Crunchy On The Outside, Chewey On The Inside

It looks more like Styrofoam than ice, but it's the stuff inside that really matters. Beauty's only skin deep but I have discovered that so many of my friends are beautiful in both ways. Of course there are a few exceptions (you know who you are), including the man in the mirror. Last weekend was a very uplifting experience for me. To be able to sit in with Peggy Mann and the incredible musicians she put together for her concerts was a blast! Thanks Peggy.
Be sure and check out tomorrows blob!!!!!!!

Life In A Picture

Contrast is a key element in so many things. Art, music and life in general. The beauty of the sun just about to make it's final appearance of the day underneath a cloudy and forbidding sky. The silhouette of dying trees in the foreground. And lines of communication crossing through and screwing up the whole photo.

Kind of looks like life, doesn't it?

Sometime Next Week

I really don't have much to say

It's just a laid back, lazy Sunday.

Tomorrow, for most, it's their Monday.

But, as for me.....it's my Friday.

Under the covers where I sometimes sleep.

I can lift my head and take a peek

To see if the mountain has reached it's peak.

Then back to my bed I'll soon retreat.

And I'll talk to you all sometime next week.

Louie Heckert Night

Tonight is Louie Heckert Night at the Lariat. We always celebrate his birthday, March 28, by dressing up in polyester and clothes that don't match. It's hard to believe it's been 3 years since he was attacked and killed by a moose while walking to church. That was the morning after we celebrated his 92nd birthday. We all miss Louie and Gladys very much. This little mountain town is not the same without them. Happy 95th, Louie!

March the twenty-fifth

No one's hangin' stockin's up,
No one's bakin' pie,
No one's lookin' up to see,
A new star in the sky.
No one's talkin' brotherhood,
No one's givin' gifts,
And no one loves a Christmas tree
On March the twenty-fifth.

This is from Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends", a book of poems and drawings. He has always been a favorite of mine and, as most of you know, I have played his "Unicorn Song" and "The Three Legged Man" songs for many years. My good friend, Scott Munn quoted this poem the other night when he was in the Lariat to jam on his congas and visit on the breaks.
Since today is March the 25th, I thought it would be appropriate to put this poem on the blob to remind people of the great works of Shel Silverstein and to buy or check out one of his books at your local library. And by the way, if your Christmas tree is still up or out in the yard somewhere, it might be time discard the tree but please always keep the spirit of Christmas in your hearts. Even if it is March the twenty-first!

Wanna Get Away?

This happened the other day down by the Grand Lake Marina. I'm not sure what was going on there but obviously, the ice is too thin, even for a small backhoe. I remember the time years ago when town trustee, Don Faulk told Bernie to go down by the Yacht Club and clear off the snow for an ice skating rink. I think Bernie argued to no avail and the giant town front loader was soon through the ice. It took the other front loader and a maintainer to pull it out and Bernie got the nickname, "Drivin' and Divin' Darrell". The picture of that episode is still on the ceiling of the Lariat.
I also remember a story that Louie Heckert told me of a guy in a small plane who was having engine problems and spotted this nice open meadow where he could land his plane. After he landed, he soon discovered that the meadow was in actuality, Grand Lake and the plane began to sink in the snow and that layer of slush above the ice. Luckily for him the ice underneath was still thick enough to keep the plane from being a submarine and all ended well.
I, myself, have fallen through the ice down by the East Inlet while ice fishing. I managed to save the six pack of beer I was carrying and myself but it quickly ended my day of fishing!
I guess the moral to all of this is......check to see how thick the ice is or you might end up swimming!

batan-naache

A legend of Grand Lake, based on a tale in Oliver Toll's account of the Arapahoe Indian trip in 1914, concerns the Arapahoe name for it, Holy Lake or Spirit Lake: batan-naache.
One year the lake began to freeze over in December. The nights were bitterly cold, and soon the ice was thick enough to hold up many buffalo. Snow fell and covered the ice, but one little patch in the center of the lake remained open. In the snow the Indians could see many tracks of many buffalo. The tracks of one seemingly enormous one seemed to come from the open patch of water and return to there. From this came the Indian's belief that some supernatural buffalo must live in this lake, and from this superstition came the name Spirit Lake.
This story is from Mary Lyons Cairns' book, "Grand Lake In The Olden Days". I know this is true because Dal Lord and I were there! And after much reflection(and a couple of 'adult beverages') we've decided to change the name of Grand Lake to batan-naache. Please write your local congressman and ask them to officially change the name. It will be good for the economy by putting cartographers to work.
By the way, the white buffalo pictured is by one of my favorite artists....Bill Rabbit