Too Much Information!

Oh, my gosh... What a day in the news business. Between the huge earthquake in Japan, and the resulting tsunami waves in Japan and Hawaii and on the US west coast - and then our own little wild fire here in Boulder... I don't know which way to look next. It is so hard to grasp that the earthquake was so large that it moved the entire land mass of Japan eight feet to the east. And watching the film of the tsunamis was like watching the original Poseidon Adventure in miniature, but at the same time, hugely magnified.....

We've had high winds forecasted for today since last Sunday - and the winds have been about 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 63 mph, all day. Some idiots just west of Lyons decided to go on ahead with a "controlled burn." Within 15 minutes it was an un-controlled burn, and it currently covers over 300 acres to the northwest of us. So far, no structures have been damaged, but 223 homes have been evacuated. And the fire has ended up in the northeast corner of Lefthand Canyon. Now, Lefthand Canyon is a long, meandering, multi-branched canyon,and if it sounds familiar, it's because that's where the big fire that started 9 September 2010 was located. Of course, this is about 7 to 10 miles to the northeast of the first fire, but it's still poor old Lefthand Canyon.

I saw Dr. Pohlman this morning regarding my fistula. I'm having surgery on Tuesday morning, so I've already informed Lucy's and the Rs' owners that I won't be out walking their doggies on Tuesday and Wednesday. Dr. Polhman says I should be absolutely OK for walking by Thursday. I'm currently at Lynn's house, playing with Tessa and the three kits, and looking at the smoke to the northwest.... Hopefully, this weekend will be a little less eventful for the whole world!

The Snitmans' Gargoyle

This handsome guy guards the mud room entrance...

Family Trees

Boy, I just crashed yesterday after walking Rosie, Remy and Lucy. I got home and pretty much fell in the bed - and stayed there until this morning. I guess my flu is still keeping me wiped out physically. This afternoon, after I walk the same above named three, I'll be headed over to Lynn's house to stay with Tessa and the three kits until Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow would be my husband's 63rd birthday - I still miss him. And I get to visit Dr. Pohlman for my fistula tomorrow morning, too. Oh, joy. I received an e-mail from a gentleman in Wiltshire, England this morning - it appears that he is related to Jeff's great-grandmother's family, the Gingells. It was nice to get his message, which I passed on to Kevin, Etoye and Sue - it made me feel like I needed to do more work on getting the Devine, Snow, Johnson and Nocks family trees added on to and brought up to date... It's a glorious day outside - light winds and a high in the low 60s expected. Lovey and Nedi are having a ball running in and out, as usual.
And I just had to laugh - John Hickenlooper, our new governor, is just as big a klutz as I am - he tripped and fell against a wooden shotgun case and had to get 5 stitches in his head.

Kids

Nedi

Rosie and Finn

Remy

Stuff

Well, the big snow event that was supposed to start last night... didn't. It's foggy out, the temperature is 21, and a fine, powdery snow occasionally falls. I slept like a rock last night - didn't even move until after 8 this morning, and, of course, I had a warm, purring companion on each side. Lovey likes to lean up against me or to be draped over me when we share the bed. But Nedi is still quite a light-weight, and when I first wake up, I sometimes can't even tell he's snuggled up against me. I am still sick and coughing from the flu that I caught two weeks ago, and I had to cancel walking the red kids again today. I walked over to Safeway to get a fresh bagel for breakfast and coughed for over an hour.... Yuck.
Odds and ends... Rachel Alexandra has been confirmed in foal to Curlin, with an expected foaling date of 1 February 2012. ... The judge found against the woman whose dog ran outside and knocked over an elderly neighbor, causing her death. The dog owner has been fined the maximum of $500 for having a loose dog - and the judge also stated that "it is a very sad case." ... After having such a wonderful meal at Ted's Montana Grill Friday night, I signed up for their e-mail specials - and have already been graced with three coupons for free menu items. ... I've lost two pant sizes, much to my surprise. I haven't been trying to lose weight, but maybe it has just shifted with all my walking.

Short Note

Today we've had fog, rain, freezing drizzle and snow. I'm back home with Lovey and Nedi - both of whom are curled up on the bed; and John Wayne's version of The Alamo is playing on Encore Westerns. I got home from Finn and Skippy's a little after noon - and collapsed in the bed with the kits. I think the low pressure system got to me... Because of the weather and my continuing cough, I did not walk Rosie and Remy today; and I probably will not again tomorrow. Tomorrow we're expecting a high of 27 and more snow - not a good venue for me. Then we're supposed to be in the 50s and 60s through the weekend.... Normal, weird Colorado weather. - Don't work too hard this week!

Finn, Skippy, Et Al

Finn

Skippy

Nedi at 11 months old

Lovey says: "It's Momma's mess."