Skiing Nemo

   In a shocking turn of events, I went skiing this weekend at Mt. Snow, VT.  My family planned this trip last month and right on cue the big winter blizzard named Nemo rolled in.  We fled the city extra early (cough, cough. I was sick.) to get a jump on the storm, and an extra day on the slopes.  I felt like Helen Hunt chasing a storm in Twister. Stopped for breakfast in town, two guys motioned to our rack of skis and said "You goin' skiin'?" (What gave it away?) "You got the right idea!".  We sure do buddy!

My frequent view from the Jeep

    Our weekend worked out better than expected.  I experienced skiing in fresh powder for the first time, per usual the engineer was there to help coach me through every turn.  The challenge of learning something new, especially in 2 feet of snow in a forest, is made all the more easier when a cute guy is telling you how awesome you look doing it.

Is skiing even a sport you can look cute doing?  I could be anyone under there ^

  So while Nemo pounded Boston and my friends were cooped-up inside for a day, I was breathing in the fresh mountain air (and drinking too much Mt. Snow Ale with my parents). I highly recommend riding out a blizzard in this fashion.  Just don't expect to come home to a parking spot... or even a street.

We parked 2 miles away and walked home, which was actually a fun adventure!

For more pictures of Nemo's beauty, check out one of my favs, Hogger & Co. Her coverage is gorgeous, and professional...not like my Instagram snaps!

Weather

   Everyone in the Northeast right now is like "OMG, have you seen this weather we're having?!?"

  
  Making small talk about the weather is annoying. It's a fall back conversation for awkward elevator rides, first dates, and co-workers with which you share nothing in common besides living under the sun.  I have these chats daily. Mind numbing banter has been the cornerstone of my past two jobs (sad, I know) so I've become quite good at it.  (I've also learned that a smiley tone of voice will get you through anything.)
   Anywho, back to the weather. It really is quite strange today here in Boston.  Gusty winds and rain this morning for my commute, and now humidity that reminds me of July.  A reminder of surfing, weekends in Maine, mountain biking, alfresco dinners, and stumbling home late-night without a coat.  The good life.  
   My engineer loves to get outside and play in the grass even more than I do (which is fantastic considering I enjoyed napping on the quad in college).  Thanks to him, last summer I kicked surfing, visiting Maine, and riding-in-a-Jeep-with-the-top-down off my bucket list.  I'm utterly ancy in my pantsy to see what summer '13 will bring. 
   

   I couldn't help but Pic Stitch a few summer moments together to share...

Clockwise from right: catching rays on The Esplanade, riding in the bed of a pick-up, driving to Nahant Beach, strolling downtown with my ladies, walking the jetty in Wells, ME.

Friendspiration

   Today I had a dear friend text me to say that she loved my blog entry about “me time”, and she could totally relate. We haven’t spoken in awhile, and although I shared my blog with a few friends, I forgot she even knew about it. I haven’t self-advertised anywhere but Twitter, and hardly expect even my nutty blog mentor to keep up with my writing. 
    My mother likes to remind me that having great friends is one of the best blessings in life. She’s right. My friends inspire me. I have collected quite the interesting bunch over the past 25 years, most of them starting from age 0 or age 8, which is pretty astounding. They are such a talented crew that sometimes I find myself lost in thoughts of the possibilities of where we can go. I also miss each of them at any given moment. It’s funny to think of the thousands of people that come in and out of our lives, some stick, some don’t, and why. 
   I find catching up with friends to be like catching up with myself. It’s a catharsis for me, one of many. Remembering why you love and appreciate people is rejuvenating. As I struggle to find out what’s really going on in my life, I’m blessed to have people that already see greatness. My friends impress me with their honesty, loyalty, humor, and drive. 
   I started this blog as a personal goal, a learning experience, and (hopefully) one day a sweet memento of our life... a project with no expectations. If it is a place where friends can read a piece of my thoughts, relate, and discuss, that’s a more fulfilling accomplishment than I could have hoped. Thanks Whitney!

Me-Time

    Gasp, it’s true, I like to spend time with myself.  It is a vastly important part of life that too many people overlook (obviously I’ve done scientific research to come to those conclusions.) Carrie Bradshaw said it best,

“But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous” - Carrie Bradshaw, SATC

    As with any relationship, the one with yourself takes time spent and careful consideration.  What do you really like to do?  If you had to go on a trip alone, where would you go?  If you don’t enjoy hanging out with you, why should anyone else?

    My engineer was traveling last weekend, and I jumped at the opportunity for some solid me-time.  I scheduled a 1 o’clock barre class at a new studio (thanks, Exhale Back Bay!), followed by a pedicure.  I watched 3 episodes of some guilty pleasure TV in the morning, then indulged in reading and brunch at the forever yummy, Sorelle Cafe.  It felt so refreshing to announce to friends this was a me-day, and feel no (self-inflicted) pressure to do anything in particular.  The lightness and pleasure in my day was fantastic.

    Coincidentally, the January issue of Real Simple magazine I was reading on my Nexus 10 featured a piece about being alone.  (I can’t seem to find the article online, which is a total bummer because everyone needs to read it!)  Cherry topper on my day to read such a perfectly timed article; I love when the universe does that. 

It should be a prerequisite to adulthood to learn to love hanging out with yourself.

   Try it! Waiting for a friend to meet you at a bar? Grab a seat and order a bevy! No sense in sitting there panting like a puppy at the window gripping your phone willing it to buzz with a text. You’d look way sexier sipping on a cocktail glancing around dreaming up stories of all the drunk strangers.

Slopes and Resolves

    I'm usually not a New Year's resolution writer, mostly because my track record on keeping them is despicable.  This year though, I'm in good spirits about keeping up with a few general resolves I've made and have been working on since November anyway.  First off was starting a blog to force myself to write again, no matter how silly or small the entries.  Check.  Skiing, and enjoying it, was another. Check.  Staying active, by whatever means necessary, is a third. Check- thanks to skiing and yoga! There are a few other, more personal, things I'm on track to accomplish by 2014, which excites and motivates me.  
   Along with eight of my best family friends, the engineer and I counted down to 2013 in upstate NY at Gore Mountain. We hit the slopes for two perfect days of skiing, thanks to a big storm we drove through on the way up there. (Thank goodness for the Jeep.) The 'fresh pow', as we call it, made for some ballsy decisions by me, including skiing a double black diamond and a glades trail, each for the first time.  No ice, fresh pow, let's maneuver through trees at a speedy pace! Eeek! 

Yup, I did that.

    Obviously, skiing is a hot topic for me these days.  It's a twist on Commandment #7... I'm sharing a hobby with the engineer.  Similar snowy pictures will probably consume a dozen blog posts this winter, but seeing as I'm using this as a journal of my life, I don't mind.  Hopefully you don't mind either (I'm talking to you Denis, my one devotee.)