DUDE, REIN-O!

About every three weeks, I make an early Monday morning drive from Denver to Aspen.  I’ve been doing it since last winter, racing across Interstate 70 in cold and icy blackness, to arrive in the Roaring Fork Valley just at sunrise, and joining with the regular commuters for the battles on Highway 82.

In the summertime, a second option is available in Independence Pass.  I’ve driven this route at least a half dozen times, and I never cease to enjoy the solitude and natural scenery for the two hours away from the interstate.

Independence is a serious pass, with tight switchbacks and some very narrow sections where a descending truck must stop in place to let an ascending vehicle through.  But it is all paved and easily navigable in the summertime.

In early October, I took a risk heading up for the pass.  I felt that it may be my ‘last chance’ before CDOT would close the pass for winter.  I knew that a storm had hit the mountains on Saturday, but I hadn’t seen the conditions of the pass in any news report.  I based my final decision when I saw the sign at the Copper Mountain exit of I-70 that read “Independence Pass:  OPEN”.

For most of the drive up the pass, the road was all clear.  However, during the last few miles, above treeline, the conditions turned to blown over snow, with ice beneath.  I pulled over and locked the hubs on my truck, then transferred over to 4 wheel drive and continued my climb.

At the top of the pass, the entire road was a sheet of ice.  I pulled into the parking lot and saw a group of people struggling to load motorcycles onto a truck.  “What were they thinking?”  I thought, for they were crazy to be up here on bikes in this condition.  But perhaps they, like me, were not expecting the icy conditions.

“Do you need some help?”  I asked.  They responded affirmative.  I put on my hat and gloves, and carefully stepped over across the ice in my hiking boots (how I wished I had my Sorel rubber boots!)

After helping them out, I got back in the truck and sat for a while, contemplating the danger of an icy descent down to Aspen.  I watched a large CDOT plow truck scrape at the top layer of snow.  However, he was not dropping Magnesium Chloride (or “Mag” as Colorado drivers term it) to melt out the ice and allow tires to grip the pavement.  Finally, I figured that my trusted truck could handle a very slow and cautious descent.

As I crested over the pass, and could see the road below me, I was struck with a scene of chaos.  There was a line of vehicles, all struggling and spinning out as they tried to climb the steep eastbound slope towards me.  The sheet of ice prevented any traction for 2WD cars with summer tires, and many motorists were just stuck on the side of the road, unable to climb any more but too scared to turn around and go down.

First I encounted two irishmen in an old F150.  One guy was driving, and spinning one rear wheel uncontrollably, while the other had tried to push.

I pulled up in front of them and explained their futility.  For even if they could gain some momentum by pushing, there would be no hope of the tire ever gripping the road and making it to the top.  I offered to tow them up.

“Oh, God Bless ye!”  they said.

I wasn’t entirely confident it was going to happen, but I just had to try.  I brought my truck directly in front of them, almost until both our front bumpers touched.  Then I pulled out a 6 foot tow chain that I have (that saw a lot of use last winter!) and hooked it up between us.  Getting back in the truck, I shifted into reverse, and eased off the clutch, to take up the slack in the chain.

I had expected a bit of resistance, and was suprised to feel very little.  My truck had no problem pulling a half-ton pickup up the mountain, and my brand new BFG All Terrain tires never once slipped on the ice.  Slowly, I drove backwards, while looking out my rear window to stay in the lane, and towed the guys to the top.

At the top, the man came out and embraced me in a big hug.  Both of them thanked me many times.  One pulled out his wallet.  I said it was not necessary, but he shook his head, and said “This is for da beers.”  ( I wasn’t sure if he intended for me to buy some beer, or find a bookie and bet the money on “Da Bears”!)

For the second time, I left the summit and attempted a descent into Aspen.  This time, a front-wheel drive sedan was stalled perpendicular across the road.  There was a long line of vehicles trying to get around him, and many people out trying to push the car off to the side and out of harms way.  Again I parked my truck and walked down and encountered a middle age woman.

“Would you like me to tow you up?” I asked her.

“Oh!  Do you have a tow truck?”

“No, just my F-250, but it can do it.”  This time, I was extremely confident in the abilities of my vehicle.

“Please!  My husband will be so grateful.  I will go tell him.”

Again, I drove down and hooked up both front ends, and towed the small sedan all the way up the pass in reverse.  This couple (tourists in a rental car, i later found out) were so excited that they even took a photo of me and my truck, and called me their “Guardian Angel.”  Again, I was offered money, and when I refused, I was told “Sometimes miracles can happen.  This is not like the parting of a sea.  It is a miracle that you just happened to be here when we needed help.  Consider this a donation to your church.”

By this time, the CDOT truck had dropped the Mag and started to thaw the ice.  The cars were now making it up the pass without help.  I made it down a few hundred feet and found dry pavement again.

Once again, I am so proud of the power of my truck and new tires.   I hope that it comes in handy many times this upcoming winter.   To me it was second nature.   I have the means to help people out in trouble, so I do so, without question.  Although I arrived a few hours late for work, it was well worth it, to see the smiles on those grateful faces.Some people may have called me stupid or gullible, but I got much more reward out of the good feeling up on the pass than I’ve ever felt at a job, current or past.

Pyramid Peak 01, originally uploaded by Adam Reiner.

I took this shot coming into work this morning. This is Pyramid Peak, the only 14er visible from Highway 82 near Aspen. It is only October 7, but an early storm has dusted the entire mountain with snow.

The Prophetic Carpenter was at it early this morning, while The Foreman and I discussed the failing economy and his desires to see all the Republicans run out of Washington, The Prophetic rocked back and forth in his plywood chair.

“Russia is sending an armada over to our side of the Atlantic.  They’ve joined forces with Venezuela.  Hundreds of submarines, in OUR waters!”  he chuckled in a sinister way.

I just had to do a fact check, and found this article from September 8.  This may have missed the MSM.

Russian Fleet Plans Joint Exercise with Venezuela

Neil Richard Leslie | September 08, 2008

Russia and Venezuela may stage joint naval exercises around Venezuelan territorial waters this November when four Russian warships arrive in the Caribbean, according to BBC reports.  Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has welcomed news of the Russian fleet’s proposed visit, dismissing US concerns about Russian enroachment in the area.  Mr Chavez said: “Russia’s naval fleet is welcome here. If it’s possible, we’ll stage an exercise in our Caribbean waters.”  It will be the first time such an exercise has been undertaken in the Americas.

Despite American concerns, Russian foreign ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko, inisisted the move had no connection to events in Georgia, and was in no way directed against any third country. President Chavez, who has already called for a strategic alliance between Venezuela and the Kremlin, supported the Russian intervention in Georgia, and has accused the US of being scared of Moscow’s “new world potential.”

So it is true.  It is very scary.

“Putin…never…bluffs.”  he said.   And Chavez is crazy enough to instigate something with the U.S.  He keeps a low profile.   While the “President Ahmadinejad Show” continues to tour the news circuits, Chavez is secretly hatching this mischievous scheme against the United States, by making an ally of our former “#1 Enemy.”

Hey may even try to turn the rest of Latin America against us.  That is when we will need our brothers and sisters from Mexico, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.  The very same immigrants that many Americans despise may be our only hope.  Unfortunately, most of their governments are already corrupt (supposedly, the President of Mexico draws a higher government salary than the President of Los Estados Unidos).

When these governments go to war, no working class person of any race or nationality will be spared.

IMG_0051, originally uploaded by Adam Reiner.

I took this photo back in the spring time, from the hill below my house. In the foreground, on the far right, is Mt. Sopris.  It is 12,953 feet tall and has a larger vertical rise of any mountain thousands of miles away from the Pacific Coast.  A climb of it is a classic mountaineering experience.  I have not done so.

Of to the left in the background is the knife-shaped ridge of Capitol Peak, named for its resemblance of the U.S. Capitol Building.  I climbed it in the summer of 2007.  To the left of Capitol is Mt. Daly.

Sopris can be seen prominently from all parts of the lower valley.  From the first turn out of Glenwood Springs, the mountain is in your full frame of vision.  The snow has melted by September, but soon some light precipitation will dust the upper heights.

Obama mocks McCain in Nevada stops

“And if they tell you that, ‘Well, we’re not sure where he stands on guns.’ I want you to say, ‘He believes in the Second Amendment.’ If they tell you, ‘Well, he’s going to raise your taxes,’ you say, ‘No, he’s not, he’s going lower them.’ You are my ambassadors. You guys are the ones who can make the case.”

This quote sums up the problems with Obama’s campaign. There is an old man on my job who seems like a down-home, Tennessee raised, red-blooded conservative. A few weeks ago, he barged into our office and said “You better get yourself a large dry box, put all your guns in it, and buy it in the ground, because when Obama gets elected, he’s going to take them all away from you.”

He most likely has no clue what Obama’s stance on gun control is. I can’t say I do either.  According to this article, his supporters are supposed to say “He believes in the Second Amendment.’ But what does that mean, and why must his supports be in the faces of the uninformed? Why can’t both candidates just come on TV with a commercial that simply describes one single issue and where he stands on it, instead of all the confusing attack ads?

Bush says he’s working hard on economic turmoil

What is going on lately? The government is buying up all these companies. Yes…THE GOVERNMENT.

At the start of this week, the Federal Reserve rescued American International Group Inc., an insurance giant, from bankruptcy by granting an emergency $85 billion loan. In the historic bailout, the government gets almost an 80 percent stake in the company, a vastly far-reaching intervention.

Eighty percent? Now that the Fed. owns it, will it ever even be sold back? Possibly, if the U.S. Government ever needs to be bailed out in the future. But who will buy it then? Another Nation? China? India? Mexico? So then we will have another nation’s government controlling the insurance of all the businesses in America.

Every single immigrant worker in this country sends all his earnings back to his home country. Millions of U.S. Dollars are flowing out of the country on a daily basis. What happens when the ratio of dollars out exceeds dollars in? Pretty soon there really won’t be any more money. Its all gone, left the country.

The stock market crashed.  Clark is freaked out.  He kept giving reasons for going back to the shop room, to listen to National Public Radio tell him when to load up on ammunition.  I’ve never been laid off before.  I wouldn’t know what to do.  Clark says its nothing to worry about, and you can collect unemployment.

“But you gotta get laid off.  You get fired, you get nothing.  You quit, you get nothing.”  So you just float your way through the job all day, just hoping the boss man says “see you tomorrow” at the end of the day.

But if not, “You just move out of your apartment, get yourself a P.O. Box for your mail and a bank account for the unemployment deposit, and you go out in the desert and search for Dinosaur Fossils!”

Apparantly a Saber Tooth Tiger skull is worth $100,000 on Ebay.  I wonder what a T-Rex will get?

When I was a little boy, all I wanted to do all day was sit in the sandbox or beach and look for dinosaur fossils.  Could I have the chance to fufill my childhood dreams?  What kind of trial is this, to come in every day waiting for the bossman to hand you your check and release you from servitude?  I wonder if that day will ever come.

I woke up hella late this morning.  It was the most rainy mountain morning I’ve experienced in a few months.  As I tuned into the Fox News headz on Sirius, they were talking about a 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon.  I was surprised, because I hadn’t heard about such memorial ever before this morning.  Why today, out of nowhere?

Then the morning show newsman informed me “…as we spend today, 7 years after 9/11.”

Oh yeah.  After all, yesterday I was so happy to be celebrating 10 months with Vanessa, as we laughed about going at it for “double digits”.  I didn’t think about connecting September tenth to September eleventh, until now. I have to admit that I feel ashamed.

I DO remember that day.  I was living in room 21 of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity house at 919 Greenbrier Rd.  It was the third week of classes, in my Junior year, and I had an 8:30 chemistry class to go to.  Naturally, I slept in.  When I finally stirred near 9:00, I heard a commotion outside my room.  Then a knock.
“Reiner?!” my brother Obed said.  “What are you doing?  Are you awake?  Its world war three, man.”

I still remember those words.  I called my mother.  “Are you watching TV?  What’s going on?”  I asked.

“I don’t know, Adam, but whoever did is filled with a lot of hate.”  Her voice was comforting but trembling.

I spent the rest of the day at the fraternity house, sad, scared, and confused.  I feel blessed to have had the comforts of my friends and family on that day.

…

As I drove upvalley on this rainy morning, I silently listened to the readings of the names of the victims.  I learned something new this morning, that in addition to all the Americans that perished that day, citizens of 90 countries also died.  During the name readings, every single county was represented by a friend of family member of the victims.  (I had heard Colombia and Hong Kong).

Then I listened to a little bit of President Bush’s speech.  He reinforced his prime responsibility: to prevent another attack on American soil.  Say what you will about his attempts to capture Bin Laden, but he has so far succeeded in keeping us safe.  I give him props for that.

I was also happy to see the two campaignes cease fire for the day.  It is a good thing for the country.  However, it did not stop the pundits from referencing the event.  In the morning, I read an article by Keith Olbermann, and later listened to commentary by Glenn Beck and, separately, Sean Hannity.  Even the metal station on Sirius was paying tribute with classic songs about heroes.

What about you?  Did you remember this morning? If so, good for you.  If not, don’t feel bad.  We are only human, but we can give thanks to others for reminding us never to forget September 11,  2001.

Many of the video and images used to remember this day have been criticized as being too sensitive or controversial.  I have chosen an image that cannot be argued to be anything but positive and a fitting tribute.

(From bloomberg.com)

Al-Qaeda Chief in Pakistan Killed by Missile, Al-Jazeera Says

By Ed Johnson

Sept. 10 (Bloomberg) — Al-Qaeda’s newly appointed leader in Pakistan, Abu Haris, and two commanders were killed in a missile attack in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan, al- Jazeera reported.

At least 25 people were killed in the attack two days ago, when a drone fired a missile on a housing compound near a religious school in North Waziristan, the Qatar-based broadcaster cited unidentified security officials and Pakistani villagers as saying.

The school, near the town of Miran Shah, was founded by Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, whose sister-in-law was injured in the attack, according to the report. Haqqani wasn’t present at the time and was probably in Afghanistan, al-Jazeera said.

U.S. intelligence agencies say al-Qaeda has established bases in Pakistan’s tribal region from where it supports and directs the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda hasn’t commented on the missile attack, according to the report.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ed Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.

I heard this on NPR this morning but actually had to search to find it.  Why?  Because the major media outlets available to most of us are too busy talking about Sarah Palin’s lipstick and a bunch of scientists on a big particle accelerator.

I guess I too have to admit getting caught up in the election drama, but I’ve paused for a bit to give much props to the U.S. forces in this victory. Well done.

The only source of information I have on the election is the talking heads on the Sirius radio cable news channels, and my friend the liberal intellectual from Calumet City.  Most people don’t have such friends in the know, so we all rely on the news media to explain the play-by-play of this scripted entertainment show.  Yes, scripted…the election for the President of the USA is anything but a reality show.  The media are quick to tell us every single little nuance in the campaigns, and why that will affect OUR vote.

On one side, the republicans have written a tale of the All American boy, who who went to war and almost died on behalf of the Stars and Stripes.  Just like George Washington…what a hero.  We should all rally behind him and bask in his glow. Their Vice President pick reminds me of my mother, and your mother, and everybodys mother!  Who wouldn’t vote for her?  She’s going to take care of you.  Her speeches are witty…remember: girls are always smarter than the boys.  In fact, you could probably break down every punchline and attribute it to crack team of late night talk show writers.  She comes off as the ultimate smart girl and the ultimate smart ass.  Oh did we mention her baby has Downs Syndrome?  Did you hear it from the 5th talking head on FOX News?  Lets get a close up picture of the baby.  How cute.  (What the hell is a newborn baby doing in a massively loud concert auditorium full of 50,000 people?)  Now lets get a picture of the 72-year old POW war hero with the cute baby.  Careful, he can’t move his arms very far because he got the shit beat out of him by the Viet Cong for five years.  Country First.

On the other side, the Democrats have bought out the full committee.  You’re not just getting the smooth talking young idealist, and keenly witty, yet sometimes outspoken wife.  They’ve got two kids too.  They’re not handicapped.  Just little black girls with braided pigtails.  You can’t get much cuter than that.  Experience?  Who needs it, when you have the 42nd President in your corner?    He was the favorite President of our times, we should be ecstatic at the chance to have him right behind the young President.  He’s brought his wife, the Power Senator, and the Senate Majority.  You get the package deal.  Vote for us, give us ultimate power and we’ll fix what’s wrong with this damn country.  Even good ol’ Ted Kennedy is on board this ship.  Vote for us, we can erase everything Bush did.  It will be like the last eight years never happened.  United We Stand.

Speaking of authoritarian power, what the hell is going on in the Soviet Union?  Yes, the Soviet Union. We never defeated those guys, they just lurked away for a while.  Where is Reagan with his cowboy hat?  All I can find are a bunch of college girls with Cowboy hats at the RNC.

The media heads have us sucked in.  The Russian president is it out shooting siberian tigers and blaming another People’s War on the election in America.  Better vote for the war hero.  Where is Patton when we need him?

Lets not forget about the hurricanes.  They all have cute names, too. just like all the pretty children of the candidates.  Here’s Hanna, and Ike.  They’re coming.  They’ve stopped for a drink in Cuba.  We don’t know what their plan is, but we’ll keep you updated.  In between all the politics.

Wait!  Put it all on hold.  Here come the New Yawk Football Giants.  Politics?  What are they?  How is my fantasy team doing?