Yearly Archives: 2013

Holidays can be a tough time living far away from family & friends.

Found myself in a funk & a bit late mailing Christmas cards.  Apologies!

Luckily, I had many many photos to choose from when designing this year’s card — what a FULL & blessed 2013!

ball caps, beanies, helmets & ADVENTURE!

ball caps, beanies, helmets & ADVENTURE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, cooked my first turkey this Christmas — a HUGE 20 pound bird.  Lotta leftovers for months to come.  LOL>

Biggest surprise going into 2014 — Ash & Tom are relocating to Colorado.  Super excited to see them in a week!

 

Wishing you all good health & lotta laughter.  Merry Christmas from Colorado!

 

CLICK HERE & enjoy Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s ‘Colorado Christmas’

“The closest thing to heaven on this planet anywhere – is a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow”

Coming off a marathon run last weekend AND 2 weeks of crazy cold sub-zero temps, thinkin’ this might be my best chance/motivation to complete gift purchases & send out holiday cards.  Only 11 days ’til Christmas!

Think again…. received an email from Fort Collins hiking buddy, Cammy – Erik & her are free 2 of the next 3 weekends.  Winter 14er hike?  Heck yeah!  (I’ll get holiday inspired next week 🙂 )

Teamed up with M & caravanned down I-25 to the Sangre de Cristo Range – destination: Blanca Peak.  Located the pull-off from Highway 160 & managed maybe a quarter-mile off road before burrowing deep in mountain snow.  Erik unloaded chains – determined their Subaru would make the journey UP.

Most cars can drive about 1.5 miles up before it gets rough. 4WD SUVs and trucks can slowly make it 3.25 miles to several pull-offs at 8,800’, before the road turns nasty.

As the clock ticked 1 (a.m.), pulled out sleeping bags & crashed for a few hours before tomorrow morning’s ascent.  Ice formed on the inside of M’s jeep – all liquids froze except for a last minute Gatorade purchase.  Cold, super cold!

3 of us crazies started the hike UP, catching the most beautiful pink sunrise.  (M drove on to Alamosa for the day.)  Snow was only wind-blown patchy in areas so I make an über dumb move & leave my snow shoes behind – opting for a lighter pack.

Another mile further we reached sunlight – warmth improved my spirit while ice dangled from my beard.

I struggled this day in knee-deep snow (why did I leave my shoes in the car? ARGH!)  Found myself lagging far behind.  Who wants to be that person?  Decided this just wasn’t my day so I would head back – but needed to first catch Cammy & Erik.  Not once but twice I almost reached the Super Hikers, only to see them complete their mini- snack break & push even further.  LOL>

Snow is now waist-deep.  Thinkin’ I’m D-U-N (done).  Only .5 miles further to Como Lake.  Totally do-able.

SUCCESS!  Kicked back on the frozen lake, I refuel & catch some zzz’s.

Return hike is soooo much easier – no longer cutting a trail UP in snow.  11 mile roundtrip winter hike.  No Blanca Peak today but gotta thank Team Ft Collins for pushing me this day.  I’ll be back…in the summer 🙂

Wait, wait – this tale’s not finished.

Back on the highway & only another 15 minutes down the road, we take in an hour at Great Sand Dunes Nat’l Park.  Sand dunes & snow — followed by Mexican food in Walsenburg.  FANTASTIC finish, FANTASTIC day!

 

 

Love my adopted hometown & feel like it’s time to give back.

Additionally, want a bigger voice for those of us who are tax-adverse.  [We’ve had 2 tax increases recently – one I supported (funds ear-marked), one I did not (increases to ‘general’ fund).]

Not sure how a regular citizen gets involved, so I put myself out there to learn the process.  Lucky for me Louisville hosts a fairly robust website which helped educate/navigate next steps.

Decided it best to serve on a Board & gain experience before running for a future City Council seat.

 

So many Boards…where would I be best suited?

Targeted a spot on our town’s Open Space Advisory Board.

Open space may be defined as an area of land or water that either remains in its natural state or is used for agriculture, free from intensive development for residential, commercial, industrial or institutional use. Open space can be publicly or privately owned. It includes agricultural and forest land, undeveloped coastal and estuarine lands, undeveloped scenic lands, public parks and preserves.

Land, trails, parks – everything outdoors – sounds right up my alley.

 

Read [town] Ordinance No. 1329, Series 2000 which defined the purpose & duties of the Board.  Next, read the past year’s Board minutes.  What does Open Space do?

Discussion Item: Flood Damage to Open Space Trail System

Staff was asked by FEMA to identify damage. Staff has mapped the

damage on all open spaces.

Coal Creek Trail, Davison Mesa and Coyote Run were the most damaged.

Staff estimates two miles of trail damage, if you were to add it all up.

Small repair projects are being done in-house.

Bigger projects are being done on a contract basis – Davidson Mesa and

Coyote Run will probably be done this way, although nothing has been

officially decided yet.

Staff will review these properties tomorrow and ongoing with FEMA, who

in turn will undertake their own review and determine whether the project

is eligible.

OSAB discussed the general contours of the re-building plans – how do

we rebuild? Stream bank restoration? Resilience v. restoration?

 

I actually USE our Open Space trails multiple times weekly for marathon training.  On board with restoration.

Jean Morgan, 1131 Spruce St.: Ms. Morgan is interested in Open Space

and Historic Preservation. She reported that she spoke to Council last

night about the importance of these two Boards being involved in

decisions related to their respective funds.

o Ms. Morgan says that the budget did not include any line item for

open space acquisition either last year or this year. Her concern is

that this tax is not being used for acquisition. She believes that the

citizens voted for the tax with the understanding that there would be

acquisition, and thus far, there has been none.

o Ms. Morgan would recommend that a percentage of the fund

should be set aside for acquisition.

ALSO, concerned that the one tax increase I voted for is not matching its intention – acquiring & expanding Open Space.

 

Ok, I’m in.  This is my Board.

Filled out all required paperwork (not a personal strength but a necessarily evil).  Check, done.

Interview scheduled with City Council on December 10th.  10 minutes.  Yep, that’s all you get.

Found our Mayor & Council members super nice & respectful.  That said, also found them very human.

Why do we put politicians on pedestals?  They’re just fellow Louisville residents, nothing crazy special.  Downside – didn’t feel any inspiration.  AND not so different from student council – only everyone’s older, seems tired & a bit beaten down.

Nope I didn’t get a Board spot on my first try.  But I’ve been inspired.

In addition to representing my fellow town folk, I think we need to boost ENERGY & ENTHUSIASM into our town government.  Granted I interviewed on an overcast 10 degree night, but jeez folks, we’re counting on ya.

Give me 2 or 3 years – aiming higher next go-around.  LOVE LOVE my Colorado home! 🙂

 

(super nice rejection letter)

Dear Keenan:

On behalf of the Louisville City Council, I would like to thank you for your interest in serving on a City of Louisville Board or Commission. I regret to inform you that you were not selected to serve for 2014. The City Council interviewed a very large number of highly qualified residents, making the appointment selections difficult indeed.

 

Louisville is truly fortunate to have so many citizens who are willing to become involved in the community. Although we were not able to take advantage of your offer to devote your time and energy to serve the residents of Louisville this year, we appreciate your interest and encourage you to apply for vacancies in the future.

 

Sincerely,

Robert P. Muckle, Mayor

 

Uncle Sam