The Times They Are a Changin', Bob Dylan
It seems these days and is probably evident to any one who reads this blog that I have had and currently have more than one Goliath in my life. The first Goliath is, you guessed it, the Orange Man threatening our very American Existence and way of life. I am bolstered by the news these days, if fact, I actually am enjoying listening to the news and all the great support for Kamala Harris, However, does any one remember those plastic Bobo the clowns that you used to blow up. The bottom was weighted with sand and once you blew it up, you could punch it in the face and it would bounce back up. It had this really eerily stupid grin and no matter how hard or how many times you hit it, the darn thing would come back up grinning stupidly at you. Well guess what! Mr. Strump is that clown. This is no time for complacency. We must redouble our efforts and reach young people because they are the key to a landslide victory. I don't know how to reach them, I don't think they read my blog or they would comment, I'm sure. We will reach them, I have seen some very promising youtube posts of young people supporting Kamala and going bonkers over the coconut thing. This is an incredibly exciting time to be living in. The Roaring Twenties are back!
DON'T FORGET ABOUT BOBO! HE IS A CRREP AND MUST NOT BE LET BACK UP!
When I finish the second draft of the book the Lure, I will probably begin the search for an agent and publisher. I have enrolled in a Historical Fiction writing class at Universal Classes and my second most giant Goliath is at bay also. There has been so much learning for an old dog like me. It has been exciting and has aided in really addressing issues That I wasn't even aware of. So I guess you really can Teach and Old Dog New Tricks. Imagine that! Now we need to teach Young Dogs to be ever so wary of the Giant Goliath fake that threatens Us All. It surely is gonna take a lot of Patience and Love to get this job done. I hope to get everyone aboard by Liberty Express before we leave the Station. I can hear the Diesel Humming and it is a Mighty Good Sound. Time to get on Board, you don't want to be left at this station, because trust me, Its no where's ville.
Second Draft Outline and Additions With New Research References. In my research I have found a Historical Flaw in my premise. The senator was a motivating factor in the purchase but My hero Joe was facing the enactment of the National Skier Safety Act in 1979. It would have cost about 5 million dollars to upgrade the lifts to the new standard. Facing that problem and knowing he had paid 860 thousand dollars, it probably was prudent for him to sell to Keystone and Ralston Purina for 3 million and retire. I have been in contact with Tommy J Joe's nephew, who has managed Ski Sunlight in Glenwood Springs for years, and I have Joe's contact information as well as other great leads for research. Things are certainly moving a long. I always knew writing was hard, but just how difficult is enlightening in itself. No matter we are Goliath Slayers after all.
Chapter I-Begin at the beginning Joe and Tom meet. Tom secures seasons pass.(The Lure Of The Mountain King.)
Chapter II-November - Joes Office And The General- Joe attempts to enlist General Dowe in his fight to save the mountain.
Chapter III-Tiger’s Moose Jaw Saloon Tom meets Sara, Jilly, and Toby-The Olympic Skier. Jilly has an apartment for the boys.
Chapter IV- First Runs- Joe, Toby and Tom Ski Together and Lean the Mountain- encounter skier cutting out of bounds.
Chapter V-Skier Dies-Skier that was cutting out of bounds is found dead by the road. Coroner and Sheriff meet with Joe and Tom.
Chapter VI- The Newspapers- Headlines Of skier death in all newspapers, Denver, Summit County. Tom and Joe meet to discuss it.
Chapter VII- The Senator-Jilly is Revealed to be having an affair and in league with the Senator to obtain the Basin
Chapter VIII- David- Tom’s best friend from New York a successful Insurance Man shows up to see Tom and Reveals Joe is trying to sell the Basin.
Chapter IX-Joe and The Bank- Joe meets with Banker and finds out the Senator is inquiring about Joe’s loan and how to prematurely make it come due.
Chapter X- The Meeting at the Moose Jaw. Joe explains to everyone what he is up against and why he might sell. The group takes it poorly.
Chapter XI- The Mountain Picnic- Sara and Tom meet Ski on the mountain and have a romantic picnic. They explore young love. Interrupted by Lance.
Chapter XII-The Plan- Joe and Tom plot to Include General Dowe from Tenth Mountain on a plan to stop the Senator and Keystone from taking over.
Chapter XIII- David and Tom- David meets with Tom and attempts to talk him into returning east and joining the Insurance business. Tom takes exception and refuses.
Chapter XIV-January-Tom spends the .New Year alone- reflects on his life and tries to sort things out.
Chapter XV-Toby- Toby reveals his past and has problems with alcohol. Tom and Toby have a blow up. Tom is left unappreciated.
Chapter XVI-Sara - Sara and Tom see cowboy boots in the window of Brannigans store. Tom talks her into trying them on and Mr. Brannigan gives her a deal. They all discuss history of the Valley.
Chapter- XVII- The Corporate Lawyers-Joe meets with the Lawyers to hear proposal for sale. Has an aside with his lawyer and resigns himself to the thought of selling.
Chapter XVIII- The Betrayal- General Dowe is on the phone with the Senator and he shows his fear of his power and agrees to betray Joe and the Basin.
Chapter XIX-Lance- Lance an ex-military Arms specialist is shown with a map and plan to blow the number III lift station in retribution of Joe selling the Basin.
Chapter XX-The Corporate Offices and The Takeover. Jilly arrives at the Denver Corporate head quarters and is setting about to meet with them to plan the takeover.
Chapter XXI- Sara and Tom have dinner at the Old Dillion Inn and Sara discusses a future with Tom. She is looking for a commitment and Tom is hesitant. It ends poorly.
Chapter XXII- The Olympic Training- Tom works with Toby to train for his Olympic Dream. Tom and Toby argue and Tom is left feeling used.
Chapter XXIII- Tom Leaves- Tom feels pressured by everyone and cannot handle the stress. He decides to run.
Chapter Chapter XXIV- Tom’s Sojourn- Tom leaves on a greyhound to Vail and thinks about his life’s journey.
Chapter XXV-Tom’s Reckoning- Tom arrives in Vail at his friends John and Dawna. They hash out old times but confront Tom with his alcohol problems. They talk him into going to A.A. and Telemark skiing at Ski Cooper with Dawna. John will go to meetings with Tom.
Chapter XXVI- March- Tom’s Return- Toby is skiing sees Tom returning to the Basin, Skis down to Lift Station III and gets caught in Lance’s explosion and is injured. Tom and Joe see him leave in ambulance as Lance is arrested.
Chapter XXVII- Toby is alive-Tom and Joe visit Toby in hospital and Tom struggles with the weight of everything. He leaves Joe at hospital and has difficulty in dealing with it all. He is ready to break.
Chapter XVIII-Jilly and The Moose Jaw- Jilly arrives st the Moose Jaw and is confronted by Sara about not visiting Toby. Jilly surprises Sara with her engagement to the Senator. Sara takes down Jilly.
Chapter XIX-April-Joe Receives Bad News- Joe finds out his Insurance is being cancelled because of the skier death and( excessive claims) orchestrated by the Senator and Keystone.
Chapter XXX-Providence Shows Its Hand- Tom waits at the Basin in parking lot next to a closed sign for mailman. Mailman arrives but the letter Tom waits for is not there. Special delivery letter arrives from David. It is a letter to underwrite Insurance for the remainder of the season.
Chapter XXXI-The Senator is Foiled-Tom arrives at the meeting room where Joe is meeting with The Corporate Lawyers to Close the sale. He interrupts and gives Joe the Insurance Waiver. The sale is off Tom explains to Joe how he pulled it off. Since you can ski there until late June. The Mountain is saved this season.
Chapter XXXII- It’s Never Over- Tom and Joe stand at the base of the Mountain and say their goodbye’s. The both reflect on the Mountain and their time together there and the deep bond that was forged. They separate and go their own paths. Tom says good bye to the Mountain.
Chapter XXXIII-Until It’s Over- Sara is at the Moose Jaw working and the door opens and Tom walks in. She reflects on her life Of season after season at the same bar. They stand at the end of the bar Tom and Sara make up.
Tom says their is a little restaurant for sale in Alta, Wyoming called Wild Bills at The Grand Targhee Resort (Grand Targhee’s claim to fame is that it is the first and last with the snow.) Sara and Tom embrace and they agree on no promises but to go and look at Grand Targhee. They walk out with their backpacks holding hands.
Need addition of 1979 Skier Safety Act That Would have Caused additional 5 Million Dollars to Update Mountain
Summit County- A Gold Rush History by MaryEllen Gilliland
Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort/ A Legend Since 1946 by Cathleen Norman and Alan J. Henceroth 2020
Interviews Tom Jankovsky nephew of former Arapahoe Basin owner Joe Jankovsky
Interviews Joe Jankovsky former owner of Arapahoe Basin
I have contacted Tom Jankovsky the nephew of the owner in 1978 who was the manager of Ski Sunlight in Glenwood Colorado and I have his phone number and e-mail and he was able to give me the information for Joe Jankovsky also. Tom agreed to do phone interviews as of yet I have not contacted Joe until I’m sure how to approach him. He is still alive but older and it should be done soon.
Tom suggested several names from the National Ski Hall of Fame and thought it might be a good reference.
Recently I have gone on line and found a trove of information about Ralston Purina Corporation. There was a great amount of information of the original Senator Dansforth and the beginnings of Ralston Purina.
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I will hang my Lucky Dun Ranch Sign again! |
The History of Keystone- Keystone’s Beginning on line information – Keystone’s Mining History.
If all goes well, I may again see The Lucky Dun Ranch banner wave. If not in Snowmass then in Oregon, not time for rigidity, just go with the world's flow. My Kingdom for Horses!