This 'n' That Miscellany

The three-year-old colt (actually, he's a ridgling) Catholic Boy ran away from everyone in the Mid-Summer Derby - otherwise known as the Travers Stakes, run at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga.  Bravazo, the D Wayne Lucas trainee, who ran in all three Triple Crown races, was coming up hard to finish in third place behind Mendelssohn finishing second.  It was a really great race.
 
The President is complaining because he Google-searched his own surname plus the news, and found that most of the news stories listed ran toward negativity about his leadership.  He is swearing that Google needs to be investigated because they only list "Fake news."   -  The man is an idiot.

There were voting primaries in Arizona and Florida yesterday.  I grinned when I saw that ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio finished last of three candidates where he ran.  I was very happy to see the ex-Mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum, won the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination. I could only sigh when I saw that DeSantis, the President's Republican pick, won that race.  DeSantis is such a suck-up to the man in the Oval Office - his advertisement for running was creepy, showing him reading a book supposedly written by the President to his son, and then helping his son build a wall of wood blocks, while chanting, "Build that wall!  Build that wall!  That's right, son, let's build that wall!"  And then his statement this morning, telling voter's not to "monkey up the election" by voting for Gillum, who is African-American.  That really set my teeth on edge.

I am still working on identifying a bunch of older photos of ponies that lived on Assateague Island - both in Maryland and Virginia.  Trying to match body markings on pintos is fairly easy - but when you're looking at anklets, socks and stockings when the ponies are either in sand, water, or grass and bushes can make it hard.  Most of the bays, chestnuts and sorrels on the north end of Assateague, in Maryland, have few distinguishing marks, and with the life in the wild, their coat colors can change dramatically between high summer and the dead of winter...  I've gotten half of the photos identified, but some of them are single "shots" and no other photos of that particular pony are posted elsewhere.  It's like working on  a family tree and/or a locked-door murder mystery.  Fun, but puzzling.

I've been reading quite a bit recently - still have five Tony Hillerman books to find and read to complete his series.  Then his daughter, Ann's, three books.  Have read about half of the C. J. Box books so far.  I've had several series recommended to me that are only available as electronic books that I have to download to my PC...  I might be tackling them soon - but I love to sprawl in my chair in the living room or on the balcony and read...  Being tied to the PC is not something I particularly want - and I positively hate reading on a tablet or Kindle or whatever...  I want a real book in my  hands.

I start eleven days of walks at 7:30 a.m. with the owner of 5 King Charles Cavalier Spaniels on Friday.  His wife is visiting family, and he needs help with the furry scurries.  On Labor Day, Monday, I start 3 to 5 weeks of cats, chickens and fish sitting while the owners go play in the Canadian Rockies...  They'll return when they feel like it, or the weather turns too cold.  That means fresh eggs on a daily basis and tons of fresh veggies and grapes from the garden, too. 

Books

A study says that people who read several books each year have a tendency to live two years longer than people who don't.  Now, I definitely don't want to live forever, but there for a while, I was reading a book a day; I've currently slowed down to one every two or three days.  How much more will that extend my life, I wonder?  - Not much, I'm sure.
  Today is my sister's 68th birthday....  Kathy Jo was born at the Chincoteague Naval Air Station today, with the help of forceps, as she was a breech presentation.  Mom had so much internal damage they told her she'd never conceive again - but here I am!  (Our family likes to confound the medical profession.)  For her birthday, I gave her a copy of Killers of the Flower Moon - The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.  I'm on the reserve waiting list for a copy from the library.
   I've been re-reading some favorites, and found a three-in-one Andre Norton hardcover.  Apparently I read two of the novels when I was in 7th grade, but I don't remember the third one, which I'm about two-thirds through...  I have a copy of the new C. J. Cherryh Foreigner series book, Emergence, to read; and I'm awaiting the arrival of my autographed copy of City on the Edge of Darkness by Preston and Child.
  I just received my new Bas Bleu catalog, and I've spotted another 10 books that look intriguing - I'll have to order them from the library - and I still need to sitdown at my PC and read May Day Over Wichita, which my cousin Sarah highly recommends.
 
    After several nights of single digit temperatures, the Chinook winds arrived early this morning, and it was 47 degrees when I left to care for Pip and Squeak; 49 when I returned.  It's supposed to reach the mid-60s again this afternoon (it was 68 yesterday), before getting chilly again tomorrow.  Then snow is forecast for Sunday, with a high of 30....  We'll see!

Cold

Sitting here, at my computer desk, looking out the west facing window, I just saw a raven land on top of the telephone pole, arch his neck and vocalize.  He "cawed" four times, with four separate plumes of breath steam ejecting from his mouth with each call.  - The temperature has climbed up to 7 degrees (F), from the 4 degrees it was when I first went out this morning.  Very high thin clouds, with plenty of sunshine out there - but, brrrrrr!  The gigantic thermometer on the shed at Pip and Squeak's house read 4 when I was getting fresh kitty litter in for them at 7:30 today.
   Had scrambled eggs, potato chunks and bacon for breakfast, after taking care of the black girls; the topped off the bird feeders and put almonds out for the squirrels, jays and ravens.  I had picked up a hard cover trilogy of books by Andre Norton a while ago, at the used book store.  I started reading the first novel, and I was almost finished when I realized I had last (and first) read the book when I was in 7th grade - that was the 1968-69 school year.  (Yikes!)
    I'm going to make meatballs in marinara sauce this afternoon.  I have all the ingredients and I'll heat up the crockpot and let things simmer until supper time.  Looking forward to dinner!

Critters, Wild and Tame

It doesn't seem like a week since I sat down in front of a blank blog page...  All sorts of things are going on in the news and wildlife areas.  And I've been taking care of multiple houses full of critters, as people decide to vacation on a whim, without planning for pet care.  I've been running around like crazy.  I think I have two days off, Wednesday and Thursday this week, if nothing else pops up.
   I've started re-reading my Robin Hobb collection, and am currently reading Dragon Haven.  After I read her books, I'll hit my Rafael Sabatini novels, and then my un-edited editions of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.  That should keep me busy for a little while.
  I received my National Geographic DNA information back some time ago - my Haplogroup is J1c4.  But I have recently sent my DNA for processing to both Ancestry and to 23AndMe, also.  I'm waiting to see what is reported by the other two agencies...
   We've recently had moose in North Boulder - a woman was tending her garden on the edge of Wonderland Lake, and said she "suddenly felt a presence looming over" her.  It was a mother moose with twin calves, and the mother decided the woman was threatening her babies.  She was knocked down and walked upon.  Luckily, she only had scrapes and bruises.  And another moose with a single calf was reported at the Justice Center near the end of Boulder Canyon.
   Of course it's now summer, and we're having our usual incursions of coyotes, mountain lions and black bears.  The coyotes have been grabbing small dogs who are off-leash on walking, jogging, and biking paths, as well as cats loose in neighborhoods.  The mountain lions are grabbing the mule deer and fawns.  The bears are smashing bee hives and stealing honey, as well as raiding any bird feeders they can reach.  A friend has a one-inch thick wrought iron post for her feeders, and thought they were safe - this morning the post was bent at a 70 degree angle and the bird feeders were crushed and empty on the ground.  And folks around my sister and brother-in-laws house now have teen-aged bobcats out hunting with their parents, as well.  The fox are staying under cover as much as possible.  The cottontail rabbit birth explosion is feeding most of the smaller predators.
    Tess, one of the dogs I care for, is not doing well at the moment.  She started having seizures last fall.  They began occurring every 4 days a couple of months ago, and she has finally been placed on Potassium Bromide as a daily medication. (Her owner is a very firm believer in holistic medicine and diet taking care of everything.)  The K-Bro medication has increased her appetite amazingly, as well as her thirst.  But the main side effect is ataxia, her hind legs don't support her well...  The vet told the owner that once Tess reaches her optimal medication level, she'll return to normal.  The vet told the owner it would take one month.  I read the information, and it says the optimal level is reached in three to four months...  We'll have to see.  In the meantime, the dog who always bounced and danced on her hind legs is now shuffling with her nose to the ground.  It's pretty sad...
   Still at 59 new foals on the Chincoteague NationalWildlife Refuge - 56 after the three losses.  One foal died from an umbilical infection, one foal got stuck in the marsh mud and couldn't break free, and one had a congenital defect of the forelegs, which could not be healed.  All the others are quite bouncy and bold.  As usual, there are some really stupendous pinto markings, quite a few solids with great conformation, and a few real stand-outs.  I'm happy with the foals so far...
 

Tonight's News Headlines

"Several Injured After Vehicle Rams People Leaving London Mosque: Witnesses"
"U. S. Warplane Downs Syrian Army Jet In Raqqa Province"
"Gunmen Attack Resort Outside Mali's Capital, Two Dead"
"At Least 62 Killed In Forest Fire Still Raging In Portugal"
"U. S. Navy Confirms All Seven Missing Sailors From USS Fitzgerald Found Dead"
"Iran Fires Several Missiles At Syria Following Tehran Attacks"
"Trump Attorney Says President Not Under Investigation - Then Hedges"
"Six Top Experts Resigned From Donald Trump's HIV/AIDS Advisory Panel"
"EPA Acknowledges Delaying Methane Rule Might Make More Children Sick, But It Will Help the Oil and Gas Industry"
"North Korea  Accuses US Authorities Of  'Mugging' Its Diplomats At NY Airport"
"Turkish President Erdogan Condemns US Warrants Issued To His Security Over Washington Brawl"

What does this say about the state of our world tonight?  All evening, I have had the old song "Eve of Destruction" running through my head...  Barry McGuire released his version in 1965, followed by a quick cover of it by The Turtles; I also remember Paul Revere and the Raiders having it on an album in the early 1970s.  My Uncle fought in Korea in the 1950s; and I grew up with the Viet Nam War - we were usually eating supper and watching horrific news with Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.  It was a nasty way to grow up, but my Dad, having been in the US Navy for 22 years, believed that my sister and I should see the world as it was/is - and not through rose-colored glasses.
   I have managed to sail into my sixty-first year with, I think, a pretty even look at the world.  I will be the first to admit that I have a "bleeding heart," and sad stories always make me cry.  baby animals make me "coo" like an idiot, and I mourn the death of everything, while I also realize that it's all a part of the cycle of birth,life and death.  I read constantly - histories of different areas of the world, archaeology, explorations of land and sea and space, and a lot of fiction for pleasure.  I have read the Bible, the Torah and the Koran.  I enjoy learning, and applying what I have learned to my everyday life.  I dislike conflict and will do my best to avoid it.  But I am very happy to listen to my friends, whether they are discussing troubles or joys, and, if asked for an opinion, I try to give a measured one - trying to see it from all perspectives.
    I am worried about my country, the United States of America.  There is a narcissistic nincompoop sitting in the Oval Office.  He is not a leader.  He is not a politician.  He is a real estate man who has multiple bankruptcies, who cannot and will not obey laws, who buys his way out of the troubles he causes himself.  He does not work or play well with others.  He has the mind and temperament of a child stuck in the "terrible twos."  He is poorly educated and does not read.  He does not know the history of his own country, let alone the entire world.  According to people inside the White House, he shouts back at the television when someone says something he doesn't like. Yet he is in charge of our nuclear codes.  He is the "Commander in Chief."
   I am truly frightened.

Snow and Books

So after more than fourteen hours of snow fall, the sun is shining, and most of the sky is bright blue.  But it's 23 degrees outside - not the 80 degrees we had two days ago.  There is snow on our balcony, and on top of Bertrando's telephone pole.  The parking lot and street are almost entirely clear of snow.  There is a small amount of snow scattered across the grasses and bushes  in the little area between our apartment and the restaurant next door, but the community building across the creek looks to have two to three inches of snow on their large yard.
   I had to turn the heat on this morning when I got up.  We'd had the air conditioning turned on Wednesday, but my legs were chilly under my blanket when I awoke this morning, so I turned the heat on.  We have eight biscuits left from last night, and a large amount of soup - that's all in the refrigerator at the moment.  And I had two raspberry muffins for breakfast today - yum!  Waiting to hear from various clients as to whether they want their dogs walked today...  I'm very happy to do so, but a few will want their dogs to stay home because of the cold, and a few because of the snow and ice on the ground.  Winter day walks are always a toss-up.
   I finished reading The Rest I Shall Kill, a very good, but incomplete, biography of William Tillman.  It's incomplete because we really have no history of the man before the incident that made him a "Northern hero," and because, like today's 15 minutes of fame, he disappeared into obscurity a month or so later.  It's really a shame that a man can have so little known about him, even after he's been acclaimed a hero of the Civil War.  -  I also just finished reading the new Jack Reacher novel,Night School, by Lee Child.  I also find it funny that Lee Child, an Englishman, is the author of a series of books that introduce and maintain the idea of the iconic American ex-GI....  But I thoroughly enjoy each and every one of them!
    Going back to read a few more Eight Countries books by Elizabeth Moon that I haven't seen before...  Should be a snug reading and sewing weekend.

Books and Dreams

Went on a book buying binge yesterday - ordered four new (to me) Elizabeth Moon books regarding her Eight Kingdoms world, purchased  the new Preston and Child Pendergast novel The Obsidian Chamber, an atlas regarding Native Americans and their cultures, a copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and couple of adult coloring books - one of animals and one about dreams.
    I've had peculiar dreams the last few nights - the first was that I had to put real silk stockings upon the hind legs of a gigantic grasshopper.  Her hind legs, in the resting position were taller than I am (five feet one inch); the greens, yellows and black-to-purple colorations were bright and shiny; and I was totally frustrated by the short spikes and spines that projected from her legs near the joints.  I know I tried to place more than 100 stockings on the leg nearest me, and each was shredded by the way her legs were built.
    The next dream was that I was trying to place laced-up shoes on the feet of a centipede - and that it couldn't keep it's feet still, and kept stepping out of the shoes before I got them tied....  I wonder what my sub conscious is trying to tell me - what am I frustrated about that I don't realize?
   Halfway through Boar Island by Nevada Barr; then have Winter's Child by Margaret Coel to read.  I had also ordered two very intriguing books from the History Club, and the USPS claims they dropped the package off at 5:01 pm on 8 October.  Bea and I were home that afternoon and I went out at 7 that evening - never saw the package.  Maybe I'm frustrated about that?

Books, Glorious Books!

While on vacation, I began to re-read The Liveship Trilogy  by Robin Hobb.  I've been reading them slowly and absorbing a lot more nuances than I did on the first reading, and I've got about 15 pages left of Ship of Destiny.  I do have the first book of the next connected series ready to read - Dragon Keeper, which is the first book of four in The Rain Wilds Chronicles.  I can't wait to get pulled deep into this world created by Robin Hobb, aka Megan Lindholm, again...  But first, I am going to take a short break, and read the last two C.J. Cherryh Foreigner series books - both Tracker and the new Visitor - they are calling me like the wi'itikin on the cliffs.   I'm also keeping my eyes open for other new books by favorite authors...  In a way, I'm looking forward to ice and snow storms, so I can stay at home and read in warmth and comfort, with a cat on my lap, and one on the back of the chair...
   The "bundle" of services we get - telephone, computer and cable television - are paid monthly, by the bank, electronically.  Our charge suddenly increased by $24+ this month, so Beatrice went to the office, as she pays the "utility" bills.  They informed her she was behind in her payments, and, even though she disagreed with them, finally paid for two months of service then and there.  I showed her the paid receipt for that month, and for the previous month.  She went back to the office again, fit to be tied.  They refused to give her a refund - just told her she wouldn't have to pay in September...  So our finances are a little tight with three days left of the month.  We have plenty of cat food, kitty treats and kitty litter.  There is plenty of soda, juice and Gatorade in stock.  We have fruits and veggies, soup, and all sorts of canned and frozen foods and meals.  But we don't have any free cash - and we're (now) used to being to buy what we feel like eating on the spur of the moment...  Let's order a pizza...  I don't feel like cooking, let's go to Turley's, or Five Guys, or Glacier, or The Cork, or the Outback Grill....  It's seems extremely silly to be suddenly aware that we don't have any "throw away" money at the end of this month.  Of course, we'll have plenty next month...  But it's funny how that nibbles at your subconscious....

Books and Critters

Yesterday and today have been busy - met the Brittany Spaniels' family at 5:20 yesterday morning, and was a passenger to DIA, then drove back home to feed the girls.  Roxie and Finney are fun.  Then over to take care (feed, water, and walk the dogs, and feed and water the hens) of the Chandler critters.  Discovered their Subaru in the driveway has a flat tire this morning - I hope they have a spare.  Spent the night with the girls, and enjoyed the fireplace.  But, after feeding and walkin them, and taking care of the Chandler critters this morning, it was still only 4 degrees (F) when I came home to my place to feed the kits and clean their boxes.  Lovey attached herself to my chest and wouldn't let go, once I sat down.  Nedi explored the balcony for 5 seconds and returned inside.  Taking down the Christmas tree tomorrow - have to find a small box to place all the new ornaments in.  Finished re-reading Betrayer and Intruder yesterday - began another Jack Reacher novel last night, and it's very good, as usual.  Then I'll begin The Bone Labyrinth....
  Beatrice made herself Belgium waffles for breakfast today - glad I picked up milk on the way home from the Spaniels.  Looks like I'll have a pizza while watching the Broncos and Bengals play tonight; I could prepare chicken and broccoli risotto, but I think I'll put that together tomorrow.  It's 3:55 now, and the sun is going behind a cloud that's sitting on top of Mount Sanitas - it'll be behind the mountains in 8 minutes and the darkness will begin again.  I don't like winter, even though I know that the natural world has to have time to prepare for Spring renewal.  I want sunshine and warmth!  Or the sea, at least!

Random Thoughts

I thought I was losing my mind yesterday - was discussing how all British and American thoroughbred horses trace back to only three stallions with a friend.  The friend was amazed and wanted to know the names of the horses - I was easily able to say the Byerly Turk (or Barb) and the Godolphin Arabian.  I knew the other horse was also known as an Arabian - but it took me 30 minutes to be able to say "the Darley Arabian."  Since I have had that firmly implanted in my brain since I was at least 8 years old, I decided that my memory was going.
   My sister called me last evening and stated that  her reading glasses case turned up empty.  I knew immediately exactly where they were, so I returned them early this morning.  She had left them on the kitchen counter at Ba and Bob's on Tuesday.  I walked downstairs, saw them, and placed them in my stack of things to bring back to Boulder with me today.  So.   Am I losing my mind/memory, or not?
   Still awaiting news on the apartment - Beatrice and I will have brunch at Turley's and then she'll visit with Cyrano and Pounce while doing her laundry today.  I'm committed to spending time with Rosie while Joel and Nancy go out to a dinner theater production tonight.  I will begin cleaning the apartment this weekend, as I move items out and into the storage unit.
  Have almost finished reading the latest Kathy Reichs' mystery.  Have a new Gideon Crew novel to read by Preston and Child, and then the first three books about Vlad Taltos by Steven Brust - that should give me brain fodder for a few days.   -  My regular medication causes extremely vivid dreams.  I'm still trying to figure out why I dreamed that I walked into my bathroom and saw the tub was full of greyish water with a nasty soap scum on the top, and a giant-sized dead ring-necked pheasant (in full breeding plumage) floating in the end farthest from the taps....   Anyone have any ideas?  It was just weird.
   We've had a lot of rain near Boulder and around Boulder - we haven't had any sluicing downpours, but just scattered showers here and there.  However, Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley, to our north, and Denver, Evergreen, and Colorado Springs are having a lot of flooding...  Boulder Creek is running high, but the Cache le Poudre River, Bear Creek, Clear Creek, Cherry Creek, and South Platte River are all overflowing their banks....   Multiple roads and streets are closed in quite a few cities and towns on the eastern side of the Rockies today.  No rain is forecast for this weekend, so maybe we can dry up a bit.
 

Reading Away...

After finishing Clive Cussler's The Assassin, I read through National Geographic's Atlas of North American Indians.  In the past day and a half, I've read The Cat Sitter's Whiskers by John and Blaize Clement, and just finished Haunted, a new Hannah Smith mystery by Randy Wayne White.  I am now re-reading C J Cherryh's Tracker. I'm out of new books, and will have to visit the Public Library again…  *sigh*    If you're looking for a light-hearted mystery with a touch of romance, I highly recommend the Cat Sitter series, which takes place on Siesta Key.  A widowed pet sitter (and ex-deputy) takes care of various pets at various houses and helps solve crimes she encounters.   The Assassin is part of the Isaaac Bell series - if you like history and mystery combined, along with a fast pace and discussion about planes, trains, and automobiles of the early 20th century, you'll love this series.  Randy Wayne White has written several non-fiction books, but is also the creator of two highly readable and entertaining series - one about marine biologist Marion "Doc" Ford and his unknown black  ops  escapades; the other is about Hannah Smith, a woman who runs a charter-fishing business and an investigative agency on the side.  Both of these series are set near and around Sanibel Island (Florida), southern Florida, Cuba, and several other countries (for Doc Ford).  Hannah Smith is the fictions great-grand daughter of two of South Florida's most well-known pioneer women - Hannah and Sarah Smith.  You get a  lot of education regarding the areas, fishing and history in every one of Mr White's books.  I can't put any of them down - or don't want to - once I start reading them.  And I wrote about the atevi world created by C J Cherryh at the end of last month.  I would love to be there.  The cat that I lost to poisoning 4-plus years ago was named Banichi, after a main character in Cherryh's series; Nedi is short for Cenedi-ji, also a main character.  I do love my books and authors!
   Will we have a Triple Crown Champion after Saturday evening?  Who will win the Epsom Derby?  Everything in those two questions can only be answered by "racing luck."  What will the trainers and riders strategies be?  How well will everyone break from the gate?  Will there be early speed?  Will the winner just keep getting faster with each furlong, as Secretariat did?  We'll have to wait until Saturday to find out.

Instant Gratification

Well, that's an interesting trend...  In the past 72 hours, my blog has been read more often in Russia than in the United States.  Haven't had that happen before!  I finished reading Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke yesterday.  That man is a master of writing.  When I read his work, I am immediately swept away to the environs that he describes, and I experience the joys and pains of his characters.  Mr Burke is truly a word-smith, a craft master extraordinaire, and I am thankful to have been able to read all of his 34 novels so far.  I highly recommend him as an author, and as the father of another author, Alafair Burke.  Ms Burke also constructs thoroughly enthralling novels.  I wish I had that gift!
   I missed seeing both The Blacklist and Vikings last night.  The Grand Jury was meeting, and we had several interesting witnesses.  I hope to see my missed television shows tonight, while spending a couple of hours with Miss Rose.  Her papa is golfing at St. Andrews, and her momma is working, so I'm filling in as Auntie Betty, so Rose won't feel deserted.  She is an extremely social dog - tries to pull me down each and every driveway and house walkway that we pass, just to see if anyone's home.  She loves to see other dogs out walking, and totally soaks in any attention that is given her by humans.
  I'm slightly worried about Nedi.  He went out this  morning, as usual, then ate some grass.  He has to come back inside to up-chuck the grass, but he normally gets rid of it and then goes about his merry way - it doesn't seem to be a big deal.  Today, he has continued to choke, hack and gag well past his original regurgitation.  I've looked in his mouth and throat, but don't see anything unusual.  But he's curled up under the afghan on the sofa - which he doesn't normally do until late afternoon.  Maybe he's just changing his routine - I'm not sure, so I'll keep a close eye on him today.
   I've also finished reading Cuba Straits by Randy Wayne White, and The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell.  One of the main problems I have in my reading is that I finish a new book by an author, and I'm ready, right away, for the next book in the series.  Then I fret and chafe for what seems like forever before the next book is available.  I do realize how much work, research, editing and re-editing takes place for each and every novel or non-fiction book that is published.  I know that these things are labors of love for the author, and that I should be very grateful for the sharing of their gift.  But, it seems that I'm a greedy so-and-so - I want many, many more books, just as well written and crafted as before, but I want them instantly.  I think that want, need, and desire is a direct response to our new technical society - everything else is available in, seemingly, a split second.  And, these days, I want new books from the authors as soon as I read their latest work.  I know it's impossible - but I still want it, and have a feeling of loss when another new book is not instantly available.   Instant gratification: that's what this current generation should be known as - the IGs.

Hodgepodge

Boulder awoke to snow falling yesterday.  I walked over to the bakery and grabbed a fresh, warm bagel, and decided, on the walk back, to pay attention to my "bad" knee.  My left knee is always swollen, and causes me pain about 95% of the time.  Having lived in Boulder for a little over 10 years, now, I thought about how my knee felt as I walked back home from the store.  I decided that my knee was "telling me" that we'd get about 5 inches of snow.  When I turned on the television upon my return to the apartment, the forecaster was saying Boulder would get "possibly 1 to 3 inches" of snow.  We got a little over 5 inches in total.  Now I'll have to continue checking out my knee's feelings about snow and see how accurate they are....
   I was excited to receive the Public Library's newsletter this morning, because it stated that our library will be re-opening on February 12, and that, as of 2 March, it will be open at 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday.  I've missed being able to wander through the stacks and choose books to read at random - and I have longed for the library to be open at an earlier hour - I'd prefer 7 a.m., since I'm an early riser, but even an hour earlier is better than nothing.  I haven't had access to the Main Library's entire collection (no one else has, either) since September, when  a "make over" began.  I can't wait to see some old, familiar tomes again!
  I know I've mentioned that I began reading Preston & Child's Special Agent Pendergast novels again, and I'm about half-way through The Wheel of Darkness.  I'll have to request the next three books in the series today.  I have two new books on hand - the first two in a series by Herbie Belcher, The Faerie Wars and The Purple Emperor.  They were highly recommended, and I'm looking forward to starting a new series.
   I'm currently waiting to see if Rosie's parents want me to walk her today.  It's supposed to get up near 60 degrees this afternoon, but there is a thick and slick coating of ice on the roads and sidewalks this morning.  As Rosie has hip and back problems, I don't want to take her out and have her fall on the ice and hurt herself.  I'll walk Lucy at 11:30, as usual, as she has no restrictions.
   I found out that I was wrong about the networks programming  masters.  The Blacklist, on NBC, will be airing at 8; How To Get Away With Murder, on ABC, will air at 9.  The last episode of HTGAWM will air on February  19, which is the night that History Channel begins showing Vikings.  Hopefully, I won't find too many conflicts - other than Grand Jury duty, which means being on call every Thursday night.
   Forbes Magazine released a frightening report on the 30th of January - ordinary children, aged 7 to 16, read 4.7 books per year.  I have never been able to read enough!  We were only allowed to check out 10 children's books on each visit to the Public Library when I was a child.  Mom and Dad took us every Saturday morning to get new books - and I was usually through reading "my" books by Monday night.  Very quickly, my folks made certain that I always checked out books that would hold my interest, and that I would read several times, before our return to the library.  I know that a lot of people think that I'm odd and/or old-fashioned.  I prefer to read more than anything else - watch television, watch cinema, go to the theater, or listen to music.  I simply can't conceive of reading only five books in one year.  Reading is the spice of life; it can take you to the past, the future, and any place an author can conjure with words.

Reading, Etcetera

Thanks to the suggestion of a friend, I have just finished reading five excellent books...  I read the first three books in the Maisie Dobbs series, by Jacqueline Winspear.  They are very thoughtful, in depth mysteries set in England between the two World Wars.  They are very good.  I was also greatly impressed by two new authors - Julia Keller and Laura McHugh.  Both of their books were set in small, isolated towns - one in West Virginia, one in Missouri - and they were great studies of undercurrents that can be seen and felt in any small inclusive community.  I'm looking forward to reading more by all three authors...  (Cousin Sarah, the one set in Missouri mentions Springfield and Howell County several times!)
   Saturday is International Archaeology Day - dig in and learn something about your past!

  

   Today marks two weeks from the Breeders Cup Races - they will be held on 31 October and 1 November this year at Santa Anita Racetrack in Los Angeles, California.  NBC Sports Network will have three hours of coverage on Friday, and four and a half hours on Saturday.  This leads up to the "main broadcast" from 8 to 9 p.m. (Eastern Time) of the final two races of the Breeders Cup on NBC.  It's your chance to see some of the best racing thoroughbreds in the world.

  And, wow, I really could not have guessed what Viola Davis' last nine lines on How To Get Away With Murder would be - definitely not what they were!

 

Let It Snow!

It's raining here in Boulder, and snowing above 11,000 feet.  The weather forecast is calling for snow Thursday night into Friday morning down here - with a high of about 50 degrees on Friday.  But then, it's supposed to be 80 on Sunday for the Broncos game....  Typical Colorado weather.
   Today is, actually, my first day of actual vacation.  I was taking care of Tugger, with three visits a day, until yesterday evening.  I couldn't say no to Tugger's family, as he's the guy who just lost his litter-mate, after 18 years together.  We read and snuggled, and I talked to him a lot.  He's a very caring cat, and enjoys discussions; although I can't say that I can literally translate his comments.
   I turned my alarm off last night, and the kits let me sleep until almost 8 o'clock this morning - of course, it's grey and damp outside, which I think helped their decision.  Currently, I've had a late breakfast, have read all of my e-mail, have fed and watered the kits, cleaned their litter boxes, and done my shopping for the day. I've also paid the one stray bill that came in; and I'm trying to decide if I want to try and visit the library this afternoon, or go tomorrow.  I'm almost finished reading my last library book, but I do have a large selection of favorites to re-read.
  Kathy, Jim, and Grandma Anne are supposed to return at some point in time today or tonight.  I still heven't heard from them, and don't know if they were able to see Kent before he died Monday, or not.  For their sakes, I hope that they were able to see him and kiss him good-bye.  I know that Kathy is still disturbed by the fact that she never saw Dad's body when he died, and I think she still expects to see him appear some day.  (Since Dad was cremated, and because he had donated his organs, the organ reapers didn't spend time to make him look good after the harvest - the funeral director told Kathy she didn't want to remember him that way, and convinced her not to see the body.)
   My vacation ends on Monday, and I'll be moving back into Lynn's house to care for Tess, the cats, koi, bees, and garden until the 24th, at which time I slide over three blocks to stay with the ABCs...  I also start walking Rosie on a daily basis, as well as Lucy on Tuesday and Thursday.  I actually have another few nights at home after the ABCs before I move into Rosie's, so I hope to adjust to the fall weather by mid-October.
   I'm looking for good mysteries, thrillers, and history books to add to my reading list - does anyone have any good suggestions?  I'll be happy to hear from you!

Books and Snow (?)

It's 28 degrees and sunny outside, but we're expecting wind and snow this afternoon. The western slopes, where the majority of the ski resorts are, have been getting snow since yesterday, and folks are driving like mad to go ski. The only problem is there is an accident on I-70, the only open, main road to the west, and only one of 4 west-bound lanes is open. I wonder how many folks will just return home? With Boulder sitting in the valley just to the east of the Front Range, more than likely we'll see very little of the snow that is forecast - it'll all fall on the west side of the mountains, and then further to the east, over the Plains. I would love to have the "Nemo" storm the northeast is dealing with, because we need the moisture/snow/sleet/rain.
  Nedi and Lovey have been running in and out - I've fed the squirrels and ravens, and laid in an extra supply of their goodies, just in case we do have a good snowfall. The kits have been enjoying my forced inactivity - I've spent a lot of time in my reading chair or in bed, perusing books. I finished The Man on a Donkey, and went on to read Wolf Hall; now I'm reading Sovereign and have 8 more books lined up to read behind it... Thank goodness for books! I get so much enjoyment from them. I can understand the use of e-books, and how much paper they save - but I love to have a book in my hands, and to be able to turn the pages... You just can't do that with a Kindle or Nook reader....

Washington Wolves, Andy Williams & Traffic

So, so happy I live in Boulder and not Denver, and that I'm staying home and not trying to see the Presidential debate in person next Wednesday.  Obama and Romney have their first debate at the University of Denver then.  The Colorado DOT just announced that a 6 mile stretch of I-25, in both directions, will be closed down for 5 hours.  Ouch!  All the side streets near UD will also be closed, as will the Light Rail, and RTD buses.  Just glad I don't have to even think about that madness.
  We've had almost 24 hours of light rain here in Boulder so far, with more expected tonight and tomorrow afternoon.  The kits outside scooting around in the damp - last night he came back inside absolutely soaking wet multiple times, and I toweled him dry.  Lovey has wanted to be held, and sitting on top of me since yesterday evening; she's now parading between my face and the monitor, and she smells like nasturtiums.  And I have to remember Lovey's dental-oral surgery appointment next week, and that she's NPO after midnight...
  I walked the red kids in between rain showers late this morning, and spent the day with Sasquatch and Tugger.  We're currently reading Susan Wittig Albert's The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose.  I like all of series that Mrs. Albert (and her husband) have penned, both separately and together.  It will soon be time for me to re-read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; the weather is making me want to curl up with those books and ignore the outside world.
  I grew up watching the Andy Williams' holiday specials on TV, and listening to him on the radio and seeing him on TV.  It doesn't seem possible that a man with such a smooth voice is gone.  He passed away last night after a year's fight with bladder cancer.  His voice will be missed. 
  In Washington state, where grey wolves have been reintroduced to the wild, two wolves from one pack have been shot dead, and the other six members are tagged for death for attacking a cattleman's herd.  This particular cattleman is not following the recommendations of the DOW on how to better protect his herd - but is saying that the wolves were brought back to stop the cattlemen from using BLM grazing land.  This is the same argument that is killing off the wild mustangs, because cattle and sheep men claim the horses are eating all the grazing and drinking all the water.  Soon the wolves in Washington state will once more be fair game and will never be able to resettle in their original habitat.

London, the Arts, Ramsah, and Books

It's been 25 years since I was last in London - I don't particularly like crowds, but if I could see the Equestrian events at the Olympic Games this summer, I'd be there.  I did have to laugh as I read that, with over 237,000 people arriving at Heathrow Airport yesterday (most of them Olympic athletes), one bus load full of athletes got lost on its way to the Olympic village.  One has to wonder how much training the bus drivers have received - I know that cab drivers in London have to study for years to get licensed....
   This weekend, besides the Queen City Horse Show in Denver for Saddlebreds, Peruvian Paso Finos, Arabs, half-Arabs, Sport horses, Fresians, half-Fresians, Hackneys, etc., there is also an open air Arts Festival taking place in Boulder, on the Pearl Street Mall.  Artists from around the world, and several local talents, are participating on Saturday and Sunday - with items ranging from paintings and photography, to wood and metal sculpture, weaving, ceramics, glass, and jewelry.  At the moment, our forecast calls for very hot, very dry weather for the area - so if any one goes to either event, please stay hydrated, and avoid excessive over-heating.
   The past few nights, I have been in the back yard between the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight, and have been happy to see momma raccoon and 4 youngsters searching the yard for edibles.  Last night, I was trying to observe Ramsah when the cute critters appeared; and I had to walk forward and convince Momma  that Ramsah was not to be thought of as a potential meal.  Nancy has been managing to keep Ramsah's weight between 10.8 and 11.1 pounds; last night she was at 10.8, and then Ramsah had urinated under Nancy's bed - Nancy grabbed her, causing Ramsah to squeak, and then Nancy panicked, so I was called from my bed to check Ramsah, while in my nightgown.  Ramsah was OK - but she had either not quite finished urinating when Nancy had grabbed her, or she just finished relieving herself in the grass out back when Nancy let her go. In any event - Ramsah was OK, but had pee on her hind-end - whether from stepping in it, or being pulled through it by Nancy, or having laid in it, I don't know.  I do know that I am losing my patience with Nancy, and I don't want to do that - but recently, I can't even go to the bathroom without her phoning me, and if I don't answer immediately, she lets herself into the apartment, calling my name.  I am not happy with this development.  I am going to have to set some rules down and enforce them.
   Today is the day I don't walk Rosie and Remy - my kits have been running in and out of the back door since 6 a.m. - and the only thing I need to do today is return some library books and grab some new ones to read.  (I do have 5 new books on order, and they are in the process of being shipped here at the moment - but I still need something to occupy my mind....)