Happy New Year!

Back to work, short week

Holidays are almost over. We had a great time in Seattle! I'm back in Denver and back to work today for a short week. However I'm on call this week and this weekend so I probably won't be able to go skiing. I have to stay close to home in case I get a call.

...sigh...

I love holidays! I love vacation time!
.. Back to work...

Flying back home to Denver

After a very white and snowy Christmas in Seattle, we are finally heading home back to Denver. The snow has stopped and now it's back to a wet drizzle. We had a great time! I think we are even still on great speaking terms with the family. We broke my own rule of staying no more than three days with family to not out-stay our welcome. It was really a fantastic time.

Let it snow, let it snow.... Merry Christmas!!

More snow in Seattle!! We've got two Four Wheeler ATV's. I think it's a very White Christmas this year for a lot of people. We're practically snowed in here near Seattle. My rule of thumb when visiting relatives - never stay more than three days. Well we've been here all week in Seattle and we're having a lot of fun!

Let it snow!

Merry Christmas!!!!

December 22, 2008 - Skiing at Snoqualmie

We went skiing at The Summit at Snoqualmie.
James, Sean, Karissa, Denny, and myself.
Tons of powder but very small mountain with short runs.
It was fun though! Great powder!!!

December 20, 2008 - Seattle for Christmas

December 20, 2008
We saw a play "You Can't Take it With You" in Downtown Seattle. Seattle is getting hit hard by snow and flights have been cancelled! It's a really white Christmas.

December 19, 2008
My family are headed to Seattle to spend a week of Christmas. It snowed again, delaying flights, but we made it out.

Space Needle at Christmas

December 17, 2008 in Utah

We drove up to Salt Lake City to catch our 8pm flight to Denver. But... it snowed in Vegas which delayed a lot of Southwest Airline flights. We didn't get out until about 11pm and arrived in Denver around 12:30 or 1am. I didn't get home until around 2:30am and didn't get to sleep until about 3am.

It snows in Vegas and I get delayed going back to Denver.

Earlier in the day I broke away for lunch and drove over to Southtown Mall to see my cousin Hilary Weeks perform. That was cool. My sister met me there also. I talked with Hilary and her husband Tim for awhile.

December 16, 2008 Provo, Utah

I had a great week at Novell Advanced Technical Training! I met a lot of cool people and got to see a lot of people that I haven't seen for awhile. It was great traveling with my friends, Mark H, and Khrys L.

It was great to be back in Provo. My kids live nearby in Spanish Fork so I was able to spend time with Gina, Wesley, and Christian. I spent Monday night getting Gina's iPod ready - her XMAS gift. I spent Tuesday night going to see Bolt 3D with Chris and Wes.

Big announcement - No Brainshare this year. Novell cancelled Brainshare. I think this is a good idea.

My company cancelled their travel plans. In fact I paid my own way to Novell Advanced Technical Training because I didn't want to lose out on this opportunity. We'll just have to make up for it by doing more online training and bringing training to the users and resellers. My company, Alttech, just signed up to be a Novell Authorized Education Center. I'm thinking about persuing my CNI - Cert Novell Instructor - so I can start teaching Novell classes.

December 14, 2008 - Temple Square

I missed Church today so it felt good to take in the sights at Temple Square.

I met this sister missionary from Peru and I congratulated her on the recent announcement of a new temple in Peru. She hadn't heard the news yet so I had to prove it to her through my Blackberry and show her the announcement. She was so excited! It was a cool early Christmas Present for her. That was cool. I toured around Temple Square. It was very peaceful and not too many people were around. If you haven't been to Temple Square in Salt Lake City I definately recommend it. There is a special spirit and peace here.

I went back and picked up Mark and we headed to Provo.

December 14, 2008 - Flight to SLC

It snowed all night and this morning. I woke up early to get ready for my flight to Provo. I was supposed to meet my friend Mark Harvey at the airport for our flight to SLC for Novell Advanced Technical Training this week. Mark arrived in plenty of time to park his car and ride the shuttle to the Airport, but his shuttle broke down and caused him to miss the flight. We de-iced and I made it to Salt Lake without Mark. I had plenty of time to pick up the Car rental and so I took some time to go to Temple Square.

December 13, 2008 - Skiing at Copper Mountain

Skiing at Copper Mountain with James, Zeke, Ethen, and my brother, Evan.
Every year we get cheap tickets through the Boy Scouts of America. $24 for a ski day and lunch included!

Posting updates - last two weeks...

I've got some updating to do for the last two weeks. I've been in Provo, Salt Lake, Denver, and Seattle.
I'll be posting all these updates from Seattle.

Sunday November 30 - Driving in Bad Weather

Update on the Drive Sunday November 30 BAD SNOW and WIND!
We left at 10:30am Sunday morning.
Driving from Denver to Grand Junction, transfer the kids to their Mom, she takes them back to Provo. Merial and I drive back to Denver.
This drive usually takes total anywhere from 9 hours to 11 hours max.

This time we ran into very bad weather from Georgetown to the Tunnel on I70. It took us 1 1/2 hours just to get to Dillon from Georgetown!

The drive from Vail to Grand Junction was fine! No problem. In Grand Junction it was light jacket weather.

On the way back we found out that Vail Pass was closed AND the Tunnel was closed. I decided to take matters in my own hands and exited at Wolcott and drove up 131 with intentions of taking 134 up near Kremling.

Bad mistake!

134 was not driveable. We continued up toward Yampa which made us back-track. We ended up heading up towards Steamboat springs near Highway 40. On the way we pulled some guy and his 4-wheel pickup out of a ditch. So that was cool.

Finally we arrived at Yampa at a service station. A few people were there kind of stranded. We found out they re-opened I70 over Vail Pass and the Tunnel. So.... we drove the 50 miles back to Wolcott. We got back on I70 and it really was no problem getting over Vail Pass, and up to the Tunnel. But on the East side of the Tunnel we had white-out conditions and major blowing snow! We finally made it back to Denver at 1:30am on Monday morning.

It took us 15 hours which usually should take us 10 to drive from Denver to Grand Junction and Back. My kids arrived in Provo at 9pm.

It was worth it to have my kids with me! And.. everyone is safe.