital for the removal of the pipe. The woman is alive; the car is totaled; no students were hurt.
Please do NOT drive and text - or drive and talk on the phone - it's simply too dangerous for everyone in the area, including you, the driver.
My kits are very clingy this morning. I wish I could make them understand that I'll be home, sleeping in my bed tonight, with them, and for the next several nights. The sun is shining brightly, and I still have some removal stuff to perform at Lynn's, but, other than walking Rosie this morning, packing up my stuff and getting it back home, all I have to do otherwise is pick Lynn up from DIA this evening. Then almost two weeks at home in my own bed, with my kits. It will be heavenly. Then I'm back at Lynn's and over with the ABC's before I'm back home again... And I'll only spend 10 nights away before I'm back home. Yea! Summer crazy-busy is slowing down at last!
I was intrigued by a sign up in Russell Gulch on Saturday that stated they had "horses for rent" and an arrow pointing up a trail to the west. I'll have to check them out next summer - see the outfit, look at the horses, find out the charges and see about the riding opportunities. It might be a new place to ride up in the mountains.
Back to common sense.... A woman was picking up her daughter at school. She was driving and texting at the same time, in front of the school. There was a guard rail made of pipes alongside the school sidewalk to protect the students. The mother was so involved with her texting that she drove her SUV into the pipe guardrail; she was going so fast that the pipe rail entered the front of her car through the headlight - and proceeded to pass through the engine, and ended up in the driver's thigh and piercing her butt cheek, pinning her in the car. The pipe had to be cut off and her car was cut open with the Jaws of Life in order to extract the woman (impaled to the car seat) and get her into an ambulance for transport to a hospital for the removal of the pipe. The woman is alive; the car is totaled; no students were hurt.
Please do NOT drive and text - or drive and talk on the phone - it's simply too dangerous for everyone in the area, including you, the driver.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Sam Carter; Pet-Sitting Troubles
I am upset. Sam Carter, the ex-Boulder policeman who killed the Mapleton neighborhood elk, got off lightly. He pled "Not Guilty" to all charges stemming from his murder of a trophy elk that regularly wintered in a small neighborhood in Boulder. On 1 January 2013, the on-duty policeman approached the elk and shot it in the chest with his service shotgun. He did not report discharging his weapon within city limits to the police department, and he had previously prepared an "injured wildlife" kill tag. This past June, after a week-long trial, Carter was convicted on the following charges: (1) attempting to influence a public official, a Class 4 felony; (2) one count of forgery, a Class 5 felony; (3 & 4) two counts of tampering with evidence, both Class 6 felonies; (5) first degree official misconduct; (6) illegal possession of a trophy elk with a Samson Law surcharge; (7) conspiracy to commit illegal possession of wildlife; (8) unlawful taking of a big game animal out of season; and (9) unlawful use of an electronic communication device to unlawfully take wildlife. Yesterday, Sam Carter heard his sentence - four years of probation, 200 hours of community service, 30 days service on a work crew, and a fine of $10,200.00.
I am upset because this man, hired to protect and defend the residents of the City of Boulder, used his service weapon in a residential neighborhood and lied about it to his superiors, in order to gain a trophy head of a relatively tame animal. He planned in advance to kill the elk, and to have a friend, also in the police department, to slaughter and mount the elk. It's disgusting. I know that Sam Carter would have a tough time in jail or prison due to his previous employment - but he shot and killed a defenseless animal, in a residential neighborhood, for his own pleasure. He deserves more than a light slap on the wrist by authorities.
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Taking care of pets/animals/critters/"kids" of other people is sometimes difficult. At Tessa's, I'm taking care of a dog, two cats, six koi, two hives of honeybees, an organic garden, and multiple flowering plants. Tessa, the dog, is still suffering from dermatitis - her neck is finally healing, but now she is chewing on her left hind hock and her right flank. The owner insists that it's a reaction to her rabies vaccination, which was 9 weeks ago. All I know is that poor Tessa is wearing a blue Elizabethan collar to keep her from eating herself alive. Tessa gets fed a specific frozen food - Northwest Naturals Chicken Dinner Bar - which is defrosted prior to each meal. Yesterday morning, when there was no more food in the kitchen freezer, I walked out to the garage freezer and opened the door, expecting to see 3 to 5 cases of frozen dog food. Other than a couple of bags of frozen berries, the freezer was empty.
This happened on top of discovering that Lyra, the brown tabby, has a urinary tract infection. Lyra's owner has moved to New York City, and taken 90% of her possessions; but Lyra was left at home. Lyra had peed on my bed earlier Thursday morning, and I thought it was a case of pique, because she had been left behind. Thursday night, she leapt onto the foot of the bed and immediately squatted - I thumped her head with my forefinger, but she had already started to relieve herself. I grabbed a handful of tissue and mopped it up.... realizing, as I did so, that her urine was the color of raspberry lemonade. So, as soon as the veterinarian's office opened on Friday morning, I called and made an appointment to take Lyra in. Once I got her there, of course, they needed a urine sample and I had to leave her.
So I called the home-owner in New York City, with her daughter, and left a voice message. "Lyra has a UTI and is at the vet's being evaluated. There's no food for Tessa in the garage, which was a surprise. Do you have some on order at PC's Pantry? Call me and let me know." I didn't get a return call from her.
At 4:45, I picked Lyra up from the vet's, full of antibiotics, and with Clavamox pills to administer for the next 7 days. I was also instructed to stop at The Natural Pet shop and get a bottle of Animals' Apawthecary "Tinkle Tonic", an herbal additive to help clear up Lyra's infection. I grabbed Lyra, had the owner billed, purchased the Tinkle Tonic, and then stopped at PC's Pantry to see if they had a order from Lynn on hold. The wonderful ladies at PC's Pantry didn't have anything on order, but they had some extra inventory, so I was able to pick up three cases of food for Tessa and have them bill the owner...
Thank goodness Boulder is a laid-back town that is totally crazy about their four-footed companions!
I am upset because this man, hired to protect and defend the residents of the City of Boulder, used his service weapon in a residential neighborhood and lied about it to his superiors, in order to gain a trophy head of a relatively tame animal. He planned in advance to kill the elk, and to have a friend, also in the police department, to slaughter and mount the elk. It's disgusting. I know that Sam Carter would have a tough time in jail or prison due to his previous employment - but he shot and killed a defenseless animal, in a residential neighborhood, for his own pleasure. He deserves more than a light slap on the wrist by authorities.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking care of pets/animals/critters/"kids" of other people is sometimes difficult. At Tessa's, I'm taking care of a dog, two cats, six koi, two hives of honeybees, an organic garden, and multiple flowering plants. Tessa, the dog, is still suffering from dermatitis - her neck is finally healing, but now she is chewing on her left hind hock and her right flank. The owner insists that it's a reaction to her rabies vaccination, which was 9 weeks ago. All I know is that poor Tessa is wearing a blue Elizabethan collar to keep her from eating herself alive. Tessa gets fed a specific frozen food - Northwest Naturals Chicken Dinner Bar - which is defrosted prior to each meal. Yesterday morning, when there was no more food in the kitchen freezer, I walked out to the garage freezer and opened the door, expecting to see 3 to 5 cases of frozen dog food. Other than a couple of bags of frozen berries, the freezer was empty.
This happened on top of discovering that Lyra, the brown tabby, has a urinary tract infection. Lyra's owner has moved to New York City, and taken 90% of her possessions; but Lyra was left at home. Lyra had peed on my bed earlier Thursday morning, and I thought it was a case of pique, because she had been left behind. Thursday night, she leapt onto the foot of the bed and immediately squatted - I thumped her head with my forefinger, but she had already started to relieve herself. I grabbed a handful of tissue and mopped it up.... realizing, as I did so, that her urine was the color of raspberry lemonade. So, as soon as the veterinarian's office opened on Friday morning, I called and made an appointment to take Lyra in. Once I got her there, of course, they needed a urine sample and I had to leave her.
So I called the home-owner in New York City, with her daughter, and left a voice message. "Lyra has a UTI and is at the vet's being evaluated. There's no food for Tessa in the garage, which was a surprise. Do you have some on order at PC's Pantry? Call me and let me know." I didn't get a return call from her.
At 4:45, I picked Lyra up from the vet's, full of antibiotics, and with Clavamox pills to administer for the next 7 days. I was also instructed to stop at The Natural Pet shop and get a bottle of Animals' Apawthecary "Tinkle Tonic", an herbal additive to help clear up Lyra's infection. I grabbed Lyra, had the owner billed, purchased the Tinkle Tonic, and then stopped at PC's Pantry to see if they had a order from Lynn on hold. The wonderful ladies at PC's Pantry didn't have anything on order, but they had some extra inventory, so I was able to pick up three cases of food for Tessa and have them bill the owner...
Thank goodness Boulder is a laid-back town that is totally crazy about their four-footed companions!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Pet- and House-Sitting
It was overcast and chilly all of yesterday; today there are beautiful blue skies, and the temperature has risen from 25 to 34 degrees. We're expecting a high in the mid-50s this afternoon, so I hope to be sitting in sunshine and reading outside later. My kits have run around and are back inside, and I'll head back to Boo as soon as I finish blogging.
I've had three new sets of people contact me, in hope of me being available to pet- and house-sit for them, but the dates they request have been already booked by my regular clients. I feel bad about turning them down, but I want to do a good job when I work for them, so I have turned them all down. Then they want to know "how early" they need to book me for. I've told all the new folks that are calling and e-mailing that I'm back up to 25 houses that I care for, and really cannot, with good conscience, accept more. They all seem to want to go away at the same time, and I simply cannot split myself into pieces and get the work done. Nor do I trust anyone enough to hire on as help - I have keys to all of the houses, know all the security and gate codes, and have access to all kinds of vehicles - but my main point is that I don't know if another person is actually "good" with the animals if I'm not there. I've had several people offer to work for me, but I just can't take the risk - and once the people hear what I charge, they want me to charge more... And it's not their business, it's mine. (Grrrrr....)
I've had three new sets of people contact me, in hope of me being available to pet- and house-sit for them, but the dates they request have been already booked by my regular clients. I feel bad about turning them down, but I want to do a good job when I work for them, so I have turned them all down. Then they want to know "how early" they need to book me for. I've told all the new folks that are calling and e-mailing that I'm back up to 25 houses that I care for, and really cannot, with good conscience, accept more. They all seem to want to go away at the same time, and I simply cannot split myself into pieces and get the work done. Nor do I trust anyone enough to hire on as help - I have keys to all of the houses, know all the security and gate codes, and have access to all kinds of vehicles - but my main point is that I don't know if another person is actually "good" with the animals if I'm not there. I've had several people offer to work for me, but I just can't take the risk - and once the people hear what I charge, they want me to charge more... And it's not their business, it's mine. (Grrrrr....)
Friday, March 14, 2014
A Weekend With Boo
I'm leaving here shortly to spend the weekend with Boo, so I'm not certain whether I'll blog the next two days or not. I'll run home both mornings early, and spend time with the kits, but I;m not sure I'll have time to blog... It's absolutely gorgeous outside outside. I have walked Cooper and Lola, and then Rosie and Boo, before coming home today. I also stopped at the library and picked up two books that I had held for me. Since I left yesterday afternoon to spend the night with the ABCs, the cats welcomed me frantically when I returned. Both Nedi and Lovey ate some canned food, and went outside - but Nedi has up-chucked several times since then. I can't find anything visibly wrong with him, and he's curled up under the red afghan at the moment. I'll be worried about him until tomorrow.
Did you read, or hear about, Walter "Snowball" Williams? He was pronounced dead from congestive heart failure at a hospice in Mississippi on 27 February. The body of the 78 year old farmer was taken to the local mortuary. The workers there were quite surprised to hear scratchings and see movement in the body bag prior to the embalming. They opened the bag, and found Mr. Williams, who was upset at being there. An ambulance was immediately called, and the man was returned to his hospice. He died there, a second time, on the morning of 13 March. Family members are certain that "Snowball" was given another two weeks of life for some higher purpose. It has been confirmed that the gentleman actually is deceased this time around.
And, I laughed at this newspaper headline - "Odd Combinations of Jelly Bellys Taste Great!" Since when is the taste of odd combinations of Jelly Bellys a newspaper headline? In any event, the top ten combinations listed were: (1) Tabasco and Buttered Popcorn; (2) Pomegranate and Sizzling Cinnamon; (3) Dr. Pepper and Sour Cherry; (4) French Vanilla and Kiwi; (5) Strawberry Cheesecake and Cappuccino; (6) Chocolate Pudding and Chili Mango; (7) Toasted Marshmallow and Wild Blackberry; (8) A & W Rootbeer and Raspberry; (9) Birthday Cake Remix and Cotton Candy; and (10) Caramel Corn and Strawberry Jam.... The company is looking for feedback - how do you like these combinations? Do you have a specific "odd" combination that you like?
Did you read, or hear about, Walter "Snowball" Williams? He was pronounced dead from congestive heart failure at a hospice in Mississippi on 27 February. The body of the 78 year old farmer was taken to the local mortuary. The workers there were quite surprised to hear scratchings and see movement in the body bag prior to the embalming. They opened the bag, and found Mr. Williams, who was upset at being there. An ambulance was immediately called, and the man was returned to his hospice. He died there, a second time, on the morning of 13 March. Family members are certain that "Snowball" was given another two weeks of life for some higher purpose. It has been confirmed that the gentleman actually is deceased this time around.
And, I laughed at this newspaper headline - "Odd Combinations of Jelly Bellys Taste Great!" Since when is the taste of odd combinations of Jelly Bellys a newspaper headline? In any event, the top ten combinations listed were: (1) Tabasco and Buttered Popcorn; (2) Pomegranate and Sizzling Cinnamon; (3) Dr. Pepper and Sour Cherry; (4) French Vanilla and Kiwi; (5) Strawberry Cheesecake and Cappuccino; (6) Chocolate Pudding and Chili Mango; (7) Toasted Marshmallow and Wild Blackberry; (8) A & W Rootbeer and Raspberry; (9) Birthday Cake Remix and Cotton Candy; and (10) Caramel Corn and Strawberry Jam.... The company is looking for feedback - how do you like these combinations? Do you have a specific "odd" combination that you like?
Monday, June 11, 2012
Another Smoky Morning
The High Park fire, which started in Rist Canyon, is still completely out of control, and has spread to over 36,930 acres. One resident is known to be missing, and is feared lost to the fire. Almost 2,000 homes have been evacuated - many of them not having time to evacuate their livestock: horses, cattle, goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, and all types of fowl. Even a wolf sanctuary has been cleared out, partially. The owners have been building "fire dens" to protect the wolves from just such a calamity as is upon them, and about half of the wolves are still in their usual areas. A Health Advisory has been issued along the Front Range, as there is a great deal of smoke, ash, and particulates in the air. A smoke plume of over 100 miles extends into Nebraska... Then, of course, there is the fire in southwest Colorado, as well as the two fires in New Mexico. It's windy and dry... and fire Marshall's and the state government are comparing this fire to the 2002 Hayman Fire that burned over 1,000 square miles, and burned for over 4 weeks. Some people have been told to evacuate, but have refused to do so.
My kits are running in and out this morning, and I've already walked Aiko and Yoshi. Their family is due back tonight, so I'll be able to sleep with my kits tonight and tomorrow night. (Hooray!) I need to walk the red kids today and tomorrow; and I start caring for Phoenix and Patches tonight. On Wednesday, I move in with Rosie and Remy, and on Thursday evening I add Sasquatch and Tugger to the mix, with Brandi joining the care circle on Friday.Bret, who belongs to Phoenix and Patches, returns home on Saturday; Brandi's family comes back around noon on Sunday, and the other two sets have families returning on Monday afternoon/evening. Then I have a week at home before I move in with Maggie May. It will be wonderful to spend a week at home with Lovey and Nedi!
Just a little bit of thoroughbred news: Trainer Bob Baffert says that Paynter, who finished second in the Belmont, lost a shoe during the race. And Union Rags was on his way back to Fair Hill training stables in Elkton, Maryland about four hours after winning the third leg of the Triple Crown. He unloaded there early Sunday morning, and Michael Matz said that he headed directly for his own stall.
My kits are running in and out this morning, and I've already walked Aiko and Yoshi. Their family is due back tonight, so I'll be able to sleep with my kits tonight and tomorrow night. (Hooray!) I need to walk the red kids today and tomorrow; and I start caring for Phoenix and Patches tonight. On Wednesday, I move in with Rosie and Remy, and on Thursday evening I add Sasquatch and Tugger to the mix, with Brandi joining the care circle on Friday.Bret, who belongs to Phoenix and Patches, returns home on Saturday; Brandi's family comes back around noon on Sunday, and the other two sets have families returning on Monday afternoon/evening. Then I have a week at home before I move in with Maggie May. It will be wonderful to spend a week at home with Lovey and Nedi!
Just a little bit of thoroughbred news: Trainer Bob Baffert says that Paynter, who finished second in the Belmont, lost a shoe during the race. And Union Rags was on his way back to Fair Hill training stables in Elkton, Maryland about four hours after winning the third leg of the Triple Crown. He unloaded there early Sunday morning, and Michael Matz said that he headed directly for his own stall.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Nedi's Birthday was Sunday
I completely forgot that this past Sunday was Nedi's second birthday. He's such a quiet, undemanding guy, and he's fitted in to both my and Lovey's lives, that it's hard to realize he's only lived with us for 22 months. He and Lovey chase each other, play tag, make kamikaze and sneak attacks - and they are just delightful company. I'm sure that Lovey occasionally misses Banichi, as I do; but Nedi has been a wonderful companion since he chose me at the Humane Society. I need to find my camera, so I can take some photos of my now adult "little man."
The tornadoes that tore through Dallas yesterday, and the resulting destruction, along with the video of tractor-trailers being tossed in the air like flower petals, were awe inspiring. My heart goes out to anyone and everyone who has/had a home or property in that area.
And I made my first (and, I hope, only) mistake in my pet-sitting business earlier this week. I developed a migraine as the owner and I untwisted where things went wrong yesterday afternoon and evening. In the original contact regarding this period of care, the owner specified certain beginning and ending times of care. That's what I put on my "booking calendar"; the owner kept sending several, "... oh, by the way, I just thought of..." e-mails. I read them and replied, and filed them. The day before the owner left, I received four e-mails, mostly telling me things previously covered. But, in one, she re-wrote her times and days; and the return day and time had changed from the original. I did not notice, see, or "catch" this change. The return date and time added on 57 hours of extra care and I did not notice it. Luckily, as I walked by I realized that no-one was yet at home the first evening, and I fed and watered, and walked the dogs and let them out before bed-time. The next day, early in the morning, there were vehicles in the drive, and movement, and the dogs were in the yard. I assumed the owners had returned. Then, yesterday, I got an e-mail (from the owner) requesting an update on the dogs, whom I hadn't seen in 36 hours. Luckily, the maintenance man had been there three to five times each day, and he had watered the dogs and let them out in the yard with each visit. However, that meant that the dogs were not fed for 36 hours, and that one of them had missed 3 doses of thyroid medication. I felt terrible about that, both then and now.
I notified my other clients, and then double-checked the dates and times I have on the calendar for each of the other homes I care for. I am happy to say that all of those dates and times were correct.... but I still goofed. And some one's beloved furry friends had to do without food, exercise, medication, and love and comfort for 36 hours... I will not let it happen again.
The tornadoes that tore through Dallas yesterday, and the resulting destruction, along with the video of tractor-trailers being tossed in the air like flower petals, were awe inspiring. My heart goes out to anyone and everyone who has/had a home or property in that area.
And I made my first (and, I hope, only) mistake in my pet-sitting business earlier this week. I developed a migraine as the owner and I untwisted where things went wrong yesterday afternoon and evening. In the original contact regarding this period of care, the owner specified certain beginning and ending times of care. That's what I put on my "booking calendar"; the owner kept sending several, "... oh, by the way, I just thought of..." e-mails. I read them and replied, and filed them. The day before the owner left, I received four e-mails, mostly telling me things previously covered. But, in one, she re-wrote her times and days; and the return day and time had changed from the original. I did not notice, see, or "catch" this change. The return date and time added on 57 hours of extra care and I did not notice it. Luckily, as I walked by I realized that no-one was yet at home the first evening, and I fed and watered, and walked the dogs and let them out before bed-time. The next day, early in the morning, there were vehicles in the drive, and movement, and the dogs were in the yard. I assumed the owners had returned. Then, yesterday, I got an e-mail (from the owner) requesting an update on the dogs, whom I hadn't seen in 36 hours. Luckily, the maintenance man had been there three to five times each day, and he had watered the dogs and let them out in the yard with each visit. However, that meant that the dogs were not fed for 36 hours, and that one of them had missed 3 doses of thyroid medication. I felt terrible about that, both then and now.
I notified my other clients, and then double-checked the dates and times I have on the calendar for each of the other homes I care for. I am happy to say that all of those dates and times were correct.... but I still goofed. And some one's beloved furry friends had to do without food, exercise, medication, and love and comfort for 36 hours... I will not let it happen again.
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