Well we made it to 2016 and life as I knew is, different.
As much as I loved the life I had, I know my future is bright and I still have the support I've always had to do what I love. There has been a lot of adjustments, figuring out all the bills, the stunning amount of passwords and user names. There have been sad and happy moments but overall everything is getting better.

Last night I finally got around to running a full set of rice paper logos for the next round of Grellboards. I also managed to prep on of the G48 molds and cut fiberglass. I ran a new vacuum line for the system and with any luck will layup my first board of the 2016 season.

It rained hard all night, since I've moved out of the main house, almost moved out would be a better way of explaining it. I've slowly been shifting to my new life, scaling things back and focusing on what is important in my life. Snowboard Canada contacted me yesterday about being the Technical Delegate for 8 snowboardcross events at the end of January and beginning of February. So I will be off to Tabor Mountain for just over a week.

Tahoe has lots of Snow and I am going up to spend a few days snowboarding, snurfing and just getting used to spending more time in Tahoe. I'm not scheduling to much as I want to have the freedom to do what is important. For now that includes finishing up projects close to home and shifting resources to where they need to be.

Life is good.
JG

Almost to a new year 2016

It has been a challenging year for me and my daughter Jenny.
Two months ago we lost my wife Anne and Jenny's Mom to MultiMyeloma.
We challenged her cancer for 5 years and in the end she decide to take care of business and kill her cancer, the downside is that she had to die to do it.

While I am adjusting to a new life without Anne, I miss her smile, her caress, just being with her. I've never loved anyone the way I did Anne. I will love her forever but it is time to move on.

Earlier today I spoke with an old friend and he asked me what the future is for "Grellboards".
It has been a project on the back burner for a while now but about to kick  back into gear and realize its potential. We will be opening up our new factory in the spring of 2016 and expect to begin deliveries for the 2016-17 season.

As we wait for the market to mature, we are using this time to continue testing our designs and create the marketing platform for the demand we have built.

Thank you for being patient.
JG

Well, today was Annes memorial, we have over 150 people show up. We all ate, drank, told stories, shared and loved one another. The service was really nice, good friends and family were able to talk about Anne's life and everyone was touched by her loving nature. This marks a new day in my life. I now realize that this surreal experience has run its course and she isn't coming home to me. While I cherish all the time we had and the life we built together, it is time to move on. I have alot of things to take care of here at home and will begin to focus on my new life. I know that it will be OK. My daughter Jenny is surrounded by  loving friends and family and she proved herself with her sharing during the ceremony. I love my little family and the much larger one that surrounds us. Cherish every minute with your loved ones, life happens and then we are just left with memories. All of mine are good.
I love my wife and the life we had together.
JG

I left my house on November 5th with the goal of attending the FIS technical delegate update clinic in Park City, Utah. My trip was smooth with a great visit in Reno with Brooke Long, a snowboard enthusiast and collector, I brought him a few old vintage posters. After a night in Reno, I got up early and headed east to pick up my friend Ted Martin at the airport in Salt Lake City. It worked out really well, he had a double room in the Marriot and the canadian guy canceled so I had a bed. We arrive on Friday, checked in, then went to the Meet and Greet. They couldn't have chosen a worse location, it was packed, loud, annoying and really hard to meet and talk with the other Technical Delegates. So much for planning. The next morning we started at the USSA Center for Excellence. Its to bad no one got the message we were coming, we got in through the side door and never got to see what the beautiful building housing the USSA was all about. Opportunity lost again. The clinic touched on the usual stuff, a few presenters, a few powerpoint presentations, alot of talk about concussions and what we are supposed to do. All in all, more of the same.
It worked out that I could give Ted a ride back to Colorado, it was great to have company in the car and a co driver, always wonderful to visit the Martin's. Gracious hosts and good friends. Moving on it was off to Fairplay with a sidebar in Frisco, a snurf session in the park the off to see my old college friend Mark Hanks. What a wonderful visit, a beautiful home, good company, I can't wait to go back. Then it was off to visit my good friend and partner in Grellboards, Mike Troppman. We had the luck of a snowstorm and fresh tracks. That is the essence of the first part of my journey. I'll add more about my return home in my next post. I really miss my girl Anne. It was a good trip but coming home never felt so lonely.
JG

Going on a Snurfari, leaving California going to park city then colorado and mammoth.

It was inevitable, my wife's cancer took her away like the wind. It was the culmination of five years of bravery and challenges. Anne was "one tough cookie". I miss her all the time, the essence of her and the memory of a life of love and laughter together. We had a wonderful daughter, Jenny is 21 and an adult now. Together, they were like one, the best of friends and together they made me so happy.

Anyhow, in moving forward, we will have a memorial to celebrate Anne's life at our house on November 21, 2015. We will receive guests at 12 PM for lunch and social interaction. At 3 PM we will have a memorial for Anne.

With any luck, I will survive my adventure which I start tomorrow and be back in time to make all this happen. I am driving to Park City, Utah for the FIS Technical Delegates Update Clinic 2015.
I expect to see many old friends and have a wonderful time playing in the snow. I have a van load of boards and expect to get many turns in. After Utah, its off to glenwood springs, Aspen, Vail, Blue River, Fairplay, then a rally to Mammoth and back to home by the 16th.

I'll try and keep updated as I venture into my new life.
JG

October 25, 2015 at 3 pm Anne died after a long fought battle with MultiMyeloma

I just don't know how to feel, the past few days have delivered me grief beyond my imagination.
It feels like I just lost something so valuable and personal that the tears come in waves and it doesn't take much to set me off.

We battled her cancer for the past five years and the last 14 months have been the biggest challenges of our lives. In the end thanks to the help of Hospice of Santa Cruz, we were able to keep Anne comfortable despite the cancers ravaging her body.

I was with all all those final days, round the clock to be there and help her in any way and believe me I shed more than my share of tears. She is finished with her battle against one of the most terrible diseases I have ever witnessed. I believe, near the end, Anne decided to take care of business and kill her cancer, the sad trade off is that she had to die to do it. I believe she is in a better place, her quality of life was so diminished, she was at the mercy of her caregivers to do the most basic tasks. Anne went "went off to college" in style and will participate in Stanford University's willed body program where the school of anatomy will study her case and with her help hopefully find a cure for plasma cell leukemia.

I will love Anne forever. Rest in peace.
Jeff

So we have made it to October of 2015, and this past year has been full of challenges, positive and then not so fun. Anne is really sick, the plasma cell cytoma's have taken over her body. Its so sad to see someone you care for in so much pain and ruined by cancer. We met with the hospice doctor who is handling her case and she said quite frankly in a gentle way that we have days of a couple of weeks before Anne "goes off to College". I will miss my wife dearly and want to thank her for all she has contributed to my life. Without her who knows what I would have done. She has been my anchor, support throughout our marriage and always believed in me and my crazy stubborn ideas. I am such a stubborn SOB, once I set my eye on a goal I have to go after it with every cell in my body.