A Year of Change

Almost middle of the month in the middle of winter. I wonder how people 100 or 150 years ago would deal with the day. They had no idea what the day would bring. I imagine the greatest challenge was just making sure they had enough food and water and firewood or heat to make it through the day. There was no tv or weathermen to warn of coming storms or obviously any grocery store to run down to and buy some eggs and milk. To survive people had to be tough and resilient or they wouldn’t make it. These days it’s a different ballgame but I think that same tenacity is needed now and will be needed much more in the future to make it. I’d write more on this but it won’t do much good and if you don’t see it already you probably never will.

Last night Lori, Jag, Madi, (Jag’s new girl) and I went to dinner. She’s a sweet girl who is really talented and has an audition at Julliard in Chicago next month for college. She’s been in theater for about 8 years and is really strong. Her and Jag are a cute couple. He’s happy and they get along like a couple. Dinner was fun with lots of laughter and me constantly checking the football score on my phone. To be fair I asked if anyone would mind at the start of dinner. The food was so so and the bill was $500 plus as it is every where up here. Ty went to Zoe’s and spent the night at Will’s house with Sonny. Jag spent the night at Tucker’s and just walked in as Tucker had an early training session for ski racing.

Today Lori and I will head down to the house to see the positioning of the overhead lighting and sign off on things or move some around. It’s snowing lightly and is going to continue through tomorrow, so they say. Ty is tele skiing again today and we need to go pick him up and take him to the mountain. That kid is fearless when it comes to heading out in cold weather. Lori and I would just stay home!

Ok boys, you had a fun weekend. hell, you’ve had a fun, blessed life so far. You’re good kids though and it makes us happy to do things for you. My Mom, (your grandma) always said she couldn’t wait until you were growing up as she was sure we’d spoil you. I continuously told her “no way, I’ll never do that”. Once again she was right and I was wrong. The older I get the more this seems to be true. So a word of warning, you two will do the same with your kids, but it’s ok. I don’t think it’s such a bad thing to spoil your kids as long as they stay grounded in reality which both of you pretty much are. Remember we love you!

That’s it, make it a great day and God Bless.

p.s. notice how I say “make it a great day” rather than have a great day as I realized it’s up to you to make the day what you want! Waking and having a great day depends too much on circumstance so get out there and make it what you want!

Last night when the boys made it home from basketball we learned Jag was accepted to the University of Colorado Boulder School of Engineering! This is a big deal as it’s a tough school (within the school) to get accepted to. Congrats! Whoo hoo! Lori and I of course hope he chooses Boulder as the tuition is less expensive than out of State and he’d be closer to home. One of our friends is on the board of the school as he’s a former graduate there and was thrilled for Jagger too. For those of you that might not know, engineering encompasses everything from aerospace to mechanical to environmental to medical and much more. In short engineering is about solving problems we face as a society and as people. You could go there and design new sustainable housing materials that would change the World as an example. It’s also rated like number 3 in the Country as far as university’s go. Hopefully one day soon we’ll be saying Jag’s a Colorado Buffalo!

Tonight we’re going out to dinner with Madi, Jag’s new girlfriend. I guess last night she sang the National Anthem at the high school basketball game. Ty says she’s really good at theater and had an audition for Julliard. Ty stayed home as he wanted to go out but we had him rest as he had Ski Friday and then basketball and was tired and needed to clean his room from being gone on the hut trip. He wants to go rent telemark ski’s today and join the tele team at school. There goes another $2K! We also received a letter from the boys school that tuition will be $30,900 next year! As a comparison, this is $4,000 more than the University of Colorado! Unbelievable. I wish everyone in the valley would just say no but I don’t think that’ll happen. Everyone will just pay it and move on and if we leave they’ll fill our spot easy.

We did find our the unit next to us is under contract (it’s been for sale) for $703K. They’ll close February 17th so we’ll have new neighbors. This is a good price as when we move we’ll list for a bit more than that.

Around 12:30 last night we noticed Jag wasn’t home so Lori texted him to see where he was and he said he was going to stay at a friends house. We were not aware of this so told him no and to come home. Yes he’s 18 but still living at home and we require notice and to know where he is. He wasn’t thrilled but made it home.

Ok boys, it’s been a busy week in yours and our lives. Your Mom is still dealing with her concussion, I’m expanding our Company and hiring people all over the Country and you’re both back at school. Again we’re proud of you both for making good choices as kids in today’s World and Grandma even offered yesterday to help out financially with school. She’s very proud of you both and loves you two very much.

That’s it everyone, make it a great day and God Bless.

I was driving back from Frisco around 1:30 and passed the VMS busses on the highway coming over the pass. I knew Ty was safe and on the way home. It was a cold hike in deep snow even wearing snowshoes but he loved it. He said he needs to take an Avi course as he loves the backcountry. That is short for avalanche course. I picked him up at 3 and headed home. Jag stayed for basketball and was home a bit after 6:30.

Today is the first Ski Friday at school and Ty will go to the mountain while Jag will do something, I think snowshoe, around school. I was headed to Denver to have the Rover windows tinted but am putting it off until next week. Just too much to do and it’ll be cold and snowy a but in Denver today.

Lori worked all day yesterday and paid the price with her headache. It could take a month or more for her concussion to go away. Hopefully she’ll get out early today. She needs to rest this weekend but that probably won’t happen.

One new thing we’re going to start doing is write a few sentences to the boys every now and then, so here’s the message for today.

Boys, when you someday read this, know that I’m glad you get to sleep in while we take the dogs out every morning. I also enjoy shoveling and starting all the cars, I really do! We’re thankful you both are really good, polite, caring boys even though it’s hard to get you to clean up your room or pick up after yourself in the kitchen. We hope someday you’ll appreciate your high school years and all the fun you had living in Vail. We love you both very much.

That’s it, now go make it a great day and God Bless.

There’s a little snow outside, Ty gets back today at 3, Jag is working away and back playing basketball at full strength, Lori is headed to work and I’m working non-stop as usual.

Yesterday in the afternoon Lori and I met Dave our cabinet maker from Evergreen down and the house and went over the final layout in the whole house. It was a busy place with electrician’s, plumbers, guys outside laying gas lines, a few carpenters and Tom, Dave, Lori and I. Things are moving fast. This weekend we need to go approve the layout of the cans (lights) throughout the house. There’s so much to consider such as how closets are designed. Where do the hanging clothes go, shoe cubbies, places for cowboy boots, built in dressers, and more. And that’s just the closets. We’re building bunk beds into the basement wall to sleep 4 to 6 extra people for when guests come. There will be two sets of bunk beds side by side with a full on top and a queen on the bottom of each set. We also have a safe room for valuables with a vault like door hidden by a rolled metal wall that is designed so no one knows that room is even there. I guess you guys now know it’s there! I do have three close buddies who want to pay me $50 a month to store a few valuables for them as they live in Denver and want to have some items safely stored out of the city. Could be a little business, hmm. Lots more going on as well. It’s exciting and coming along fast.

Two weeks from today we’re headed to Baylor so I need to get tickets today. Then a few days later I’m in Seattle for a night and then it’ll be Mom’s birthday. I’m in Denver tomorrow having Lori’s windows tinted and a clear bra put on her car.

We were talking yesterday about all the stuff we have to go through. Not only our stuff but the stuff from Mom’s too. There’s china, crystal glasses, knick knacks, thousands of photographs and more. We have tons of clothes to go through and donate. There’s so much the boys have grown out of. It’ll be good to move as it forces you to go through everything. Once in the house I’ll go through the storage units too as most of the stuff there needs to go as well. It’s an adventure. That’s it for today. Hope everyone is well. God Bless.

This morning Ty is heading out on a hut trip. He’ll hike 4 or 5 miles in with his snowboard strapped to his backpack, spend the night at the hut at about 13,000 feet and then snowboard down from the top of the Continental Divide tomorrow. He’s excited as he does it every year and has a blast. Jag opted out as do most seniors.

I managed to make Lori stay low from about 7pm until 6am this morning. She did work a bit yesterday and is going in this morning again. I had a great meeting yesterday and then headed back up the hill. Both boys had a long day yesterday with basketball and their first day back at school. I dropped by a wrote a check to school for tuition.

Today Lori and I are meeting the cabinet guy at 1. I need to get Ty and all his gear to school by 7:30. It’s 6:30 now so time to get moving. Oh, Iran fired a few missiles at us in the Middle East yesterday, yawn. If we want we could pretty much end things really quick. They say they’re retaliating because we took out the number two bad guy when in fact it’s us that are retaliating against them and in particular that bad guy for killing over 600 Americans over the years. Here’s the kicker, no one, and I mean no one in the entire World is condemning the attack except our democratic politicians and some Hollywood actors. Not a single country, even China and Russia have spoke up, but leave it to Pelosi and Schumer and various so called celebrities to side with the terrorists. Oh yea, don’t forget the presidential candidates as they too are quite upset. Maybe they should move to Iran and run for office over there. Trump could be saving disabled children and the Dems would be against it, wow. Oh well, guess it’s the times we live in.

Have a great day and God Bless.

Today the 2nd semester begins. It’s also Jag’s last semester in high school. Things are going to start moving fast around here.

Last night Lori had a CT Scan at the hospital to make sure she didn’t have a brain bleed. As far as the local radiologist can tell, she doesn’t but a specialist in Denver will read it this morning. We were in and out of the hospital in a record 15 minutes. I couldn’t believe it.

Ty and I worked out hard yesterday. With school today so starts basketball meaning both boys will be home a bit after 6. Ty leaves tomorrow for his hut trip for 2 days. We don’t even have a list yet of what he needs yet. Not very well organized by the school. Speaking of the school, I need to call them today and go over our bill, ugh. Good news about Jag going to college is it’ll probably be cheaper than high school! Let’s hope so.

No snow outside and it’s going to be in the 50’s in Denver. I have a 10 am meeting down there and then will head back up the hill. Lori is going in for a few hours for a couple peer to peer calls. This is where doctors talk to doctors to try to get insurance authorization.

Lots going on at work too. I have a trip to Seattle at the end of the month and need to get our tickets to go to Baylor in a couple weeks too. That’s it as no time to waste, have a great day and God Bless.

Yesterday we accomplished a lot, especially Jagger in his room! I almost feel like posting pictures of before and after but I didn’t get a before picture. He, Lori (even though she should have been resting) and I cleaned the basement and it looks like a whole new place. Meanwhile Ty was on the mountain but he had cleaned pretty well the day before.

Lori has a doctor appointment this morning as things are no better. She says she needs to go to work for an hour but should stay home. No way I can stop her though so I’ll drop her off and pick her up.

We had a little snow last night but just enough to clean off the windshields. We are in a slow steady decluttering mode around here. Should be about 100 days until we move.

What’s going on in the World, well two guys shot a newspaper delivery man and stole his car in Denver, and the Iranian Parliament is chanting death to America and the Dems are siding with the Iranians who have always been recognized as terrorists, hmm.

Ty has a workout with his trainer today and I’ll go when he goes at 1. Then both boys have basketball practice at 4. Tomorrow school starts and I’m in Denver for a meeting at 10 am. That’s about it, hope everyone is well. Lori just came down so time to see how she’s doing, God Bless.

Lori did pretty well yesterday resting. She probably still did too much and thinks she’s going to work tomorrow but she did pretty well hanging out in bed. The boys are a different story. Jag was with his new girlfriend Maddy at her parents ranch. I guess her Mom’s a dentist and her dad works in a bar in Arrowhead. After hanging out there he came home to shower and then headed back out. Oh to be 18 again. Ty came home with me after we met Jack’s dad in Frisco to drop the boys and then we went to the grocery store. He took a nap as he had a full four days and no early nights. Today we’re making some changes around here, or should I say the boys are. Both of them are cleaning their room and bathroom and going through their closets and setting aside anything they don’t wear that we will then donate. If you haven’t worn it in the past six months, it goes. We’ve tried to do this before but I’m holding back all gas money for Jag and any money for Ty until it’s done. We are just not going to live in this mess any more. Someday when the boys read this hopefully they’ll see it as a turning point in their lives.

Two good football games yesterday. A couple of bad calls, especially in the first game but that’s the norm these days. Hopefully the two games today will be just as good. I need to clean a bit in our room too and do some work to prepare for the coming week.

That is it, have a good day. Take care, and watch your back when you’re in public. Sadly this too is the new norm. God Bless.

Yesterday Lori had an MRI to see what’s going on with her neck. Looks like she should have a 3 level fusion in the next few months. This should take away some of her headache pain. Regarding her concussion, she still has it. Good news is Eric doesn’t think it’s getting any worse but did tell her not to come to work on Monday. Looks like she’ll stay home until at least Wednesday. She has another appointment with the concussion doctor on Monday. What a shit show.

Jag took the 3 boys to Edwards last night for a movie and then picked them up around midnight. Today Scott and Jack go home. They had a blast but have been here since Tuesday meaning four nights which is a lot. Ty has two giant hickey’s on his neck from Zoe! What’s with the girls and hickey’s up here? I sure don’t remember that when we were kids. Lori told him no more or she’s calling her Mom, ha. It’s so ghetto. ( uh oh, I probably just offended some ghetto folks!, #ghetto)

Today football is on, finally. Ty has an appointment with his trainer at 8 so I’ll go workout while he is and then we’ll shower and head to Frisco to drop Jack and Scott and go to the grocery store before the games. Tom and I sure love football. I like calling and texting with him during the game, it’s like we’re watching it together. Jag went to basketball practice yesterday and said he had no limitations on his ankle which looks to be healed. I was looking at him as he walked in last night and it looked like he grew!

Trump took out a really bad guy from Iran. A few days ago the head guy/leader over there taunted Trump and America after attacking our soldiers and embassy in Iraq and then this #2 guy had the balls to just walk around Iraq in the wide open flaunting their attacks on Americans so Trump, as he should, sent a nice little drone down with a hypersonic missile and blew the guy up! Good for him as this guy had the blood of hundreds of Americans on his hands for the past 20 years. Now back home we have some celebrities’ and Dems apologizing to Iran! Unbelievable! If Iran wants to start a war, I’m sure the U.S. with all its power will end it pretty quickly. As crazy as they are over there I don’t think they want to commit suicide by bombs. Still no one “wants” war but you just can’t sit back and let terrorists kill us and do nothing. Remember Obama sent them Billions of dollars in cash on pallets in the middle of the night trying to bribe them to stop attacking us. How’d that work out? Back to those Dems and actors, maybe they should move to Iran, right? Lesson here, don’t taunt Trump!

Well that’s about it, January 4th, 2020, wow. The boys go back to school Tuesday. I need to fly to Phoenix for a day sometime in the next week or so. But back to today, football and chili and some rest with a bunch of laundry thrown in. Have a great day and God Bless.

I woke up too early and too fast as Lori received a text from Jagger who couldn’t sleep. Yesterday he applied to a bunch more schools from Columbia to Stanford and couldn’t stop thinking about college. Society puts so much stress on kids these days. He also applied to The School of Mines which is a great school down in Golden. Anyhow you know how when you wake up too fast you’re sort of in a haze or a blur, well that’s me right now.

Yesterday Mojo went to get groomed. We also had the vet give him a shot in his hips as he’s really having a hard time getting up and down. He looks and feels much better he says. The boys were here and there all day until they made it home around 11 last night. I think (hope) they’re going home tomorrow. They’ve been here since Tuesday!

Lori seemed to do a little bit better yesterday but still is not in good shape. Concussions are misunderstood and need to be taken seriously. That’s why I am making her stay home again today.

Looks like I’m off to Italy for 5 or 6 days around the end of February. I decided to take over most of the estate relationships from one of my Partners as he’s been busy working on another segment of the Company and has been dropping the ball. Oh well, more work for me but I’ll do it quicker and better. It does mean a couple trips minimum to Italy every year. We have so many things to do with the changes in the Company. We’re on a hiring spree and will double or triple the number of people we have right now. It’s going to be a big job.

I’m going to go to the gym in a few. Jag went to McDonalds to get breakfast. Lori went back to bed and both dogs are sleeping at my feet. They’re like having 2 additional kids, ha. That’s it, time to go, have a great day, be safe and God Bless.