Sunday Fun Day!

I had a fabulous day today!

Let me list the reasons why:
1. My favourite bus driver was driving the ski bus today.
2. He brought me new skis to try out to see if I want to buy for a greatly reduced price (I do!)
3. Skiing with good friends.
4. Sunshine at Sunshine!

These are my new skis! I love, love love the graphics!

be odd. do not conform.

have fun today

snow = fun

172 cm 142-115-139

These fat boys ROCK!!

Other scenes from today:

Me at the top of the Great Divide chair. Mt. Assiniboine is hiding back there somewhere.

The view from the top of Mt. Standish.

There's the Wawa chair, looking back at Goat's Eye (far left--you can see Wildfire and Sunshine Coast runs),  and Lookout Mountain. On the far right, you can see the line of TeePee town chair and the TeePee town chutes. Moving left, the big bowl between the two peaks is Delirium Dive.

Today was day #43 of my season. There are still another 12 days that I can/plan to ski between now and May 20 (closing day/Slush cup). A 55 day season? Can't complain about that!

Egad!

It's August 29. Which means my cousin turns 40 today. And in 3 short months, so does my brother. How can that be?! I'm not old enough to have a big brother who's 40!

It's been a crazy last few weeks: busy working, playing, meeting friends (new and old), teaching and spending time with Nermal. She continually amazes me. And demonstrates just how much love can change someone. In four short years, she's gone from a scared-y cat to uber cuddler. Still chatty and is always game to play. And really good at knowing when to just sit and be. I've learned a lot from her.

And summer just wooshed by! I have a good feeling about fall, though. And I'm fully equipped with a new pack that will serve double duty: day pack in summer and avalanche gear pack in winter. This weekend is going to be awesome: I'm heading out to hike in the meadows that hide under the snow in my winter wonderland.

And that's what I know today.

2012-004-21 Part Deux

Sorry, there is no photographic evidence of the amazing spring skiing.

I hooked up with my buddy, Dan, as soon as I got off the gondola. We did an easy blue run off Angel and then went down to Divide (the sun was shining and that's just what you do)! There was no new snow, so the groomers had been out in full force. The World Cup downhill was great (and fast!) and Gold Ecstasy was not hard and scrape-y for once.

Went back to the village--Dan brought his fat powder skis for me to try out. They're longer and heavier than anything I've ever skied on, but we did a few runs on them just so I could get a feel for them.

Back on my own skis, we mosied over to Wawa for some fun. Birdcage bump practice and then it was time for lunch.

After a yummy bowl of beef pho, we headed back to Wawa to try some harder stuff. Paris basin and Waterfall were a piece of cake (and the snow had softened up during lunch so conditions were PERFECT) so we went to Goat's Eye.

We did the top of Cleavage and then the chutes of Ewe First and Mother In Law.  This was my do one thing a day that scares you--I had to go in for a rest and a chocolate milk after this one! We went back up and did Upper Afterburner, cut across to Freefall (holy shit, moguls as tall as me and they didn't look that big from the chair lift!) then across to Gladerunner (which was the icy mogul'd run Jim and I wound up on last week, but was groomed and lovely yesterday!). It was definitely one of the best runs of the day ('cept the bumps, I did OK on 'em, but they're not my favourite). My legs were screaming at me, so our next run was the easiest of all Goat's Eye runs, Sunshine Coast. It's also my favourite =)

We swooshed down without stopping, then headed up to the village in the Gondola. Back up Angel, down Boundry Bowl (I kicked it's ass!) and over to Divide again. Bye Bye Bowl wasn't nearly as nice as it was last Sunday, but my legs decreed that they'd had enough by the time we got back down to the village. Grabbed our stuff and down to the base in the Gondola. Dan took my poles to whack off an inch or so. Had an apres ski drink in the lounge and hopped on the bus home.

The best part of the day? There was hardly anybody else there! Not a lift line in sight and had many runs to ourselves. You can't beat sunshine, great snow (the base is still ~250 cm), no people, live music and great company! Can't wait till next weekend!

I've skied 24 days at Sunshine, 2 in Whitefish and 1 at Lake Louise. With my season's pass, each of my days at Sunshine has cost $33 instead of $83. If I ski three days next weekend, I bring that down to $29.62/day. I'm getting next year's pass before the end of May, so if I ski the same number of days next year (27) it'll cost me $25/day. Can't beat that!

Now, I'm going to go for a walk and loosen up the muscles in my legs and then I've got to get to work. For once, I've got an early shift on a Sunday!

A Picture is Worth

A thousand words. Or so they say. Whoever 'they' are. Who cares, they're right!

I played in the Sunshine all day--my legs are like Jell-o but I feel great! Rachel took me down some new runs. Some are new favourites, others (Shaken, Not Stirred) are not. But I made it down each and every one of 'em without hitting my ass. This is a successful day in my books!

And our bus driver has inspired us to look into back country skiing. FUN!

So far 2012 is pretty great: double time yesterday (and a great day at work, complete with potluck dinner) & skiing with a friend in great conditions today.

Life is good. Live every moment.

End of Season

Ski season, that is. Yep, I put my skis away. I've got Mondays off but the bus doesn't get me home in time to teach my yoga class, so unless someone's gonna drive out to the mountain and leave early so I can get home to teach, no more skiing this season. I almost cried.

But, my plan for next season: I'm taking holidays from teaching during ski season!! That way I can have 4 days of skiing every other week, plus every Saturday. Season's pass, here I come!

Today was a fabulous day off. Very little on my to-do list was accomplished, but whatever. I went to yoga and had a great practice, then had a great girl talk with my teacher. We talked about men, chocolate, teaching, men, yoga, dating...it was great! I left my house at 8:30 this morning and got home after 2!

Showered and went to meet my yoga sista for tea and a catch up. My cousin and her hubby picked me up for our monthly date. We ate at a new to us place, Koi. New favourite restaurant!! Finished it off with dessert at our fave ice cream place.

Now, I'd better get to bed--I have to be at work at 6 tomorrow (and that's am, not pm--my evening schedule is on hold for two days for training). This weekend is going to be great--another yoga retreat in Golden!

Torn...

On one hand: day off, mid-week, attend yoga class I've already paid for and missed last week, prepare to go to yoga retreat on weekend, recover from cold.

On the other: last day of skiing (for me) this season, base is still over 200cm.

Is it wrong that I think I'm skiing on Wednesday?!

Easter Sunday Reflections

As a kid, we spent every Easter at our friend's place in Eastern Alberta. Our cows were calving and spring was (usually) in the air.

The Easter Bunny always hid jelly beans and eggs (always check your shoes before putting them on) and brought us a chocolate bunny.

The rest of the day was spent like this:



It's a tradition I miss, but that's being carried on. My niece and nephew get a new kite from the Easter bunny, just like we did. Hmmm...how come I bought their kites and forgot mine?

Not a very exciting weekend. I'm still fighting with a cough and congestion, but I'm quite sure I'll live. I'm trying to convince my co-worker that we should go skiing tomorrow as the last day of the season (the mountain doesn't actually close till May long weekend, though!). Went to a house party yesterday (cleverly disguised as a wedding shower) were there was good wine, good food, and good company. I have to work this afternoon so I should go and enjoy the sunshine while I can!

Ouch

My legs doth protest! But there was 8cm of snow overnight at Sunshine. The streets in the city look dreadful. There is a slight possibility of not teaching yoga tomorrow night...there could be more skiing in my future!

Jell-o Legs

That's what two days of skiing will getchya. Yesterday's weather was fan-freaking-tastic: sun, occasional flurries, did I mention sun, and no wind up on Goat's Eye.

I practiced some of the black runs I did last weekend and *gasp* even tried a few new ones! Had a small heart attack at lunch when I purchased a small bowl of chili (that comes with a teeny tiny bun) and a bottle of orange juice (I've been fighting a sore throat for days). You want HOW much? Yep, ten bucks. I stopped at Safeway last night and threw together a vat of my own chili while doing laundry for today.

Into the pot:
-an onion
-3 cloves garlic
-pound of lean ground turkey
-1 red, yellow and orange pepper
-1 zuke
-loads of 'shrooms
-can of kernel corn, drained and rinsed
-can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
-can of lentils, drained and rinsed
-2 x 28oz cans of whole tomatoes (I rough chopped 'em up)
-package of chili seasoning for the crock pot (I'm out of chili spices and waiting for my Epicure order!)

Hey, for six bucks, I'll share some with you, and lemme tell ya, it's better than what you get on the hill!

Today I met up with my new skiing buddy, who's SEVENTY and we tackled the steeps and baby bumps. Too much fun! I know my skills are improving when I'm thinking that Delirium Dive (a double black run that requires avalanche gear to enter) might be possible (not this year, but sometime). The very fact that I'm not freaked out by this:



anymore is HUGE! The greatest part about skiing with Dan is that I know he won't take me somewhere out of my league. He'll push me, yes, but he is also contractually obligated to keep me alive and unhurt! =)

We were planning a few runs that we'll have to do when he's out of uniform--he's not allowed to take me on just anything!

Alas, my chili gave me great staying power (had to eat it cold because the microwaves in the lodge SUCK. One was broken and the other was being used by people trying to heat food from frozen. It took too long) to get through the day! Oh, and did I mention that I realized on the gondola that I forgot my mitts at home? Yep. So there went my plan of staying down on Goat's Eye & Wolverine all morning. Had to go to the top to buy a new pair. And apparently all women have small hands. Nary a mitten in my size to be found. So I walked out with some fabulous snazzy Burton gloves.



All in all, a good couple days of skiing. And there's supposed to be more snow tomorrow!

Egad!

Woke up this morning to inches of heavy, wet snow! I had to pick up Michelle at 7:30 and I've never driven her car in winter conditions--yikes. I'm a great driver, but let's just say there's more than a few people in Calgary who need some driving refreshers.

I went and got my hair did, too. The grey is no more (thank God) and I got a good 4 inches chopped off! Style, welcome back to my hair!

I've had a sore throat for the last few days so Nerm and I napped this afternoon (very strenuous). I've got my seat booked on the ski bus for today and tomorrow. Whoo hoo!

Lovin' Life

What's not to love? I've slept for THREE (count 'em, THREE) days in a row, the sun is streaming in my kitchen window, Nerm's sitting on the windowsill giving the magpies the what-for and I've got a big mug of chai to sip on.

I had a great day skiing, although the morning didn't feel that great. I wandered around the mountain, not really finding my groove anywhere. I took a break after a few runs on Goat's Eye (right when the kidlet ski racers were eating lunch--it was not a quiet break, by any means!). When I went out again to shred the mountain, a Sunshine Snow Host approached me and asked if he could ski with me. Well sure! The more the merrier, I say and by this time I was pretty bored with the conversations I was having with myself.

We did a few runs on Goat's Eye--ones that I would never, EVER have attempted on my own (and probably not with anyone else, either). Goat's Eye is STEEP. That's it's claim to fame. There are NO green runs off the Goat's Eye chair. Anyhoo, black is my favourite colour, and don't they say that diamonds are a girl's best friend?! The best part of my new ski buddy: he is SEVENTY (or almost). New hero. We skied around on Goat's Eye, then headed over to the Divide chair and skied in BC for a bit! We have a date next Saturday, too! He also lives in my area of town, so I may have a new ski buddy next season! =)

This is what the top of Goat's Eye is like (it's the easiest way down to the tree line from the chair lift):


Last week when I was skiing with my cousin and his buddy, they showed me this video and we laughed all day. I still laugh, so I know it wasn't just the beer and natural mountain high. Enjoy!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

It's off to the slopes I go!

Whoo hoo!!

Can't Wait!

Today is gonna be a good day:
-shopping for the perfect b-day gift
-pedicure
-dinner with my fave peeps

Tomorrow is going to be even better!
18 cm in the past 24 hours, 35 cm in the past 3 days. Total base: 225

Whoo hoo!!

Just Another Manic Monday

Oy.

Went to bed late, woke up waaaaay too early (3:30), trudged to work in snow and nearly wiped out on the ice. Hoped work wouldn't be too busy--my cold from the weekend reared its ugly head again--but alas, it was not to be. Didn't make it to yoga (hacking up a lung and sneezing all over one's yoga students is not ideal) but lounged on the couch with Nerm watching a movie (Zoolander).

Like Derek Zoolander, I struggle with turning left (only while skiing, not on a catwalk). My friends thought I needed to see it so that I'd know I'm not the only one. I will never get those 89 minutes of my life back.

Now I'm going to soak in the tub with a book and hope Tuesday arrives at the more civilized hour of 6:00.

Oh, the yoga retreat was AMAZING. Did lots of really bendy stuff with plenty of introspection on the goddess Saraswati. I'm also registered for the next one at the end of April. =)

599

Seriously? I've made almost 600 posts? Huh.

I've been a skiing fool of late. Not that I'm complaining. My quads, on the other hand...

Yesterday was AMAZING. Literally the best day of the season. Although it didn't start out that way.
a) Effing cold outside.
b) Transit bus late.
c) City streets icy mess.
d) Fire trucks blocking major intersection my bus needs to cross.
e) Ski bus departs hotel as I approach lights to cross street.
f) Expletives *may* have been uttered at this point.
g) Almost have to heave man out of cab (who takes that long to pay?).
h) Cabbie does not understand urgency of situation. "Dude, you have 20 minutes to get me across the city before that bus leaves AGAIN. Faster!"
i) I got there (barely)!

Spent the day skiing with the only other person on the bus (till Canmore, anyway). We had an amazing day and I found even more runs that I like!

Today started out better than yesterday, but the visibility sucked. It snowed most of the day and when the sun did come out, there was a wicked wind with it. And like I said, my quads are tired! But I had a good day (any day sans wipeout is a good day in my books) and some good runs in.

And now I must sleep!

I guess this year it's a Lion

With a birthday at the beginning of March (Thursday, in case you're wondering. There are two shopping days left!), I know first hand of the "in like a lion, out like a lamb". Some years it was full on spring for my birthday, other years, like this one, freezing my bits off in the deep freeze of winter.

I don't care, I'm going skiing tomorrow. And Wednesday! It's snowing out there and I'm fast running out of ski days, since the entire month is all about me! For example:

- March 11-13: trip to Fun-couver with my mom to see the amazing Dr. Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson at the "I Can Do It" conference. There will be other fun things too, because, well, Fun-couver is FUN!

- March 18-20: yoga retreat in Golden, BC with my yoga teachers, Nora and Judy

- March 25-28: trip to Hamilton to visit friends and run Around the Bay (30K)

Not much time to hit the slopes, so I must take advantage while I can!

In preparation, I thought I'd make up a schwack of chili for lunch at the hill. I pulled out a few cookbooks and settled on Vive le Vegan's Cocoa-Coconut Chili. I was intrigued by the addition of cocoa, coconut milk, allspice and cinnamon to the traditional chili ingredients. The result: it's ok. It's not bad, but it's not the best chili ever, either. I thought there could have been more heat (I had to add quite a bit of hot sauce) and a squeeze of lime and cilantro helped bring out the flavours. Maybe when it's reheated...would I make it again? I doubt it. I can do better on my own.

Alas, I need to clean up the kitchen, pack the lunch (there may also be some *cough cough* Amarula and hot chocolate going in the lunch bag) and gather up my gear. I bought a pair of super warm long johns at Patagonia this afternoon to keep me warm on the chair lift!

Happy Monday!

Knackered

That's me.

I had a pretty good day skiing on Wednesday, but the visibility sucked. It snowed all day and you couldn't see anything above the tree line. I went up the Angel chair 'cause I heard the snow was pretty good up there. When you have no depth perception, you also have no speed perception! Before I knew it, I was almost hurtling down a black run I knew I didn't want to go down, but I could have sworn I was hardly moving. Verrrrry disconcerting!

But I had a blast in the trees! I wasn't brave enough to tackle the bumps on Standish without my friends, but I made it all day without a wipe out. I also didn't head over to Goat's Eye because the visibility was so bad, which made me kind of sad. I really wanted to play in the great powder!!

Worked Thursday. Boo. I wanted to be skiing (did I mention it snowed all day on Wednesday?!)!

Yesterday was one of those days!
1. Co-worker calls in sick. I cover their bench. No biggie, since we anticipated they'd be sick since they left early on Thursday.

2. Different co-worker has meltdown for seemingly no reason. Turns out she's completely misconstrued comments made about planning workflow (see #1, above) and seethes for an hour before melting down.

3. Ready for beer/wings/wine/nachos & cheese by 0830h.

4. Do work left from evening shift (again, no biggie, I had the time, but somewhat annoying, nonetheless).

5. Two co-workers call in sick for evening shift. I offer to stay late if I'm needed. Start testing early to help ease workload.

6. Discrepancy in previous results and current results. This is a BIG deal where I work. All kinds of conference calls get made by the big-wigs (not just my bosses, but their bosses and their bosses' bosses). I'm trained to do the investigative side of this kind of thing, so I'm now staying late to do that...

Anyhoo...yesterday was a long day! 0700-2040h. Did I mention that most of my work is standing? (well, it's either that or sitting at really ergonomically not good work stations--either way, it's not kind to your body). Yeah, physically, mentally and emotionally drained. And I got to go back this morning for more...

But today ROCKED! No big plans for tonight other than Corrie, yoga, knitting, and a soak in the tub. I haven't decided what to make for dinner though...I should get on that since lunch was awhile ago.

Tomorrow I'm going for a run then to work. And I'd love to sleep in....like maybe till 7!

Happy weekend!

Egad! Time Flies!

What's been going on in my world? Well, I worked 5 days last week (this is big for a 4 day/week girl) so that my co-worker could go to his BIL's wedding in India. It wasn't too bad--4 day shifts then an evening. My mom arrived on Thursday so there has been lots going on! For example:

-trips to Costco & Superstore to restock old Mother Hubbard's bare cupboards
-calling the police to remove sleeping homeless man from my parking spot on Friday night
-noodles
-filing (and preparing income tax documents to send to the accountant)
-yoga (Friday morning, Saturday and Sunday afternoon)
-trips to the Farmer's Market where I ran into my third cousin (small world)
-Pizza in the 'hood with my grandma
-laundry (the bane of my existence)

Yesterday I hit the slopes with my yogi friend Carole, her hubby,Joe, and their friend, Bill. We left early and got to Sunshine in time to get rock star parking. They'd had 38cm in the past 3 days so we were itching to play in some powder! It was great skiing! My favourite run, Tin Can Alley, got the best of me (not quite an epic wipe out, but enough to get snow where it was slightly uncomfortable!) so I had to go back and show it who was boss. We headed down through the trees and played in some powder...wheeeee!

Then we were going to show the boys the li'l black diamond run Carole and I discovered the last time we were there, but it was cold and windy and the snow sucked at the top of the Angel chair. So we headed to Standish, where they proceeded to push me (in a good way) to where I'd never been before. Now, the last time we were there, I was proud of myself for attempting the blue runs (Big and Little Bunkers). Yesterday we did not only the blue runs, but they had me going down the moguls under the chairlift! It wasn't overly graceful, but I got down (without falling, I might add) and I turned (I know how to turn. I know how to turn. I know how to turn.) more than once!

After lunch we headed to Goat's Eye. I love the snow below the tree line! Up top though--icky--icy, hard, windy and not much fun. But below the tree line is another story altogether. My quivering quads declared they needed a break, so I sat a run out and then we went back for a final run on Standish before skiing out.

Best Valentine's Day EVER!! I'm going back tomorrow--'cause I can!

What I've Been Up To...

Jan. 27: Went for a run, went to work

Jan. 28: Yoga, coffee with yoga friends, went to work, then Brewsters for a few (and hot wings and nachos) after work

Jan. 29: Slept in (see Jan. 28, above. I'm too old to stay out past 1 a.m.!), went to yoga, went to Farmer's Market, went bowling

Today (Jan. 30): SKIING! I went with a co-worker, her boyfriend, and my yogi friend, Carole. It was cold, but no wind (until you got to the very top). There was LOTS of snow which made the day fabulous. Because it was cold, the snow was kind of slow and sticky (you know it's bad when I say it's too slow. Yes, me, the one who needs to embrace speed more!). But I shredded slopes I've never done before and many of them were labeled with a black diamond instead of the safe, blue square. I only bit it once (unless you count the wipeout on the slippery bathroom floor, then it was twice) but the powder softens the landing. I found myself in the trees more than once (not always on purpose, either) but managed to swoosh my way down to the bottom. Skiing with these guys pushed me past my comfort zone and I liked it!!

I'm also now on Day 7 of my meditation challenge. I love it!!

Must go soak this tired body now and hit the hay. I have to work in the morning, then teach yoga tomorrow night.

Happy Weekend!

Where to begin....

It's been a weird week for me. Friday marked five years since my dad died. Yikes. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday....but so much has changed in my life in the past five years. It's a little overwhelming and I've been trying to figure it all out...

I went skiing with my cousin and his girl friend yesterday. Louise wasn't the greatest: iffy snow on my favourite run, busy, and poor visibility. But I was skiing and not working, so really, how bad was it?

Anyway, I need to get dressed--the morning has gotten away from me and I have to be at work in two hours. Nothing on my to-do list has yet to be crossed off, so I'd better get moving!