We have seen our fair share of snow this year. Maybe not as much as years past but I find as I am getting older my tolerance to the non-recreational snow is getting less and less.
Growing up in California, living on the coast the only time you saw snow was when you were driving north and could see the snow on the top of the local mountains. You went to the snow, it didn't come to you. Bundling up gloves, hats, extra socks, boots, jackets, scarves I have obviously spent more on seasonal clothes in the past 14 years than I care to admit.
I actually still have hanging in my closest my first pair of suspender ski pants I bought for my first ever ski trip. I am not even sure why I have kept them all this time, I haven't been skiing in 13 years.
My first experience skiing was at 21. David and I had been dating six months when he invited me to go skiing with a few of his friends. I thought that at least with my figure skating ability I might be able to get by a little. Boy, was I surprised. I spent more time down than up but after one full day of clearing the ski run for others I finally got the hang of it. Mammoth Mountain was one of the premier lodges in Northern California and a great place to learn.
Later on trips to Lake Tahoe, Big Bear helped to get my skating legs into skiing legs. On a trip to Alaska and Vancouver BC I had big hopes of getting to ski, but with the severe fog in both places we were unable to get the chance.
Our last ski trip was to the local ski area, Big Bear the Winter of 1996. It was bittersweet because by then snowboarding was in full swing and skiing had become more difficult to maneuver because of the snowboarders as they both "shared" the mountain.
One thing I know is true, its alot better to have fun in the snow then it is to be stuck in or shoveling it..
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Playing Catch Up or Slowing Down A Big Part of Life
I catch myself already saying to my nine month old granddaughter "slow down". At some point in the not so distant future I will probably tell her to "come on lets go, hurry up". Somehow we are never satisfied with the speed in which we travel in life or how others do sometimes either.
When I was skating I was usually in time with the music. (Sometimes I would skate to fast and be ahead). Sometimes I would scramble to catch up if I had a fall. The coach would always tell you "if you fall get up, go on and finish the program, No matter what.. One such time when I was competing at a national competition with my group we literally had a trainwreck, one of the ladies fell, and cut her nose. But she got up and continued on to finish. The picture taken after she proudly showed her battle scar and with all that we managed to "Survive the Trainwreck" as it was proudly known for years after.
I still haven't caught up and it's only nine days into 2011. Now really should be the time in my life where I should be able to slow down a little. But like "retirement" its not a word in my vocabulary.
The old saying "Stop and smell the roses--or coffee" whatever the case maybe I am going to try my best but I won't make any promises. Who am I kidding, until the day I die I will probably be rushing on to the next event, or task but I will never be accused of never doing enough..
When I was skating I was usually in time with the music. (Sometimes I would skate to fast and be ahead). Sometimes I would scramble to catch up if I had a fall. The coach would always tell you "if you fall get up, go on and finish the program, No matter what.. One such time when I was competing at a national competition with my group we literally had a trainwreck, one of the ladies fell, and cut her nose. But she got up and continued on to finish. The picture taken after she proudly showed her battle scar and with all that we managed to "Survive the Trainwreck" as it was proudly known for years after.
I still haven't caught up and it's only nine days into 2011. Now really should be the time in my life where I should be able to slow down a little. But like "retirement" its not a word in my vocabulary.
The old saying "Stop and smell the roses--or coffee" whatever the case maybe I am going to try my best but I won't make any promises. Who am I kidding, until the day I die I will probably be rushing on to the next event, or task but I will never be accused of never doing enough..
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A Life 103 Years Young
I think I speak for alot of people when I say that attending a funeral is not one of the high things on our lists. We do it out of respect/and or love for the person and the family. But sometimes after attending them we come home with a sense of maybe knowing the person a little bit more and sitting back and reflecting on what we have or have not accomplished in our own lives.
This past weekend I attended a funeral for a neighbor. When we first moved to the neighborhood she and her husband were the "cute little couple" across the street. He was a tall, lanky guy who always helped his wife to the car. Shortly after moving to the neighborhood her husband after a short illness passed away and her son came to live with her. At the time I didn't realize how old she was until another neighbor told me a little about her. She was 90, Herbie was her second husband, and she had four sons, two who she outlived.
Over the years I had a chance to talk to her a few times. When you went to her house it was like going to grandma's. She always offered you candy and hours of stories that I would always love to listen too.
Living out on the farm with her first husband, being a young widow with two small children during a time when so much was happening not only in this town but in the country in general. The late 20's and early 30's were as turbulent as the current time is. But with all that she lived through it. She saw many things in her lifetime, really too much to count on one hand.
The invention of the car, phone, television, computers, the list goes on and on.
Her grandson told of how after his Dad passed away, he and his sister came to live with his grandparents. He said he really had so much to thank her for that if it hadn't been for them he didn't know what would have become of him. He said one story that came to mind was that she taught him how to drive in the local Liberty Park Baseball Field parking lot. Seeing his grandma do donuts with the family car was something he and his grandma kept secret for many years. She drove a car until she was in her early 90's.
Another story that had been carried down was once when "Cindy" and her older son got into a heated discussion so much so that her son lifted her up (she was only about 4'11) and put her on top of the refrigerator until she "cooled down". That visual in itself I still laugh at.
Some people live in neighborhoods and never speak to their neighbors. Others form a friendship of sorts.
I was proud to know "Cindy" and will miss the little conversations.
This past weekend I attended a funeral for a neighbor. When we first moved to the neighborhood she and her husband were the "cute little couple" across the street. He was a tall, lanky guy who always helped his wife to the car. Shortly after moving to the neighborhood her husband after a short illness passed away and her son came to live with her. At the time I didn't realize how old she was until another neighbor told me a little about her. She was 90, Herbie was her second husband, and she had four sons, two who she outlived.
Over the years I had a chance to talk to her a few times. When you went to her house it was like going to grandma's. She always offered you candy and hours of stories that I would always love to listen too.
Living out on the farm with her first husband, being a young widow with two small children during a time when so much was happening not only in this town but in the country in general. The late 20's and early 30's were as turbulent as the current time is. But with all that she lived through it. She saw many things in her lifetime, really too much to count on one hand.
The invention of the car, phone, television, computers, the list goes on and on.
Her grandson told of how after his Dad passed away, he and his sister came to live with his grandparents. He said he really had so much to thank her for that if it hadn't been for them he didn't know what would have become of him. He said one story that came to mind was that she taught him how to drive in the local Liberty Park Baseball Field parking lot. Seeing his grandma do donuts with the family car was something he and his grandma kept secret for many years. She drove a car until she was in her early 90's.
Another story that had been carried down was once when "Cindy" and her older son got into a heated discussion so much so that her son lifted her up (she was only about 4'11) and put her on top of the refrigerator until she "cooled down". That visual in itself I still laugh at.
Some people live in neighborhoods and never speak to their neighbors. Others form a friendship of sorts.
I was proud to know "Cindy" and will miss the little conversations.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Christmas Season the Groundhog's Day Approach
Another interesting week has come and gone. Not without drama, laughter, frustration and a little Christmas shopping thrown in. Our granddaughter, Hadleigh hit a milestone that none of my children accomplished at her age. She made her first visit to see Santa. I was in a panic wondering would she sit on his lap, cry some of the things parents and grandparents cringe at in that first picture. But I am happy to say that she did wonderful. To see the wonder in her eyes at looking up at the white bearded man was in itself priceless.
Which made me think several times this week. Maybe I will keep that Christmas joy and its decorations up in my house until just before spring! One thing that I think I may have a touch of is the approaching winter duldrums and just having and seeing the lights, the decorations may keep those duldrums at bay. I will give anything a try.
People laugh at me because ice skating is considered a winter sport and it is cold and I did it all my life, so you would think that winter wouldn't be such an issue. It has only been since moving to the midwest where you experience all the seasons-some more than others.
So if you happen to drop by my house after New Year's Day don't be in total shock if you see a Christmas tree and Santa Claus and all the other symbols of the holiday season, I am just keeping the winter duldrums from knocking at my door.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
A Time to Give Thanks and a Time for Giving
One a day with turkey and all the fixings and taking time to be with family and friends, I actually had a little down time during the morning of basting and preparing to sit back and watch a few minutes of the Macy's Parade and a quick heartwarming story. I flipped through the channels and stopped at a story on ESPN about a handicapped man who was the 50 year pride of a small college on the eastcoast.
On a cold winter day in 1960 a young college student was driving home when he stopped upon a woman with a young man in a wheelchair stopped along the road. The young college student asked if he might assist her and little did he know that he along with hundreds of other students would have a lifelong bond with this man.
Butch became a fixture not only to the college but also to the young men and women he touched. He became the mascot of the football, basketball teams, attending all of the games for the past 50 years. Each basketball season the football team gets him to every game and each basketball season the football team makes sure he is there to cheer them on also. Over the past years he has made many friends and is a part of each and every one of there families. At a recent football game he tearfully thanked his first friend who picked him and his grandmother up that cold day and said he felt so blessed to know all of them. The excitement they see on his face they said made there time at the college a truly inspiring time in all there lives.
Of course by the end I was tearing up as well. Thanksgiving is a time to remember memories of past and present. It is a time for family and friends and also a time to remember how thankful we all are to have our health, jobs to go to and loved ones to hold close. Enjoy every minute and give to others no matter how small it might be.
On a cold winter day in 1960 a young college student was driving home when he stopped upon a woman with a young man in a wheelchair stopped along the road. The young college student asked if he might assist her and little did he know that he along with hundreds of other students would have a lifelong bond with this man.
Butch became a fixture not only to the college but also to the young men and women he touched. He became the mascot of the football, basketball teams, attending all of the games for the past 50 years. Each basketball season the football team gets him to every game and each basketball season the football team makes sure he is there to cheer them on also. Over the past years he has made many friends and is a part of each and every one of there families. At a recent football game he tearfully thanked his first friend who picked him and his grandmother up that cold day and said he felt so blessed to know all of them. The excitement they see on his face they said made there time at the college a truly inspiring time in all there lives.
Of course by the end I was tearing up as well. Thanksgiving is a time to remember memories of past and present. It is a time for family and friends and also a time to remember how thankful we all are to have our health, jobs to go to and loved ones to hold close. Enjoy every minute and give to others no matter how small it might be.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Another Reason to be Happy I am Short
For several years I have tried to drag my body out in the somewhat early morning, be it rain, snow, sun or cold (sounds like the mailman) and either I take to the pavement and walk my neighborhood when it's nice out or jump in my car and drive a short distance (this always seems a little wrong that I have to burn another gas to burn calories) and take one hour from my day to attempt to stay in some form of shape. It may not be the shape that the statistics would prefer but hey I am getting out. I usually walk around four miles.
Yesterday an article really caught my eye because the caption read "Take that, Stretch! Short people burn more calories walking". Well I thought to myself this looks like I may be doing something right. According to an article published in the Journal of Experimental Biology scientists have come up with a new equation (oh great) to determine how much energy people actually use while walking. I thought this could be rather interesting. My philosophy has been if I can manage to lap people that are significantly older than I am I must be doing pretty good. Especially according to them I am just "a kid".
In a nutshell they studied 48 people ranging from age 5 to 32 on a treadmill. Ranging in weight from 35 to 195 pounds and height of 3.5 to 6 foot tall. (Ok I fit in the weight but not the age range sadly).
The outcome was everyone used the same energy for each step they took, but because people with shorter legs take more steps to cover the same distance as people with longer legs, short people used more energy over distance.
Hey I have know that for years. I take twice as many steps as both my husband and my kids. So tall people are more economical walkers because they take bigger steps. The sad thing was when it came to calorie burn a person who is 5 foot tall (I am slightly taller) burns roughly 49 calories to walk one mile while a 6 foot tall person burns 71 calories to walk the same distance. Well that doesn't seem fair. But hey I guess somehow it must balance itself out because although tall people can reach the top shelf a short person can get in tiny spots that others can't.
I will continue to walk and wish that I was taller probably until I die. Hey maybe I will be reincarnated a 6.2 model..who is a speed walker..Ahhh I can dream...
Yesterday an article really caught my eye because the caption read "Take that, Stretch! Short people burn more calories walking". Well I thought to myself this looks like I may be doing something right. According to an article published in the Journal of Experimental Biology scientists have come up with a new equation (oh great) to determine how much energy people actually use while walking. I thought this could be rather interesting. My philosophy has been if I can manage to lap people that are significantly older than I am I must be doing pretty good. Especially according to them I am just "a kid".
In a nutshell they studied 48 people ranging from age 5 to 32 on a treadmill. Ranging in weight from 35 to 195 pounds and height of 3.5 to 6 foot tall. (Ok I fit in the weight but not the age range sadly).
The outcome was everyone used the same energy for each step they took, but because people with shorter legs take more steps to cover the same distance as people with longer legs, short people used more energy over distance.
Hey I have know that for years. I take twice as many steps as both my husband and my kids. So tall people are more economical walkers because they take bigger steps. The sad thing was when it came to calorie burn a person who is 5 foot tall (I am slightly taller) burns roughly 49 calories to walk one mile while a 6 foot tall person burns 71 calories to walk the same distance. Well that doesn't seem fair. But hey I guess somehow it must balance itself out because although tall people can reach the top shelf a short person can get in tiny spots that others can't.
I will continue to walk and wish that I was taller probably until I die. Hey maybe I will be reincarnated a 6.2 model..who is a speed walker..Ahhh I can dream...
Friday, November 12, 2010
Cruising, Spam and Pop Tarts-My Ship is Dry Docked
I have had a very busy two weeks and it's times like this with the weather turning cold that I fantasize about nice warm beaches and Hawaii. One of the big topics on the news this week has been the dead in the water Carnival Cruise ship that was on its way to Mexico. Not far off the coast a sudden engine fire basically created a catastrophe for 4,500 pleasure cruisers. There pleasure quickly became a multi-day nightmare when with no power, which means no cooking, no swimming or any other cruise type activity that you usually get to experience this was not going to be the cruise they had dreamed of.
When I lived in California I was asked multiple times whether I was interested in these cruises. I love to go travel but the thought of being on a ship, headed to Mexico never peaked my fancy. We had several friends who frequently went but I was always the "party pooper".
I can't believe some of the stories on the news these people had to endure. No bathroom facilities, no heat or air, hot dog salads, playing cards sounded more like a bad camping trip. When the said that spam and pop tarts were airlifted in by a naval carrier was is this the best they had? Although I have never tried a pop tart/spam sandwich (I guess a sweet/savory thing was going on here) but uncooked spam wouldn't do it for me. Many who had been on previous cruises said this was the first time that they had probably lost weight on a cruise because of the food.
It was a nice gesture to give a free cruise and give hotel vouchers but this event and others I have heard like it basically has cemented my thought that a cruise won't be on my to do list.
When I lived in California I was asked multiple times whether I was interested in these cruises. I love to go travel but the thought of being on a ship, headed to Mexico never peaked my fancy. We had several friends who frequently went but I was always the "party pooper".
I can't believe some of the stories on the news these people had to endure. No bathroom facilities, no heat or air, hot dog salads, playing cards sounded more like a bad camping trip. When the said that spam and pop tarts were airlifted in by a naval carrier was is this the best they had? Although I have never tried a pop tart/spam sandwich (I guess a sweet/savory thing was going on here) but uncooked spam wouldn't do it for me. Many who had been on previous cruises said this was the first time that they had probably lost weight on a cruise because of the food.
It was a nice gesture to give a free cruise and give hotel vouchers but this event and others I have heard like it basically has cemented my thought that a cruise won't be on my to do list.
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