After a few delays we got onto the slopes. (Please note if you plan on renting you need to go to the lower lodge; the first one you come to as you come into the park.) I noticed right away that this was a state resort with less capital than Okemo in Vermont. Granted it was also preseason, but everything just seemed toned down, which was great for me. This was my third time ever snowboarding and I did not need to be impressed, or to impress. I just wanted to see if I was making in progress after the clumsy runs at Okemo.

The first run was not great. Tom, an excellent skier, and Eileen, a great snowboarder, came down with me and were very patient, offering tips along the way. After a couple or runs I told them to go get some non-babysitting slope time in and join me later for lunch. I tried a few solo runs and could tell I was getting more confident, still a lot of falling and heel side sliding, but feeling more relaxed. Tom and Eileen came back sooner than I expected, claiming the upper runs were too slick. We took a break for lunch (note: I suggest bringing your own to Belleayre – what we ate was expensive and bad), rested for a bit and the returned to the slopes.

After lunch I made a lot of progress. I began to put turns together – the fun part of snowboarding, and enjoyed the compliments on my progress. With the increased confidence I also stopped worrying so much about what others were doing around me. I definitely wiped out a harder, but less frequently. By the end of the day I was spending a lot more time on the board than on my butt. At one point I asked Tom and Eileen if the slopes were getting icy and faster as the day went on. Eileen answered, “no, you’re getting faster because you’re getting better.” It feels nice to be getting better.

I’ve still got some butt busting falls ahead of me, but I’m good enough at it now to enjoy it and it’s just the beginning of the season! Maybe by the end of winter I will look like I know what I’m doing out there.

Lots of life metaphors were rolling through my head last night after the run, but I can’t seem to put them in words right now. And the one about practice has been stated and heard a biscrillion times.

This past weekend, Ashley and I drove up to Vermont to spend the weekend with some friends at their place in Manchester Center.

We got in Friday afternoon and decompressed pretty quickly. I took a look out Pam and Ellen’s back window at the view and felt my blood pressure drop immediately. Over a marvelous home-cooked dinner, we asked and were told the story of how they came to be the owners of such a fantastic place. It was a story involving bats and near back outs (the real estate agent convinced them to look at one more house when they had decided to go condo). At any rate, it is a wonderful place that in some ways reminds me of Ashley’s parents’ lake house in Virginia. I feel very fortunate to have both places on my list of visits.

On Saturday Pam took Ashley and me to Okemo Ski resort for some fun in the snow, while Ellen stayed back and knocked out some household projects. Ashley and Pam skied while I did something that resembled snowboarding. Since they knew how to ski they took off and left me to enjoy my second time ever on a snowboard. I did three runs on the lower lift runs and spent most of that time on my back or belly.Worn out, I decided to have some Gatorade and a brownie at the lodge. On the way back to the slopes I ran into Ashley and Pam coming in. So, I joined them for lunch and a beer. Afterward we headed to the  top for one more run before going home. Ashley and Pam offered the end of their ski poles at various times so that I could either pull myself up or get myself moving as we came down a fairly steep and icy run. At one point, to Pam and Ashley’s amusement, I managed to fall into some trees (thankfully no one had a video camera). Eventually we reached the bottom and headed home; me complaining most of the way about the bruises I would soon have.

Back home, joined by Ellen, we sat in the hot tub with frozen precipitation falling on our heads. We had some beers and talked politics and philosophy, then went in for showers and another excellent dinner. Later we played various games on the Wii. Ashley managed to do better than the rest of us in every event from bowling to hula hoop, although I gave her some serious competion in the hula hoop department (again thankfully no video cameras). I guess all that med school competitiveness stays with her wherever she goes.

On Sunday the four of us went for a nice little hike at White Rocks Overlook then went for lunch and beers at Laney’s in Manchester before heading back to take naps before returning home. The drive home was horrible – dark, with crummy weather – making me wish that we could have stayed another week. Hopefully we will return soon.

Thank you Ellen and Pam for your hospitality and kindness, you make the North a much warmer place for Ashley and me!

Oh I only got a few decent photos – Pam, I hope you have better ones!

This past Sunday, Ashley and I met Kevin and Kathryn in Greenwich Village on Sunday for brunch including 5 dollar continuously filled Mimosas at Arte Pasta. Afterwards, we took the subway to the Frick Museum for a while before taking

a stroll through Central Park where we watched roller skate dancers.
Then we took a 4:30 Circle Line Cruise and saw the amazing isle of Manhattan and all the bridges that touch its shores from the deck of a big ol’ boat.
Once we returned to land we went back to the Village and had an amazing dinner at Spice Market.

We will also get to visit some old friends and meet some new ones. Woo Hoo! Look out New York, It’s Kevin Rioux time!

View Larger Map