A Year of Change

We had a full busy fun day with some business thrown in. Tomorrow we have some more, (of both) and should be home by mid afternoon. Hope everyone is doing well, we have to run now so take care and God Bless!

We’ve been in Aspen so much this summer it sometimes feels like we live here and are visiting Denver. We left early, if 8am is early, to beat the traffic that was supposed to be backed up all morning long. We made it to Vail by 9:30 and stopped to show the town home to a friend who might want to buy it. 30 minutes later we were back on the road and stopped in Edwards to get the kiddos a quick bite to eat. Next up was a stop in Glenwood Springs and then Carbondale to drop off some wine. By 1pm we were just about to Snowmass when our cell phone rang. It was Peggy asking where we were and when I told her we were going to check into our hotel, she said, “no no no, you have to come straight to the party here at the park”. So off we went straight to the party at the park.

We pulled up and found a parking place (a miracle in itself) and soon found everyone hanging out under a big tree. We knew lots of people from previous engagements and everyone welcomed us with open arms as usual. Its like we have a whole new crowd of super nice people as friends. Soon we left and headed over to Billie and Greg’s house where they would soon join us. They told us to go in and make ourselves at home. We know the door code from other times up here. The also usually leave a back door open which I’d never do with the millions of dollars worth of art in the house. Can’t do that in Denver anymore. Anyhow Jasper and Riah, their grandkids, were thrilled to see the boys again. We let them play for a little and then said we have to go check into our hotel. We agreed to meet back at their house at 5:30 as they wanted to take us to dinner.

We checked in and made it back after a quick refresher and the kids played. Downstairs in a closet the kids found what they said were Pokemon’s (stuffed animals) to their surprise. Billie had no idea where they came from and said Greg had probably bought them at some Japanese auction somewhere, probably in Japan. Anyhow Billie said our boys had to have them and we said no, they could just play with them when they visit.

We all headed to dinner, 11 of us, including Peggy, the grandkids, and their parents which is Greg’s daughter and husband. We took two cars and of course Billie showed up with the  Pokemon’s for our boys saying she was giving them to them and that was that! We had to say ok and the boys were very thankful. Jasper, the 9 year old, is a handful and has ADD or something and needs special attention but just loves our boys. They were very helpful and patient with him as he was a chore. We had a great dinner at the Asian place we all went to on July 4th and then headed home. Stacey, Greg’s daughter, took the kids and walked them all home early stopping for an ice cram on the way. We all met back at their house and decided to head home at 9pm. We’ll see them tomorrow but needed some rest as it was a long day.

So that was it, busy busy and busy. Lots more to tell in more detail but that’s it for now. God Bless.

Yesterday the boys wrapped up fencing and both placed 3rd in the tournament. Meanwhile the misses was downtown for about 5 hours getting her hair done (she looks like a California beach girl all blonde) and today we’re off to the Westin Snowmass for some end of the summer fun. We need to stop in Vail for some business and will also do some in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. Of course they’ll be some fun mixed in here and there.

robi says:

We arrived at Fencing Camp just in time to see the entire class finish dueling until only two were standing. As it turns out, the oldest is tied with a girl who is older and was in fencing camp last year as they were the two left at the end after everyone dueled each other. So our guy, and the girl, go into today as the Number 1 Seeds. The youngest won his fist match but was then paired up with a kid much taller and older. Being tall is really an advantage as you have longer legs to lunge with and longer arms to reach out and “touch” your opponent with. In any case, both boys showed great form and have learned a lot during the week.

Mojo is inside laying at my feet while Lacey and everyone else is still sleeping. Ty had 3 cavities filled yesterday so needless to say, his mouth hurt last night. While he was at the dentist, Jag was at advanced math. Both boys have been going to a math tutor for a few weeks to get a jump on everyone else when they get back to school. I don’t even understand what he’s learning as it has to do with ratios and percentages on a graph. After that we went over to the chevrolet dealer to pick up the car which we dropped off earlier. They installed new rotors and thankfully it was under warranty.

After that the misses and I took a stab at cleaning the house a bit. It’s just so hard to keep things clean around here with two dogs and two kids running in and out all day long. I was off to Vail today to show the Minturn house to my doctor friend who is interested in hopefully purchasing it but she was on call and is back in surgery today so we’ll see her tomorrow morning.

So today I’ll get to go to the gym and the misses is getting her hair done downtown. I’m sore again from physical therapy but haven’t been for a while. That’s about it, hope everyone is doing well, especially Grandma Dixie who is taking care of Pa Don and also Grandpa Bob who hasn’t been feeling up to snuff and Grandma Eleanor who is taking care of him! We’re thinking of you all, hopefully everyone else is doing fine.

God Bless.

Where did summer go? When it hits August around here, we’re getting ready for Fall. School starts in 19 days, pheasant hunting starts next month, football starts this weekend and on and on. Before you know it it’ll be elk season, Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Hold on tight as it’ll come and go fast.

Yesterday we finally made it up to my Mom’s to check out her new piano. It sure looks good in her house. I thought it’d be much smaller as it sure fills up the room. This morning I have PT (physical therapy) but first need to pick up some wine and get a haircut. Then I’ll meet the misses at the chevrolet dealer to drop off the suburban for an oil change and drop the misses at pilates. By then it’ll be noon and the boys will be home at 3. Throw in a trip to Fed Ex and some phone calls and the day will zoom by.

Time to run as I need to leave in less than an hour, have a great day and God Bless.

The boys are having a great time at fencing. It’s kind of weird with them gone all day, I guess it’s a preview of what’s to come with school. Yesterday we showed up early to catch them in all their gear and sabers fencing. They’re both pretty good after watching them spar with the other kids. I think their height and all their experience with Star Wars light sabers helps them.

We went to Costco yesterday and bought Lacey a mew memory foam bed for the front room. This way she has one upstairs and downstairs. It’s taking her a little bit to get used to it and she still lies on the floor most of the time but Mojo jumped right in. After Costco and a trip to the grocery store and the shoe repair shop it was time to get the boys.

Physical Therapy was tough, I’m sore all over from the waist down. My quads, hamstrings and glutes are sore sore sore. It’s a good sore though and the only way I’ll get better is to build my muscles back up.

That’s about it, time to get moving. We splurged and bought a new coffee maker so we’re waiting for the filter to soak so we can make our coffee. Have a great day and God Bless.

Here’s a comment from Aunt Robi,

robi says:

The website for the blog is super slow this morning, not sure what’s going on. Yesterday the boys had fencing all day and had a blast. After that they did some reading and then watched Star Trek before heading to bed. The youngest and I actually went up early without finishing the movie.

I’m back to PT for my knee at 8:30 this morning and then need to box some wine and head to Fed Ex. We’re not sure what we’re doing this weekend now as the St Regis where we have a certificate for a free suite, is sold out.

It’s nice and cool outside and smells like a skunk! I hope the big dog doesn’t find one. Not a whole lot more going on, it’s almost August which means school will soon start and then my favorite season, Fall, will follow.

That’s it for today, I almost forgot, here’s a comment from Aunt Robi,

robi says:

Today it starts for the next 5 days, from 9am until 3pm. Everyone is excited! Here’s a couple comments from yesterday,

• Lori says:

  July 28, 2013 at 11:45 pm

  We LOVE that you Love our furry friends:-)

  We know Aunt Ali was thinking of Lacey, she always does think of both doggies. It’s so funny though as in the morning Lacey is like a 2 year old pup bounding up and down the stairs wanting food. I think her arthritis must subside during the night when she’s sleeping. You should see her at 5am!

  Yesterday I cleaned up and organized a little bit around here. The boys and I also went to the Apple Store as a coffee cup fell out of the cupboard right on to my phone and shattered the screen. So, I made the jump to the I Phone. I know, I know, it tracks your every movement but we’re all tracked anyhow. What a World we live in these days where everything, and I mean everything, we do is now filtered through some system to screen for I guess bad guys or something. Thankfully we’re all pretty harmless but it is all 1984. (from the George Orwell book)

  It’s really been raining around here which is good but unusual. We keep going in and out of some sort of monsoon pattern. Too weird. We have to get up to Grandma’s and see her new piano and let her play us a song. I’ll bet Uncle T is getting pretty damn good as he practices every day (he doesn’t work) and I hear is playing well.

  This weekend we’re, you guessed it, back up in the hills showing our pre sell wines and then next weekend Lorenzo and his wife Jen are here and we’re off to Steamboat for the Steamboat Wine Festival and then we’re supposed to go to the Roundup River Ranch event the following weekend as we’re guests of our friends who are board members. The Roundup Ranch was started by Paul Newman and serves critically and terminally ill children from 8 surrounding states providing them with a summer camp they can go to. They have a full time medical staff and hospital on site for campers and their family’s to go to for free. We are donating to the annual auction. We might pass as we also have a Rolls Royce event here in Denver on the same day (the 17th) and our friend Peggy from Aspen is coming down with her 1934 Rolls and we told her to stay with us. Besides we’re worn out from all these parties and events. Luckily we’re not super wealthy as it seems all these really rich people do is party party party! I don’t know how they do it. So that’s the next 3 weekends, throw in the misses trip to Sacramento to see her dad and Grandma Dixie and Pa Don and then school starts on the 19th! Summer sure did go fast!

  Time to run, hope everyone is well, have a great week and God Bless.

Yesterday we arrived in Aspen about 11:30 at our friends house after stopping at the Ranch to change clothes. We loaded up Greg, Peter and Patricia in our truck and headed out for the 37th Annual Aspenblow Party. This party has been put on by a bunch of wealthy locals for 37 years (that’s why it’s called the “annual” party, ha ha) at the top of Ajax Mountain but on the backside. Ajax is the main ski mountain in the town of Aspen but to get to the backside, you have to drive around it and then go about 6 miles up a steep bumpy dirt road. Once we neared the top, we were met by security guys to check who you are as its invitation only. I managed to talk my way into parking right where the party was rather than along the road and then walking a few football fields up the steep road. Lucky for my knee!

Right out in the middle of the mountain full of wildflowers was a band, a large wooden dance floor, a bunch of tents, the caterers cooking up great bbq, assorted tables, chairs and hay bales and of course the bar, all spread around the meadow at 11,000 feet high. The vistas of the mountains behind us were amazing. If you looked up the hill just a little towards the town you could see the lodge at the top of Aspen Mountain Ski Area. Looking the other way you saw unspoiled mountains that looked rugged and untouched for thousands of years.

The party lasted until 4pm when we loaded up in my truck (thank God we  drove the truck) and headed down the hill. We made it back to Greg and Billie’s and visited a while before heading back to the Ranch. We made it there by 6pm and knowing all the heavy traffic on Sunday’s, decided to just throw our stuff in the truck and head home. Had we known the rain we were going to run into, we probably would have spent the night. Anyhow we were home by 9:30. The boys went to Uncle T’s but Ty spent most of the day with Ben. Jag stayed at Tom and Ali’s and I went across the street and brought Ty home with us. Aunt Ali thoughtfully put Mojo’s bed in the kitchen for Lacey but didn’t know it was full of some creepy crawling bugs! I first smelled wet dog and then the misses pointed out the bed so I picked it up and threw it out only to find a bunch of bugs scurrying here there and everywhere! Sweet sentiment on Aunt Ali’s part though. I finally chased them all down and cleaned up and we were in bed by 10pm.

So a fun party, a long drive and good to be home. Rain today which is nice and I think we’re cleaning up the house. Take care and God Bless.

Just a heads up, we’ll be posting tomorrow afternoon so don’t be expecting a post in the morning!

Today we’re off to Aspen, just the misses and I, at 7:30am. The boys will be spending the night with Uncle T and Aunt Ali. We have a party we’re going to from 12 to 4 today and then will probably have dinner with friends, spend the night at the Ranch and head home in the morning.

Yesterday the boys were at Water World with Ben, his brother and Mom for the entire day. They had a blast and we’re thrilled Jen (Ben’s Mom) took them as we promised they’d somehow get there this summer and we sure didn’t want to go! Then Ben spent the night and all the boys will go over to his house (across the street) at 7:30 when we leave. Around 10 or 11am they’ll then go to Uncle T’s but I’m sure be back up here playing for most of the day.

Last night we went to John and Julie’s party at 6pm. They moved from Evergreen to Cherry Creek and it was fun. We stayed until about 8 and then headed home to pack. Lots of fun people and friends and a good time.

The sales meeting went well yesterday and then the misses and I ran downtown to pick up a new pair of jeans she found on sale. Throw in a couple of pizza’s for the boys and that’s about it. The dogs are fine and it’s a bit cooler today, thankfully.

So have a great weekend and we’ll talk to you tomorrow afternoon!

God Bless.