The Plows Keep Busy!

With the second large snowstorm in a week pounding the Front Range, the plow drivers are finding no shortage of work. The second storm began dropping its mess on the Denver area shortly after 9 AM yesterday morning. by the afternoon, the roads were already becoming a mess.

This photo was taken mid afternoon on the E-470 Tollway between Lone Tree and Parker, shortly before arriving at the eastbound toll-booths. Here are two plows driving tandem as they do, to rapidly clear the highway. The plow on the right clears an inside lane, and is followed by the plow on the outside lane that pushed all the snow off onto the median. In this photo, you can clearly see the ice-melting salt/sand mixture that the plows broadcast onto the road surface to keep it from icing over. In addition to that gritty melter, they also use a liquid de-icer on some roadways, particularly before the snow begins to fall.

Farewell, Dennis Linde

I was saddened to learn of the death of award-winning musician/songwriter Dennis Linde at the age of 63. Dennis died of pulmonary fibrosis last Friday, December 22.

Though the name may not be a household word, almost everyone would recognize some of Dennis Linde's work. He wrote many hit songs that are part of our collective life soundtrack. Probably the most well-known hit written by Dennis is Burning Love, recorded by Elvis Presley. He also is the writer of Callin' Baton Rouge, as recorded by Garth Brooks; and Goodbye Earl, a major hit recording for The Dixie Chicks, among many others.

While I didn't know Dennis, I met him a few times back in the 1970s and 1980s, through my uncle Alan who co-wrote songs with Dennis, as well as their both being members of the recording group Jubal in the early 1970s. In an indirect way, my eldest son's name came from Dennis Linde. When my son Dennis was born, we could not think of a name for him. At the time, I worked at radio station WCUM in Cumberland, Maryland, and spotted one of Dennis Linde's albums in the radio station's control room. Having met Dennis and seeing his album there, made me think that it would be a good name for the little person labeled "Baby Boy" at the hospital nursery.

My sincere condolences go out to Dennis' family and friends.