there's nothing quite like your first day of the season on your local hill. i had mine yesterday, and i couldn't have asked for a better day. well, maybe that my back leg wasn't so sore from all the powder, but that's my own fault for not being in better shape! mind you, when i woke up yesterday morning i was definitely having second thoughts. it sounded like the entire New York Symphony Orchestra had snuck into my bedroom during the night, and had decided to wake me up way too early by playing their best, loudest, piece. of course it was just the alarm on my cell phone - i have it set to a rousing rendition of some Bizet masterpiece that's played in pseudo-orchestral cell phone notes, but being rudely awoken from dream world it startled the hell out of me. it was 6AM. what the hell was i doing up? what mad insanity has possessed me to think that going to the hill was a good idea today? my brain almost convinced me that

 

a) working until midnight meant i got to sleep in the next morning, end of story

b) the roads were probably icy as shi*t anyways, and i like life

c) i had to work the next day bright and early, and boarding would make sure i was damn tired for work

 

luckily for me, my right hand chose that moment to smack myself silly. and no, not in the way that boys smack themselves silly first thing in the morning. up i got and immediately added point D to my list:

 

d) it was FREEZING out and my bed was still nice and warm, my nips could cut glass

 

suffice it to say, i got dressed in 5 seconds flat and took considerably longer getting breakfast and tea into me. so it was a bit of a late start, but i got out on the road eventually. the drive up wasn't as hairy as i'd been afraid of, and the lineup to get my season's pass also wasn't as bad as i'd been afraid of. the sun was shining, the snow was light and fluffy (well, as light and fluffy as it can get at mt washington), and i had a new jacket to test out. the first run was pure heaven. i started on one side of the mountain and worked my way to the other side throughout the day. even though it hadn't snowed overnight, there was still plenty of fresh pow if you knew where to look. i boarded right till closing, and it was delicious. absolutely delicious. the wind picked up around midday, but that just made another excuse to ride longer lines to keep myself warm. everyone i met on the lifts was so surprised to hear i was boarding alone... is it really that strange?? i love it! listening to my music, riding at my pace, for as long as i want... what's so bad about that?! so in conclusion, it was an amazing day! i'm super glad my procrastination didn't get the best of me, can't wait to go up again!

 

 

 

last week i went up to whistler with the ever-sexy moselle. we stayed at her friend's cabin and boarded together on the friday. it was an awesome first day of the season! not only did i get to baord whistler, but i got to do it with a great friend! the drive up was a bit sketchy; it was snowing from squamish up, but my little car put putted through the snow to whistler. the only trouble was when we backed into the driveway only to realise that we were in the wrong one! once we got there we found some kickass old 80's ski suits. of course i got suited up so that mo could take pictures! it was at this point that paul showed up in the cab... took one look through the window and told the cabbie "yep, that's the place, the ski suit gives it away".

 

 

the next day it was sunny then cloudy then foggy then cloudy then foggy... the visibility was all over but the snow was great and the company was great so all in all it was a great day! we found the tree fort in the trees that we never knew existed... and met a dutch guy on the lift who asked us to take his picture in a santa hat... it was fun!

 

 

 

unfortunately we had to cut it short as i had to rush off to vancouver to pick up mike at the airport. really, not that much of a sacrifice! but that was before i spent four hours in vancouver's rush hour traffic before i even got to the airport (for those who don't know, the drive from whistler to vancouver international usually takes about 2 hours). it sucked! and poor mike had to spend hours at the airport while i was stuck in stupid traffic. continually pressing the clutch wasn't so great for my boarding legs either...

 

on saturday it snowed in victoria! lots and lots and lots... sunday i ended up working a double shift because no one could make it out their driveways... monday we were snowed in! in downtown! it was great! i love snow! heh vic sucks though, two snowplows for 300,000 people?! you've got to be kidding!