2010 ends and 2011 begins...

First, it is amazing to me that a year has passed so quickly... it is TRULY AMAZING... starting with "End of a Decade" and ending with "dueling breaks" with the following in between...

Belize- the vacation that might not have been, an "ah ha" moment, a totally yucky spring weather wise, my first raft trip and my 8th year anniversary, almost 12 days of camping and another fabulous "Strawberry", a great July, Martha's Vineyard, Mt Sopris, Las Vegas (and the gecko girl tattoo), Shari joining the AMC family (I tell her almost daily how happy I am she joined us), Brad's Bday weekend and other spectacular Sept camping, Rally to Restore Sanity from afar, the awesome "Sky is Falling Party", Thanksgiving with the girls, prepping for and doing the Summit for Life with my staff, the Mastodon find, the wrong and then the right car, Shinta becoming the teacher, etc etc...

During my last week of 2010 Anne took me to the "Crystal Palace Review" at the Wheeler and it was fantastic. And because I worked for New Years Eve and was on call tonight Brad took me out for an early New Years at a very nice restaurant and then we went to see the Mother Puckers play the Aspen Police (who brought in ringers from up and down the valley)... The Mother Puckers were winning at half time when I left.... it was VERY fun. A great way to end the year. Brad went to some parties but managed to get home just at midnight to watch fireworks with me and Clifford at our house as the year changed over. Tomorrow (today) we do our traditional New Years Day party at Lee and Steve Rittvo's.

I look forward to another fantastic year in 2011. I expect some good times with my family, more wonderful time with Clifford d-dog hiking and playing, another year of celebration with my long time partner Brad, continued work with a currently and hopefully continuing fantastic staff (with Jenny joining us towards the end of the year), another great "Strawberry", and adventures in Nashville and "Burning Man" which will be some exciting new experiences for me.

Lots of love and peace out to those who read this and to the universe...

dueling breaks

ok I am getting sick of family and friends dueling for the biggest breaks of the season! Stop it. Mom, no more hip fractures, Marty, cool it with the back surgeries and my friend/patient, this is the last season you miss for breaking things as you have enough metal in you. Ugghhh... Please all... rubber side down from now on!
Last week was good except the breaks... On season has COMPLETELY hit and EVERYONE has uri's etc... the snow is good up top but hard on the bottom and so people are breaking things... that keeps us busy at AMC.
I didn't get much exercise until the end of the week and then it was good with some skiing/hiking/sledding/boarding. Next week is a FULL week of about 70+ hours so no exercise then but hopefully will figure out some time to do some. Also will get to see a good show Tues night after work since Anne bought me a ticket to the Crystal Palace Review (I LOVE THAT SHOW). Brad will have the week off but will work at home on an IMENSE project.
Hope you are all happy and healthier... Happy early New Year!

ruby horse thief

Brad's dad had surgery Monday and it was a rough week for him and his family. My mom also is recovering from her surgery... also a rough week for her. I have been helping out as I can with Marty close up and mom from afar. I luckily have not been in surgery and had a decent week of hangin with my dog. We even took a FANTASTIC hike at Ruby Horse Thief. The river below had been floated by us this summer with Brad on great camping trips and Clifford and I decided to see it from on top of the canyon. Twas a beautiful day and a great almost 10 mile hike. This weekend we plan on going to Brad's office Christmas party. And then it is getting ready for a VERY busy next several weeks with full on on-season happening. Lots of jets/planes flying in and out.

I will be sending healing thoughts through the ethernet to Marty and Ruth and to anyone else out there who needs some good healing.

Summit for Life 2010

This week was a busy but good week. Work is the same but got some nice cards and words from staff and patients for seasons greatings etc. Heard sad news that Rangi's mom has metestatic cancer unfortunately (this is who we went to NZ to celebrate her 80th bday for). Rangi and Sarah and the kids will be flying home for a long, unfortunately last, visit. My good thoughts go out to them all.

On a more positive note, got the Aspen Medical Crew up Aspen mountain last night for the big event of Chris Klug's to promote organ donation. There were several people who joined us on the hike that had liver transplants and several with heart transplants and it was an AMAZING time. We had 11 of us from AMC and I was SO proud of our gang helping each other train and then make it up the hill. Last year I was completely out of shape for it and Dewayne got me up the hill. This year I was in better shape but took an hour longer since I helped to get others up the hill (literally pushed one of my staff up). It was a Blast and for a great cause and we had the biggest group/team go up! We ROCKED and ROCKED it :)

Today I cross country skiid with Clifford for a while and then will meet Brad on the mountain for a little boarding and then go to an AMC Christmas party AND THEN SLEEP!

Love and peace to all reading this.

getting ready for summit for life

Well another week has passed... work was not too bad since I had 2 days off. Did some hiking and had the holiday party at Aspen Valley Hospital and it was really fun. BUT got home to news my mom had broken her hip and was in the hospital. Unfortunately she has yet to have surgery as they are trying to "fit her in" and it may be tomorrow. I will keep my fingers crossed it goes well. They are not sure if they will screw the bone together or do a hip replacement. Tomorrow we will know.

Today I went up Buttermilk with friends preparing to hike up Aspen Mountain in a week doing the Summit for Life to benefit the Chris Klug Foundation for organ transplant. We then sledded down. We all had a blast with Clifford giving me a heart attack since he refused to ride in the sled preferring to run down the mountain on his knee that had surgery almost a year ago. He did great (we will see tomorrow).

Addendum... My mother had surgery today and did well only needing screws and not a hip replacement. Clifford did well without any hint of issues with his knee. Spent today hiking and cross country skiing with him and then joined Brad for some downhill skiing with him trying tele-skiing for the first time. He did great and was getting the hang of it on the last run heading down Aspen mountain!

THANKSGIVING WITH THE GIRLS

Lots to be thankful for this week! Got my new Q5 AND LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Sold the TT to a friend and hopefully she likes it... she does look cute in it. Worked through Wed and then my friends George, Shelly, Lotte, Ev arrived from CA late Wed night... Lotte and Ev drove in but couldn't make it up the hill in their A4 with "all season tires" which we in CO call "no season tires". We got them situated at the bottom of our driveway and then they made themselves at home. Then got George and Shelly at the airport. Luckily they all got in because there had been a storm just prior to their arrivals but they got the most incredible several days ever. Thurs we woke up and took the gang up the pass snowshoeing with the dogs and it was INCREDIBLE. Then came home and helped Brad finish with the cooking and went to his folks for an AMAZING dinner. Everyone had a great time and stuffed themselves to the gills. Then we went to a friends house for a disco party and Brad stayed while the girls and I went home. I worked Fri while the girls skiid and had another phenominal day. That night we went to our friends house for an Open Heart Jam. This is a party at a friend's house that is practically undescribable... in fact the girls described it as going to another universe. My friends Guy and Deb have a barn they have converted to a music/art studio that has housed 100 people for an incredible concert for New Years. This time it was about 30 folks hanging out making art and music including a ginger bread house ala Brad that the artists decorated AMAZINGLY including raindeer on the roof. Unfortunately my camara wasn't working for any of this so I will have to wait for others pix to share with you all. Then Sat I took my friends hiking up towards the Maroon Bells and again it was spectacular. Then we went into town to watch the Women's World Cup which was a new and fun experience. After walking around town we went home, showered and changed and went back to town to have a PHENOMINAL dinner and then go see the end of the concert played by Blind Melon for free outdoors before the awards ceremony and fireworks. Then we went to the St Regis for after dinner drinks/dessert and sitting by the fire reminiscing. Twas awesome again. Dropped Shelly and George off this am EARLY at the airport and then took Ev and Lotte on a great hike near my home before they left to go on their 15 hour trip home. Then cleaned up a bit and met Brad for the afternoon of snowboarding. Now time to catch up and get ready for the week. It really was wonderful catching up (especially with George, my residency bud). Thankful for that and you all who are reading this!

PS George is not that short and I am not that tall :)

changing times...

Well this week is a time of change for me (the weather/getting older and getting one step closer to picking up my car)... winter is truely here and it is STORMING BIG right now... it is a white out. Luckily Clifford and I went for a 2 hour hike before it got insane. I stayed in my PJs and put my $40 1 piece I got 10 years ago at an obermeyer sale on and went out with my hat/gloves/goggles and hiked. It was fun. I had only hiked Tues night this week with my staff as it was another 70 hour week and I was either working or sleeping through most of it. I had worked Mon, was on call Mon night, worked Tues and then Tues night hiked with some of my staff (we are getting ready for the Summit for the Cure that I signed 11 people of my staff up for which is hiking up Aspen Mountain the night of Dec 11 to raise $ for organ donation... if you want to support any of us ie me just go to sponser a racer at Summit for the Cure). It has been great since my staff is really working hard to get into shape and that has been great for morale. When we hiked Tues night I found out that they all could be my kids as I am at least 20 years older than them and none of them knew what a slide rule was UGHHH! Yesterday 4 of my staff hiked Buttermilk at different times (including Clifford and I and 1 of my staff who JUST decided to join us for the Summit race). It was also good. I find I am much happier overall if I have exercised and this not exercising due to working too much sucks. Luckily I should have it a bit easier for the rest of the year. Also found out that my car has arrived in Glenwood yesterday and plan to pick it up on Tues after it has been appropriately winterized. I look forward to having it ESPECIALLY since I have 4 friends from CA coming on Wed to hang out for Thanksgiving. It is supposed to storm until then and then be beautiful for Thurs through Sunday while they are here. I hope to show them a good time and since there are 4 of them and a dog I will need that bigger car to take em around!
That is all from Aspen this week... XOXO... PS I hope you all have a happy thanksgiving... I am thankful you are in my lives :)

the sky is falling party

This week was more work. Started our weekly hike with staff to prepare for the Summit for Life uphill coming in Dec to collect $ for Chris Klug's organization to promote organ donation. It was fun. Worked Sat am then tried to see the mastadon bones but the wait was 1.5 hrs (some friends waited 2 hours) and I didn't have the time since I had to get home to set up for "the sky is falling party"... it was FANTASTIC... lots of folks came and we had a blast. Great food, friends and even some costumes (pix later). This am cleaned up and then hiked and now getting ready for another VERY busy week. Next weekend will have 2 days off in a row WHEE HEE...

Hope you are all well :)

almost forgot the most important stuff...

mastodon skeleton's etc found in snowmass!!!!!!!!!! Way COOL!...
check it out on the internet at aspen times or aspen daily news... way cool!

Jeff Daniels...

Had a good week at work. Then, last minute on Fri night, got invited by a friend and went to see Jeff Daniels at the Belly Up. You may know him as what I considered a pretty mediocre to poor actor in Dumb and Dumber but then saw him play music. He is a fantastic musician and COMPLETELY different than his role on Dumb and Dumber so likely a good actor. Apparently he recently did a movie where he was a serious serial killer which I will likely not see but may show his acting skills better. I really liked his music/lyrics etc... Was fun. Then I have been on call this weekend. Some interesting social issues with patients and not too crazy (at least not yet). Weather has been fantastic. Brad is away playing music and rafting and having a good time. No news on where the car is or when I get it. That is all! Hope you are all happy and healthy!!!

Rally to Restore Sanity

Hi all...
Been an interesting week. Monday snowed 10 inches and got snow tires on my car while at work in Basalt. That was a good thing since the next 2 days were kinda snowy... then BEAUTIFUL weather (especially this weekend). Has been gorgeous!
Work is same same. Life is good. Got some hikes in this week. Wanted to go to the Rally to Restore Sanity and or Keep Fear Alive with Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewert but realized it would be insane to try to get there with work etc. Fri night interviewed a potential Pediatrician we like and then Sat watched the Rally on tv... my folks went to represent but I may have had a better view. It was GREAT to see sane people get together to have some fun. Only hope the media/politicians will listen but doubt it. Went to the Shitkicker's ball last night and the benefit for the Mother Puckers hockey team and both were fun with a variety of Aspenites.
Was to get my new car yesterday and sell my old one today but there was a mess up at the dealer so maybe next week?!?
Not much else new... gotta go study for the Fundamental Critical Care Support class and the Neonatal Resuscitation re-certification class I have to take in the next month...
Hope all is well... love, peace and sanity, ME

last float trip of the season

it was fantastic!... worked til 6 fri, got on the road about 7:30... got to the camp site about 11:30, laid it down about midnight... up all night with horrible diarrhea and was happy in the am when i knew it was food poisening and not a 48hr gi bug going around... felt much better... then we went and got the rafts ready and set off around noon-ish... great float and landed at our campsite just in time for a rain/hail deluge... but got the tents up and the 10x10 up with the mr heater and all where warm and toaty... had a great dinner of chicken alfredo and then listened to music... all stayed up and had a fire cept me since i was so tired from the night before... slept long and hard and packed up camp, had a great hike and hit the water again... nice float then got the boats packed up and drove home, unpacked and brad is passed out next to me... gotta work early tomorrow but need a vacation from my weekend...
GREAT company including Josh (married to Claire and all around great guy who saved both their lives in a snow cave last winter), Claire (hard core awsome nature conservationist), Anna (a rocket scientest we just met), Jason (architect/musician) and Eliot (nature guide extrordinaire and going to nursing school).
TOTALLY FUN... Good night :)

Fall...

This has been the most incredible fall I have experienced in Aspen yet. Unbelievably beautiful days. I tried to take pictures of the incredible leaves but that didn't work out so well. I am not a great photographer (especially with my palm pre). Unfortunately the days are getting shorter and it is again dark when I wake up and by 7pm so no late night hikes anymore. Clifford and I had some amazing hikes this week and weekend since it was a relatively easy week and discovered some new really remote spots not too far from home. Again unfortunately, I will make up for this weeks awesome time off next week with a 70 hour week between M-F but then we hope to go rafting with friends next weekend if the weather remains the same. Brad is arranging that trip. He had a great weekend of music, motorcycling and Aikido and came back totally exhausted but thrilled with how well everything went.
Not much else new... hope all is well with everyone reading this.
Good night and good week!

10/10/10

Another week went by... Work is good and again thankful daily for our new PA who has been fantastic. Took Clifford to the vet for his yearly check up and he passed. Had mine and passed (so far)... still have to get fasting blood work and mammo/bone density but that will be this week. Saw a friend in a play Fri night and she was fantastic. She even did several jokes in Portugese and did a great job. Hiked A LOT this weekend and enjoyed every minute. Took Brad's folks out for their 51st anniversary to a GREAT resteraunt that had a locals off-season special and it was impressive with amazing food and a great experience (really high end).

On to another week of work, hiking, life and maybe jury duty on Fri... YUCK...

Sent out an invitation to our "The Sky is Falling" party in Nov...

Til next time...

no pix this week

Returned to work after a great time camping last weekend. There has been another spectacular week of Indian Summer weather this week. Worked and hiked on my day off. Continued to teach Shinta to drive (she went on the highway this week) and then Saturday night spent sleeping out at a friend's house up for the return of their Open Heart Jam consisting of friends, music, art and enetertainment. Then woke up this morning, did a big shop, hiked up Aspen mountain for the last day of the season they had it open for down-loaders and crashed a great party at the top. After that went out to dinner with Brad's folks and now getting ready for work again tomorrow.
Another week of work and who knows what will happen next weekend.
Hope you all had a good week!

another fantastic camp...

Another week of work... no change there but great once again to have our new staff member who is VERY helpful... then this weekend I worked Sat am (yesterday) before going home for a 2 hour hike, getting some errands done and then packing it up to go camping again. This time was supposed to be "family camp" but all the families cancelled last minute so it was Brad/Clifford/me and a friend (he had the tent). We decided not to put up a tent and had a great time with an awesome dinner of salmon, lemon rissoto, ravioli, thai chicken rice wrap and smores... then got entertained by Brad at the fire... Clifford and I went hiking this morning after waking up to some serious frost and then came back to the sun fully up and drying our campsite... got home (twas only over the pass so just a short bit out of town) and unpacked, did laundry and now soon off to a Sukkah party then dinner and a movie for date night for Brad and I. Then back to work tomorrow. Overall a GREAT weekend, fun filled and action packed.

WHAT AN AWESOME WEEKEND... B's Bday event

What a fantastic weekend! AND life is going to be so much better from now on... Ok so we finally have help at work so no more 100 hour weeks YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Got to sleep in Fri and had a wonderful day working with teaching Shinta to drive, hanging out with a friend who is ready to pop with her second baby, going to dinner at Brad's folks and then to a party. Then Sat am got up and packed up the car and went up to Lincoln Creek on Independence pass for a fantastic B-day celebration with Brad and many friends. The weather, food, company and activities couldn't have been better. It was spectacular all around. Needless to say it was the perfect way to start a much better next year without being overworked all the time. I am even looking forward to another weekend of camping at "family camp next weekend" at a site just over the pass with hopefully more friends/food and wonderful scenery!!! :) The pix below just says it all!

relief, hanging lake etc

FINALLY THE CRAZY WEEKS ARE OVER! Our new PA started Friday and she is fantastic so she will be working full time and it will be significantly more reasonable for us. No more 100 hour weeks (or at least not regularly) YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...
I really only had about a 50 hour week and unfortunately had to say goodbye to one back staff I really liked since her boyfriend got into law school in Denver and she decided to move with him. We have some great people hired but still it is hard when we lose a good one.
Other than that today I got to hang out with Kay and Derryl and hiked to Hanging Lake. SO this summer I have done 2 hikes I have wanted to do for 11 years (Sopris and Hanging Lake). This was an easy hike comparitively in that it was only about 1.25 miles up for about 1000 foot gain. It was steep but beautiful BUT WAY OVERCROWDED. I am not into sharing nature with that many people. It was good to catch up with K and D though so overall a great day!
On to a more mellow week (YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) AND B's bday :)