Yesterday was a fun busy day. After we woke up, Lori and I took a little hike up the ski slopes. Then we all got cleaned up and headed into town. The famers market was going on so the town was packed. We walked around and did some shopping. Lori found some shorts and cute sweaters on sale and so did Tina. Jeff and Tina almost bought an original ceramic plate by Picasso that was framed in this art gallery, but it was $18K. Finally, we all had lunch at Clark’s before heading back to the house around 2. I joked with Jeff how he just saved around $20K by getting out of the art gallery before the guy closed them as he was pitching it hard. You see, Jeff and Tina have a habit of getting sucked in often to things, ha.
At 3:30 we walked down the hill and were pretty near the front of the VIP line to get into Heritage Fire. This is a festival of 20 top chefs from around the Country and World that all cook up their special dish. We had a 45-minute head start on general admission, so we all hit the stands that looked like the best to us. After about an hour, we were all stuffed and headed up the hill for our walk back to the townhome.
We rested for 90 minutes or so and then decided to head back into Aspen and go to Kemo Sabe. They’re a high end cool western store where we’ve known the owners for probably 20 years. About 6 or 7 years ago, Wendy the manager, bought the stores from Tom, the original owner. The have stores in Aspen, Vail, Vegas and now Park City. Some of their stuff is super expensive, like old jewelry well over $100k. Their bread and butter are cowboy hats and boots. We introduced Jeff and Tina to them years ago and of course they spent lots of money there too. They have lots of $2000 belt buckles and belts, all custom made and heirlooms. Most hats, which they custom fit are $1K. The place is always packed as everyone who comes to Aspen wants to be a cowboy.
The funny thing is Jeff and Tina always get sucked in and end up buying something that they think is less expensive than it really is. This trip was no different. This time, Tina needed a new hat. Short story is, Lori and Tina both had hats made by Aspen Hatters and we think they mixed them up when they made them. This was probably three years ago. The hat Tina had was perfect for Lori and fit her best and didn’t fit Tina. Each hat was probably $1K three years ago. We came up with the idea since it didn’t fit Tina, that we’d buy Tina a new hat and then Tina would give Lori her hat that didn’t fit. So off we went.
Upon arrival there was a line behind the velvet rope of people waiting to get in. I had to tell the guy manning the door who I was, and he went to get the manager who came over and greeted me and escorted us in and then we went behind another rope and headed upstairs to the bar. Jeff and Tina, who always amaze us at how much they can drink, ha, downed a large glass of whisky each, as soon as we arrived. Finally, a salesgirl came upstairs to greet us, and we went back downstairs to shop. Tina found a nice hat that looked great on her while Lori found a pair of really cool pair of short boots. Lori as usual, was getting buyer’s remorse before we even bought them. Meanwhile Tina was looking at hat bands for her new hat. Sophie, our salesgirl, was selling away hard as they do. She put one on Tina’s hat that was beautiful and made of silver with small diamonds encrusted on it. Hard to explain but not over the top, just really cool looking. I saw the price and told Jeff, dude, I’ll get the hat for Tina trading hers to Lori, but the hat band is all on you! Tina of course, didn’t look at the price and after looking at others, of course came back to this iconic, one-of-a-kind, gorgeous hat band. Most of the expensive ones ran at $750 or so. I think Jeff thought that’s about what this cost. Anyhow, Sophie fitted the hat band to the hat, and I paid for the hat. Then they rang up the hat band and Jeff handed over his card. Sophie handed him the receipt and he looked at Tina and said, “honey, what all did you buy”? Tina replied with, “oooh, I love my hat”! Jeff asked her again, “honey, what did you buy” and she said, “just the hat band”. By now Jeff realized what the price was he had the receipt in front of him to sign and Sophie said, it was just the hat band. He then replied, “for $3000 dollars”? Tina, who by now had had at least 2 large tumblers of whisky, said, “I don’t know”. I immediately burst out laughing and patted Jeff on the back, as this was another case of them not looking at the price, ha. What’s funny as when I was paying for the hat, Jeff told Sophie, jokingly, “just have Doug pay for the hat and hat band, he’ll buy it”! Of course, I HAD looked at the price and replied, “oh no buddy, no way, I told Sophie, “I got the hat but Jeff’s getting the hat band”. With the hat band sewed onto the hat and Tina prancing around, and in love with her new hat and band, drinking her third glass of whisky, and thoroughly inebriated, Jeff just sighed and signed the receipt. We walked out laughing as this has happened before at this very store where Tina came home with a $4000 belt and buckle last trip. Sophie thanked me as she knew we brought them back in. In the end, it’s all good as they can afford it, Tina loves it and Lori loves her new hat that was brand new and made originally for Tina but never fit her so all’s good. Just funny that it happened again. You think he’d learn!
It’s 7am now, Jag is driving Ty to work and Lori is in the shower. There are three cute little fawns (baby deer) outside our window. We’ll all get cleaned up and head home. Jeff and Tina will follow us as there’s a pair of blue python boots at the Vail store of Kemo Sabe Tina wants to try on, to go with her new blue hat, for another $1600! Bwaaahhhh, poor Jeff.
It’s been a fun trip. We’ve been here less than 48 hours but it seems like a week. We always have fun and Jeff and Tina are some of our closest friends for over 20 years. We have tons of stories like this. Good time. Make it a great day and stay out of Kemo Sabe unless you win the lottery! God Bless.