A Year of Change

Often an overlooked holiday in the year for its meaning, July 4th is right up there with Christmas if you think about it. Besides Jesus’s birthday, what’s more important than the birth of our Country and our freedom! We all love Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter, etc. but July 4th is much more than hot dogs and fireworks. Sadly, I know our Founders would not be happy with what we’ve done with the gift of freedom and oppression from a government. You see, government is supposed to be for the people and the people we elect are supposed to be our representatives. Yet today those elected people act like our leaders and continuously do things for themselves or a small minority of folks and not for the people in general. Man is imperfect and we have a glaring example of such on display in front of our eyes daily. Just watch some tv or get on the internet. Luckily things will always change over time but often things must get worse before they can get better. This is where we are today so hold on to your hats! I still believe freedom will prevail and endure. We’ve seen this movie before in countless periods throughout history. It’s going to be a wild ride for the next 10 or 20 years. So now that you’d had your lesson for the day, go have some hot dogs, apple pie and enjoy the parades.

Yesterday I dropped my truck around 8:45 and had Ty to Maddie’s by 9:10. Then it was off to the grocery store before heading to Tommy’s to hang out and smoke a cigar. Tom’s now into cigars! We had fun for an hour or so and then I headed back to get Ty before picking up the truck and heading home. When I made it home, we had found out Dixie had fallen so I told Lori, let’s take the security cameras down there and put them in her place. After picking up eggs from Kellie, we stopped and hooked them up to wifi at Dixie’s. Lori can now see the whole apartment on her phone which puts her at ease a bit. We think Dixie is forgetting how to eat or to actually eat at all as she’s losing a bunch of weight. She was always a good eater. Viviana, one of the caregivers is now sitting with her feeding her like a little kid. This seems to be helping but she’s definitely fading. I told Lori, be thankful as she’s still enjoying each day and isn’t in pain or suffering and remembers who you are! She’s lucky in that way, both Dixie and Lori!

That’s it, beautiful up here again! Enjoy the day and remember, freedom isn’t free! God Bless you all and God Bless America, 247 years old!

Ty and I are headed down for a quick trip in about an hour. We should be down by 9 and leaving by 11 or 12. Hope traffic is not too bad coming back up. Yesterday Lori and I ran over to Aspen and Basalt. We were back around 3 or so and then brought Dixie up for a visit. She’s like a little kid looking at the birds outside. She looks at them in awe as if she’s never seen them before. She’s getting much thinner but still happy 90% or more of the time. Lori has been a remarkable daughter as without her, Dixie would have been gone years ago.

I’m meeting Jag this morning to give him his license plate tabs and a couple things he wanted from the house. Lori is staying here and will hang around the house. Nice outside again, no smoke or clouds to be seen anywhere.

The airport looks packed on the news. Not sure where people are going the day before the 4th. You’d think people would have traveled on Friday or Saturday, not today. Really hoping the traffic back up the hill isn’t bad. I wouldn’t go today but it’s about the only day to get the oil changed in the truck and it’s way overdue.

That is it, time to get moving. enjoy the day, be safe and remember, freedom isn’t free! God Bless.

Yesterday Ty worked 9 hours and of course they love him! He’s always been a good worker as when he’s done with his stuff, he’ll find something else to do, even if it’s somebody else’s job. This morning he works at 7 so we’re officially soliciting donations for a cheap used car! The 7am shift is rough on us driving him! I have a line on a 2005 Pontiac in Sheridan Wyoming with 30,000 miles for around $4K that one of the mechanics at the chevy dealers parents own. His dad now has dementia and he’s looking to sell a couple cars. Buying like this is the only way to get a really cheap good used car. You’ll never find a good one at a dealer that cheap.

James and Addy came over for dinner last night. It was a nice relaxing time for all four of us to catch up. He’s still recouping from the road but is doing better. Today they’re all off, kids too, for Jacksonville Florida to go to Addy’s brothers for the 4th. The stories from six weeks on the road were great. At one point while in France, Addy saved someone’s life! They were in the ocean on paddle boards and a guy swimming was drowning and she saw him and managed to get over to him and paddle her board into shore with him hanging on! Amazing, right place at the right time. Lots of other great stories from the trip but too much to write.

Lori and I are headed back to Basalt today to pick up our hats as Ward was still working on them yesterday. We’ll probably hit Butch’s Lobster Shack for lunch which is right next to the shop.

Still nice out with no rain and blue sky. Lori’s baby birds are back. She thought they all flew off to start their own lives somewhere as she didn’t see them yesterday afternoon but this morning they were all huddled on the ground below their nest. She’s so happy!

That’s it, time to get moving. Enjoy your Sunday and God Bless.

Here we go, just around 180 days left in the year. Lots will be happening. Enjoy, it’ll go fast!

Ty had a good day and worked 8 hours yesterday. They of course love him. Chandler said, he’s so nice and so kind! Of course we all know this but good to hear. He works 9 hours today and is already asking for extra shifts. Looks like he’s been bitten by the money bug! He sees a lot of people he knows including teachers from high school as lots of people go in there. Fun for him. The staff love him too. He had his break yesterday with a guy that always waits on us named Pablo. He’s older, mid 40’s, and was a surfer who surfed all over the World in places like Portugal. He told Ty, and I quote, “your parents are awesome”! Told you we were good parents!

Lori and I might run to Denver today or else we’ll head over to Basalt to pick up our hats. We’ll decide after the gym. We’re dropping Ty at 8 which is in an hour and 15 minutes so time to get moving. My cold is pretty much gone but I’ll be coughing up crud for a good week at least. It was a bad sinus cold and now what’s left is the sinus part, if you know what I mean.

Tom’s hanging out this weekend, not sure what R&R are doing. Jag might come up, we’ll see. That’s it, gorgeous up here of course, we’re blessed. God Bless!

Lori, Ty and I start our new job this morning at 7. Well really it’s just Ty who works at 7 but Lori and I have to get up and take him to work so we included ourselves. He did great yesterday and loved it and they loved him so off we go. We’re good parents!

We’re both feeling better today and will go to the gym after dropping Ty. I need to get to Costco too. James was stuck in Hawaii as they cancelled two flights of his two days in a row! I thought he was home but he texted yesterday morning that he was stuck. I told him grab any flight to the mainland and then worry about getting to Denver. He somehow made it out and landed in Denver at 10pm. He then had to take a car and driver home getting here after midnight.

We’re going to go see Dixie today as we haven’t been able to go with us both sick. We for sure would have given her and the rest of her building our cold which would not have been good.

Last day of June, here we go on to the back half of the year. 2024 sounds so surreal. What a mess we’ve made of things. Does anyone really believe Joe Biden is in charge of anything? The daily gaffs and not even being able to walk off stage after some speech read off a teleprompter should tell you the answer is no. Yesterday he abruptly walked off from an interview before it was over. It’s really unbelievable that even 40% of the Country support him. What in the hell are these people thinking? It’s a small World and really nowhere to go so we have to change things here. Check out RFK Jr. At least he’s pushing both parties into uncomfortable areas. The media and Dems are scared shitless and saying and doing anything to twist his words and make him sound crazy. They take sound bites to make him sound unhinged but it isn’t working. Some of you might think he’s nuts now but you need to ask yourself, who is more nuts, him or Biden? Hmm.

God Bless

Finally I slept a little better. My headache is pretty much gone but still lingering a bit. It’s all sinuses. Today at 11 Ty has a work interview from 11 until 2. They actually have him come work for 3 hours to see how he’ll do. Fingers crossed!

Lori and Dixie have dentist appointments at 9 and 2 and the cleaners come at 1. I think we’re having cigar night and if I go, I’ll just hang as no way I’m smoking a cigar right now. Doesn’t even sound good.

Lots of people traveling the next 5 days or so. Glad we’re staying home. I think Jagger is going to his friend Robert’s dads house in Aspen. 21 years old hanging in a $65 million dollar home in Aspen for July 4th. Best thing is they’re all well rounded and grounded young men. They always have fun when they go stay there, who wouldn’t. I think he’ll stop by tomorrow night or Saturday morning on the way up as the tabs on his license plates expire tomorrow and he needs the new sticker.

We have 5 baby birds outside that live up under the porch. The nest has been there since we built the house but this year we have 5 baby Robins. Yesterday when Ty took the trash out, one flew into the house! We managed to open the sliding door and he (or she) just flew out before Harley caught it in her mouth. Lori said that to Harley, it looks like a flying ball! Lori put painter tape up on our windows a week ago so they don’t fly into the glass which birds often do.

Sunny outside with little to no smoke from the fires across the West. Smoke is super bad up north in the Midwest and on the East coast. We’ve also had no rain while part of the State has had bad hail. Think it’s going to be a little cooler today. James texted me his new phone number yesterday. Seems once again he has a new stalker. I asked if it was from Europe and he thinks it’s from the States. Every now and then he has to change his number. Goes with the territory. They’re supposed to go to Florida to Addy’s brothers place for the 4th but I’m not sure he wants to go. We’ll see. We’ll probably have a bbq down here and stay close to home.

I’m deciding whether or not to go to the gym this morning. I should probably lay low but really would like to go. Time to go. Make it a great day and God Bless.

Thought I was getting better but it was another rough night. Sinus headache along with a runny nose and coughing up crap kept me up on and off most of the night. Hoping today I can turn the corner.

James lands in about 45 minutes in Denver from Maui. Think he was there only 4 or 5 days. Jag got a 95 on his test and finished in 20 minutes, wow. He told me he knew what he did wrong and was going back and forth in his mind trying to figure out which way to go. He tried to explain it to me and I pretended to understand but it’s way above my head. As long as he gets it is all that counts.

Lori made it to Denver and back although she felt like crap all day too. Ty still has it a little but it doesn’t hit him like it does us. That’s it, time to go, hopefully my head will stop pounding after a shower. Have a great day, God Bless.

Lori’s had her cold since last Thursday while mine kicked in Sunday night. I feel a lot better today and my nose isn’t running non-stop anymore, but it’ll take another day before I’m back in fighting shape. Lori’s seems to be trying to hang on. She’s headed to Denver today for a noon doctor appointment and then will head back up the mountain. I’ll be staying home trying to lay low. It’s just been one of those bad summer colds, nothing special. We’ll probably find out in a month or so it was the new variant of some virus they want everyone to get shots for. To be clear, so many people getting shots in the past few years has had the opposite effect of what we were all told. Turns out 13 million vaccinated people have died Worldwide from one thing or another. But of course, the elites say it’s not the vaccines, hmm. Too bad as many people now won’t get any vaccine even though some like measles and others are actually ok. People have been conditioned to think all vaccines are bad due to all the misinformation that was fed to us for the past three years.

Did you see the latest from the govt? They now wants to ban wood and coal pizza ovens! What the hell is wrong with these politicians? They’re also going after washing machines to go with gas stoves, gas cars, meat (via cows since they fart), and just about anything else they can think of. Why don’t people vote these idiots out? Most people, actually I think everyone who reads this, agree with me. But if you have a neighbor, a son or daughter, a cousin or a best friend, who don’t, you need to slap them up on the side of their head and make sure they wake the hell up! Things are beyond ridiculous and time is running out. If you don’t, don’t complain. The silent majority is finally waking up, thank God.

Time to go as otherwise you’ll get a dissertation on the state of the Country, and frankly I don’t have the time and it just gets me too worked up, ha. God Bless.

Well I’m fighting off Lori and Ty’s cold. Those two might have finally got me. I have the sore throat part this morning although it’s a little better after coffee. It started last night. I took a big spoonful of some Manuka honey and am trying to stop it in its tracks. Think I’ll fast today.

Lori is steadily getting better but is still not well enough to go back to work. Dr. B. leaves tomorrow for Mexico and is traveling until July 5th so she doesn’t want to get him sick. Hoping Ty has a job by tomorrow. Chandler should be getting back to him by then as they’re closed today. It’s beautiful outside right now. Mother Earth is thriving up here. Living here is so much different than the city which is full of concrete, people and metal. I heard there’s a fire above Rifle but no smoke here as of now.

Jag and his team won their Olympic Game party Saturday. I guess they made up all sorts of games and had teams. Fun.

Last week of June. Hard to believe it’s almost July. Time to start thinking about Fall and Winter. It’ll be here before you know it. That’s it, time to get moving. Give thanks for the day and God Bless.

Lori was a little bit better yesterday but is way better today. Looks like it was a 48 hour thing. Allergies are still booming with stuffy noses all around. I left for Denver around 7 and was at Whole Foods picking up about $550 worth of groceries before grabbing Ty at 10 and heading home. We hit a little traffic but were home by noon. Today I’m taking Ty down to our post workout breakfast hang, Hovey and Harrison, to see Chandler who is the manager, and hopefully get him a job. I’ll need to drive him to work and pick him up but I’ll just time going to the gym with his schedule.

Lori wants to go to the gym this morning but no way am I driving her in my car. It’s sunny again today and nice but a little hazy. No fires that we’re aware of so not sure what’s going on. Last week of June coming up next week. Hard to believe. Summer sure goes a lot faster than winter.

Today I hope to work on my closet and my office. I hooked up with Clark and Mark yesterday for a cigar and we texted James who texted back and seems to be doing well. Hope he’s getting some much needed relaxation. Adriana texted last night and we’ll catch up with her today. Jag called yesterday when he was making water balloons for their party, fun. He’s about halfway through his summer class and is of course the top student in the class.

So that’s it. I’ve been reading and revisiting Native American healing and teachings which revolve around plants and the Earth. As most people know, most all medicines come from plants. Although World governments are now making synthetic crap, aka, covid, which hasn’t and won’t turn out well. I majored in history for the few years I was in college when the whole thing at Wounded Knee was going on with the government and they had to negotiate with AIM, the American Indian Movement in the early 70’s. Our professor was the one picked by the government to be the negotiator in South Dakota. It was my highlight of college. I have a whole library of books on Indian teachings, beliefs and philosophy from then that I started reading over a few weeks ago. I told Ty yesterday he needs to read a book. I don’t care what it is but everyone needs to read. I try to read one a week. Jag reads for fun too and reads some pretty heavy stuff. If you’re not reading something, anything, you’re missing out. There you have it! Words of wisdom from Doug for the day, ha!

Enjoy the last Sunday of June!

God Bless.