A Fall Weekend

Fall has definitely arrived, with breezy weather and the temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than they have been.  The weather forecasters said we'd have a high of 58 degrees (F) today and it would be grey and rainy.  The sun is shining, the sky is blue, there's an occasional breeze and the forecast for today's high is 70 (in Boulder).  We had homemade Belgium waffles this morning for breakfast, as well as some turkey sausage - I had juice and Bea had her coffee.  I was surprised when I arrived home this morning at 7:10 and saw Beatrice out on the balcony - usually she sleeps until 8 o'clock, or so.  When I got upstairs, I asked why she was up, and she said that Lovey had been talking to her.  As she (Bea) drifted awake this morning, she thought there was a small child in the apartment that kept saying, "Hello?  ...  Hello?"  The voice got closer, and she looked down and realized that it was Lovey.  I had thought it would be Nedi, but no - it was the girl.
   Cooper had a wonderful time yesterday, chasing the planes that were flying overhead, along with the gliders.  I'm thankful that there wasn't a home football game, or the whole neighborhood would have wanted me to keep him inside.  But he has a good time chasing the planes and barking - and doesn't run into the wooden fence too often.  Lola, the other dog, just sits and watches him act the fool.  Pounce has been having a fantastic time stretched out along my legs while I'm reading, or watching television.  Tipsi has been busy hunting - he's brought me six snakes in two days, along with one bunny, and a partially mashed frog (it looked like a bicycle had run over both hind legs).  I turned everything loose again, except the frog, which was too badly damaged to survive.
   The Gators started out well against the Tennessee Volunteers, but couldn't hold onto the lead yesterday, so the Vols beat the Gators for the first time in 11 games.  Mizzou had a huge blowout, and at the half, the teams agreed to play two ten-minute quarters to end the game.  South Carolina lost to the Kentucky Wildcats.  And, much to everyone's surprise, including my own, the Colorado Buffaloes beat the Oregon Ducks in an away game....   We'll have to see what happens with the Denver Broncos today....

Football, Blood Moon Eclipse, Faith Still Missing

Boulder is warm, but a little cloudy this morning.  I'm still a little shell-shocked from this weekend's football - both collegiate and professional, though.  I figured the South Carolina Gamecocks would bounce back and win this week; I did not think that Florida would be able to defeat Tennessee, as they did; and I was amazed by the CU Buffs shutting out Nicholls State.  I was thrilled that the Broncos won in Detroit last night - but the other pro teams I cheer for lost.  And, on the happy and sad list is that Ben Roethlisberger's knee injury will keep him from playing for 4 to 6 weeks; I wanted it to be a career-ending injury.  A multiple rapist shouldn't be a 'worshiped' NFL quarterback, period.
   The full eclipse of the super blood moon was a fantastic sight.  We went up Flagstaff Mountain and parked at one of the eastern overlooks to observe the occurrence.  It was gorgeous!

Dreamer's Faith, and the people who stole her, are still in an unknown, undiscovered place.  Saturday the Chincoteague Pony 4-H Club raised another $634.+ to add to the reward for the stolen filly.  The reward is now over $2,100 for information that leads to the return of the filly, and/or the arrest of the miscreants who stole her.

   Dreamer's Faith is a 5 to 6 month old chestnut paint filly.  She has a freeze brand on her left hip that plainly reads "15" and she has a very easily distinguished coat pattern.  She has a chestnut head and face with a backwards apostrophe white star on her forehead, above and between her eyes.  She has four white stockings - well above her knees and hocks.  On her right side, just behind her withers is a chestnut heart surrounded by white, that extends to her croup.  On her left shoulder and neck is a white marking that can be seen as a dove in flight, or a wind-blown cross.  Her forelock and mane are chestnut until her withers, with the last few inches being white.  Her tail is mainly chestnut, with a small white strip near the base on the left side.  She is stolen property.  She is missed by her owners and fans.  She was removed from Chincoteague Island, Virginia on September 6 or 7, in a white horse trailer pulled by a white Chevy dually truck.  Please keep your eyes open for this much-loved and missing filly. (See previous post on B's Critter Sitter Blog for photos.)

Ills, House-Sitting and Horse Racing

My brother-in-law's youngest brother (whom I consider to be my brother-in-law) has been re-admitted to the hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota.  It had been hoped that the last surgery at the Mayo Clinic had removed all of his brain tumor, but that apparently wasn't true. Kent will begin another round of chemotherapy later today.  Please send your prayers and kind thoughts about Kent Snow to whomever you worship...
   The owner of the Denver Broncos, Pat Bowlen, is stepping down from his ownership duties after 30 years, and they will be taken over by Joe Ellis.  He has been (quietly, and unknown to most people) battling the effects of Alzheimer's Disease for the past three years. The news greeted local football fans this morning, and most are heart-broken.  Bowlen purchased the Broncos for $76 million 30 years ago; the franchise is estimated to be worth $1.6 billion these days.  Please send your thoughts toward Mr. Bowlen and his family for an easy transition from high-powered, successful businessman to a quiet family man....  Even though I am very much aware of the costs of Alzheimer's....
   Home this afternoon, and I get to sleep with Lovey and Nedi tonight. Tomorrow I'll walk Rosie, return home, and then take Tina to the Denver airport, whereupon I'll move in with Tess, Lily, and Lyra until Monday night. On Wednesday, the day of the Pony Swim, I'll start taking care of Sasquatch and Tugger again - 4 visits a day; and the first weekend of August, I move in with Rosie, then back over to Tess, Lily, and Lyra.  My poor kits.....
   Five racing thoroughbreds have had positive results for morphine following their races in Great Britain. All five positive tests were at the same race track, in a period of two days; each horse had a different trainer and owner.  Doing more specific tests, it seems that each horse ate the medication - it was not from an injection into the horses' veins or muscles. The main reason that this has raised brows across the pond is because the Queen's horse, Estimate, a five-year-old mare, turned up as one of the positive tests.  The racing authority is making a thorough inquiry, but it seems there was "contaminated" grain involved.

Four Quarters Or a One Dollar Bill

I had to pause and take time to try and think something through yesterday.  I had gone to the local Staples store, to make a copy of a three-page document.  I had two $5s, a $10, and a $20 bill in my pocket, plus a bunch of change.  I had decided I'd use the self-service station, so I read all the instructions, and sighed. Very few places now have a coin-operated copy machine - I had to purchase a "print card" from a machine that accepted only bills - no change.  I always lose the "print card" after using it, and since it would cost me 30 cents, I only wanted to get a $1 card.  I double-checked my bills; not one single.  So I pulled four quarters out of my pocket, and approached the register.  The young man behind the counter said that he didn't think it "was allowed" to make change for a customer.  I told him I didn't want to make change, I wanted to make a bill, so I could use one of his machines.  He gave this huge sigh, and said, if I insisted, he'd call the manager.  I insisted.  A very nice young lady appeared and said she was the "Team Manager" and could she help me.  I told her my problem, she gave the young man a funny look, and opened a register, handing me a one dollar bill for my four quarters.  I then went, purchased my "print card" and made the copies I needed.  No big deal.
  The reason I paused was: if one can only purchase a "print card" with a bill, and one has lots of change, but no bills, how is one supposed to get the bill(s), if the cashier cannot give them to you?  Wouldn't that drive customers away?  You've gone there for a specific service, and because you have change, but not a bill, you can't go through with the transaction?  Isn't money money?  Or isn't coin money?   - I really can understand a business not wanting to make change for a non-paying customer - there are way too many incidents of "change artists" who come in with a $100 bill, and keep asking for this or that, and they finally completely confuse the cashier, and have walked away with the $100 plus another $100 in "change."  But to refuse to change four quarters into a one dollar bill, so one can use the customer facilities?  That's a bit overboard....

   The Broncos had a wild-seeming game yesterday afternoon - they were held to 7 points in the first half, and, a few seconds into the second half, the score was the Washington Redskins 21, the Broncos 7.  Then the Denver offense began to work smoothly, and, with the defense's help, the Redskins scored no more. The final score belied the real story of the game - Denver 45 and Washington 21.

Football, Kits and OKC

College football is always full of surprises - I watched three games of the five I was interested in, and in the three games I watched, each team I was cheering for lost.  Is that a sign of anything?  The Oklahoma Sooners lost to the Texas Longhorns, the Florida Gators lost to the LSU Tigers, and the Colorado Buffs fell to Arizona State.  I did not watch the Gamecocks trounce the Razorbacks, nor see Missouri beat the Georgia Bulldogs - just because neither game was available here in the mountains.  I would have loved to have seen those two games!
  Today, I'll be watching the Broncos play the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Redskins play the Cowboys.  I'll be looking for the plane flying over the Mile High stadium that is towing the banner that says, "Jags: Why Not Tebow?"  I know that a Jacksonville businessman has paid for the advertisement, and since I like Tim, I hope to get a good view of it.  I'll be rooting for the Redskins tonight, for old times' sake.
  Lovey stayed "stuck" to me yesterday after my absence, while Nedi, after one big loving session in the morning, went about his usual routine.  I didn't get much accomplished yesterday, other than watching football, but I did get the 120 photos I had taken in Oklahoma City down-loaded from my camera and onto my PC.  Then I cropped and labeled each one before I could forget what they were.  I called Mary this morning and asked how her day had gone yesterday (she lost money at the Casino, and bought three more books at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum), and to wish her a pleasant and uneventful flight back to Orlando today.  I laughed and told her how only my left leg was patted down at Will Rogers airport, on the way to the plane - the knee was swollen as usual, and security had to check it out...
  I'll also be hoping that the TV coverage for today's Broncos game will show that now retired Todd Helton (the Toddmeister of the Colorado Rockies for 17 years) was honored as an honorary Team Captain of the Broncos, since he played with the Tennessee Volunteers alongside Peyton Manning.  Hoping my two teams today have good games!

A Noisy Sunday Morning

Thankfully, the two neighbors on either side say they didn't hear anything - but I opened the back door for Lola and Cooper to relieve themselves before breakfast without looking outside.  Even if I had looked, I wouldn't have seen the culprits that set Cooper off, circling the second deck, to my right, and barking like an idiot - at 6:30 in the morning.  I had already fed Rosie and chased a raccoon from her back yard before going over to Tamarack.  Then Cooper started acting the fool, wouldn't quiet down, or calm down, either.  Lola was prancing around the second deck, but, luckily, stayed silent.  I walked over to the second deck, and didn't see anything.  There was nothing in the pine tree at the corner, where both dogs kept circling.  Then I stepped up on the deck, and glanced up at the wire netting that holds the grape arbor - first, I saw several almost ripe clusters of grapes, then I saw a large raccoon flattened out on the top of the wire, with it's eyes closed.  I got both dogs back inside and went to peek out the window - there were three young raccoons  lying flat on top of the wire further to the right than their mother  They all opened their eyes and looked at me, and then squeezed them shut again - seemingly, if they couldn't see me, then I couldn't see them.  So I took the kids out for a walk, and double-checked the back yard when we returned.  No raccoons.  So I could open the deck door without qualms, and allow both cats and dogs outside.
  Most of the collegiate teams I like won their openers yesterday, while the CU Buffaloes and the CSU Rams face off today in Denver, for their opening game of the season.  Somehow, since Tim Tebow was released from the Patriots yesterday afternoon, I just can't get my mind interested in football any more.  Since I graduated from UF, I will root for the Gators; since Steve Spurrier coaches South Carolina, I'll cheer for the Gamecocks.  But, suddenly, pro football seems like a waste of time.  I have been a fan of Champ Bailey's since he was a Georgia Bulldog (what a horrifying admission from a Gator fan!), but he's the last guy left on the Broncos that I really like.  I'll watch the Broncos - Ravens game Thursday night - but it will be to see (maybe) Champ Bailey, and for Elvis Dumervil on the Ravens.  If Percy Harvin were playing, I'd be rooting for his team, and the same goes for Tebow.  But most of the players that I really like have disappeared.  So why get all hot and bothered?
 

Richard III and Football

Today is the first day of February, so my first question, upon awakening, was when will the DNA test results be announced regarding the skeleton thought to be King Richard III? This is something I want to know! Is the skeleton, found under a city parking lot in Leicester, in the area thought to be the choir stall of Grey Friars' Abbey, actually that of the King? The skeleton shows scoliosis, there is an iron arrowhead embedded between his vertebrae, and there was a broken skull, as from a sword stroke from behind; these point to it being the King. Hopefully the DNA extracted from the skeleton was not too degraded to prove whether or not this is Richard's remains. The folks who loved and served the Duke of York (later King Richard III) could not grasp the idea of him having killed the Princes in the Tower. Having read a good deal about him, neither can I. When will the announcement be made, from where, and what are the results? This will plague me until the announcement is made...
  It's a beautiful day here in Boulder - a few clouds in a bright blue sky, a faint breeze, and temperatures that should rise into the 40s. The crows, ravens, and squirrels have been having a ball eating my gifts to them. Lovey and Nedi are running in and out, as usual. Lovey has suddenly focused on my Tessalon Perles medication bottle... She wants to have the bottle within her grasp, and mark it with her scent. I finally put it inside my desk drawer this morning, having had to retrieve it more than 30 times from her. All I can guess is the medicine has some sort of catnip-type aroma...
   The big event this weekend, is, of course, the Super Bowl - the Baltimore Ravens playing the San Francisco Forty-Niners in New Orleans to decide who is the best American football team. This year, I have a problem - I hope for a good clean game, without injuries; but I like both teams. I like Baltimore just because they are the closest team to Chincoteague Island; and I like Colin Kaepernick, the young, long, lanky quarterback of the 49ers... I just hope that it's not an all-offense game. I like to see the defense get big, hard hits. Speaking of quarterbacks, Tim Tebow is currently working with the British track team in Phoenix, Arizona. His presence has made barely a ripple, and most folks don't know he's in town. The British coach says that Tebow has an amazing capacity for absorbing and implementing instructions and information that is given him. The coach says that he has greatly improved his speed from the starting blocks, and has asked intelligent questions regarding the mechanics of his running form. The coach says Tebow has improved greatly, but will never be a sprint champion. And some of the talking heads on the sports channels say that they don't think Tebow will ever be a starting quarterback in the NFL again, but that he might be able to fit into a full back, half back or tight end position...

*Sigh* The Broncos...

Three degrees outside right now; even with my wool socks on, my feet are chilly. I have decided to not root for any particular football team for the rest of the professional season, because each team I want to win loses. Yesterday, I geared myself up and watched the Broncos - Ravens game. It was a long game; more than 4 hours long. I watched the first three quarters from my sofa, then watched the fourth quarter and the over time periods from my bed, with all the covers pulled up and both cats cuddling. The game was exciting; the score kept being tied, which led to the first over time, and then the second. Peyton Manning made a bad throw and the Ravens were able to get a field goal. They won. The Broncos are out of the championship playoffs. Multiple Broncos players claimed the blame for their loss. For me, it was a team effort, and a team loss. - Of course, I'm still a Tim Tebow fan, and I just had to say, out loud, at the end of the game, that at least with Tebow as quarterback, we (the Broncos) had won one playoff game last year - this year, with the much vaunted Peyton Manning, we did not win any playoff games. I know. That's sour grapes talking...
   Still coughing like mad, whether I talk out loud or not. This bronchitis/flu is the pits. I fell asleep after the Broncos game, woke up, read a bit, and slept some more. I'm about ready to go back to bed again - even though I've only been up for two and a half hours. The ravens and crows made fast work of the Nutter Butter cookies this morning, and the squirrels have been fed twice... With the temperature forecast for -8 degrees tonight, I keep putting out more nuts, so the little guys can generate body heat.
   Let's see - more bits and pieces: Jockey Gary Stevens rode his third mount in his return to racing yesterday, and won his first return race. He's got four mounts today. .... There have been 4 fatal breakdowns on the Aqueduct inner dirt track in the last 6 weeks. Necropsies have been ordered on all four horses. .... Trainer Ron McAnally is recovering from a knee replacement; he hopes to watch his wife's mare win this edition of the Paseana Stakes. .... The Jacksonville Jaguars, who expressed an interest in hiring Tim Tebow last year, have said that they are not interested in him this year. .... In the tiny town of Bloxom, in Accomack County, Virginia, a hunt is underway for a man wanted for breaking and entering and robbery. He made the mistake of entering an occupied house; he fired a hand gun at the woman who confronted him, and she shot back, twice. There were no reports of injury. (Bloxom is like Chincoteague, you just don't expect anything to happen there!) .... Oh. And I was surprised yesterday when I was looking in the Google Image files: I typed in "Assateague Island Virginia" and was looking at landscapes, sunrises and sunsets. I was very surprised to find a photo of an entirely naked man drinking a beer in the photos. They are "tagged" Assateague Island, Virginia; as there are a whole bunch of photos from a party at the old Nude Beach on Assateague a few years ago, I guess it's OK. I just wasn't expecting a naked man under the Assateague Island search!

A Windy Monday

It's beautiful outside. At dawn there were a lot of clouds covering the sky, but now the only cloud to be seen is to the west behind the mountains. Nedi is outside watching the squirrels, while Lovey is sitting on the corner of my desk. It's currently snowing up at the Continental Divide, with about 6 inches already piled up. The winds are still whipping around in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Fern Lake fire is now 20% contained; however, more than 600 houses are on the evacuation warning list for this morning. And TaRhonda Thomas is reporting live from the entrance to RMNP, and is being blown about by the wind gusts. One of the oddest news stories this morning was about a fire in Red Feather Lakes, northwest of Fort Collins. Sometime early this morning a fire started at an uninhabited cabin; it spread to a second cabin. The second cabin had a propane tank beside the building, and the fire caused the propane tank to shoot like a missile through the Red Feather Lakes Association clubhouse. Both cabins are total losses, while they are still inspecting the clubhouse that had the propane tank blast through it....

  I'll be heading out shortly to walk the Rs, then I'll hang around until it's time to walk and medicate Peach. After a short visit home, I have to head off again to meet my new psychiatrist. I know that I dread meeting her, as I kept dreaming that wild and crazy men and women were breaking into my apartment all last night and this morning. I'd wake up, scared to pieces, and check the doors and window... It was not a restful night.  I hope I like this new Doc....

  And I was so disgusted yesterday by the Jets and Cardinals game! The coach finally decided to bench Mark Sanchez - hooray! - but Tim Tebow was on the Injured Reserve list yesterday, and didn't even get to dress. So the third string QB, McElroy was called in. He ran the offense down the field and scored the only touchdown of the game - the Cards got two field goals. It was an ugly and extremely frustrating game for me. Then I was able to enjoy the Broncos game, but I had to grit my teeth over the phrasing at the end... "And the Broncos win their AFC division for the second time in a row, thanks to Peyton Manning." This second divisional win was due to Peyton Manning, but last year's win was due to Tim Tebow. I also saw the Cowboys - Eagles game and was disappointed by the lack of defense. So sad....

Family Genealogy and Stuff...

It's a sunny Monday, 25 degrees out, and something spent a lot of time on my patio last night. Whatever the something was, it had both kits looking out the window and the door off and on all night long. I looked out, myself, a couple of times, but never saw anything except leaves blowing around. Both kits spent a good deal of time this morning sniffing the edges, legs, and seats of my three rattan chairs that stay on the patio - but I haven't a clue as to what was out there. It could have been a raccoon, fox, cat, or skunk - who knows....

  Yesterday I watched the Broncos game, then the Jets game, and, finally, the Texans game. The Jets lost, but the other two teams won; and the Saints beat the Falcons - so I had an enjoyable day of football. And I didn't put a toe outside my doors... had on warm, woolly socks; blue Gators sweatpants, and a long-sleeved orange Broncos shirt - a nice way to spend a day where the high temperature was all of 29!

  I'm doing some genealogy research for family members, and I need to get back into transcribing the family tree onto the web. I must say that in following my family tree, I have found some very interesting connections, and have run across some memorable names... My sister likes Marmaduke de Thwang, a very old Norman ancestor in England; I still like Hepzibah Starbuck Hussey, and, in Jim Snow's family, Eliphalet Pease. Seeing that I am distant cousins with Presidents Franklin Pierce and Grover Cleveland had me delve into their histories; and finding the same distant cousin connection to James Dean and Mary Ann Mobley had me viewing films.

  One of the things that fascinates me most about genealogy is that how there seems to be the tale of an "Indian princess" marrying into the family in a majority of family stories. The most usual tale is that it was a Cherokee maiden who married outside the tribe, and completely gave up the Native American lifestyle. I have had ten genealogy clients who were very certain that this was true. I told each of them from the outset of my research that I would only report what I could document - I was able to trace all ten clients' families back to England, Scotland, or Ireland - and none of them had a Native American in the family tree. Now, I admit that there are gaps in histories, especially in the South where a lot of records were destroyed by fire during the Civil War - but I always note that fact. My mother told me that we might have some Indian blood in her side of the family - but that it would be Native Americans native to the Eastern Shore peninsula, if it was true. I have not been able to verify any Indian blood there. My father told me (as he had been told) that his mother, whose surname was Lancaster, traced her family tree back to John of Gaunt; and that his father's family had "some Cherokee" in it... Grandma Grace's Lancaster ancestor was a man of French descent (according to the National Geographic genome program), who had lived in England, and then moved to Virginia. Dad's family can be traced back to John of Gaunt, but on his paternal side, not maternal.  And there is a possibility that we have some Native American blood on his side of the family - but I'll write about that tomorrow.

The Weekend

It's been an odd weekend - I feel disconnected from life at the moment. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't had any sugar in 2 full weeks. Maybe it's because my cousin has been told that " the PET scan did find a tumor in her lymph nodes "suggestive of metastatic malignance."" and I'm worried about Missy. Maybe it's because Lovey has oral surgery on Tuesday, and I'm worried about her. Maybe it's because I'm spending 11 hours at my house, and 11 hours at the Clark house, and 2 hours in transit in between them (and it goes on until Thursday afternoon). I don't know why....

   The Gators didn't play yesterday. I watched the South Carolina Gamecocks on TV, and they won. The CU Buffs game was at home, against UCLA, and they lost - 50-something to 14. The pre-game radio-cast for UCLA was broadcast live from the Millennium Harvest House, and was heard by everyone within 5 blocks, unless they were totally deaf. (Too bad they lost power for 30 minutes in the middle of the live broadcast...)

   The Jets just couldn't get anything going today - They let Tebow touch the ball three times, plus using him 3 times as a blocking back, and as a blocker when punting. Of course, the coach called the plays; the first time, a hand-off gained one yard; the second time, Tim threw a pass, which was (a) caught for a first down, but (b) the receiver dropped the ball when tackled, the ball bounced, and the 49ers grabbed it (I have no idea if that went down as an interception or a fumble); and the third time, Tebow handed it off for a 2-yard loss. Why they didn't let him try to quarterback the team during the last seven minutes, when the score was 34 -0, I don't know. Even the commentators were asking why not let Tim try his magic? But Ryan stayed with Sanchez, and only a very nice politic slide by the 49ers second-string quarterback kept the score from being even more....

   The Broncos pulled it off against the Raiders. It's the first time we've beaten them in the last 5 meetings, so it was nice. And RGIII managed to put together a last-minute drive, so Cundiff could kick a field goal, and the Redskins beat the Bucs 24 -22. I was rooting for both the Saints and the Packers, who played each other, with the Packers winning by 1 point.

   I enjoyed the season premiers of NCIS, Vegas, Person of Interest, and Blue Bloods. The two CSI's were OK, and I'm afraid that Elementary bored me. I'll have to see if there's anything worth watching on the other channels...

   I hope your October is good!

NFL Referees

I miss having decent referees for professional football games.  I have to admit that I haven't read up on the NFL's and the referees' disagreement;  I am not sure what the problem is between the two parties.  I do know that I (a) feel sorry for the replacements - they are performing a task they are not truly trained for, in front of an audience of millions, and are making gross mistakes; (b) I would like for the replacements to quit - but, then, with no referees, there would be no games; (c) I would like for the real referees to be able to return, but I understand the NFL won't even talk to them.  Hey!  Here's a thought - get all the ex-players who are in the booth calling the games put on the zebra-stripes and let them run the game....   The season will go down in the record books as the season to ignore because of the incompetency of the referees...  Titles will not matter because the officiating is so horribly grotesque and erratic.  Four weeks of pre-season, and three weeks of the "real" season, and we still have replacement referees....   What's going on NFL big-wigs?  How much of a kick-back do you want from the official referees?
    It's been gray all day - and it's just begun to rain.  Supposedly, we'll get about 3/4 inch of rain through midnight tomorrow.  Here's hoping for a wet Wednesday!

Disappointing Pros & the Hambone Award

The pro football teams were mostly disappointing today - the Jets won and the Raiders beat the Steelers - but the Broncos lost again.  With all the hyperbole regarding the acquisition of Peyton Manning, I thought a perfect season and a trip to the Super Bowl were givens...  Gee, Elway, it looks like Peyton Manning is human, too.  ....   A sorrowful note to today, as the folks at the National Zoo in Washington found that the week-old baby giant panda had died during the night.  ....  My kits are out playing in the dusk; and I killed 3 yellow jackets today, while sweeping 11 out the doorway.  Sasquatch and Tugger are still being very loving and attentive.  After I finish writing this, I need to walk over to the grocery store and get canned food and crunchy treats, so I can satisfy Lovey and Nedi when it's time for bed tonight.
   And, the Hambone Awards:  Will it be a showdown between the Labrador who shattered a 55-gallon aquarium and the dachshund-terrier who was nearly buried alive by a skunk?  Those are just two of the nominees for this year’s Hambone Award, given out annually by Veterinary Pet Insurance to the most outrageous pet insurance claim it receives all year.
There is one nominee for each of the 12 months, and the winner is decided by the public, which can vote online for this year’s contest beginning today.  (See  http://vpihamboneaward.com/category/2012-hambone-award/  )  All of the nominees have recovered from their injuries and experiences, living to bark, oink, or purr about it.

   The contestants include Bayley, a 14-month-old Labrador puppy owned by a couple in Lothian, Md., who was playing around with the family’s other animals and went flying into a 55-gallon aquarium full of turtles.  The dog smashed the aquarium, suffering a two-inch gash on the chest, which had to be closed with surgical staples.

 You can cast your vote for Bayley, who went flying into his family's 55-gallon aquarium full of turtles.

 
 “We’ve had turtles and dogs for many years, and the aquarium has never been a problem,’’ owner Carol Richardson told VPI. “However, none of the dogs have been quite as strong or rambunctious as Bayley. The incident has certainly taught us to re-evaluate what we keep within their reach.”
   Then there’s Peanut, a dachshund-terrier mix from Sicklerville, N.J., who scuffled with a skunk and had to be rescued by firefighters after being buried alive at 2:30 in the morning.  Rescue workers had initially given up their search for the dog when owner Christy Wolfram grabbed a shovel and started digging in the dirt underneath the family’s backyard deck to find the dog.  “When the firefighters saw Christy continue to dig, one of them decided to take a last look,” Wolfgram’s husband, Keith, told VPI. “I remember him shouting, ‘I see her paw!’ and my heart just sank. By the time they got her out she was barely moving. I couldn’t believe she was alive.”
  In another wild-animal encounter, Nathan, a miniature dachshund, tussled with a muskrat in the backyard and lived to bark the tale.

Crispy Bacon knocked over a table full of pills and then overdosed on human meds while her owners were at work.

    Other nominees have had close encounters of the human kind.  A pig from Las Vegas  named Crispy Bacon knocked over a table full of pills and then overdosed on human medication like ibuprofen and beta blockers while her owners, Teresa and Ian Praus-Choe, were at work.  After three days of suffering from drug toxicity, the pig was able to return home.
   Beretta, a Labrador puppy from Bryan, Texas, almost hung herself when the curious canine got her collar stuck on the backyard grill.
   Pebbles the cat sneaked out of her house and wound up in the engine of a car, ending up 15 miles away from home with serious injuries from the car's alternator belt.
   The Hambone Award, which was first given out in 2009, is named after a dog who ate through an entire Thanksgiving ham while being stuck in a refrigerator.

Pebbles the cat rode 15 miles in a car engine block, and survived serious injuries from an engine belt.

 

   Last year’s winner was a Chinese pug who ate and then, finally, pooped out over 100 rocks.  Other winners include a Labrador retriever who ate an entire beehive and a bulldog who chowed down on 15 baby pacifiers, a bottle cap and part of a basketball.

We Won, Won, Won!

I root for several college teams, as long as they aren't playing each other.  With Mizzou moving to the SEC, I had to make tough decisions today.  So, far, my three "chosen" teams have won - the Florida Gators beat the Kentucky Wildcats  (I watched that on Altitude Sports); South Carolina's Gamecocks defeated the Mizzou Tigers (on CBS - sorry, Mizzou, but I had to cheer for the Ol' Ball Coach); and, wonder of wonders, the CU Buffs beat Washington State by 1 whole point!  I now have the LSU - Auburn game on, and have been amazed by the tenacity of Auburn; it just became half-time, and Auburn leads 10 to 9...   who'd'a thunk it?
   We are continuing to have beautiful sunrises and sunsets, but it's due to the haze we still have from the wildfires.  The weather folks are calling for rain on Tuesday, so it might help to clear the air.  I did a double-take at Sasquatch and Tugger's today, but then realized the "knocking" I was hearing was that persistent red flicker again.  And I killed 12 yellow jackets this morning.  While i was watching the South Carolina game, I was eating baby carrots, and was suddenly buzzed by another yellow jacket.  The poor thing didn't live long after that.  I usually have a very definite "live and let live" policy toward everything - but since a yellow jacket sting can kill me, I have no compunction killing them first.
   Bits 'n' pieces -  The idiot man who jumped off the monorail at the Bronx zoo and into the tiger area did it on purpose: he wanted "to become one with the tiger."  Too bad the tiger didn't eat him and make his wish come true.  But, then again, he probably would have poisoned the tiger.  The tiger could easily have killed the man, but was happy to just play with him, even though the idiot is in serious condition.  This is the fault of the man, not the tiger!  ....  Paynter, the 3-year-old colt who finished second in the Belmont Stakes this year, has overcome his bout of laminitis, but is still fighting colitis (for the third month).   And, we lost a champion.  Deputed Testimony, who won the 1983 Preakness Stakes, died at the age of 32.  He had been the oldest surviving Triple Crown Classic winner.  ....  I have to figure out the new TV schedule - I know NCIS is on at 7 on Tuesdays, and Person of Interest will re-appear at 8 on Thursday; but several other shows that I like have been moved to different days and different times, so I need to do some investigating.  A couple of the new shows have looked interesting, from their preview teasers, but I'll have to watch a couple of episodes to see if they are worth my time.
   Pro football tomorrow, and I'll be revved up and ready to cheer on the Broncos against the Texans, the Jets against the Dolphins, and the Redskins against the Bengals.  I'll be rooting against the Bears, the Chargers, and the Patriots.
   Hope your weekend has been great so far, and that it's even better tomorrow!

Blog Time Change, Camelot, Football

For the next two or three weeks, I'll probably be blogging after 7 p.m. (MDT), as I am at a house where I can't connect to the Internet during the day.  I've enjoyed my past two days with Tugger and Sasquatch, but I must say that it's nice to be at home and sleep with Nedi and Lovey at night.  Both of my kits are outside, running around as dusk falls.  -  And today I tried the "new" popcorn chicken available at Burger King; I had seen the new commercial for the past three nights, and I decided that popcorn chicken would hit the spot for supper tonight.  First, though, I tried to purchase popcorn chicken at Kentucky Fried Chicken, but they no longer sell that item; so I went to BK.  I was greatly disappointed by both the drive-thru service, and the fact that having waited for 5 minutes for the food to be prepared, both the fries and the chicken were not even warm as I drove away from the window.  I microwaved both when I got home, but it just was not a good tasting meal. 
    Camelot was unable to win the St. Leger's yesterday; he finished second to Encke, a colt who had never won a race before.  Aidan O'Brien, Camelot's trainer, said after the race that he should have entered another horse, to assure a quick pace at the beginning of the race.  As it was, the pace was slow and steady, and Camelot just didn't have anything to run at.  So Camelot became the tenth colt to win the first two races of the English Triple Crown, but couldn't win the St. Leger.
    The Gators and the Gamecocks won their collegiate football games yesterday, but Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Colorado all lost.  I just watched both the Jets and the Redskins lose today.  I hope the Broncos can win tomorrow night.  Maybe I should wear my orange and blue again tomorrow?

Football, Critters, & Ward Churchill

Oh, what a wonderful football Sunday!  The three teams that I root for won their games - the Redskins, the Jets, and the Broncos.  And I was able to see all three - it was great.  For tonight's double-header, I'll be rooting for the Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland Raiders.  RGIII did the Redskins proud; the real offense showed up for the Jets (and Tim Tebow recovered a Buffalo on-side kick); and Peyton Manning threw for his 400th touchdown while leading the Broncos over the Steelers.  I make no bones about the fact that I heartily dislike Ben Roethlisberger - if he had been anyone else, he'd be in jail for his sexual escapades - so I really wanted the Steelers to lose, but there are also 3 Gators on the first-string offense.  I finally decided that Big Ben's transgressions were too great, and, so, rooted for the Broncos only.
   Shady slept with me last night, but Cloudy rubbed up against my hand, and then spat at me.  Lovey and Nedi have been really sweet this morning, and Remy was well enough for him to walk with me this morning.  He was very unhappy being left at home over the weekend when Rosie was out walking.  And the skunks are out and about in the neighborhood - Chelsea (a dog) was sprayed last week, and Bernie got sprayed Saturday, trying to stop a dog from chasing a skunk.  And someone broke into a series of cars in the Githens Acres neighborhood late Saturday night, or very early on Sunday morning.  Mark arrived home at 9 Saturday night, and was going to leave to ride in the Buffalo Bicycle Classic race at 5 in the morning on Sunday, when he discovered that all three of his family vehicles had been broken into.
   Ward Churchill, the ex-professor at the University of Colorado (CU), was finally heard by the Colorado Supreme Court; he wanted his job back at CU, as well as back-pay.  He was dismissed 5 years ago for plagiarism, but claims it was due to an editorial he had written about the bombing of the Twin Towers on September 11.  The Colorado Supreme Court found against Ward Churchill.  He and his attorney now state they will go the the US Supreme Court...  From The Denver Post:

'In its ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court said Churchill had five opportunities to present his own witnesses, cross-examine opposing witnesses and argue his case before the board following allegations Churchill plagiarized some of his academic writings, fabricated evidence and violated the university's academic standards. "Although we are mindful that a full-fledged, years-long investigation into a professor's academic record taken in bad faith could chill the continued exercise of free speech, we conclude that the federal case law in this area is too unsettled to defeat the regents' claim of qualified immunity," the state Supreme Court judges ruled. A civil jury in 2009 found the school unlawfully fired Churchill but awarded him only $1 in damages. However, a Denver District judge set aside the verdict and said university regents, who are elected, are a "quasi-judicial" panel with immunity from the lawsuit. Lane said the civil verdict was not about the damages but whether Churchill should get his job back with back pay.'

Cats and Football

It was 48 degrees early this morning - I had to go find a blanket in Alexy's linen closet so I could sleep comfortably.  I did have Shady sleeping with me, but he just couldn't keep both my legs and feet warm.  Today is the first home game for the CU Buffs, and the town is full of Sacramento State fans, as well as the Buffs faithful.  The Gators play on ESPN today, as do the Gamecocks. I'm wearing a garnet colored SCU shirt today; next week I'll wear my blue Gators shirt; tomorrow I'll wear my white and green NYC Tebow shirt.  Unfortunately, the Redskins and the Jets are playing at the same time tomorrow afternoon, but I can flip back and forth between the games, thanks to my DirecTV dish.  And, of course, the Broncos face the Steelers tomorrow night, and I'll have the pleasure of listening to Chris Collingsworth.
   I left Cloudy and Shady with their kitty door open at Alexy's, and came home to my kits.  Lovey is now asleep in the cat tree, but Nedi is running in and out, observing all the activity in the parking lot at the Millennium Harvest House.  Apparently a lot of folks brought their dogs, as I have heard multiple barks in different voices from the other side of the fence.  While I was at Alexy's last night, Nedi tore my bed covers apart, trying to burrow under the covers and the sheet.  The afghan, blanket and quilt are all twisted up and almost off the bed.  If I hadn't seen Nedi in action against the covers, I'd have sworn  a person was in here last night.
  I need to grab a few things from the grocery store before heading back to Alexy's (after the SCU game); and then I'll be here tomorrow afternoon so I can flip between channels watching my east coast NFL teams.  I'll watch the Broncos with Cloudy and Shady.  Yeah!  Football!  I can yell and scream again!

Bicycle Racing, Football, a Fight, and a Wedding

I was able to watch the last few miles of the US Pro Cycling Challenge on the NBC Sports channel yesterday, as it wound through Boulder and then up Flagstaff Mountain.  It was nice that a locally-based rider won yesterday's stage - but I was appalled to see the way that the cyclist had to, sometimes, fend off well-wishers on the way to the finish line.  And I was also amazed at the clothing, or the lack of it, among some of the spectators, too.   -  I mean, really, running up the side of the road on Flagstaff wearing nothing but a Speedo bathing suit and flip-flops - it was a horrendous sight! 
  I was also able to watch both the Redskins and the Saints win their pre-season games yesterday, and hope to do the same today watching the Broncos, and then the Jets.  I've already taken care of Ooch and the Thore girls - and was bemused by the "Wedding ---->" signs in the neighborhood, until I realized that it was Alexy Pendle's son's nuptials.  Alexy had frightened me the other day, by climbing 10 feet up a ladder and hanging lights in a tree.  The trouble was, she stepped on one side of the ladder, and it tipped, leaving her hanging by her arms from a tree limb, and directly over a concrete walk.  (Believe me, concrete does not respect your bones when you are over 50 years old!)  I heard an odd sound from the back of her house, jogged back there, and was able to retrieve the ladder so she could safely descend.  We both needed a cuppa to calm our nerves...
  And I don't know if I should be classified as a good or a bad neighbor, after I called 911 to report a "domestic disturbance" in the apartment two door down, and one story up, from me.  She was yelling and cursing to beat the band, hallway and patio doors were slamming, there were several "thunks" and "thuds" against the walls, and since I couldn't hear my TV (which I had turned up to the max to drown out the live rock band playing next door) due to her screaming and yelling, I called the police.  Apparently others in the building had called, too, so I don't really feel too badly about it...
  Hope your last Sunday in August (this year) is a great day!

Football, Horse Racing, & Home

I watched two football games yesterday, and both teams I wanted to win, lost.  It was a shocker that the Seattle Seahawks beat the Broncos with a score of 30 to 10.  Everyone thought that once the Broncos had secured the golden boy, Peyton Manning, that winning would be pretty much guaranteed.  Not so.  Peyton played for the first half, without throwing a touchdown pass, and tossing two interceptions.  The first was batted down by a defensive lineman, and flipped right into the hands of another defensive lineman.  The second interception sailed over the receiver, and ended up nestled nicely in the hands of a defender.  The Jets failed badly against the Giants - at least Tim Tebow was able to get the team placed on the field so they could make their only score, a field goal.  And I was saddened to learn that the Bears defeated the Redskins, too.  My preferred professional teams and players aren't doing too well...
  Jackson Bend, a five-year-old, was training yesterday morning at Saratoga.  He was doing his usual morning gallop under his usual exercise rider.  Little Nick, a seven-year-old gelding, bolted under his rider and ran into Jackson Bend.  Little Nick's trainer said it was a glancing body-blow.  Whatever happened, it knocked the Nick Zito-trained horse down onto the track, where he didn't move for five minutes.  The exercise rider was a little shaken up - Jackson Bend was transported by ambulance back to his stall, and was immediately seen by an NYRTC vet, who treated the colt for shock, giving him IV fluids with electrolytes.  Jackson Bend has been training to defend his Forego Stakes title on the first of September.  Now he will have to be reevaluated, with special attention to his ribs and lungs.  (Little Nick was fine, finishing his work out as usual.)
   Lovey and Nedi are sunning on the patio.  I have already fed, medicated, and walked Aiko and Yoshi, Brandi, and Mona and Boo.  I'll move into the Snow house this afternoon, and be able to sleep at home tomorrow night.  I hope that Mona doesn't snore too much tonight - and that the deer stay away from the apple tree next to the house.  It's still hazy here, thanks to the smoke from all the wildfires to our west.  We need a week-long light rain, no down pours, for all of the United States.
 

Breezy Day After a Breesy Play

It started out sunny and breezy this morning; now it's cloudy and breezy.  Had a very good walk with Remy and Rosie - we varied our route a good deal from the norm, and both of them seemed to get a kick out of the new places and scents.  We also stopped by and had 10 minutes of play time in the Snow back yard with Boo and Mona....  and Boo gave me a fat lip, hitting me in the mouth with her head.  I always have some kind of boo-boo that is critter related. The kits are running in and out - this is their second play time of the day.  And I visited the library on the way back from the Rs, returning several, and picking up four new books to read.
I had a blast watching the Pro Bowl yesterday - it was so good to see the guys go out and have fun - all those lateral passes off interceptions, and seeing Drew Brees try to drop kick an extra point was a hoot.  I especially enjoyed being able to see the defense players being able to play and joke around.  Brandon Marshall seemed to be the only player really trying to work hard - with four touchdowns.  - But it was a nice, relaxing game to lazily enjoy.