A Year of Change

No snow here. Not even cold temps, considering it’s the first of January. I know we need the water, but damn, it’s nice outside. I’m sure we’ll get snow in the next 90 days. The Stock Show starts next week so it’ll probably cool down then. Think we’re going down to check things out.

Seems like a Monday after having the past two days off. Nice to have two more days off. It’s trash day today and I need to put the neighbors out as they’re in California.

Davy is having a steer butchered today and Marty and I are splitting a quarter. It’s $12 bucks a pound and we get rib eyes, tenderloins and steak burger. Best thing is I know where the cow comes from and what it eats, and it’s 100% all-natural beef. It is literally the best hamburger you’ve ever had as he uses the other cuts of steak, like round and new yorks, and mixes that into the hamburger. That’s why it’s steak burger! Tom, if you and Holly want any, let me know as it’s better than Edwards and we Cryovac all ours. For what we spent on Christmas dinner, prime rib and crab, we’ll get 60 pounds of beef!

Ty’s out the door to work. He thought he was getting a cold but thinks he’s kicking it now. He might go to Denver tonight and stay with his buddy before the game tomorrow. Jagger and Ava are going too. We were going to go, but the boys love it so much, I wanted them to enjoy it. We are going to the playoff game though. Good games today, especially tonight.

I’m loving my new truck and really loving the tax benefit. You have to take advantage of any and every little thing you can do with as much as the govt. takes from you these days. Something has to give. I think the communist that was elected as Mayor of New York will help wake people up to socialism and democratic policies and turn the tide. People will realize, they don’t want that in their town.

The U.S. arrested the dictator of Venezuela last night. He and his wife are probably in jail in the U.S. by now and will face numerous charges. I’m sure the Democrats will bash Trump and side with Maduro who is an illegitimate President who murdered his own people, stole their money and took over in a coup. They should be celebrating as the people of Venezuela will now be free once again. But of course, anything Trump does is bad. You know, Orange Man bad is their motto. The guy could cure cancer, and they’d still hate him. Don’t get me wrong, Trump is hard to like with some of the things he says, but his policies and what he’s doing is making the Country better. No one can argue with that.

Time to go, need to get the trash out and head to the gym. Tom, I was picking Lori up conditioner yesterday and walked into a store an a lady said, “Wow, Doug Fugate”. I looked at her and didn’t know her and she said, “I went to school with Tom, how is he”? It was Elizabeth Sullivan. I still don’t remember her, but I guess her brother Mike was in Robin’s or my class. Anyhow, she said to tell you hi. Let me know if you remember her. She lived by Stober I guess.

Have a great first weekend of 2026 and Go Broncos and God Bless.

As we sit here on Friday January 2nd, things are different. I don’t think it’s because it’s a new year, but because we’re experiencing some sort of mind shift from a culmination of thoughts of thinking about changing things up. Maybe it’s because it’s the Year of the Fire Horse, ha. Anyhow, Lori and I are definitely questioning anything that is routine. Our philosophy is routines are basically ruts. Of course there are some good routines, like going to the gym. But most are due to laziness or unwillingness to, or fear of change. Funny that it takes until you’re in the back half of life to realize this. We’re all conditioned that life and how we live it, is supposed to go a specific way, and until your old, you rarely question it. Maybe it’s because when you’re older, you realize how important time is. It’s a sick joke that people see things more clearly when most are too old to enjoy it. Oh well, this is why it’s so important not to waste a single moment, especially on useless or bad juju that doesn’t bring you happiness or joy. Just my two cents.

Ty’s off to work. We all caught up on some much-needed rest and sleep yesterday. I watched a lot of football. We did zero cleaning. No dishes, laundry, purging or anything, as century old customs say not to clean at all as you’ll wash away the good luck for the coming year. Technically you shouldn’t even take a shower, but we’re not that crazy. I started the laundry when I woke up and Lori is filling the dishwasher right now.

Yesterday we learned Colorado is in the top five of States that people are leaving. No surprise there. Not sure when, maybe next year, maybe 20 years, but there will be a change. People will evolve and grow up someday, the big question is when. The political left (especially the left) and right, are using people to further their agenda. Neither side really cares about you or me. They only care about their own power. It’s so obvious yet the people, or sheeple, follow them hook, line and sinker down the road towards mutual destruction. It really says something about the ability or lack of, people in general, to think for themselves. In many ways, society has gone backwards. Fyi, more than half of the stuff online is fake and from bots, not real people! For the kids’ sake, we hope people come to their senses. The hate and vitriol has to stop. We’re all the same. In the meantime, people will migrate to States where residents and political views, match their own. So sad, as Colorado was such a great State.

Today, after the gym, we’ll hang out and probably get organized for Monday, which feels like the official start of the new year. Good football this weekend. Almost 7am now, time to get moving. Have a great day, be well, God Bless and please, think for yourself!

Life in 2026 is beyond surreal. It’s frankly incomprehensible. It’s down right crazy. Think about it.

On top of that, it’s the Year of the Fire Horse. 2026 promises to be energetic and forward-moving. It’s a year that favors action over hesitation, momentum over stillness, and optimism over caution. According to the 2026 year of the Chinese zodiac, this cycle begins on February 17, 2026, and ends on February 7, 2027. In the 2026 Chinese zodiac, the Horse represents energy, freedom, confidence, and strong forward movement. Combined with the Fire element, this year brings powerful motivation, passion, and ambition, encouraging people to take bold decisions, embrace change, and move ahead with independence. Overall, Chinese Horoscope 2026 is a dynamic year focused on action, personal growth, and new beginnings. Sounds good to me, let’s go!

Last night, we made it to the party a little after 7:30. There were already a lot of people there and a steady stream of more people kept coming for the next 30 or 45 minutes. Then the place was packed. We visited with some people from Idaho for 30 minutes or so and then about half a dozen of us went outside for a cigar. After that, close to 9:45, Lori and I decided to head out and beat the rush on the roads, and head home. It was fun, but no way are we staying out and up, until midnight. That’s for the boys generation.

Looks a little cloudy out right now. We might get a few inches of snow tomorrow, we’ll see. The ski areas should get more up on top of the mountains. It’s been a historic year for low snowfall.

Ty stayed at a friends house in town and is home showering and headed to the mountain to go boarding. They couldn’t get in to the bars last night as they all had an expensive cover. He had a few beers and that was it. Jag and Ava, I think walked up the street to some friends house as a bunch of them all live close.

Think we’ll head to the gym now. It’s 9am so time to get moving. Lori needs to take it easy on her neck. She did a lot taking the Christmas decorations down. Then we have lots of football today.

Hope everyone has a healthy, prosperous, and peaceful year. Live in the moment, be the horse! Take care, be well, God Bless and Go Broncos!

About 17 hours to go until 2026. There’s a great Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson movie called The Big Year. It’s about three bird watchers whose goal is to do anything to see as many different kinds of birds as possible in the year. They’ll do anything in pursuit of their goal. It’s way more of a commitment than any New Years resolution. So, any resolution you make is nothing in comparison to doing a Big Year. If you really want to make a change in your life, they say pick small changes which are easier to achieve and then you won’t be disappointed. We always joke at the gym as the first ten days to maybe two weeks, are going to be crowded. Usually by mid January, most all the new people are gone as they’ve given up on their resolution.

In an hour I’m headed to Denver to pick up the new truck. I’ll pick it up at noon and should be back by 2:30, unless I stop at the grocery store. Ty’s off to work as it’s 7am now. We took down the tree and all the decorations inside yesterday. If you remember, I like to have things down and ready to go before the new year starts. Lori thought the cleaners were coming today so that’s another reason we knocked it out. Turns out, our cleaner is in Mexico as her mom is not doing well, so they’ll come next week instead. She texted last night after we were done.

We’re going to Jen and Gary’s tonight. We’ll leave at 10 after the clock strikes midnight in New York to beat the crowds on the road.

The Stock Show is coming up in about ten days. We’re going to get tickets this year to the rodeo. Time to hit the shower so I can get on the road. I am going to stop and see Jagger this morning. Have a great last day of 2025 and get ready for 2026. Mom used to always have pickled herring as it was her custom to have a bite of it at midnight. It’s some sort of Scandinavian thing.

That’s it for 2025. Take care, be well, stay safe, especially if you go out, and God Bless.

What fun. Thankfully Gary and Jennifer showed up so I wasn’t the oldest person at the party! Lori’s food was awesome as usual. She made her Basque Cheesecake and German Chocolate Cake! Everyone stayed until around 10 and then headed home. Tomorrow night Gary and Jen are having their annual (4th year in a row maybe), New Years Party, or as they call it, open house. We usually leave at 10 after the ball drops in New York. That way we’re off the road before the drunks and aren’t too tired on the 1st.

Ty’s off to work already. Not sure if we’re headed down today or tomorrow for my new truck. Hopefully the leveling kit arrives this morning and they get it installed today. If it does, I’ll run down around noon. If not, I’ll go tomorrow. I do need to get it by tomorrow for the tax deduction. Gary just bought a Lamborghini Urus. That’s their $300k sort of SUV. He bought it for the same reason, the deduction.

It’s colder than it’s been but no snow. We’re just fine with the weather. The snow will come, it always does.

6:45am now, time to get moving so we can get to the gym. Have a great second to last day of the year. God Bless.

Not so many years ago, I looked forward to my birthday. Now, not so much, ha. We are having a party tonight which will be fun, as it’s always good to get together with everyone. The only downside is realizing you’re another year older. Being an eternal optimist though, I have no choice but to embrace it and use it to try to make things in my life better. So, there you have it.

Ty was on the snow until probably 8pm last night. Keystone has night skiing, so he and his buddies stayed and crushed it. He and eight other guys were on the mountain all day. He works at 9 this morning.

My neck is a little sore from the gym. We’ll probably try to go after my call at 10. Then I have some computer work to make sure things are set up for 2026.

That’s about it besides getting ready for the party tonight at 6. Lori is making German Chocolate Cake and did Italian for the party with pasta, lasagna and other Italian stuff. We’ll have about 20 people over.

It was great Christmas with the family. We’re all truly blessed. We’re determined to make 2026 a great year and lots of fun. Have a great day! Get ready for New Years Wednesday night! We’re supposed to go to a party, ugh, ha. God Bless.

The Broncos are the AFC West Champs! Whoo Hoo. It’s been ten years since that happened and ten years since anyone, but the loser Chiefs were champs. On to the next goal.

Yesterday was super fun! The kids cooked the ducks, which are always absolutely amazing. Ty made it home around 6:30 from work and we all hung out the rest of the night. The kids stayed up later than us, but Ty is up getting ready to go to Keystone with the guys skiing and boarding.

We didn’t get much snow, maybe a dusting, but it’s really icy. It seems it was more like rain that froze. Blue sky now with no more snow for a few days. It will stay cold though, but that’s ok.

Lori and I need to start getting ready for the party tomorrow. We stopped at Whole Foods yesterday and stocked up, on our way back from Aspen. We ran over before the football games to exchange two of Jag’s presents for larger sizes.

Jag and Ava will probably head home sometime this morning, whenever they get up and moving. Thet should go before the ski and holiday traffic heads down this afternoon. Ty just headed out to pick up Will.

Lori wants to go to the gym, so I’d better get moving. Have a great Sunday. We’ll know when and what time the Broncos play after this week’s games are over. It’ll be next Saturday or Sunday.

God Bless and Go Broncos!

Four days left in the year. Another fun day with the family. Lori and I had just left for the gym when Jag called as Harley threw up on the basement stairs. We made a fast U-turn and headed home. Lori told me to go to the gym and that she’d stay home with Harley.

I worked out for a while and then Jag met me at Hovey for breakfast. Ava had to work from 7 until 3:30. She had three computer monitors set up and spent the day upstairs in her makeshift office working away. She said it was pretty busy with people trading stocks before the end of the year.

When Ty made it home around 5:30, the kids all had a hot pot for dinner. Then we played cards for a few hours. First the four of us played Hearts and when Ty came back down, we switched to poker.

Jag’s had two ducks prepping in the fridge since Christmas Eve day, that he’ll cook tonight. He makes a real good duck. He even makes his own thin pancake things that you use to wrap the duck in like in a Chinese restaurant. Can’t wait.

Ty’s almost out the door here at 6:20 for work, and Lori and I will be right behind him headed to the gym. Jag and Ava were up until 1:30 or so. Their still sleeping!

We might run to Aspen today to exchange a couple things of Jag’s. He needs a larger size. Supposed to get a little snow tonight and tomorrow morning. I think Steamboat will get the most, but we’ll see.

Have a great 27th day of December and God Bless.

Couldn’t have drawn it up any better. The day was perfect. Everyone had fun, loved their gifts and the food was amazing. Throw in a Broncos and Nuggets, (in overtime), win, and there you have it. Now it’s onto the end of the year and 2026.

We were up early this morning as Ty’s off to work and Ava works at 7. She’s obviously working remote and grabbing some coffee and yogurt now at 6:30. She has her three monitors set up and will be on the phone until 3. We’ll head to the gym and then go see Ty for breakfast. Jag is sleeping.

We only have a couple of things to exchange due to sizing. The kids all got things they wanted, and Ty went boarding on the mountain for a few hours. Lori found a letter in our tree from Santa! We’re not sure where it came from as no one saw it the night before!

Here’s the letter!

WOW! Quite the letter from Santa! I never got one like that, and I wrote him a lot!

That’s it, time for coffee. Have a great Boxing Day and God Bless.

Well, it’s here. Before we get going, take a moment to reflect just what the day is all about. We all have our own thoughts and interpretation of what Christmas means, so I’ll leave it up to you to think about what the meaning of the day is. From all of us, have a very Merry Christmas!

Yesterday we were busy. We delivered some presents to the neighbor kids and did a bunch of last-minute shopping. Ty made it home from work around 5:30 or so and the kids made it up from Denver about 30 minutes later.

We had a great dinner of crab, shrimp, caviar and of course, champagne. After dinner we hung out until probably 10:45pm before heading to bed. Ty went up early as he was up at 5:30am to go to work.

Lori is making us coffee here at 6:30 and the kids are all still sleeping. It’s nice outside, but we’re supposed to get a little snow Saturday night into Sunday morning. Today we’re having prime rib and lobster, and more champagne, but for breakfast, Lori’s famous 24 hour French Toast.

Lori is in the shower right now and the stockings, that are hung by the chimney with care, right, are full to the brim. I think Jagger and Ava are moving, while Ty is still snug in his bed! Ha, I just can’t help myself!

So Merry Christmas to everyone! We’ll call everyone later today. Wish we were all together, maybe one of these years, God Bless, and Go Broncos!