Starting this morning, we begin our 5 day whirlwind of travel, sports, work, school and other commitments that will give us little to no break between now and next Sunday night.

I have a dentist appointment this morning and Lori has a huge day of work as she’s out the next two days. Ty has a bunch of work due today that should have him caught up from the 4th Grade camping trip. Jag has more work too and a test tomorrow. He has a free day today and will work from home. He puts so much pressure on himself to get nothing but straight A’s, that it’s borderline unhealthy. We’re trying to find some balance for him but he’s determined to make up a months worth of work in less than two weeks while doing his regular work too, and this is while he’s in Advanced Placement classes, which by the way, he has 100% in. Meanwhile I need to bring in about $500,000 worth of orders by Friday. So, you can see, we’re a little busy. Throw in Lori’s top nurse being out for a week or two for her husbands surgery (pretty bad one, say a prayer) and her being gone, and her doctor and his wife and freaking out and putting a lot of pressure on Lori. She’s already received a 3 page email this morning! Dixie just needs to move to Denver as if Lori has surgery, which she needs, she won’t be traveling much, or at all, for the rest of the year.

Tomorrow I’m driving Lori to the airport for her trip to Sacramento and on Friday I think Jag goes to Durango for a tennis tournament until Saturday and then on Sunday, we’ll all drive down to pick up Lori and then go to the football game.

Yesterday Tom and I met with the Pastor who will handle Mom’s service. I have a lot to do, such as writing and printing the program for the service, ordering flowers, and more. There’s a lot to do to pull off a good service but as my Mom and I always said, you do what you have to do. I also need a haircut and need to get Ty some clothes for next week. I did pick up Jag’s suit yesterday and bought him some cool new Frye boots. They’re a cross between causal and dress boots and he loves them. I was texting him pictures from the store in Denver yesterday. Frye boots were all we wore in the 70’s and they’re making a comeback.

I talked with Robin yesterday and we talked about writing a message from the family and putting it in the program so there’s no pressure on anyone to get up and speak. I started this last night, but it too isn’t as simple as it sounds. I’ll get it done though.  Here’s another great picture from when we were young, I love these! Have a great day and God Bless.

This morning I’m back to Denver to meet the Pastor and then drop the truck for some work. I hope to be back up by 3 to get the boys. I have a few errands to do but would rather stay home. Tomorrow I’m here and then Thursday I’ll be headed back to Denver to take Lori to the airport.

Lots of drama at Lori’s office as she’ll be gone when her top nurse is also gone as her husband is having surgery in Denver. Dr. C’s wife is freaking out with both of them gone and now wants to be trained to come in and work to cover in case Lori or her nurse are gone again, which no one wants. Even Dr. C doesn’t want this but she’s on a mission. Lori and her nurse would probably both quit if this happened. I think the clinic told her she can’t do this until she goes through some procedures but we’ll see.

Both boys are doing well. It’s 5:47 now and I need to get dinner in the Crockpot and get ready to go. Hope everyone is well, take care and GB. Hope to have some new pictures tomorrow!

That’s right, 24 degrees this morning but that didn’t stop Jag and I from getting to the gym by 6 am. Lori would have gone but she has a 7 am meeting. The boys and I love the cold weather and can’t wait for snow but Lori, well, that’s a different story. Looks like we’ll have to schedule a Hawaii trip earlier than normal this year, ha.

The Rockies won and the Broncos lost. There was a bullshit call on us when our top player, Von Miller, extended his hand to help another guy up and then pulled his hand away. Both he and the other player were laughing but then the ref threw a flag for unsportsmanlike behavior! What the F? Neither player could believe it and neither could the announcers on tv! This penalty cost us the game. Now to be fair, we would have had to go down and score but this flag didn’t give us the chance and handed them the game. As Tom said, the refs should have to talk to the media after the game, unbelievable.

This morning I’m headed to Denver to wrap up a few details and will go back down tomorrow to meet with the Pastor for the service. Hopefully I’ll be back up by noon. I walked Mojo up the hill hoping he’d do his business but no such luck. I guess I’ll try again before we leave in about 40 minutes.

Time to run, here’s a good picture of Mom and Dad. Have a great day and God Bless.

Ok, on our one day to sleep in, it just wasn’t in the stars. It started last night at 1:30 with Ty calling my phone from his room, (not sure why he didn’t just walk into our room) to let us know something was wrong. As soon as I awoke, I smelled it, diarrhea!

Turns out Mojo had bad diarrhea in our room all over the carpet and downstairs in the living room. Doing what you have to do, we both jumped out of bed and began cleaning. I took the downstairs and Lori took the bedroom. About 30 minutes later we had it cleaned up but the stench remained and is still with us at 7:30 this morning. I’ve called the carpet cleaners who know us well, but they haven’t called back yet. We slept with our windows and Ty’s open along with both doors creating a cross wind to try to get some fresh air in the house. Downstairs, we left the sliding glass door open. Needless to say, it’s pretty darn cold in the house right now as it froze outside last night meaning the temperatures were below 32 degrees, I think in the high 20’s. So (ha), another night, and on the weekend, that we didn’t get to sleep in.

Yesterday Jag and I went to Denver to get him some new shoes, a suit and a few other things like 2 sweaters and a shirt and some socks. It took us most of the day as we made it home around 4. We also managed to get him a much needed haircut as Phoebe told us to come right over when I called. Ty wanted to go to the movies last night with his friends to see the new Kingsmen movie. I ran him to town about 6:30 and dropped him off only to get a call 5 minutes later from him telling me they wouldn’t let them in because they weren’t 17 years old. Turns out it was rated R, bummer.

The Broncos play this morning and so does Green Bay. I can imagine my Mom watching with Dad cheering on her team. Hope both teams win. It’s a busy week coming up with me in Denver Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and next Sunday. Lori is in Sacramento Thursday to Sunday. Guess I’ll run as we’re just sitting here in coats and sweaters waiting for the carpet cleaners to call, ugh. Maybe we’ll get some sleep the weekend of October 14th as next weekend we’re busy and the following weekend (October 7 and 8), Lori has mandatory training at the hospital on a new system wide program.

Here’s a picture of Jag (no, he’s not smoking or vaping) after eating some snacks with liquid nitrogen and our first snowfall of the season on the slopes yesterday afternoon. Have a great day, take care and God Bless.

You’d think with it being the weekend, we could lay around and relax. That’s what we used to do anyhow when we were kids. Sometime in the past, weekends turned into just more work days only you end up working around the house instead of at your job. I’m not sure when this happened but I think I’m going to make a conscious push to bring the weekend back! I guess we’ll need a slogan so how about “Save the Weekend” or “Weekends Matter”! In any case, today I have some household or family things to do.

Jag and I will be heading to Denver to get him a sport coat and pick up a few other items only available in the big city. It’s cooler outside and we could see snow in a day or two. Yesterday I had to get some new tires on Lori’s car and clean out a few weeks of “kids” meaning junk and food and trash all in the back seat. Dr. C said he’d do Lori’s surgery but suggested we start with just the three levels in the front and see how that does. Any surgery is big but this will be a really big one. Not sure we have any other options though. We could do it as soon as a couple weeks. We’ll keep you posted. 

Things are getting lined up for Mom’s service. Hard to believe it’s been two weeks today. Things are supposed to get easier with time and they do but you still never forget. Here’s Mom in her signature outfit, jeans and a white Polo shirt! So, time to run, hope everyone is well, take care, have a great day and God Bless.

Thank God It’s Friday! Boy do we need it. Everyone in our household is just beat up, both mentally and physically. The boys are up with us at 5:30 as they have studying to do while Lori and I want to go to the gym. Her neck is so jacked up it looks like she’ll need two surgeries to fix it. It’s about 7 levels she needs fused and is really complicated and risky so we all need to sit down with Dr. C and talk further. Our only other option is more injections which run about $3000 and we’re still paying for the last ones! The problem is that her relief wears off and the pain is back before we finish paying, not a winning formula. I did tell her though if she gets some relief to go ahead and get some more, and we’ll figure out how to pay for it.

We’re tired, so tired Lori just asked if we were too tired to go to the gym! We need to make sure both boys are up working before we go anywhere.

I talked or texted with Robin, Shelly and Tom yesterday and we’re all doing as well as can be expected. We all just wish we could have our Mom back! Unfortunately the World doesn’t work that way. Mom’s dear friend Muriel from Wisconsin sent a card that arrived at Tom’s yesterday with a check for $50 to buy some flowers for the service. Tom and I both called her to thank her and tell her we’re not cashing her check. How sweet for Mom’s close friend from Wisconsin, (I think they went to school together and they’d talk weekly, especially in football season) to send a check as we know she has no money. Mom’s obituary should be in the paper today, I’ll post it below.

They say snow could be arriving this weekend, whoa boy, that’s a little early! Lori is going to California to see her Mom next Thursday so it’ll be a busy week. Time to run as we need to get moving. Here’s Mom’s notice in the paper, it’ll run for three days. Hope everyone likes it as I tried to accommodate everyone’s wishes. God Bless

One day is starting to roll into the next. I think I’ve drove to Denver about 10 or 15 days in a row. Every single day something pops up that needs to be handled whether some kind of legal detail or a miscommunication or misunderstanding among one person or another. I didn’t anticipate the shear amount of things that would require attention over the past few weeks.

Two weeks from today is Mom’s service. There’s still details that need to be handled for this as well. At least we have the date locked in. We’re not short on drama up here either. Oh well, as Mom and I always said, you do what you have to do, ha. Looks like Lori will need surgery again to fuse probably 3 or 4 levels in her neck. Dr. C is reviewing her film today and she could be in sooner rather than later. We have to try to get it done in the next 45 days or so at most before our insurance changes and our deductible starts all over. Ty has his cast off but is in a brace for two weeks.

Throw in homecoming coming up for Jag, and his needing a new coat, the day after Mom’s service, and a mandatory training Lori and the entire clinic has the weekend of October 7th and 8th, and we’re super busy. Looks like the weather is changing too. At least the boys are excited for the cold and snow, as their Mom is not!

I need to get some more pictures to post. I thought the obituary would be in the paper today as I gave it to Tom to put up yesterday but didn’t see it this morning. Guess it’ll be in tomorrow. I’ll post it once it’s published. Hope everyone is doing well, we need about 3 or 4 days sleep without interruption but don’t see that happening any time soon. Have a great day, take care and God Bless you all.

Yesterday after another trip to Denver, I made it home in time to get to Jag’s school to pick him up. Ty stayed late to watch the football game and I picked him up around 5:30. When I was driving him home he complained about his right arm which is the one in the cast. Two hours later he was crying in pain and we were headed to the Emergency Room at the hospital. Thankfully, Dr. Viola, from Lori’s clinic and who knows the boys well as he’s done no less than 3 surgeries on them, was still there. He met us in the ER and checked Ty out.

Turns out in gym class they lifted weights and Ty did 4 sets of bench press consisting of 30 reps each with a cast on! We were flabbergasted as we never signed a waiver so he could participate in strenuous activities much less weight lifting. Randy (Dr. Viola) said he just over used his arm and sent us home with Tylenol and Advil until the morning when he can x-ray Ty’s arm. Thank God he was still at the hospital otherwise we’d be out thousands of dollars to the hospital. Driving home I looked at Lori and said, “this is right about where I’d call my Mom and tell her what’s going on”, which was spot on. Only now of course, I can’t pick up the phone and give her a call. I still told her what happened and can see her shaking her head and saying something clever.

Tom, Robin and I had numerous texts back and forth about the upcoming service. I sometimes wish we could all three just get on the phone and agree on what to do. I probably am too pushy trying to get things done and probably piss one or both of them off from time to time, if so, sorry. I’m just trying to help get things done. Tom and I were going to go clean out some more stuff, like the kitchen or basement but neither of us much felt like doing anything today. Every time we walk into the house it’s a reminder, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Oh well, tomorrow is another day, hope everyone is well, hope Ty doesn’t have a broken arm as that’s all we’d need about now, ugh.

Fun pictures! In the top one, the photographer obviously told us all to “look up”! We were younger in the top picture but I’m not sure by how much.

Take care and God Bless.

Lots going on up here. I’m doing ok but driving a ton and am back in Denver again today, ugh. As far as being overwhelmed, that’s not me but rather Jagger. He’s trying to do about a months worth of work at his new school to catch up and he puts so much pressure on himself that he gets overwhelmed. As I’ve said before, he’s like OCD about it. We’re both meeting with the Upper School Director this morning and I’m going to make sure she lets him know to just relax!

Then I’m off to the warehouse in Denver for some samples before meeting up with Tom to review the obituary. We decided to keep it short and sweet as it’s so expensive. I need to verify a few details and then need to get it published.

I spoke with the Pastor yesterday and Tom and I are supposed to meet with him next Tuesday at 8:30 am. (Tom, make a note) I need to book Tasha’s ticket as she sent me her details and I think Robi and Robert are getting theirs too. We’re going to have a reception at 240 Union after the service and I need to call them today too. Then I think we’ll go out to dinner with a few people or maybe just head back up the hill, not sure yet.

Tom and I have been reminiscing about Mom a lot this weekend as the three of us would always talk every weekend about football. We still miss her lots but are trying to move on as you have to do. Here’s a little thing Robin sent yesterday that’s pretty neat.

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free.  I’m following the path God laid for me, I took his hand when I heard him call, I turned my back and left it all.  I could not stay another day to laugh, to love, to work or play.  Tasks left undone must stay that way.  I found that place at the close of day.  If my parting has left a void then fill it with remembered joy.  A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.  Ah, yes these things I too will miss.  Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.  My life’s been full, I’ve savored much; good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.  Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.  Lift up your heart and share with me. God wanted me now.  He set me free.

Here’s one of my favorite pictures even though it’a a little grainy. It’s Mom holding Jag! Look at him laughing, too funny.

God Bless,

Yesterday was a nice break from all the drama we had last week. There were many moments Tom and I thought of Mom, but it was in a joyous way as she really loved football. The only thing that could have made the day better was for her beloved Green Bay Packers to win.

Lori and I headed out around 8:30 am for Denver. About 10 we made it to the house to stop for 45 minutes or so to clean a few more drawers. We left a bit before 11 and drove to Elways to meet our good friends Jeff and Tina for pre-game lunch. We had a nice brunch and soon were leaving for the game. It started out great with us taking a 7-0 lead on a long drive and then was halted for weather. After a 62 minute delay for lightening, it was back on. The day was filled with great play from both our offense and defense as we pretty much beat the hell out of the Dallas Cowboys who many pick to go to the Super Bowl. Finally around 6:15 with the game in hand, we headed home and arrived around 8:15 exhausted.

Today I need to finish up the obituary, head back down to Denver and get back to work. Lori, Jag and Ty also have lots to do this week. Our friends at lunch and even the guys who sit behind us at the game all expressed their condolences which of course brought back some feelings but for some reason, probably football, they were good feelings as like I said before, my Mom loved her football.

Time to get moving as it’s 5:45 and Lori and I are headed to the gym. Here’s a great picture of Mom and Dad, more to come, take care, be safe and God Bless.