new piles

I used to be able to sit down and words would fall out upon the keyboard. Not works worthy of Kundera or Wolf but there would be some wit and flow. My wits have still flown with no return in sight. I start projects which never are completed. Even when I clean the office, a new pile of treasure/junk/stuff ends up in the middle of the room. Not my best day.

post trip drip

Two weeks ago I finally made it out to Vail. It was business/fun, sadly more of the former and less of the later but it was still great and I can't wait to go back. While there I did manage to find time to do some Nordic skiing. As I was getting my skiis and boots a lady and her mother came to the counter. They had their equipment but needed the ticket to access the course. The lady mentioned her mother had turned 91 the previous day and wondered if that was occasion for a free pass. I piped in that if it wasn't I would buy her ticket as a belated birthday gift. They let her in for free. Even before she got out in the snow I would never have guessed her age. All of my grandparents died in their 70's and they all seemed so old at that stage. Of course I was a kid then so anyone over 40 seemed ancient. Still, my parents are both currently making their way into their upper 70's and neither of them look younger than this lady did. So off we all went, I in front and the birthday girl and her daughter close behind. After 100' I stopped to gaze around and take a few pictures before shuffling off again. After another 100' I paused again to wipe my sunglasses and adjust my cap. At that point I heard birthday girl behind me and watched her pass. For about 1/3 of the course they stayed ahead of me, slowing occasionally until I caught up. I wasn't sure if she needed a rest or if she was concerned about me being a novice to all things white and fluffy. (other than marshmallows of course). While everything around me was enveloped in white and looked amazing I think watching birthday girl pull ahead of me on skiis was what I'll remember most about that afternoon. As she and her daughter turned back she did stop to warn me about the back side of the trail. I appreciated it and wished her a happy birthday before heading onward.

The strangest moment of the trip was sitting in a Japanese restaurant in Vail, Co, with Appalachian music blaring overhead. The only bad moment was on the flight back. I had the couple behind me who were in denial over their need of a hearing aid. The row behind them was occupied with two infants, each trying to become the first to shatter glass. To my left were three rows of preschool kids, two of which had just learned to whistle. I would have paid anything for the headsets.

Back to realithy.

meanwhile....

So, how long did your New Year's Resolution last?

1/1/08

I managed to start the year off with a ride on the trail. I'd like to think it was the constant headwind that made the pedaling back so difficult but my knees are telling me otherwise. The last two times I have been out riding or for long walks my knees have complained more than usual. With my sister's condition that terrible thought snuck into the back of my mind but truthfully it is because I have pretty much been a vegetable for the last three months.

Took the tree down and actually spent time putting things away in a more orderly fashion It was nice being able to stay home for a holiday and now at least two rooms of the house look semi-organized and clean. I even managed to toss out a few old things I'd been avoiding. Not that my pack rat days are over and I didn't even bother to consider that as a resolution for 2008. No, the thought that hit my head is that I want to canoe more. I didn't get into a boat last year.

Bowl games are upon us. That is one reason the cleaning went so slowly. I'll be having football withdrawals next week. But with the trip to the slopes planned (the first in nine years and very first time to one out west) I shouldn't have time to think of anything except dodging trees.

There is nothing any more profound about my life today than a year ago, but that doesn't matter. It will be time to reflect on the year 2008 before we know it. Enjoy it.

the morning after...

and so some of the lights have already come down. C's son left to visit his Dad Sunday morning so we had our Christmas Sat night. I did get biking gloves as well as a pair for wearing to work. There were other gifts but those were the two I wanted. C liked the tickets I got for her but was obviously underwhelmed with the rest of my offerings. And in all honesty they were an underwhelming collection of one night out shopping. Oh, there were a few extra treats, small things, things that didn't seem to matter. Even our upcoming trip away seemed to fall flat. I will be out of town this weekend and she wanted the tree & interior decorations down before he got back so we spent yesterday afternoon taking things down, packing them away, and I hauled them up to her attic. We caught a movie and had dinner with her Mom before I headed home. The highlight of the holiday weekend was going for a bike ride early Christmas Eve morning, then taking the dogs for a walk that afternoon while she went into work, driving up to see my folks and nieces/nephews Sun while she headed to the airport. It suddenly seemed that most of the enjoyable moments were ones we were apart. Not that we had an awful time. There were moments, but all in all there was one too many comment about the (very real) impositions of having a house guest over for a long holiday weekend and one too many moments when I wasn't saying or doing what someone who was head over heels in love would say or do. Mainly because I was busy pouting over the lack of appreciation. Which is cruel. Her only child is away for a week and while she complains about him as much as she does me I know she misses him. Still at some point... well, at some point you either lay back and enjoy looking at the lights or you take them down.

Deck Us All with Boston Charlie...

Merry Christmas.

sleep tight

lightly

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clo.....sing

dr EAmS

calling

AWAY!