Never Underestimate the Joy in Grinding Your Face into Fresh Snow
Posted by Moose on February 18th, 2009. Filed under: Friends, Travel.When you’re skiing in several feet of fresh powder and manage to tip yourself over, getting back up again is like trying to climb out of a vat of whipped cream. Last weekend, Tahoe was the Grand High Potentate of tricky yet stunning precipitation. After somehow losing a ski and plummeting face first down the mountain and into a snow bank, I must have leveraged myself up again through sheer force of will and maybe by accidentally altering a few laws of physics. Still not quite sure how I regained my feet, but if you need any help with ye olde gravitational pull, I’m your girl.
Graceful as our large hooved alter-egos on skis.
Kristin, Scott, and I went skiing last Friday and had the entire side of the mountain all to ourselves. I love skiing. Love it. Whipping down a hill with the wind in my ski cap and hot chocolate with Bailey’s waiting at the bottom is one of my favorite things. Even with the mystery bruises that blossom after every trip. Kristin and I spent our time tipping over and trying to figure out how to stand back up again while Scott spent his time waiting patiently at the lift.
Picture by one of the dynamic Kristin/Scott duo. Sadly, my camera just doesn’t work this way. Yes, that’s right. I’m blaming it on my camera.
Something about the snowy outdoors makes me giddy. Giddy yet relaxed. Sort of like drinking a large cup of coffee and chasing it with bourbon. Only less with the toxicity and more with the healthful fresh air. After our invigorating snowcercise, we’d sit in the hot tub with the snow lightly falling and Beulah rooting through the drifts for an errant stuffed lobster. After giving up on the slopes on Friday afternoon, I sat in the hot tub with Kristin and Scott, saying, “Well, this sure would be romantic for you two kids…IF I WASN’T HERE.” Then I chuckle, put my feet up, and begin a longwinded story about my tax returns.
Spending Valentine’s Day weekend in a cozy Tahoe cabin with a pair of couples who are too damn cute to reside comfortably on planet Earth can be a recipe for Fifth Wheeldom, but I have never once felt like an extra cog, wheel, or random appendage with my friends, and bless them for that. In fact, Valentine’s Day dinner was a symphony to romantic discontent, with a menu of braised short-ribs, bitter chocolate, and smashed strawberries. Nothing was skewered, but only because we couldn’t smash the artichokes onto anything appropriately pointy.
Snow, bourbon, lovely people, and a fluffy dog = best Valentine’s Day yet.
(If you want to see Robot in the Ski Lodge, Clumsy Attempts at Karate Kid Impersonation, Snow Faceplants, and Cute Trundling Brown Dog, video footage is here.)
February 18th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I am SOOO jealous! I was here in ‘the City’ dealing with the torrential downpours.
I love it that your couple-friends are sensitive (and/or cool) enough to keep you in the loop because it can be really, realllly uncomfortable as the 3rd/5th/7th/any odd numbered wheel. I know.
Mmmm…smashed strawberries…artichokes…
Again…jealous/envious/etc.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I agree: Best Valentine’s ever. I think it may actually be the only Valentine’s I have ever celebrated, bitter theme or not.
And you would never, ever be considered a Fifth Wheel in these parts, but rather the missing piece that completes the puzzle.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:16 am
That sounds so lovely! And Valentine’s Day is just about love, all kinds of love, which your friends clearly have for you.
February 19th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I am so jealous!
I’ve been skiing since the age of 4 and it’s just the best getaway EVER!
February 19th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Love that picture of the mountain. Next time, I’m going to have to get there in time to ski with y’all! (And I’m still dreaming of those pots de creme from dessert. Mmmmm chocolate . . . )
February 19th, 2009 at 9:44 am
As you know, I think Valentine’s is overrated. Sounds like you guys had a perfect weekend!
February 19th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I once lived in a ski resort town only to learn what I enjoyed most was the hottub on below zero, stary night — along with the alcohol beverage and warm, fuzzy dog.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I (single) spent Valentine’s with two of my best friends — a married couple. It was funny because it was so not a big deal — there was lots of love to go around. We’re lucky to have friends like that, I think.
Tahoe looks fab.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:58 am
i would have totally been your date, love.
February 19th, 2009 at 11:19 am
We MUST go skiing together as I adore it too! CRAVE it. I eat mountains for breakfast!
I must say, you look powerful darling in your little ski suit. I look gender neutral and lumpy in mine.
February 21st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I think if I ever try to ski someone will need to be video taping the whole thing because they will win a million dollars or whatever the prize is on those shows where you send the tapes in of people being super uncoordinated and then everyone laughs.
I can do some things quite well, and would even consider myself athletic (or at least past tense athletic), but I have a feeling me and downhill skiing would be a terrifying (and hilarious) affair.
(Glad you had a super Van Halentine’s Day!)
January 4th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
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