A Year of Change

Today we will officially move to Vail although we’ll be leaving a bunch of stuff here. I did swap out a few paintings on the wall and Ty and I cleaned out the pots and pans from the cupboard. We’re only taking our good copper cookware, our Kitchen Aid mixer and Cuisinart. I could go on about other things but you get the picture.

Yesterday they threw a going away party for Lori at work. She said it was nice and Chris gave her compliments that she’s probably never given anyone in her life. I think she’ll come home early today so we can get a jump on the weekend traffic.

We also received some great news yesterday. Both boys have been accepted into Vail Mountain School. They had 2 spots in 8th grade but had to make an extra for Ty in 6th. That was great to hear but then we had to wait to see what the financial aid committee was going to say about is not being able to pay the full tuition. Well they came back and have said they’ll provide a $10,500 scholarship per child. This is great news but still means we need to come up with about $11,500 per kid. Lori is adamant about us getting the boys in so we’re working on it now. The public schools up there are pretty good but this is leaps and bounds above any public school, even The Manning School where Jag goes now. So we need to commit today and figure this out right away as it’s our number one priority. Lori and I were saying a few weeks ago how we would have given our right hand to go to a school like this when we were kids. We both think our lives would have turned out totally different, not that we’re complaining, but it’s the kind of place that gives kids today such an advantage. We’ll keep you posted. Another advantage is the public school is an hour round trip drive (meaning two hours a day) verses about 7 minutes to this school.

Today I need to cancel a few things in town, get to the gym and pack up the truck. We countered the offer we had on the house but they didn’t counter back. Apparently they wanted to put an elevator in???? Anyhow we’re ok with that as they low balled us on the price. So we’re back to square on which is ok.

Time to get moving, it’s a big day, hope all’s well, take care and God Bless.

We’re so tired and busy that we have no energy or time to write much today. Lori worked until about 8pm and Ty and I made a trip to the hills while Jag went to lunch with his church group. His physical was good and everything’s fine. We have another showing at 9am this morning and Mojo looks great as he was at the groomer. Meanwhile Ty spent the night at Vinny’s. We did get an offer on the house but we’ll counter this morning as it’s about $40K less than we want. We might come down $10K or so but not $40K. We’ll see what happens.

God Bless.

Well both boys went to the dentist yesterday and who would have believed it neither had any cavities! They don’t brush very well so this was somewhat of a surprise, but we’ll gladly take it.

This morning Mojo goes to the groomers, Lori to the dentist and Jag has a doctor appointment for his 13 year old shots and physical. Then Ty and I will head up to Vail for a quick trip and Jag has a church meeting at 11:45 to rehearse their presentation for a week from Sunday telling everyone about camp. I guess he told Mom about this and maybe me although I never heard of it until last night. In any case, he can stay home and go and Ty and I will be back by about 2. Lori is killing herself at work trying to get everything done and then some before the week is over. Her replacement said to her yesterday that Dr R has no idea all that she does. Lori just sighed and said, I know.

It’s 5:22 right now and time to get some coffee and head to the gym as I didn’t get there yesterday. We had another showing and I had to clean more than I thought. I need to start changing addresses and canceling things like the gym and then find a new one up in the hills.

The coffee machine just beeped so time to run. Hope you all are well, take care and God Bless.

We landed about 9am yesterday and boy were we tired. We dropped the misses at work and the boys and I headed home. Today I need to make a list of all the addresses I need to change and get on that. We’re so behind in doing all the things we need to do to move in 3 days! This afternoon the boys are going to the dentist and we also have a showing at 10am.

While we were gone we had a really good showing but apparently our friendly dog Mojo growled at the people and wouldn’t let them in the backyard. The realtor has asked us to have Mojo gone when we have showings from now on.

I left the boys at home and picked Lori up from work at 3 as she didn’t have a car since we dropped her at work on the way home from the airport. I was going to try to go to Vail today but am not ready so we’ll make a run up tomorrow instead. We ate way too much in California so today I think I’ll fast, just coffee and water. That’s about it, time to head to the gym, God Bless.

It’s 4:35am and we’re at our gate waiting to board for our 5:40am flight. We only had a few hours sleep last night as after the service a bunch of people came back to the house.

The service was everything anyone could have hoped for. Lots of relatives and many many people who had worked with Don over the years showed up. We arrived at the place around 2:15 and by 4pm it was almost full. There were speakers, family and friends, for a good hour and a half. Then everyone mingled about and visited. Finally we all headed back to the house about 8pm. Dixie did a really nice job organizing everything and it was a great tribute to a great man.

Today we’ll drop Lori at work after we land. Everyone here is dragging with little to no sleep and we have a huge week ahead of us. I think I’ll run now to go get Ty some food. Hope all’s well, take care and God Bless.

Yesterday a bunch of people came over. There must have been 15 or 20 float through in the day. We had Mexican food for lunch and Thai food for dinner. Finally around 10pm we all headed for bed. At 3am we had to get up to try to figure out how to turn off the tv.

Today the service is at 4pm and I think it’s quite the deal. I thought there would be a 15 to 20 minute eulogy but I guess it’s more like an hour to an hour and a half as there’s lots of speakers as Don had lots of friends. Dix is doing ok but I hope the pressure of all the people doesn’t get to her too much today.

It starts with an open bar at 4pm, then speeches for a while and then food at 6 or later. Hope everyone’s not drunk by the time the food comes out as you tend to drink more in this heat! In any case, it’ll make for a good rockin time!

Then we’re up at 2:30 so we can leave at 3:30 for a 5:40 flight. First we need to return the rental car though so that takes a little extra time. We should land in Denver before 9am and then the week from hell begins. Have a great day! God Bless.

Man can that Myrna cook! For breakfast we had biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon and eggs. Then it was off to the boat where the kids were pulled up and down the river behind one of the boats Grandpa Jim has. They also spent a fair amount of time going off the slide on the top of the houseboat into the river. It was the highlight of the trip for them so far.

Finally we made it back to the house after hanging out with Annette, Jim and Aunt Jean and GG, the boys cousin who’s going into 9th grade. It was hot but being on the river made it a little more bearable. Jim and Annette look good and it was nice to see Aunt Jean as it’s been a while. I don’t think we ever met Gianna (GG) before.

Today I’m not sure what’s going on as more people are here or arriving but I do know I’m not eating like I’ve been eating! A few more cousins came over last night from Oklahoma City and more are here that I’m sure we will see today.

Think I’ll run to the gym as they have one here. Hope all’s well. God Bless.

We made it to the airport in plenty of time and boarded all together with the 1st Class people. Once we took off I offered my seat to Lori but she decided to stay in Row 10 with the boys. Lucky for her as I had a screaming baby across the aisle from me for the whole flight!

When we were getting close to landing I looked out the window to see what looked like a desert with everything brown and dying. I thought we were over Nevada and landing early for some reason but it was indeed California. You see they have literally no water! We’ve all heard about this on the news but to see it in person is a different thing. After we landed and picked up our black rental car, in 100 degree heat, we headed out to Dixie’s. You couldn’t help but notice how all the trees were brown and dying, even the palm trees. As we drove up the highway it looked like Armageddon had already been here according to Lori. Businesses were deserted, buildings run down and not much green anywhere. This was quite a change from the lush California we had been used to.

We pulled into Dixie’s and she was thrilled to see us, especially Lori and the kids. Myrna, her cousin from Oklahoma, has been her for about a week helping out. She had run to the store to get the fixin’s (that’s Oklahoma talk) for fried chicken, mashed potato’s and gravy. We decided we needed some more chicken so we could have some leftovers so the boys, Myrna and I ran back to the store. That meal was probably the best fried chicken I’ve had in my life. If she’d open a restaurant in Vail, they’d be lined out the door! Before that I had a brisket sandwich with horseradish as she made 3 large briskets a few days ago. I think we’re having sausage, biscuits and gravy for breakfast before going out to see Grandma Annette and Grandpa Jim at the boat so this trip is turning out way better than I had thought.

I woke up around 5 which was 6am in Denver but had to lay around as no one else was up. I did nudge Lori and asked her if she was awake to which she replied, “I am now”. Personally I think she was already up!

Now on top of all this, you can’t flush the toilet here too often meaning if you only pee, you’re not supposed to flush. Myrna and I were talking that that right there would be the tipping point telling a person, time to get out! If you live in a State where there’s not enough water to flush the toilet when you go to the bathroom, it’s time to leave! Plus they have no money, taxes are highest in the Country, except for maybe New York, you can’t carry or own most guns, the government is all liberal and State is over run with illegals who all have guns! It makes you appreciate Colorado a lot!

That’s it, time to run, hope all’s well, I think Lori and I have to shower together to save water! Ha ha. God Bless.

Everyone but Ty, who had a haircut last week, had a doo update yesterday. I also went to the dentist for a quick teeth cleaning. The rest of the day was sort of a blur as it went fast but not sure what else I accomplished. We had a second showing last night and these two ladies should buy our house as it’s perfect for them. Up first though is another second showing this morning from the people who were here yesterday morning so we’re getting action, just no offers yet. Keep praying and visualizing.

We need to leave around 9am for the airport this morning. Not sure how we’re going to get everything packed as I left a needed suitcase up in the mountains. Lori is so overwhelmed that she didn’t sleep much as her head is spinning. Meanwhile I didn’t get much sleep either as Ty came in and he’s a wiggle wart according to Lori. In fact she went into Ty’s room and crawled in his bed, thanks a lot!

I woke up at 4:30 and ran to the store for coffee creamer and a few other things. I’m running the sprinklers now as it’s going to be hot and dry while we’re gone. Time to run and figure out what we can pack our clothes in. Maybe we’ll just use a big black trash bag!

Take care and God Bless.

Well, we’ll leave in about 24 hours for Sacramento where we hear it’s 110 degrees! That makes us feel better about the mid 90’s here this week. Yesterday we made it down from the hills by about 1:30 and then it was off to Nordstroms for clothes for the boys. Jagger of course is in adult sizes now which makes his pants as expensive as mine, uggh. Throw in a new belt, some socks, a new shirt and underwear and it was a good afternoon for the store. At least he’s wearing some of my old shoes so we don’t have to buy those. He probably is the only kid in $600 Salvatore Ferragamo’s! I have had them for at least 15 years. Ty too needed a few things and then we were off to home.

We have two showings today and we’re visualizing that our house is sold! Hopefully we’re right. TIn the morning we headed over to the school for our second meeting. The school was again amazing. Lori hadn’t seen it and was so impressed she has said we need to both get extra jobs if we have to so they can get in. The first step is seeing if they decide the boys are a good fit and then if they have room. The Director of the Middle School was a nice young kid who has a masters from Harvard. He took the boys for an hour to get to know them while Lori and I had another tour of the school. I of course had seen it before but Lori had not. They had young kids, who were the best of the best professional ballet dancers from around the World, finishing up a summer program there before performing at Bravo and then heading out on a World tour. There are some real advantages to the Vail Valley as the cultural events rival New York. Anyhow we’ll know more this week. We think they have room in 8th grade but 6th might already be full. Even if they help us with financial aid, we’re not sure if we’d split the boys up. Ty told Jagger if he gets in and Ty doesn’t, that he should go there as it’s so amazing. Once one child is in, they do try to get the other in as soon as they can but we’ll see. We should no more by the beginning of next week, visualize and cross your fingers.

Mojo ate my tennis shoes up there as he apparently didn’t like being left alone for the morning. Lori stopped into the HR department at the hospital to get her paperwork and that was it. They’re all super excited for her to start. She said they have the day circled on the calendar with stars and balloons waiting for her arrival. She’s a little nervous but she’ll do great.

This morning I have a dentist appointment at 8, Lori gets her hair done at 9, Jag and I go in at 3 and we have showings at 9:30 and 5:30. We’ll need to pack after the last showing at 6:30. That’s it, hope all’s well, take care and God Bless.