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Britt and I got out hiking on Friday for our first high-country hike of the season. Actually we did a 14-mile roundtrip on the Colorado Trail on Monday, but as we topped out at 8400 feet that doesn't really count as high country. We drove to the Cascade Creek trailhead just north of Purgatory Durango Mountain Resort and did about 6 miles each way up to the big basin under Jura Knob, sort of between Rolling Mountain (which we climbed last September) and Engineer Mountain (which we plan to climb this summer).
We made the tactical mistake of neglecting to bring bug dope, so we hiked quickly from the trailhead (~8800 ft) until we reached a high enough meadow that the mosquitoes were not out yet. We did see quite a bit of wildlife sign (deer and elk) and saw one pine marten on the way up, and several small herds of elk on the way down (all barely glimpsed through the trees as they hightailed it away from us). There were small patches of snow in the trees beginning around 10000 ft, but never enough to turn us back; things are really melting out fast. There are lots of lovely waterfalls and cascades along the creeks here which are all flowing very hard and fast at this time of year. We turned around in the basin more or less at treeline (around 11500 ft).
( Pictures, and links to more pictures, behind the cut. )
We made the tactical mistake of neglecting to bring bug dope, so we hiked quickly from the trailhead (~8800 ft) until we reached a high enough meadow that the mosquitoes were not out yet. We did see quite a bit of wildlife sign (deer and elk) and saw one pine marten on the way up, and several small herds of elk on the way down (all barely glimpsed through the trees as they hightailed it away from us). There were small patches of snow in the trees beginning around 10000 ft, but never enough to turn us back; things are really melting out fast. There are lots of lovely waterfalls and cascades along the creeks here which are all flowing very hard and fast at this time of year. We turned around in the basin more or less at treeline (around 11500 ft).
( Pictures, and links to more pictures, behind the cut. )
one down, one to go
May. 20th, 2004 02:13 pmLast night we had our hearing in front of the city's Historic Preservation Board about the changes we want to make to our house. Since we're in the Historic District anything that has an impact on the exterior of the house needs approval.
Yay, they say we can tear down the little addition in the back and build the two-story addition we want!
Boo, they say we can't replace the front door and the big arched window, because they're important historic features. Even though they leak cold air really badly and are single-pane glass.
And somewhere in the middle is that they don't like propanel roofs because they're not historic, so even though we have propanel on the rest of the house they want us to research alternatives for the addition. But they might possibly let us get away with it, depending on what we find.
Next week, the meeting with the city appeals board so we can get variances, we hope, on not having two off-street parking spaces (heh) and on the lot-line requirements (the existing house violates the requirement - if we want to do something to the house, even if by itself it meets requirements, we need a variance). Woo.
Yay, they say we can tear down the little addition in the back and build the two-story addition we want!
Boo, they say we can't replace the front door and the big arched window, because they're important historic features. Even though they leak cold air really badly and are single-pane glass.
And somewhere in the middle is that they don't like propanel roofs because they're not historic, so even though we have propanel on the rest of the house they want us to research alternatives for the addition. But they might possibly let us get away with it, depending on what we find.
Next week, the meeting with the city appeals board so we can get variances, we hope, on not having two off-street parking spaces (heh) and on the lot-line requirements (the existing house violates the requirement - if we want to do something to the house, even if by itself it meets requirements, we need a variance). Woo.
more poly ticks
May. 10th, 2004 09:57 amSaturday was our county Democratic Assembly. Can I just say that it was tremendously energizing to be in a room full of politically like-minded people?
The actual mechanics of the Assembly were somewhat agonizing. Parliamentary procedure is a pain in the butt, especially when the people actually running the meeting don't know it very well. The county commissioner race was particularly facepalm-inducing as in order to make the ballot the candidates had to get 30% of the vote, which was 49.05, and Black received 48, and there was a motion to suspend the rules so that Black could make the ballot, and oh, what a debate, what a procedure, oh my God, it was sausage. The inner workings of which you don't really want to know.
But the cool parts were listening to the candidates for our congressional district speak (and meeting them!), and listening to the representatives of our senatorial candidates, and doing the "stand up in the corner and be counted" thing for them and for the Presidential candidates. Both Britt and I will be going to the State Assembly in Pueblo in two weeks as delegates for Kerry, Ken Salazar (our Attorney General who is running for Senate), and John Salazar (who is a state legislator but not ours, who is running for Congress, who is Ken's brother, and who we met and really, really like).
We all had nametags and it was interesting to see how many names we recognized from newspaper columns (yes, a few people recognized me!) and letters to the editor and other articles (e.g. the director of an activist group, who makes the paper a lot).
Of course, in some sense we didn't really do much. There will be a primary in August, and I expect all the major candidates will be on the ballot. But the excitement was such a great feeling and we are hoping that (and will work hard for) Colorado will soon have a Democrat in the Senate (that won't switch parties as soon as he gets there!), another Democrat in the House (our delegation has been 3/5 Republican for some time) and maybe even help elect a Democrat President.
The actual mechanics of the Assembly were somewhat agonizing. Parliamentary procedure is a pain in the butt, especially when the people actually running the meeting don't know it very well. The county commissioner race was particularly facepalm-inducing as in order to make the ballot the candidates had to get 30% of the vote, which was 49.05, and Black received 48, and there was a motion to suspend the rules so that Black could make the ballot, and oh, what a debate, what a procedure, oh my God, it was sausage. The inner workings of which you don't really want to know.
But the cool parts were listening to the candidates for our congressional district speak (and meeting them!), and listening to the representatives of our senatorial candidates, and doing the "stand up in the corner and be counted" thing for them and for the Presidential candidates. Both Britt and I will be going to the State Assembly in Pueblo in two weeks as delegates for Kerry, Ken Salazar (our Attorney General who is running for Senate), and John Salazar (who is a state legislator but not ours, who is running for Congress, who is Ken's brother, and who we met and really, really like).
We all had nametags and it was interesting to see how many names we recognized from newspaper columns (yes, a few people recognized me!) and letters to the editor and other articles (e.g. the director of an activist group, who makes the paper a lot).
Of course, in some sense we didn't really do much. There will be a primary in August, and I expect all the major candidates will be on the ballot. But the excitement was such a great feeling and we are hoping that (and will work hard for) Colorado will soon have a Democrat in the Senate (that won't switch parties as soon as he gets there!), another Democrat in the House (our delegation has been 3/5 Republican for some time) and maybe even help elect a Democrat President.
a clear choice!
May. 6th, 2004 01:59 pmSo this Saturday is our Democratic County Assembly and Convention, where Britt and I will be delegates. One of the things we need to do is nominate candidates for county commissioner; it looks like there are two of them, and over the past few days both have sent us flyers about themselves and their positions.
One's named David Black.
The other's named Wally White.
Okay, I'm easily amused.
One's named David Black.
The other's named Wally White.
Okay, I'm easily amused.
the public process
Apr. 14th, 2004 07:04 amYes, updating twice in one week. Don't die of shock, here.
So last night were our caucuses. Colorado eliminated its presidential primary since the last time I voted here (the legislature decided it was a waste of money, with which I must agree, considering that by this late in the political season (and isn't it sad that April is late?) the candidates have already been determined) so this was the first time Britt and I have ever participated in a caucus.
( A wide-eyed caucus novice reports. )
It was a great deal of fun, IMHO. The social aspect of meeting with neighbors who generally think as you do (and debating the small differences), and the participatory aspect, which gave me a feeling of real involvement far greater than that which comes from punching out chads, are Good Things. The biggest downside is the cynical feeling that one's participation is mostly symbolic, but if Colorado succeeds in moving its caucus earlier in the year, as is planned, this won't be an issue any more. There's also the fact that it's not a secret ballot - everyone knows what you think and who you support. On the other hand, that's sort of a positive, too, because it forces you to stand up (literally) for your issues.
Also we met some people who seem really nice and live nearby. And one of them recognized me from my newspaper column (my picture runs with the column) which as usual gave me a little egoboost.
Hmm, the swamp icon seems appropriate for a political post.
So last night were our caucuses. Colorado eliminated its presidential primary since the last time I voted here (the legislature decided it was a waste of money, with which I must agree, considering that by this late in the political season (and isn't it sad that April is late?) the candidates have already been determined) so this was the first time Britt and I have ever participated in a caucus.
( A wide-eyed caucus novice reports. )
It was a great deal of fun, IMHO. The social aspect of meeting with neighbors who generally think as you do (and debating the small differences), and the participatory aspect, which gave me a feeling of real involvement far greater than that which comes from punching out chads, are Good Things. The biggest downside is the cynical feeling that one's participation is mostly symbolic, but if Colorado succeeds in moving its caucus earlier in the year, as is planned, this won't be an issue any more. There's also the fact that it's not a secret ballot - everyone knows what you think and who you support. On the other hand, that's sort of a positive, too, because it forces you to stand up (literally) for your issues.
Also we met some people who seem really nice and live nearby. And one of them recognized me from my newspaper column (my picture runs with the column) which as usual gave me a little egoboost.
Hmm, the swamp icon seems appropriate for a political post.
men and groceries
Apr. 12th, 2004 08:04 pmI recently came home from a week away sans mari to discover that he'd gone grocery shopping. Well, yeah, he would have had to; I wasn't a very good wife, didn't stock the fridge and freezer with Tupperwared dinners for him for every night of the week. But I probably should have; I usually do. Instead, he went grocery shopping.
I stared into the refrigerator, baffled. A loaf of supermarket bread - I never buy supermarket bread, I get it from the fancy bakery out Florida Road that makes these amazing thick-crusted hearth loaves, chewy and delicious. What he got is labeled "whole wheat" but it looks as soft as Wonderbread. Apple juice, which I never buy because I don't like. Eggs. Lots of eggs. No vegetables.
In the cupboard there is another extra mustard he must have bought, a different brand than I usually get, right next to the one I bought; he must have seen the emptying bottle in the fridge and not checked for more. But there are no paper towels, because he forgot to buy them. There are lots of cans of soup and of the brand of baked beans which he likes, because I bought bunches of them, and he apparently did as well.
I wonder if maybe I should buy more apple juice for him. I wonder what I cook that he doesn't like but doesn't bother mentioning because hey, somebody else's cooking. What he wishes I'd buy at the grocery store. What he really wants me to make for dinner (even though he always says, "I don't care - make whatever you like, I know it will be great.")
But ha ha ha I do the cooking and the grocery shopping around here, and whatever I say goes! I feel so powerful!
Or I will, once I restock the fridge with the proper stuff.
I stared into the refrigerator, baffled. A loaf of supermarket bread - I never buy supermarket bread, I get it from the fancy bakery out Florida Road that makes these amazing thick-crusted hearth loaves, chewy and delicious. What he got is labeled "whole wheat" but it looks as soft as Wonderbread. Apple juice, which I never buy because I don't like. Eggs. Lots of eggs. No vegetables.
In the cupboard there is another extra mustard he must have bought, a different brand than I usually get, right next to the one I bought; he must have seen the emptying bottle in the fridge and not checked for more. But there are no paper towels, because he forgot to buy them. There are lots of cans of soup and of the brand of baked beans which he likes, because I bought bunches of them, and he apparently did as well.
I wonder if maybe I should buy more apple juice for him. I wonder what I cook that he doesn't like but doesn't bother mentioning because hey, somebody else's cooking. What he wishes I'd buy at the grocery store. What he really wants me to make for dinner (even though he always says, "I don't care - make whatever you like, I know it will be great.")
But ha ha ha I do the cooking and the grocery shopping around here, and whatever I say goes! I feel so powerful!
Or I will, once I restock the fridge with the proper stuff.
almost famous
Mar. 31st, 2004 04:28 pmAll the supercomputer sites where I work were hacked this week, and I've been spending more time on the phone getting temporary passwords, and changing them online or trying to, than actually working. Grr. But when I phoned the consultants at LBNL's NERSC, which stands for something but I can't be arsed to look it up right now, and gave my username, the guy on the phone said:
"Oh! You're the famous Ilana."
Um, right. Excuse me?
"You're the one into motorcycle racing, right?"
My Usenet past comes back to haunt me yet again; turns out a couple of the guys working there are old acquaintances from rec.motorcycles. Just like t.b, I suppose - you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
Ah, Usenet. I kind of miss it. Sometimes.
"Oh! You're the famous Ilana."
Um, right. Excuse me?
"You're the one into motorcycle racing, right?"
My Usenet past comes back to haunt me yet again; turns out a couple of the guys working there are old acquaintances from rec.motorcycles. Just like t.b, I suppose - you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
Ah, Usenet. I kind of miss it. Sometimes.
back in the saddle again
Mar. 21st, 2004 06:37 pmIt's been unbelievably gorgeous here - in the 60s or maybe even the 70s - so this afternoon I went for a bike ride. Except that I tend to forget that it's still, technically, winter. Which is why I decided to ride up Junction Creek, which is a road that heads out of town and then turns to dirt as it enters the National Forest. I don't think it actually goes anywhere, but it climbs to some nice views, and there's an overlook I have tried once before to get to and didn't make it then, either.
Emphasis on the either, here. Just past the NF boundary the road was closed (to cars), but I rode around the gate, of course. Then I started hitting the snow. I think I did a dozen portages over the course of what I will guess was three (steep, uphill) miles. It was still fun - it was lovely! But what a trip to be sweating and hot in a sportsbra and bike shorts, the sun beating down, and have to hike across a snowbank. Man, I love Colorado.
Anyway, I finally turned around when I hit a stretch on the north side of the mountain that was deep snow for as far as I could see. But just before that I got a great view of the LaPlatas and the backside of Perins Peak, all streaked with snow. And I got covered with mud on the way down. But damn, it was fun.
Emphasis on the either, here. Just past the NF boundary the road was closed (to cars), but I rode around the gate, of course. Then I started hitting the snow. I think I did a dozen portages over the course of what I will guess was three (steep, uphill) miles. It was still fun - it was lovely! But what a trip to be sweating and hot in a sportsbra and bike shorts, the sun beating down, and have to hike across a snowbank. Man, I love Colorado.
Anyway, I finally turned around when I hit a stretch on the north side of the mountain that was deep snow for as far as I could see. But just before that I got a great view of the LaPlatas and the backside of Perins Peak, all streaked with snow. And I got covered with mud on the way down. But damn, it was fun.
I used to live in Boulder, population ~100K. Now I live in Durango, population ~14K. But earlier this week I went to Boulder again for the first time in 2.5 years and was struck by just how big and busy everything seemed. In the years since I'd left everything had multiplied and exploded and expanded. More people. More cars. More buildings, and they were all shiny and boxy and new. What a treat it was to get back to small, quiet, backwater Durango.
Many years ago I went to grad school in Cambridge MA, which might as well be Boston, since in the East cities run into each other with no regard for boundaries. I liked it; but then I moved to Boulder, and when I came back to Cambridge for a committee meeting I was overwhelmed with how big and busy everything seemed. What a treat it was to get back to small, quiet, backwater Boulder.
I guess it's all relative. Maybe I'll move from here to a tiny town with a population under a thousand, and then come back for a visit and marvel at how big and busy everything is here.
Many years ago I went to grad school in Cambridge MA, which might as well be Boston, since in the East cities run into each other with no regard for boundaries. I liked it; but then I moved to Boulder, and when I came back to Cambridge for a committee meeting I was overwhelmed with how big and busy everything seemed. What a treat it was to get back to small, quiet, backwater Boulder.
I guess it's all relative. Maybe I'll move from here to a tiny town with a population under a thousand, and then come back for a visit and marvel at how big and busy everything is here.
the slow recovery
Feb. 9th, 2004 04:02 pmI hate being not 100%. I hate it. I think of myself as skinny athletic active-girl and my stomach is still distended from the surgery and I went grocery shopping today and it nearly killed me. I was leaning on the cart and breathing hard, and I had to get the bagger to come load my groceries in the truck (in the truck! Usually I hike down with a backpack and fill it with 50 pounds of food) and then came home and told Britt to unload it all, I was heading for bed. Waah.
I got the emergency-room bill and that almost killed me too. Waiting to see if the insurance company plays nice. Scared to think of what the actual surgery bill is going to be. Universal Health Care NOW, dammit.
I got the emergency-room bill and that almost killed me too. Waiting to see if the insurance company plays nice. Scared to think of what the actual surgery bill is going to be. Universal Health Care NOW, dammit.
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on the mend
Feb. 4th, 2004 02:59 pmI am now gallbladderless and have a pierced navel, although not the kind of piercing that one puts jewelry through. Slowly recovering, hanging out on the sofa, being kitty furniture.
I put off the operation until Monday so I could enjoy the local winter carnival, Snowdown, which always puts me in mind of FROST.BOB. Except that the snow sculpture contest was canceled for the second year in a row (don't know why, we actually have snow this year). A great and wild parade, kayak races down the ski slope, drunken people falling in snowbanks. What fun!
I put off the operation until Monday so I could enjoy the local winter carnival, Snowdown, which always puts me in mind of FROST.BOB. Except that the snow sculpture contest was canceled for the second year in a row (don't know why, we actually have snow this year). A great and wild parade, kayak races down the ski slope, drunken people falling in snowbanks. What fun!
no news is probably good news
Jan. 27th, 2004 11:29 amI don't post much here these days, do I. This is probably not going to change soon.
However, I recently acquired a cat.
I also ( medical TMI )
However, I recently acquired a cat.
I also ( medical TMI )
(no subject)
Dec. 6th, 2003 01:12 pmLast night the Wells Group, a big real-estate company, held its annual Xmas bash at a fancy downtown historic hotel, and we were invited because the realtor we bought our house through works there. Whee! Too much food, too much drink, and too loud conversation. My throat hurts and my head hurts. This is fun, right?
Spamalicious Q. Mailinglist
Nov. 5th, 2003 09:32 amAlthough my carefully-protected "real" email address gets nearly no spam at all (do you hear me knocking on wood, here?) my old NCAR address gets an astonishing quantity. Despite it being completely inactive for four years, when I started work there again and reactivated the old ilana@ucar.edu address, it was immediately overwhelmed with on the order of 25 spammails a day.
I've cut down on nearly all of it with vicious filtration; since all my social email goes to my personal address, my filters are brutal and mostly effective. (So far, I've only tossed one "real" email in six months.)
But today I got seven mostly-identical spammails that slipped through the filter. And I have to say, I was mightily amused by the "From" names, which were either randomly generated, or more likely sort-of-randomly generated. Today I got mail from:
Gradation P. Romania
Iran H. Unpolluted
Communism B. Stoker
Exigencies G. Lineup
Quinine L. Hazy
Glinting Q. Formalize
Telecasted C. Albany
Aren't those wonderful names? I'm practically jealous. Maybe I'll change my name.
Yours,
Glinting
I've cut down on nearly all of it with vicious filtration; since all my social email goes to my personal address, my filters are brutal and mostly effective. (So far, I've only tossed one "real" email in six months.)
But today I got seven mostly-identical spammails that slipped through the filter. And I have to say, I was mightily amused by the "From" names, which were either randomly generated, or more likely sort-of-randomly generated. Today I got mail from:
Gradation P. Romania
Iran H. Unpolluted
Communism B. Stoker
Exigencies G. Lineup
Quinine L. Hazy
Glinting Q. Formalize
Telecasted C. Albany
Aren't those wonderful names? I'm practically jealous. Maybe I'll change my name.
Yours,
Glinting
(no subject)
Oct. 20th, 2003 01:56 pmYesterday I hiked up a 12,450 ft mountain.
Today I am a slovenly slug.
I feel stupid and unable to accomplish anything. Plus, I'm wearing a waffle-weave thermal underwear shirt and stretchy long-underwear pants. And I got up at 10 am. And the house is a mess. My hiking stuff is still spread across the couch.
I'd go back to bed and try to sleep some more, but the next-door-dog is still doing the bark bark thing.
Today I am a slovenly slug.
I feel stupid and unable to accomplish anything. Plus, I'm wearing a waffle-weave thermal underwear shirt and stretchy long-underwear pants. And I got up at 10 am. And the house is a mess. My hiking stuff is still spread across the couch.
I'd go back to bed and try to sleep some more, but the next-door-dog is still doing the bark bark thing.
more bark bark and other annoyances
Oct. 14th, 2003 11:20 amWell, the reason the dog didn't bark on Friday was that the husband was sick and stayed home. And they were around all long weekend, so ditto. But when I chatted with the wife (I'd talked to the husband before) she said they didn't have an anti-bark collar, but they'd rented one before when they'd had a bark problem. So they'd look into getting one again, but the place they'd gone before was out of business, so it might take a while for them to take care of it.
Meanwhile, bark bark bark bark. Grrr.
And in other life-sucks news, our new furnace didn't come on this morning because enough water had leaked out that the water pressure wasn't high enough. Well, we had to phone the company we bought it from first to figure that out, because the display had a mysterious error code that wasn't in the manual. A chilly cold morning (56 degrees in the house). It's nearly noon, we have two space heaters running along with the replenished furnace, and things are only 63 so far as it takes a long time for the furnace to heat the place up from scratch. Brrrrr.
Bark bark bark bark.
Woe, woe is us.
Meanwhile, bark bark bark bark. Grrr.
And in other life-sucks news, our new furnace didn't come on this morning because enough water had leaked out that the water pressure wasn't high enough. Well, we had to phone the company we bought it from first to figure that out, because the display had a mysterious error code that wasn't in the manual. A chilly cold morning (56 degrees in the house). It's nearly noon, we have two space heaters running along with the replenished furnace, and things are only 63 so far as it takes a long time for the furnace to heat the place up from scratch. Brrrrr.
Bark bark bark bark.
Woe, woe is us.
bark bark update
Oct. 10th, 2003 10:48 amI talked to neighbors last night and they said, "Oh, thanks for telling us -- since we're out during the day we never would have known." They have an anti-bark collar thingy for the dog, so they're going to use that.
Yay! It's nice and quiet now!
Yay! It's nice and quiet now!
