Adeu Subaru . . .

I know many of you have pleasant memories of the Subaru, so I am posting this photo so you can share one final good-bye: After incessant overheating and head gasket problems, we finally put the Subaru down. I tried to sell her back to a Subaru dealer in Glenwood Springs, but after they took a look, they offered me a whopping $0. But Craigslist did the trick. This morning, the Subaru was towed away forever, and I was left standing in the snow with the proceeds: enough to cover the initial tow-job to Glenwood Springs and lunch at the "Village Smithy" in Carbondale on the way back to Aspen.

The whole sad episode reminded me of a scene from the film "Motorcycle Diaries," where Ernesto and Alberto's 1939 Norton 500 (below), which they named "The Mighty One" broke down for good and was tearfully loaded on the back of a truck to be shipped off for scrap.

But this morning, we shed no tears. And all in all, I am glad to be rid of the Subaru even if I couldn't get anything for it. Adeu Subaru . . .

Mom leaves for a few hours and . . .

Walking . . . Like a Drunken Sailor

In a matter of hours, Sam went from having to walk while holding your hand . . .

. . . to stumbling along on his own like a drunken sailor, and he is fired up about it!

Becky skis the BOWL!

We got hammered with 14 inches of new snow Friday evening, so on Saturday morning, I convinced Becky to climb the Highland Bowl up to an elevation of 12,392 feet. The exposed ridgeline was beautiful (on the photo above, you hike right up the right side shoulder, which Becky said she didn't like because of the steep plunges below). And then from the summit, we popped into our bindings and skied through deep, soft snow from 12,392 feet down to 8,100 feet.

Overheating in Overcold Weather

I had to go to Grand Junction this last week, and on my way back to Aspen last night, the good 'ol Subaru overheated in 12 degree weather. So there I sat in the darkness on the side of Highway 82 wrapped up in my parka, reading a newspaper in the dark, while steam poured out from under the hood. Stupid stupid stupid car. 12 degrees? Give me a break! The fact that Colorado was cold was the deciding factor in our moving here, simply because the Subaru wouldn't overheat during winter. And now our reasoning has been flushed down the toilet. 12 degrees and the Subaru overheats. Stupid stupid car indeed.

Scandinavian Moose Hat

This is Sam's new Scandinavian Moose Hat from his Aunt Emily in Salt Lake City who has a low-burning obsession with all things pertaining to "knitting." Sam loves it. It is the only hat he currently owns that he doesn't rip right off his head and throw on the ground. That is saying something!

The Long Thaw

After a wicked winter here in Aspen, we might have begun the long long long thaw. I walk past this car on my way to work every morning, and a few weeks ago it was completely covered. But now, we have had some days of sun, and we can see asphault on the streets again for the first time since December. Here is to a muddy and "floody" spring.