A Year of Change

Yesterday afternoon I was getting groceries in Frisco and when I looked up, I saw a small stream of smoke. Instantly I knew it was a fire. By the time I was out of the grocery store, it had blown up big time. Smoke Jumpers were dropped in by parachute and planes were dropping water and fire retardant. It’s only like 100 acres but in fire terms, that’s big. The main worry is it could get much larger really quickly.

The kids are fine and I had the carpets cleaned in both boys rooms yesterday afternoon. Lots to do today though so time to run. Hope everyone is well, GB.

We headed out around 10 am for Aspen yesterday morning. By about 11:30 we were on some friends deck overlooking the parade. After an hour, we went for some lunch before walking around and seeing some other friends. Afterwards we went to Arron and Barbara’s house. They are the aunt and uncle of our friend who we’ve known for a number of years. Their house is over the top and you might remember years ago the kids would swim in their private lake. Barbara was a guest director at the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra as they donate a ton of money to it each year. Next up was some drinks (ice tea for us) with some other friends before heading out around 4 in the afternoon. 30 minutes later we were at Bed Bath and Beyond in Glenwood getting new bedding for the kids rooms. By 6:10 we were home. It was a fun day and not to much traffic.

Today we’re both back at it. Ty is on his 5 day expedition and Jag is having a blast. I guess G’ma Dix is having a great time too. Hard to believe it’s already July 5th. Here’s some pictures for the day, GB

KODAK Digital Still Camera

Independence Day, what a great day, Happy Birthday to the U.S.A.! Take a minute to think about what your Country means to you. No matter what’s going on, we do live in the best Country in the World, bar none.

Jag’s having fun and was in Washington D.C. yesterday. Not sure what they’re all up to today but I’m sure they’re having a blast. Here’s a couple pictures, one funny and one serious which is what the boys tend to do when we ask for pictures. We call their serious poses, the boy band pictures, check it out.

Today Ty heads out on his 5 day expedition backpacking trip. We thought pictures of his group would be up on the camp website but they’re not up yet. Yesterday we do know he was kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. We’ll post some pictures of Ty once they are up.

Today Lori and I might head over to Aspen to go to the parade. We have a few groups of friends who invited us over. Last night Lori and I went to Matsushisa and sat outside and had some sushi for dinner before heading home. I had dropped her at work so I picked her up about 5.

Yesterday I managed to get both boys rooms ready to re-do. I started by cleaning off their beds, then stripping their beds, (and throwing away their sheets which were old) and then leaning the mattresses and box springs up against the wall. Then it was time to go through the mess under each boys bed. There was food from years ago, old clothes, staples from a stapler (??) embedded in the carpet and tons of other crap. After filling 4 or 5 large trash bags, it was time for a trip to the dump. So now we have sort of a clean slate to start with. We do need to go through Ty’s closet and I haven’t touched the bathrooms yet but it’s a start. You have to start somewhere. Time to run, have a great day and be thankful you live in the greatest Country on Earth. God Bless.

As you know, both boys are gone. We know what Jag is doing but wonder what’s up on Ty’s first full day of camp. It took us about 2 hours to get there and another 2 to get home. We joked that in the last two days, we were in the car enough to almost get to California! Jag was in Bethesda Maryland yesterday and is in Washington D.C. today.

At camp, after we arrived, they had all kids go to the clinic to check their feet and then their heads for lice. Never knew lice was that common, maybe it’s not, but they checked.

Lori and I went home via South Park which goes through Fairplay and then over into Breckenridge. We decided to just lounger around and get ready for our big week of tearing the house apart. We’ll start with Jag’s room today as he’s home next Sunday and Ty’s gone for 2 weeks.

Lori has a big day with a bunch of surgeries and patients in for clinic. Most people, including my crew of 9, have the day off. I told my people just take it if you want to and cancelled the Monday am conference call.

2 days ago outside of Dumont, as we were crawling along at 5 miles an hour, Lori spotted 2 moose walking along the hill above Starbucks. It’s rare to see two together. Anyhow here’s a few pictures from when we dropped Ty at camp. We arrived before most people so he had his choice of bunks and took a top level one! Have a great day and GB.

Yesterday I dropped Lori at the spa at 8:30 am and had the boys at the airport by 9. They made it to D.C. without any problems and actually beat Lori and I back up the hill. The traffic was so bad, it took us 3 1/2 hours to make the 1 1/2 hour trip. Lori and I were not happy campers. Sitting in traffic is a good argument for owning a motor home as it has a bathroom, kitchen and other amenities that would make getting stuck on the highway bearable. By the time we made it home, we had to start packing all of Ty’s gear into his backpack and duffel bag. This morning around 10:30 we’ll head back down to take Ty to camp. We’re meeting his friend Jack and his mom in Morrison and we’ll all drive up 285 together. I’m sure he’ll have fun but I hope the wild fires calm down so they don’t cause any problems.

G’ma Dix finally called and is doing well. I don’t know many of the details but I guess she’s having fun, good for her. Lori and I are anxious to start purging once Ty is gone. We might go to Aspen for the 4th but haven’t decided yet. We’re headed to the gym this morning before taking Ty down the hill so time to go. Have a great day and God Bless.

In 48 minutes Lori and I and Jag will be in the car heading out to pick up his two buddies to take the three of them to Denver to fly to D.C. I’m dropping Lori at the spa and then heading to a store up north for a little wheeling and dealing. I’ll pick Lori up around 11:30 and we’ll head up the hill until tomorrow when we make close to the same drive to take Ty to camp.

Grandma Dix, if you’re reading here, you need to call your daughter! It’s now been 5 days with no contact. I’m sure you’re having fun but you need to check in.

We now have 43 minutes and all three of us need to shower so time to run. Have a great day, it’s July 1st, whoo hoo and God Bless.

Winter’s on the way, ha ha! Yesterday was my half birthday according to my lovely bride. Anyhow, after Ty and I returned from Denver, we hit up my buddy’s mountaineering store to “gear up” Ty for his camping trip. He now has a new backpack, rain gear, a mid weight jacket, sunscreen and other things on his list. He still needs hiking pants, shorts and new pajama’s No cotton is allowed as it weighs too much. Meanwhile, Jag, who came home yesterday from staying with Harmon and Zach for the past 3 days, leaves tomorrow for D.C. I’m driving all three boys to the airport in Denver tomorrow morning at 7am.

Lori has a dentist appointment at 8:30 this morning and Jag and his buddies are going to Water World in Denver. Zach’s mom is driving them down and back.

Grandma Dix is in Oklahoma as far as we know but Lori hasn’t been able to get in touch with her since she arrived. If you’re reading Dix, you need to call your daughter! She arrived last Tuesday and must be having lots of fun.

Guess I’ll run so I can get the boys moving. Have a great day and GB.

I made it home by 9;30 last night and yup, you guessed it, I’m off to Denver again this morning. Jag has been staying at Zach’s all week long but I told him he has to come home tonight and tomorrow to pack and get ready to fly out Saturday am. Ty and I will need to get all his stuff for camp today after we go to the dermatologist. In about 72 hours, Lori and I will be “kidless” for 10 days to 2 weeks.

Seattle was good, lots of tax stuff that’s really hard to understand, even when you have an accountant and tax specialist trying to explain it to you. We really do need tax reform as it’s so complicated that as a business owner you spend thousands of dollars and hours and hours trying to comply with the hundreds of thousands of regulations.

Time to run as it’s 6:08 and Ty and I need to leave in 40 minutes. Have a great day, GB

When I flew in, it was sunny about 1000 feet off the ground. On the ground was a different matter. As we landed we dropped down under typical cloud cover into an overcast but dry, Seattle. By early afternoon though, the clouds burned off and the sun was out. I think there’s a song about sunny in Seattle or something and the old joke is the 4 days of sun here each year are great.

Anyhow, we had a good day of meetings and will have another half day today before I head to the airport around 1. I should land around 7 and then have the drive up to home putting me there sometime around 9.

Lori’s working hard and the next two days will be spent getting both boys ready for their trips. That’s about it for the day, hope G’ma Dix is enjoying Oklahoma and having fun. Take care and GB

I started to write the blog this morning at 4am but was running short on time. By 4:45 I was driving to the airport in Denver for my 8am flight to Seattle. Obviously from the title, I’m on the plane now. Poor Lori always gets woken up by me when I have early flights. Hopefully she went back to sleep.

I dropped Jag at the rugby field to meet Harmon and Zach yesterday morning. About 7, I took him some clothes as he spent the night at Zach’s and could be there all week from what we gather, until all three boys fly to D.C. on Saturday. G’ma Dix is off on her drive to Oklahoma today and should arrive late this afternoon. Ty, I think, is biking to town and Lori, with it being a Tuesday, has clinic.

I joined Facebook this morning, (which I hate) as I need to stay up with Andrea and Veronica (Bocelli). I also need to follow them on Twitter, ugh. Lori is my only friend and I think I’ll keep it that way, ha. I have a day and a half of meetings in Seattle to cover a bunch of things with my 3 Partners. It’s a quick, but hopefully productive trip. That’s it, hope all’s well, GB.