Star Drive In Experience

The Drive In, who can forget seeing movies under the stars. Experiencing the breeze with the moon rising and your favorite motion picture on the big screen. My children got to try it out first hand last night at one of the last drive in motion pictures venues left in Colorado and for that matter the US, The Star Drive In Theater in Montrose. (see youtube video)


This icon has been open and operated by the same family since 1965. Wow what a place, your transported to a different time the minute you drive into the gates. I've seen;

Star Wars

Blazing Saddles

The Fly

Robo Cop

and now Toy Story 3 plus many more at these incredible movie theaters. But these American phenomenons are becoming a thing of the past, and I don't get why. These places are so cool and it's such a deal. You can get in for $20 per car and take your own snacks. Plus you get to watch a movie outdoors! Americans still love their cars but the drive in is just not popular anymore.

Taking my children to see Toy Story 3 was great. They really thought it was amazing to be able to sit in the back of our van on a summer night, eat popcorn, have soda and watch a movie. I personally hope that these wonderful theaters are around so they can take their kids.

The Trash Man

Let me give you a glimpse of every Wednesday morning at 7 A.M. in the Vann household. A peaceful slumber, birds gently chirping outside the window, a gentle breeze blowing thru the window, and the trash truck with it's crushing motor humming it's sweet song.
So I jump up faster then that guy in "Twas the night before Christmas" , Aimee startled by my hurried action jumps up too, "Whats the matter?".
"It's the trash" I say adrenaline coursing thru my body.
So I run down half dressed in my underwear and a robe, half asleep, and hustle to get the trash cans out, remember I can't put it out the night before because of bears. I just open the garage when the truck pulls in front of my home and a surly, dirty trash man gives me a look as I stumble and get the first can to him. I'm so sleepy I can hardly get out a "hows it going" before I have to hustle back to the garage for the second can.
Meanwhile the dogs have been scavenging in the cans that were put out the night before and knocked over by bears, these majestic animals are now hovering around the rear of the truck waiting for some debris to be spilled. Before I know it the garbage man has moved on down the line, leaving me standing in a mystified stupor. He goes on to the next poor guy who has to be rushed out of the bed to get the garbage man the goods before he passes his house.
So thank you trash man. Thank you for bending us to your schedule, thank you for being
inflexible on your schedule even if my neighborhood is now a bear magnet because everyone puts out their trash the night before so they don't have to due the same A.M. shuffle I have too. Thank you trash man for everything you do.

The World Cup

What an event! Almost a month of amazing athletic ability on display in South Africa. It all ended today but what a story. From the US team(they looked pretty bad) to the Spanish finally winning and everything in between, this competition really showcased what the human body can do. From headers made with such precision that it boggled the mind, too goalies jumping higher then I thought possible, this event showed what man is capable of. And you have to hand it to the South African security, not once did we hear of some radical group with a plot to blow up everything for some made up cause. As for the US team, well the same phrase we've been saying about them still applies "maybe next time".

Ouray School

We got the bad news on Sunday that the principal of the elementary school has accepted a job somewhere in New Mexico and will be leaving her current position. This means we will be on our 5th principal in 9 years! None of them have lasted over two years and it really bring up a fundamental questions. WHATS WRONG WITH US. Why will no one stay in this job.
Is it our community, are we a little to strong for some peoples flavors out here in the mountains.
Is it our school, is the politics of being in a small community school too intense.
Is it just US!
Or is it the fact that these career educators are not prepared for any of the above factors when they accept the job. It is hard from someone to come from the front range(Denver area) and deal with the remote feeling of these mountains. Seven months of snow, strong personalities, strong willed children, all of these factors seem to take people by surprise.
It could be any of these things or it could be the fact the the education field is just filled with people that are transient and not dedicated to their location.
But whatever the cause the Ouray school is in need of a administrator that is willing to make a commitment to our school and our community so we can bridge the funding gap that all of our schools here in the U.S. are facing. Our children deserve it.

4th of July

Well it's over and we survived another 4th of July here in Ouray. With all of the hooping and hollering this year was actually pretty quiet. Attendance seemed down and town was under control, I didn't even have any run ins with any rude people. The kids had a great time and for the 1st time we didn't go see the fireworks in town(it was pouring rain) but popped them here at the house. I took some video of the terribly long parade that I will load to youtube. So that's it until next year, another one put to be.

Julia's Costa Rica Trip

Our oldest daughter has signed up for a trip to Costa Rica next summer and as part of the deal we told her she would have to work to earn the money. So she has been working all around our small town at local business' trying to earn the cash to go. She even came to work with dad in Telluride doing some sanding and staining of some deck furniture(see photo). I guess the lesson Aimee and I are trying to teach our daughter is that anything can be attained with a combination of hard work and personal responsibility.

I have seen other families give there children everything they ask for with out hesitation. From their child's very earliest memory the parents have all always done all for them. Carried their burdens, accepted their failures, and made excuses for their lack of direction. We decided that children growing up in this new world that we have created should be self reliant and able to do for themselves. Our children will be experiencing a new time in our history and Aimee and I think they will need every tool we can give them to succeed.