Summit For Life

I just signed up for the Chris Klug Foundation Summit For Life race up Aspen Mountain December 12th... He sponsers organ donation and getting people signed up. He is an organ recipiant and within a year of getting his new liver he won silver in snowboarding in the Olympics AND is an all around GREAT GUY with a GREAT CAUSE... if you want to sponser me Summit for Life. Go to summitforlife.org. Just pick me as a racer and it is self explanatory from there.

Shitkicker's Ball

Well, we had another week at work that is like any other week although the flu scare seems to be easing off. We now have a very smart medical student with us from the U. of CO which is keeping us on our toes. I also had to take PALS on Thursday and since I found out Wednesday night that they forgot to give me one of the study books I feel lucky I passed. We even finished the course and testing early so Dewayne, his wife, Clifford and I went on an awesome hike from Tyak to the Sugar Bowels and back along the Government trail. It was 2 hours of spectacular scenery. Then Friday night after work I met with Shinta and then went to have dinner at Brad's folks house and that was awesome. Marty's back is only slightly better but anything is better than nothing and Carolyn is doing ok after her week of radiation (although concerned about some scarring). Then Saturday Clifford and I had a good hike, met a friend in town and then Brad and I went to the Shitkicker's Ball with a bunch of old time Aspenites at the Jerome Hotel in western wear. The outfits were fantastic, food good, people fun and band great. In fact Brad went up and joined the band for a couple of songs. Also 2 patients of mine were at the event who I had actually made a difference in their lives and they told me so which was a nice feeling. Brad and I really enjoyed being part of the real locals of Aspen. Today, Clifford and I took 2 awesome hikes from the house and just enjoyed being outside in the last bastion of Fall before Winter hits. A good and relaxing weekend overall. Hope you all had similar!

the return of fall and the reminder that winter isn't so bad

So we just had another crazy week at work. H1N1 has made it so we have not had an off-season and we have been really busy. We are trying to recruit another doc to help us out and had an interview with a GREAT doc/friend of mine but I think it is a long shot that he will really move here. It would be AWESOME if it would happen but I am not keeping my fingers crossed. Then the weekend hit and it has been an astoundingly beautiful weekend. The weather has been spectacular and I hiked with Clifford yesterday and today. Then it is catching up with work that needs to be done ie re-applying for privileges at AVH and studying for PALS. In the meantime, in order to avoid work, I uploaded this to try to get myself psyched for winter (which I am not really ready for). Also had a good conversation with Greg (I am liking our weekly catch-up sessions). That is it for this week other than Brad and I went on a date last night and saw "where the wild things are" which was ok but not great... GREAT COSTUMES and the kid was cute but not much else you can do to make a movie out of that awesome book.

local adventures...

This week we returned to Aspen and work. Work was fine and busy with H1N1. There are quite a few cases but also lots of regular viruses and lots of people who are worried. I worked Saturday and then went on to hike with Clifford and then to an English in Action fund raiser "tamale event". It was full of good people and good food. Very enjoyable. Today I woke up late and talked with Greg and James (very pleasant) and then hiked Clifford and then was joined by Shinta and her family to go to the Deaf Camp open house. Sekar did the zip line and lots of fun things. We then went to a Northstar open house to benefit them and honor John Denver who was very involved in their work. It was so fun. Back to work tomorrow and another week of more of the same. I will include pictures later if I can find them...

Carolyn and Marty's 50th

We went to CO Springs and stayed at the Chyanne Bed and Breakfast. It was very relaxing with wonderful folks running the lodge. They showed us a great time with increadible food, homey feeling and a wonderful atmosphere. We went to the Garden of the Gods, local cliff dwellings, and hiked a little around the area, went out to some great dinners and had an all around good time. I would suggest it for anyone's 50th (hint hint)...

tis summer again...

This week started with snow on the last day of summer and since then has improved. Yesterday and today were beautiful. Work was good this week and things are getting done at my office. Saturday was a great day of work in the morning, a hike after that, a movie and then a party. It was nice to get some work done and then be able to still have a full day. Today was waking up late and hiking and then I plan to go meet a friend from CA who is visiting. I can't wait to see her. Then it is another work week that should be quite busy. The flu season is keeping our office quite full.
PS, the pix is a view looking into a window of the building on the top of Buttermilk with some plants inside (the clear plants on the left), a reflection of the mountains behind me (the large image in the center) and the view through another window on the other side of the building of where I had just came from (the smaller square image on the right).

telluride 2009

We always go to the Telluride Blues and Brews festival for Brad's birthday and this year was no exception but it was an exceptional weekend. We are glad we didn't take our motorcycles since we LOVED our 10x10 tent in this weekend of sun/rain/hail/snow... our regular tent was SOAKED at the end (but we stayed dry) and our 10x10 didn't fair well through the last wind storm so had to be sacrificed but it served us well while it lasted. We had a great time listening to GREAT music including Big Head Tod (subbing for Xavier Rudd who cancelled at the last minute to my supreme sadness since I LOVE Xavier), Jackie Greene, Joe Cocker, Buddy Guy, Umphrey's McGee, Anders Osborne, Ruthie Foster, Taj Mahal and Bonnnie Raitt AND the BONTAJ ROULET with Taj and Bonnie together which was fantastic! We got to hang out with the Sisters (our friends from Lyons who make GREAT Asian food) and tons of friends from all over. We got Vendor access, Back Stage and were even on-stage for Anders Osborne which was AWESOME and we got VIP access for the major hail storm! IT WAS GREAT! We showed a friend who had never been there an awesome time and he would have frozen without us (all he had was flip flops and t-shirts and fell in love with our Mr Heater).

We got back today to the frenzy of getting ready for the week. I already tutored Shinta, went to a hospital meeting and started to answer my 84 emails. ALSO dried out the SOAKING WET tent and got VERY MUDDY clothes laundered. Even got to wear and wash Gloria's awesome hippie skirt which Kay gave me which EVERYONE always comments on and loves (thank you Kay and Gloria). Wearing that makes me channel Woodstock ESPECIALLY when it is as muddy as it was this last weekend. Anyway it is back to my 6 day work week with call (ughh)...

Love to you all, Me