A Year of Change

Exactly a month from today I’ll be high in the mountains, before sunrise, elk hunting. Fall is almost here! It’s cooler at night and you can tell things will soon be changing. Today though Harley and I are off to her dog training in Denver in about 40 minutes. Ty worked late again, ugh, and was off at 11:30. This work thing is the hardest on Lori and I as we have to pick them up every night. He’s off until Saturday but of course Jag works on Ty’s days off. Ty worked 80 hours in 2 weeks! That’s a lot.

Robi commented yesterday about the Aspen Blow Party. We hope you’re serious as it’s a blast and so is Aspen. I know she and Robert would love it!

Today I’m running down to Big D to get a new phone. As it says, I dropped mine at the front door yesterday and sure enough, it cracked the screen. Ty was done at 11 last night and Lori and I went over to James and Francesca’s to hang out for an hour waiting for him to finish. They bought some huge condo/home, right on the mall next to where the boys work.

Jag cleaned the house yesterday! That’s right, he cleaned! Before you think he’s now cleaning around here on a regular basis, Nicole is coming over today after they go to lunch. So that’s why, ha.

Ty works at 5 and will have about 80 hours in this pay period and made another $104 in tips last night, good for him. It’s 6:52 now as we slept in so time to go. Have a great day, GB.

I took off yesterday morning around 7:30 to get Ty and after a quick stop at Mom’s (to get some more crap out of the garage) we were home around 11:45. Ty was tired as of course they stayed up until 4 am! He and Jag both worked last night but Jag was off at 9:40 and Ty worked until 11:45! He did make $147 in tips plus $90 in hourly wages so he earned $237 last night which works out to just about $30 an hour. He sure was tired though and went straight to sleep. He works today and tomorrow while Jag has both days off. Of course the only one that doesn’t have a single day off is me as I have to pick one of them up every night.

It’s cool up here this morning which is nice. Tom met the movers at Mom’s last Thursday so when I opened the garage a lot was gone. Shelly is taking a bunch of stuff which is great, for when she moves. It’s good that someone will use it.

The party the other day was actually the 40th Annual party. I think we’re going to become hosts next year. This means we get to invite like 5 couples I think so if anyone wants to go, let us know. We woke up this morning with a call from the hospital as Lori had to deal with some issue. Time to run, have a great day, GB.

We left around 8:15 for Aspen and arrived a couple hours later. After loading up Greg and Billie and Greg’s son Jeff, we headed up Castle Peak Road for the climb up the backside of Ajax Mountain. You’ll see from the pictures below how beautiful it is. Up at the top we’re at 12,000 feet high which is pretty high altitude wise. They have the Bo Hale Band, who play all over town, a dance floor and it’s catered with great bbq. They always have big tents as it always rains, at least for a little bit.

We had a blast and stayed from 11 until 3 and then headed down the mountain. Turns out Greg had invited any and everyone to their house for an after party party. Billie wasn’t thrilled as this wasn’t planned and when we were driving home she called us to say, “oh my God, there’s over 100 people here”, then we heard a crash through the phone and she said, “this drunk girl just broke something!”. Not sure what broke but nothing in their home is cheap. They have 6 original Andy Warhol paintings to give you an idea. Oh well.

We made it home by a bit after 6. Jag had gone to town for a haircut and a facial at the Four Seasons as Lori told him to to get his face cleaned up. You know teenage kids and acne so she’s trying the head it off.

It’s 7 now and I’m off to get Ty in Denver. Tom got the house listed yesterday. We’re praying for a quick sale. Have a great day, be safe and God Bless.

Yup we went to the movies, and Tom Cruise was entertaining as always. But the rest of the day could have been a movie in itself. First up after taking Harley to daycare and a conference call was a drive to Georgetown to meet Ty’s friend and dad who met me halfway. Then it was home by about noon and off to the gym before getting back to take Jag to work. Then I had some work around the house, the usual stuff like laundry and cleaning the kitchen. Soon Lori was home and off to the movies we went. Jag walked up from work and met us at 9:30 after the show and we then stopped at the grocery store on the way home. I’m sure I’m forgetting some stuff but I can’t remember now.

In an hour we’re off to Aspen for the 38th Annual Aspen Blow Party. This is probably the toughest party to get in to the whole year. You drive up the backside of the Aspen Mountain and at the top is a cowboy band with a dance floor and big tents set up with bbq and tons of booze. The setting is unbelievable, watch for pictures tomorrow.  We’re going with our friends Billie and Greg. It starts at 11 so we need to be in Aspen by 10. Tonight we have another party at the Westin here in Vail, not sure if we’ll make that one.

We need to leave within an hour so time to get moving. Have a great weekend, last one of July, take care, be safe and God Bless.

Around 6:45 last night we pulled into Aspen and arrived at our friends house. Without getting into it, let’s just say they have way more money than you could even imagine in your wildest dreams. Yet they are so down to earth and such nice people. They’re just from Texas, ha. The party was nice. We didn’t know anyone except for Mike and Sally that we met a few years ago and have known our hosts since the mid 70’s, meaning they go way back. Mike was pointing out people to me saying “there’s the top writer for Vanity Fair, and his wife who is a top publicist out of New York, and then there was the owner of some huge cattle ranch, a bunch of oil wells and some chain of stores nationwide” and so on. They all just looked like people to me. There were tons of really bad face lifts, ha! Lots of big Texas money. Then there was the Aspen crowd of people who we didn’t know at all. Anyhow the 2 hours went fast and our hosts Bobby and Patty (who credit Lori for saving their lives) thanked us so much for coming and want us to come back with the boys and stay in one of their neighboring guest houses and hang out. We’ll see, we might go over for a weekend.

We made it home around 10:30 as some road construction in Glenwood Canyon stopped us for a bit. Today after a call I have at 8:30 I’m driving Ty to Georgetown to meet Ben and his dad as he has plans in Denver with his buddies. I’ll pick him up Sunday as he works that night. Jag worked last night and will again tonight and then is off tomorrow. Lori and I are going to see the new Mission Impossible movie at 7 tonight. I did buy Harley a larger crate yesterday as she’s grown out of her small one. Here’s a picture in front of one of our friends guest homes next to theirs. Have a great day, God Bless.

This morning it’s off to Denver to pick up samples and then this afternoon we head out to the the Nail’s Annual Italian Garden Party at our friends (the Nail’s) who live in Dallas but also own a block (that’s six houses) in Aspen. We missed it last year even though we rsvp’d so we kind of have to show up tonight. We’ll drive back up after the party which is from 6 until 8:30. Both boys will be working.

I think Tom has the house officially listed meaning they’ll start showing it this weekend. There could be a bidding war or it could sit for months. Let’s hope for the former. The boys are killing it at work. They each made $115 in tips plus their hourly wage meaning they each made like $200 yesterday! I told Lori we should go work there!

Time to get moving, lots of thunderstorms in Denver with flooding and hail but it’s all good up here. I guess there’s more weather in Denver today but I should be out of there by 10:30 am. Looks like my truck will cost $4500 to repair! Lucky I have good insurance. Jagger had braces put on his lower teeth yesterday as we are now at our second orthodontist as the first one (which cost $6000) didn’t fix him up. I stopped by the vet as Harleys ear was bothering her, cha ching, there goes another $100! It never stops. Have a great day, GB.

In 40 minutes by 7 I need to be on the road to Glenwood to drop off our truck. I need to take it there as they couldn’t get us in down in Denver until August 8th. Ty worked again last night and made $100 in tips which is a new high! Our new couch arrived and Jag spent most of the day putting it together. Not sure if we’ll keep it or not as we’re not sure it’s all that comfortable. Lori worked until 7 and is working like a half day today. Jag has an orthodontist appointment and Lori has a dentist appointment also so we’re all busy. Oh and both boys work tonight. That’s it, time to run, have a great day, GB.

Yesterday afternoon is rained, and rained and rained. It turned to hail then back to rain and then back to hail. We need it but it was too much too fast. Finally the sun came back out and that was it. Lori and I went out to dinner with our friends the Hetfields (of Metallica fame) to La Bottega where the boys work. We sat upstairs where it was hot but it gave us some privacy. When we go out with them you can imagine James always gets fans coming up to him. There was only one other table and they left us alone until they were through eating and on their way out and then they came over. Their son, who must have been 12 or 13 was head over heels starstruck. James is always gracious, especially with kids, and shook his hand and talked to him for a bit. They were from somewhere and very thankful and respectful unlike some other fans that have come up to him when we’re with them. When we were through Jag rode home with us and I had to go back at 11 to get Ty. He made another $160 for 8 hours work, way to go!

Today is Tom and Ali’s 25th anniversary, Happy Anniversary! That’s a long time. I think they’re going out to dinner at Simms Landing.

My truck goes to Glenwood tomorrow and I think Jag and I are going to Denver today. When I say I think, I mean I’m going but we’ll see about Jag. Both boys work again tonight.

Our couch didn’t show up, thankfully as with all the rain, it would have been a disaster. I did clean the entire main floor and moved everything to scrub the floors. Of course Mojo peed while we were at dinner and then woke us at 4:15 am to go out again, ugh. That’s it, have a great day and again Happy Anniversary to T & A! God Bless. (never thought about their names standing for T & A!, that’s great)

Ok we have a big week. I need to get the truck fixed, make a couple trips to the dump, clean out the garage a bit more and organize a few closets. Yesterday Lori and I cleaned out 4 kitchen drawers which doesn’t sound like a big deal, but then you never saw our drawers! Ty worked from 3 until 11 and made $78 in tips and $80 in wages for a total of $158 for the day! Pretty darn good for a 14 year old. Steve the owner told me both boys are doing a phenomenal job and everyone is glad they’re there and he’s really happy he hired them. That’s pretty good to hear about your kids!

Both boys work today as do Lori and I. Dr. C. is back from his two week vacation so Lori will be busier than usual. It’s nice and cool up here and the smoke is pretty much gone this morning. Heat in the afternoon acts like a temperature inversion and presses it down to the ground though so we’ll see what the day brings.

Tomorrow I’ll be in Denver getting a few more things out of Mom’s garage. As Mom always said, just do a little at a time. Lori’s hike was great. Both dogs had a blast as they play together at doggie daycare a lot and are really good friends. They’ll probably both be there today as we have a new loveseat coming today and it’s easier with Harley there for the day. We can’t seem to find a chair as we don’t want to spend a lot of money. We’ve been scouring the consignment stores but no luck so far. I guess it rained in Denver yesterday but nothing up here. Time to run as I have a lot to do and it’s after 6:30. Hope all’s well, take care and God Bless.