Resignation

It feels better than I thought it would to write my letter of resignation!

Just watched "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", funny movie and it takes place in Hawaii!

A Letter from the Buyer

From: diane hammer
Date: October 7, 2009 6:00:34 PM MDT
To: Daniel Lane
Subject: Re: Greetings from Colorado

hi dan! thank you so much for the detailed email. yes, i just love your house!! everything about it!! thank you SO MUCH for selling it to me. it will be a perfect retirement home. the loan process, etc., is going very well. i'm just waiting for a settlement cost so i can wire to title company, as well as package to sign. i looked at a total of 44 houses! most in castle rock area. yours was the first one i looked at in parker. i immediately liked it as well as the town. i looked at 4 or so more houses in parker, but knew that yours was the one i wanted. my furniture will look perfect, as i have collections from almost all over the world. the loft will be turned into the Africa room!! i will eventually finish half of the basement into a room that could be used as bedroom or game room with contemporary shelves, recessed lighting, and whatever, and wall off the other half for storage.
i wanted to live in CO after i made my first visit to aspen/vail in 1973. my brother lives 40 miles away in lakewood. he is the CEO of the colorado railroad museum in Golden. have you been there? his house is on a dead end to a hiking trail on green mountain. needless to say, he has a gorgeous view of denver. by the way, where does the bike trail in the back go? castle rock? do you mow the strip out the gate, or does the county/community? do you use the community pool or clubhouse? are there many community-sponsored activities?
here's a bit of background on me: i just retired from the AF after serving my country 32.4 years. my last assignment was special duty at the US embassy (as operations coordinator) in abuja, Nigeria for 2 years. it was definitely an eye-opening experience working with the local nationals and state department! our office (defense attache office) was understaffed and was joint service. anyways, i think i could have really enjoyed the position, had the working conditions been different, or at a different location. there was never really anywhere to get away for the weekend as we had numerous travel restrictions, etc. with that, though, i did manage to take vacations and travel to zambia (victoria falls), and go on an african safari to the northern serengeti of tanzania, a trip to zanzibar (a wonderful island off the tanzania coastline), and a 50 mile backpacking trip to the highest, most remote point in nigeria. good think we had porters to carry
our stuff, or i would have never made it...! also a couple of conference to garmish, germany and madrid, spain were a good chance to get away.
i had my retirement ceremony at hanscom AFB (about 16 miles from boston) which was my last duty assignment prior to going overseas, on 7 May 2009, then flew down to bradenton, florida, where i currently am living with my dad. my mom died on 9 august of lymphoma. i was actually househunting in CO when she died, so my brother and i immediately flew back. so, i've been helping my dad with various matters, as well as spending time with him. he has early alheizmers disease, unfortunately, and i have noted a decline since returning home. so, i'm not sure how long he will be able to manage on his own. he's 84.
i plan on staying here through the winter, so, yes, to answer your question, you can stay there through jan 9/10. in fact, you can stay there as long as you want to or need to! you are also really doing me a favor by being in the house and looking after it. i really appreciate that. the lease that my realtor has is ok with me. yes, any kind of sign or diagram of herb garden would be great! i enjoy gardening, myself, and plan on having flowers, vegetables, etc. (your tomatoes look wonderful!) i'm sure it will never look like what you guys have done, though! i love the patio cover! by the way, what do your utilities run on the average in summer/winter? did you use your fireplace with blower very much? the grill is great--especially hooked up to gas. do you start it like any other gas grill with a tank? i appreciated you giving me a couple of those items from my wish list. the prices you gave me on the other items is fine. thank you very much.
i'll send you a check, if that's ok. i really like the kitchen set. it looks so nice with decor. i have a square-round glass topped table with 4 cushion-type chairs that i will put in the dining area, as well as a @ 7' X 7' handcarved teakwood stereo cabinet that will fit perfect in the living room.
if there is any cleaning solutions or the like that you don't want to dispose of, please let me know. do you happen to have any leftover paint? what kind of paint is it?
i understand you will be moving to hawaii. what island? i have been to oahu 3 or 4 times, i think. do you have a place over there? good luck with your move! if there's any helpful tidbits of info you think i might like, please feel free to let me know.
looking forward to more communication. and thanks again.

diane

Ideavirus.com

Once again Freeman hooked me up, he sent me a link called 10 Bestsellers: Using New Media, New Marketing, and New Thinking to Create 10 Bestselling Books. As part of his marketing plan, I got a free book called IdeaVirus by Seth Godin. It is a really innovative way of marketing that will help Dan and I make our way in Kauai. Give it a watch, it's long but inspiring. It gets your mind opened up and thinking! Another site I found inspiring is The Next US Stories. They are travelling around America, video taping innovative folks who are finding new ways to make a living in this market. Here is a quote from the web site "The Next US is a journey into the heart of America to find those who are thriving while supporting high standards of community, sustainability, ecology, and cultural evolution."

I love you Jon! Thank you for all your support, I really appreciate all the nuggets you find - while persuing your own dream - and share with me! They keep the dream alive, the fire going, the ideas coming.

Doctor's Orders

I went to get a physical on Monday and got some bad news from my doc. She says I have gained 20 pounds in the last 2 years, yikes!! Because of my weight (she thinks since my diet is so good) I am pre diabetic. Normal goes up to 99 and I am at 110, 126 is considered diabetic. Last year I was at 100. Also my cholesterol is not in a good range, again she thinks it's because of my weight. She wants me to lose 8 pounds by cutting out and or burning 250 calories a day and include 30 minutes of exercise a day. So, my goal is to do Bob's (from the Biggest Loser) yoga for weight loss on the weekends and walk the dogs at least once. On the weekdays I'll walk 2 sets of 5 flights of stairs 4 times a day (two sets take 10 minutes) and do yin yoga in the mornings. Dan and would have a bottle of wine with dinner 3 nights a week and we are cutting that down to 1. Hopefully, that will do it. Although I am pretty sure once we move to Kauai it'll be easier for the weight to come off. I'd like to join one of those 6 man canoe clubs, snorkel and hike. Plus, it's warmer there and when I'm hot I don't want to eat as much. Right now, my legs feel like jello, all up the backside, I have done the stairs 3 times today. I think I'll give it a rest for the remainder of the day so I can walk tomorrow!

The final paper work on the house is wrapping up. We appraised at $250.000.00 and the price we agreed to in the contract was 250,500.00. Initially, we had agreed at 250 but the buyer wanted a $500.00 home warranty (to cover the appliances) so her realtor suggested we add it to the total price. Now that it has appraised at 250 they want us to give them $500.00! So, Dan decided to give them the grill and extension ladder. Irritating since we bought the house for 242 and have done loads of improvements, most recently the carpet, but what can we do? We want the house to sell and since our neighbor may be going into foreclosure, we don't want to take any chances.

On a sad note. Dan's dad had to go into the hospital last week. He is in pretty sad shape. They got him well enough and sent him to a rehab center, he needs to build his muscles up. While at the center, his kidneys failed so he went back to the hospital. It appears there is some dementia developing as well. They think they will be sending him back to the rehab center tomorrow.

Reinvigorateted!

With all the stress of moving and everything that goes with it, plus the cold, depressing weather moving in, my Kauaiian aloha spirit was waning. I was searching ITunes for Hawaii and came across a couple who does podcasts from Kauai. Or did, the last one was in 07. They hang out in Hanalei Bay, play guitar and ukulele and video tape the sunsets and happenings. The one I watched had a baby whale playing in the water while her soft, lilting, easy voice described what was going on - including closing the beach early yesterday because of a shark - with him playing Hawaiian music. I am so glad I found that and watched it. My passion has been re stoked! I also found a podcast on leaning to speak Hawaiian so we'll be listening to that on the way to work. There were quite a few podcasts, one that discusses the happenings in Hawaii, a surfing one, more language ones. I just love ITunes!

Hanalei Sunsets

It's cloudy, cold and windy outside. I'm on the couch in my comfy sweats, Baxter is quietly sleeping beside me and Lucy is softly snoring on the other side of him. The dryer is tumbling our clothes leaving behind a warmth and smell that is calming. I have some mellow music on XM and am going back to reading. Dyanne gave me a book the other day called Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting. When we told her we were moving to Kauai, that book popped in her head and she said we had to read it. So far so good! Oh, laundry is done...

Goodbye Beloved Trail

Leaving Colorado is in our sights and I am reminded of the things that I will probably never do again. This morning I walked the dogs. I have walked this 4 mile loop of the Cherry Creek bike path hundreds of times in the last 8 years. The dogs know it well. This is the last walk I will be able to enjoy the colors of fall. There is yet time for sunrises and big sky.

My IPhone can't quite capture the way the golden light plays off the trees or Baxter's brown velvet coat. I am reminded of a time I walked the dogs in the fall. It was a classic beautiful Colorado fall day. Baby blue sky, a coolness to the air; crisp yet warmed but the sun. Passing by a clump of golden cottonwoods a breeze came and blew the leaves off the trees. Their golden faces reflecting the sunlight and making everything sparkle. I was struck by the beauty and had to stop and watch. I found myself raising my arms to the sky, tilting my face up as well; feeling the warmth of the sun and twirling with my eyes closed! It was fantastic!

I go out the gate that Dan put into the back split rail fence.

Walk down the well worn path that Dan keeps mowed for me.

Pass the iron bridge that goes over Cherry Creek.

I have met many people on this path.

The nice lady whose walking stick has indian totems running its length. The older lady who stopped me on the trail, sung me a poem about Jesus she wrote and gave me the paper she had written it on. The overweight grumpy couple who rode their bikes and got tweaked because the dogs were off leash. The older guy who reminds me of Steve Small walking his 2 dogs that bully mine. Tom and his golden Chloe, we always stop and chat for 10 or 15 minutes while Baxter runs around barking at me to move on. The old guy, who had diabetes and rode on his roller blades every day to keep it at bay. This is ranch country and we walk on a working ranch. One spring day while Dan was walking the dogs, a mother cow walked up behind him and shoved him in the back with her nose, protecting her calf I guess. The "doinking" deer, who, alone at sunrise would bounce around radiating joy because he was alive. The rattlesnakes. One morning, we were walking the dogs and the sun was coming up, lighting up everything. We looked across and there were hundreds of spider webs forming a lacy patchwork throughout the cattails. This morning as I was rounding my favorite bend, lined with trees and wild flowers I saw 2 deer loping out of the brush and a coyote lumbering after them. All the dogs, animals and people enrich our walks.

Baxter and Lucy love getting into the creek. They drink greedily on hot days (their shots are current) Lucy slowly walking and drinking letting the current guide her. Baxter running as fast as he can up and down the creek bed, splashing and generally having a great time. One time, the creek was really full from a lot of rain. Lucy was hot and thirsty and went down in a place that was unusual for her. She got caught up in the current and started to float down stream. I thought I was going to have to go in but I walked along beside her until she came upon a bank and got out. We get home, I rinse them off and give them a towel dry which for some reason, they both love!

Lucy loves the towel dry, she hates getting her picture taken!

So many times I have walked this trail. In joy, sorrow, love, anger, through tears, running it to burn some calories, listening to the birdsong, the rustle of the leaves, the hum of insects. Rain and hail pouring down (Dan came and rescued me with an umbrella), impossible wind, sun relentlessly pounding down. Snowshoeing when we got dumped on, Lucy walking in my tracks, Baxter sinking to his chest trying to make his own. I have felt deep gratitude for this trail and will always be grateful for its presence and the gifts it has brought me.

He's in Foreclosure

It's a full moon tonight. Dan and I had a nice day. We went to see The Invention of Lying, pretty good movie, original concept. Then we had lunch at India Kitchen, a new Indian resturant in Parker where the old Italian Villa used to be. We had the lunch buffet and it was really good, especially the naan! We definately want to go back for dinner. We are waiting for Monday. Monday is the deadline when the inspection, appraisal and all the paper work have to be done in order to close on the 15th. Word is, so far so good. Then we have to figure out how to get a lease/contract for the remainder of our time here. They won't let us talk to the buyer so it's gonna be trickey. We picked the day for our going away party, Saturday December 12th. It's early but basically our only option. Work's Christmas party is the 4th, we are going to have our big sale the 19th, then Christmas and New Years and on January 9th we'll have a birthday party for mom and dads 80th. Then we go! Our neighbour came by because our Netflix movie showed up in her mailbox. She said the neighbour next to us must be in forclousure because there have been moving trucks and no for sale sign. He had one up a couple years ago, if that's the case I am really glad our house is under contract and moving forward nicely! The car is still waiting for the right person to buy. Our realtors friend, who has a place in the mountains that needs to be furnished, came by. She is considering buying a lot of stuff including the weight machine. She took pictures of everything she is interested in and left to discuss it with her husband. It's all coming together! We are getting really excited!