We (Sue and I) spent most of Autumn desperately trying to get
through a couple of technical problems on my project in Minneapolis. By
mid-December, everybody needed a bit of a break, so I hosted a Christmas party
and then shut the project down for two weeks. Everybody went home to spend
time with family and friends, while Sue and I took three days of quiet time in
Estes Park at the Ekle's condo.
Sue had been to Estes Park when she was five years old, but had
not been back since. She loved the view and the wildlife.
After three days, we had calmed down enough from work that we were able to
rejoin the world, so we picked up the girls and went skiing at Keystone.
We also brought along Dillon and Lara Ekle, since they don't get much of an
opportunity to ski anymore (Jeanne doesn't like to ski).
After skiing, it was back to town where we purchased probably
the last Christmas tree left in the city and then returned to the apartment to
get things decorated for the holidays. Sue left on Christmas Eve to return
to Minnesota for Christmas with her children.
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Rush Creek hosted our Christmas Party |
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While not everybody on the team was able to make it, we had a pretty good turnout and everybody had a great time visiting, eating good food, and just plain relaxing. |
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The bar was popular! |
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Heather was our bartender. Here Kim Schramm (my project administrator) gets a well-deserved drink. Kim did a lot of work setting up this party for us. |
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The HP project team |
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From the left: Michelle, Bob P., Dan, Wayne & Spouse, Bob S. & Spouse |
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More of the team |
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From the left: Joan, Gail (waving), Kim, Roseanne, Jacquie, Rich, Charles, Jamie, and Jim |
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Eric and Kristi |
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Eric was a lifesaver on this project, and was with the project from initial inception. Here he and his wife finally have a chance to relax long enough to smile! |
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The die hards |
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Chris, me, Sergey, Jamie, Sergey's date, EJ, Kristi, Bob P, Eric, Dan, and Michelle. |
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The view from the Ekle's living room at Estes |
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Two days after the party, we shut down the project for the holidays (2 weeks). Sue and I vanished to Estes Park and spent three days in the Ekle's condo, hiding from everybody and attempting to regain our sanity. With this kind of view, it wasn't hard. |
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Long's Peak |
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As seen from the condo, looking south |
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Rocky Mountain National Park |
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Looking east down the valley from the condo |
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Sue absolutely loved the view! |
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Big Thompson Canyon |
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We took an afternoon drive down Big Thompson Canyon one day since it's so scenic. |
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Big Thompson River |
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Sue took some time out to just sit on a boulder (upper left) and relax to the sound of rushing water. |
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Andy at Big Thompson River |
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Rocky Mountain National Park |
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After Big Thompson, we drove back up to the park and spotted a group of large bulls hanging out in this field. |
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Showing off |
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These two bulls decided to show off a bit. Only problem was that all the cows were down in town. |
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We found the cows |
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All the cows were hanging out in somebody's yard across the street from the Safeway store in town. I guess they got tired of those bulls showing off up in the park. |
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Flattop Mountain and Hallett's Peak |
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As seen from the Ekle's condo, looking across the valley into Rocky Mountain National Park. Tom and I have climbed these, but I couldn't talk Sue into hiking up them on this particular day. Something about cold, snow, and wind... |
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The Stanley |
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No trip to Estes Park would be complete without a stop by the Stanley Hotel. |
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Lunch at Keystone |
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After Estes we all took off for a day of skiing at Keystone mountain. Here Katie, Sue, Dillon Ekle, and Lara Ekle enjoy lunch at the summit house. (Rachel was in a private ski lesson.) |
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Sue's first time on a real ski mountain |
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This was Sue's first time skiing outside of Minnesota. Here she's taking a break on Schoolmarm (I think). |
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Rachel and her instructor |
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Rachel at Keystone |
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After Rachel's lesson, we all got a chance to ski together over on the "bunny slope" and see what Rachel had learned. |
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Trimming the tree |
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I think we got absolutely the LAST Christmas tree in Colorado Springs, but it was a nice one and fit perfectly in the apartment. |
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Rachel liked her presents from Sue |
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Katie opening her present from Sue |
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Sue and Katie |
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Katie gave Sue a thankyou hug for her Christmas present and we discovered that when Sue takes off her heels, Katie is actually a wee bit taller! |
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