A Year of Change

This afternoon we’ll experience about a 50 degree drop in temps. Shouldn’t be a big snow maker but it’ll be cold. Both boys had basketball as usual, Lori worked late and I made my daily trip down and up the hill. Today both Lori and I are off to Denver as she has an appointment at the dermatologist and I have one at a wealthy guys home to look over his wine cellar as his house is being sold and he’s on his yacht in Southern France. I guess he’s not coming back and we can just take what we want. Last time I was there we drank some vintage champagne from 1959! Should be fun to see what Ron has left. (Ron’s the owners name)

Yesterday I was looking through some old stuff of Mom’s from college and high school. I wish I would have found this stuff a long time ago as there’s so much I’d like to talk to her about. I told Tom yesterday that it’s harder now than it was on September 10th. Outside of Lori, I really don’t have anyone to talk to anymore. This is no slight to Tommy or Robin or even Shelly, but none of us have really talked to each other about things in life. I’m going to make an effort to do so and get closer to them as outside of my immediate family, they’re all I have left. I hope you all know what I mean as even though we talk, we don’t really share intimate things about what’s going on in our lives. So, for Lori and Tasha and anyone else reading who still has their Mom, talk to her about her life and the things you never knew. You don’t want to be sitting in a chair after they’re gone wishing you said this or that. Oh well, Mom was really a cool person. I laughed for hours reading what people wrote to her in her yearbooks. I even found my Grandma’s yearbooks from 1908 and 1909. Lot’s of what was written in there was in German.

Some of the things in Mom’s yearbooks were like, “you’re a swell kid”. They said “swell” a lot. Others said “you’re the prettiest girl in school”, and still others said things like “save a dance for me this summer”. Life looked pretty good in 1950. Here’s a couple pictures of Mom in college, hope you enjoy, God Bless.

Wow, less than a week left in October. Then it’s darn near 2018. At work, we’re all about next years plans and have been for some time. It’ll be here before we know it.

Last night Ty had basketball until about 7:30. He played in two games and had a bunch of rebounds and scored. We played Leadville and won both of the 8th grade games.

It’ll be in the 80’s in Denver today and then snowing tomorrow, that’s Colorado. Up here it’ll be the same only a little cooler. Lori is going to Denver tomorrow so we hope she gets in and out before the snow.

Jag has an AP World History test today and Ty has late start which he does every Wednesday. Meanwhile I have a ton of work to try to get through.

That’s about it, hope everyone is well, God Bless.

Tonight Ty has a game and Jag has a rare day off from practice. Last night both boys practiced with Ty done at 6 and Jag around 8:15. Jag’s coach said he has that rare gift of having all the intangibles. He’s a bit raw never having had a “real” basketball coach but he’s so excited as Jagger is really something special on the basketball court. Over the next 3 or 4 months we’ll be at a lot of practices and games, should be fun.

Yesterday Jag and I bought some new gear for he and his brother that they both need for the season. We made it home around 3:30 and then had a brief rest before heading out. We’re all busy busy again today as we are every single day. We all need to be out the door at 7:20 or so this morning. It was cold in Denver yesterday but sunny and warm up here. Time to get moving, take care and God Bless.

Today all of us but Jag are back at it. He has the day off until basketball at 6:30 tonight. Lori, Ty and I though, have lots of work. But none of that matters as today is my little sister Robin’s birthday, whoo hoo!

Not sure what she has going but hope it’s fun. I’m sure Robert has some good things lined up! Being a gentleman I won’t mention her age but let’s just say she looks great. Happy Birthday and we hope you have a great day!

Yesterday our football team just flat out sucked! it was the first time I can ever remember turning off a Bronco game, and I’m a die hard fan. Most of it to me, was on the coaches. Some changes definitely need to be made, probably at quarterback, but we’ll have to wait and see what they do. In any case, it was a waste of a game and they stunk it up.

It’s a bit warmer today and will be nice until Thursday. It’s been windy but that’s ok. Mojo is out of dog food so he’s been eating chicken which he prefers, ha.

Tom, Lori, Jag and I went through some more boxes in the attic yesterday mainly focusing on all the Christmas stuff. There is so much stuff we don’t know what to do with it. Literally there are 70 plus boxes of just Christmas decorations. We have a huge pile of ornaments, decorations, wreaths, and more we just don’t know what to do with. We don’t want to throw anything out but it’s just too much. We’ll figure something out,

The pictures are from yesterday’s sunset, pretty nice place to live. Both boys went to the same movie (Kingsmen 2) at different times just so Mom and I could drive a bit more! Guess it was a good movie, GB.

Today it’s supposed to warm back up but that’s after a nasty bout of snow and ice yesterday morning that saw temps in the teens. We were up and out by 7 for Ty’s basketball tournament which started at 7. His teams first game was at 8:40 so we had to be there by 8:15. The tournament was held in Frisco with teams from all over within about 120 miles.

Ty’s team is pretty darn good as they finished 2nd out of 12 teams after playing 5 games. It was a double elimination tournament meaning you played until you lost 2 games. The team from Craig won it all and those farm/ranch boys were huge! Ty’s team only has 8 players so everyone had a lot of playing time. He’s the least experienced but getting better every day as this is really his first real time playing real organized basketball with a coach who is actually a basketball coach and not a soccer coach filling in. His next game is in Leadville Tuesday at 5 pm.

Between games Lori and I went to Whole Foods and bought a dozen Halloween cupcakes for the boys for after their last game. They were very appreciative.

Upon arrival at 8 am, Lori stepped out of the car and went down flat on the ice! Her feet went right out from under her. I ran around and picked her up but today she is really sore. She might have broke her tailbone and the back of her head is sore where she hit it. We’re lucky I guess as she could be in the hospital. Once we walked in we saw a few other ladies who also slipped and fell on the ice, not good.

We made it home around 4 and pretty much took it easy for the rest of the day. This morning we’re headed to Denver for some more cleaning and to get some new basketball gear, mainly workout clothes. It’s warming up so they say. Time to get moving so we’re back home by the Bronco game around 2 or so. Not sure we can get back by then but we’ll at least be home by the second half. Have a great day and GB.

Here’s the afternoon  and then the morning in pictures! Quite the change…

Those were the words Jagger’s professor used when describing his performance in AP World History and in particular, his mid term exam, where Jag was the only one to score 100%!

Yesterday the day started with his teacher conference. It’s a bit different from what we were used to when we were younger as all the teachers come to one room to meet with Jag and us. First he did most of the talking telling each teacher what he liked and how he felt about their class and then they provided input as well. Of course, the worst thing anyone could say was things like, “your handwriting could be a bit neater”  and “don’t stress out on school so much” and ” it’s ok to get a lower score if it means not staying up all night”. To sum it up, the kid is on top of his game and excelling like nothing we, or I think them, expected. Jagger though, absolutely expects it and you can tell. The Director of the Upper School said her number one thing was that Jag gets good sleep and takes some more time for fun things like basketball and doesn’t make his life all about school. So, there you have it. By the way, Jag dressed in a black shirt, black jeans and red tie on his own.

Next up I went to workout and had maybe the toughest workout of my entire life. I thought I was going to throw up several times, but alas, didn’t. I came home, jumped in the shower and when I was getting out, I hit my right big toe on the edge of the shower door which instantly resulted in me screaming a profanity. I didn’t think much of it until I looked down and saw a little blood on my toe thinking I scraped it. Upon closer inspection, I had sheared off a chunk of my toenail as it was gone! After looking around, I found it sitting in the shower! Now this wasn’t good, but I bandaged it up and moved on cursing myself for being so stupid and lazy not to lift my foot all the way over the door. I won’t do that again!

Ty had a good day at school and brought up a grade 3 grades that was low as he didn’t understand a key assignment. He did this all on his own and we were really proud of him for handling it. Next up Jag and I went to the orthodontist where we were for an hour. He needs a few more Invisalign trays but is making good progress. After that we went to pick up Lori as Ty was staying for the school dance after basketball. Jag and I picked him up TY at 8 and he had thrown on his basketball uniform and went as a basketball player as it was a costume party. He has number 1 for a jersey which is pretty cool.

This morning we’re off at 7:15 am for Summit where he and his team has a tournament that goes until his team either wins out or loses two games. We had planned on going to Denver which we still might, but need to see how the games go. It snowed up here and we have about 3 or 4 inches of good wet snow outside which is a good base for the slopes. We’re ready but the 70 degree Fall days sure were nice. I think they’ll be back next week but one of these days, it’ll snow and then keep on snowing until about April. Time to book our February Hawaii trip, ha!

Oh, Jag and I did take a couch down to the consignment store to sell it as we had brought two chairs up from Mom’s house that are much better for our backs. We bought the couch there a year ago and our friend owns the store so she said bring it back and they’d sell it for us. That one move helped de-clutter the house a bunch which gives us a much better feeling. Of course we have three chairs and there’s four of us so if we all want to watch a movie together, someone is doubling up!

I’ve been staying away from politics but I cannot believe a member of Congress would listen in on a condolence call from the President and then twist his words to somehow attack him. Say what you will about Trump but does anyone really think he’d deliberately call the wife of a fallen soldier and chastise or insult her? Good God, as the 4 Star Marine General said the other day, is nothing sacred anymore? It saddens me when I think of the World some are creating for our boys to grow up in. Jagger said yesterday he’s going to write an essay on PC running wild. Should be interesting, as yesterday his English teacher commented on his piece on Voltaire where his opinions challenged the writer and did so in a convincing fashion.

Have a great day, watch your top knot (remember that? If not, look it up) and God Bless.

Jagger is off today, after his parent teacher conference at 7:45 am. I think Ty has a school dance tonight and Lori of course has another fun filled day at the hospital. Tomorrow Ty has basketball at 8 am in Frisco and then I think we’re headed to Big D. Ty’s game is a tournament though so we’ll have to see how long it goes. Jag had basketball last night and is really playing well. The first official practice is November 10th so he’s getting some good work in ahead of the season. His new coaches are REAL coaches which he didn’t have last year. We’re really looking forward to a great season.

Yesterday I made it to my three appointments in Denver and left town about noon to head back up the hill. I’m finally headed to the gym this morning for a workout as our trainer has been in Europe for what seems like a month. Jag does have an orthodontist appointment later this afternoon. So, we’re busy busy as usual.

Guess I’ll go so we can start getting ready for the day. Hope everyone is doing well, take care and God Bless.

This morning I’m 80 or 90% better, thankfully. I’m not sure what I ate, (I think it was a chicken pot pie) but it was no fun. Luckily the human body is an amazing thing.

This morning we all need to leave early as Jag has a big test and Ty has a big assignment. I then will head off to Denver for a 9:30 appointment. Lori of course has clinic with it being Thursday and then one more day of work before her doctor leaves for Hawaii for a week. Jag has tomorrow and Monday off for conferences. It’ll be nice for him to have a 4 day weekend as he’s been working hard.

It was in the mid 70’s yesterday which is unbelievable for up here in mid October. Today and tomorrow will also be nice before winter creeps in on Saturday.

Guess I’ll run as it’s 5:37 and time to make sure everyone is moving. It’s so hard to get up in the morning, especially if you’re a teenager! Take care, be safe, love the one you’re with (that a song title, ha) and God Bless.

From yesterday morning on, I either have the flu or food poisoning. So not much of a blog today.

Tomorrow I’m back in Denver as we have an antique appraiser coming over to look at some things to see if anything is really valuable. Today though I need to try to lick this, whatever it is.

Lori’s off to the gym and the boys need to get up and get moving. That’s it for today as I just don’t have the energy to write anymore. Have a great day, GB

Sometimes we have so much to do, we just don’t know where to start. Last night Lori had a board meeting for Canine Companions, which is where they give free service dogs to disabled people for life, and at the same time I had an Upper School basketball meeting at school. Both were at 6 so we were both gone until about 7 pm.

Today we all need to be out the door by about 7:15 at the latest. The boys have school but first Jag has basketball and Ty needs to meet with a teacher. Lori has an early meeting and I have a couple things on outside projects. First up is an app we’re developing with a buddy and his son and second is a meeting with an account in Denver.

So time to run as both boys are still in bed. Every morning they answer us but don’t get out of bed! It’s so frustrating as we need to ask them 4, 5, or 6 times to get out of bed. Guess it’s a teenager thing. Have a great day and here’s a great picture of Mom, God Bless.