Three nights of sleeping in my own bed, and I feel renewed! Having Lovey stuck to me at all times, and having Nedi come and demand love has also made me feel much better. The only down-side of any of it is that Lovey keeps walking on my keyboard and erasing whole pages of writing... She particularly likes to settle down and then edge her butt and tail closer and closer to the corner of the board, and then I suddenly have a blank page.... But I love her and Nedi to distraction.
I am headed back to the Denver Airport this afternoon - one of my clients had a death in the family, and I'm at their house until Sunday evening. Then I have seven days and nights at home - my vacation. I am so excited. I am still catching up on all the photos that folks have shared with me from Chincoteague and Assateague this summer - and I've got at least 500 shots from Pony Penning to still open and look at... Thanks to everyone who has sent them to me!
It is 50 degrees outside at this point in time (8 a.m.) and our high temperature is supposed to be 63... Seems like fall has snuck in early, in the Rockies. I have the patio door cracked, but both kits are inside, and the window is open. Even though my eat is off, the thermostat says it's 70 degrees inside. It is drizzling out, and has been doing so since three this morning. If I were in Scotland, I could say it was a nice, soft day - here in Colorado, it's a cool and damp day. We have had snow here on this date in the past 10 years, so I'm not really surprised. Folks have been worried about the weather for the Broncos-Colts game Sunday evening, but Marty (the weather man) says he thinks the rain will be finished and out to the east by kick-off time for Sunday Night Football.
I had blueberry waffles for breakfast this morning, and will probably have a whole wheat blueberry bagel with cream cheese for lunch - since I need to be at the client's home at noon to go to DIA.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Ah..... Peaceful Sleep
Some people may not agree with my assessment of last night, but I found it extremely peaceful. The fact that I shared my twin bed with two full-grown cats is what I believe would cause the disagreement. But I had Lovey attached to my shoulder like velcro - with frequent face and chin washes administered by her - and Nedi curled up, either by my right side, or down at my feet. There was plenty of purring and lots of love. I guess that I heard the 3:30 (a.m.) train go through town with the horn blowing, but it didn't disturb me at all. When the alarm rang this morning, I certainly didn't want to get up, either. I was snuggled under the afghan my friend Kathryn made for me a few years ago, the window was wide open, and Lovey was asleep on my shoulder, while Nedi was curled up around my feet. It was heaven.
I "spaced out" last night in a very disturbing way. I had gone to the Denver Airport, to pick up a returning owner. She asked me to drive back to my house, and I did, happily. The problem occurred about three miles from my apartment - in a construction area on US 36, the main road between Boulder and Denver. Lynn had been talking to me, and I was concentrating on what she was saying more than I was on my driving - and I was very tired. I suddenly realized that Lynn had said, "This lane ends," very calmly, three times in a row. The left-hand lane that I was in, was, indeed, being narrowed and cut off by orange traffic cones - and there was a car beside us, in the right hand lane. I had to step on the brakes and move sharply into the right lane, immediately behind the car that had been beside us. I have no reason that I can give for my lapse in driving concentration. (Was it that infamous "white line fever" that truckers report?) All I know is that it scared the daylights out of me. Thank goodness we were near my place, and thank goodness that Lynn did not freak out about it.
I "spaced out" last night in a very disturbing way. I had gone to the Denver Airport, to pick up a returning owner. She asked me to drive back to my house, and I did, happily. The problem occurred about three miles from my apartment - in a construction area on US 36, the main road between Boulder and Denver. Lynn had been talking to me, and I was concentrating on what she was saying more than I was on my driving - and I was very tired. I suddenly realized that Lynn had said, "This lane ends," very calmly, three times in a row. The left-hand lane that I was in, was, indeed, being narrowed and cut off by orange traffic cones - and there was a car beside us, in the right hand lane. I had to step on the brakes and move sharply into the right lane, immediately behind the car that had been beside us. I have no reason that I can give for my lapse in driving concentration. (Was it that infamous "white line fever" that truckers report?) All I know is that it scared the daylights out of me. Thank goodness we were near my place, and thank goodness that Lynn did not freak out about it.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
55th Annual Deal Island Skipjack Race
The 55th Annual Skipjack Race at Deal Island was held over the weekend. There were twelve entries, and the race was won by the Helen Virginia . It was also another first, as this boat sailed with the first all-female crew in the Skipjack Race.
Four of the Skipjacks, at the start of the race
The City of Crisfield
The Ida Mae
The Somerset (left) and the City of Crisfield
The Helen Virginia and her winning all-female crew
45 Degrees This Morning! - Stupid Accident
It's the second day of September; I'm dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and leather walking shoes. I couldn't figure out why I felt so chilly when I switched the water systems for the irrigation ditch this morning - then I found out it was 45 degrees outside. Gee, no wonder I felt chilly! We are supposed to quickly reach the mid-80s today and then have a high in the low 90s tomorrow. But fall is definitely in the air - and if one travels up to the higher elevations, you can see the leaves are beginning to change colors. I think we'll have an early fall foliage season this time around...
My kits are very clingy this morning. I wish I could make them understand that I'll be home, sleeping in my bed tonight, with them, and for the next several nights. The sun is shining brightly, and I still have some removal stuff to perform at Lynn's, but, other than walking Rosie this morning, packing up my stuff and getting it back home, all I have to do otherwise is pick Lynn up from DIA this evening. Then almost two weeks at home in my own bed, with my kits. It will be heavenly. Then I'm back at Lynn's and over with the ABC's before I'm back home again... And I'll only spend 10 nights away before I'm back home. Yea! Summer crazy-busy is slowing down at last!
I was intrigued by a sign up in Russell Gulch on Saturday that stated they had "horses for rent" and an arrow pointing up a trail to the west. I'll have to check them out next summer - see the outfit, look at the horses, find out the charges and see about the riding opportunities. It might be a new place to ride up in the mountains.
Back to common sense.... A woman was picking up her daughter at school. She was driving and texting at the same time, in front of the school. There was a guard rail made of pipes alongside the school sidewalk to protect the students. The mother was so involved with her texting that she drove her SUV into the pipe guardrail; she was going so fast that the pipe rail entered the front of her car through the headlight - and proceeded to pass through the engine, and ended up in the driver's thigh and piercing her butt cheek, pinning her in the car. The pipe had to be cut off and her car was cut open with the Jaws of Life in order to extract the woman (impaled to the car seat) and get her into an ambulance for transport to a hospital for the removal of the pipe. The woman is alive; the car is totaled; no students were hurt.
Please do NOT drive and text - or drive and talk on the phone - it's simply too dangerous for everyone in the area, including you, the driver.
My kits are very clingy this morning. I wish I could make them understand that I'll be home, sleeping in my bed tonight, with them, and for the next several nights. The sun is shining brightly, and I still have some removal stuff to perform at Lynn's, but, other than walking Rosie this morning, packing up my stuff and getting it back home, all I have to do otherwise is pick Lynn up from DIA this evening. Then almost two weeks at home in my own bed, with my kits. It will be heavenly. Then I'm back at Lynn's and over with the ABC's before I'm back home again... And I'll only spend 10 nights away before I'm back home. Yea! Summer crazy-busy is slowing down at last!
I was intrigued by a sign up in Russell Gulch on Saturday that stated they had "horses for rent" and an arrow pointing up a trail to the west. I'll have to check them out next summer - see the outfit, look at the horses, find out the charges and see about the riding opportunities. It might be a new place to ride up in the mountains.
Back to common sense.... A woman was picking up her daughter at school. She was driving and texting at the same time, in front of the school. There was a guard rail made of pipes alongside the school sidewalk to protect the students. The mother was so involved with her texting that she drove her SUV into the pipe guardrail; she was going so fast that the pipe rail entered the front of her car through the headlight - and proceeded to pass through the engine, and ended up in the driver's thigh and piercing her butt cheek, pinning her in the car. The pipe had to be cut off and her car was cut open with the Jaws of Life in order to extract the woman (impaled to the car seat) and get her into an ambulance for transport to a hospital for the removal of the pipe. The woman is alive; the car is totaled; no students were hurt.
Please do NOT drive and text - or drive and talk on the phone - it's simply too dangerous for everyone in the area, including you, the driver.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Labor Day
People visiting the Assateague National Seashore seemed to get the Labor Day weekend off to an unlucky start on Friday. However, all three accidents were preventable, using a bit of common sense. First, a male visitor was surf-fishing about a half-mile south of the public parking lot. He had had quite a fight with the fish on the other end of the line, and was excited about finding out what he had caught. He ran out into some rough surf, following his line. A breaker caught him, knocked him off his feet, and he ended up with a broken femur (thigh). The man was transported to Salisbury, via ambulance, to have his leg set. A second male visitor was surf-fishing for sharks. He had caught two, and was reeling in his third - but, he, too, decided to go into the surf to land the fish. He didn't see what kind of shark it was, but it bit his foot and severed a tendon and multiple veins. He, too, was taken by ambulance to the hospital to have his foot repaired - he stated he'll probably have a skin graft next weekend. The third accident is something that I blame on poor parenting. A family was in a van, driving along the Wildlife Loop near the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge headquarters building (it's on Assateague Island). They were driving around the wildlife loop with the rear side doors open. A twelve-year-old boy saw something that caught his attention, and leaned out of the door for a better look. He fell out of the van and onto the road. The boy had scrapes, bruises, a lump on his head, and a concussion. He was taken to Nassawadox hospital for evaluation and then released. - Common sense. What's the point in having a brain and being able to think, if one does not use common sense?
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On 28 June 1894, the US Congress passed an act making the first Monday of September a legal holiday to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the average worker in the United States. The Labor Day holiday was actually created out of the labor movement in the late 19th century. The Industrial Revolution was at its height in the late 1800s. During this time, the average American worked a 12-hour day seven days a week in order to eke out a basic living. Even though many states prohibited it, children as young as five and six were forced to work in mills, factories and mines.
Because of the long hours, unsafe and unsanitary working conditions, and poor treatment by management, labor unions organized and workers began holding strikes and protest rallies. These events often turned into dangerous riots, with loss of lives. The idea of a labor holiday caught on as more and more people sought a peaceful way to protest for better working conditions and for an eight-hour work day. According to Linda Stinson (a former US Department of Labor historian), the holiday eveolved over time, but most historians emphasize one specific event. That event was a parade by Unions and a massive picnic that took place in New York City on 5 September 1882.
The New York City event didn't go smoothly. Chaos reigned during the parade, and the picnic and speeches after it were "overshadowed by an abundance of cigars and Lager beer kegs... mounted in every conceivable place," noted the US Department of Labor. While almost 25,000 union members and their families attended, it turned out to be a fairly disastrous Labor Day celebration.
More and more states decided to join the celebration of a Labor Day, and the United States Congress made it official in June 1894.
Americans, enjoy your Labor Day safely!
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On 28 June 1894, the US Congress passed an act making the first Monday of September a legal holiday to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the average worker in the United States. The Labor Day holiday was actually created out of the labor movement in the late 19th century. The Industrial Revolution was at its height in the late 1800s. During this time, the average American worked a 12-hour day seven days a week in order to eke out a basic living. Even though many states prohibited it, children as young as five and six were forced to work in mills, factories and mines.
Because of the long hours, unsafe and unsanitary working conditions, and poor treatment by management, labor unions organized and workers began holding strikes and protest rallies. These events often turned into dangerous riots, with loss of lives. The idea of a labor holiday caught on as more and more people sought a peaceful way to protest for better working conditions and for an eight-hour work day. According to Linda Stinson (a former US Department of Labor historian), the holiday eveolved over time, but most historians emphasize one specific event. That event was a parade by Unions and a massive picnic that took place in New York City on 5 September 1882.
The New York City event didn't go smoothly. Chaos reigned during the parade, and the picnic and speeches after it were "overshadowed by an abundance of cigars and Lager beer kegs... mounted in every conceivable place," noted the US Department of Labor. While almost 25,000 union members and their families attended, it turned out to be a fairly disastrous Labor Day celebration.
More and more states decided to join the celebration of a Labor Day, and the United States Congress made it official in June 1894.
Americans, enjoy your Labor Day safely!
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