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Diversions: I have this friend…

PEAK TO PEAK - I have this friend. He was in my law school class. In the Spring of 1983, he had four wisdom teeth coming in. At first, it was a mild annoyance. My friend ignored the problem and told me, “I just want to graduate and pass the bar,...

Turning frustration to nostalgia

Lyons Is anyone else frustrated with life? I sigh as I come to the end of nearly seven weeks of dealing with injuries and illnesses. I tried everything to heal, to no avail. My frustration turned to feelings of infuriation with every failure. I...

Some Words for the Week

it’s ten degrees out and I’ve not written a good poem in a week or maybe ever I’m driving to work as it seems I often am and the road is icy my lover sleeps at home and so does the rest of the world it’s not yet day and the snow and the dim take...

The Winter Solstice

PEAK TO PEAK - The Winter Solstice on the 21st of December leads us into one of the four great turning points of the zodiac. The deepest darkest nights of the year are upon us. The solstice, with its sunset flowing through Stonehenge, marks the...

Some Words for the Week

there’s an apple tree in the backyard I’ve written about it before I was taken by it in fall when the leaves were changing and the apples were red we picked them every morning cut them up for breakfast pressed them into cider baked them into...

Life in Nature: Tucked in

BARR LAKE STATE PARK - I’ve mentioned in previous articles that as winter sets in I enjoy making my way down to the flatlands for some raptor photography.  While we certainly have quite a few raptors around all year, one of the main reasons...

At the beginning of autumn, a friend from the Netherlands came to visit me. We didn’t have much time together but made the best of it. One day, unable to decide where to go and what to do, we opted to go for a stroll through Estes Park.  The...

Words for the Week

soft orange at the horizon line like the edge of the world is gently burning the city shimmers with lights and all the little lives in it the trees are brushstrokes ink against the charring sky the mountains still dark silent sleeping strong snow...

Nederland December Night Skies

TUNGSTEN VALLEY - Last month, we received a riddle posed by a beautiful young woman nearly half a century ago. At what intervals do a clock’s hour and minute hands align? It’s the same problem as how often planets align with each other, called...

Some Words for the Week

the sun floats in blackness spinning burning huge casting light over our galaxy giving warmth and glow each speck of shine has to travel so many miles in the dark to reach us here I drive to work in the truck I’m listening to music and I have a...

Life in Nature: Let’s talk turkey!

EAST MAGNOLIA - It’s that time of year, folks! As I write, a gigantic, nation-wide “flock” is thawing out for roasting, smoking, deep-frying, or some other such method of culinary preparation.  Plans are being set in motion for gatherings of...

Mountain Spirit Astrology Sagittarius

Altruistic Sagittarius leads the zodiac in giving thanks for all that we have. The noble archer has as his guide large fortunate Jupiter, who is now honoring partnership. So let us first give thanks for all of the people we have in our lives –...

Some Words for the Week

I’m driving to therapy after finishing work I’ve been awake for twelve hours already I’m worried I’ll never publish again that the world is going to end and that I’m making no progress in anything at all there is construction on the highway two...

A medley of laughter and comfort

I’ve made it a habit of celebrating all my milestones, from professional success to achieving daily health goals. When friends invited me to join them at the Niwot Tavern for an early dinner, I couldn’t refuse an opportunity to celebrate. That...

Life in Nature: Ready to rumble

SUNNYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD - While the elk rut has wound down and life among the herds is settling down and returning to a more placid existence, another of our neighbors has geared up and is in full swing.  The mule deer season typically begins...

Tech Trends: I got scammed    

PEAK TO PEAK - I’m careful. Really, I am. But this week, I was scammed. There was a Facebook scam, and I fell for it. Here’s what happened. If you know me (Gail), you know I’m pretty much off of Facebook, except for the random Reels that Chris...

The day I found three bucks

So much has happened in 2024 and the year isn’t over yet. I returned to freelance journalism and revived my face painting business. I returned to school again. Yes, I’m addicted to learning. Once this round of school is complete, I’ll expand on my...

Some Words for the Week

I woke in the night and thought of a poem but my mouth was dry and we’d went to bed late and had an early day tomorrow and so I decided not to write it down figuring I’d remember it come morning I bet it was a good poem about how hard life...

there’s only this ...

it’s like I’ve heard before / so many times / but only just started / to understand there’s only this and nothing else / and this is all we can control ...

Diversions: You should buy a gun

You should buy a gun. Yeah, I know. You dislike firearms and wish we lived in a world without them. But ignoring reality never solves problems. The reality is that Trump may win or steal the election, and he’s made no secret about how he will...

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