41-50 around the corner! 12/28

Good People--my bride of 41 years.
Good Food--we researched our many resources--5280 magazine, the web, a Gabby Gourmet diners guide and others to find Locanda Del Borgo. A neighborhood Italian place at Holly and 3rd. We will be taking lots of people there in 2009. Hot bread with olives, tomatoes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Their bruschetta was the best thing on the menu (heads up wine and appetizers people -you know who you are). Jan had veal picatta and I had their pork chop--pork chop was outstanding but the mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts were so-so. Same for Jan the veal was very good but the roasted potatoes and green beans were OK. We received a "cream sauce" covered with a strawberry jam like sauce for our anniversary and it was soooooooooooooooo good--see pic and use your imagination.
Good Exercise--we walked around Cherry Creek mall for a couple of hours, fought the crowd and bought some olive oil.
Great Retirement--39 years of work, almost 2 years of retirement all with my favorite person.

I did an 8 to 5! 12/26

I can't believe I did it! I went shopping and gift returning with Jan, Amanda and Kortney. By the time we left Park Meadows shopping center the entire parking lot was full and lots of people were driving around trying to find a space. I committed to go along the night before, Paul and I were going to do our thing while the girls did theirs. But Paul bailed on me the next morning, I don't blame him. Plans were changed so he took his dog, Christmas presents and went home. (Sounds like the old saying, "He took his toys and went home!")
Great Retirement--no more 8-5's!

Man's best friend 12/21

One of my "to do's" for 2008 was to paint 3 bedrooms and the bathrooms, too. Well, I will "getter er done" on the bedrooms but I have been too busy (Great Retirement) to finish the bathrooms.

My constant companion is our dog-Sadie. She needed to be close while I was painting--I would paint and she would wipe off some with her rear end or tail. She is still a "good" dog.

Christmas dinner & Lorie Line concert 12/16

Good People--Norm/Phyl, Eric/Heiti, Lori Line and her cast. A very nice concert of Christmas music from around the world. It brings me joy, when a celebrity to praises God and talks freely about Jesus's birthday on stage--thank you Lori. That makes this variety show a hit with me.
Good Food--dinner at 17th Avenue was OK, I had a buffalo roast-tender but no taste. The pinot nior from Mac Murray vineyard was great, so I heard--I had a 90 Schelling beer.
Good Exercise--cycled indoors for an hour--700+ calories--I should of had dessert.
Great Retirement--A very memorable evening with friends and only Eric had to go to work the next day. Anyone want to buy a very successful internet business that is located in the mountains?

Mike' Surprise Birthday 12/6

Good People--Mike, Laura, Trent, Kristin, the boys, Bill, DJ, Tom, Meg, Billy, Kristin and many others.
Good Food--dinner and wine was very good as a matter of fact it was EXCELLENT--the Warren's bought.
Good Exercise--not much--lots of talking though. Mike and Laura have a bunch of really good friends and their family is very supportive. There were only 80+ people there--perhaps some street people were glad the Warren's bought, too.
Great Retirement--no need to rush back home, took in some good basketball on Sunday (looked good Trent) and the weather held out for Bill/DJ's trip to see Grandma Edwards as well as our trip home on Monday.

We are back!

Whew--11 days 3400 miles! We were being watched over--no bad weather for our travels to Ketchum (Sun Valley) Idaho and Des Moines (Warren B&B). We enjoyed our visits with family, friends and new friends, we are extremely blessed to have each of you in our lives.

Thanksgiving, Sun Valley, Idaho 11/25-12/1

Good People--Jan, Amanda, Kevin, Sandy (KJ's neighbor), Sergio & Jenny (from Colombia), Fernando (friend). Slideshow on the right, click picture for captions.
Good Food--Cooking in a small kitchen took us back to our old houses/trailer days, the food was great--Amanda (green beans & pine nuts), Kevin (mandarin orange salad and squash with help from Jenny), Sandy (cranberry squares), Jan (all the rest), me (I did the knife work-peeled the Idaho potatoes and carved the range turkey). Kevin brought a pumpkin pie from Sergio/Jenny's employer-Albertsons and they provided La Crema chardonnay.
Good Exercise--We made several trips to the Fernando's YMCA for class, the hot tub and master swim with Kevin. The dogs and I did some running, we all took several walks, Kevin and I took a couple of bike rides--the weather was great for all this but no snow shoeing. Sliding down Bald Mountain on shovels in the dark was fun especially for Sergio/Jenny and Sandy's dogs (she was pet sitting them).
Great Retirement--We really enjoyed being with Amanda and Kevin and getting to know his friends.