A Year of Change

Not exact but there are a little over six weeks left in the year, wow. Hopefully 2022 will be better but with Biden in office, I have my doubts. Things could be so much better. It’s one thing to deal with covid but another to have covid and then all the self imposed problems the government is creating which add problems to our lives. People are rising up. Everyone now realizes how inept the people in power are. Say what you will about Trump the man, and there’s plenty to not like, but his policies and programs were good. Hang in there and think for yourself. It’s now more clear than ever, what you see and read is all bullshit. The people in power want you to think and believe things that just are not true so they can stay in power. Don’t fall for it!

So Ty worked last night and Lori and I brought Dixie up for dinner. We’re going to try to get some rest the next 36 hours before we leave for Denver Monday morning at 6am. Jag and his new girl Ea, pronounced “ee-aa” stopped by on their way to Telluride. She’s a sophomore too and went to Cherry Creek High School. They’ve been dating since they met at a party on Halloween. Nice girl. She’s majoring in chemistry.

Not sure what Lori and I are doing today. I think putting Christmas lights up outside. She found these three sparkly deer that light up at Costco she wants. I managed to talk her out of it yesterday by reminding her we have real live deer in our yard every day but when she gets it in her head that she wants something, we’ll you know. We will stop by Dixie’s today to put up her little tree. She had a good day even though confused. She went down for some activities before and after lunch. It’s good that she’s starting to participate in the daily fun they have going on. Some people there are “confused” but a lot are just old and have 100% of their faculties in tact. It’s a really good place with less than 20 people and they provide really good care.

Nice outside. Sunny and pretty warm. We’re headed to the gym and then we’ll see. Enjoy the day, be thankful for what you have and tomorrow is the next episode of Yellowstone! One line from the first episode that was pretty profound was no matter what you think, you don’t deserve it! Think about that, it’s pretty much true no matter what the democrats tell you, you don’t deserve anything. The great thing about America and life is you have an opportunity to shape your life and how you want to live it. It’s harder these days with politicians trying to tell all of us what everyone supposedly deserves and more importantly, what you don’t. The problem is it’s not up to them. That’s what people don’t realize. Those of us that are older do as we were raised right. Things will come back around, they always do. The only question is how much pain will we all go through getting back to what’s right. All you can do is get ready and be prepared, physically and mentally, enough said, God Bless.

After 12 days, we finally have Lori’s car all fixed and home. Knock on wood nothing else happens as we’ve had tire issues for it seems like months on one car or another. On our way down Lori picked up balloons and bagels for her doctors who are veterans. She took them up to the OR where they were just coming out from the first case. They were super surprised and appreciative. Then by noon we were picking up her car. We both made it home a little after 2.

Today Lori is going in at 7:45 to check in some patient and then Jag should be here around noon or 1 on his way to Telluride. Ty is off to basketball at 6:30 and then the weekend will get an early start later today.

I’ve been kicking caffeine as I was drinking over six coffee’s a day. It’s a powerful drug. All kinds of side effects as it really messes with your system. I didn’t really notice how many I was having each day. I’m having a half a cup a day right now.

We went and saw Dixie yesterday. Once before dinner but then Lori ran down her portable oxygen charger and visited some more. She’s pretty confused on a lot of things but then remembers some things from years ago really well.

Shortages are real. I couldn’t find Gatorade up here so when we went do Denver we stopped to get Lori’s passport photo at Walgreens and they too had none. They said they haven’t been able to get any for a while. Lots of their shelves were bare. Never seen anything like it in my lifetime. Turkeys are almost all gone too. Whole Foods is out. You need to stock up on things you use daily but take for granted. Think toothpaste, soap, kitchen and bath items, pet food, over the counter medicines, etc. Avoid luxuries this Christmas unless you’re rich and get things you can use. It also goes without saying you should try not to accumulate any debt which thankfully most of us that read this have little if any. Ok, enough preaching. Have a great weekend, God Bless.

Here’s Dr. B on the right and Dr. S. Both Afghan war surgeons!

Thanks for your service! If you know or see a veteran today, make sure to tell them that. Lori is taking balloons and lunch to Dr. B and Dr. Schiff who are both veterans. At 9:30 or so I’m meeting Toby who is driving by on his way to Grand Junction.

Jag is trying to figure out his living arrangements for next year. It’s either live with Lexi or moving into a house with 4 buddies. Hard to believe he’ll be a Junior next year and that Ty ill be a Freshman.

We’re hoping they drive Lori’s car up to us today, otherwise we’ll be headed down to pick it up. When I was picking Lori up last night I ran into the clinic as I’ve had an upset stomach for a few days. Think it’s food poisoning. They asked when I last had a covid test and I said I’ve never had a covid test, so they swirled a Q-tip inside my nose for 5 seconds and 10 minutes later told me I was all clear. That’s it, time to move and groove. Be well and stay safe, God Bless.

You keep seeing on the news about labor shortages. You for sure know it when you go to any store. Grocery lines are longer, restaurants are on limited hours and even the tire shop was running slow. They’re now calling it the Big Resignation. Question is how are these people living? How are they paying their bills? I know the government is sending checks monthly to people, we’ve never got one, ugh, but still, the checks aren’t big enough for people to live, right? Not sure if it’s going to bounce back or if we’ll just see less stores and more businesses closing. Maybe they’ll be a reset to less places to shop and to eat and on and on. In the end that might be good for the consumer quality wise as the best ones will stay in business, but we’ll for sure be waiting longer for goods and services. Strange times.

Lori is in Vail today. Ty has school and is working tonight. Tomorrow we’ll go get her car in Denver. No snow here, pretty warm for November. Two weeks from tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It’s coming fast. Time to get moving. Think Dixie has a bladder infection as she was confused more than usual yesterday. It’s so sad, for Dixie and especially for Lori. I’ll go see her again today.

Make it a great day, God Bless.

I’m dropping Lori this morning around 8 unless I she rides with Ty. Then I’m headed to the distributor to pick up 20 cases of wine. I’m donating to the Eagle County Sherriff’s fundraiser as the Sherriff is a friend and hit me up. It’s their annual event and they need some help.

I’ll make a quick stop at the mall and then should be back by 1 or so. Nice weather still, maybe a little snow tomorrow. Probably not much if any. Need to find an air compressor for the garage. After borrowing Marty’s I realized how much I need one. Two more days until Lori’s car is ready.

Dix had a rough day. Her phone was off the hook and by the time I made it down after lunch she was all worked up. When I walked in she said Thank God you’re here. Almost a second full time job taking care of her. It is for sure for Lori. Time to get moving. The earlier I get on the road, the earlier I get home.

God Bless.

Just goes to show you, you never know. Everyone, and I mean everyone picked the Dallas Cowboys over the Bronco’s. The way we’ve been playing, why wouldn’t you? Tom and I though, talking before the game, both said, wouldn’t it be wild if we won. I thought about it on Saturday as I just had a feeling. Should have made a big bet, ha. Anyhow we basically blew them out of their own building and embarrassed them. I think they were favored by 10 or 14 points. The didn’t score until late in the game when it was already 30 to zip. Great win.

This morning I’m driving Lori to Frisco. Think she has a ride home, not sure. Ty’s at school and then has work. Dixie came up yesterday in Ty’s truck and Lori had to take her home in mine.

Tom told me Doc Langley passed away yesterday. He was 88 and a good friend of Dad’s for decades, probably more than 50 years. Sad. RIP.

Warm yesterday. Thanksgiving in 17 days. Christmas in 47. A week from today Lori and I head down to renew our passports. Need to get the boys going too. Time to go, get your turkey now! God Bless.

Yesterday after running here and there, our tree is up! It was a bit crooked and didn’t sit right in the stand and Lori needed a specific screw or bolt to lock it in place. We went to Home Depot, Ace Hardware and looked everywhere. Finally I asked if she looked in the bottom of the stand itself. After a look only a wife can give her husband, we decided to take it apart and voila, there were the four screws sitting in the bottom of the stand! Today the ornaments will go on.

At 6:30 yesterday our car left for Denver. Should be done Thursday at the latest. Jag went to the football game at school last night and Tommy was texting me the play by play as we don’t get the Pac12 channel. It was exciting and we won in overtime. Daylight Savings time is over so we set our clocks back last night. That means it’ll now get dark around 4:30 or 5. It’ll also get lighter earlier.

Today after the gym I’m firing up the smoker and putting some baby back ribs on for the 2 hour premiere of season 3 of Yellowstone tonight. It’s our favorite shows on tv these days. Used to be a cult thing but now most people know about it. We’ve been there since the beginning. The Bronco’s are on at 11 am. Tom has his tree up as well as other decorations. Thought for sure this year we’d beat him this year but alas, no. Need to see if we can get Dixie up here today. She’ll need to try to get into Ty’s truck as she can’t get in mine as it’s too tall. That’s it! Be well, stay safe and may God Bless and watch over you!

I was in Denver yesterday for my new tires only to learn we have a cracked wheel. So now the Mercedes is being towed on a flatbed, for free thank God, by Mercedes to Denver in about 10 minutes. While down I went to the bank and was going to meet Jag but couldn’t wait as the tire was losing air, so I left an envelope for him with cash with a teller. Turns out Jag just received a $500 check from his fraternity for having the top GPA, meaning grade point average, nice!

Anyhow I limped up the hill stopping for air four times after trying to put some epoxy on the cracked wheel but now it’s losing air faster. Chris at the dealer told me to call Roadside Assistance which is free for me, who knew? Just had to run outside as Bobby my tow truck driver was here. Car will be ready Thursday as the wheel comes from Grapevine Texas, ugh.

We have our tree up, no ornaments, just the tree. Need to go to the hardware store and get a bolt or something for the stand. It’s always something. Hope to wrap that up today. Might go to the gym but I strained a triceps muscle two days ago. Thought I ripped it as I felt it basically rip when lifting. I immediately stopped and dropped the weights and now it just feels like I worked out really really hard. If I tore it my arm would have filled up with blood and it would have turned purple like a big bruise. Lucked out on that one. Should probably take it easy for a few days.

7am now so I might as well get moving and go to the gym. Ty went to Glenwood for the football game last night. He sure is loving his truck and new found freedom.

Looks like the House passed the infrastructure bill last night to repair roads and bridges. Biden will be taking a huge victory lap but in reality it was a true bipartisan bill which the Senate, both republicans and dems, passed over a month ago. This should have been done in September but Biden thought he’d get cute and tie it to the big spending bill with useless things like tax breaks for reporters, money for illegals, amnesty and more. It’s 2000 pages long and no one even knows what’s in it. You can bet they snuck some crap in the infrastructure bill too, that’s the way they work. Anyone seen Nancy Pelosi lately? How is this 81 year old with dementia even allowed to make decisions for the people of the Country? No way the Senate will pass the current version of the second bill though, thank God.

Time to go, be well, stay safe and God Bless.

5:30, off to Denver in 45. Hope to have the new tire on by 9. Then I’ll see Jag around 10:30 and head up the hill. Buying an extra tire in case this happens again. I hate low profile tires. Lori is staying home, Ty has school and no work tonight.

Dixie fell last night coming up from dinner. She’s fine. Not a long way to go to the ground at her height. Still not good at 90. Weather is nice. Should be warm today. Time to get moving. Not much else happening. Oh, the Dems can’t see the trees even though their standing in the middle of the forest. The people have spoken and yet they’re moving full speed ahead thinking they were shellacked because they didn’t spend enough, fast enough. Wow, how did any of these guys get in office? One thing’s for sure, they won’t be there long of they keep this up.

Time to go, God Bless.

After dropping Lori at 7 am I noticed a check engine light on the dash of the truck. I called my trusty service advisor Joe and he said he’d squeeze me in at 10 if I wanted to run down. With my week slammed I told him give me 20 minutes to get home and take a shower and I’ll be on the way.

By 9:45 I was in Denver dropping the truck. I grabbed a loaner vehicle and headed to Cherry Creek for some Christmas shopping. The stores were decked out in decorations. When they say shop early, they mean it. Hard to find things, even underwear for the boys was tough to buy. I had to have some things shipped to me from some stores. I found a few essentials for them and Lori and a new computer charger for myself but nothing that wasn’t practical. By 2:30 my truck was all done so I was headed up the hill around 3. Ty went home after school to let Harley out and feed her for me as she’d been in the house all day. I then had to leave a few hours later at 7:10 for another hour round trip drive to go get Lori in Avon. Ty made it home from work sometime around 10:30.

Tomorrow the Mercedes goes down for its new tire. I need to stop to see Jag in Boulder too. Today Ty is off to school early and we’re headed to the gym. Nice weather up here. I think Lori wants to put the tree up this weekend. Christmas is coming fast! God Bless.