A Year of Change

Big conference call today. I’m presenting my plan for reshaping the company structure and compensation this morning to the Team, for 2026. I might lose a person or two, but sobeit if I do. I’m tired of paying people for not performing. All my life, if I didn’t perform, I didn’t get paid. The gravy train is over.

Ty went boarding yesterday and then went to Denver. He stopped at Tommy’s to watch some football and visit with him. Good for him. He’ll be driving up this morning.

Lori’s traps are still sore, which Dr. B said is normal. I’m headed back to the gym to continue working my way back to full power.

I might run down to the doctor today as my right ear is plugged up. They suck wax or whatever out with this little sucker thingy. I’ll see how my day goes. Think I have water stuck in there. I do need to go get our turkeys today. I ordered two small ones that are fresh and supposedly the best you can get. Our butcher only got 30 for the whole valley. Too bad nobody else likes turkey but me! I’ll have a lot of leftovers for sandwiches.

Might get a dusting of snow tomorrow. This coming weekend, we should see measurable snow.

Time to go, 6:44am now. Have a great last Monday of November. Four more Mondays until Christmas and 5 left in the year! Time to get busy! God Bless.

I was in Denver at Cherry Creek Mall right at 10. After shopping for a bit over an hour, I headed over to Cigars on 6th to meet my buddy Shultz. He showed up and brought me a special cigar he bought through a connection while in Spain. It’s called a Behike, and is one of the best, if not the best, Cuban cigar you can buy, if you know someone. He bought four for $860 so they’re $215 each. It was really nice of him to give one of them to me, but that’s the kind of buddy he is. I saved it and brought it home and it’s in the humidor now.

He and I hung out and had a different cigar waiting for Jag and Ava to show up. They came by to pick up this snowman that is the same as we had when the kids were little living in Lakewood. Lori found one, new in the box, on Ebay. It was made in the 70’s by Hallmark and is about 12 or 15 inches tall, is covered in snowy flocked like stuff and lights up and changes colors. We always had it at the top of the stairs in our house in Lakewood when the kids were really young. The kids hung out with us for a while and then I bought them a sandwich next door before they headed out for a football game in a park by their house with all their friends from their Friendsgiving dinner the night before.

Around 1, I headed home. I did stop at Whole Foods in Frisco, which was really crowded with tourists and locals getting ready for Thanksgiving. The town is less crowded than usual as we still have no snow. Bad for the economy but we’re fine with it. I promise, the snow will come.

Think I’ll go to the gym. Ty is off today and had a sore throat last night. He works again on Tuesday. He’s doing well. Time to get moving, 6:30 now. Have a great Sunday and God Bless.

What did I say the other day? Lori doesn’t listen. Yesterday she did too much, and by the end of the day, she was sore. This morning I’m running back down to Denver to do some Christmas shopping, (for Lori, don’t tell her) and Lori is staying home. She’s under strict instructions not to do anything. We’ll see how that goes.

Yesterday I had a bunch of calls and finally wrapped up that deal I’ve been working on since June. It’ll bring on a new partner who will focus on social media and our new spirits division, along with a couple million dollars. I should receive the wire transfer Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. Good stuff.

Ty worked all day yesterday and is back at it today. We had cooler temps, but no snow except way up high. The weather looks good today.

CU is on at 6 tonight. It’d be nice to get a win. No Bronco game tomorrow but still some good football. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. Then it’s all downhill.

Time to mount up. Have a great Saturday, stay safe and God Bless.

It’s been two weeks today since Lori’s surgery. Seems like a lot longer. She’s doing great and her rash is getting better every day.

Yesterday we were in Denver at the warehouse by 9:30. Then after a quick stop at a couple of places, we met Jagger at the mall. After that, we all went to lunch. We finished up around 1 and were home by 3 or 3:30. We did have to sit on I-70 for 30 minutes due to construction.

Marty and Mel landed safely in Hawaii and will be back around the 1st of December. They’re staying at Max’s apartment to save money. Max will sleep on the couch, and they’ll take his room. Rough ten days but good way to save money.

I have calls around 9. I just talked with France at 6am. Lots going on. Would rather be waking up somewhere away from people feeding the horses and cows, ha. Lori said yesterday that she’s ready and doesn’t need to be near any stores.

Time to get to the gym as it’s been a few days and I need to get back at it. Have a great Friday before Thanksgiving. Jag and Ava are having a Friendsgiving dinner tonight. They invited Ty but he works tomorrow.

Take care and stay safe, God Bless.

After knocking out a few miles on the treadmill, and having breakfast with Ty, I headed home. After a quick shower, Lori and I were on the road to Aspen by 9:30ish. When we pulled into town, I noticed how dead it was. Parking was available everywhere and there weren’t many people on the streets. That’s what happens to a ski town on the 19th of November, when there’s no snow and it’s 50 degrees.

First stop was to drop Jagger’s glasses off for repair. We then headed into Ralph Lauren to say hi to Denise and other staff we know well. We shopped a bit for the boys for Christmas and then headed across the street to another store we go to every year, as it has great stuff for the boys. On the way out of town, we stopped to pick up some ribs to go from Hickory House. Next up was a stop at Whole Foods before heading home.

The rest of the day was dedicated to emails and a few calls. This morning we’re off to Denver to go to the distributor to pick up some wine, stop at a couple other places and then will head over to see Jagger and drop him his glasses. I hope to be home by 3.

Ty works again today and has a doctor appointment at 4. Lori is doing well, as I said yesterday, but she has to take it easy. Yesterday I saw first-hand, that she can’t and shouldn’t, do too much. She’s still recovering and even little things like emptying the dishwashers, strains her muscles and neck. I keep telling her, but what’s the old saying…… she doesn’t listen very well! She always thinks she can do more than she should. I think she’s figuring it out now.

Time to hit the road. Have a great day and God Bless.

Lori’s postop appointment went well. She’s healing up just fine and all signs point to a really successful surgery. Her rash is almost all gone too. They’re saying she’s going to be a case study! Lori wants to work out bad but was told she needs to wait until at least six weeks after surgery. That’ll put her back in the gym around December 21st.

Ty is on the way to work and I’m going to go to the gym to get a couple miles in on the treadmill. We might run over to Aspen today to get Jag’s glasses fixed and do a little Christmas shopping.

Lori’s been making and living off broccoli soup. It’s really good. She did the same thing with her last neck surgery as it’s hard to swallow after neck surgery. We did run to Costco yesterday for some essentials.

That’s about it. Have a great day. Be well and God Bless.

That’s all it was, just a dusting. In true Colorado fashion, the little bit of snow was gone in a couple hours. What a Fall. Everyone wants snow, mostly skiers and boarders. We’re just fine with this as it will come, no doubt about it.

Watching the news this morning, it looks like more of the typical crap in the city. First a suspect is in court for a random stabbing of a teacher in Thornton. This guy shouldn’t have been on the streets with his prior convictions. Next up, a drive by shooting suspect was captured. I’m sure he’ll be back on the streets by this afternoon. One poor girl was shot in the head. Another random act of violence. Throw in a few road rage incidents, and it’s just another day in Big D. Keep your head on a swivel if you’re down there!

Lori has her post-op checkup appointment today at 2. It’s a virtual appointment, thank God. Ty has a physical on Thursday. Looks like Jag might be off to Chicago on Monday and back Tuesday. He’s pretty far down the road with a firm that wants to hire him, fingers crossed it works out.

I have a call with Italy in 30 minutes or so and then another at 9, also with Italy. I’m making big changes at work. We’ll see if everyone sticks around or not as I’m also putting the Team on a more performance-based compensation package starting in January. If they perform, they’ll make more! The free ride is over.

My neck is sore this morning. Probably from lugging a rifle around on my shoulder up and down the mountains Sunday morning. 50 degrees up here today, which is really warm for November 18th.

That’s it, have a great day, be well, stay safe and God Bless.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: I did yesterday’s blog last night, so if interested, click back to yesterday’s post.

No snow at the house but you can see it up high, but it is a bit cooler outside. Hard to believe it’s November 17th. Thanksgiving is a week from Thursday! Time flies.

It’ll be a busy week for me. I have calls with Italy and France, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday, Davy I might head down for the last couple days of deer season.

Lori is getting much better, but as is her personality, she does too much, too soon. Think I’ll get to the gym for a couple miles on the treadmill before my 10am call. Have a great day, and go get your turkey now!

God Bless and Go Broncos!

I was up early stalking elk. By sunup, we were on a group of six. I hiked a couple miles up a mountain to get within 500 yards, and when I went around a huge boulder to set up for a shot, they gave me the slip. That’s why they call it hunting and not killing, ha. No big, might run down next weekend for a buck as we have a few 4th season buck tags.

We rushed home for the Broncos game and made it one minute after kickoff. It was a great game that we deserved to win, and this time we did.

Lori is doing much better. She still needs to stay home for a few days but works on her computer from here. Sorry for the late post today but Lor didn’t get to it. Ty and I watched the game together and Jag had a blast being there. See you in the morning, GB.

Davy and I will hit the road around 9 or 10. We’ll hunt tonight and tomorrow morning and hopefully be home in time to watch the Bronco game. Should be a good game.

Looks like the snow will arrive down there Monday, about 24 hours too late for hunting season. Maybe the elk will be heading down anyhow with the temps coming down. If not, still fun.

Ty is up and about to leave for work. He calls Mom every morning around 5:30 asking if she’ll make him breakfast. We need to tell him not to do that, ha. I was going to drive today but I think we’re taking the two dogs down with us as Abbey is off to Steamboat for a hockey tournament for River.

Hard to believe there’s about six weeks left in the year. 2026 sounds so futuristic. Thought we’d all be in flying cars by now. Certainly didn’t think we’d be so divided as people. If you think about it, it’s like adults have turned into children, and I blame both sides. It is Dems though that are like little brats but then the Republicans take the bait and react from time to time. Sitting on the sidelines, if you look at it objectively, it’s hard to even believe this shit can go on in 2025. We should all be living together peacefully with a live and let live philosophy, enjoying the advances we as people have made. It’s really frustrating to have every aspect of our lives inundated with politics and social disagreements. I think that’s the best thing about being semi off the grid, like at the ranch, or at any rural place. You’re not exposed to all the crap going on. It’s like it doesn’t exist. Maybe we just need to turn off our tv’s and get rid of our phones. As soon as we retire, we’re switching our phone numbers.

Oh well, is what it is, have a great Saturday. I’ll do the blog tomorrow afternoon as Lori will probably not get to it tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing well. Continue to fight the good fight and God Bless and Go Broncos!