A Year of Change

It took us a few hours longer than it should have, but in the end all is well. Lori’s new car is an amazing vehicle. I’d researched it hard and knew what we were getting into but had no idea just how great of a car it is. I drove it around town and home, so we have about 200 miles on it as of this morning. I did make Lori test drive it before we bought it to make sure she liked it. We both love it. Today she’s getting her hair done in Glenwood this afternoon, so she’ll get a good drive in. Being the GTS, the tires are a little more performance style tires, meaning they’re a bit lower profile, so she needs to watch out for huge potholes. You need to do that with any car though, so nothing new. The only after market protection I ever buy is the tire and wheel package. It’s about $2K and covers wheel and tire damage. Usually when I buy this, nothing happens, when I don’t, we wreck tires and wheels monthly, ha. That’s the way things work.

We stopped by to see Raz who measured Lori for a new chain. It’ll be done late next week. We have a fair amount of junk jewelry that we can melt down for credit, if we want, and he’ll make Lori something she likes. We’ll see. We might just keep all the junk to go with our other junk.

Looks like we have some weather coming in Tuesday through Thursday. We’ll take any moisture we can get. I’m sure Lake Dillon has been this low, or lower before, but I can’t remember seeing it as low as it was yesterday for late March. It should be filling up now with snow melt, but most of the snow is already melted. Arizona and California are going to have a hard time, as they get (steal), all their water from us. As mom would say, it is what it is.

April 1st Wednesday! Hard to believe. Ty’s off today and he and I might play golf or hit some balls while Lori gets her hair done. The kids in Chicago are hanging with Julie, Ava’s mom. I’m sure they’re having fun. Ty’s off to Bozeman on Thursday. The ski areas are shut down up there, so he won’t be taking his snowboard. I’m sure he’ll still have fun. He only owes $1452 left on his truck! That means in 15 months, the kid paid off his $51,000 truck! Good for him. I told him it’s like he has $35,000 in savings as his truck is worth at least that much! Next up he’s saving to move. We think California, but he’s not sure yet. We’ll see. One thing is for sure; Lori and I will soon be alone with both boys out of State. No worries, we’ll go visit!

That’s it, have a great last Sunday of March and God Bless.

Off to Denver this morning to pick up Lori’s new Porsche Macan GTS. The GTS is the top model with lots of horsepower and gets 10/10 from all the car gurus. 2026 is the last year they’re making an all-gas Macan GTS, so the car will not only hold value, but it’ll also actually go up! They sell for MSRP, but my buddy is the sales manager so I’m getting 4% off plus another $2500 from Porsche. It’s known as the 911 of SUVs. It also has more legroom than the larger Cayenne which she owns now. Dealers get around one GTS every 60 days or so. We’re both excited! Lori does keep reminding me it’s her car though, ha.

Yesterday the cleaners came and cleaned. Ty went to Denver last night to play paintball today. He’ll come home tonight. We’re running back to the jeweler after picking up the car to get Lori’s new chain. We’re also taking down a huge bag of gold, emeralds, rubies and diamonds, we’ve accumulated over the years, to have Raz make it all into something cool Lori will actually wear. I voted to sell the gold, but that was a big no from Lori. I don’t really care, whatever makes her happy.

Lot’s happening at work. I interviewed a girl yesterday who I think will be a really good fit. Think I’ll hire her Monday. She used to work with Kate, my new girl who is crushing it. I tell everyone I interview that we’re a bunch of pirates and doing things that are 100% unconventional. There’s lots of chaos in the alcohol industry right now and if you’re not doing things differently, you don’t stand a chance. Chaos is my middle name though, so things seem to be working, ha.

That’s it, have a great Saturday and God Bless.

Should be a little cooler today, especially down in Denver. Not sure it’ll be much different up here. Then we’re back to the 80’s. Yesterday after running to Denver, we made it home and Oscar from our heating company, came over. Turns out the furnace just needed a fuse. While he was here, he changed the tank on our humidifier. I loaded them up with beef from the ranch as they respond to me within minutes whenever I have a problem. They were super thankful.

In Denver I took Lori to Raz’s, (our new jeweler buddy) and he has a new chain coming in for her which will arrive today. We’ll pick it up tomorrow. We’re going through all our old stuff (jewelry), in the safe and taking it down as Raz is going to use it to make something new for Lori. I was thinking of making gold dog tags for the boys with all our names on it. We’ll see. On the way out of town, we stopped at this cool liquor store close to where Jag and Ava used to live to get some more of Lori’s favorite champagne. She doesn’t drink much but really likes this one kind. The girl there remembered us and Jag and was super helpful. We should be good on bubbles for the year.

Today the house cleaners come around noon. That means we need to clean before they can clean. Kind of makes no sense. 6:30am and still dark outside. Sort of strange.

Work is going really well. All kinds of chaos in the industry but chaos creates all kinds of opportunities. More to come. I’m interviewing another girl today. It’s tough in one way as it’s out with the old, and in with the new, meaning a couple people that have been here for 15 and 20 years, will soon be gone. Sadly, two people I have don’t have the skill set for what today’s market and the Company needs. I am going to offer a straight commission job to both of them so if they want to stay they can. If not, I’ll give them a three-month severance package and send them on their way. I have to do what’s best for the Company, our investors, and the rest of the people here, including me. Tough times require tough decisions.

Ty’s off to work, Lori is washing the sheets and I’m putting the trash out. Then it’s off to the gym. Last Friday of March, hard to believe as it feels like the last Friday of May! Have a great day and weekend, God Bless.

Wow, 80 degrees up here yesterday, and of course the a/c isn’t working. Thankfully we just open the windows and it cools down fast as the sun goes down. Our a/c guy is probably coming late this afternoon. Ty golfed yesterday and then jumped in the river afterwards as it was so hot! After some calls, I met up with the guys for a cigar.

This morning Lori and I are maybe going to run down to Denver to get her a longer chain for her dog tag anniversary present. It’s really cool and she loves it. I bought her a huge flower arrangement that was here when she made it home from work. She’s such a good girl. I’m waiting to see if our a/c guy is coming this morning or what time he can fit us in. Nice and cool in the house now as we sleep with the windows open.

Jag is doing well but busy. 70 degrees in Chicago! Crazy warm weather. Will probably be a bad year for fires. Hope not.

Time to go, have a great day, GB

Today is our 26th anniversary! What a ride. I’m one of the lucky ones as I love Lori more and more each day. She’s my calm in the storm and always has my back. Can’t wait to see what the coming years bring. 26 years ago today we were married at La Posada Resort in Scottsdale. It was a great wedding, probably the second best wedding I’ve ever been to. Our friends daughters in Aspen still holds the #1 spot. You might remember that from a post years ago.

Yesterday I was in Denver by 9am as I had a few errands to run and then met up with Shultz for a cigar and a meeting. After that I met up with a new friend through Tina who is a jeweler in town. I’d met his dad years ago but never really knew Raz. I found a great gift for Lori and now have a new jewelry guy. Our friend Tina and Robi both said they want to buy the gift if Lori doesn’t like it. Both of them are out of luck as she loves it! His daughter plays guitar and I’m trading him an acoustic for $4k to $5k credit next time down! He’s literally the top guy in town, so they say. I’ll take Lori down and let her pick out or design something she wants for her birthday. She needs the chain on her new necklace to be a little longer so she can wear it with her other necklace at the same time. So happy she loves it!

Ty is taking the day off as he’s been working a ton. I’m off to the gym and Lori has a big lunch meeting with another group in the Company.

Lots happening at work. All good, but tons of moving parts. It’s 6am now as we woke up at 5:30. We were going to go to dinner tonight but will do that another day as Lori won’t be home until around 6pm.

That’s it, it’s surreal to think about all we’ve done in 26 years. What a ride with hopefully 26 more years to come. God Bless.

Lori’s new black and white diamond dog tag necklace! The picture doesn’t do it justice.

Me and my lovely wife! Dinner in Chicago a few weeks ago.

Ski areas are closing and cities are already putting in water restrictions. Looks like a dry summer unless we get some good Spring rains or maybe one more snowstorm. The later looks unlikely according to the so called experts.

I’m off to Denver as Shultz who is connected with all the convivence stores nationwide and the organization that runs them, let me know the group would like to donate something like $100K or more to a charity. I’m introducing them to James’s bands charity as the national convention is in Vegas the same time the boys are playing the Sphere. Their foundation supports all kinds of people and careers that don’t include college, mostly trades and stuff like that. I’m the go-between that can put the right people together. I’m also exchanging some shirts for a smaller size, and a few other errands I can’t talk about until tomorrow!

Ty works again today and so does Lori. I’d like to get out of here by 7 or so which is in about an hour. Jag is studying hard to pass the SEC tests and working at the same time. Ava’s mom comes to visit this weekend. Should be fun for her.

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

Lots going on. It’s a busy week. Ty’s headed to work, Lori will soon follow and I’m off to the gym before my 10am conference call. Nice up here, 78 degrees yesterday. Tom said it was 57 in Denver yesterday.

Yesterday we did a lot around the yard and grilled up some steaks. Ty went to a concert in Vail around 4. Davy let him park in his parking spot which is huge as that saves at least $40! He made it home around 11pm I think. Lori heard him but I was asleep.

We talked with Jag and Ava a bit. There’s a nice apartment, close to the lake and in the same building as our favorite restaurant in Chicago, for about $4500 a month. It’s only a one bedroom and 750 square feet but as they say, location, location, location. They might just get it for a year. We said we’d help a bit if it was a few hundred a month too much for their budget. We’re sure that in a year they’ll be doing fine. It’s just getting out of the starting gate that’s tough.

I forgot to mention yesterday that when Ty finished work at 10pm Saturday night, he went to the gym! He’s all in, 100% committed. Talk about dedication, wow. Good for him.

6:30am now, time to get moving. Have a great day, GB.

Ty worked a double shift yesterday so he was home after we went to bed. It’s usually 2 or 3am before he’s home when he works these parties. Tonight he has a concert in town. Hope he sleeps in. Almost 6am now and Lori is still sleeping too.

The last three episodes of our new favorite show Madison, dropped yesterday so we watched those. It’s a great show, maybe Taylor Sheridan’s best which is saying something. I think season two comes out in the Fall.

Lori is a little sunburned from laying out in the sun yesterday. It had to be 80 degrees. I think it’s a little cooler today and then warming back up as the week starts. Hard to believe it’s almost April. It is 45 degrees in Eagle already this morning. Ty, Lori and I might play golf today.

Here’s another example of Colorado democrats gone crazy. They just proposed a bill where you have to pay your sales tax in cash! This means if you go to the store and buy anything, or go to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, no matter how you pay, credit card, Apple Pay, whatever, you have to pay the tax in cash! I’ve never heard of such a stupid idea. This will kill the economy and is almost unbelievable. I say almost as nothing the Dems in Colorado do anymore surprises me. Can’t make this shit up. Oh, this goes for your income tax too! The inmates truly are running the asylum.

Pitch black outside. I think the sun comes up around 7am. Lori just strolled out from the bedroom. We’ll head out to the gym in 30 or 45 minutes. We have a new leg extension machine we’re excited about. I did about ten sets yesterday so of course, I can barely walk today, but I love it. It’s a great addition to the gym and our workouts.

That’s it, we didn’t get to the garage this week. We tried but just ran out of time. Maybe next week. Have a great Sunday, God Bless.

Today, Davy, Marty and I need to put in for our hunting tags for this fall. We’ll put in for James too as I have his log in info. The deadline is April 6th I think, and Marty is leaving for his cruise in Tahiti on Monday. Colorado has changed up all the rules so even if you own the land, you need to apply to hunt on it. It’s really messed up. Polis and the Dems would like nothing more than to outlaw all hunting even though it’s good for the economy as it is the number one money maker for the State. It’s also necessary to keep elk and deer herds healthy. It’s been proven time and time again that hunting is beneficial to managing animal populations. If hunting stops, the State will then hire hunters, and pay them, to go cull the herds. Pure insanity just like everything else the Dems do.

Ty’s off to work and we’re deciding whether or not to go to Denver or go to the gym. The sage brush up here is blooming and along with it come allergies. We’ll probably stay home. The March Pow Wow is going on at the Denver Coliseum though! That’s a cool event.

Looks like 90 in Denver today and probably 80 up here. Skiing is pretty much over although you can argue it never really started. What a mild winter, I think I shoveled twice all year.

That’s it, time to go, have a great weekend, God Bless.

Ty golfed yesterday and Lori had some time in the sun and a bunch of us got together to smoke pipes in the afternoon. James Rush showed up which was great as we haven’t seen him in months. Today is his birthday! He fell out of a tree six months ago and almost lost his leg! He’s doing great now, great to see him.

Ty’s off to work and Lori and I are headed to the gym. I told Jag to start looking for a place to buy as it just makes much more sense than renting. I think they’re going to have Jagger start trading or at least get commission off the trader’s trades as his programs are benefiting them and the company. Salesmen there make $400k to $600k a year! WTF! Julie gets there next weekend so between all of us, maybe we can figure something out. They did extend their Airbnb for another month,, but the rent is, get this, $5800 for the month! Unbelievable.

We need to see how much we get dinged for taxes before we know if we can help.

Work is going really well, and our new products are crushing it, especially Peel. They’re doing so well that I have more orders than I have money to produce the product. I need a bridge loan for $250k to $300K for 90 days and will probably have to pay something stupid like 5 points to get the money. After 3 or 4 months, payments from Safeway and others will be coming in and then I’ll be off and running but fronting the cash for the initial 10,000 case order is a pain in the ass. It’s a good problem to have though as my new products, like our new mimosa below, looks like it’s going viral!

Here’s Peel! Coming soon to a grocery store near you, including Safeway in Colorado, Albertsons, Trader Joes, Cost Plus and more! It comes is three flavors and is like $10.99 a bottle and is made with real fruit juice. Best one on the market! This could be the one that I retire off of!

Time to get moving to the gym and its trash day! Have a great Friday, God Bless.