Sunday, August 26, 2007
Monday, February 20, 2006
Valley Floor
The town voted to continue with condemnation (read February 10 remarks below). And most peopel are just glad it's over. It's so hard to fight in paradise. But questions still remain ... will continuing this lawsuit bankrupt the town.... what if your land is next?.....is the community greedy not taking a good deal? .... Or was it a really bad deal set up with smoke screens in order to "snow" the community while the lawyers laughed all the way to the bank. Is the owner of this corporation, who's wealth came from corporate defense contracts, a big bad wolf amongst the naive??? Stay tuned ... it all remains to be seen.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Valley Floor & Valley Cows
Usually my remarks on this site are short and sweet, but I've got to explain something in a bit of detail because it is a huge event in our community. We're our own little Iraq right here in the Rocky Mountains.
We often say that the little town of Telluride is a microcosm. Meaning what is happening on a large scale in the world, is happening on a more concentrated level here in our little town. People are fighting worldwide and we're no different. A local war is going on and becoming very heated. It's a fight over a large piece of property that lies at the gateway to our little town known as the "Valley Floor". It's undeveloped, open and beautiful and some may say the soul of Telluride. It's where the Valley Cows live in the summer!
But it is owned by a large corporation who wants to develop it. And since they bought it 20 years ago, they feel they have the right. But a few years ago the community of Telluride voted to begin a "Condemnation Law Suit" to take the property for the good of the community i.e. - even if you own land you can be forced to sell it to the people for the good of the people - this is what is done in order to build highways or set aside land for parks etc. So the condemnation has been raging for a few years and millions of dollars have been spent.
But recently the owning corporation has offered a "deal" - drop the condemnation law suit (which the town very well may loose after spending millions of dollars) and accept a smaller package of development and we all get on with our lives. So the reactions are anywhere from "Take the deal - its the best we can do!" to "Don't give into the fear ... fight for the land, once it's gone - it's gone forever". And everything in between.
On February 14th - the members of Telluride will vote to decide the outcome. And there are arguments going on all over town. Judgements, misunderstandings, misinformation are being thrown at each other - public meetings are being held. The paper is filled with pages upon pages of "letters to the editor" experessing all sorts of empassiioned views on both sides of the argument. It literally is what everyone is talking about and it is heating up to volatile levels.
We often say that the little town of Telluride is a microcosm. Meaning what is happening on a large scale in the world, is happening on a more concentrated level here in our little town. People are fighting worldwide and we're no different. A local war is going on and becoming very heated. It's a fight over a large piece of property that lies at the gateway to our little town known as the "Valley Floor". It's undeveloped, open and beautiful and some may say the soul of Telluride. It's where the Valley Cows live in the summer!
But it is owned by a large corporation who wants to develop it. And since they bought it 20 years ago, they feel they have the right. But a few years ago the community of Telluride voted to begin a "Condemnation Law Suit" to take the property for the good of the community i.e. - even if you own land you can be forced to sell it to the people for the good of the people - this is what is done in order to build highways or set aside land for parks etc. So the condemnation has been raging for a few years and millions of dollars have been spent.
But recently the owning corporation has offered a "deal" - drop the condemnation law suit (which the town very well may loose after spending millions of dollars) and accept a smaller package of development and we all get on with our lives. So the reactions are anywhere from "Take the deal - its the best we can do!" to "Don't give into the fear ... fight for the land, once it's gone - it's gone forever". And everything in between.
On February 14th - the members of Telluride will vote to decide the outcome. And there are arguments going on all over town. Judgements, misunderstandings, misinformation are being thrown at each other - public meetings are being held. The paper is filled with pages upon pages of "letters to the editor" experessing all sorts of empassiioned views on both sides of the argument. It literally is what everyone is talking about and it is heating up to volatile levels.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Snowing!
It has been a very warm fall. I haven't even worn a coat yet. I was walking down main street yesterday and overheard a tourist saying "It sure doesn't feel like November". But alas - last night it snowed. Good to see the white stuff back.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Get Ready for Skiing Tips
I love to ski - no doubt, but ya gotta laugh at what we put up with in order to do it. But isn't that what love is all about? So here are some "Get Ready for Skiing Tips". (If you don't ski you may not understand why these are funny.)
1. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for a half an hour. Afterwards, burn two $50 dollar bills to warm up.
2. Soak your gloves and store them in the freezer after every use.
3. Fasten a small, wide rubber band around the top half of your head before you go to bed each night.
4. If you wear glasses, begin wearing them with glue smeared on the lenses.
5. Throw away a hundred dollar bill - now.
6. Find the nearest ice rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car. Sporatically drop things.
7. Place a small but angular pebble in your shoes, line them with crushed ice, and then tighten a C-clamp around your toes.
8. Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.
9. Secure one of your ankles in a bedpost and ask a friend to run into you at high speed.
10. Got to McDonald's and insist on paying $8.50 for a hamburger. Be sure you are in the longest line.
11. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.
12. Drive slowly for five hours - anywhere - as long as it's in a snowstorm and you're following an 18-wheeler.
13. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. Leave the ice on your face until it melts. Let it drip into your clothes.
14. Dress up in as many clothese as you can and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.
15. Slam your thumb in a car door. Don't go see the doctor.
16. Repeat all of the above every Saturday and Sunday until it's time for the real thing!
1. Visit your local butcher and pay $30 to sit in the walk-in freezer for a half an hour. Afterwards, burn two $50 dollar bills to warm up.
2. Soak your gloves and store them in the freezer after every use.
3. Fasten a small, wide rubber band around the top half of your head before you go to bed each night.
4. If you wear glasses, begin wearing them with glue smeared on the lenses.
5. Throw away a hundred dollar bill - now.
6. Find the nearest ice rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car. Sporatically drop things.
7. Place a small but angular pebble in your shoes, line them with crushed ice, and then tighten a C-clamp around your toes.
8. Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.
9. Secure one of your ankles in a bedpost and ask a friend to run into you at high speed.
10. Got to McDonald's and insist on paying $8.50 for a hamburger. Be sure you are in the longest line.
11. Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket and ride a motorcycle fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.
12. Drive slowly for five hours - anywhere - as long as it's in a snowstorm and you're following an 18-wheeler.
13. Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your face. Leave the ice on your face until it melts. Let it drip into your clothes.
14. Dress up in as many clothese as you can and then proceed to take them off because you have to go to the bathroom.
15. Slam your thumb in a car door. Don't go see the doctor.
16. Repeat all of the above every Saturday and Sunday until it's time for the real thing!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
There is always a silver lining
When living in paradise it's hard to complain. But one thing we are not used to is being HOT! And Geez it is hot. We're reaching 90 degrees on some days. That may not seem all that bad, but keep in mind airconditioning pretty much doesn't exist here. Restaurants and hotels are airconditionless. Imagine being a bellman in a hotel charging $300 a night and when the guest is shown a stuffy 90 degree room they have to explain this 4 star hotel does not have airconditioning. "Open the windows" is the only thing to say. So ... I could it could be worse for me anyway ... ah.... there is always a silver lining.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
The talk is RIVER RUNNING
The talk is RIVER RUNNING!!! And they are ... running that is. Everything is in flood stage. Record flows - big water. Lots of boats on top of people's cars leaving town in search of white water.
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