A Year of Change

We were on the road by 8:15 and in Denver a little after 10. First stop was Prestige where we checked out a couple Audi’s for Ty but they didn’t have what we wanted. Next up was a drive by one of Lori’s favorite clothes stores where she ran in to return a pair of pants. Then Ty and I dropped Lori to get her hair done. We then headed back to Neiman to have his suit fitted. Once the tailor came down and started pinning his suit it was clear that it was way too big. Heather, the manager and I decided it just wasn’t going to work. Ty is in that in between size being a 40 long which most manufacturers don’t make. Ty was super bummed but I said let’s go down to Nordstrom. Jag drove down and met us so off the three of us went.

At Nordstrom’s we tried a Hugo Boss suit as we were told they run long. Thankfully it did! After some alterations it’ll be great. Ty found a new pair of shoes, a black t-shirt and some new cologne (both boys like cologne), so we headed out to get Lori. She was still getting her hair done so the boys and I had lunch at a great Aisan place. While I was surfing for cars online and talking with the dealer near Flatirons, I told the girl to give me a number on Jagger’s 2015 Q5 just out of curiosity. A few months ago my Chevy dealer gave me a number way more than it was worth so I thought I’d check. She said she would and we were headed there anyhow to look for a car for Ty.

After arrival we found two really nice, clean Audi A4’s. They wanted around $33K each, or $66,700 for both but the GM knew me from my Chevy dealer and my buddy Matt’s brother in-law runs the service department there. The GM was off but prepped his staff that I was coming. After getting the initial numbers from our salesgirl, Kristi, I said, just let me talk to the manager on duty. She look perplexed a bit but said ok. Apparently she didn’t know who I was, ha. Within 3 minutes, Jay the manager on duty, who knew I was friends with the GM and service manager and was a frequent buyer who understood the car business, agreed to give me both for $57K. He showed me the files on line and I bought both for around $300 more than they had into them. With it being the last day of the month, it’s super important for dealers to hit a monthly number just like it is for me, so it’s always the best day to buy. On top of that, no one ever buys two cars at once! The thing that made this doable for us was they had already given me a number of $18K for Jag’s car. We paid $24K four years ago and as you loyal blog readers know, he’s crunched that thing 3 or 4 times! Also his interest rate was 6% on his current car and I had already secured 2.99% before showing up. This made it a no brainer. Lori and I decided to each finance one car and put each boy on the loan so they can build credit. So, done deal. All that was left was 20 or 30 minutes of paperwork and we’d be on the road. But nooo, that wasn’t to be!

Everything that could go wrong from this point on, did go wrong. Nothing to do with us but with the dealer. Their printers broke, their internet went down, the finance girl messed up printing out the paperwork four times, and they were way short on staff. Over the next 3 hours, yes three freaking hours, we got to know Kristi our salesgirl pretty well. She’s a single mom, her husband died, she has three girls, and she was pretty fun. Without going into it, we knew some of the same people, (we knew some of her customers and most of her bosses) and after waiting so long, it turned comical. I would have left any other dealer as usually when I buy a new car, they have the paperwork ready for me and I’m in and out in about 10 minutes. In the end though, all was good. The boys are both thrilled, as they should be, and we’re paying less for 2 cars than we were for just Jag’s. Both cars are Certified meaning they still have warranties and will be good in the snow as they’re both Quattro’s meaning all wheel drive. By the time we left it was 7:30 pm and finally at 9:45, we pulled into the driveway. Ty made it home 45 minutes after us as he wanted to stop to show his friends.

It was a good day, both boys have new to them, reliable, good cars and we’re off the crunch bucket that was Jag’s car. Ty has his Prom suit and Lori’s hair is all fixed up. Me, well, if the boys and Lori are happy, I’m happy. Time to get moving so we can go to the gym. Hope everyone is safe and well, God Bless.

Check out these posers! Gotta love it!

We’re off this morning to Big D. Lori is getting her hair done, Ty needs his suit tailored and we’re looking at a couple used cars for him. Jag has his last final at 7:30 this morning in Mandarin and then is done for the year.

We went to dinner last night and were home around 9 or so. Ty strolled in a little after 10. I made a Costco run for 3 cases of sticky rice to get it now as Ty can take some to college. Hard to believe we’ll have two kids in college in a few short months.

I’m working two dealers against each other on a car. Used car prices are high which is great when you’re selling but not so good when you’re buying. This is going to take some work today to get a good deal.

Time to go as we hope to leave in 90 minutes. Make it a great weekend and God Bless.

The draft was so so, not very exciting. Not sure if it was because we didn’t have a pick or because the players were not as exciting this year. I sort of watched it on and off. Tonight we have some picks so it’ll be more interesting. At 6, Lori and I are going to dinner with Marty and Melanie as Melanie is gone next week when it’s Lori’s birthday.

All economists are forecasting a recission and food shortages coming soon. Mortgage rates are over 5% and gas doesn’t seem to be going down. It cost $152 to fill up the truck yesterday, wow. Tomorrow we are planning on getting a used car for Ty. I think we have a 2017 Audi A4 lined up. He’s going to need something for the summer and college. We’ll all go down together as Lori is getting her hair done around 1. Ty also needs to get his suit tailored as it arrived yesterday. Again, stock up best you can. Buy an extra box of food or a few extra cans here and there when you can. Even if you don’t believe they’ll be shortages, prices will continue to go up, that’s for sure. No matter where you live.

The funniest thing is Biden says things are great! They also now want to create an Office of Disinformation to counter all the negative crap, which they created, that is going on. This is eerily similar to the Ministry of Truth, created in WWII to spread propaganda and censor the truth! Good God. Hard to believe they are even proposing this, and they have the gall to ask, why would anyone be opposed to this? Ah just maybe it’s because the government constantly lies to us day after day, unbelievable. Hang in there and think for yourself, God Bless.

I’m off at 6:40 this morning to get Lori’s windshield replaced in Frisco. It’s been about 6 weeks since we ordered it. We feel lucky to get it at all the way things are. Big news, I finished the garage yesterday! Whoo hoo. It’s good to have it clean but better to be able to take an updated inventory of what all we have and know where it is.

I’m taking a break from the gym today. I have arthritis in my hands, especially after lifting heavy weights. I think I get that from Mom, ha. Only a few days left in April.

Tonight is the NFL Draft. The Nuggets played hard but lost by 4 points last night. Tomorrow is a better day for the Bronco’s as we gave away our first round pick for Russell Wilson. Good trade.

Time to get moving, make it a great day, God Bless.

It took a good four hours but most of the garage is clean. I still need to go through the tools and stuff on the shelves but most of the junk is gone through and gone. Later in the day our friend Craig, who is our landscaper, came by as we’re adding a half a dozen aspen tree. Yes, the computer says that is grammatically correct. We were putting in some more spruce trees too but think we’ll wait on those. Trees are not cheap!

Ty went to dinner with Izzy who we think he’s asking to prom. Jag has a final today, two tomorrow and then Mandarin at 7:30 Saturday morning and then is done.

I thought it was smokey out from the fires in New Mexico, but the news says it’s just clouds. We can use the rain so bring it on. Today I’ll get more work done in the garage or start on the basement, meaning the gungeon as James calls it. That’s the vault where I keep all my hunting gear. James and I were texting a few times yesterday as he’s in Chile. He has a show in Santiago tonight. Tomorrow he and Ty are having a call when he’s in Buenos Ares for Ty’s English project. What a good friend.

Things are getting scarce on the shelves. Costco and the hardware and even the auto parts store have some blank spots. The stuff they do have of course is more expensive. Kellie, who we get our eggs from, says I’m her top priority and she’ll always have eggs for us. We buy about 4 dozen a week for $5 a dozen which is a deal compared to the $8 or $9 in the store for free-range, grass-fed eggs. I took some short ribs out of the freezer to throw in the crock pot for the NFL Draft tomorrow. Need to continue to rotate through our beef as we have another cow coming in August. Also, most likely more elk in September.

Time to get moving. I’m working out at 7. Looks like Ty is going to Western State in Gunnison. It’ll be great for him as the classes are much smaller than a school like CU. That will really benefit him. I think Saturday we’ll go shopping for a used car for him. Make it a great day, and may God watch over and bless you. Go Broncos!

Yesterday Elon Musk bought Twitter! He might have single handily saved democracy. He’s vowed to get rid of all the bots which make up the majority of the users and then authenticate all users. This means only actual people can use it and all the propaganda that various groups have been pushing through computer programs will no longer be allowed. Censorship is dead, at least on Twitter. We’re thrilled as even if we don’t agree with someone, we are all for letting everyone speak. It’s a great day for America.

Lori is in Vail today and I’m going to start on the garage. Ty has school and Jag has finals. Best news of all, the Broncos and Russell Wilson started practice yesterday. It’s a new dawn in Denver!

Almost Lori’s birthday! Next week will be here fast. Time to go, be well, stay safe and think for yourself, God Bless.

And so it continues, yesterday was Ty’s room. We started around noon and finished up around 6. To be fair, Lori did the bulk of the work. This is the first time since we moved in that his room has been so clean. You can’t imagine all the crap that turned up. We’re hoping he keeps it this way.

It’s a big week for both boys at school. They have a lot of work to do. Dr. B. is out of town so Lori will be working from home for the most part. By the end of the week, I should have the garage and large storage unit cleaned up.

Turns out now that the vaccinated are getting sick way more than the unvaccinated. Of course they are. Who couldn’t have predicted that! Remember history proves that most everything the govt. does or say is good for you rarely turns out to be true. Shit is going to get bad. Some very smart people say things will never go back to how it was a few years ago, in any aspect of our lives. Prepare while you can. We’re so thankful we live in the mountains and not in the city. If there’s something you use on a regular basis and can’t do without, go buy a bunch of it now. We’re all running out of time no matter how hard the govt. tells you that everything is fine, enough said.

Time to get moving. No snow outside and it’s warming up. With warmer temperatures, along comes the wind. May is usually a windy month. Have a great week, last week of April, God Bless.

Here comes the warm weather. In about a week I suspect we’ll have the air conditioning on. No snow yesterday although it did mist now and then. Looks like the wind is dying down too.

Vail Pass was closed but nothing down here. They might get a bit more today, but I think it’ll miss us. Looks like 6 or 7 inches from Breck to Georgetown.

Next week is the NFL Draft! Most people don’t care but Tom and I love it. A week from today is May 1st! The Lori’s birthday on the 4th, then Mother’s Day, then graduation and Memorial Day. I think this coming week is Jag’s last week of school too. Lots going on.

Time to get moving. Have a great Sunday, God Bless.

No snow so to speak, maybe a faint dusting here and there on some dirt if you look hard. But it sure was windy, all night long. Ty took the bus home last night and Lori picked him up around 12:15 at the bus stop in Eagle. Earlier we went to the movies and Lee and Margaret, our cousins walked in right before it started. We saw the new Nicholas Cage movie which was really good. We love our theater as besides the four of us, there were only two other people in the whole place.

We’re headed to the gym this morning and then have a call with Lindsey, Ty’s college coordinator, at 11. I think I’ll just do cardio today and lay off lifting for a couple days to recoup. I’d like to start on the garage but think I’ll work inside instead. Also need to run by James today and put a couple boxes of cigars that came in the mail, in his humidor as mine is full. These are hard to find ones that we’re saving for hunting in September.

Time to go, almost May, one more week. Take care and God Bless.

Ok, the drive to Gunnison was no fun, about 7 hours total in the car, and I got a speeding ticket, ugh. The school though, wasn’t too bad. Ty even said it was “ok”. That’s a big step forward from “no way am I going there”. The tour was nice. Looks like a nice small, fun school, in a nice, small, fun town. We’ll see what happens. He went to lunch with a buddy who goes there now after the tour.

Jag met Tyrone from Neiman Marcus, halfway between Boulder and Cherry Creek to pick up his new suit. He sure looks good in it. Ty’s should arrive any day.

All calm up here right now. The news says big winds today but nothing yet. Guess they’re coming this afternoon. Hope no new fires start.

Time to get moving, it’s trash day and I need to head to the gym. Enjoy the weekend, God Bless.