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December 2008

James Colt began skiing with the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program last season. In the Autumn of 2006, James had just finished a two pitch climb in Ophir, Colorado, when he was struck by a large chunk of falling rock, which resulted in a serious traumatic brain injury. A long and painful recovery left him with extensive paralysis of his entire right side. In view of his injuries, his progress at the beginning of last ski season was remarkable, but related injuries prevented him from continuing- a major disappointment for him (and for me, as I had been his instructor).

Over the Summer, James put in countless hours on his rehab, including huge miles on his recumbent 3-wheeler, and an equally impressive number of miles walking. At the end of November, 2008, we began again: a full day learning again to maneuver in ski equipment that had once been so familiar, and beginner work on the Magic Carpet.

19 December, 2008 /

Scrooge. Tiny Tim. Bah -- humbug! The words from Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol hang in the frosty holiday air like our chilled breath. More than a century and a half after its publication in 1843, the story of the miser-turned-humanitarian remains a fixture in the tinsel-strewn landscape of the season.

Peter Ackroyd is the foremost living biographer of Dickens and chief literary critic of The Times of London. He also wrote the Foreword to the most recent Christmas gift book put out by Red Rock Press, A Christmas Dinner. Ackroyd weighs in on the enduring popularity of Dickens tale and its grizzled protagonist.

17 December, 2008 /

[Click the play button to hear]

Jeb Berrier is Robin Williams on skis: a deranged lunatic with exhibitionist leanings and talent to burn.

During the Christmas season, the actor/director likes to hang with a few of his close friends, fellow actors, and put on a holiday play at the historic Sheridan Opera House. In general, we are talking tour de farce.

Case in point, this years romp: Bob's Holiday Office Party.

Office Party is a lewd, crude alternative to standard holiday treacle such as Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life.

Showtime is 8 p.m., December 18-22, at the Opera House.

In this irreverent, crude, fast-paced, ferociously funny production an insurance ace Bob Finhead (Jeb) prepares to host yet another annual holiday boozefest. His guests are his neighbors, the genetically challenged denizens of Neuterberg, Iowa, a paean to small-town America, where life happens. And all is not well.

17 December, 2008 /

I grew up in and around New York, a place known for ethnic diversity, where a handle like "Smith" is as rare as a street with no traffic or trash. The name smacks of white bread and white linen.

OD 2 Susannah is anything but. She is a kaleidoscope of colors. However this true introvert does not announce her many gifts. She unwraps them slowly or obliquely in conversations over time, casually tossing over her shoulder (like discarded peanut shells) the fact she is a practicing clinical psychologist, executive coach, systems consultant, author, composer, soprano, and one-time pilot.

Susannah does not take herself too seriously: she is who she is.
We on the other hand are honored to call her friend and confidante.

Dr. Smith has agreed to join "Telluride Inside…and Out's" team of writers. She will be contributing a weekly advice column, beginning now with her first "Shrink Rap."

15 December, 2008 /

ChristmasDinner “Telluride Inside…and Out” is all about what makes Telluride sing, which comes down to the soaring, quirky, original voices of locals such as Ilene and Richard Barth, pedigreed authors in their own right, and also founders/owners of the New York-based boutique gift book publishing company, Red Rock Press.

Red Rock Press’s new holiday book is “A Christmas Dinner” by Charles Dickens, with a series of original paintings for illustrations, and holiday recipes, many taken and adapted from Dickens’ family papers.

Red Rock Press founder and part-time local Ilene Barth explains how her publishing company and this book came about, with detours to reflect on Telluride’s past and present literary riches. Let Ilene tell the story:

15 December, 2008 /

December 11 to 18, 2008

Visible Planets:
Morning: Saturn 
Evening: Venus and Jupiter

Celestial Phenomena: With all planets moving in forward direction in predominantly "collective" signs, a Sagittarius Full Moon that is both at perigee (its closest approach to Earth) and syzygy (directly aligned with the Sun and Earth), and a mutable Grand Cross involving the Sun, Moon, Mars, Saturn and Uranus blazing across the cosmos, we are feeling the powerful pulse of our shape-shifting Universe as it morphs, expands and grows. Never before have we been presented so many multi-faceted options and possibilities. Potential is limitless and creation is eternal. If you're feeling a little unstable and uncertain, don't feel like the Lone Ranger. It's par for the course. Just remain positive, grateful and keep your eyes to the skies. Simply do the next right thing and stay on the path. Peace, love and joy, happy holidays and may you see and become a part of the great, good fortune of these changing times!

13 December, 2008 /

  The Beats
The Beats

Tonight, December 13, 7PM at the Sheridan Opera House the Rock And Roll Academy will be performing its Fifth Annual Winter Rock Concert. This year's show will feature nine all-kid bands ranging in age from six-years to eighteen years old. The line up includes:



13 December, 2008 /

Those who know her, know that Susan is a prolific writer. That has not changed. Plus, she has help now. A few of you may have noticed you were missing your email notifications of new material to read (called a "feed") from TI...O. We are so very glad that along the way, someone cared enough to point it out. For one thing, it helped alert us to an issue that we have now resolved, and for another, it meant that someone was out there paying attention!

12 December, 2008 /