Please see the Update at the bottom.

The State of the Site

Today I want to recognize the donors that have helped out this year. Everything donation means something to keep this site afloat. My expenses do not fluctuate throughout the year and believe it or not my time commitment only fluctuates a few hours a week between busy Winters and dead Winters and active rainy seasons and boring rainy seasons, there is always data to process, and most of that happens before I publish, or chose not to publish a post for everyone to read.

Despite all of that, as you will read in a couple of paragraphs, donations have been pretty low this year. Using last year as a guide, I know that February was the peak month, this year it was January. I also know that donations will dwindle to nearly nothing from last snow, to first significant snow probably in late November or early December.

Last spring I was able to subscribe to another data provider, but I was not able to justify the expense by early summer. I never was in a position to incorporate the video into the service that so many of you (rightfully) have suggested would be an excellent addition, prior to doing that it will take some healthy hardware upgrades. You get the picture.

The Grand Prize Drawing

No more whining, I wanted to take a different approach and have some fun with it. So I have decided to have a drawing. If you have already donated between January 1st and today, you are already registered! Thanks again for your support!

Anyone else who donates between now and April 24th will also be entered to win 2 tickets to the Durango Wine Experience Grand Tasting event on Saturday, May 2nd from 3 pm to 6:30 pm. This is a fabulous event that I have been attending since 2009. If wine is not your thing, don’t worry, they have expanded to beer and craft spirits as well. There is more food than you can possibly imagine from Durango’s finest restaurants. If you buy tickets at the gate the night of the event you will pay $250 for the two tickets! If it still doesn’t sound like your thing, it will be 100% transferable if you want to share the prize with friends or family,  early wedding or anniversary gift-whatever you want to do, I am 100% flexible.

What are your odds of winning? Pretty damn good at this point. This year I surpassed 13,000 followers (from all sources), however, year to date, as of March 6th, I have had 34 donors place donations.

Here is how it works, you donate, and on April 25th I will draw from the names and will make an announcement that day, again, if you have already donated since January 1st, you are already entered. I will make arrangements to meet the winner on Thursday or Friday, May 1st or 2nd and give you your admission wristbands and tasting glasses. If you are not comfortable donating online, click the contact button I will give you other options.

I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to this, it will be a nice mini staycation (cheat weekend) for me, because I have been on a rigorous health quest lately, and I have some lofty fitness goals this year. Hard work until then, harder work afterward! What many of you don’t know about me is I used to compete in marathons and even finished an ultra marathon. After a severe leg and ankle fracture, I gave up. As I have gotten older and after a few health scares I decided this year to pursue my health vigorously, and I cannot think of a better place to live to do that!

Disclaimer: This contest has absolutely no affiliation with the Durango Wine Experience, their board members, partners or sponsors, it is simply me giving away 2 tickets to the Grand Tasting.

March 13th, 2020 **With all of the new announcements regarding the new City closures this afternoon, I wanted to add an option for the winner of the contest.  If you wish you can choose a gift certificate(s) totaling $250 to support local Durango businesses.**  

Click here and donate for a chance to win!

Click here to contact