Curious what I am up to?

Not sure if I will keep this current, but I have a twitter account at
http://twitter.com/mmowery

Powder Day on May 22

The weather forecast called for "little or no accumulation" for this late May Day, but it turned out to be a "Powder Day".


The backyard looking up toward the ski area wishing for one last run.


The corner of Dakota Ave and Aspen looking up toward the Ski Area.


Looking down Colorado Ave thru town.

Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names

So I looked up my name "Michael" to see where it falls on the list of popular names here on the
Social Security Administration site: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/

And yep, as expected Michael has been hanging out at number 2 for the last 8 years, and was number 1 for a long time.



Popularity in 2006

Rank	Male name	Female name
1	Jacob	Emily
2	Michael	Emma
3	Joshua	Madison
4	Ethan	Isabella
5	Matthew	Ava
6	Daniel	Abigail
7	Christopher	Olivia
8	Andrew	Hannah
9	Anthony	Sophia
10	William	Samantha
11	Joseph	Elizabeth
12	Alexander	Ashley
13	David	Mia
14	Ryan	Alexis
15	Noah	Sarah
16	James	Natalie
17	Nicholas	Grace
18	Tyler	Chloe
19	Logan	Alyssa
20	John	Brianna
Note: Rank 1 is the most popular, rank 2 is the next most popular, and so forth.

Popularity of a Name

May 16, 2007

Background information Select another name? Similar male names for births in 2006 Name Rank Michael 2 Micheal 419

Popularity of the male name Michael Year of birth Rank 2006 2 2005 2 2004 2 2003 2 2002 2 2001 2 2000 2 1999 2 1998 1 1997 1 1996 1 1995 1 1994 1 1993 1 1992 1 Note: Rank 1 is the most popular, rank 2 is the next most popular, and so forth. Name data are from Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States.

Have fun at http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/

“Let’s consider the open container law temporarily suspended!”— Mayor John Pryor, who has the power, and who bought the keg

(L to R) Christine McGinely, Jenny Page and Susie Meade celebrate Wednesday’s announcement that the Valley Floor would soon belong to Telluride. Photo by Ben Knight
For the full article in the Telluride Daily Planet goto here: Telluride celebrates Valley Floor victory

Thank you Tom Shadyac with the last minute donation!

Hopefully we can now take us [soon] off of the 11 Most Engangered Places at National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Other newspaper articles on the victory.
Denver Post
Rocky Mountain News
San Diego Union Tribute

50 million is in the Bank!!!!

Words can not express the sense of relief that I have that the needed 50 million dollars is in the bank for keeping the Valley Forever Wild.



I am actually in Denver right now, and I will have to admit, that I was very worried. When my sister called me telling me the good news. WOW....

Yes, Mr. Blue

owner of General Atomics says he will fight it all the way to the Supreme Court, but this was a huge step in keeping the Valley Floor Wild.

Visit Sheep Mountain Alliance article on why $50 Million not enough for War Profiteer


My contributions were a mere drop in the bucket (or wishing well),

Locally, residents pitched in by contributing more than $1 million in loose change and $100 bills to a wishing well. from Rocky Mountain News Article

A HUGE thanks to all the contributors that made this happen.

Some quotes taken from a recent USA article:

Campaign director Hilary White says she is "cautiously optimistic" that last-minute donors will push the fund drive over the top. [which it did!] Contributions have come from more than 1,600 people in 45 states and seven countries. At least 35 benefactors have made six- and seven-figure gifts, one for $5 million.

[Richard] Holbrooke, the former United Nations ambassador and a part-time resident for 18 years, says the scene "takes your breath away. ... I am an absolutist about the valley floor. Stopping the development is a worthy goal."

He [Mr Blue] barred access in 2001 after condemnation started. That year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, one of the Valley Partners groups, named it one of the "most endangered places" in America.

The valley floor "is the only thing left between it becoming another mall with a mountain and staying the historic landmark that it's supposed to be," says [Daryl] Hannah, who spent summers in Telluride as a girl.

Schlappi and Smokie Bear April Pets of the Month

Schlappi and Smoke Bear are FAMOUS in Telluride.


Note: Mary Dawn (as she "sometimes" does) embellished on "where" this photo was taken. Nope not a "mountain meadow", but Boyd Lake in Loveland! I guess a mile high elevation would be considered a "mountain" for some.

Tomboy Hike

Last weekend, Mary Dawn, the dogs and I, hiked up Tomboy road as far as we could. Major snow field still up there.

A few photos from that hike.


Smokie waiting for his mom, to hurry up, so we can get going.... woof....


One of many water cascades this time of year on Tomboy Road.


Looking up toward Bridal Veil Falls.

Also, this was called our "anniversary" hike, because exactly a year earlier Mary Dawn met at the "closing" of West End Bar. See post http://mikemowery.blogspot.com/2006/04/closed-for-sanity-restoration.html for full story.