2012-04-21

And still skiing! No new snow overnight, but it should be an excellent day of spring skiing!

Do One Thing a Day That Scares You

Well, yesterday was full of things that scared me!

1. Hiked up to Delirium Dive to check it out. The sun was shining and it was the perfect opportunity to see first hand what I've only seen in YouTube videos. Jim (my ski-bus buddy) assures me that I can do this. First, I need to get me some avvie gear!

Check out this video to see what I'm talking about!

2. Skiied just past the boundary rope--not out of bounds, but in a non-patrolled area. It was steep, there were rocks, but oh my God, there was fresh, untracked powder!! Jim and I made beautiful (ok, his were prettier than mine, but the guy's a former ski racer who's been skiing for 47 years!) big swooshy S's in the snow. So. Much. Fun. We did it again and again and again!

3. Skiied Goat's Eye with the expert skier. He took me through some trees...there was swearing...he got me out fairly quickly when he realized I wasn't up for bush-whacking. Unfortunately, we'd gone past the point of no return and the only way out was down an incredibly mogul'd up, icy run. I got down it one turn at a time and got a high five for my efforts at the bottom. Then we went back up to the top (see #2, above) 'cause the snow was better!

Best part of the day: I didn't wipe out at all! I kept up with the ski-racer-turned-powder-hound all day (although I'm pretty sure I was a lot more tired than he was, even though he's got 20 years on me!) and lived to tell about it. Sunday bus-friends rock! 

It's hard to believe that a year ago I could hardly make it down a green/easy blue run. Yesterday the only blue run we skied was at the end of the day on our way out. Everything else was black. Skiing with people who constantly push me has made me a better skier. Like my yoga teacher, Noah, says, "There's always more. More harder. More dangerous." In asana practice or on a mountain side, there's always more.

Being scared of going fast, of steeps, of black diamond signs (my brother is always telling me, "Ignore the sign, just go! Turn. Turn again. You'll get to the bottom eventually."), some fears are justified. It's a dangerous sport I play. There are big risks. But the ones I take are calculated. I know that I can turn. It may not be pretty (see #3, above), but I can get down. It's just better when there's somebody to talk you down off the cliff (literally). And skiing with somebody who recognizes that you can do more, but not so much more that you're going to hurt yourself or hate them and never ski with them again. =)

It's been a big ski year for me. I've grown more confident. Speed is my friend. Steeps and I are feeling each other out...but I think we'll get along just fine. And the whole diamond thing? Well, what girl doesn't like diamonds?

Tuesday morning 5K

The sun is shining and it looks like spring is here! That means spring skiing and hitting the paths and trails again! Today I walked a 5K loop in my neighbourhood that takes me up a big-ass hill with a spectacular view of the snow capped mountains, along the river and home again. I forgot my inhaler and a water bottle. I guess it's been awhile since I've hit the trails!

Life is full: skiing, friends, yoga, sleep (glorious, glorious sleep! What a difference it makes!).

Alas, I've still got to have some lunch and get ready for work. Happy Tuesday!

March Madness

Holy, moly, time flies! Where did March go? I can't believe yesterday was St. Patrick's day already.

Not much new/different to report, except that vacation is, unfortunately, over. However, a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment trip to Whitefish for my birthday was pretty fabulous. My new powder skis have definitely got some experience this season!

Bif on Little Bunkers! Best Powder Day of the Year!

I took today off skiing--my poor little legs were like Jell-o this morning, even after a good night's sleep. Heading out again tomorrow though, to take advantage of the bliss that is mid-week skiing!

Speaking of sleep, well, it seems there's a reason I have been perpetually exhausted for the last 20 or so years. My sleep is disturbed by my irregular breathing approximately 18 times an hour! So a fancy-schmancy, definitely not sexy, machine has become my new bedfellow. Three nights in, and I'm happy to report the bone crushing fatigue that I've battled everyday for years is lifting! Nermal's not sure what to think though. I think she's spent most nights watching this new-fangled thing on her human's face and wondering what the hell the world is coming to!

Yoga teacher training is almost over! How did *that* happen?! It's all good. Practice, practice, practice. And patience. It all comes together in the end.

Kapotasana Prep

And now I must shower and prepare for a lovely birthday celebration dinner with my favourite peeps, S & L. S & I both have March birthdays (although I'm a Pisces and she's an Aires) and since we've both been uber busy lately, we're celebrating both tonight.

Time Flies!

I love vacation. I work so that I can enjoy vacation. And I've been loving life lately! Well, except for the visits to the dentist, but that's another story.

There's been a lot of skiing. In a lot of snow!! With friends, with family, with new friends and SnowHosts and by myself. Goat's Eye has had some incredible snow but the best day was yesterday. The sun was shining, there was lots of snow and along the Continental Divide, there was the most amazing view of Mt. Assiniboine and fresh powder to play in! Bye Bye Bowl was where it was at! And since it was during the week, we had it pretty much to ourselves. Who could ask for more? Why, me, of course! So we're heading to Whitefish for the weekend (the friends I skied with yesterday) to go play in the huge dump of powder that they just got. Oh, winter, how I love thee!!

And then there's yoga. What's a vacation without some yoga? After two days of skiing moguls, I showed up on Friday night to teacher training. My legs were like Jell-o and what did we do? Yep, that's right, standing poses! Nothing a long soak in the tub, some Epsom salts and Advil couldn't take care of. Saturday was intense, but good. But nothing like Sunday. I had the most amazing practices on Sunday: Ardha Chandrasana like I've never felt before--Kelsey adjusted me and I was able to extend up and out and shine from my heart through my arms and out my fingertips. AMAZING. Then there was Sirsasana I and II, neither of which I've been able to do since early summer. Followed by Handstand (well, I didn't get up, but Judy said I was *this* close). Again, since the whole tennis elbow injury early this summer, my practice has suffered. But it's back, baby! The icing on the cake: Bakasana. It feels so good to have my physical practice back!

I took today as a rest day, and rest I did. Nerm and I had a lie in, stayed in jammies all day and did some laundry and yoga homework. Then caught up on Corrie. And now bedtime.

G'night!

Utkatasana, Sleeping (and lack thereof), Skiing & Yoga

This is what I've been up to lately.

Utkatasana (powerful or chair pose): A 30 Day challenge, working up to 1 minute hold. Today I rocked the halfway mark of the challenge at 48.2 seconds.

Sleeping (and lack thereof): I had an assessment at a sleep clinic and last night went for a sleep study. They attached many wires to my head (in my hair), by my eyes, on my jaw and also on my legs. A two-lead ECG (one on my collar bone, the other on the opposite rib, just under the breast) plus an inch and a half wide elastic strap across the top of my boobs and another one around my belly added to the look. Oh, and don't forget the nasal cannuli and oxygen saturation detector on the finger. Weird thing is, I slept. Of course, it could've been the full day skiing (see below) or the fact I hadn't had more than 4 hours of consecutive sleep in the past 3 weeks. Now I wait for 3 weeks to get the results. Should be interesting...

Skiing: I was pumped to go today, but the sleep study people didn't wake me up when they said they would, so I completely missed the bus. =(
But yesterday I had a pretty amazing day! Midweek skiing is where it's at!! We had second row parking (if you've ever skiied at Sunshine, you'll know what a big deal this is) and nary a lineup to be had on a single lift. Goat's Eye was the surprise of the day as the visibility was best there, as was most of the snow. We had some great, fast runs, some with bumps (they were slower) and some without. It was great!! We hit 11 of 12 lifts (the visibility at the top of Angel was awful so we didn't even attempt Divide. The new skis I won are awesome, just sayin'!

And always, there is YOGA. Teacher training continues and I'm humbled and amazed by both my teachers leading us and the teachers I'm learning with. We have done some amazing collaborative teaching and lesson planning and it rocks! Yoga remains the steady, powerful force in my life that keeps me sane. Just like in utkatasana, we must draw into our core, hug the midline, root down and then expand out with power. And most of all, Grace.

_/|\_

50 Questions

From the good folks over at the GDT...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?  
Yep, my mom and grandma have the same middle name as me. My first name, that's all mine!


2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?  
January 21, 2012


3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? 
  Depends on the day


4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?  
Since I don't typically eat "lunch meat," I'll go with tuna.


5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?  
Yep, a feline, a niece & nephew, and oodles of kids that belong to my friends. My life has children in it, whether I gave birth to them or not is irrelevant.


6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Absolutely! I'm pretty cool!


7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?  
Noooo. (insert sarcastic font)


8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?  
Tonsil-free since 1980!


9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  
Is it the only way down?


10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?  
Roger's Nine Grain Cereal (you have to cook it & has real ingredients that you can pronouce)


11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?  
No


12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?  
Yes! Physically, spiritually and mentally!


13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?  
Vanilla. Although I did have Earl Grey ice cream once that was divine!


14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?  
That indescribable energy field. That and their hair. Especially if there is really bad re-growth. 


15. RED OR PINK?  
Red hair, pink everything else.


16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?  
This is tough...I like me!


17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?  
My dad. And my Kitty.


18. WHAT IS THE PAUL MCKENNA TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?
I have no idea who Paul McKenna is...


19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?  
I'm not wearing shoes, but my socks are two shades of pink and white striped and furry!


20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Pizza


21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?  
Justin Rutledge--you should be, too


22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? 
  Magenta


23. FAVORITE SMELLS?  
Weird assortment of smells here: 
-freshly mowed grass, purple lilacs--reminds me of spring and summer. 
-sweaty horse--can we say horse-crazy as a kid? Still am, come to think of it... 
-combination of diesel and grease--reminds me of my dad.


24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?  
Judy


25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Mountains all the way, baby!


26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?  
Curling (live though--I don't own a tv)


27. HAIR COLOR?  
Naturally--lovely mouse brown. Chemically enhanced: fabulous shades of red!


28. EYE COLOR?  
With au naturel hair: hazel. With chemically enhanced hair: GREEN!


29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes


30. FAVORITE FOOD?  
I can't pick just one...I like just about everything though, especially if it's real, flavourful and grown locally!


31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy!


32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Smurfs with Mabel


33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?  
PINK! (Lulu tank with ruffles)


34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter


35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs


36. FAVORITE DESSERT?  
Chocolate cake, cherry pie filling and whipped cream.


37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
Yoga and skiing.


38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? Computer


39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Anusara Teacher Training Manual


40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? 
 I don't have a mouse pad.


42. FAVORITE SOUND? 
 Nerm purring. She didn't purr when she first moved in.


43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles


44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?  
Cape Agulhas, South Africa


45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? 
  I have many talents!


46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Red Deer


47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Calgary


48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?   
Red brick


49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?  
I don't have a car. I live downtown and walk or take the bus!


50. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONS?  
I guess so, since I just did! Your turn...