I’ve never been much for facial hair. Indeed, at this point, I don’t sport much hair anywhere. But apparently most male members of the ski patrol are big beard guys, at least until now. New grooming rules to aid mask wearing in the Covid-19 era have cut – in a big way – into beards among ski patrollers. Article from the Times is here. Sample before and after photos, below. For the record, patrol dogs are exempt – go figure. But in any event, big beard guys: Beware.
A ski patroller in Colorado before shaving his beard.
A soul patch is exempt from the new rules, as are patrol dogs.
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For one National Ski Patrol historian who has rocked a bushy mustache since 1979, the prospect of shaving is something he is willing to put up with in order to continue doing what he loves…. Another ski patrol supervisor recently shaved the beard he had sported for nearly 30 years. “We have a few patrollers whose beards are older than some of their co-workers,” he said. “After the initial shock of learning the new shaving protocol, most patrollers understood it’s a small step to take to help ensure the safety of ourselves, our families, our company and the community as a whole.”
Oh. My. Gosh. Here it is, Black Friday, and what’s the lead story in the DP? “Secret Shopping Tips For Your Inner Capitalist?” Nah. “Pandemic Restrictions For Hardcore Corona Virus Deniers?” Nope. “Leftover Election Tidbits for the Politically Insatiable? ” Not on yer life. It’s actually this: “Opt Outside this Friday with these Accessible Hikes Perfect for the Whole Family.” Don’t believe me? Click the link to see for yourself.
But wait, there’s more. The DP’s often clueless outdoor writer has finally recognized that there are great hikes in southwest Denver (where we live) rather than just up in Deep Blue Country – you know, the Home of Coors Brewery (Golden) and the People’s Republic of Boulder. To top it all off, half the trails listed are among my all time faves. And 2 of those are just a stone’s throw from my front door. Be still my beating heart.
Now, go grab your hiking boots and a nice floppy hat, slather on some sunscreen, fill up your water bottle, and go take a hike. You owe it to yourself – and to that awful food-baby growing inside your gut from yesterday’s culinary excess… er, I mean… yesterday’s Thanksgiving feast. Yeah, thassit.
Today I turn 62. In light of the occasion, there’s this sobering news.
After 00:11:01 on 11/26, all bets are off.
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This being Thanksgiving, consider the following: Origin myths of Pilgrims and Indians notwithstanding, let’s remember that it was in the midst of the Civil War when Abraham Lincoln permanently set Thanksgiving on November’s last Thursday. As such, we remember our great-great-grandfather George, a Pennsylvania saddler who fought in that war, and in whose saddle shop I played as a kid over a century later. (You can re-visit more details from a previous post, here.)
George Wolf’s saddlery shortly before it was torn down in 1974.
A national day set aside for the purpose of giving thanks takes on special significance when set against a backdrop of hard times. So now in time of global pandemic, as then in time of Civil War, we give thanks for harvest and family in the shadow of sacrifice and separation. I’m pretty sure my great-great-grandfather knew it full well, since his son Charles was born exactly 9 months after George’s Civil War service ended. That’s a happy accident for which I at age 62 – indeed all of us descended from the old saddler – are eternally grateful. With or without a robust retirement plan.
Those of you of a certain age may remember a Canadian rock group called The Five Man Electrical Band. Their one hit song from 1971 was called “Signs.” Ring a bell? Listen in to the Tesla cover from 1990, here. It has more hair and more attitude than the original. But here’s the original (G-rated) refrain lyrics to jog your memory.
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?
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Me personally, I’m a sucker for signs. So when I’m taking in the scenery on my daily walk – as I was today in Roxborough – my eye is naturally drawn to them.
This property at 3755 N. Rampart Range Road is not for sale. It does, however, boast 10,300 sq. ft of living space along with 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms. Built in 2016 and nestled into the red rocks, it sits on 3 acres of very secluded land. Oh, and it also comes with several signs – to ensure privacy, of course.
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Today I was pleased to discover a short spur trail leading to Willow Creek Falls. As an added bonus, this trail afforded me a better view of the place at 3755 N. Rampart Range Road than I ever had before. Go figure.
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know I’m a fan of New Yorker cartoons. From time to time, I have even been known to participate in the New Yorker’s weekly Cartoon Caption Contest. Truth be told, I have never won. But this week? I feel very good about this one. “Why,” I hear you ask? Because this week’s offering combines two of the oldest tropes in the cartoon business: “Mobster victims in cement overshoes,” and “they said.”
Here’s a previous cartoon offering in the “cement overshoes” category.
And here’s one with “they said.”
So, what’s my entry in this week’s Cartoon Caption Contest?
“‘Work from home,’ they said. ‘What could go wrong?’ they said.”
DCSD (Douglas County School District) – where Anne teaches – just announced something you can read about here. It takes effect after Thanksgiving. Here is my comment on the story in today’s DP:
To quote someone we all know and love: “It is what it is.”
Congrats to DCSD for doing the needful.
And to anyone who wants to troll me?
Bart and I have a message for you:
I’ve always wanted to do a post with the title, “A Tale of Two Knees.” Now, thanks to my better half, I can. Nearly a decade ago, Anne had a total knee replacement. A couple of weeks ago, she got a second new knee on the other side. A comparison of the two procedures is nothing short of startling, as the below chart shows. Nothing against either surgeon or either hospital, but it’s changes in the last 3 rows that really tell the tale.
Year 2011 2020
Hospital Penrose (C. Springs) Swedish (Denver)
Surgeon O. Mitchell J. Assini
Procedure Total Knee Total Knee
Anesthesia General Spinal
Hospital-stay 2 nights Outpatient
Cost $60K $20K
