A Year of Change

6:20am now, no way we’re out of here at 7. The boys are still sleeping and we just got up. Hoping to be on the road by 8am.

Yesterday was a great day. We had a nice leisurely morning and day. Jag and Lori cooked the ducks, and we ended up having dinner around 7pm. Not sure what all he does, but it’s like eating in a fine Chinese restaurant. He even makes the hoisin sauce and little pancakes from scratch.

Santa was good as everyone ended up with a bunch of nice things. Of course, a few need to be exchanged for another size, but it was a good Christmas. Jag and I shoveled the snow around 4 and cleared off the cars. Not everywhere ended up with snow, but we had about 4 inches.

I’m done with all the holiday food. We had quite a run this year with our party and then Christmas. Time to get back on that workout routine and diet.

Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye. We’re already focused on 2025 and yes, Spring. We have a lot going on in January and it’ll be here in no time.

Have a great last few days of December and God Bless.

Here’s our duck and the boys!

Well, it’s here, Christmas Day 2024. Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We’re all blessed beyond belief and today is a day to enjoy with all those you love.

Yesterday was a busy day. We were here and there and everywhere. By 8am, Hovey was packed and ended up having its busiest day ever. Ty worked his butt off. Meanwhile, in the afternoon, Lori put the turkey in and for the second time in less than a month, she nailed it. The boys and I loved it, and we had a really nice, some would say perfect, dinner.

It’s 7:30 am now and the boys are still sleeping. We’ll have a lazy morning and just chill today. Presents, food and football. Jag has been prepping two ducks for a couple of days now. Not sure what all he does, but he has it down.

It’s really nice outside, the kind of day that makes you glad to be alive. The sun is shinning and the sky is blue. Time to go fill the bird feeders as they’re looking for their breakfast!

Tomorrow morning we’re headed down to Denver to go see Tom and Holly. First up we need to be at the AT&T store at 9am to pick up Lori’s new phone. Then we’ll head up to his house to celebrate.

Today, may you all have a great day and remember to cherish the blessings we all have. Now go open some presents and have a cookie or two, or a Bloody Mary, or both! From our family to all of you, Merry Christmas and God Bless.

Well, we’re here. Santa is somewhere over Russia, according to the Santa Tracker, and is already working his way east. Remember, with the time difference, it’s almost Christmas Day in some parts of the World.

Jag and I made it down to Denver in Ty’s truck by a little before 9am. After dropping the truck, we headed right to the AT&T store for new phones. I wasn’t getting one but for $7, why not. After that, we ran a few more errands, grabbed some food and then headed home. We went to Hovey (Ty’s work) to drop his truck, had some lunch, grabbed my truck and headed home.

Meanwhile, Lori was with Addy, Eleni, and Jen, for Jen’s birthday. They had a girl’s pajama party from 2 until about 6. Ty made it home before Lori and he and Jag hung out. Ty’s in the shower now as he works at 7.

I think we’ll roast a turkey today after the gym. Not sure what all else we’ll do today. Probably run some last-minute errands. Jag and I had a fun day and had a chance to catch up on a lot of stuff. Time to go get Ty’s truck started so that’s it for today. Happy Christmas Eve and God Bless.

48 hours and it’ll be here! Today Ty works and Jag and I are taking his truck down for its first oil change. While down in Denver, we’re getting Jag a new phone. Hope to be back around noon. Lori works in Vail today and I think Edwards tomorrow.

Ty was off but with him missing three days he asked to work so I said I’d take his truck down. He had a bad cold but is on the mend. Madi is off to California today for 4 or 5 days.

I picked up a turkey for leftovers that we’ll cook tomorrow and then I think the boys are doing a hot pot for Christmas Eve. Jag is then making Peking Duck for us for Christmas.

Tom’s power went out yesterday. Luckily he bought a generator that automatically kicks on when the power goes out. Good investment.

Time to get moving, 5:45am now. Have a great day, be well, stay safe and God Bless.

Last night was a blast. Everything, as always, was perfect. I didn’t think Lori could ever top any of her previous parties. but she did it again. Shultz and his son Agustus arrived around 5:15 as they drove up from Denver and were anticipating more traffic. Everyone else showed up right on time about 6.

We’re lucky as we have such a great group of friends. You couldn’t find a better fit of people if you tried. A lot of that is because we’ve been together for so long. With us all getting together once a week, almost every week, for years, you really get to know each other. The girls all get together with us a bunch too as we always do things throughout the year to include them. Carla, when leaving, thanked Lori and said, see you at the Super Bowl party, ha! Lori is unquestionably the best hostess and throws the best parties! This is the fourth year for our Fellowship Christmas party.

This was the first year for Davy and Abby who couldn’t believe what a great time it was and were so thankful to now be our neighbors and be part of the group. They’ve become really good friends in a short amount of time. We’ve known them for years but were never that close. They of course knew most of our group already. Abby and Lori were talking and Lori later told me Abby said, here comes your Ralph Lauren model husband, ha ha! That’s quite the statement coming from the owners of Gorsuch! I was teasing Lori later that night that now I’m a Ralph Lauren model, funny.

Jagger knew everyone and was a joy to have here. He had a fun time too. He played bartender and made the girls all Green Gardners, which is the signature drink from Nobu. The food was fantastic as well. Shultz brought ten cigars back from Barcelona, when he was there in September. Now these weren’t just any cigar, these were some special Cuban that was only made for Fidel Castro. Clark told me they had to be like $1500 for the box of ten. Mark said you can’t get these anywhere and kept asking Shultz how he not only got one, but got ten! I forget the actual name, but they were super smooth and really good. We all enjoyed them. I haven’t been smoking much with this being just the second cigar since the Halloween party on October 6th, so it gave me a huge buzz. Davy doesn’t smoke much either and we were saying, we felt like we just smoked a huge joint.

James was telling us all about the benefit show in L.A. a week ago. Funny to get all the back stories about all the so-called celebs. James always says, why do these people think anyone wants to hear their opinion on anything. As you know, he’s just one of us, and that’s why we all hang together, as we all see him like that too. Us, James and Addy and Ben and Eleni are going to this couple’s house for New Years. I told them last night that if dinner is at 7, we’d better be celebrating on East Coast time as no way I’m lasting until midnight, anywhere.

Ty called in sick again today as he has a really bad cold. He’ll be coming home today as I think Madi’s family leaves for California today. I’m picking up a turkey today from Casey who owns the meat markets up here. He had a couple left over from Thanksgiving and Lori did such a great job, I said I’d take another one. We’ll cook it up just for the leftovers.

Great weather up here. Wasn’t even really that cold last night. 8am now. Shultz and his son are still sleeping downstairs. His wife wasn’t feeling well so that’s why he brought his son instead of Jane.

Three days left! Enjoy. God Bless.

Tonight is our annual Christmas party. Lori has been working away for days. We still have a lot to do but should be ready for when our crew shows up at 6pm.

Ty is still sick. He went home from work yesterday morning. We brought him a Z-pak on the way to the gym. Then the rest of the day was spent doing things around the house, going to Costco twice, picking up the homemade tamales, getting flowers, and a few other things. He called me at 6 this morning saying he thinks he was going to call in sick. Poor guy sounded terrible.

Jag showed up around 6 last night. We were going to grab some sushi to go from Matsu but after eating a tamale or two, we were full.

I need to run to La Perla in Silverthorne this morning to get the rice and beans and homemade guacamole. Also need to clean up out back at the cigar lounge but first need to go get ice and get the drinks chilling. We did buy a countertop ice maker at Costco yesterday for $169 bucks that works great. Joey, our appliance repair guy said they work great and are well worth the money.

Davy dropped by on the way home from work to bring Lori another glass decoration she wanted to go with some she has. Michelle, our neighbor a few doors down, wrapped a bunch of presents for me for Lori which she does every year. She loves to wrap and is really good at it.

Almost 7am now so I need to get moving. Have a great Saturday and Merry Christmas to you and God Bless.

Lori and I were out of the house by 8. We headed to Denver to make a quick stop before meeting Tom and Holly for lunch. It took a bit longer at the store than we thought, so we were 20 minutes late for lunch. We met up at a nice little wine bar/French bistro in Evergreen. They were already there enjoying some birthday wine.

It was a fun lunch and good to get to spend time with them and get to know Holly a bit more. A couple hours later, we were off for home. We stopped for groceries and had to drop and envelope at Fed Ex, so by the time we made it home, it was almost 4. A few of the guys met up for cigars but we were too busy.

The game started at 6:15 and the first half was good, but then we fell apart in the second half. Guess Tommy didn’t ask for a win for his birthday. Oh well, we’ll get them next week.

Ty’s feeling like he has strep, great. We’ll head out to the gym in a few and take him a Z-pak to work. Then it’s home to clean and clean. We also need to go to Costco, and I have to take some cardboard to recycling. Lori started cooking yesterday morning and has two large pans of enchiladas ready to go. She also started the tortilla soup last night. She’s been a busy girl.

5 days until Christmas! Wow! Time to get going, have a great weekend and God Bless.

Happy Birthday little brother. 64 years old! When we were kids, that sounded really old. Today, not so much. Funny how one’s perspective on things change. Have a great day.

Lori and I are out of here around 9 to meet Tom and Holly for lunch in Evergreen. Looking forward to it. Tonight we have the big Bronco game. I hope Tommy told the Universe that all he wants for his birthday is a Bronco win! After lunch we need to get home and get some work done before the game. Then tomorrow and all-day Saturday, we’ll be getting things ready around the house as well.

Jag had a fun birthday. He and a bunch of friends went to a German beer garden for dinner which he said was a lot of fun. Ty works again today. He’s already hitting me up for the Chiefs Broncos game which I think is either January 4th or 5th.

I was in and out of Denver by around 11am yesterday. I made it home just in time to get our boxes from UPS and Fed Ex. The city is nasty these days. Not sure how people can live down there anymore. Glad Tom made it up into the hills a bit. To be fair, not all cities are like this. It’s really those run by Democrats. Chicago, Seattle, L.A., Denver, San Francisco, New York, anyone see a pattern here? And yet, some people still vote for Dems. Sometimes you can’t fix stupid, no matter how hard you try. Oh well, we’re staying in the mountains.

6am now. 50 degrees in Denver right now. Looks like 58 for the high. Six days to go, savor each one! God Bless and Go Broncos!

Today I’m heading out around 7 and should be back by 1. I have some packages being delivered today and a ham from this great place in Vermont. Lori works in Vail today.

Yesterday I ran some more errands including running into Vail. The next few days we have a lot of work to do to get ready for the party. Tomorrow morning we’re running down to Evergreen to meet Tom and Holly for an early birthday lunch. Then Thursday afternoon and all-day Friday, it’ll be non-stop party prep.

It’s warmer than it was last week. Might be 15 outside right now which is at least 10 degrees warmer than it was last week.

Biden and the Dems still are in sabotage mode. If anyone takes a real objective look at what’s going on, the Dems should lose even more next time around. They don’t care about the Country; they only care about their own power. So sad and disappointing.

5:45 am now, time to finish my coffee and get going. One week until Christmas! Make everyday count! God Bless.

23 years old today! Hard to believe. Happy Birthday Jag, we love you so much! Today he has his last final so no big celebration up here with us. We’ll do that Friday when he gets home. Hopefully he and Ava can do something tonight.

Yesterday I had to go get Ty’s license plates, pay Lori’s ticket, Fed Ex a few boxes and get the mail. Luckily, I didn’t have to stand in line at the post office as it’s usually 25 or 30 people long this time of year to get your packages. Ty came by around 3 to get his plates and hung out with me for a while. He brought me a Bronco hat that they gave away to the first 25,000 people at the game. Very thoughtful.

The elk and deer are hanging out enjoying the light snowpack and open areas of grass. We’re all loving the winter so far. Our worst snowfall is usually February and March so there’s more to come, but we’re happy not to have a bunch of snow right now as it makes things much easier.

Lots to do to get ready for the party. Lori is making enchiladas, tortilla soup, and we’re getting some homemade tamales from this older lady in Gypsum. We’ll have a bunch of sides too along with some desserts. It’s always a fun time with our group. We’re a good group and all thankful for each others friendship.

I’m hoping to get Robi and Bobby’s box out today. We’ll see if Lori has time to wrap things this morning.

That’s it, time to get going. Have a great day! One week until Christmas Eve, enjoy and God Bless. Here’s Jag at 2 years old!