Samain Closing Moon
So. On Samain I went over to the Otherworld (Conifer, Colorado with no internet service and a gimpy computer). Luckily I got back just this morning, still in Colorado and with only two full days having passed. Translation, I reset my computer to its factory defaults and got my phone number from Century Link so I could connect the DSL.
In resetting the computer I lost my posts written in Wordpad while in the Otherworld (that old one with no technology) so this is, in effect, my first post since Samain began.
A lot has happened. On Samain morn, I met with various real estate, banker and closer types to complete the purchase of Black Mountain Drive. That was easier than setting up the damn DSL and returning from the no-tech Otheworld.
I’ve been camped out in a lower level bedroom with my REI sleeping bag and a pillow. First night was difficult, but I got a good nap. The next day we switched back to standard time, one of the real chaos events in my world since I’m a standard time all the time is good enough for me guy, so some sleep lost adjusting there, but last night I slept great.
Being in the mountains is wonderful. I keep having do I really live here feelings. Shadow Mountain drive, the road up here from the Aspen Park area, winds past mountain meadows, huge outcroppings of a reddish rock, log cabins and millionaire’s retreats made of stone. These last perch on hillsides or on rocky promontories. By the time you get up Shadow Mountain to our place on Black Mountain Drive the housing has become less grand.
The mule deer come into our backyard, dining on weeds, lichen and small tufts of a tough grass. They are placid, allowing me to get within 30 or 40 feet before turning tail and scampering off, further up the mountain, using the power line corridor as a throughway.
The big mission while here, in addition to buying the house, is getting a fence built. We’re going to rely this time on a combination of invisible fence technology and a four foot perimeter fence to which I will attach the invisible (really visible, and bright yellow at that) fence. Making the place safe for our hounds and getting it done before we move is very important.
I met Saturday with Mike, “the fence guy.” He’s a local, a one man company, and has been building fence up here for 23 years. He’s also a pretty close match to John Goodman, especially Goodman’s character in the Big Lebowski. He’s one option, but he stops working once the ground freezes. That happens, he says, after a snowfall, a thaw and a subsequent freeze. There’s snow on the ground this morning.
Brian, of A Straight Up Fence, is on his way now. Richard, of Pioneer fence, said he’d take care of us if the local guys don’t work out. I’m inclined to go with Mike but we’ll see what Brian has to say.
On Saturday night I had supper with Jon and Jen at Uokura, sushi place in Golden. The three of us like sushi and sashimi so we often dine Japanese. Saw the grandkids yesterday. Gabe came down, snuggled up, explained about nose bleeds, then said, “I’m going back upstairs.” Ruthie stuck her head over the banister then pulled it back. She was shy, she said. Jon and I watched a bit of the Broncos at the Patriots, then I headed over to the Best Buy to have them work on this computer.
Both ways I drove along Colfax Avenue for miles, driving from Golden through the western edge of Denver, then through downtown past the Capitol building and up Colorado Avenue past the Denver Zoo the museum of natural history. Colfax is equivalent to Minneapolis’ Lake Street. Both are very long and involve multiple ethnic transitions though Colfax is said here to be the longest street in the country.
Just got done with Brian. He’s a sharp guy. Unfortunately for Mike, if Brian’s numbers come in well, I’m going to go with him.
Time to head down to the village, deed in hand, to forward mail from here to Minnesota for six weeks, apparently the Post Office requires proof of ownership. Makes sense. Then I’m also going to visit Certified Toyota Service which looks like a small outside the metro service to get Toyota maintenance done. Gonna check with them about their recommendations on tires.
So, Lunch. Mail. Toyota. Back up the mountain. Nap.