Ski Update by Jen...MasterCard Style

Ski Boots that fit like a glove: $100 (purchased used on KSL.com)

4 Half day ski passes at "The Basin": $173 (no, I didn't meet my goal of 5 ski trips, but I was really close)

No longer feeling like I am going to throw up when I go skiing (at least on the green runs): PRICELESS

SKI TRIP # 2: Can You Feel the Burn?

SKI TRIP #2:

My hot ski instructor

deemed that I had all the skills necessary to graduate from the bunny hill to the Becker Lift. I had some GRAVE concerns about it when I went to get on and learned that this triple chair lift does not slow down. How would I get OFF? Then, I was equally terrified as it just kept going up up up. How was I going to get DOWN?

I won't lie to you. I did quite a bit of this:

especially on my first run. This caused my legs to burn and get tired very quickly.

But after 3 runs I relaxed a little. This was the result:

OK this video makes it look like I am skiing on a flat run. It was a green run for sure but it wasn't flat, I swear!

Hobby Tryouts: March

Skiing

Skiing has been a thorn in my side for a long long time. It shouldn't be because I come from a skiing family. My parents took us skiing as kids. My sister works at a ski resort in Park City. My mother skied when she was in her 60's. I am half Swiss so it is in my DNA to be able to ski. But, I am 36 and I still hate it. I blame the way I learned how to ski. It was like the Mascot's learning how to swim: when she was a puppy the CFO, thinking all dogs instinctively knew how to swim and loved water, tossed her into a lake. She got back to shore, but she hates water. My first lessons were like that.

The CFO loves skiing and has successfully taught our boys E & C to ski things like "Chutes" and "Black Diamonds". I am his next victim.....I mean student. To get me started, the CFO gave me all this for Christmas:

I retaliated and gave him this:

(He loves it when people ask him about the book. So when you see him, discuss the book(s) with him---OK) But, I digress....

It is with much trepidation that I take this month and do my best at learning, not only to ski, but to like it just a little bit. I promised the CFO I would go 5 times if the weather is good.


SKI TRIP #1
My friend Lisa is also a novice skier and she agreed to go with me. We spent half the day on a run called "Little Cat". True to its name, it is little, just a bunny hill, and it was perfect for me.

(We are the two ski hotties on the left):

I fell down once when a little kid came barreling down and crashed into me. For several minutes I was like a turtle on my back. I could not stand up. I will have to work on that before I go again. Yes, I will go again.

Hobby Tryouts: February

Each month this year I am going to TRY and fit into my life a new hobby.

This month:

blogging

(with Facebook thrown in for good measure.)

I have enjoyed writing on this blog more than I thought I would. Even the CFO has enjoyed it (the last 2 blog posts were by him). Thanks for all of your feedback/comments.

With Facebook, however, I am torn. Sometimes I like it and other days it just seems like a ginormous waste of time. It is a good tool to reconnect with people we have lost touch with over the years. The CFO will have his 20 yr. high school reunion this summer (no, that's not a typo. It has been 20 years) so he has been reconnecting with those friends and acquaintances. I have been able to reconnect with a couple that was in our adoption group. See, Facebook does have some merit. But, man, it can suck up time. So if you find me on Facebook, will you please be my friend? I would love to search you out and accumulate 300 friends, but I really need time to practice the piano.

The Hobby Lobby

I admire the CFO because he is such a hard worker. He also plays hard too. I admire how he has been able to make juggling work, family life, and having fun look so easy. He is an expert multitasker. I, on the other hand, have found that I like to focus on one task at a time. But, I am starting to realize that maybe I need to stretch myself a little more. For the last decade, since taking on the job of overseeing the day-to-day operations of the family and managing the every need of the little executives: C, E, and O, I have concentrated mainly on mom life. I want to stress that being a SAHM has been wonderful and challenging. I just want to try new things and add a new hobby that will hopefully keep the mind fresh and add some more zing to life.

Hobby Tryouts: January

Piano Lessons

I took piano lessons as a kid and I did OK. After several years, probably sometime in Jr. High, I convinced my mom I didn't need lessons anymore and I quit. I didn't look back and, up until a few weeks ago, I haven't played since quitting. Needless to say, I have forgotten how to play. So, I have a piano now (I will talk more about that later in another blog) and I am taking lessons again.

I want to play this:

right now I play this: I will be working on this "hobby" all year.