A Year of Change

Not much of the white stuff outside this morning. Just enough to make me have to go out and brush off all three cars. Looks like lots of schools closed in Denver according to the news.

Yesterday I managed to completely clean off the kitchen and island counter. I also did both boys rooms and bathrooms. The counter has been a catch all for everything from papers to gloves to keys to just about anything in anyone’s hands when they walk in the door. Amazing how things you think you have to save you end up throwing out a few weeks later as they’re not that important.

After today we have one more day of cold and then about 10 days or two weeks of 40 degree or higher temperatures and sun. Our builder says he’ll have the roof all on during that period. We decided to eliminate a hallway (not sure why we had it in the first place) and open up the kitchen and living room by another 3 or 4 feet. We’ll also do a walk through on windows tomorrow or Thursday to decide where to add or eliminate windows. Windows are one of the single most expensive items there are when building a house!

For those of you that know Harry, I spoke with him a couple of times yesterday and it looks like he’s going to be ok. I guess his spleen is larger than normal for some reason, and has been for sometime and this increase some blood count. Two doctors he saw yesterday both pretty much cleared him, thank God.

I need to get the dogs water as it’s frozen in their bowl right now. They’ve both had breakfast and been out. Lori just got some ice from the freezer and that’s like a duck call for Harley. We gave her ice when she was a puppy and ever since the dog loves to eat ice! Big mistake with us living in a place where it snows all the time, ha.

Jag’s and my hair are both messed up. Mine from letting Phoebe cut it on the fly when Lori was getting hers done and Jag’s from going to some girl he’d never been to before. I think we’re both going to the 4 Seasons today at different times to try to get it fixed.

Ty has a few essays due today so time to go and get him up. Have a great day, GB.

Snow has arrived. Not too much and actually it’s pretty dry and fluffy but it’s here. On the news every school and business in Denver is on some sort of weather delay. That just doesn’t happen up here. Ty was going to get up and help me shovel but I’m letting him sleep. Both boys had theater and then we went to Walgreens to get flu shots. I’m not a big proponent of them but with Lori working at a hospital and being around so many germs and viruses, we get them.

We went down to the house yesterday after going to the gym. The second floor is going up and it’s looking pretty impressive. Lori thinks some rooms are too small but we are more than doubling our size. We might adjust a hallway or two or maybe a closet. We need to talk to Tom our builder.

Time to go so I can shovel and clean off the cars. Dogs have been fed and out for a quick walk. They’ll need a longer walk in 30 minutes or so. I have a routine so I need to stay on schedule. Have a great day, God Bless.

Here’s a picture of the boys rooms upstairs and two views from Ty’s room, exciting!

It’s 6:30 in the morning and so far, no snow, not even any drizzle or rain. Guess it’s running a little late. Now they’re saying later this afternoon. Lori and I stopped at the grocery store in Denver after our lunch with Jeff and Tina and we’d never seen it so packed. You would have thought this was the last time anyone could go to a store the way people were stocking up and just from the amount of people shopping. We quickly exited as we don’t like crowds and headed up the hill. We were home around 5 and began to unwind.

Jag took off around 4:45 for a haircut while Ty decided to stay home. I guess there was a party but some kids were doing LSD (didn’t know that was still even around) so Ty opted out. What a good kid. He even showed us videos on his phone of his buddy Will who had a little too much to drink the night before, but again Ty didn’t drink. He’s making really good choices. Lori just told me Jag made it home around 2 am. While she said she was sort of waiting up for him, I get it, he’s 17 and when we were that age, we were up and out that late too. Hell when I was his age I had already been in college for a few months.

When Lori and I were getting haircuts I told Phoebe about the David Crosby documentary and she said that was so funny as she was somehow listening to CSN&Y the other day and how great it was. Meanwhile the young girl at the counter of the salon was playing some non descript EDM (electronic dance music) that was that super annoying pound in your head gibberish. I decided to go to the counter and help her change the music. She didn’t know who CSN&Y were so I had to change it for her. Then after a few songs I asked if she knew who the Stones were and thankfully she did. Alas all hope might not be lost for the younger generation after all. Anyhow as soon as I changed the music everyone in the salon was tapping their feet or quietly signing along. The whole aura of the salon changed just from switching music.

Today it’s off to the gym, Lori is making is chili, whoo hoo, and we’ll do some laundry and cleaning. This is the first Sunday we can remember we didn’t have something going on. No conference, trips to Denver or California or school event. The boys do have theater practice from noon until 4 today. Jag went to basketball yesterday and had a great slam off a missed lay up by a team mate, should be a fun season for him. Ty is back with his trainer Tuesday and is also playing.

Bad fires in California. The Governor and environmentalists should have allowed logging as logging is good for the land. It thins out the old, sick and dying and dead trees which are the main fuel for these fires. Same thing with hunting. The funny thing is if we didn’t interfere, fires would come and go on a regular basis and keep things in check so you wouldn’t have these mega blazes. Now they say there will be rolling power outages for the next 10 years! If that’s not enough to make you move, on top of the insane taxes, the suppression of your constitutional rights in so many areas, the high crime rate and the putting of illegal immigrants ahead of U.S. citizens, I guess you’ll never leave. Sadly I understand how some people are stuck but you’d be surprised what you can do if you really want to do it. Oh well, we have our own issues here in Colorado because so many of these Californians are moving here. Guess I should keep my mouth shut, forget everything I just said and stay where you’re are.

That’s it, time to get moving. Here’s a picture of some fireworks they bring you at the new French restaurant we went to for lunch when you order champagne! Lori always looks fabulous, and loves wearing Mom’s jacket! Have a great day and God Bless.

Starting late tonight, snow and cold will be moving in. Looks like winter is here. We have 3 ski areas open and more opening a week from today. It’s frosty out this morning but clear.

Jag has his third ACT test today and Ty spent the night at Will’s last night. Jag doesn’t need to take the test again but his scores go up every time he does so he thought he’d give it one more try.

Lori made it home around 5:45. I ran down to Denver for a few appointments and was back by 1:30. We’ve been leaving Harley out with Mojo and so far all is good. Let’s hope it continues.

This morning we’re headed to Denver so Lori can get her hair done and then we’re having lunch with Jeff and Tina at the new French restaurant La Biblioteque in Cherry Creek.

We watched the new David Crosby movie which is sort of a retrospective on his life. It’s called Remember My Name. He of course is from the Byrds and Crosby Still Nash and Young. It was a great film but sad in some ways. We’re all getting older every day and it’s a slap in the face of reality when you see your contemporaries or those from your generation getting old in front of you. The only conclusion you can take away from it is yes, you’re old too! Anyhow it brings back great memories of your youth and helps refocus you on just what’s important in life. Another take away is that words matter. Be careful what you say to people as sometimes words can hurt worse than any physical harm. All these artists from my generation usually have some sort of falling out as they’re essentially family. They spend decades or almost their whole life together and there’s bound to be disagreements. The trick is to not say or do anything you can’t go back from. We all know this is hard and is true for any family, right!

Oh well, give it a watch if you have the times. It’s much better than the usual crap on tv these days. If nothing else it’ll make you understand some of the songs you grew up with much better. Time to go, have a great day and God Bless.

Really, we’re super thankful it’s Friday. Yesterday after some urging from his friends, Jag played in the last soccer game. We beat Aspen 2 to 0. I grabbed Lori at 4:30 and we made it to the game just in time for the halftime ceremony where they honored the seniors. We did find out when Jag was kicked in the head with a ball last week, he called out the coach, with an F word or two, demanding an apology when the coach brushed it off. It really doesn’t matter who you are if Jag thinks he’s right and you’re wrong. He’ll call you out. he should go to DU and be a lawyer! I picked Ty up at 3 sharp and took him to the gym where he had his first workout with a trainer. I’m sure today, or for sure tomorrow, he’ll be sore. I worked out twice yesterday and the keto thing seems to be working for me. Maybe at 62 I’ll find that elusive six pack after all.

I have a quick run to Denver this morning and hope to be back by noon. Tomorrow Lori and I are going down as she has a hair appointment and then we’re having lunch with Jeff and Tina. It warmed up yesterday but more snow is expected this Sunday. We sure could use a break for a month or so before winter is here full on.

Time to get moving. Hope everyone is well, take care and God Bless. Go Nuggets!

This morning we have snow, and a good amount. I’ve been up for 30 minutes and have been cleaning off cars, shoveling the driveway and walking the dogs and just came in for coffee. We have two warm days coming up and then I think more snow on Sunday, ugh.

Yesterday I made it down and up before the snow hit. Lori and I had to go to the plumbing fixture place and pick out a tub and a few other things for the plumber. Lori had another massage and a facial while I was gone. Jag had a California college workshop and Ty had to meet with a teacher after school for some help on an essay.

The dogs are fine, I’m in my 4th day of strict Keto meaning no sugar and no carbs and only high fat dairy. Doesn’t sound like it makes sense but I’m losing a little weight and more importantly have zero inflammation. Always tinkering with my diet. Robi is in Vegas. Hope the show was fun. I guess they arrived at the airport and had made their flight for 8:30 pm instead of 8:30 am! They had to obviously change their flight to make the Lady Gaga concert last night. They come home Friday.

Ty is working out today at 3:30 to get in shape for basketball. He’s going to our trainer. Jag is scheduled too but not sure if he can make it. Speaking of basketball, the Nuggets won last night! It’s 7:03 am now so time to get going. Have a great day and God Bless.

Today’s is Robi’s birthday, whoo hoo, and she and Robert are in Las Vegas, double whoo hoo! Hope you guys have fun.

Lori is off today and she needs it. Her head and neck are a mess, she hasn’t had any sleep since before she went to California and she needs to go to the gym. She had a gift card for a spa so she had a massage last night which helped a little bit. This morning she’s working out and then getting a facial with the rest of her gift card. In between Jag has an appointment with the ENT doctor for his ear. Ty has an essay due today, hope it’s ready.

I’m in Denver for a 9:30 meeting and then have to run up north and then downtown before heading back up the hill. They’re supposed to be finishing the roof today but I doubt it.

We have a quick snowstorm coming through tonight and tomorrow morning. I think it’s mostly in Denver but we’ll see. Time to get moving, have a good day and God Bless.

After a precarious drive down the mountain (due to poor drivers in the snow) I made it to Denver in time for a little grocery shopping before picking Lori up at the airport. There was a bad accident on I-70, (of course) which had us at a standstill for a while. Then of course the other side of the freeway had to stop to too see what was going on. This bugs the shit out of my brother Tom and I, ha. Anyhow after picking up Lori I exited Pena Blvd. at 56th and took it all the way west to Quebec missing all the lookey loo’s going home. Finally we hit Vail, after some more bad weather, around 3:30 and I dropped Lori at the office. I went back to pick her up around 5:30. We did grab Ty on the way home as Jag went to his friends Andrea’s house to feed her boa constrictor.

Lori was super tired with a bad headache so not much else happened except getting her settled. Today we’re all back at it. Mojo hopefully comes home today although I’m in Denver tomorrow so I might leave him one more day.

Tomorrow is Robi’s birthday, she’s going to Lady Gaga in Vegas, have fun! That’s it, time to get moving as it’s 6:35. God Bless.

This little storm is like a mid-winter blast. Hope it’s not a precursor of what’s to come. The Farmer’s Almanac, which Mom swore by, says lots of snow this year. Lori arrives in Denver around 12:30 which should hopefully give me plenty of time to get down to get her.

We’re still watching Jag making sure he doesn’t have a concussion. Eric Strauch (one of Lori’s PA’s and a great friend) stopped by on his way back from the hospital last night just to give him a quick lookover. Ty went to see the Joker and said it was good but weird. Mojo wasn’t feeling well and he slept all day. Then he started having diarrhea so at 5 pm I ran him over to his home away from home (the vet) where they are getting him on some anti-biotics and taking care of him. With me gone all day I didn’t want to leave him here in the house.

I made the boys breakfast yesterday and they woofed it down. I cooked bacon in a fry pan instead of the microwave and it was really good cooked in it’s own fat. I even then cooked the eggs in the bacon grease, yummy. Reminded me of Mom or Grandma’s cooking.

As I said last week, Jag is through with soccer for the year. Halloween is 10 days away and soon it’ll be Thanksgiving. Tom texted he needs our Christmas list! What! Jag and I were talking and we can’t believe where this year, or really this decade has gone. Wow, life goes fast. I didn’t notice it when I was his age but he is. We had a good talk as he’s so smart for his age. He commented how so many kids are looking at college based on the name and not the school or what they want to do. We talked about CEO’s and other successful people who quit their high profile successful jobs later in life to become farmers or do something that has meaning. Pretty mature for him to recognize that it’s more important to have meaning in your life than just buying a name by paying to go to some college. He’s coming around, smart kid. Get’s that from me 🙂

Have a great day, God Bless. Here’s Miss Harley in the snow yesterday.

It’s here, the white stuff. Not too much though, maybe 2 inches at most. I’m sure there’s more on top of the pass but no way there’s the 12 to 14 inches they forecasted. Good.

Yesterday morning Ty and I headed to Denver for tires. We were done by 11 and then hit the mall for some new basketball shoes. Then we hit a European grocery store and stopped by to see Uncle Tommy before grabbing some food to go and heading up the hill. By 3 we were home and then the boys and I had some lunch before taking the dogs up the hill again. Around 6 Jag headed to Zack’s where he spent the night. Ty played some games and is still sleeping now. I did more laundry.

As soon as I finish up the post, take the dogs up the hill and finish my coffee, I’m headed to the gym. Lori gets home around noon tomorrow so I’ll leave around 9am. No Bronco game today, thank God. I’m going to try to get some cleaning done which I seem to do or try to do every day. CU lost bad again yesterday too so Tom and I are looking forward to basketball which starts Wednesday. Our hockey team, the Av’s, are the best in the league but I don’t watch much hockey. Maybe I need to start, ha.

Time to find some shoes and harness up the dogs, God Bless.