I live alone - for a little bit

I have my dorm room to myself as my roommate moved out this morning.  I'm not sure how long it will last, but I will enjoy it while I can. (Ideally, I won't get a new roommate :-) )  

Samantha was a great roomie and I will miss her.  She was clean and a good girl, respectful of my things - great as a roommate could be.  She finished her time here as a cook at the Sun Valley Clubhouse, and is headed back home (Seattle area) to be with her family and see where life takes her next.

I have moved stuff around since she had the more desirable sleeping area, by the window, with an outlet, and I cleaned the room as much as is possible to do in those rooms.  

I woke up this morning to 6 inches of snow on the ground - the most we have seen in a while.  The mountain was great, with quite a bit more snow than in town.  It's sunny out now, with a high of 36 predicted for today, but more snow supposed to come tonight.  The temp is supposed to drop, so supposedly we are getting back into winter. :-) I certainly hope so.

Heidi is coming to visit in 2 weeks so any snow we get is fantastic, since I would like to show her a ski town. :-)

Work has been pretty good the last couple weeks, as is typical I here, but now are in the slowing down weeks leading into March. 

My Birthday

I had a fantastic birthday - snowboarded all day with Kaylee and Daniel.  I'm getting better and better everyday, and if I can talk one of them into video-ing me while I ride, then I will prove it to you all! :-)  I tackled a groomed black diamond run the other day, and am getting braver and faster, and falling much less often.  

Afterward, Daniel's sister Wendy invited us over for dinner at her house, which was a wonderful and pleasant time.  She bought me a gift of some good ski socks, cooked dinner and had some of her friends over.  We enjoyed appetizers, a very nice bottle of wine and an excellent dinner.  I felt so blessed to have been welcomed into someone's home when I was away from my family.  

She has 3 dogs - 2 white retrievers and a Burmese mountain puppy, as well as 2 cats.  Her friends brought their 2 huskies, and Daniel had Maverick, so it was quite a party.  (The math....6 dogs, 2 cats).  Fun times. :-)

A Much Overdue, though short update

I apologize - I haven't blogged anything in a while because:

 A) my internet doesn't work at all in/near my dorm room,

B) i am working a lot

C) When I am not working I am snowboarding (up to 6 hours on certain days)

But I have a few things to update.

First...I have quickly picked up on snowboarding and love it with every ounce of me.  I have to be told to stop on any given day, and always want to get 'just one more run in'.  It is a lot of work, but absolutely worth it.  I love being out in the fresh, cold air and getting exercise.  I feel healthier than I have in a long while, and have gained back a healthy appetite.  And riding the mountain is exhilarating beyond words!

Second...the Special Olympics World Winter Games are being held here in Sun Valley beginning Sunday the 8th, and through the week.  It's a pretty big deal, and I'm excited for such an event.  It is bringing in a ton of people, and should be fun.

Third...some very sad news and a request for prayer.  Apparently there was a fight between two roommates in an employee dorm here and one of the guys died last night (friday).  I don't know the details, but the news rattled me.  The guy that passed away worked in the kitchen across the lobby from my lounge, and though I didn't know him personally, I know who he is.  I have been experiencing a range of emotions all night through my shift - compassion and grief, and anger.  Someone killed someone else.  Over roommate disagreements - they didn't get along, and it came to this.  Our world is so broken.  I have tears to cry for someone.  Please keep this situation in your prayers, both the families and the friends.

On one last positive note - I am one year closer to 30 years old on Sunday...only 3 more to go.  I am looking forward to this new year, anticipating all that lies ahead.  And for the record...I am not dreading 30, but looking forward to it. :-)

Kaylee and I after lunch on the mountain last week....

I'm boarding!

 See, I'm really doing it!!!  This is the shorter, not so steep slope, Lower River Run, on Baldy.  I can work this one, but still have so much learning to do on anything steeper. My roommate took this video from the lift.

My First Day!

Well, I had my first attempt snowboarding this afternoon.  I don't have pics because I wasn't willing to sacrifice my camera in a fall had it been in my pocket.  But I did go. :-)

Kaylee is a good teacher, gave me plenty of pointers and then just let me figure it out.  That's the only way, really.  At least for me.  I have to do things to learn them, not just have someone tell me how it's done.  

We went to Dollar Mountain, which is the training/kids mountain, although that doesn't mean it's just a hill.  After scooting around for a minute with one foot in my bindings and the other out, we boarded the lift.  That worked just fine.  Getting off was more difficult.  I got off just fine (still one foot loose) and slid a-ways, before losing control and falling over.  Thus begins the falling over.  Again, and again, and again, and again, and again.....

Kaylee could've taken the run in probably about 60 seconds, start to finish, but it took us (well, me) about 35 minutes with the 'slide, turn, fall' cycle I was in.  After the first run, we took a short break before tackling it again.   

The second time off the lift, I didn't fall.  The second run took less than a third of the time of the first, which means I was doing much better - going faster and turning better.  The downside of going faster though is that when one falls, one falls much harder.   I figured out how to turn one way on the board (heel side), but every time I tried to turn 'toe-side', I bit it - sometimes falling forward, but most often, falling straight back onto my bum.  Hit my head twice.  But don't worry...I wear a helmet!  By the end of that second run, I was ready to take a rest.  I would have gone again, if we didn't have lunch plans already, and besides, I had to be at work in a couple hours.

Daniel showed up right as we Kaylee and I were walking off the mountain to 'see the carnage', but thankfully he came too late to laugh at me very much. :-)  I am planning on getting back up there tomorrow sometime, since I have the day off work, but this time will probably be going alone.  That's a bummer in some ways, but at the same time, I can take my time and work it by myself, and thus impress them the next time we get together.  Right?!   

Then soon, when I go out with friends again, I will take, and then post, some awesome pictures of me (and them) in all our gear.  It's pretty sweet.  Ha ha!

All in all, the pain I am now experiencing (a terribly bruised tailbone and a stiff neck) will be worth it all once I figure it out.  I can't wait. :-)  

I've got a board!!

I realize it's been a while since I've posted...since Christmas day, I think.  I have been pretty busy the last couple weeks, but it's slowed down around here again, so I have more time on my hands.  I loved working when it was crazy busy - it was never boring and there was always something entertaining.  We have live music everyday from at least 4pm till close, varying jazz/blues musicians.  

I finally got some gear to get up on the mountain.  After quite of bit of deliberation and uncertainty, I opted to attempt snowboarding over skiing.  Sun Valley offers year long leases to employees for $150, including boots, bindings and board (or skis), so it's really a good deal.  I picked mine up yesterday.  It's not in great shape since it's been a rental for a while, but with a tune up, it will definitely be sufficient for a beginner such as myself.  Kaylee and Daniel have both said they are willing to help me at the beginning.  I have been told by numerous people that snowboarding is harder to figure out at the beginning than skiing and I will spend a few days really sore and bruised, but that I will be able to get better faster on a board than skis. Meaning...I could tackle more runs by the end of the season on a board.  So I decided that I would push myself through the initial pain and frustration of learning for the reward. :-)  It'll be good for me, physically and mentally, to push myself through learning something and working out.

I hung out at the bottom of one of the lift areas the other day just watching people come down the mountain and couldn't wipe the cheesy grin off my face as I thought about doing it myself.  I can't wait to get out there.  I will make my first attempt on Friday morning, I think.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Kaylee provided me with goggles, a helmet, and gloves, and Sarah contributed a ski jacket so I'm all set to get out there.  Whee!!!

Pics

 Maverick
 Out the front window at Daniel's sisters house, that's the roof with 2 feet of snow.
Out the back door.