Supermoon Sensation

We really like Patti Rothberg's "Overnight Sensation" (iTunes). Work and life has meant quite a few evenings in on the hill, as opposed to going out and socializing. And the soundtrack lately has been Patti; with some retro funk from Dr. John added in. But last night, the video track was obvious...


Supermoon 2011

The Ice Thins

The strong March sun makes its way through the snow that remains on the hill. The clocks are back on "Daylight" time. And I'm enjoying the now-ness of the change!.

Early March 2011

KTEX2011 Coda

Waking up this morning at Steve's condo; I reflect back on the trip and look forward to getting home tonight with minimal drama. It was great to be together with friends. You can't control the weather; but you can adapt to it. There is something a lot like water-skiing in the calm solitude of riding the lift alone; and then having essentially the mountain to yourself to challenge your ability. The new G3 Mass Transits are the shit (thank you Peter and JoAnn!); but they really scream for deeper powder than we had most of the week. ... Had an indulgent dinner last night with Cyndi and Steve at Allreds, will get Steve's "limo" to KTEX/DEN/BOS/Home !

The Crowds of Telluride

KTEX2011 Part7

After eight days on the mountain, I've run out of superlatives.

KTEX2011 Part6

Tuesday was the "day of (lift) nine", tape to tape, and not a muscle in my body not blissfully sore. Dinner at 221 with Kurt, Steve, and Cyndi. After coffee from smiling Sara at the `Bean, time to do it again. ... Wednesday evening, exhausted! Dinner at Llama-Pescado. ... Thursday morning arrives, the sun is out and Sara is still smiling.

Soft top of Nine

Sara and Shep

KTEX2011 Part5

We had a wonderful breakfast at the New Sheridan. After Air Blue left, things settled in and we went back to basics. I spent the day entirely on 9, doing my "physical therapy".  I skied alone, Juliana singing in my headphones, "there's no ever after, there's only in between." Somehow that made my full-seeming life seem fuller; and each turn even more wonderfully in-the-now.

Aprés Ski Health Drink at X Cafe

KTEX2011 Part4

Today was exciting. Up early for first tracks down 9, then over to Revelation Bowl, lunch at Alpino Vino with Blue and Louise, then out in search of more powder. While skiing down a nice run called "Confidence" I managed to tweak my bipartite patella; kind of ironic, you know, the confidence bit. Skied back to the gondola almost entirely on my left ski; which was actually a fun drill, if it was not of necessity. No big drama; and it hasn't swollen much more than it often does with summertime double water-ski sets. Lesson learned: "Whining Causes Avalanches!" Dinner tonight upstairs at La Marmotte will work just fine as as a situation-appropriate analgesic.

Long Line at Lift 8

Roughing it in Telluride

Alpino Vino Hostess

KTEX2011 Part3

The snow came with the dawn on Saturday. Not a blizzard, but what would be four or five inches on the mountain before the day was through. Dinner at Excelsior, a loud group we were, then early to bed in anticipation of the Sunday morning freshies'.

Saturday Morning

Saturday Day

KTEX2011 Beyond the Skiing

Chris would often remind me that the Aprés-skiing is just as important as the skiing. He was right.

Tamara and Cindy

Clara and Chrissie

Josh and Shep

Moon over West Columbia Ave.

KTEX2011 Part2

Day two featured Josh coming up with a great many euphemisms for the hard pack conditions. "I can see that this mountain has lots of great terrain", he said. On more than one occasion we would look over a snowpack and exclaim "I can't believe it's not powder!" Hongas tonight for dinner. Snow looking imminent.

Part of the Tribe on 5 at the top of Henry's

KTEX2011 Part1

Arrival was a bit of a drama; but it all worked out fine. BOS/DEN no problem; but Great Lakes Air made what must have been a business decision to fly us to Cortez instead. Bags lost. Happy accident of going to Cortez was the deluxe ride to Telluride from this cool kid from Alaska, while chatting up a storm with KOTO DJ Amy. Got to Chez Cyndi's, then slowly made rendezvous with Steve, Cyndi, Josh, Cindy, Tamara, and thankfully, my luggage. Dinner at Cosmo. Restless first-night at 8700 feet. Still felt crispy Thursday morning. Breakfast at the Steaming Bean helped terrifically. On the mountain Thursday, the snow was a little firm, not thin; and the wind was howling, but the smiles were ear to ear. Blue, Louise, Clara, and Chrissie arrived KTEX as we landed at Chair X. Dinner at the New Sheridan in the exclusive (and quiet) back room. Now we just need the pow'.

Shep, well bundled up, on Lookout

Earn Your Turn

Sure could use a rope tow!

Missing Chris - Thirteen Years On

I think about how much I have lived and how much by best friend hasn't, in the thirteen years since his death.

Above The Ravine (ca. 1995)

After the Snow

The first real snowstorm of the season was more plain "cold and windy" than snow. Less than a foot here, except where it drifted. Still, it's a reminder of wintertime.

Just Outside

Small Engine Repair

Some guest commentary by a good friend as I lament the inability to start our 6KW Onan generator in advance of a likely blizzard. Disclaimer: This is technical satire, not technical advice.

      Today, the day of the storm of the century, is the day to open it up again and fix it. I mean, you’ve been nursing and coddling the thing for 15 years, it’s times like this when it ought to give you some payback on that already spent money, time and effort.
      Don’t even hesitate about warming it up with your space heater. Yes, it’s a good idea to do everything possible to discourage the use of the word stupid in your obituary. But don’t let that stop you from taking small chances occasionally.
      Before you have another (more liberal) go at it with the ether, it’s time to investigate whether the mice did more than just build a cozy nest. You’ve got your 2ga jumpers hooked securely to the truck battery, for nice healthy cranking, right? Pop the plug, hold it against some bare metal on the block, and turn her over. If no spark, time to wander down the mice-chewed-the-wires road. If spark, then spray a healthy dose of gumout in the carb, let evap, follow with liberal ether, and give her another good solid try.
      If the beast started for you as recently as Thanksgiving, it should definitely give at least a good solid cough from the ether. If you can only get it to run for a few seconds on the ether, pop the carb (probably only two bolts) and hose it out in upstream direction. Take off the bowl (usually just one bolt) and carefully slide off. Spread something clean below so when the float, hinge pin, and tiny needle valve fall out, you’re not digging in the dirt.
      Give the hole leading to the needle valve seat a good spray too, and eliminate a fuel delivery problem by pulling the fuel line for the carb and making sure you get good healthy flow all over your lap before scrambling to plug it back together. Or plan ahead by using the shutoff valve if you’re in a tidy and hygienic mood. As you probably know, that tiny rubber seal on the end of the needle valve (aka float valve, the alum body is often rectangular or triangular in cross section) is a common victim of ethanol in gas, but since you’ve already checked for fuel, it’s not likely to have failed and bled out all your fuel over the past month.
      Luckily, engines are pretty simple devices. You know you have compression, so when you confirm spark and fuel, and give her a good healthy crank, you’ll be warm and cozy on the hill.

Lobster Thermidor

Susan made Lobster Thermidor and we all enjoyed!

Christmas Eve 2010

Friends and Food

Xenochrony

"What is the idea behind it? Suppose you were a composer and you had the idea that you wanted to have a drum set playing expressively and intuitively, eleven-four, at a certain tempo while an electric bass player is doing exactly the same thing in another tempo in another time signature, and you want them to do this live on stage and get a good performance. You won't get it. You can't. You can ask for it, but it won't happen. There's only one way to hear that, and that's to do what I did. I put two pieces of tape together." -FZ

First Dusting

First dusting of snow this season. It's nice to wake up to.

Tuesday Morning 2010-12-14

Bushkill Sleigh Trip

There must have been subliminal catalysts for my churning this out last night. An inner-yelp wanting to touch the facts of the past? A mass-mailed holiday card to my childhood friends? Regardless, I hope all enjoy. West Shokan in the 1970s was indeed magic; and it was great. Forward to the truth. Holiday wishes and best to all. -S

At first I considered Zappa's Montana as the soundtrack; but decided instead on "La La La" by The Bird and the Bee, who I'm grateful to for this wholly-unauthorized use of their sonic gem.