Ask Rachel

Interesting fact: Worse than left-lane hogs are those too-bright LED headlights. But my internet research shows, unfortunately, that somehow those damn lights are not actually illegal.

Dear Rachel,

I try to lead a private existence but that’s impossible because my husband is trying to ruin

my life with his rampant and misleading Facebook posting. He announces it’s my birthday before it’s my birthday. He posts pictures of me in Wisconsin when I’m actually safe at home in Durango. Who knows what supposed secrets he’s sharing that I can’t see because he probably blocked me from those posts. How can I stop him?

- No Alibi

Dear Facepalm,

You can’t stop him. I mean, I assume you’ve tried withholding sex and that didn’t work. So your best option is to push his game even further, to the brink of divorce if you have to. Hire one of those Instagram escorts who help you pose for pictures against green screens. How’s Venice sound? Shanghai? Your friends (and more importantly, your hubby’s friends) will see you traveling to exotic locales without him. And hey, if he complains, have them chroma key in some younger hunks, as well.

– Embracing rampant and misleading, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

I try really, really hard not to tell other people how to take better care of their dogs. But it

has to be more socially acceptable to intervene when they come to dinner at my house, right? I see the crap kibble they feed their mutts, and how their black fur gets EVERYWHERE (even though “they don’t shed so I don’t need to brush them”). These dogs are basically abused, and I just can’t sit back and take it anymore. My dinner

party, my rules. That’s fair, isn’t it?

- Dog House

Dear Miss Manners,

Or is it Mister Manners? Whatever. Instead of telling people how to treat their dogs, why don’t you just kidnap them (the dogs, not the people) and treat them your way. After all, as my grandma used to say, if you want something done right, you’ve got to abduct someone

else’s dogs and do it yourself. Don’t like that answer? Well, then maybe you should stop conflating “not brushed enough” with “basically abused.”

– Good girl, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

What is the appropriate way to make slow-ass drivers get out of the left-hand lane and into the right-hand lane where they belong? I won’t tailgate them, because when people tailgate me, it makes me drive even slower. Should I flash my brights at them? I could pass them in the righthand lane, but that makes me feel like I stooped to their level. Roads have rules for reasons. I just want people to obey them.

– Traffic Warrior

Dear Road Crusader,

We all know you’re supposed to pull up alongside the car and shoot them a nasty glare. If the person is significantly older than you, release the glare. They’ve earned the right to drive however they like. If the person is younger, you have earned the right to swallow your anger, because thank god one youth out there is driving slow. And if the person is your husband, you may post about it rampantly and misleadingly on Facebook.

– Honk honk, Rachel

Top Shelf

Raised on radio: By Chris Aaland; 03/26/2020; Social distancing is driving many of us stir crazy, especially after last week’s big dump. Not only do we crave physical interaction with each other, but we’re also an active community.

The week the music died: By Chris Aaland; 03/19/2020; For more than 12 years, I’ve written “Top Shelf” on a weekly basis as a column about the local music scene and nightlife. I also drift into sports, pop culture and political territory from time to time. And, on far too many occasions, I’ve paid homage to a family member or friend who has passed, like my son, brother, mother and festival friend.

Bogguss' aces, Irish eyes and Salmon splash: By Chris Aaland; 03/12/2020; Perhaps the biggest and baddest Durango Celtic Festival to date runs tonight (Thurs., March 12) through Sunday, with events alternating between the Henry Strater Theatre and the Irish Embassy Pub. This year’s line up is one of the best in the festival’s history, with five internationally acclaimed artists.

Sensible dance, world fusion and radio gaga: By Chris Aaland; 03/05/2020; It’s Film Fest week here in D-Town, meaning the 15th annual Durango Independent Film Festival takes over many of the screens at the Animas City, Gaslight and Durango Stadium theatres for documentaries, features, shorts and more. Durangofilm.org is a great source for a full schedule, descriptions of films and more.

Read All in Top Shelf

Day in the Life

Turns for the worse: By Stephen Eginoire; 03/19/2020; Skiing isn't as glamorous as folks make it out to be.

Sole man: 03/12/2020; At the age of 19, Durango’s Mervin “Merv” Stilson started making shoes and never looked back (except for the time he made a Western-style jacket for Neil Young).

Wonder wall: By Stephen Eginoire; 03/05/2020; Southeastern Utah has no shortage of natural wonders, and perhaps one of the most curious is the 80-mile-long sandstone monocline known as Comb Ridge.

Salty dogs: By Stephen Eginoire; 02/27/2020; Jonesing for a river fix? Come along for the ride on this desert classic

Read All in Day on the Life