November 19, 2000, Sunday- everything clicked this morning and we got out ahead of schedule. We dropped off the coach by the service area and hit the road just after 7:30. With lots of sun and empty highways we cruised I-10 then up I-25 and stopped in Santa Fe, NM. 500 miles and we cruised in at 3:30. Not bad!
Yesterday we called Shelby and arranged to meet her at her home and then do some dinner. It was a little tricky to find her home, but it was worth the difficulty. Very Santa Fe with stucco and thick walls. Lots of space and we felt lost in the 2700 square feet. After a drink at La Fonda, dinner at Pasqual's hit the spot.
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November 20, 2000, Monday- after an easy cruise of 400 miles into Denver we had dinner with Deb and Steve at Bandara's, one of their favorite Cherry Creek
watering holes. During the afternoon I got to move about 40 boxes in Steve's basement trying to find a few photo albums for the Thanksgiving feast at Becky's parent's home. Each time I move the boxes, they seem to get heavier.
November 21, 2000, Tuesday - Debi took the day off and the three of us went to Cherry Creek. Successfully we knocked off a lot of items from our holiday shopping lists. Afterwards we brought dinner over to Bill and Lani's (Mtolly had an earache and couldn't go out). Molly was quite an entertainer, even with her earache. Her singing and dancing kept us in stitches.
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November 22, 2000, Wednesday- While Susan got her hair cut, I caught up on the computer/phone stuff that always follows our mail drop. Then we picked up the Porsche from Debi's garage and drove to the Jeffco Airport. Her boss's bosses friend has a hanger where we could store the car (for a fee) during the winter months. It took a shoehorn to put the car behind the biggest engine block lifter that I've ever seen. It could probably be used to lift and entire plane off the hanger floor. After that was done we headed to see her office complex, and complex it is. It's building and after building after building tied around a center exercise and cafeteria facility. High tech all the way!
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Next, over to the new Flatirons Mall. It has quite the list of stores and while in the shoe department of Nordstrum's the young saleslady told Debi that her mother calls the pair of shoes she was looking at "birth control shoes". They are so ugly that nobody would date you.
November 23, 2000, Thursday- Happy Turkey Day! Becky's folks, Cami and Paul, included Debi, Susan and me to join in their festivities. So add Becky, Steve, and Becky's brother Paul and sister Kristen and a friend, whew, and the table was filled with 10. But first we had to play a few sets of tennis on their court, then a brisk walk for a few miles, and then….the festivities began. At Cami's request we pulled a few photo albums from Steve's basement, and brought them along. Cami did likewise, and looking at the old photos was a kick!
Dinner felt like a 42 course banquet fit for the king. Yet, it was all served in a relaxing, comfortable setting. Their family is very warm and gracious, and we were pleased to spend the holiday in such company.
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After dinner we drove to Vail, and Bill and Lani had graciously extended their condo to us for the weekend.
November 24, 2000, Friday- a beautiful sunny day today, and Phil, Susan and I, along with Mozart and Hobbes did a 2 hour snowshoe up the Grouse Creek Trail. After three years without being on snowshoes, the brain still worked and we were able to travel upwards without tripping over our extended feet. Afterwards we joined Becky's family at après ski at one of the Vail watering holes. Everywhere we turned during the day and evening we bumped into friends that we haven't seen in too many years. Dinner, a late one with Becky and Steve, 9 pm at the Edwards Brewery. Good casual fare.
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November 25, 2000- Saturday- the big challenge day. Debi, Susan and I planned to meet Becky, Steve and family at the Spruce Saddle Restaurant on the mountain at Beaver Creek. We allowed ourselves two hours for the climb and only after we started did we realize it was a 2100 foot climb, a few hundred feet of vertical greater then the Vail to midVail gain. It took us 1 hour and 59 minutes for the trek, and we certainly earned a big lunch. For dinner we got a chance to partially reciprocate with Becky's family, and everyone came over for a casual lasagna dinner that Susan had prepared. As an added treat Ben joined us as he rolled in from Santa Fe, at Shel's house.
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November 26, 2000- Sunday- another packed day. After Steve left for skiing, we cleaned Bill and Lani's condo, (thanks for the use), and caught a great lunch at Alpenrose in Vail with Art and Anna. They just returned from a month in Bonaire, and there was a lot of catching up to do. Our two plus hour lunch made a small dent! Listening to their long range plans- where, if all of the pieces fall into place, cover out to the summer of 2003, were certainly in contrast to our nomadic life style where who knows where we will be tomorrow!
Afterwards we moved over to Fran and Alan's, played a few hands of Eucher and then caught dinner at Zino's in Edwards. Phil joined us for a lively five some at dinner. A big surprise that the food was superb, far better then we remembered. Afterwards we played a few more hands of cards, and again the men were luckier then the women. Good work Alan!
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