Onward and downward

We started our journey home today. Like geese flying south for the winter, we pulled together our belongings in tight formation and started our migration. Actually we went east across Colorado and Kansas before we turned south.

The weather was very accommodating and at the 75mph speed limit had us skimming across the heartland. We passed the two headed goat, 5 legged cow and largest prairie dog displays along the Kansas highway. I don't find the Kansas plains nearly as boring as some. My fellow spring breaker and I managed to get the gears meshing again. The audio book Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams certainly helped.

Our little auto audio visual setup is quite the Rube Goldberg device. The GPS stuck to the windshield is connected via bluetooth to my phone, this allows me to take and place calls using the GPS as a cordless hands free device, the GPS is also connected to one of those cassette adapters via it's headphone jack. This transfers the sounds coming from the GPS to the car stereo, these sounds include the GPS directions, the phone calls and the MP3 player built into the GPS. Are you following me? Our books on tape are in MP3 format, so while we are listening to the book the GPS will pause the book to give us driving instructions, or handle an incoming phone call. It actually works quite well!

We stopped for dinner at "The most famous BBQ in Oklahoma" I am not sure if that's true but it is the only BBQ joint I have been to that serves popcorn with all it's meals and Tootsie Rolls for everyone for desert. Dinner was good but I must say not up to our Texas standards with or without popcorn.

Blinded by the light

It started pretty well. We had the "really good" complementary breakfast as usual. Then we started making plans for the rest of the day. Maybe it was 24/7 in close contact, altitude, cold, or maybe the way the stars were aligned. In any case, shall we say, we didn't exactly mesh like a well oiled machine.

We all have moments where things don't really work out the way we want. Perspective is at a premium. Arguments in these situations remind me a lot of songs from your youth, they sounded great at the time, really conveyed an emotion, but when you listen to it replayed with the advantage of time passed, the words can sound pretty goofy. You wonder how they seemed to fit so well at the time yet failed so miserably the test of time.

"Madman drummers bummers, Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older, I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin, the calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground
But she was...Blinded by the light . . ."
- Bruce Springsteen

The Pearl of Boulder

We skied again today, another bright and sunny today but it was pretty windy. The gusts sent up little snow tornadoes. If you got caught in one, it was sort of like being sand blasted with ice chips. We got in some good runs, with virtually no lift lines we were up and down the trails in no time.

We headed down mountain a little early. With our extra time, we went to the Pearl Street Mall. This is one of those center city shopping eating areas several blocks long, no cars allowed. But that is just the physical description. It is both quintessential Boulder with it's art stores, holistic tea houses and anti war protesters. But it's also the anti-Boulder with it's smoke shops, Asian Import stores and pregnant skateboard punks.

We took it all in, they guy playing the mini harp, the "Pink Ladys" accosting passers by and some very cool arts stores. Katie's favorite store by far was Into the Wind. They are known as a big time kite store but they also have all kinds of wind up toys, puzzles, flying objects and the kind of stuff that would keep an ADD kid (or adult) fascinated for hours. Katie settled on two purchases, a mechanical flying bird from her youth and a set of guitar ice cube molds

Dinner was at the Boulder Cafe one of the several eateries on Pearl St. that had a lively crowd sitting in and around the building. The food was good and the atmosphere pure Boulder.

Demons Exorcised

Today was a glorious day. Bright, sunny, about 40 degrees in Boulder. We went to our favorite ski shop - Christy Sports and picked up our internet reserved ski packages. Then we stopped by The Whole Foods Market where the quality is high, the prices are higher and the snob appeal is off the chart. We picked up a good looking wrap and were on our way.

The temperature had been above 32 for most of the last 24 hours and precipitation free. that made for a dry issue free assent to Eldora Mountain. The skiing was great, not too windy, not too crowded. We had gotten a late start so we age a late lunch. Sitting in the back of our Expedition we ate Italian bread, cheese and the upscale wrap. It was yummy.

As the day wore on, it started to cloud up and even snow a little. We decided to pack it in a little early. Now the moment of truth, time to head down the mountain. Driving conditions were still very good. I am happy to report that our trip was uneventful. The spell had been broken, the demons exorcised. Tomorrow I am going to make Katie drive so we can start building new memories.

Strange but true

Today was going to be the first day on the mountain. We checked into the hotel around 9:00am so we could get our package lift tickets and be on our way. Next stop Christy Sports to get Katie's snowboarding equipment. Mysteriously, the turn signals on our SUV stop working. We get to Christy Sports and they are closed (they were going to open at 10). The Karma is going negative.

At this point drastic action was needed. We decided to take the bus to the mountain and rent the overpriced equipment on site. We had to find out way to the bus station an find a parking spot. Right then a Boulder EMS vehicle slammed into the back of our Expedition and the shock paddles flew through the windshield and our rear window. As the cords stretched to their maximum length they started to come together and hit me on both sides of my head at the same time sending 20,000 volts from ear to ear. OK that didn't happen but I thought it might as I looked for a parking space.

I think the bus was the right move. It was the first time up the mountain road since that fate full day in 2006. It was a little creepy. The bus stopped at the Nederland High School on the way up. Fortunately no one recognised us.

Katie spent the day frolicking on the bunny hill and hitting on 12 year olds while they were her captive on the ski lift. 4:00 came right after 3:00 and it was time to get back on the bus. The trip was uneventful. Katie recounted her conquests and the guy in row 5 used the word "dude" 9 times in one sentence.

We got back in the car and drove back to the hotel with nary a EMS vehicle in site. And the turn signals worked. Strange but true.

It's snowing . . . again

The morning started with a train whistle, it was followed by a pretty good breakfast, and then as we packed up the car. The temperature was around 40. One of us looked down at our french manicured toe nails and realized that the only "shoes" we had were cute little sandals that we were wearing. I'm not saying which one of us it was, but the sandals were size 8.

We spent most of the day driving north on I-25 through Colorado. Harry and company narrowly escaped Lord Voldermort for the 4th time. Friends were dying, enemies were gaining on them and adolescent hormones were going nuclear.

We were hungry and in need of and shoe store. We hit Pueblo Co but we were right at the climax of the fight at Hogwarts so we drove on. By the time we made it to Colorado Springs the epic battle between good and evil had been decided, our GPS lead us to a Kohles store next to a McDonalds next to a gas station., and it began to snow. As we descended from our chariot, one of us (cute size 8) stepped into a puddle, this propel ed us through the parking lot into the store at warp speed.

We ate dinner at Noodle and Company - one of Katies favorite spots, it is still snowing (just like it did last time we were here) and the weather man says it will snow all day tomorrow.

Can you hear the whistle blowing?

The first 663 miles down another 524 to go. We made it to Clovis New Mexico on our first day. Clovis is the first town in NM after you cross over the Texas border. We made the journey with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it really helps the time go by. The unabridged audio books are so much better than the movies.

We are staying in the nicest newest hotel in Clovis a Hampton Inn. We found a unique accessory on the desk in the room. Ear plugs. the main road going through Clovis and all the little towns in the area, is right next to rail road tracks. A train passes by on those tracks about once every 20 min. And of course, it's a law that they blow their horn has much as possible. To be honest it isn't that bad, I heard it while falling asleep and waking up but they never roused me from my slumber.

Colorado here we come, I hope the weather holds.

Once More into the Breech

OK - it's that time again . . . . Spring Break. We are going back to the sight of our most traumatic spring break adventure. Back, back to the Eldora - Neederland Expedition Toboggan Express.

Thanks right, Katie and I reprise our hair raising adventure of two years ago. If you weren't reading our blog back then check out the archives in spring 2006. Make sure you have plenty of food and water because it may take you a while to get through it.

We are going to get back on that horse, have a little hair of the dog, look under the bed one more time. We will let you know what we find (hopefully).

A When Grandma Goes To Court

Lawyers should never ask a Mississippi grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer.

In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know me?' She responded, 'Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you'll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.'

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?'She again replied, 'Why yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.'

The defense attorney nearly died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said:'If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you both to the electric chair!'

(sent to me from my wife)