This year the mood is WAY up

At this time of year - a few days before the mountain opens, the town mood is guaged by what sort of ski year this is going to be. For some it's because they ski and for others it's because they are intensely financially dependent upon how good ski season is going to be. This year the mood is WAY up - we've got snow and lots of it. It's even snowing right now! It's really white all over the place.

What a FUN post office we have

I went to the Post Office today and, as I often do, reflected on what a FUN post office we have. There is a group of people who work there who make it their mission to make you laugh while you wait in line. While all of the postmasters are really nice and helpful people, there is one particular post master, Jim, who leads the fun. Not that he's all that nice. He teases me to death every time I walk in. There is usually a long line as I walk in the post office, Jim spies me and says very loudly for everyone to hear, "Boy I sure wish I had a truffle right now - wouldn't that be good!". And everone looks around and those who live here see me and laugh cause they know who I am.

By Jim's work station are pictures of 30 kids. He knows all of them by name. Jim knows EVERYONE by name. He used to live in the midwest and, as he tells it - he was about 60 pounds overweight, and was a miserable person to live with. "Ask my wife" he says "she's a saiint and puts up with me - God bless her." He moved to Telluride and began runnning. Now he runs the "Imogene." The Imogene is a race done every year where they run from one town to another (Ouray to Telluride). Now these town aren't all that far apart as the crow flies, but they are both at about 8,0000 feet to begin with Oh - and then there is this 12,000 peak that you have to run over during the race. Now I don't want to reveal Jim's age, but he ain't no spring chicken. But he usually wins or comes in pretty close to the front in his age bracket..

I really appreciate all that Jim and his fellow postmasters do at the post office. They think it's fun to make your day a little easier and bring a smile to your face. God bless them. If I go into the post office troubled or in a bad mood - I rarely leave that way.

Gotta make summer last as long as possible

It was down right cold this morning. Put on the down coat to go out. However, I also had shorts on. Just can't give those up until it snows. Gotta make summer last as long as possible. Took a hike yesterday and was amazed at how many of the Aspens are already beginning to turn. It's going to be a very early fall. I'm thinking we will be in full color in 18 days. Amazing.

Bear Story

At 5am I heard a crash on my front deck and some loud yelling. By the time I hit the living room, groggy from sleep, the front screen was torn into a ball, a flower pot was smashed and I looked in amazent at my large window, left wide open and easy access to the bear who obviously almost gained access to my house. Later that morning my neighbor told me he was the one who scarred the large bear away by yelling from his second story deck - amazing - usually they don't scare that easy when on the trail of food. My neighbor probably saved my life or at least the condition of my living room. Bears frequently get inside houses up here and they aren't very tidy. But in this case I would probably have walked right into him.

Bears are pretty docile around here. I have walked within 50 feet of one busy with some food - didn't notice him until the last minute. They are not Grizzlies which are much more aggresive as in the northwest, but if our black bears feel trapped, they will use what they've got - power, claws and teeth. In August the bears begin to engorge themselves in order hibernate. When there isn't enough food in the woods, they begin breaking into houses and trash cans. Word is that this year the bears are very aggressive. I was pretty careless to leave a first story window open for easy access. But the truffles are safe and so am I. Thank goodness.

I would like to think that people who fall in love with mountains are stubborn, romantic and idealistic -- dreamers

I have had the privilege of a high school intern from Virginia working with my company. A lovely young lady, full of energy and promise. She was interning as a student of a class on leadership and I was struck by the education she was getting in our small town. We are a community of leaders.

Her aunt, a close friend of mine, runs her own business writing grants for non-profit organizations, additionally her aunt's husband runs his own business as a solar engineer, helping people build energy efficient homes. She also went white water boating with our good friend Joe Powell, owner of Waterwolf who makes really great boats for white water (which is what we mainly use it for) but is adaptable to all sorts of water sports. In fact, almost all of the people that Megan met here in Telluride were entrepreneurs. And it struck me how different that is from other places. I was recently at a dinner party of about 10 people and someone remarked that all of us supported ourselves with our own companies.

Perhaps this is because, as you grow older in a mountain town, the jobs available are not personally or financially suitable. Therefore you make a choice of leaving or staying and making your own way. Additionally, I would like to think that people who fall in love with mountains are stubborn, romantic and idealistic -- dreamers. And perhaps the mountains have taught them to stay true to what they believe and they will reward them in the end. We're all getting our mortgages paid.

My back yard is 4 feet deep in snow

Sunny skies today and there haven't been many of those this winter. LOTS of snow. My back yard is 4 feet deep in snow. I've never seen it that deep. Yesterday I went to a small gathering of 6 people, two of whom were on crutches -- one with a broken leg and one had just blown here knee all from skiing. So be careful out there. Deep snow is great, but it also has a tendency to twist things.

There is an orthopedic surgeon turned ski instructor on the ski school staff here in Telluride. We always used to book very nervous customers with him - ski instructor and doctor all in one. He once told me the best way to avoid blowing out a knee was to not fight the fall. Of course, if you're heading for a tree, this may not be the right time to take that advice.

The locals are dangerous

There is a 3 mile bit of road that comes out of Telluride that we call The Spur. Who knows why - it's just been called that for a long time. It's the only way to get out of town. A very safe looking bit of road, no curves, no cliffs, but it's the most dangerous bit of road in this county. We had another accident there just the other day. The guy was air lifted out of town and I hear he is going to be fine. Now you would think all of these accidents are from tourists gauking at the really beautiful sights - not paying attention. But ... nope.... locals are mostly the ones loosing control of their cars. Why is that. It's one of life's mysteries, but be careful while you're driving into town. The locals are dangerous.

Box Canyon Fever

We get a thing up her called Box Canyon Fever. It hit me on January 2nd and I got into my car and drove to California for 10 days. Since I've gotten back I've spoken to others who just had to GET OUTTA HERE!!! Yep, sometimes you need to escape from this place - even though it's so beautiful. It's a small place, ya know. And it ends in a box canyon and there are these really tall mountains just towering all over the place. Now normally this is a very comforting thing, but when you get the fever, you gotta go. But I'm back at my post, making truffles for you all - seeing the mountains as the wonderful and beautiful things that they are.