Barn Parties

The corral is empty now and with the next good rain the last remaining hoof prints from Applejuice the donkey will be washed away forever. As long as I can remember there have been horses, donkeys or other four-legged critters penned up at the Taylor place. In the early 60's when they moved to their new home at the corner of Fillmore and Templeton Gap, this was the outskirts of town.
As Colorado Springs grew around it, the Taylor place became a little country oasis in the middle of the city. Now that the house has been sold and Applejuice has been relocated to Fountain, I'm guessing that zoning laws will prohibit the new owners from keeping livestock there (I hope I'm wrong on that). The Taylor barn is the other big attraction on this heavily driven stretch. It has been painted and repainted many times, with numerous inspirational messages posted over the years. But, I'll remember the Taylor barn for a different reason, the parties!!! I went to Wasson High School with Tory and Shannon Taylor who hosted frequent get-togethers in the big open loft above the barn. I don't remember many problems or fights. I don't remember an unusual amount of alcohol being consumed. What I do remember is a relaxing place to escape the parents and to hang out with other kids from school. At my 20th high school reunion, who walks up to me but Tory Taylor! He says "there's a party in my barn tonight". The loft was decorated with old rock and roll posters. Music from our high school years reeled us back through time. At this party the beer flowed. When Tory's folks flicked the lights a few times from a switch inside the house, as was the custom, we knew it was time to wrap it up. As I walked down the stairs and headed toward my car I felt the magic of the moment and I knew this was my last party in the Taylor barn.

Sneakers

I've received some really fun calls from you recently at 52-88-CAT! I've heard from Donna in Fountain, Rick, Tony and Jennifer in the Springs, Sandy in Trinidad, Marie in Pueblo, feline friends everywhere! I got some great listener comments on the new Nike Air Jordan sneakers that are selling for $230! (that's $115 per shoe! Heck the laces are probably 35 bucks"!). Question: What kind of special features would you need in a sneaker in order to pay $230? Responses included: "diamond studded", "100,000 mile warranty", "built in heel massage and toe warmers" and "motorized with remote control". Pictured above are my pair of Nike's. I bought them about a year ago for $55 on sale and I wear them most days. They have a few miles of good tread left on them and they don't need to be "Airs" because there's plenty of clean air in Colorado and I frequently travel to the high country and let my Nike's soak it in!
See ya on the radio!

They're Watching You!!

Last week they raised the speed limit on I-25 through Colorado Springs from 55 MPH to 65 MPH. Why? Well, for one thing traffic engineers felt that with the straightning of the interstate and the creation of some new on and off ramps, it was now safe to travel 65. And besides everybody was going 65 anyway. This was a good move.... Now, here's the problem. Everyone who used to go 65 is now flying through town at 75-80!
The cops say they will keep a close watch on speeders. So, sloooooow down!!! You'll get there eventually.

Happy Birthday Zeb!

Happy birthday to Zebulon Pike, the man who discovered the 14,110 foot mountain that he named for himself (It doesn't seem to matter that Native Americans knew about the peak for thousands of years and I'm sure they called it something else). At our house we celebrate every year with a giant misshaped chocolate cake that vaguely resembles the peak, complete with vanilla icing (snow) and one candle at the top representing the light at the summit house.
Pike was born on January 5th, 1779 in New Jersey of all places, where I guess pollution and organized crime drove him out. When he and his men were exploring the western plains they sighted what they thought was a huge cloud (the snow capped peak). As they got closer they discovered it was one enormous rock! According to legend, Pike then exclaimed "there is a mountain no man will ever climb". In fact Zeb and his men tried to scale the peak, but were driven back by the cold and snow (this was before global warming). Of course today it's climbed regularly by hikers, bikers, Girl Scouts, choo-choo trains and cars, proving that Pike was no Nostradamus. Since 1922 the Adaman Club, named because they add another man (and now women can join) to the group each year, climbs the hill. We all know they should change it to the "AdaPerson Club", but it would be too expensive to change the clubs stationary and embroidered logos. Every new year's eve the club members trudge through waist deep snow and fight off hurricane winds and frostbite just so they can set off fireworks for you and me to enjoy. Heck I can't even get my kids to take out the trash for me and these people I don't even know are willing to climb a mountain just so I can watch a pyrotechnics show! Like many of you I watched the fireworks this year (although by midnight my vision was a little blurry). I found that due to buildings and trees, the best place to view them was in front of my house in the middle of the street. Which is not the safest place to be on "amateur drunk night". Hats off to the Adaman Club, they are too cool!!! As for Zeb Pike, happy 230th birthday (although you don't look a day over 175).