Dinner, Nederland, and Critters

Let me sing the praises of Ted's Montana Grill! My nephew Mike loves spicy food, and my sister was trying to steer him toward a couple of Mongolian restaurants, when she found a listing for Ted's. Knowing my preference for plain cooking, my wonderful nephew chose Ted's Montana Grill. Oh, my.... If you like beef, bison, trout, salmon, and organic veggies, Ted's is the place for you to go. Kathy had the cedar plank trout; Mike had prime rib; Annie had bison short ribs; Jim had sirloin; Sarah and Michael had bison burgers; and I had bison pot roast. We all got different side dishes, and were glad we had been given a round table, as we passed all the sides, appetizers, and desserts around the table for everyone to try. I had roasted asparagus, Mike had broccoli in butter, Jim had squash casserole, Annie had green beans, plus there were mashed potatoes and gravy, fries, onion rings, chutney and sweet and sour half-pickles. It was a gourmet experience. Mike said it was the best meal he's had in his entire life (all of 29 years) - and the best prime rib. I must admit that the sage on the prime rib made it special. My bison pot roast was falling in shreds off the fork, and everyone agreed (even Michael, the gourmet cook) that it was a superb meal. Mike got a huge cinnamon oatmeal raisin cookie with a scoop each of homemade chocolate and vanilla ice cream; Kathy chose the Kahlua chocolate fudge brownie sundae; and Jim got the hot apple caramel crisp with vanilla ice cream. Each of the desserts was sent around the table, too. Yum!!!
Besides being Mike's birthday, yesterday also kicked off our local Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland. Today there is a parade, the coffin races, the frozen salmon, turkey, and rump roast throws, multiple dances, the Polar Plunge for charity, as well as many other really cool events. If you're in the area, or would just like to know more about Frozen Dead Guy Days, please visit: http://www.nederlandchamber.org/events_fdgd-events.html You can even visit Grandpa Bredo in his Tuff Shed, packed in dry ice, if you really want to be a bit macabre.
Skippy decided that I needed a lot of grooming after I returned from dinner last night - after 2 hours of having my face, ears, neck, arms and hands being washed, I finally told him "No" and put him on the floor. Finn has been a wonderful dear, and I think, will happily trade a toy for the newspaper when David and Susan return. He is a very bright dog, and really wants to please. Lovey and Nedi seem to be happy to be back home - they are currently running in and out the patio door, jumping in my lap for loving, and then hurrying back outside so they won't miss anything. I did have to laugh yesterday - when I checked the local headlines at noon, there were huge warnings everywhere that Boulder was going to get at least 4 inches of snow before 11 p.m. I don't know where it went, but it certainly did not happen in either northern or central Boulder! I hope to download my photos from the past two weeks tomorrow - then I can share Finn, Skippy, Lovey and Nedi with you. They have all been delightful kids!

Just Everyday Things...

Clouds are starting to come in from the west this morning - our forecast includes rain, sleet, and/or snow, with a high of 41 degrees. It was 59 yesterday, but the westerly wind made it feel cooler. The kits are back at the apartment, Finn is happy to have the run of the house again, but Skippy keeps looking for Nedi... I think he enjoyed being worshipped. Mike has decided that he wants to eat at Ted's Montana Grill for his birthday, so I'll be headed downtown to the corner of 17th and Pearl Streets about 7 tonight. Between yesterday's wind and a migraine that roosted just behind my left eye, I didn't get out to walk Rosie and Remy. I'm headed that way once I finish my blog; then I'll walk Tessa and visit with the Thore kits, and then visit my kits at home. I should be able to get that done before stuff starts falling from the sky....

I did have to giggle last night at a contestant's response on Jeopardy! - it was a category that the question was to begin with a body part. For the Daily Double, it was a video clue; and it was a still shot of a chinchilla. The man could not come up with the answer and he started apologizing as he giggled and asked "A titmouse?" - And I was surprised that I knew the answer to Final Jeopardy, while all three contestants missed it: The subject was Biographies; the answer was Oscar Wilde... There were several other answers I thought were extremely easy, but were never questioned. Oh, well....

The red-tailed hawk just left his perch in the cottonwood tree and flew back toward the open space to the west. I received an e-mail message from Finn and Skippy's family that said, "Tigers today; Ganges tomorrow." So I think they are enjoying their trip to India, since the business end of things has been taken care of. The vacuum cleaner is back, and has had a tune-up, as well as the electric cord replacement. Finn pulled the legs and half of WallyGator's nose off last night. We had to switch the newspaper for one of his stuffies, but it worked well this morning. I put poor Wally's remains in the trash, as well as a lot of his cotton stuffing. *Sigh.* Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Critters, Horses, and Smell

All of the dogs and cats are absolutely fabulous today - the sky is a bright blue and the sun is out. Finn was super about handing over the newspaper, and accepting WallyGator in it's stead. The local pack of coyotes set off the little terrier next door about 11:30 last night; that set Finn off. But he was a wonderful man during the night, otherwise. I'm taking the kits back home today so they can become reacquainted with our small home, and enjoy getting outside again. Tomorrow is my nephew's 29th birthday, and we're all going out for supper to celebrate.

Saturday is "the Big 'Cap" - the Santa Anita Handicap. A field of 11 horses has been entered, with Jenny Craig's Twirling Candy the favorite and high-weight (at 122). Candy will break from post position 5; I'm leaning towards Spurrier, who carries 115 pounds, and will break from the # 2 spot. ... Last Sunday's Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream was won by Little Mike; Nicanor was fifth and Twilight Meteor was seventh. ... The Epsom Derby will be run on June 4 this year, and currently has 125 horses nominated to run. The early favorite is a colt named after one of the US' top trainers - Frankel. ... And jockey Eibar Coa had a second surgery on his wrist, following his horrible spill that broke his C4 vertebrae. Eibar has feeling and movement in all of his extremities, and his family and he are very optimistic regarding his recovery.

And I finally found out the medical term for the loss of the sense of smell - it's anosmia. I am an anosmic. The sense of smell can be lost in several ways - mine comes from brain damage from a few too many concussions, as well as chronic sinus infections.... At least I can now name the correct term. (And if you have difficulty in finding wide-sized shoes to fit your feet, I recommend visiting http://www.shoebuy.com - they have given me superb service! And my feet are shaped like a duck's!)

The Incomparable Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas at 94...

Cats and Dogs

After I walked Rosie and Remy yesterday morning, Nancy brought them over to the house to meet and play with Finn in the afternoon. The dogs had a blast - mostly Finn and Rosie racing around, but Remy had his moments, too. Nancy and I really enjoyed watching them play. Lovey is still unsure about Skippy, but Nedi and he play together and get along just fine. And Lovey was upset because Skippy joined us in bed last night - she didn't think that he belonged, so she hissed and spent the night under the bed. We haven't quite reached the freezing mark yet this morning, but the sun is shining and the sky is mostly clear. We've had temperatures in the upper 50s and very low 60s for the past few days, and it's expected to continue until tomorrow evening. Then a cold front will come in and we'll have rain and/or snow on Friday, with highs in the 40s and 50s over the weekend. I've been very happy with Finn's work and training with the newspaper; he now will stop inside the gate, give me the paper in exchange for WallyGator, and then run off on his merry way. No running away with the paper in a game of chase me, and no chewing of the paper. I had not been able to figure out how Finn had acquired Saturday's paper without me; he totally shredded that day's edition - but I found out from a neighbor that the neighbor had kicked the paper under the gate to give it to Finn. I explained Finn's current newspaper problem, and the neighbor said he'd stop "giving" the paper to Finn without supervision. That was nice. - And I need to remember to pick up the vacuum cleaner from SewVac today; they had to replace the electrical cord. At least that way Soledad can have the house clean on Friday. The family is due back Monday morning, and Soledad will clean again on Tuesday, but I will do my own clean-up on Sunday... I think I'll take the kits home Thursday evening; they can readjust to being home over the weekend and I'll move back in with them Monday. This house is grand. Skippy and Finn are super. But, as usual, there's no place like home.....

Respect

I haven't watched the Oscar Awards in years. As I'm in my mid-50s, I think it's because the stars I grew up watching have died or are kept hidden. I haven't seen anyone new in the past 15 years, either on TV or at the movies, that has really moved me, acting. I did not even see all of the Oscar presentations last night... the book I was reading was much more entertaining. But. But ... I was watching when Kirk Douglas was introduced to present an award. I closed my book and I turned up the volume on the TV a tiny bit. Kirk Douglas is 94 years old; he has had a stroke; last night he became my hero while "hamming it up" during his presentation.

Kirk Douglas at 94 does not resemble the Kirk Douglas from Spartacus - nor should he. I have read over 300 comments from viewers of last night's awards show, and I have been saddened by the content of most of the messages. Most people have said that Kirk should have been kept at home, and that his appearance was appalling, shameful, and demeaning. I found it to be an extremely brave and grand gesture. I never knew any of my grandparents or great-grandparents, and I have longed to sit at an elder's knee and be told the truths of the world. Kirk Douglas has always been regarded as a handsome man, and last night he became my favorite leading man of all time. At the age of 94, he moves with a cane, and he had a handsome "assistant" to help him with his marks on stage - but he spoke clearly and showed that definite sense of humor that is his alone. - When my husband had his first stroke, his personality underwent a change. He continued to have multiple mini-stokes for several years, and each one changed him. I was astounded when his mother and siblings told me that I should place him in a nursing home and forget him. I am still amazed by their beliefs today, eight years after his death. - Once a stroke has killed brain cells, re-learning everything becomes a challenge. To have been able to see Kirk Douglas appear on stage and make an Oscar presentation at the age of 94 was the most incredible thing I have yet lived to see. The sight of Kirk Douglas, standing on that stage, in front of his peers, 'hamming it up' and seemingly having a ball doing so, was the most inspiring thing that I have ever seen during the Oscars. God bless you, Kirk. Thank you for being such a wonderful and enduring man.

Beautiful Sunday!

It's a beautiful morning - the sun is shining brightly, almost all the snow has melted, and I had no problem convincing Finn to exchange the newspaper for the squeaky WallyGator out in the drive this morning. We will soon be headed out for our morning walk and Finn is excellent company on the leash. I had all three cats in bed with me last night; Lovey and Nedi still seem to be in awe of Skippy's size. Thanks to the kits, I slept well.

Eibar Coa had a second surgery to repair the C-4 break in his neck. He can now feel and move his feet. I hope that he continues to have a super recovery! ... The Fountain of Youth Stakes was run yesterday at Gulfstream Park, and Soldat was the wire-to-wire winner. His connections will point him next at the $1 million Florida Derby, and then, hopefully, on to Churchill Downs. ... The Canadian Turf Stakes will be run today at Gulfstream; the two horses drawing the most attention in this race are Nicanor (Barbaro's 5-year-old full brother), and 7-year-old Twilight Meteor. The older horse was retired to stud in 2009, but there was little interest in breeding to him, so he has returned to the races.

And, as a nonsensical aside, if you are interested in period costumes from say, 1800 onward, please indulge yourself by visiting http://www.recollections.biz/ - they have a super selection of all kinds of items!