A Year of Change

Here we go, 2020, wow. I remember December 31st, 1999 and being with Lori on a beach in Seattle waiting for the end of the World. Remember Y2K? This of course was before we had any kids and even before we were married. Seems like a long time ago and we certainly have lived life to the fullest in the past 20 years. We’re excited and hoping the next 20 are just as fun if not more.

Today I am going to the gym as I didn’t make it yesterday and they’re closed tomorrow. I asked Lori what kind of gym is closed on New Year’s Day, hmm. We did find out Lori has a concussion from the suitcase falling on her head. I think she’s getting an MRI too but I’m sure it’ll just tell us what we already know, she needs another fusion soon.

We went to look at siding yesterday but the place was closed. The basement is coming along well with most of it being framed out and the duct work is almost in too. We met Walter our plumber and are changing a bunch of faucets. We’re using Delta which is really good and one of the least expensive companies out there. The place up here tried to sell us the same thing (basically) at double the cost. Things should start moving fast once the plumbing and duct work is in.

The boys are fine and Ty has his two friends coming up today. I think they’re going to Zoe’s tonight which is close to the Spector’s where we’re going. We’ll probably leave early (before midnight) with Lori’s concussion and pick them up on the way home as no way we’re letting them ride with Sonny or another 16 year old driver tonight.

It’s cold, somewhere like 10 below but warming up later this week. Hope you all have some resolutions ready for tomorrow. This can be anything from quitting something to changing something in your life. Besides quitting sugar I’m planning on watching less tv, getting outside more, and trying to read more books. Now’s your chance, even though it’s really just another day, ha. There will be good football on too tomorrow! Be safe tonight and God Bless.

First off, thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. it was a nice relaxing day with a trip to the gym and a meeting with our builder. Then it was football and we won as did San Francisco.

Today Lori is back at work and I have today and tomorrow to get about $500K worth of orders in before the end of the year. With my birthday being yesterday today is a chance for a hard start on some new changes. You all have January 1st to use if you want to as a motivational date of your own. For me it’s no more sugar, period. Sugar is the single hardest thing for me to give up. It’s worse than most if not all illegal drugs. In any case, I’m done, that’s it.

Moving on, it’s also a time to purge. This will be double important with us moving in about 100 days. Out with the old, time to go.

Both boys have all this week off. Ty has Jack and Scott coming up tomorrow for New Year’s Eve. Jag has some plans but I don’t know what they are. Lori and I are going to Gerry and Marci Spector’s for dinner and a party. Not sure if we’ll be able to stay up until midnight! Snow is headed here Thursday.

That’s it, time to get moving, have a good two days left of the year. 2020 is kind of surreal. Hard to believe that number as it sounds so futuristic. Time goes on. God Bless.

After numerous weather delays, Lori walked out of the airport around 6:30 pm. This was 2 hours after she was scheduled to land. I went down early in the day with Ty and Jack as Ty decided to come along at the last minute. I dropped them at Jack’s house and headed over to swap Lori’s car. After that I went to Tom and Ali’s and hung out and watched the football game. Turned out it was a blowout with LSU crushing Oklahoma. Around 4:30 I picked up Ty and headed towards the airport.

Today is my birthday. Kind of uneventful at my age, ha. I’m headed to the gym and then meeting with our builder to go over plumbing fixtures as the place up here is way overpriced and not very helpful. They act like they’re doing you a favor by letting you spend thousands of dollars with them. I think we’re going to find a new place to spend our money.

We have a light dusting of snow, under an inch but are supposed to get some Thursday. That’s it, hope everyone is well, take care and God Bless and Happy New Year.

Lori is supposed to land at 4:15 this afternoon. Hope she makes it as there’s going to be a little snow. I think the wind is supposed to be the larger issue. I’ll pack a bag just in case we get stuck in Denver. Nevertheless I’m headed down and will be there when she is scheduled to land.

Ty and Jack were out until 9 last night and then sometime I think around 11 pm Ty threw up. He said it was from nachos and other movie food. Hope so as we don’t need anyone getting sick here. I was driving both boys to Denver today but I think I’ll leave Ty here and just take Jack down. Jagger spent the night at Zach’s but will be home this morning.

Lori and Dixie made it to California but not without a little drama. A guy sitting behind Lori in First Class dropped his suitcase right on top of her head when they were boarding! Are you kidding me? A United supervisor came on board and documented the accident and will send us a report. Hopefully she’ll be ok and we won’t have to sue!

Looks like we’re getting a new Range Rover today. My accountant called yesterday and told me we’ll save about $25,000 on our taxes if we trade in the car by December 31st.. Owning a business gives me certain tax advantages and buying a new car yearly, if it weighs over 6000 pounds, is one of them. Not sure why it needs to weigh over 6000 pounds. Anyhow we get to write off the full purchase price from our taxes! This is unbelievable. You have to use the vehicle for business which I clearly do as we put 36,000 miles on the one we have right now in the past year. Think we’ll get white or silver this time around. It’s a big deal and something you have to take advantage of with the taxes you have to pay these days. He also told me we overpaid about $25,000 in estimated payments last year. That means this might be the first year in decades where we don’t owe money. We could even get a refund but I think any over payments just roll over as a credit. Taxes are really complicated these days.

Not much else going on. Can’t wait to get Lori home. It’s been nice to have her Mom visit. Lori and Dixie enjoyed their time at the Sonnenalp and the boys really enjoyed time with their grandma. Lori is a great daughter. She goes to see her Mom almost every month, calls her every day and stays on top of the long term healthcare plan. She is back to work Monday. It’s my birthday and she asked me what I wanted to do and even said she’d go to the Bronco game but I told her let’s just rest. Although it would be great to watch the Bronco’s beat the Raiders! That’s it, have a great day and last weekend of 2019, God Bless.

This morning I’m taking Lori to Denver to pick up her mother and take them both to the airport so Lori can fly Dixie back home. They’ll arrive at the house around 6 pm and then Lori will spend the night and fly home tomorrow. Lots of driving but Dixie can’t make the trip alone.

Yesterday we made a trip down to exchange and return gifts that didn’t work out. We were back by 3 and then headed to the gym. We hit some traffic coming back up which I hope I don’t hit again today.

Ty’s buddy jack is up here for 2 nights. Jag was out who knows where until a little after 11. Ah to be 18 again! It’s coming up on 5 am as the dogs woke me about 30 minutes ago. No new snow up here but a storm is supposed to hit the eastern plains tonight and tomorrow. Of course it’ll be nasty with wind and snow tomorrow when I pick up Lori. Hopefully it won’t impact us too much.

Three work days left in the year. I need about $600K and the proposed tariffs are causing some concern. I should be ok but you never know. That’s it, time to feed the dogs and get moving. Have a great day, GB.

Today is called Boxing Day in Canada. Must be because you box up the stuff you don’t want or that doesn’t fit and send it back. For us, Lori and I are headed to Denver to return a car load of stuff. More on that later.

Yesterday was a nice day. We woke early and had our Christmas which the boys loved. We did really well for them this year for the most part. Then after some 24 hour French toast Lori made, we were off to Denver. We picked up Dixie and headed to Tom and Ali’s. When we arrived Ali was out getting her dad. Earl had a nice time and is doing really well for 89. We all had a nice time before taking Dixie home around 3. She commented a few times how that was the first Christmas she’d been to with no alcohol. Not sure what she meant but I think she wanted some. If so she should have said something, ha. You see Lori, Ali, Earl and I were not drinking and I think Tom, if he had anything, might have had a beer before we arrived. I didn’t think twice about it until she mentioned it. Oh well, we had a nice time and Tom made a great prime rib and had leftover ham from the night before.

When we made it home the boys ran out to get sushi to go and Lori and I grazed on leftovers. We were going to go to the gym this morning but I think we’ll go after we get back so we can try to get down and up. Lori didn’t sleep much so she’s pretty tired this morning and moving slow. Tomorrow Lori is flying Dixie home which is good as it’s been a long trip for her and I think she wants to get back to her familiar surroundings. We offered to take her to see where Earl lives as he just loves it and it’s close to Greg and Jae’s and Tom and Ali’s but I don’t think she wants to go. Hard to make that decision. Saturday Lori will fly back to Denver and I’ll pick her up in the afternoon. What a good daughter to fly there and back twice to get her Mom. She does so much for Dixie that it’s almost like she’s a hired caregiver only she doesn’t get paid, ha. That’s it, time to get moving, God Bless.

The big day is here, Christmas Day, the birth day of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whoo hoo!

it’s a white Christmas up here in God’s country. We had a light dusting of an inch which is just enough to blanket everything in white. Ty came bounding down the stairs right after us and Jag is up but not upstairs yet.

We went to dinner last night and sadly two years in a row we’re 0 for 2 on dinners. They had too many reservations and were not set up to handle all the people. Lori and I sent our dover sole back but it didn’t much matter. I told her we would have been better off just giving each of us $100. Oh well, we had a nice dinner. Right now I’m taking Harley out so Ty will be a guest author, here’s Ty!

Hello, for it is me Ty, we all are sitting here in our one room in this one house while Jagger pulls up his one chair. My dear mother has just let our big wolf Mojo in. Soon after we do a small celebration we will head to Denver to see the rest of the family.

Thanks Ty! I just took Harley out so now we’re taking a break to open our stockings. Santa is off to a good start as I see a long board leaning up against the fireplace and a package in the tree, both from Santa. More to come later, time to run, like Rudolph! God Bless.

Not long now, Santa comes tonight. Hope you all are ready and have been good this year. We have a lot to do today around here so no time to waste.

Yesterday we drove Dixie down to Denver and then headed back up the hill. We were home by 2 or so. The Sonnenalp was really good to Lori as usual. When we made it home we had to get some things together before getting ready to go to Marty and Melanie’s for our annual little pre-party. It was them, Tom and Jennifer Ebner, Jen Bruno and us. Melanie has kidney stones so she was on valium and moving slow but feeling good, especially after a few glasses of wine. We had a blast as usual with them and Tom and Jennifer did too. Ty had so much fun with Max and the Bruno boys he spent the night. Jag left after a bit to go meet up with friends and stayed at Zach’s last night.

Today we have lots of wrapping to do for Tom and Ali and a few last minute stops like the mailroom at the hospital and Walgreens. We’ve done our best to continue the extravagance known as Christmas that Mom always had. At 5:30 we’re going to La Tour for our annual Christmas Eve dinner. Then it’ll be off to bed as we need to be up early for the big day tomorrow.

We should leave here by 9 in the morning at the latest to go get Grandma and then head over to Tom and Ali’s. Hopefully we’ll arrive there by 11 and have a nice Christmas until around 3 when we’ll head home to go take care of the dogs. So that’s the agenda for the next 32 hours or so.

Now it’s off to the gym after coffee. Hope everyone is well and ready. Have a great day and God Bless.

This morning Lori and I are taking Dixie down to Denver. We’ll pick her up Christmas morning from Greg and Jae’s. Yesterday we brought her over to the house and we watched football and ate chicken soup I made earlier in the day. Apparently according to Dixie I make great chicken soup!

Ty hit the mountain for most of the day while Jag caught up on some sleep. I cleaned and cleaned and made soup. Jag picked up Ty for us at 2:30. Dixie did well but the night before took a toll on her as we had a big day and ate a lot.

I also wrapped some presents and did some laundry. My back felt like it was going out when I woke up so I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill stretching it out. That along with some glute bridges and ab work fixed me up and saved the day. This morning I’m going to the gym at 6 to get in a workout before getting Lori and Dix. Oh yea, Sonny spent the night with Ty. That’s it. Tonight after taking Dixie to Denver we have a party at Marty and Melanie’s. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Ho Ho Ho, get ready and God Bless.

Yesterday was full of non stop activity. After the gym and a quick shower we headed to town to get Dixie. Once at the hotel while Dixie was still getting ready I headed in to town to buy Jag a last minute gift as Ty was one up on him and Jag wanted a money clip. Soon Dixie was ready so I headed back to the hotel and we borrowed a wheel chair to push her around the village. The boys drove in and met us at Vendetta’s for lunch. Then it was back to the hotel to get the car and head down to the house to take a look. After that we drove back to town to drop Lori and Dixie until 5 when we went to dinner.

In the village we ran in to Johnny and his 5 Pomeranian’s. He had 4 in the basket of his bike and one in his coat. Johnny runs a bike service with his bike that’s a three wheeler and he rides people around town in the bench seat on the rear of the bike. We had him come back to the hotel at 5 to take the boys to dinner while the hotel’s valet guys drove Lori, Dixie and I to the restaurant which wasn’t more than 2 blocks away but much easier than taking the wheelchair.

Dinner was fabulous. The Left bank is our favorite restaurant in town as it’s authentic French food and Jean Michelle, (the chef) is born and raised 100% French. We were done by 8 and headed back to the hotel to drop Lori and Dixie and get the car and then the boys and I headed home.

Today I’m not sure what’s going on but we all agreed no one needs to eat. Food is like a drug and it’s so hard to resist good food you know you shouldn’t eat (citron soufflé’s ) but you eat it anyway. I think I’ll fast today, not. 3 days to go, God Bless.