A Year of Change

After a full day, we all headed to Lee and Margret’s for dinner at 5. The house was buzzing with Robert, Forrest, Walker (their boys) and KJ and Lindsey and little Theodore. Robert and Lindsey are married and Forrest and KJ are married. Robert is the oldest, then Forrest and then Walker. Theodore (Ted, named after Uncle Ted) is Robert and Lindsey’s little boy who was about 3 years old. They also had their neighbor and his girlfriend over. Now this is quite the story as their next door neighbor is Helmut Fricker. Helmut is a German guy who must be close to 80 who started Octoberfest in Denver in 1969. He’s an institution up here as he leads off Octoberfest up here every single year too and is a World Champion yodeler. You might have seen him on posters or tv playing a long 10 foot German horn. I first met him 15 years ago and he remembered me. He’s also one of the Country’s top antique book restoration specialists. His girlfriend was a former country singer from Texas and they’re both super fun and nice. He made the boys laugh as he’s like a German Rodney Dangerfield with silly jokes. He also brought his accordion and played and Lee commented how much much Mom would have enjoyed this and of course he was spot on. I can see her sitting there signing along with Roll Out The Barrel and other popular hits from her generation. So, great to connect with family. The two oldest boys (mid 30’s) were Marine’s for about 10 years while Walker is home from England where he’s studying theology and alchemy. Margret is a doll and full of energy. Her Great Grandpa and Uncle were two of the first Texas Rangers in the mid 1800’s. Lee and Margret are a few years older than me, maybe 66ish. It’s great to have family close and Lee kept saying how he’s sure it’s more than a coincidence that we ended up so close to each other. Maybe he’s right. There was a picture of Lee on their refrigerator from years ago I think holding one of their kids when they were born that looked exactly like Tommy. The kids all said how much I looked like Aunt Rose who was their grandma. Makes sense I guess.

After dinner Jag went to friends house and Lori, Ty and I went to Marty and Melanie’s. We showed up to find a new fishing boat in their driveway! He bought it over the phone and had it delivered to his dad’s memory care home in Montana where they went to visit last week. He was waiting to surprise us and didn’t tell us until we walked up on it. We laughed as the dealer was hesitant to take the money over the phone and deliver a boat to a memory care center when he bought it sight unseen, funny. It’ll be fun and now Marty has like four boats! Three river rafts and the new fishing boat!

No smoke again this morning. You can see way off in the distance smoke somewhere over by Glenwood. It picks up around noon and calms down around 5 pm every day. Today James is coming by and then Marty and Mel for buffalo chili for dinner. I have just a couple more things to get out of Minturn. Robi’s old wood dresser that you attach a mirror to and an old chair with swirly arms and legs in green velvet. Then a few chairs are all that remain in the garage.

We have a big week as Jag moves in and then stays at CU this coming Friday to start college the following Monday. Ty this week, I think, is going to Denver to stay with his friend Preston and their family. Amy, Preston’s mom, keeps going on how much they love Ty and what a great kid he is. Ty and Preston could use a few days of hanging out together before school starts. I think both boys will have about two days a week of actual school and the rest of their work will be on line.

I think Lori and I will go to the gym and then hit Minturn to pick up those two remaining pieces of furniture. I might keep the chair but maybe give Margret the dresser. We’ll see.

Before I go, Lori found this the other day and it reminded me of Mom, check it out,

When they asked her to reveal her beauty secrets, Audrey Hepburn wrote this beautiful text that was later read at her funeral.

′′ To have attractive lips, speak kind words.

To have a loving look, look for the good side of people.

To look skinny, share your food with the hungry.

To have beautiful hair, let a child cross it with his own fingers once a day.

To have a beautiful poise, walk knowing you’re never alone, because those who love and loved you accompany you.

People, even more than objects, need to be fixed, spoiled, awakened, wanted and saved: never give up on anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a hand, you’ll find them at the end of both your arms.

When you become old, you will discover that you have two hands, one to help yourself, the second to help others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, in her face or in her way of fixing her hair.

The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the door open to her heart, the source of her love.

The beauty of a woman doesn’t lie in her makeup, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the tenderness that gives love, the passion that it expresses.

The beauty of a woman grows over the years ′′

See what I mean? Mom all the way. They even look alike in a way. Be well, make it a great day and God Bless.

At night you can see the flames bouncing off a ridge two or three hills away. During the day you can see the smoke on the ground if you know where to look. Hopefully the winds will turn south and die down. It’s scary to have the fire so close. They’re evacuating people as close as 5 miles away. We have 352 fire fighters on the job as of today. It’s cool this morning with no wind which helps for sure. We need some rain and no wind to get a handle on this.

Lori and Jag had covid tests yesterday for school. I’ll go down with them but Lori will go in the actual dorm with Jag. I’ll run over to Whole Foods and get him some food to get him going. He’s excited and Lori is already missing him. I’ll miss him too. Glad he’s close.

We’re headed to the gym this morning after we walk the dogs. Ty now wants to go to school two days a week in Denver as his friend has decided to stay down there and go to Cherry Creek High School. Obviously not going to happen.

I met Marty and his local relator at the house yesterday and we hope to have the place on the market by a week from Monday. Our carpet is stuck on the other side of the canyon meaning the fire. Hopefully we can get it over here early next week.

Time to get moving. Pray for the firefighters and everyone up here. The whole State is almost covered in smoke. Be well and God Bless.

Looks like I didn’t forget the anniversary of Dad passing after all. Robi let me know it’s the 16th, whew. Thanks Robin. Someone gave me some bad information. Not naming and names though, ha.

Almost everything, and this time I mean everything, is out of Minturn. I vacuumed yesterday and am almost ready for cleaners to come in before the carpet guys. Now the big job is going through all the stuff I brought here. I am taking a lot of furniture to the consignment store this morning after Ty and I load up a couple more pieces from the garage in Minturn. Then it’s off to Frisco to get a desk and I’d like to find a used lounge chair from one of the consignment stores for my office.

Lori has to go to two offices today as my friend is going in to have his neck checked out. It’s jacked up from years of mistreatment.

Our cousin Lee and his wife invited all of us over for dinner tomorrow night. All their kids will be there too so we’ll get to meet them. Good to have family close. They’re vey nice.

My knee is swollen a bit from all the up and down trips on the stairs. Hopefully it’ll come down today as no way I’m getting anything done right now with hunting season around the corner.

It’s still smoky up here and will be so for at least a few more days. We could get a little rain Sunday or Monday which would help a lot. There’s a new fire outside of Ft. Collins too as it’s so dry here. Here’s a picture from yesterday.

It’s much worse than it looks like. Good news is when it’s over nature will take over and it’ll be back better than ever. That’s the way nature works.

That’s it, be safe, and time to stock up on a few items for the coming change of seasons. Now’s the time, God Bless.

Man am I tired. Minturn is sparkling clean with everything white. Now I need to clean it and then in goes the carpet. Denver was quick. I was in and out by 10:30. Jag was about 2 hours behind me. He went down to get a haircut and then stopped and saw Tommy. Tom sent him home with one of the old red and white Fugate Ranch/No Trespassing signs for me. What a treasure.

Now to a couple of important dates I forgot. The 10th was the 10 year anniversary of Dad passing. Can’t believe I forgot it and I really can’t believe it’s been 10 years. Also yesterday was Lori’s dad, Bob’s birthday. Maybe they’re fishing somewhere together up in the sky.

Today we have more of the same. Work, work and more work. The smoke up here is bad, especially at night. The closest is 4800 acres in Glenwood Canyon. The afternoon winds whip it up every day. It’ll be hot for the next three days with no rain in sight. Then there’s 30,000 acres burning down near Grand Junction. You can’t get to Aspen or Grand Junction or anywhere west of here as the highway has been shut down for a few days now. It’s about a four hour detour to get around it.

On tv the non stop political ads are everywhere. Our former Gov is a crook who said he never would want to be a Senator. Of course he said that while running for President. Now he’s all in. A former bar owner, he’s a liar and tax cheat who was caught. Only in today’s climate can someone like this still run for office. Lots of people are stupid enough to vote for him too I’m sure. His opponent should win in a landslide but people are ignorant and have short memories and sadly believe everything they see on tv. That’s why all the non stop ads.

Time to get moving as our builder is here in 90 minutes to fix some things. Be well and safe and God Bless.

I’m off to Denver in 30 minutes to pick up some wine and have an oil change on the truck. It’s 5:22am now so I have to be on the road by 5:50.

Ty, Preston and Jack are all sleeping. Jag went to Rachel’s and came home after I was asleep. Our painters are painting away in Minturn. They needed to spend the night so we bought them a hotel in Vail and I gave them dinner money. They’re good guys and should be done today. The big victory of the day was I now have everything out of Minturn except for a few things in the garage. The armoire was the big challenge but not as bad as I thought. Carpet should go in this weekend with a little luck.

Lori’s work is going well. It’s been a stressful time with us moving, her new job, school coming up and of course the whole virus thing and what its done to the economy. Hopefully with the move about completed I can chill out a bit. Lori says I’m on edge. I’m sure she’s right. Hope I wasn’t too tough on everyone.

Time to go, be well and safe and God Bless.

Or should I say smoke. There’s a large fire in Glenwood Canyon that started yesterday to go along with the larger fire in Grand Junction that is kicking off a lot of smoke. It’s was so thick you had a hard time seeing a mile in front of you. Hopefully they’ll get a handle on it today.

Jag helped me at the townhome yesterday afternoon before going out to play soccer with some friends. I guess it was the guys against the girls. Not happy about them playing in the smoke from the fires but what are you going to do. 18 year old’s are invincible, right? Ty and Preston will meet me at Minturn at 9 to help get the last few items out. Carpet is ordered and I’m meeting my painters from Denver at 8 am at Home Depot in Avon. In a little over a week we should be like new and on the market.

Our shades were installed yesterday and they look great. They’re battery operated and are so quiet and elegant. I also think we have the toilet fixed so little by little we’re getting things taken care of around here.

The dogs are fine and I think Lori killed all the voles. Time to get moving. I think I need to take a saw and sledge hammer to break apart the armoire and an old dresser to get it out of Minturn.

Hope everyone is well. Be safe and God Bless.

Lots going on this week. Business and personal. Ty will be home this morning. We’ll also find out today what Eagle County Schools plan is for the year. We have window shades being installed this morning. Our toilet is being fixed and we have about ten things to fix around the house to get our final inspection. Lots going on at work too.

Lori put Ty’s bed together yesterday. It’s a piece of junk. You don’t get much for $500 these days. We could sent it back if we could get it in the three cut up boxes and ship it, and pay for shipping, and get charged $127 for returning it meaning we’d get back around $300. Not worth it as it’d take a whole day.

Lori is in Vail today, she thinks. She sets her own schedule so we’ll know more later. I have more to get out of Minturn today. Two dressers, the armoire, two nightstands, about 6 lamps, a table and some chairs and a small desk in the basement with our desk top computer on it. Also need to call ADT, the alarm company.

6:23 now so time for coffee and dogs. Not sure in which order. Depends on if they hear me, ha.

God Bless you all and may he watch over each and every one of you.

I have painters coming up Tuesday so I need to go through the townhome like a tornado today. Most all of the large pieces of furniture are in the middle of rooms so it should be pretty easy. I have one large armoire in the master I might cut into pieces to get out.

Yesterday Lori and I were in Frisco while Jag headed to Boulder. We all met at home around 4. Ty is having a blast and arrives in Denver tonight. Tomorrow he’ll head up with Preston. We also have shades being installed tomorrow and our toilet in the master is being fixed as something is funky with the deodorizer. The dogs are sleeping still and it’s a beautiful morning. Looking outside you’d never know there’s a virus or protests or anything like that.

Time to start the day but before I go here’s some of the World’s top epidemiologists saying how masks don’t help and may even cause harm. Of course all of us have been conditioned by the media so most all of you won’t believe this and will still wear a mask everywhere you go.

Anyhow here you go, https://www.zerohedge.com/political/worlds-top-epidemiologists-masks-dont-work

Hope you all are well, GB.

I made two more trips to Minturn yesterday and am headed down there again at 7 this morning. James is driving up from Denver to pick up a few things and then Lori and I will head to the gym on the way home after picking up another load of mostly clothes. Jag is off to Boulder this morning to pick up his I-pad for school. They’re in short supply too.

It’s a little cooler this morning. We need to get the dogs a dog house but so far they prefer sleeping outside. I’m sure that won’t last as the temperature drops in a few months.

Ty is hopefully having fun. He’ll be home Monday. I need to get going as James should be driving and we need to meet him at 7:30. Hope you all are well. God Bless.

Ty’s on his way boating, Jag’s going camping and I’m cleaning out Minturn. What’s wrong with this picture?

By the end of the weekend I hope to have everything out of the townhome. I need to find a desk today as I have to get my office put together. Not sure where to look as I’ve been to all the used furniture stores around here. I can get a deal in Frisco from a buddy and might go check there.

It’s sunny out this morning. It was hot and dry yesterday with strong winds. Thankfully no fires around here. I was off to Denver but will go on Monday. I need to get moving to meet some guys in Minturn to pick up our old couch. Be well, God Bless.