Yesterday and today is the 2009 Special Olympics State Games for Colorado.  I again had the privilege and honor of attending this marvelous event.  My role in all this is to ensure my athlete gets where they need to be on the mountain at the right time, to provide moral support, tons of enthusiasm and and to offer any kind of coaching advice that might be needed. The last part was a bit tough for me since I was assigned a knuckle dragger snow boarder to spend the day with.....and I only ski.  

It really was awesome.  I know my athlete from ESRP.  She's a super fun 26 year old lady, who was thrilled to be paired with me (I was thrilled as well)....we yak'd and yak'd and yak'd on the lift, about all kinds of girl stuff, our sports training and just life.  She faces challenges that I don't on a daily basis with such energy, joy and a sense of humor.  Here's a picture of us waiting for her run...and just for the record she does wear a helmet, it's just off for the picture!

After the races we all got cleaned up for the evenings fun....which starts off with an athlete's banquet (Here's Jacquie, Pete and Me after desert).

Next is the athlete parade!  With all the flashbulbs going off you'd think Angela Jolie was on the red carpet!  But no, it's just our Athletes!!!  

Here's some of our crew waiting to be called....

After some brief ceremonies (after all we are outside and it was snowing!) the Copper Ski Instructors form a torch light parade down the slope...It's the coolest thing to watch....next year I need to find out how I can do this!  Surely they need one more person to carry torches down?  

And after that a great fireworks show....(doesn't my iPhone take surprisingly good pictures??)

Last but not least is a big dance!  This is the high point of the evening for many of the athletes.  I hung out for a bit and then let the younger generation carry on into the night...well, at least until 10 pm when it's over.  I don't know how they all do it!  What a great day...

....aka Me yesterday. 

TT and I spent the day at Copper Mountain checking out the absolute beauty the recent snow storms created.  The views at the top of the lifts were just stunning, breathtaking, jaw dropping.  Here's TT checking out the view off the Storm King Poma lift.  

We skied lots of different terrain....Copper Bowl, Union Bowl, Resolution Bowl and some cruisers.   It was exhilarating.  The snow was soft and there were hidden stashes of powder, which I felt the need to explore in detail.  Did you know if you fall into really deep powder it:

a)  doesn't hurt in the least, it's actually really comfy

b) as you land you might hear a giant "woosh" and then a mushroom cloud of powder rises and slowly settles over you like a blanket

c) it is ALOT of work to get yourself out of that comfy little spot....I had to take off both my skies, undo my poles, and then crawl like a worm on my belly to get to firmer terrain.  

d) it is just a spectacular experience!!!

Here's me after one of my snowball experiences -

Emma insisted she wear here mommy's alma-mater's colors this morning in light of the big basketball game tonight.  

I have to admit I don't usually follow sports, but this time of year it's hard not to pay attention to the NCAA tourney.  And, Michigan's economy is so sour the state really needs a reason to get excited and take people's mind of the tremendous level of unemployment....So, GO Green, GO White!  Make the state of Michigan Proud!!! 

I am thrilled with the snow we got in Boulder....somewhere around 18" since yesterday.  This morning is beautiful...the sun hitting the fresh snow and glimmering like diamonds, or glitter glue the kids enjoy.   

I know many of you out there are thinking, big deal, snow.  You've seen so much already this winter, and a March blizzard is more of a nightmare for you, than a thing of joy.  But, we in Colorado are different....this is a semi-arid climate and most of our moisture for the year comes from these snowfalls.  If we don't get some big dumps our reservoirs dry up and our mountains catch fire and burn, burn, burn. 

And, when we do get snow in Boulder it isn't a long term commitment....it is usually gone within a day or so... most of what we got yesterday will be gone tomorrow....turning everything green and moist!  

Here's some shots from just now:

Not a good day to sit under the plum tree and read!

 And the trash cans...looking more like trash gnomes

Yes, finally.  After waiting, false promises and more waiting, our first "real" blizzard of the season arrived!  We have over a foot of beautiful white stuff, and it's still coming down.  It's a wet snow too, which isn't typical.  And, that is good.  We are DESPERATE for the moisture!  

A half day off up at Eldo would have been lovely, but responsibilities called.  Sometimes the weather cooperates with the schedule, and sometimes it doesn't....at least there will be fresh snow at Copper this weekend for one of my favorite events - the State Special Olympic games!  More to come for certain on that...

Gotta go shovel!!! 

Well, if you ask the IRS apparently even more than I've already paid....by alot.  

As you might guess I just got the bad news from my tax guy.  It isn't pretty.  Apparently it is far more expense to file as a single person than a married one.  

After the bad news, I made a mistake....a big one.   Here's what I did:

I sat down with a calculator and added how much money I personally pay in taxes and it was STAGGERING.  The easy part to add up was the thing right on my W2....then I moved on to property tax, vehicle tax, etc.  My STAGGERING number didn't even include other taxes that I don't keep track of like sales tax, or other taxes buried in my phone bill, my cable bill, and so on.  

This was the mistake.....pulling my head out of the sand.  In some cases I think we are far better off just not having much of an idea in total is...bottom line I am a bit overwhelmed, and I am just SO GLAD I HELPED THE AIG EXECS get their BONUSES!!!!!  

Yes, I am still MAD as HECK about this, and all the other shenanigans going on - people with absolutely no moral fiber ripping off the rest of us.  I better log off before I say something I'll regret later.... 

I am so proud of some of my little seeds.  Just 48 hours after they were stuck in the dirt some have actually germinated!  What little over-achievers they are...didn't they know it was supposed to take them 5 days??? 

 I would post a picture but I'm afraid that I don't have a camera that can capture such itsy bitsy tiny things....so, you'll just have to trust me on this one!

On another note I'm waiting, not so patiently for the big spring storm that is supposed to just dump snow in the mountains and in town.  Hello weather, where are you????   

Even though I'm heading to the mountains tomorrow to ski and continuing my snow dance for big powder, spring fever struck me hard today.  Temps in the low 70s, shorts and sandals and time in my community garden plot pushed me over the edge. 

The kids mom Marianne and I decided last fall we wanted to put a garden in and see if we had what it took to be successful gardeners.  Following a few nail biting weeks on the wait list we got a plot at one of Boulder's community gardens.  This program is really cool.  For $52.00 a season we get out own piece of land to take care of....our plot is 13 x 22 and the previous gardener built a really beautiful trellis.  It is partially fenced as well.  The program provides water taps and a locked tool shed (with tools) for our use.  Thursday night we had orientation and leaned alot....like if we don't keep it weeded the community will take our plot away.  (Lots of pressure here...)  Regardless we are moving forward.  

Over the next few weeks we'll spend some time deciding how to lay out our garden, getting it tilled, adding compost, picking rocks and getting dirty.

I grew up around gardening.  My grandmother had a massive garden that Michigan Sis and I spent hours and hours slaving in as children.  At least is what it felt like at the time.  As grown ups we are pretty certain we were not put into servitude as child labor, and probably spent no more than 15 minutes a day maximum helping Grandma pick strawberries and the like.....of which most went right in our mouths.  Michigan Mom and Dad also planted a garden.  My biggest memory with my folks' garden is of harvesting the potatoes.  Not sure why that sticks in my head, but it does.  Maybe because it was fun rummaging in the soil as dad dug around the plants and turned over the ground to bring up the spuds?  

All this gardening reminiscing and planning drove me to head to the store and get some seeds.  I felt absolutely compelled to start TODAY.   I planted 4 varieties of peppers, 1 early tomato hybrid, basil, cilantro and parsley.  If all goes will in a couple of months I'll have the makings of some awesome salsa and pico de gallo!  

I splurged on some little green house containers to launch my seeds.  The greenhouses come with this little pressed packs of Mulch about 1/8" thick.  All you do is add warm water and they explode into little beds for the seeds.  Then you carefully drop the seeds in, cover with dirt and cross your fingers!  

Here's what it looked like at the start:

Now, after the water:

Finally the finished greenhouse with seeds:

Container gardening here I come!!!  (Hopefully.....) 

Yesterday another famous person died skiing with out a helmet.  Natasha Richardson was the most recent "celebrity" to pass away tragically, and maybe needlessly, by choosing to not protect her head.  Sonny Bono and a Kennedy Clan member were two others famous names over the past few years to pass away helmet-less.

I'm going to get on my soap box now, so people, be prepared.

Celebrities are not the only ones to not wear helmets.  As frequent readers know, skiing is my winter passion and I spend a tremendous amount of my free time on the slopes.  I continue to be SHOCKED by the number of people, probably very intelligent folks, who choose to wear a beanie or fuzzy head band in lieu of a brain bucket, which is PROVEN to offer significant protection of death, or a serious brain injury.   

What are people thinking?  I hear a million excuses.  People perceive that they loose visibility wearing a helmet.  They think they won't be able to hear as well.  Even though people won't admit it, they think they don't look as "cool" in a helmet.  What is up with the parents who ski with their kids, who are wearing helmets, and they are not?  What kind of example is that?  Do as I say, not as I do???

For all these and other "excuses" I say GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!  PUH-LEASE!!!!   None of these excuses are even close to true.  

Now, have you ever spent a few hours with someone who has a cognitive brain injury?  Here's an idea of what you might expect if, maybe worse than dying, you survive a bump on the head with a brain injury.  

First, you may have trouble walking because your balance is off.  You might not be able to work more than a few hours a day due to blurry visions, headache or just not being able to function like you used to....you may have to quit your high paying job and join a company that provides employment opportunities to the disabled assembling gift baskets for the welcome wagon folks.  You may have paralysis on part of your body.  You may spend your day eating jello through a straw....and, here's the kicker, you absolutely know with out a doubt that this level of functioning isn't how you used to be.  Nope, not even close.  How do you think you'll manage that level of frustration????  Hmmm.  

So, WAKE UP PEOPLE!  Get a helmet before you step foot on the slopes.  If you can afford to ski you can afford a helmet.  While there are some pricey ones out there, you can get hooked up for well under $!00, especially this time of year.  

Check out my last few posts and see how totally gorgeous, hot and sexy I look in my helmet.  And, SMART.   

Ok, I better log off now, I'm all fired up and I don't want to start blogging about how !*#^% angry I am about the AIG bonus.... 

In my previous post I neglected to mention that Saturday was Retro Ski Day at Eldora.  The mountain was a sea of neon colors, crazy outfits, many of us reminiscing of the good old days.  

Me, on the other hand, had absolutely zero neon ski outfits in my closet, but I do still have my ski bunny outfit.  Black stretch pants, and a bright red puffy jacket with a wide belt.  Totally out of style and not really a good look. I decided to go with this....until I couldn't find it.  I had to resort back to my college memories....skiing in jeans and a big old flannel shirt.  I went from ski bunny to Paula Bunyon in the blink of an eye.   

Good Gracious!  Where is Babe, my blue ox????? 

I spoiled myself last week with two decadent vacation days with the sole purpose of just skiing.  Add to that Saturday and Sunday on the mountain and my body is just pooped.  In a very good way of course, but toast.  Thursday I taught, Friday I did Alpine and Nordic, Saturday skied hard, hard, hard, and Sunday was too tired to even really look at my gear.  I did some runs that I've never done before and found some great powder...amazing given the temps.

And, now this week.  Not complaining but tons of work.  All day face to face meetings.  Today was a good 12 hour day, and tomorrow we kick off at 7....am....yes, in the morning.  With dress shoes on.  No yoga clothes.  No ski gear like Friday

Today I'm taking a vacation day...that is after taking my 0'dark thirty conference call.  I'm heading up to Eldora to spend the day teaching at our Disabled Veterans program.  I'm so thrilled I can participate with these great men and women.  I was up a few weeks ago and the rewards were invaluable.  

This year ESRP was awarded a grant by the US Olympic committee which allowed us to expand our program and offer this opportunity to any disabled veteran free of charge.  Today we have 11 or so veterans up to ski, many coming down from the VA Hospital in Cheyenne Wyoming.

I better run.  I don't want to miss a moment of today with these folks!   

I was quite horrified to find I haven't posted an update since early February!  Come on, I know that February is the shortest month, but how lame of me not check in just a few times, especially with all the great stuff going on.  

This last month has been really fun.  Work has kept me hopping (I am not complaining, just stating a fact) and it is ski season.  Need I say more?  Every weekend is spent in the pursuit of good snow.  Either free skiing with the girls at Aspen, or teaching at ESRP, the disabled ski program.   This year has been a bit tough...while the rest of the country has been getting hammered with snow, Colorado isn't...the temps in Boulder have been unseasonably warm, which is lovely but not right, and the mountains just plain need more of the fluffy white stuff.

So, to summarize the last month I've posted a series of pictures taken - Skiing Aspen, Hiking Boulder, and a couple of shots from day's I've taken off as vacation to ski with some of our Disabled Veterans at ESRP.

 Aspen/Snowmass:  Longshot Run (5.3 miles top to bottom...hiking required to get to the run)

 View of the Maroon Bells from Aspen/Buttermilk 

 Hiking with the Boys...

 Emma and me....

 Jason and me, one of our Vets

 How can you not just LOVE Ray's ski smile????  

Ok, that's all for now...thanks for stopping by....