Author Archive for M. Toole

CAN THE CLOCKS AND CALENDARS FOR JUST A MONTH

“So little time, so little to do.”  – Oscar Levant    

     While perched firmly behind a bottle or two of merry-go-down the other night my friends and I may have actually stumbled onto something meaningful, or at least worth sharing with introspective readers such as yourselves. Here we sat, broken men and women who, having rendered to Caesar what is Caesar’s, must now wait for the riches of the summer season to replenish our mountain coffers.

     “It wouldn’t be so bad if being broke was like it was in the old days around here,” said Mick, a fit but gray scalped brute who used to make the rodeo circuit but now sells tires to survive.

     “I know what you mean,” gulped Ellen as she sipped her Pabst and stared out the fogged window into the late spring strewn streets, still mildly soggy from the morning’s pitiful attempt at rain. “I’m swamped. Between fronting my shop for the summer and covering my rear from the gov’ment I feel like an three-minute egg in a lock-jaw vice.”

     It was at that moment that somebody else chimed in suggesting that what we all needed was a good rest. Not a vacation. Not a night on the town. Not a nap, but a real reprieve from all the crap. More specifically what we needed was a grace month, in which to recoup, lick our wounds, reflect on our blessings and get back into the saddle before full summer comes roaring down the cosmic bike path.

     Now that’s a tall order.

     Imagine an enchanted 30 days falling into our high altitude laps, and at what better time than the windy spring when the world is working on its second cup of coffee in most locales but still has its sleepy head buried deep in the pillow ‘round here.

     All we’re asking is for one glorious month in which to depart the treadmill and do whatever one didn’t get around to during the traditional twelve month square dance. One could just sleep if he felt like it, watch Bogart/Hepburn movies, or fish for 30 days and 30 nights. Can the clocks and calendars and smash that annoying hour glass against the salt mine door! Stay in your pajamas all month.

     Or walk around wearing nothing at all.

     Forget about working four tens or six sevens or any of that time clock propaganda. Forget about calling in sick or making silly lists of chores that just have to get done. Don’t answer the phone. Don’t make the bed. Don’t even feed Rover or Kitty if you don’t feel like it. (With all the time they have on their hands you’d think they could rustle their own grub). Make doing nothing the main focus of the daylight hours then drop back into a semi-comatose state in the early evening drifting into plant-like flaccidness by dark. Why would anyone look forward to some chronologically-imposed pasture perpetration when each year he had a month to get his ducks firmly entrenched in that illusive row.

     There are some of you out there who might feel that this concept is of philosophical danger to the productive operation of the planet but are we doing such a good job or anything as it is? Would the earth have time to recover from our ecological blunders in 30 days? Probably not, but at least the old girl could have time to catch her breath or take a long weekend in Las Vegas or New Orleans. Maybe.

     Getting back to the subject of pets, have you ever seen a dog look at his watch or a cat refer to her daily reminder? Hell no. They don’t even know what day it is and it doesn’t change a thing. They can amuse themselves with the household garbage or a piece of string and have the ability to fall asleep without provocation. These creatures could serve as the primary roll models. Next we have only to look at our very own federal government.

     Can anyone out there tell us when, how many times and why the government has shut down in 1996? Did anyone really notice? Is the thing still shut down? How many naps does the average Congressman take in a workday? How can politicians earning say $300,000 per year end up millionaires in a few short terms?

     What about the Dark Ages? Was anyone watching the clock during that era? How long did these opaque decades linger and does anyone feel their affect today? Would it have mattered if the entire population of Western Europe had engaged in playing hackeysack for that time period?

     Are you aware that some people sit and watch Cubs’ games almost every afternoon from April to October?

     What are we driving at here? Who knows. What does it all matter? It’s shoulder-season and all the smart people are out of town anyway.

     So let’s explore the possibilities outlined herein. A month of leisure. We could all meet at the intersection of Cosmos Lane and Eternity Avenue and throw a big pot luck three times a day and if everyone would bring their dogs, nobody would have to do the dishes! We could just eat dessert if we wanted. The bars would probably do well except that there’d be no bartender on duty.

     All that time. I’d finally get to play enough bingo and memorize all of the zip codes in the Rocky Mountain region. What about a Colorado Elevator Music Festival? Does anyone out there want to get in on the ground floor?

– Melvin O’Toole

MONTROSE CALENDAR

Con Artist Exhibit Set for July

     The recent work of local con artists will be on display at the Montrose Ditch Rider’s annex through July 15 according to organizers of the event. Along with acknowledged masterpieces from the past decade, tools of the trade from aluminum siding scams to “too good to be true” telephone offers are featured. Although the controversial show has drawn slim crowds up to the present, promoters say the information herein is valuable and may prevent consumer fraud scams in the future.

     “The artwork of these felons is really quite creative in its own right,” said Paula Chicane, a semi-rehabilitated savings and loan officer. “We expect a more substantial response with the inclusion of the Colorado River water sale exhibit over the weekend.”

     Chicane reminded would-be victims of shady dealings that personal greed is a key element to all underhanded ventures.

     “In most cases you still can’t cheat an honest man,” she said.

122nd Annual Chicken or Egg Seminar

     Forces representing both sides of the age old question will once again meet to attempt to iron out differences on July 24 at the Henny Penny Pavilion here. Featured speakers include former Pentagon official Humpty Dumpty, Michael Tyson and the third cousin of the late Colonel Sanders. No ducks will be admitted during rituals. Readings from The Egg and I will be presented intermittently throughout the day. Culinary demonstrations focusing on the separation of whites and yellows will terminate with the beginning of preliminary fist fights in the parking lot.

How to Get More Out of Your Employees

     The local Office of Perpetual Education will sponsor the next phase of its popular Business for the 21st Century on Tuesday nights through December. The impetus of this month’s conference centers on getting more out of your employees, hosted by members of a crack Walmart traveling management team. Off-the-clock Walmart employees will be on hand with coffee and donuts. It all starts at eight sharp with doors locked until at least ten. Local businessmen and others with a keen interest in manipulating underachievers are invited.

GET TO KNOW THE INS NIGHT

     All illegal immigrants are invited to the first annual Get To Know Your Immigration and Customs Enforcement, formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, slated for July 31 at 7 pm. While the politicians talk about legalization and recognition of this burgeoning section of the population INS officers will get down to the business of handing out temporary Green Cards and gift baskets for the needy. Then ICE will confiscate the materials as contraband. Maps of the Sonoran Desert and recommended Mexican restaurants in the US will be handed out as part of the innovative Have a Heart Program sponsored by unnamed local missions.

Fried Food Channel Kicks Off Service

     Consumers interested in subscribing to the new Fried Food Channel on cable are reminded to attend a Kick-off Luncheon on Thursday 11 am August 20 at the Sunnyside Executive Suites. In addition to acquiring necessary technology to receive the signal, an assortment of fried foods will be available. Note: Persons with the Lifelike Aroma Module already built-in to their television sets should show up at noon effectively skipping the introductory song and dance. The first 100 subscribers will receive a leftover Naughty Easter Basket compliments of Muscle Clover’s.

ECONOMY MOSTLY CLOUDY FOR NEXT FEW DAYS

Financial skies were mostly overcast over much of the nation today. Scattered insufficient funds hung over parts of the South while interest rates pelted the Pacific Northwest.

     Cooler investments and scattered stock options continue to plague the East with showers likely on Wall Street before closing. A cold front will push across the Midwest and collide with an upswing in retail sales before the weekend as an inflation will cause gusty winds in the foot hills of the Rockies. Nonetheless consumers can expect to get soaked.

     Meanwhile indoors the climate will remain constant with a persistent dry recovery rumored by Memorial Day when winds will reach unbelievable proportions again. Highs today were predicted on both the New York and American Stock Exchanges and at elevations over 10,000 feet. Across the central third of the nation it will remain flat with periods of incredible boredom persistent through the early evening. An imbalance will surface during the night due to a high pressure system arriving from the Common Market and a bothersome Japanese current.

     Bold face quotations include “Tie down the horses! It’s a twister!” and “Only fools and tourists try to predict stock index futures”. Supply-side global warming is sure to cause major deficits in annual snow-pack but six-packs of northerly moisture brewing in Canada could alleviate the situation for a few days.    

-Pepper Salte

Wind Takes Toll on Flag Persons

(Ridgway) Powerful winds have made life all but intolerable for flaggers working on highways here according to “anonymous sources in orange”. While performing other tasks in the gusty thrusts is no picnic, standing in one spot for eight to ten hours per day is shear hell.

     “I’d rather freeze or melt than be chipped away at by the wind,” said one veteran of the roads. “I don’t know why we can’t do all these repairs in January and February when we have nice, calm weather.”

     Other workers suggested that temporary domes be built over the roadway that is under construction. Drivers might enjoy a stroll, drink a cup of coffee or just chat while the roadwork plunges on. After that chunk of the asphalt is readied the dome slides north or south and protects another segment of society.

     Although no real relief is in sight, sources high on the food chain at C-DOT report zero casualties as the result of wind. Last Friday, however, one man, Ed Chicopee Jr of  Ridgway, was picked up and carried half way up Dallas. Ten minutes later his 340-pound mass landed safely, and without further incident, in a neighbor’s haystack.

     At first eye witnesses thought the flight was some sort of astronaut stunt but when he didn’t come back someone called headquarters.

     “We found Ed a bit stunned but all right and gave him the rest of the day off. He’s got a desk job now,” said a spokesperson for the highway department, plotting yellow dot and dash patterns along the center of the asphalt. We’re not sure what they mean but he’s enjoying the challenge.”

     Bosses here hope that sessions in Gestalt/Primal Scream therapy will reduce friction on the job. Employees have been rather testy of late. It’s the wind. This therapy is offered free every Saturday morning in the Rangely office and all affected employees are urged to attend.     

     In a related development sources the Colorado Department of Highways still won’t tell us who made the decision to use a highly-toxic Magnesium-Chloride solution on the roads this winter. The stuff, which reputedly kills trees, rusts cars and, yes, melts snow was never employed back when it used to snow regularly…so stop doing it.

Hormone Spill Closes Stream of Consciousness

(Montrose) A massive hormone spill caused in part by concentrated high school graduation exercises has closed the Stream of Consciousness at least until next week. Civil engineers currently working around the clock to unclog and free up the waterway say they are making progress but the shear impact is tough to control.

     “We get one current going the right way and before we know it there’s another emotional outburst or pubescent rip tides and we’re back where we started,” said one worker on the site.

     The Army Corps of Engineers has considered calling in air strikes or dynamiting shallow areas but at present only shovels and one dredging machine are hard at it.

     “I don’t see why all these hormones are so active now,” said the worker. “Maybe it’s spring fever.”

     The State of Colorado was quick to reassure fishermen that the spill did not endanger fish and that the matter would be cleared up long before the Fourth of July Weekend.

     “We may have some sensitive fish,” said one DOW spokesperson, “but everything should be back to normal soon. “I myself have never seen a trout with acne.”

State to burn excess run-off

(Denver) Due to seasonal moisture this spring state officials will begin burning excess run-off as early as next week, according to an unreliable spokesperson here. The controlled burns would be centered on areas of excess water depth including defiant snow fields, permanent wetlands and alpine swampy regions thought to be the source of great rivers.

     Man-made reservoirs will most likely be exempt from the flames since most are tied up in use litigation or remain under the jurisdiction of municipal ownership.

     “What we want to avoid here is summer flooding when all that snow decides to come rushing down the mountain,” said one Front Range ditch rider. We’ll be confiscating Rocky Mountain spring water, un-seeding clouds and condemning mountain lakes that were nowhere to be seen last summer.”

     Ponds used for agriculture, illegal estuaries and backyard swimming pools will receive no quarter in this latest attempt to divert nature.

     Officials in Arapahoe County expressed dismay that the run-off would have to be destroyed saying that they have a right to the water since it is not currently employed in industry or agriculture.

     “If we had even half the water earmarked for burning we could build thousands of new houses connected by miles of highways going nowhere,” said one local politician.

     Desert states served by Colorado River basin water will have until early June to fill toilet tanks and hot tubs before their once burgeoning sources are cut off.

     “Then comes the part where we turn off the Big Faucet and watch desert lawns turn to dust,” said one Colorado Water Board spokesman. “It ain’t pretty no matter how high the air conditioner is set.”

     Skeptics of the plan say there is no way the state can effectively burn water. In addition they say the water would be better dumped into the ocean than ignited. Proponents of the controlled burn say the targeted water will be flammable enough after the introduction of so many combustible chemicals.

     “We’re doing our level-headed best to keep these ignitable additives out of the ground water but, frankly, we won’t know much until we can accumulate valid feedback from citizens,” said one water wizard. “Insofar as pouring the water into the ocean, that would be am expensive proposal and besides, nobody’s bothered to ask the fish.”

–  Gabby Haze