fake blood and a weird haircut

Well this week, she was a busy one. Nothing specific, just into the homestretch of the semester at work and the beginning of a new PEO year. But my head's still above water. 

I worked last weekend and there was  law enforcement/ EMS training event going on on campus. One those things with "trauma victims" and various simulations. We were told a flight-for-life helicopter would be making an appearance, but by the end of our shift, we realized, no helicopter. We were promised a helicopter!

Also this week, I went in for a haircut. I've been going to the same stylist for a couple of years now. She does a good job and is reasonably priced. The salon is pretty laid back - professional but not snobby.

Each stylist has their own little cubby, partitioned off from the others. And it's not uncommon for the stylists to chat with each other across partitions. Sometimes, my stylist's college age daughter drops by and catches up for a while.

But this last time - tell me if this is weird. I'm there in the chair getting my haircut. Daughter comes by with a friend and shares greetings with my stylist while going to the breakroom. Then they come back out and some other dude comes in - not a college dude, but an older guy. Someone's husband? I dunno. He wasn't there to get a cut or anything, just stops in to shoot the shit.

So it's me in the chair, my stylist is working. Her daughter, daughter's friend, and weird older dude are just hanging around. Stylist is dropping hints now and then like, "Sorry, I can't visit much today, my schedule got backed up a bit..." And I'm there like I'm having my haircut at someone's backyard barbecue.

The trio isn't taking the hint, just keeps hanging around and visiting. I still have no idea why older dude is there. Honestly, I'm not sure why the 19-year-old daughter with a car hangs out at her mom's work either. Stylist says something like, "Sheesh, I feel like I'm being graded - everyone just watching me work, heh heh" *hint*hint*nudge*nudge*, and still they stick around.

In hindsight, I should've glommed onto that and said, "How do you think I feel?!" but I just remained there feeling awkward. They probably still wouldn't have gotten it anyway.

When she finished up, and I paid, she seemed to be giving me apologetic vibes with her eyes.

But it was weird. Was that weird?

springing

Well, so much for birds chirping and sun shining. It's currently snowing. Welp, that's April for us. It's okay, as always. We need the moisture.

It feels like this week flew by and zipped right to Friday. The end of the semester is nigh, and student panic mixed with exhaustion is palpable. Despite today's winterness, the spring fever is hitting hard as well. As such, I've noticed much more crowding at the bicycle racks at work now that the fair weather commuters have joined in.

As I was securing my trusty commuter, Daisy, I couldn't help but notice this stranger at the end of the rack

"Big Weird Red" - that's gotta be a custom job, right? 

Eye catching and artistic? Yes. 

Ridable? Doubtful. 

pelican briefly

It's a beautiful morning here. Birds chirping, trees budding, sun shining... Can winter hibernation be over?

It felt like a productive enough week, and I think spirits, in generally, are lifted by our nice weather. Soon, it will be hot, and people will be at each others' throats again, so we'll enjoy this bit while we can.

I came across some visiting pelicans on a recent weekday morning

Up until about 25 years ago, I thought pelicans were strictly sea birds, hanging about the coasts. But one day when we lived in Utah, we were entertaining the in-laws - who at the time were avid birders - at a local bird refuge where we saw all kinds of bird friends, including *gasp* pelicans?

And I remember thinking, "What the frick are pelicans doing in Utah?". Well, migrating. Hello.

Since we've moved to Fort Collins, I can remember seeing pods of pelicans every spring - like an annual pelican convention. Lovely things.

Speaking of wildlife, Boss acquired a new-to-him cat. Recall that a few weeks ago, his beloved cat, Biscuit, went belly up from a stroke. Since then, Boss had been on the prowl for a suitable replacement. The yet-to-be-named newcomer is slowly getting used to his new life, which started out by biting Boss in the hand and henceforth being quarantined.

New Cat is recently released from cat jail, and Boss says he doesn't meow, doesn't purr, but eats like a champ. 

The rescue shelter didn't have a whole lot of information on "Little Dude Bob" (temporary emergent name), and it seems like he wasn't very well socialized to humans. 

Boss'll break him in, one hand at a time.

bicycles, birds, baddies

It was a beautiful morning for a bicycle ride today, and that's exactly what we did. Really feels like spring has sprung. While tooling through a particulary ritzy neighborhood - visiting how the other half lives - we came upon 4 or 5 wild turkeys.

Although rare, I've come across wild turkeys within the city limits before, but this particular "rafter" (had to look that up) of turkeys included comparatively large and quite lovely birds. Others have seemed scraggly and weak looking. 

I slowed a bit to take in this healthy bird crew as a pickup came up behind us. So I moved on along to not block the pickup, but then pickup guy pulled alongside of us and asked, 

"Didja see the turkeys?! They're HUUUUGE!"

The group let out a good gobble-gobble, just to show off, as we carried on our way. 

Shortly afterward, a lone blue heron gave us a flyby, and a while later, a pod (google again) of pelicans gracefully circled overhead. A morning of bicycles and birds it was.

I have no photos of these majestic bird sightings. Know that I at least momentarily considered pulling over and getting pics, but talked myself out of it. 

I didn't experience the local "Hands Off" rally first hand yesterday, but heard that it was peaceful. However, later in the afternoon, we got several news reports of a "possible gang-associated" shooting at the local mall with a suspect on the run. 

So that was news for our sleepy, relatively low-crime city. Authorities were still looking for a suspect when we went to bed.

Around 4:30 this morning, I was awakened by what sounded like someone knocking on our glass door or one of our windows. About 6 knocks, followed by a pause and 4 more knocks followed by a pause and 2 more knocks in quick succession. 

A disconcerting sound, certainly. But then I figured if someone was knocking on one of our windows or doors, the dogs would be going bananas, which they most certainly were not.

"Hmmm, it's probably gun shots or fireworks", I figured, which made it strangely seem less disconcerting. 

No news of it today other than from Ring neighbors and Nextdoor people who were similarly awakened and wondering, so it was likely fireworks.

Fireworks are illegal in Colorado, but not so in Wyoming, which is about a 45-minute drive from here. So we get firework shooters year-round and learn to just go back to sleep.

Anyway, we learned that the police identified and arrested a suspect in the mall murders - yes, both victims died. Some teenager. Under 18. WTF.