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!!!