A Year of Change

Last night when we made it to Denver we arrived at one of our top accounts in town, Ristorante Siciliano. I’ve been doing business with these folks for a number of years. The son is entertaining and handles the front of the house meaning all the waitstaff, while his father mans the kitchen. The father took a break last night and came to sit with us as we’re good friends. He was telling me how after his wife died, he went back to Sicily and was not sure what he wanted to do as he was lost without his love. He then decided to get back on the horse of life and came back to join his son.

I knew the family from at least 8 years ago when they had a restaurant down in Castle Pines. Now they’re on 6th Avenue in the heart of town. On Monday’s, a lot of the Nuggets (our basketball team in Denver) come in, every Wednesday a Senator and during the rest of the week, all kinds of regulars. I basically own the list meaning I have most of the wines they sell and they probably spend a good $75,000 a year with me which is a really good account. Anyhow we had a great dinner with two other couples who are going to Italy with us in July. The father kept bringing out special dishes from the kitchen. He cooks really well. He is old school Italian and told our friends what a special couple we are and is very well mannered with things like sincerely kissing Lori on the hand to say hello like out of some 1950 Italian movie. We had a great dinner as they prepared a special table for us known as the Frank Sinatra table. Roses were everywhere, so many that we had to move some. In addition fresh rose petals were arranged in a heart shape in the center of the table. The father thanked me again for all I do for them and told me how his son really loves me. I’ve tried to help him out for years with advice on his wines and on others that he needs that I don’t sell. I also take really good care of them as they take good care of me. It’s an old time relationship that has evolved into more than just business, very old school Italian. They love the boys too and miss them as the son always makes the kids real Italian cream sodas like from Brooklyn when he was a kid.

Loris’ back is out and we found out she’ll probably eventually need surgery. She’s had a hard time walking after sitting all night. Hopefully through steroids and physical therapy she’ll get some relief. We’re going to run some errands this morning and then have lunch with our friends Jeff and Tina before stopping at my Mom’s and heading up the hill. It’ll be in the 60’s down here which is really nice. Hope all’s well, GB.

The kids are quite excited about April Fools Day. Ty was going to get up at midnight and prank us but he slept right through the night and we’re having a hard time getting him out of his bed right now at 6:48. Lori’s back is in and out, she just needs some rest as she worked until 8pm as she had a deposition with a couple of lawyers and her doctor. Finally at 7:45 she ended the thing.  Meanwhile Jag too is sleeping still.

Tonight Lori and I are headed to Denver to have dinner at a top account and 4 friends. We’re staying at that suite we’ve stayed at before in our friends building as they arranged it for us last night. In the morning we’ll run a few errands and then have lunch with Jeff and Tina who we’re helping out with a benefit at the end of the month. Then we’ll head up the hill for home.

I think winter is almost out of here. Sun is in the forecast along with warmer temperatures. Jag has his Washington D.C. trip a week from Tuesday and then 6 weeks later is off to Austin Texas to the FEE Seminar. This is a 3 day program funded by wealthy patrons to promote economic entrepreneurship. It’s been around for a long time and was started by some bankers, lawyers and CEO’s of business. Friends of ours in Aspen have been wanting to send him for years but you have to be 14 years old. One of the trustees said Jag could bring a few friends so I think 5 boys from his class are going. It’s completely free with no charge to the student. Then about 5 weeks after that, we’re all of to Italy for 2 weeks. So lots going on for the next 3 months. By the time we’re done, it’ll be August 1st and summer will be on the downswing. Time flies.

Throw in my annual meeting from June 6 to 10 and Aspen Food and wine 10 days after that, and our calendar is filling up. It’s 7 now so time to get moving, have a great weekend and watch out for pranksters! GB

Wish it was Friday but Thursday will have to do. There’s just not enough hours of sleep every night, no matter how early we go to bed. We have more snow and I think the pass was closed last night as when I picked Lori up from work they were directing everyone off the highway going east towards Denver. Not sure what time it opened.

Jag and I made it back up by 2 but had to stop to get a chip repaired in my brand new, day old windshield. I can’t believe it got a chip less than 24 hours after being installed! I was not happy.

Today everyone is back at it. Ty had a good ski day with the school. Lori needs to be at work by 8 and the boys at school. Tomorrow is April 1st, hard to believe. April is a busy busy month for all of us. We have a big benefit in Denver, Jag goes to Washington D.C., we have a week of Spring Break but Lori can’t get any time off and skiing shuts down. They did extend the season here for a week due to all the new snow.

That’s it, time to run, hope all’s well, GB.

Ty has a ski day and Jag and I are off to Denver to go to the dermatologist. It snowed here but nothing we can’t handle, although the pass was closed last night. Lots going on but too much to go into today. It’s 7am and we need to leave in less than an hour.

TIme to get it together, the crazy season is in full swing. It’s supposed to be 80 in Denver next week, meaning 70 up here so I think winter is winding down. Time to go, GB.

Today I need to run down to Denver for a new windshield as ours cracked over the weekend. I hope to get down and up by 2 as I have a 9:30 appointment in Arvada.

Lori is still sick and she came home from work early yesterday. I thought I was getting her crud too but hopefully have fought it off with a bunch of Vitamin C and tea.

The boys are doing well. It seems as though the year is almost gone as they only have about 8 weeks of school left. Snow tomorrow and then I think that’s it for the season but you never know.

It’s 6am so time to run, hope all’s well, GB

We made it down to my Mom’s a bit before 11am. We had a nice visit with her for an hour and ate some great pie! Tom and Ali showed up on their way to lunch, they looked good. Tommy as of yesterday went 5 months without smoking, whoo hoo!

We then headed home as we were supposed to be at Sue’s by 3 for dinner. We made it there by 3:30 and had a nice time until we came home at 6:30. Lori is sick today. She’s going in for a little bit but should stay home.

I need to get to Denver to replace my windshield and get Jagger to the dermatologist one day this week. It’s 6:45 now so time to run, hope all is well with everyone, take care and God Bless.

Just as he said he would, on Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead. Today is probably the holiest of all days, even though a lot of people think Christmas is. I won’t go off here but would suggest if you are not familiar with the story of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, you check it out. The most important thing you can do is make sure you’re right with God!

Happy Easter!

Today we’re headed down to Grandma’s. Wish we could be with you other Grandma’s too! We should get down there by 10 or 10:30 and then be back up here around 2;30. We went to dinner last night after Ty’s birthday party and then headed home.

Hard to believe we’re in the last week of March, Spring will be here soon. Hope everyone enjoys the day, take care, have fun and God Bless you.

Well we just stayed home last night. Nothing special for our anniversary as every day is like an anniversary! We were going to go out but just didn’t get it together, plus Lori’s back is still a little sore.

Today Ty has a birthday party around 3 this afternoon. Jagger might go skiing with friends and I’ll probably try to clean up a bit around here. We had a little snow last night but nothing to write home about.

Work is going well for Lori and I. We both have issues that pop up every day but we fight through them.

That’s about it, I just erased a big paragraph about politics as no point in depressing everyone on this holiest of weekends. Have a great day and God Bless.

16 years ago today in Scottsdale Arizona, was the luckiest day of my life. As you know, it was the day I married my best friend, my soul mate and the love of my life. As we sit here 16 years later, we’ve really done a lot in those years. We really don’t fight at all, maybe disagree a time or two, but have always had the ability to get passed anything in a few hours. I can’t imagine my life without Lori and thank God for bringing her into my life.

So what are we doing today to celebrate, well, pretty much more of the same, nothing special. Lori’s back is jacked up again from trying to pull on some boots yesterday morning and the kids have school and I have work. We had a dusting of snow last night but nothing to talk about. We are driving down to see my Mom for Easter. We’ll show up mid morning and have some coffee and donuts ( my Mom and the boys on the donuts!) and visit for a bit. Later in the day Tom and Ali and my Mom will have dinner as we’re going to head back up after brunch as we all have work and school the next day and Mojo at home.

If you think back 16 years, a lot has changed. Not just for us, but in the World. We have two great kids and we’ve lost loved ones, and had lots of good times. The World has changed, and I think we’d all agree, not for the better. There was no Isis, politicians would disagree but come together in the end, and people just seemed to care about each other more than they do today. Now it’s all me, me, me. Whatever happened to doing something for someone else and expecting nothing in return? Even though people now have a different attitude, kindness and compassion are still in us. It has to be as without it, all is lost. Hopefully something good will come out of all this discord in the World and bring us all back together. You have to have faith though to get you through life, and if you’re one of the lucky ones, a wife like mine! God Bless.

It’s been a rough week for Lori. She made it home around 7 last night but did book a Tlif for Friday which is a $100K surgery and it’s a self pay! Self pay’s are great as no insurance is involved and they’re more profitable. She normally doesn’t do the surgery booking but took over handling the VIP patients and doing a great job. This is outside of her responsibilities but pretty much does any and everything.

I think we have a bit more snow but nothing like Denver. Tommy sent a picture and they had 17 inches! I guess most of the city was shut down and is still struggling today. The airport was even closed yesterday which is a first since 2006. I still have computer work but did manage to get the boys sheets washed yesterday. We sure need a 3 day weekend but don’t have one coming up anytime soon. I think we’re going down to Denver Sunday morning for Easter unless it snows again. Have a good day, GB.