A Year of Change

This week we have two basketball games, Jag leaves on Friday, I’m scheduled for surgery Thursday and we have a bunch of house stuff too. I need to be down at the house to review the floors at 10:30 this morning. Lori is back at work after getting up early, (we were both up at 4;30 am yesterday!) and we’re expecting snow.

The game was so so. Up until the 4th Quarter San Fran led but there were a bunch of bad or non calls as usual. We obviously weren’t happy with the outcome. On top of that the commercials were not very good this year and halftime was horrible. it was a pseudo strip club show with the girls lip synching. No one in our group liked it.

The cases of the virus are still growing but like I said, in two weeks we’ll know the real gravity of the situation. How are you all liking the endless stream of Bloomberg ads on tv? As they say, you ain’t seen nothing yet. 54 Billion is a lot of money so expect a bunch as this guy thinks he can buy the election. Who knows, maybe he can, hope not. The ad he ran yesterday in the game was so misleading as the mom who lost her son forgot to mention he was in a gang and took a gun to a gang fight to shoot other kids, hmmm. He was also 20 years old, not her sweet little “child” as she said in the ad. She also didn’t tell you she was flown by private jet to the Super Bowl and given tickets by Mike! Nothing new here though, just typical bending of the truth to fit the narrative. We have about 9 months of election ads which is going to be really painful.

Time to get the kids up and get going. Snow around noon they say. I have a phone interview this morning with a new hire too. That’s it, next thing to look forward to for football is the draft at the end of April. Be safe, wash your hands often and God Bless.

I’m headed out at 7:30 to get Lori in Denver. Then we’ll head up the hill. We’re going to Melanie and Marty’s for the Super Bowl around 3 or so. First I’m going to try to clean the garage. Snow is coming tomorrow and Tuesday they say.

Ty made it home around 7:30 last night. He lobbied all the way home via text to stay at his friends house. Our answer was no as he had to clean his room and do some schoolwork. Jag and Madi went to the school dance.

I’m also going to try to go to Costco to get a few things we need. That’s about it, remember to wash your hands often and keep some hand sanitizer in your car. Every time you touch a key pad in a store or at a gas station, use it. Just in case. More to come in a week or so if the virus keeps growing. For now just use common sense as you would if trying to avoid the flu.

That’s it, God Bless and go 49r’s!

February 1st, 2020, wow. Still sounds surreal. Hard to believe us kids, Tommy, Robin and I, were born in the 1950’s and 196o. Even harder to believe Jagger was born in 2001 and Ty in 2004! Time flies.

I was playing bachelor last night. Jag left around 6 or so and spent the night at Andrea’s as some of his friends were too drunk to move their cars at 2 am when he texted me. No problem as he’s a good kid and he did text. The point is I was hanging out with the dogs from 6 pm on and was kind of bored. Lori comes home tomorrow and Ty gets home tonight around 8. Jag is going to the school dance tonight but Ty is just coming home.

I’m working out at 8 this morning and then might run down to Denver to do some work on one of my rifles. I am watching the coronavirus closely. Things are not good and apparently this is a bioengineered weapon that was developed in Wuhan after the original product was stolen from a Canadian lab. The Chinese mutated it to make it more potent, nice. Don’t believe any of the propaganda from over there such as it was found in a fish market or the reported number of cases as they have a track record of not telling the World the truth. I follow a John Hopkins University daily report which is pretty credible if you cross check it with the World Health Organization data. Point is this thing is spreading fast and gaining traction right now. I’m scheduled to go to Italy at the end of the month which is plenty of lead time to see where this goes. We’ll all know by the middle of the month or so if this thing is out of control. The U.S. did bar all non-citizens or foreign nationals from China yesterday from entering the Country. This is a huge deal as we’ve never done this before. I’m glad they took this step but they need to stay vigilant. Spain and Sweden confirmed their first cases while you slept and Italy declared a national emergency while many countries around the World barred all travel from China too. Of course the Chinese govt. said we are all overreacting, ha. All U.S. airlines and most of those in the World have stopped service to China. It’s essentially been cut off from the World but the problem is already out there as there are hundreds of cases around the World. Now don’t panic but be aware. Some people I know are already in lockdown mode meaning they’re stocking up on last minute supplies and not venturing too far from home. Our family trigger point will be multiple cases of human to human transmission from cases that are not closely related. There are some disturbing facts such as this thing already has the same number of cases in one month as did SARS in 3 months! Once it looks like we achieved the tipping point, then it’s game on. Let’s just all pray this is not the pandemic those in the know have been warning about for years. I remember Bill Gates saying years ago that we need to prepare for a pandemic like we prepare for war. Of course we (meaning the government) didn’t take that seriously and didn’t prepare for it. So there you have it. If anyone wants suggestions or a list of supplies to have on hand, let me know as I’d be happy to send you an email.

Now back to the day. Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. We’re cheering for the 49r’s for Lori and her dad plus there are lots of ties to the Bronco’s. I do like the K.C. coach though and it should be a good game. It’s warming up the next few days but then more snow Monday afternoon and Tuesday.

That’s about it. It’s almost 7 am and I’m leaving in about an hour so I have time to start some laundry and clean up a bit. Hope you all are well. Take care and be safe and God Bless.

Today’s mom’s birthday. I think she was born in 1933 so that’d make her 87 today. Right Tommy, Robin? Anyhow we all miss her and think of her often. Hope she’s doing well and has a great day.

Lori is in Sacramento with Dixie. She comes home Sunday. Ty, I think is leaving on an overnight basketball trip today although I think he should stay home and get caught up on some school work, but it’s up to him. Jag is not going as he has some scholarship essays to get in by end of day tomorrow. Tomorrow is also the Winter Formal. Jag is taking Madi but Ty is skipping it with Zoe in Israel. They talk almost every day on What’s App which is thankfully free.

I worked out hard yesterday and know I have a hernia but it isn’t bothering me at all. I’m sort of second guessing the surgery but should probably just get it out of the way.

We’re going to have 3 or4 warm days before snow on Tuesday they say. I need to clean the garage, or at least part of it as the electric company is adding a light outside of our door. That’s going to take some work. Time to get moving as Ty isn’t moving at all. GB.

We’re getting there. Yesterday we finalized a bunch of things on the house. The plumbing fixtures, some closet configurations, and the big decision, the hardwood floors are now all locked in. Our floors are the same as Jennifer’s as after seeing what she chose and taking a sample to the house, they looked the best. They come from just north of Venice Italy so we had to make a decision yesterday to get them here in time. The guy (Brian) we’re getting them from is sort of a distributor for this line of flooring nationwide but does local work with them too. He hunts a lot so we hit it off. We feel comfortable as Jennifer just ordered hers and had her whole house installed and things went fine. So she was sort of our test run with this Company.

After that around 4:30 I had to pick Ty up and get his boots molded to his feet for his tele skis. It’s always something. He and I and Jag all made it home about the same time. It’s 5:25 now and we need to leave in about 45 minutes to get Lori to the airport.

We’re on a big lockdown as far as any spending goes. No dinners out, no new clothes, no nothing right now with the house being built. The downside to building a new house is things always come up and you have to make choices to stay in budget. Right now we’re within $1000 of budget and have about 75 days to go. They started putting the roof on yesterday and there were a bunch of guys there doing other stuff too. What gets you is the out of budget things. The big one here is the basement at about $45K but we have to get it finished. Then there’s the whole house water filtration system at $5K, the bbq and the linear fire pit out back and finally the hot tub. We might need to wait on the hot tub as it’s a luxury and at the bottom of the list. Good news is two homes (not new construction) just went under contract for $1.7 and $1.8 Million in Eagle Ranch! This is huge news as that right there means we should be above $1.5 easy when we’re done and we’ll be less than that for sure all in when we’re done. Finally prices are going up down there, good news.

Time to get moving as I hear the blow dryer going upstairs meaning I can get in the shower. Hope everyone is well, we’re all feeling better around here but the flu is still hanging around and is nasty everywhere. A guy who works at the hospital just lost his 60 year old dad to the flu! 8000 people have died so far in the U.S. with 15 Million having had it. You don’t think of the flu as a big threat but right now it’s more of one than the virus from China. Doesn’t mean the coronavirus isn’t scary, it is and we need to watch it closely as China never tells the truth about their numbers. Best prevention is to wash your hands, a lot, eat well, get good sleep and stay away from sick people. There you have it, your tip of the day! Now go make it a good day, God Bless.

We’re all feeling better, especially me. Robi commented she thought my hernia surgery was yesterday but it’s a week from tomorrow. I don’t feel too bad at all and sometimes wonder if I have one, ha. I worked out with my trainer yesterday and just avoided legs. Lori is at the gym this morning.

I was on the phone from 10 until 3 with my Partner’s in Seattle as I didn’t go. In the afternoon I met Jagger at school at 3:30 for his Intraterm meeting for his trip in about 8 days. The kids, 9 of them, will be on an open boat for an entire week. We found out yesterday they even have to go to the bathroom in the ocean, ugh. Lori said, “and then they swim in it? ick”. It looks like a super fun trip. Ty meanwhile is going to Chicago. Not too excited about that as it’s a pretty dangerous city.

Marty and I are thinking of going to British Columbia in September for 10 days to go moose hunting this year instead of elk hunting. Think we’re pulling the trigger, ha. We need to decide quick to book it.

After Lori gets back from the gym and the dentist we’re heading down to the house to make our final picks on things like siding, sofet color, stone for the outside, some cabinet stuff and all the plumbing fixtures. Today is the day to lock it down. I keep telling Lori let’s not overthink it.

Ok boys, you’re both amazing in the way everyone likes you both. It’s clear when we go to school, all the kids like and look up to you and you’re both a credit to the school and community, keep it up! God Bless.

Ok, first up, I’m staying home. We’re in the midst of a battle between the four of us and the flu. I thought it had caught up with me last night but this morning think I have the upper hand. The battle isn’t over yet though. Ty had a bad cough after practice so we’ll see how he’s doing this morning. He was talking to Zoe on What’s App last night in Israel as she just arrived. Lori is feeling about the same. I did see Dr. Lisles yesterday and a week from Thursday I’ll have surgery to fix my hernia. Lori is still scheduled to go see her Mom Thursday.

We have a little snow outside but not much. It’s almost 7 and the boys are still sleeping. I’ll be on the phone for most of the day with Seattle since I didn’t go. Glad I stayed home as there are all kinds of germs on planes as we all know. We need to find our new hardwood floors too as we’re running out of time. Time to get moving, hope everyone is well. God Bless.

Yesterday Lori called in Tamiflu for me as a safeguard. She’s fighting the flu off and I don’t feel like I’m getting it, yet but good to have the meds just in case. Both boys seem ok. I’ll pick up my prescription this morning.

Not sure if I’m traveling tomorrow or not as I need to see the surgeon for my hernia at 11. I’m off to the gym now so more when I return. No matter as none of you are up early enough to notice the pause. Be back in an hour……ok I’m back, and it’s now 7 am.

We have a big week as if I’m gone tomorrow I’ll return Wednesday evening and then Lori leaves Thursday morning returning Sunday am. The boys have an overnight basketball trip Friday and Saturday and then the Winter Formal is Saturday night. Then of course the Super Bowl is Sunday. On top of that we all need to keep purging.

The house is coming along and making progress every day. We’re switching up floors as I said the other day and adjusting a few other things too. Last, Kobe Bryant and his daughter died yesterday along with seven others in a helicopter crash. I’m not big on helicopters and was always nervous riding in them when younger, RIP Kobe.

That’s it, time to get moving, lots to do, make it a good week and be safe and God Bless.

Yesterday with Ty gone to basketball, Jag at Lexi’s (he wasn’t feeling up to a 6 hour bus ride and playing in the game), and Lori in Denver getting her hair done, I started to pack some stuff in my room for the Great Move. Fyi, that’s what I’m calling our upcoming move to the new house.

I only packed four boxes but it took a while as I went through stuff before packing them. No point in packing stuff I don’t want. I ended up with three boxes for my office and one for my closet. Lots more to do but you have to start somewhere.

Jag stayed at Zach’s as Harmon, their friend from 10th grade, is visiting from the east coast and Ty stayed with one of his friends, Mason, who is on his basketball team. Lori and I are headed to the gym and then will go down to the house to check things out. I think we’re changing the hardwood (engineered) floors after walking through Jennifer Ebner’s house yesterday which is about a month ahead of us. Our floor sample now looks kind of orange which we don’t want of course.

Another case of conorvirus was found in California and now 56 million people are quarantined. That’s a big number but as I said yesterday, if this is the big one, a pandemic like the Spanish Flu in the early 1900’s, it’s already too late. The mortality rate of this virus is already higher than the Spanish Flu. Celebrations have been cancelled across the Globe and one medic says more than 100,000 people are infected, not the 4000 as reported. I tend to believe the medic as when has any government told the truth. Can you imagine what will happen to the World’s economy if all air travel is stopped? Most governments are more concerned with their economy than some, according to them, small flu like outbreak where a few people die. This is exactly how things spread. By the way, those surgical masks do little to no good. Everyone has to decide what kind of threat this is on their own and act accordingly. I’m not to the point where we’re on lock down from travel but we could get there in a couple of weeks. I will be watching any Chinese person I see in public closer though. I’m sure I’d be considered racist by some liberals for even suggesting that, ha. I’m only mentioning this to document it in case this is “the one”. God help us if it is.

Lori has her other PA out with the flu so that’s both PA’s and both nurses. She’s busy cancelling patients for tomorrow. They switched the team to Tamiflu from Z Paks. I’m taking my Z Pak just in case. I have an appointment tomorrow at 11 am for my hernia or should I say hernias! Robi commented yesterday about when I was a kid and yes I do remember having a double hernia when I was like 2 or 3! Surprised you remember, maybe I was 5 or 6. I’m feeling ok though.

Both boys just walked in at 8 am. Time to get moving so we can get to the gym and the house. Enjoy the day and stay vigilant. Without sounding too paranoid, if you’re going to the grocery store, buy a few extra bags of rice or pasta or whatever you buy, just in case. There’s an old saying in the military which is a good mantra to live by, 2 is 1 and 1 is none. This means if you plan on having something you need whether food, spare car parts, extra dog food, toiletries, anything, always buy two! I even do this with some shoes. When I find a new pair I really like, I buy two pairs, not one. Oh well, to each their own, just a suggestion. God Bless.

Well it only took me a week and a couple doctors and three girls stuck in a snow bank to figure things out. I have a hernia, maybe a double hernia, ha. Yesterday morning the aforementioned three girls were stuck in the snow so being the charming man I am, I grabbed a shovel and proceeded to dig them out. Then all it was going to take was a good push or two to get them on their way. That’s the moment when I self diagnosed my hernia. I felt a twang in my upper left groin area right below my belt and when I grabbed my stomach I could feel the bump about the size of a ping pong ball. I pushed it in and it was like a bubble going under ice or like when you’re trying to get an air bubble out of some plastic or something. Right then I was sure I had a hernia. I suspected this a week ago last Thursday when I first felt it while working out but had subsequently gone to the gym and worked out since. I called Lori right away to find the right surgeon and she asked Eric who recently had the same thing and he said to call Dr. Lisles. It took him a few hours to call me (the benefits of Lori working at the clinic!) but when we spoke and I told him what happened, he confirmed yes I have a hernia. I’ll see him at 11 Monday morning. I asked if it could be sore on both sides and he told me I probably have a double hernia which is very common. Likely I’ll have a quick out patient laparoscopy and be good to go and back to the gym in 7 to 10 days. I’m supposed to fly to Seattle Tuesday and come home Wednesday but we’ll see what Dr. Lisles says Monday. Now on top of that I do have a cold but I secured some antibiotics as a safe measure which I’m taking.

Jag was home all day and is skipping the basketball road trip today to Hotchkiss. Ty wants to go but we’ll see. Lori is off to Denver to get her hair done and look at tile and I’m not sure if I’m going along or staying home. Denver is such a mess I hate having her go alone.

Looks like the conorvirus is here in Colorado, Lakewood to be exact, nice. Of course they say (don’t believe everything “they” tell you) is that there is no risk to anyone. Funny how all officials say this even though we now have cases in multiple States. Wonder if “they” themselves would go anywhere near the hospital, hmm. In our uber connected World it doesn’t take many hours for anything to spread around the World. Too many people are flying here and there and there is no possible way to control everyone. Watch out for anyone in public who looks like they have a fever and are coughing. If on a plane, wear a mask!

It’s 7 now and I can go to the gym for cardio if I don’t engage my abdominal muscles so I’m going with Lori. I told Dr. Lisles I’m anti pain pill and will just live with the discomfort until Monday. After the gym we’re going to Jennifer Ebner’s, our friend who is also building a house and is a designer as Lori wants some help with tile. Then we’ll rush home so she can head down for her 2 pm hair appointment.

That’s it, time to get moving, and don’t push any cars out of snow banks if you have groin pain! God Bless.