Blazing Adventures

I'm running out of time hence the abbreviated commentary.  The day started a bit later than usual due to extra sleeping after a late-start viewing of Avatar in the media room.  I made a ride to get some peaches this morning.  Abe had his last lesson with Ms. Whitney.  Taryn took the girls on a run down to the Rio Grande Park by the Roaring Fork River.  They did some yoga (so I'm told) then somehow the three of them all fell into the river.  Abe had a tennis lesson, I ran a couple of errands and then went to the airport to pick up Peter and Shalini and Baja.  Baja is a dog they rescued at an airport in Mexico many years ago.

So, back to yesterday's big adventure.  Here are a bunch of photos.

Here are a few shots before we hit the water.  To the left are Jamuna and Taryn, the two "adult" girls in our family unit.

To the right are Abe and Maya along with Gloria and Tamara.






Here's a shot of Abe as the guide was explaining all the various hazards and risks of the trip.  Once we hit the water and passed the first bend Abe was fearless. I don't have any good action shots of Abe because I couldn't keep up with him.







Here is Taryn.  Her main job yesterday was to make sure no one broke their violin hand, including her own.














Here is Jamuna on full power.  Check out them guns.






Below, Maya and Gloria

Our favorite Aspen collaborative pianist, Ms. Tamara.



And Mr. Kool.











Below is an adventurous cohort taking the plunge into a confluence.

Abe is getting ready for the big dive.

Standing around just downstream from the confluence ride.

The B-Squad

And the group shot.

Health Tip

Here's the health tip for the day:  If you want to stay young in heart, mind and body, start having your kids when most of your friends are sending theirs off to college.  It's not easy but it's pretty great.  Also, don't downshift your bike as much as you might like when approaching hills along the way back from the fruit stand.








Yesterday was white water day.  I have a bunch of photos to post with comments.  Here are just three to whet your appetite.

It's official...

The sky really is bluer in Aspen.  I thought it might have just been my Maui Jim's.  Go ahead and Google it.  Also, I Googled "blah blah blah" and received over 32,000,000 hits in 0.51 seconds.

On a lighter note, believe it or not, today was quite busy.  I awoke with a mild headache but got that under control quickly with 400mg ibuprofen and a few cups of joe.  Did a bit of pre-cleaning since I didn't want the housekeeper to think we were slobs.  Maya muscled through her morning routine in time to get a short practice in before heading up to the music campus for the day.  She had a rehearsal with Ms. Tamara, studio class and then her final lesson for the summer with Mr. Kantor.

Upon returning from dropping off Maya and Taryn, I... wow, I don't recall what I did.  One thing that comes to mind is that I spoke with Peter who will be flying back to Santa Barbara from Michigan with Shalini on Friday.  They are going to stop over in Aspen and spend most of the day with us before leaving on Saturday morning.  We're looking forward to that.  Then Abe and I rode bikes into town to get bananas, coffee, a book from the library, and a cheeseburger (to go) from Little Annie's.  Abe also had one of his favorites, some organic chocolate milk.  Kids!


During our bike ride we encountered a few interesting art objects that we had not seen before.  One is this figure made of chicken wire.  Personally I think her nose it a bit big.

Also, near the gondola ticket booth we found this bike-like thing with a bunch of miniature cars attached.  It was trying to make some kind of statement about how much more colorful cars are than bicycles, or something like that.  Anyway, the lady on the bench was wondering why I was photographing her but I just left that a mystery for her to ponder.

On the path back we always pass this neat underpass that allows for safe riding under highway 82.  We all like the mirror.  If you look carefully you'll see Abe flying up the hill.  The highway is above and just behind my point of view in case your thinking "underpass???".

Then I headed back up to the music campus to attend Maya's studio class.  All good things eventually come to an end (really?) and today was the last class.  We heard a bunch of great performances and then started the long goodbye.  One fun thing is that we invited Gloria and her mom Anne, and Tamara, to go rafting on Thursday - and they accepted the invitation.  We are all looking forward to that.



After studio class Maya had her lesson with Mr. Kantor.  We are taking photos every year so when Maya is here for her 10th season (could we be that fortunate) and Mr. Kantor is here for his 50th (!!!) we'll have a fun chronology to look at.

I'm presenting this construction zone photo as a reminder of the absurd amount of noise and diesel fumes that permeated the studio class room.  I think they call that ambiance but I'm sure there's a better term.

This final shot may actually be my greatest discovery of the summer.  Too bad I stumbled on to it so late in the season.  The portable restroom across from Mr. Kantor's studio appears on the outside to be one of those "last resort" facilities.  Inside the walls were marble green with gold fixtures, artwork hanging on the walls and a nice wooden floor.  No kidding.  Probably the only thing I would change is the way the toilet paper is installed (I prefer the loose end to be on the front of the roll, away from the wall).

Wednesday night offers a physics lecture re high temperature superconductivity and then and Edgar Meyer recital.

West Side Story

I suppose the big event of the day yesterday was seeing West Side Story at the Wheeler Opera House.  The day started out with a flurry of lessons.  Ms. Whitney came to our place and worked with Abe, Maya went up to the music campus to work with both Natalie and Tamara, then Jamuna had her hour with Mr. Lilleslatten.

While I was sitting on a bench outside the middle school waiting for Jamuna and Taryn I saw Mike and Destiny walking toward me.  We have a lot of connections to Destiny.  She grew up in Rapid City and had Mrs. White as her violin teacher so consequently we have a bunch of mutual friends. One of those friends is Taryn so it was a surprise for both of them to see each other here in Aspen.  Here's a group shot:

We booked our rafting trip for tomorrow afternoon.  We had invited the Lilleslatten's to join us but there were no trips available that worked with their schedule.  We promised each other that next summer we will make it work.  Of course, I'll report on this tomorrow (or Friday).

After all the lessons and practicing we made a point of getting some exercise.  Taryn went for a run while Jamuna and Maya rode bikes with her.  Abe joined them on a Razor scooter.  I took off on the bike to get a CD of Maya's masterclass but the dub office closed at 4 PM.  On my way back I ran into Natalie (not literally) as she was riding into town.  It is always fun to see someone out of context like that.  We had a quick but nice visit.

As I was riding up to the duplex I saw that a property a couple of houses down was having an open house so I dropped in for  a quick look.  Then back to the dupe for the clean up then off we all went for dinner and the opera.  We ate at a place called Junk, the name being derived primarily from the decor which was mostly junk.  The food may have also been an inspiration.

After dinner it was off to the opera.  West Side Story was performed by the AMFS opera students and musicians.  It was very well done.  The three Lilleslatten kids were part of the cast - very cool.  Since this was a benefit performance most of the seats sold for $1000 each (not ours!).  We were lucky to be rubbing elbows with the Aspen elite.

I didn't take many photos yesterday so will make up for it today and tomorrow.

Maroon Bells - 2

The big event today was our hike up to Crater Lake at the base of the Maroon Bells.  The mandatory shot above was taken at the beginning of our four mile hike.  The kind-of-maroon, bell shaped mountains are among the most photographed mountains in the world.  In an earlier post I may have commented that we could see these Maroon Bells from the duplex we are renting but I think what we see is Pyramid Peak which is not actually considered one of the "bells".  This hike today was our second annual Crater Lake hike.

I took dozens of photos today of which I have selected just a few to post here, along with some commentary.


The journey officially starts from Aspen Highlands Resort, a nice ski area a couple of miles up Maroon Creek Canyon.  Cars are not permitted to drive much past Aspen Highlands between 9 AM and 5 PM due to overcrowding and air pollution.  Instead one must ride a bus for a small fee.  Along the way the driver provides a nice presentation about the natural history and human history of the area.










At the end of the bus ride there are restrooms and a small visitor center.  From there the hike starts.  Here's the group just raring to go.







As soon as we arrived at Crater Lake, about 45 minutes later, we ripped into our lunch which we purchased at Grateful Deli in Aspen.  After lunch the main activity was rock skipping, or attempting thereof.  The geologic features of the available rock was such that skipping wasn't all that easy.

















 Above is the lunch event, and to the right is the coolest event of the day.

This shot to the left is an attempt at "art".

The photo below is an attempt at "freeloading".

I think it is pretty obvious which attempt was more successful.

































And here is a beautiful shot of a darling little backpack, I mean backpack-er.

On the bus ride down the canyon we met a nice (older) couple who have a home over the hill in Crested Butte.  They had hiked 11 miles in 9 hours to catch the bus down to Aspen.  A friend is going to pick them up in the morning.  They were so exhausted and unsure how to get to their hotel we gladly gave them a lift.

We are now back at the pad and in the process of washing up and refueling - and contemplating a reward scoop.

Ice Skating

The big event today was a trip to the Aspen Recreation Center.  Last summer we spent quite a bit of time there skating and swimming but had not been there at all this summer, until today.  Maya has been wanting to go ice skating but Mom has been reluctant to allow this due to the risk or wrist injury.  Prema finally acquiesced.  Here is a snapshot I took of Prema watching from above.  The funny thing is that if you look carefully you can see Taryn helping Maya up off the ice after a fall.  Maya is wearing an orange sweatshirt.
PS: Do NOT tell Mr. Kantor.

Here's the troupe as well as a photo of the climbing wall they attacked after skating.  I wasn't there to catch them on the wall, but you get the idea

Going, Going, Going

We went golfing, miniature-style, on Friday.  After a busy morning full of practices and rehearsals we desperately needed some exercise and recreation so we rode bikes into town and hit the links.















Prior to golfing Maya, Prema and Taryn drove up to the music school campus for a lesson with Natalie and a rehearsal with Tamara.  Maya forgot to take the gift we had for Natalie so that was a great excuse for me to ride up Castle Creek Canyon.  It was a fun ride that took me to a new network of bike paths.  The bike path system in and around Aspen is quite impressive.  Here is a view of the practice area where Maya does a lot of her work.  They are all in the room to the left of the bike (foreground).   Also included is a shot of one of the bike path tunnels that allow for safe passage under the major highway that enters Aspen from the north.




















This is a view of the cafeteria area at the music school.  I think the food they produce is exceptionally good.  I always over-eat when I have lunch up there.

Maya thought it was funny that no one wanted to sit in the sun.

BTW, we checked on Maggie and the duck.  We learned that after three and a half hours someone had to wade into the pond to pull the dog out.





So, we're still on Friday.  After music and golf we all go cleaned up and went to a concert in the tent featuring Sarah Chang.  I think on of the most amazing things about that experience was that the girls didn't go backstage for an autograph.  I'm wondering if we are getting Sarah Chang-ed out.  After the concert we took Jamuna to the dupe because she was not feeling well then headed to La Palapa's for a quick bite.  Had to leave early because Maya started to feel ill.  Not sure what was going on but thankfully they were both feeling better the next morning.

Yesterday, Saturday, Maya and Jamuna had lessons.  Seems like much of the day was well spent just relaxing at the duplex.  Prema and I went into town for a walkabout.  We encountered this quartet playing on the street featuring one of our Aspen/Cleveland friends Ben.  We are all big fans of Ben and are hoping he wins the Dorothy DeLay Fellowship competition next week.

It a good thing I keep a detailed calendar and take a lot of pictures otherwise I don't think I would remember much of what we do each day.

Last night Maya and Abe stayed home while the rest of us went to a quartet performance at Harris Hall.  It included pieces by Haydn, Bartok and Ravel.  I really liked the Haydn.

Today, Sunday, is starting off nice and easy (easily?).  Prema, Taryn and Maya have headed up to campus to meet with Tamara.  We are cooking some food prepared by Mom Mom so it is ready when we need it next.  Abe and I are planning to ride to the fruit stand shortly.  It is uncharacteristically overcast.

I love palindromes

For some reason my eye seems to blur out the red circle and slash.

I just rushed into town on the bike to get a gift card to give to Ms. Whitney.  She is a cat-lover so we thought a shopping spree at C.B. Paws ("a cat and dog boutique") would be nice.  We stopped in last evening but the clerk was newly employed so didn't know how to charge up a gift card.  She said to just come back at 9:00 AM.  I arrived at about 9:40 to discover the place doesn't open until 10.  Oh well.  Here is a shot of my view while I waited in the alley.  At about five after 10 the proprietor came out and said, "Oh, are you waiting for me?" and then told me he had to go to the bank and would be back in 15.  I took off.

We ate at Zocalito last night.  The name means "small meeting place".  I don't think we will go back despite the ample room.

I also snapped this pic of a sign on a bike rack over by the fountain which is just a little ways to the right after leaving the alley.  I suppose I should have wiped off that nitrogenous deposit but I didn't think of that.

Penultimate Friday

It is early on this second-to-last Friday in Aspen this summer.  Yesterday was a relatively slow day, or so it seemed.  Although full of activities there was less rushing around due to overlapping appointments so I was able to hang around and wait at the various locations.

To catch up we'll have to start with Wednesday afternoon.  Every Wednesday Maya attends Mr. Kantor's "studio class".  This is a group class which included all of the 40+ students who are studying with him this summer.  Each week three or four students are selected to play the piece they are working on after which the other students offer opinions, comments and suggestions.  It's like a big intervention.  I mentioned a few weeks ago that Maya played the 3rd movement of the Bruch violin concerto.  Here's a view of the crowd.

After we returned from the music campus I believe Taryn went for a run, Jamuna was babysitting and Abe and Maya relaxed (honestly I'm not sure what they did), and I took off on the bike toward the fruit stand.  I though it was going to be a long ride but the shortcut I took made it seem surprisingly short.  I picked up some peaches, a couple of tomatoes, green beans and an over-ripe cantaloupe.  When I go back I heated up some chili that Mom Mom had made, steamed the green beans, and cleaned myself up.

I had a few bites and then the fun started.  I rode over to the Paepcke Auditorium which is right next to the music tent to attend a lecture about lasers and anti-lasers sponsored by the Aspen Center for Physics.  I enjoyed the lecture very much.  While I was there the rest of the gang had dinner then drove over to ACES for an astronomy lecture.  As soon as the laser lecture was over I raced over to ACES to join them.  I thought the lecture was very well done even though it was too early to include any actual stargazing.  When that was over we loaded the bike into the van and dropped by Paradise for fuel.  Robyn was playing in a quartet.  We made it "home" before 10 PM.  A great evening was had by all.

As you can see everyone was seated nicely in these folding chairs.  Since I arrive late I plopped down on a plush sofa against the back wall.  Nice.







Now yesterday.   Our first appointment was a tennis lesson for Abe which didn't start until 11:30.  That allowed for an easy start to the day.  Abe was up early for a viola lesson but that was rescheduled to today.  Like the little angel that he is, he practiced anyway.  I took a walk around the neighborhood with the big camera, aiming for the cemetery thinking there might be some interesting compositions to be had with long shadows and the like.  I was a bit too late so will go back another morning.



Along the way I caught up to a cluster of monks on their way up Cemetery Lane.  I asked them if they were going to be creating a mandala like last year and found out that they had just completed their work and that yesterday was the blessing ceremony.  I was surprised to hear this as I did not know they were in Aspen yet. I learned that there are two groups who come to town - one that sets up in town and this group that works at the Aspen Chapel.  Those Buddhists are so competitive.  I'll have to get a few photos of that non-denominational chapel as it is a beautiful piece of architecture.  Anyway, we were all disappointed not to have seem the mandala before it got tossed into the river.

This photo obviously shows a few of the monks just a head of me and more farther up the road.  It is also interesting to me because it shows what appears to be a lot of road traffic.  The road can be busy at times but this was unusual.  And, notice the random inclusion of the "for sale" signs.  If you click to enlarge you'll see a third sign just ahead of the monks.  At least in the areas we travel I estimate that one in fours properties are for sale.  Abe and I have been discussing starting a business to install and maintain for-sale signs in Aspen.

Abe had another tennis encounter with Torre (not Tory as previously reported).  I sat on the grass reading Back of Beyond (CJ Box).  BTW, we entered Yellowstone on page 75 and now we're almost to Two Oceans Plateau, so named because this area sits atop the Continental Divide and water on one side of the area flows to the Atlantic Ocean and on the other side to the Pacific.  Jessie, a nice old dog, sat with me.

As soon as I returned with Abe I took Maya and Taryn up to a rehearsal with Tamara.  While they were working I roamed around the music campus.  I saw a dog named Maggie swimming around the big pond following/chasing a duck.  Apparently Maggie had been at it for 15 or 20 minutes before I got there.  It was a sight to see.  The duck seemed to be teasing the dog by swimming just a couple of yards ahead of her the whole time.  I then had lunch at the small cafeteria, sitting with Charlie part of the time.  I ate too much. After lunch I watched the duck-dog show a while longer.  When Maya's rehearsal was over we all walked back up to the pond and the show was still going strong.  It had been going on about 90 minutes and we were all starting to wonder if either the duck or Maggie would give up.

Later in the day we just hung out at the duplex waiting for Prema to arrive.  Taryn took a 5-6 mile run to the post office and back, I pumped up all the bike tires, and the squad stayed busy with various important tasks. Later we all went into town for dinner, walking, shopping, and yes, ice cream.  For the record, I do not have ice cream every time we go there.  Sybarite5 was playing.  They are all AMFS alumni, and they are great.

Prokofiev, Practice, Pedaling

It is a peaceful and brisk Wednesday morning and the house is still sleeping except for Taryn who is out on the deck in the midst of a research conference and I'm putting ice on my neck as I watch the stock markets whip down, up, down, ...

Monday evening we most thoroughly enjoyed Robyn Bollinger's  performance of the Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in the Benedict Music Tent.  It was a special evening because in addition to Robyn we watched the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet perform.  It was a unique experience for us to hear the music and watch the dancers.

Yesterday we kept quite busy with various practices and lessons.  After a productive morning and early afternoon we treated ourselves to a bike ride into town via the Aspen Meadows trail off the the Rio Grande bike path.  Although we could have gone into the tent we chose to sit outside on the grass as we listened to the AACA orchestra.  Being outside also afforded us the opportunity to move around and play with the "Frisbee".

After the concert we pedaled our way through the traffic to Little Annie's.  Abe has been determined to have a cheeseburger there for the past week so we finally made that happen.  In fact, we all had burgers.

Above is a shot of Taryn and Jamuna watching the orchestra through the open louvers.

To the left one can see our stack of bikes outside the restaurant.

And, I finally updated the B-Squad photo.

Today Maya will spend about five hours up on the music campus for rehearsals, practice, lunch and studio class.  I hope to join her and Tayrn for studio class.

This evening offers a lecture at the Aspen Center for Physics and possibly an astronomy presentation at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES).