Grayscale

After talking so much about the weather recently, it’s time for me to turn to . . . politics. Well, only sort of, but this has been on my mind for awhile, so I’m going to go ahead and air it. It’s the state of the state (really, a commonwealth) of Virginia that’s been on […]

The Puritan Way

In 1632, John Livermore arrived in the British colonies of North America. I know very little about John, except that after several generations of begatting, here I am. I figure, given the date and his location, that he was probably a Puritan, so from time to time I like to refer to my “Puritan ancestors,” […]

My Valentine

Some snowy January nearly two decades ago I woke up with a singular thought: I need to go to Wisconsin. So I drove to the airport, bought a ticket, and a few days later was winging my way to Wausau, where my sister Terri had once lived for a very short time, and that was […]

Getting Real (Estate)

Remember how Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times”? Yeah, I didn’t actually read it either, but I’ve heard it quoted plenty of times. [Ooh, early aside: if you want good literary quotes without being, you know, literary, Star Trek movies are your go-to. Lots of Shakespeare, some […]

Weather Window

Because I made it seem like so much fun, Lynn was planning her own trip to Denver last week. Then the forecast for last Wednesday (her departure date) came in, and I told her she couldn’t go. To be clear, no one tells Lynn what to do. Let’s just say I strongly suggested she postpone […]

Tight Spaces

I’m feeling very cranky this morning, and a little dizzy. I avoided antibiotics, but this has left my ears stuffed full and still crackling since the beginning of the year — and I am tired of it. Particularly if it’s going to make me dizzy. I just spent 15 minutes rearranging three different blog posts, […]

This Place Where I Live

Some words about the weather: it’s cold. The weathercaster on Channel 4 Denver, Chris Spears, seemed quite happy (he’s always happy) this morning to report a statewide low of -18 in Gunnison. My computer begs to differ: Weather Underground currently has us at -11. (In fairness to Mr. Spears, he probably gets the temps for […]

The Un-Decider

Today is Decision Day — and I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be deciding. In general, decisions are not my best thing. Like breathing, we humans (and lots of other creatures) make tons of decisions without even noticing: when to get out of bed, which room to walk into, what to do next; […]

High Crimes

Before Lake City was Lake City, it experienced its first murders — murders that have lived in infamy. Lake City, a tiny little hamlet that swells substantially in the summer months, lies 60 miles south of Gunnison in its own county, Hinsdale. It calls itself, in a slogan I’m quite impressed with, “A Diamond in […]

Courting No Favors

Here in Gunnison County, we needed a new courthouse long before we got one. As with most things in government — probably all of Life — what seems like a simple statement of fact quickly becomes mired in controversy and outcry. We need a new courthouse. No, we don’t. The courthouse is unsafe and falling […]