I am in a quandary. Over the years I have had a passion and obsession about the story of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. I have even gone as far as getting permission from the principles involved to write it with their blessings. I have written as a hobby in my spare time. I have outlined a historical novel and written the first act of a screen play. In my youth, I put together a music score for the film script with my muscian friends, who are currently in Nashville. My wife, Kathy will complete the music score. She, also as a former radio personality, will do all the necessary interviews. If I were bidding for a plumbing and heating contract in Aspen for a 25,000 sq. ft. home I would know how to proceed in getting a contract to do the work. I am out of my league here and need the help of a professional.
I am totally committed to this project and have researched and worked on it for years. Often it has gotten the better of me. Man against man, man against nature, and ultimately man against himself. It has taken all these years to work it out in my mind, and to be quite frank about it. I am above my present organizational abilities. I know what needs to be done and am willing to put in the necessary work to see it through to friution. I once wrote that you accept the challenge an conquer it or it will forever conquer you. I am ready! My good friend Yogi Beau taught me to ask for what you need, I need the help of professionals.
A woman I admire greatly wrote a book titled "It takes a Village." I need a village of support to complete my project.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Opening The Stall Door
Do you believe in miracles. I do. I have witnessed many over the years in our Equine Massage School, Aspen Equine Studies. They ranged from minor personal growths in individual therapists and awakenings in attitudes. I witnessed a miracle with a horse named Dunny. A Hollywood Dunnit reigning horse.
Our Massage School was cutting edge and we were fortunate enough to have students that came to study from all over the world. It just so happened that we were in session and had a full group of 6 students. We arrived at a client's ranch to find Dunny stall bound. The Vet had checked him completely and could not find any broken bones or torn ligaments. However he was standing in a stall and in obvious discomfort. My wife Kathy, who designed the 7 day program, assigned a handler and instructed them to stand quietly and allow the horse to focus on the therapist. The student therapist approached Dunny and stood quietly, facing the way the horse was, next to him. Dunny gently reached over and acknowledged the student, allowing her into his intimate space. Starting at the top of the pole the student took her thumb and gently, with moderate pressure palpated along the top line from the pole to the tail. She was careful to stay a few inches from the horse's spine. The student found several small muscle spasms along the horse's back.
Alternating, the students each took a section of Dunny and began massaging him. Each time a student passed the withers they were careful to place a mother hand in the horse's stifle, so if it were to kick, they would be able to protect themselves. They massaged out adhesions in several of the horse's muscles. It wasn't until they found a large knot in his hamstring did Dunny show any obvious discomfort. He shied away and kicked his foot on the ground. The student gently kept working in his hamstring area until Dunny slowly lowered his left hip. By lowering his hip, he relinquished his flight mechanism and showed that he was allowing the student deeply into his intimate space and enjoying his therapy. She had relieved his large tender spasm and given him comfort. Each and every student worked on the remaining sections of Dunny using all of their massage strokes. As the session progressed, Dunny went from standing rigid with his feet planted, to standing relaxed with his hip disengaged and rocking gently with the rhythm of the body work. He began licking and chewing as the toxins were being released.
When the students were finished I had the handler move Dunny to the middle of the stall and stretched all four of his limbs forward and backward with gentle pressure to increase his flexibility. I stood alongside Dunny with my back pressed against him and held a carrot by his withers. He stretched his neck over to grab the carrot and engulfed my body in the process. I repeated this on the other side. We then backed him into the stall corner and I reached between his front legs with another carrot and he bowed down and tried getting the carrot. I slowly moved the carrot further and further back allowing him to thoroughly stretch his neck and back.
The students opened the stall door and as customary, I walked him out and started down the lane toward a round pen. I could tell right away that there was something different about him. He was antsy and slightly prancing. By the time I reached the round pen I could hardly control him. I released him into the round pen and Dunny exploded. He started crow hoping, bucking and jumping. He laid down rolled completely over and jumped back up in the air. He began shaking his head from side to side as if amazed at the freedom of movement in his neck.
The owner was in tears and the students were cheering. The miracle of Dunny's transformation was complete.
Look forward to many more horse stories in the near future about our former Equine Clients. There are many and they are all minor miracles. There may even be a few student miracles included.
Our Massage School was cutting edge and we were fortunate enough to have students that came to study from all over the world. It just so happened that we were in session and had a full group of 6 students. We arrived at a client's ranch to find Dunny stall bound. The Vet had checked him completely and could not find any broken bones or torn ligaments. However he was standing in a stall and in obvious discomfort. My wife Kathy, who designed the 7 day program, assigned a handler and instructed them to stand quietly and allow the horse to focus on the therapist. The student therapist approached Dunny and stood quietly, facing the way the horse was, next to him. Dunny gently reached over and acknowledged the student, allowing her into his intimate space. Starting at the top of the pole the student took her thumb and gently, with moderate pressure palpated along the top line from the pole to the tail. She was careful to stay a few inches from the horse's spine. The student found several small muscle spasms along the horse's back.
Alternating, the students each took a section of Dunny and began massaging him. Each time a student passed the withers they were careful to place a mother hand in the horse's stifle, so if it were to kick, they would be able to protect themselves. They massaged out adhesions in several of the horse's muscles. It wasn't until they found a large knot in his hamstring did Dunny show any obvious discomfort. He shied away and kicked his foot on the ground. The student gently kept working in his hamstring area until Dunny slowly lowered his left hip. By lowering his hip, he relinquished his flight mechanism and showed that he was allowing the student deeply into his intimate space and enjoying his therapy. She had relieved his large tender spasm and given him comfort. Each and every student worked on the remaining sections of Dunny using all of their massage strokes. As the session progressed, Dunny went from standing rigid with his feet planted, to standing relaxed with his hip disengaged and rocking gently with the rhythm of the body work. He began licking and chewing as the toxins were being released.
When the students were finished I had the handler move Dunny to the middle of the stall and stretched all four of his limbs forward and backward with gentle pressure to increase his flexibility. I stood alongside Dunny with my back pressed against him and held a carrot by his withers. He stretched his neck over to grab the carrot and engulfed my body in the process. I repeated this on the other side. We then backed him into the stall corner and I reached between his front legs with another carrot and he bowed down and tried getting the carrot. I slowly moved the carrot further and further back allowing him to thoroughly stretch his neck and back.
The students opened the stall door and as customary, I walked him out and started down the lane toward a round pen. I could tell right away that there was something different about him. He was antsy and slightly prancing. By the time I reached the round pen I could hardly control him. I released him into the round pen and Dunny exploded. He started crow hoping, bucking and jumping. He laid down rolled completely over and jumped back up in the air. He began shaking his head from side to side as if amazed at the freedom of movement in his neck.
The owner was in tears and the students were cheering. The miracle of Dunny's transformation was complete.
Look forward to many more horse stories in the near future about our former Equine Clients. There are many and they are all minor miracles. There may even be a few student miracles included.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Let Go and Let God
The decision is made and we are finally sweeping the closets clean and moving to a darling down sized little home in Grand Junction. It is within walking distance to Mesa State University. We have merely delayed our Oregon dream for a year. Our golden Gracie is aged and we fear the move will be too stressful for her. I often arise at night and find her sitting up and staring into the thin mountain air. I have seen the look of death on our years at our rescue ranch. It was my responsibility as the man of the ranch to work with the Vet each and every time and animal went to rest. Each time a little bigger piece of my heart was opened. The hardest of all was the Raja and his wife Sage. I remember backing Sage out of the horse trailer she was terribly crippled. She was feisty and full of life in a crippled body. Her husband Boobala Raja yelled to her when he couldn't see her. He was a proud arrogant military horse who often ignored her until he couldn't see her and then he professed his love for her by yelling to her. The young Vet Tech assisting me looked at me in amazement and said, "They're married." I have looked death the destroyer in the eye each and every time I have laid an animal to rest. We have the time and wish to become part of the downsizing movement. My writing star is on the rise. I am reminded of a book that I have read Shambala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior. In the book the author says that the majority of people have a setting sun mentality and that you need to expand your mind to have a Great Eastern Rising Sun Mentality.
This past summer my wife and I have renewed our wedding vows at the Ocean in Ventura, California. It was a simple ceremony between her and I sitting in our little chairs watching the sun set. We exchanged new silver rings, hers with ocean waves and mine with the mountains. I will take her to her rest in Oregon at the ocean's edge. Eagles mate for life. I am reminded by this each and every time we drive toward our new temporary home in Grand Junction. The trip leaves the lower mountains where we live and proceeds along I-70 west and the Colorado River into Hogbacks and then into Mesas. When you start down a long curving road that brings you to the rivers edge there is a sign for the entrance to the county that says "Welcome to Mesa County, the Home of Monuments, Mesas, and Memories." When you reach the rivers edge there is an Eagle Sanctuary along the river in the trees and in the spring like now, you can see the big white heads of the mother's brooding with the father sitting in the trees, his eye on the prize, the prey in the river. If you are lucky enough you may even see one on the wing , the prey in its talons for the young.
A footnote ending. Our good friend Little Fox died tragically in a trailering accident. Some day I will find the strength to write of it. To comfort our buddy Jack London who was devastated, we purchased an alpine goat named Daisy, who at the time was pregnant and we didn't know. She had Justin's Little Rose and eventually the whole family went to the Brand Inspector. The Brand Inspector's wife took a liking to our friend Jack and called to ask why he didn't like his grain. We explained that he preferred Folac and now Folac Jack gets his bucket every day and probably passed eating it. I have been taken by the name The Brand Inspector's Wife and I think it would make a good book title.
Now all the closets are swept and the spirits have been cleared. I hope that you have enjoyed the little foray in our Equine Rescue Ranch and journey into an awakening. All the characters have been set and one day, all the cats, horses, goats, and oh yes, the big cougar will make it into my masterpiece.
Beau reunited with his brother Murphy after a long absence.
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Paramahansa Yogananda's Mahasamadhi is March 7.
Sri Yukteswar's Mahasamadhi is March 9.
They're Prayer
"Heavenly Father, it is Thou who dost diretly sustain my body. Awaken within me conscious will, conscious vitality, conscious realization, O Eternal Youth of body and mind, abide in me forever and forever."
This past summer my wife and I have renewed our wedding vows at the Ocean in Ventura, California. It was a simple ceremony between her and I sitting in our little chairs watching the sun set. We exchanged new silver rings, hers with ocean waves and mine with the mountains. I will take her to her rest in Oregon at the ocean's edge. Eagles mate for life. I am reminded by this each and every time we drive toward our new temporary home in Grand Junction. The trip leaves the lower mountains where we live and proceeds along I-70 west and the Colorado River into Hogbacks and then into Mesas. When you start down a long curving road that brings you to the rivers edge there is a sign for the entrance to the county that says "Welcome to Mesa County, the Home of Monuments, Mesas, and Memories." When you reach the rivers edge there is an Eagle Sanctuary along the river in the trees and in the spring like now, you can see the big white heads of the mother's brooding with the father sitting in the trees, his eye on the prize, the prey in the river. If you are lucky enough you may even see one on the wing , the prey in its talons for the young.
A footnote ending. Our good friend Little Fox died tragically in a trailering accident. Some day I will find the strength to write of it. To comfort our buddy Jack London who was devastated, we purchased an alpine goat named Daisy, who at the time was pregnant and we didn't know. She had Justin's Little Rose and eventually the whole family went to the Brand Inspector. The Brand Inspector's wife took a liking to our friend Jack and called to ask why he didn't like his grain. We explained that he preferred Folac and now Folac Jack gets his bucket every day and probably passed eating it. I have been taken by the name The Brand Inspector's Wife and I think it would make a good book title.
Now all the closets are swept and the spirits have been cleared. I hope that you have enjoyed the little foray in our Equine Rescue Ranch and journey into an awakening. All the characters have been set and one day, all the cats, horses, goats, and oh yes, the big cougar will make it into my masterpiece.
Beau reunited with his brother Murphy after a long absence.
Paramahansa Yogananda's Mahasamadhi is March 7.
Sri Yukteswar's Mahasamadhi is March 9.
They're Prayer
"Heavenly Father, it is Thou who dost diretly sustain my body. Awaken within me conscious will, conscious vitality, conscious realization, O Eternal Youth of body and mind, abide in me forever and forever."
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Where Eagles Soar (A Brief History of Colorado Ski History and Genesis of My Historical Work)
I believe the key or pivotal turning point to my story is based on the Denver Water Board purchasing the deeds to most of the town of Dillon during the depression. This allowed them to eventually force the residents out of the town for the purpose of flooding it to create the Dillion Reservoir. I liken it to the film script Chinatown. It is based on the Rape of the Owens Valley by the city of Los Angeles for their water rights. There is a deeper truth here and I have yet to uncover it. It however sets up the stage for the development of the ski areas. If it wasn't for World War II there would not be ski areas in Colorado. The Tenth Mountain Division trained at Camp Hale for their skiing troops who were responsible to spearhead an advance in Italy for the Army. It included Riva Ridge, Mt. Belvedere, and helped breach the impregnable Gothic Line in the Apennines. It secured the Po River Valley and liberated northern Italy.
When the ski troops returned to the United States a large number migrated back to Colorado and established Arapahoe Basin that set the tone for the development of Keystone and the Valley. It laid the ground work for Ralston Purina to buy Keystone and eventually the Basin.
The growth of the Dillon valley exploded in the sixties and seventies and then massive development of the multitude of town homes appeared.
You will find two of my short stories on the My Stories link. One is of Vail Mountain and the other is of Arapahoe Basin. White Dreams was a recipient of an Honorable Mention in a Writer's Digest writing contest. I hope you enjoy them.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
The Power of Prayer
There is a discourse between theologies regarding praying for material blessings. My thoughts tend to side with Joel Osteen and I believe that in life asking through positive prayer for an increase in your station in life is natural and O.K. Promises are meant to be kept so if you make a promise keep it. God promises to take care of his children and he keeps his promise. Fill your heart with love for in it lies the answers to the world. A prayer that I find particularly helpful is the prayer of Jabez.
Dr. Bruce Wilkinson has and excellent discourse on this prayer.
Dr. Bruce Wilkinson has and excellent discourse on this prayer.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,[a] saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
Our home appears to be closing earlier than expected and we will hopefully be heading to the Emerald City in just two weeks. Look for blogs of Aristotle along the yellow brick road. Nothing is ever certain to theT'S have been crossed an the I'S dotted. Patience has never been my strong suit but I have learned great patience over the years. Charles R Swindoll writes at great length about Moses and his adherence to God's will for him. If you stop asserting your own will and allow God to work in your life, things just become much easier.
...when you trust the Lord God to give you the next step, when you wait in humility upon Him, *He* will open the doors or close them, and you'll get to rest and relax until He says, 'Go.
A particularly moving Song for Today given the world climate presently.
"Brothers In Arms" Dire Straits
Our home appears to be closing earlier than expected and we will hopefully be heading to the Emerald City in just two weeks. Look for blogs of Aristotle along the yellow brick road. Nothing is ever certain to theT'S have been crossed an the I'S dotted. Patience has never been my strong suit but I have learned great patience over the years. Charles R Swindoll writes at great length about Moses and his adherence to God's will for him. If you stop asserting your own will and allow God to work in your life, things just become much easier.
"Brothers In Arms" Dire Straits
Monday, February 9, 2015
The Ghosts They Come
dark of night
proudly prancing
hooves pounding
turf billowing
upon the peripheral plains.
Doc Watson - Tennessee Stud - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq-1G6Wif8s
Sunday, February 8, 2015
The White Bird Soars
- Elevation: 12,966' (3,952 m)
- First ascent: 1873
It is Indian Folklore that once you lay eyes on Mount Sopris you will never leave it. My interpretation of that folk tale is that it is so magnificent that once you see her, she will remain in your heart and mind forever. For over twenty years I would drive by Sopris in the morning on my way to Aspen. Often she would be enveloped in deep cloud cover and ominous. We would always gauge the severity of winter by the amount of snow on her sides. It was not uncommon for the snow to remain on Sopris until late June. I found great pleasure many a day in trekking up her sides and being in awe at the views. No matter where you were around Sopris, you could casually glance up and see her resplendant in her radiating glory. There is a lot that I am going to miss about Colorado, but it is time for us to move on. We are determined to pursue our next adventure and establish Symposia Living Arts. I hope you enjoy the mountain of the day. She is a real beauty. Live well, live long!
A Song about Time
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