12/20/10

Why haven't I been writing the blog?  Nobody has complained once that I haven't been writing the blog...except Kim: "Why aren't you writing the blog anymore?"  Me: "Nobody reads it.  It's too much work." Kim: "I read it!" Me: "I'm going to write the blog for you?  You and I are the ones that are living the blog!  Can't I just entertain you with my awesome conversational skills?"  Kim:  "hummm"

The skiing has been just, well, nothing special.  We aren't expecting much new snow at all, unfortunately, for the holidays.  It's all great though because Christmas is almost here and I'll be surrounded by my family (some) and my friends (more).   I'll try to keep motivated to write.

Sarah

12/11/10 Wassail Weekend

Hit the slopes early for a quick 7 runs of an intense quad workout.  Becky: "do you think you're doing it right?"  Who knows?  There are no rules, apparently, in tele skiing.  All I know is that I feel as though my quad muscles are ripping apart.  You would think that close to fifty years of alpine skiing I would have the muscle but clearly I'm mistaken.  I do know that I can go quite fast (maybe out of control) compared to last seasons short tele experience.  3 snowballs.  Snow was ok.  Crowd was ok believe it or not.

Ok, on to Wassail Weekend:  The first video is of the fire in the green.  The second is of the men's acappella group (excellent).  It's a very beautiful and fun weekend.  Everybody should come next year.

12/10/10 Who's Reading This Blog?

Apparently no one is reading this blog because people keep calling me asking what happened to the dog?  READ THE BLOG if you want to know!  If you are reading this blog please make a comment tonight even it's just one word.  I would really like to know who is really out there.  I'm not emailing reminders to read it and this cheap blog doesn't have an automatic reminder button.  If there is such a thing in blog land.

There was no skiing today because it was very, very cold on the mountain and I had a lot of things to do.  We started decorating the tree from the top down.  See the attached picture of the bird house with the cardinal.  We also have some old Martha Stewart decorations from Kmart that have to be put up but first we have to unravel a mess of white lights.  Most of them are burnt out and it will take me hours to put them straight but what the heck.  This is a five star eco house....there will be no waste!  Ok Dick (that's my dad's name).  Apparently I remind a lot of people of my dad.  Go figure.

I may go skiing in the morning before the big Woodstock parade tomorrow for the Wassail weekend.  Woodstock - voted the best Christmas town in the U.S.

Until then,

Sarah

12/9/10 The Story of Bridget the Dog

Last night we had pretty much resigned ourselves to the fact that Bridget was gone.  We had done everything: posters, police, search party's, calls, etc.  It was damn cold out there last night.  She couldn't survive and besides we heard nothing, nada, ne a bark.....or was there?  I decided to go running the woods again just for the hell of it.  I ran all over looking this way and that.  When I got home I was discouraged but I just couldn't get over the fact that Lola was sitting on that hole on the side of the hill the day before.  I went back there again and I started calling Bridget's name.  I swore I heard something.  I would stop and call again.  I thought I heard a muffled bark but from where?  I ran inside to get Kim so she could hear. I wanted to make sure I wasn't  crazy (some people have called me that in the past....hard for me to figure that out).  Anyway, Kim comes out with Lola.  Now I didn't hear anything.  Kim just walked away shaking her head, as always.

I stood there for what must have been another 15 minutes.  I was getting cold in the 19 degree weather with just a jogging suit on.  Just then Terry, the hole reacher inner, other searcher, called and asked if I wanted to go back out again.  I said well I may just hear something.  The three of us went out but this time we narrowed our search.  It had been two nights in bitter wind.  We had little hope.  We searched and searched for about an hour.  I was down the road but I still thought I could hear something.  I just couldn't tell where it was coming from.  Just then I hear Terry scream "we got her!".

She was deep in a culvert.  One that was very long and running the steep hill behind our house.  It took a bend down and she couldn't get up.  It was too slippery.  She was about 25 feet down the hole.  She must have chased something in to it.  There was a kink near the other end that  the animal she was chasing could get out but she was too fat.  The dog seemed ok because it was underground and pretty warm but it stunk to high heaven in there.  Terry tried to slither down but couldn't get more than the length of her body.  We called the fire department but while we waited we ran for different items that we might use to rescue Bridget.  I brought up some burlap and chicken wire hoping we could somehow stuff it down there so she could get some footing.  Then Terry came up with the idea of an extension pole from the roof shovel.  In the meantime the fire department showed up.  The police were there too.  They had nothing to help us.  The ground was frozen solid so we couldn't dig.  Terry took the shovel part off of the poll and wrapped the burlap around it.  She climbed again down the hole reaching as far as she could while I was holding on to her feet.  She looped it around Bridget's hind legs just enough to slowly drag her up.

She's in great shape but really stinky.  Becky broke her glasses and now has tape to hold them together but that's about the extent of damage from this entire episode.  I put the chicken wire over the hole.  Maybe the very expensive village taxes could spring for some more chicken wire over these holes and just maybe equip the fire department with something...like at least an idea.

12/8/10

We searched all day.   As of 5:00 pm there is no Bridget.  At one point Lola (who has been known to find  a sick cat before) was found on the hill in back of the house sitting on a groundhog hole.  She just doesn't do that.  First, climbing the hill is not easy for 4" legs and then you have the fact that it was very cold today.  I didn't even know the hole was there.  I stuck a shovel handle in there and it went deep.  It was a wide hole.  Bridget is a digger.  We were excited that she may be stuck in the hole.  Terry (one of the searchers) stuck her hand in the hole.  Not a smart move if there was a wild animal in that hole Terry!  No Bridget.  It's a mystery.  Maybe Lola knew Bridget chased a groundhog in the hole.  Groundhogs always have a back door.  Bridget would have known that and started chasing.  

There is an animal up here called the Fischer Cat.  I'll post a picture.  Crazy beast.  They were imported here to fight the over populated porcupine.  Now there is no natural predator for the Fischer.  Why does man get involved with nature?  Anyway, they are very dangerous and extremely fast.  Let's hope that's not what happened.  Personally, I think Bridget is with some deaf little old lady that hasn't heard two days of whistles and calling.  

I'll keep you posted,

Sarah

12/7/10

The day started out promising when I woke up to a Killington Ski Report stating that there was 12" of new snow.  I think a guy was reporting the snow fall because there was no where near 12".  I think a 6" report would have been stretchhhhhhing it.  The snow was good though.  Kim and I had five runs.  We had to get home to stack the cord of wood ( a lot of f-------- wood!) that was coming at 1:00.  It was time to go.  My gloves were frozen solid.  The wind chill was around zero.  I don't bother with the boot warmers or hand warmers anymore because tele skiing is very warming....and I don't mean the "don't bother going into the lodge to relieve yourself' type of thing that I wrote about in last years blog.

Bad news on the dog front.  Becky was helping us stack wood with her dog Bridget.  Bridget decided to chase an animal into the deep dark woods.  As of now-8:00 p.m.-there is no sign of the poor thing.  It's very cold up here.  I don't know how she is going to survive the night without coming home.  We go out every 15 minutes calling her but there isn't a peep anywhere.  The police have been notified.  I'm sure they are working on it....feet on the desk, 6" in their hand.   No I didn't say that did I?  Say a hoot out for Bridget tonight so she'll come home.   We love her.

Until tomorrow,
Sarah

I'M BACK!

Do you care?  You should because I love all of my readers.  Yes, you,  I love you.  How do I know I love you?  Because there are probably a total of seven readers and most of them are related to me.

It snowed today.  It was very cold and windy on the mountain.  But first I had to pick up my new tele gear.  I have the very first NTN boots for women.  They never bothered with us before.  MF's!  I skied with men's boots last year.  As you know, I really don't have the size of foot that goes with a man's boot.  I love my new sport.   I was becoming very bored with the plain old alpine.  Now I can ski just as fast but without my heel being locked in.  It adds just that level of danger that makes it all a thrilling new kind of adventure.  That's when a sport was a sport!

I'm listing to Robert Plant and Allison Krauss on the Sonos while we are sitting by a lovely fire.  Fire...let me tell you about that.  I was in charge of that tonight while Kim cooked.  I wasn't really into doing any work because I was so high from my day on the mountain and from my glass of wine in my hand that I didn't pay attention to the smoke that was bellowing into the room.  Lola was barking at the door to get out.  Kim was yelling at me for being a complete idiot.  So much for me being a beach going, bonfire, Marine, Oregonian type of gal.  As I say to Lola:  She don't know nothing my little puddie head.

Today was a four snow ball day because of my new equipment and that I got to ski with the people from the ski shop.  It was actually good snow and it was actually a great time.  It's still snowing so Kim is going to hit the mountain for the first time tomorrow.

Until then,
Sarah

Happy Birthday Lola!!

4/25/10 Not all things have a happy ending

That's what Kim just said to me after watching 'Up in the Air'.  It's a rainy, miserable day here.  It's very fitting for my mood.

What does an Airstream Land Yacht and Bee Keeping have in common?

Nothing but they are right next to each other in between our houses.

4/16/10 Dressed in Black

We dressed in black yesterday in protest for the needless suffering the baby humpback had to go through.  Nancy Atlas (one hot chick and great singer) organized this photo shoot on the beach.  It will go in the local papers.  Kim and I are towards the head.  I have a hood on and I am holding Lola.

4/15/10 Maintenance day

Just a little spring sprucing!

4/12/10 Beautiful Day in the Hamptons

4/11/10 Dinner at Uncle Mike's

One of his jokes:

So a guy (insert any race, religion etc) walks into the bar and orders three drinks and tells the bartender that he's drinking for his brothers back in the home land.  He does this night after night until one night he only orders two drinks.  The bartender asks if something has happened to one of his brothers and he replies "Nah, I've just quit drinking is all".

Mike's not really anybody's uncle but he invited us over, fed us with really good Italian food and did all the dishes.   He didn't even sit at the table.  It was like he was an Italian mother fawning over her boys.

Kudo's to Kim for telling a joke in front of tough crowd.

As Uncle Mike says:

Getouahere!

Sarah

4/9/10 Two for One

Here is a picture of me dressed for the tick filled woods so I could get rid of the raccoons in the trailer I've decided to renovate and the next day at the Metropolitan Club at Will and Juan's baby shower.  What a juxtaposition!  It's the story of my life.  Indian/English, Lover/Hater, Fact Stater/Liar, Skier/Crasher, Physically Fit/Hypochondriac, you get the picture.  Please feel free to add more.

I forgot to get a picture last night of my beautiful sisters.  We had a birthday dinner drunk.  I'll find some picture of them to post but they may not like it.  In fact, I think I'm going to search high and low for something really embarrassing.  Sometimes the Ferguson girls are about as photogenic as we are singers if you get my gist.

R.I.P. baby humpback.  They had to shoot it in the head.  It's way worse then what Geraldo did to the raccoons.  I won't go into that but it involved a sack and a knife.

Sarah

4/7/10 Whale Day

It's soo, so sad.  A humpback whale beached itself in EH yesterday.  A baby.  I'm sick about it.  Sometimes life sucks.

4/5/10

Sunny but a tad chilly from the wind.  Bobby was nice enough to heat up his pool for us:)  Just kidding, it was left over from his big boy bash on Saturday night.  We could not attend because we had our own party going on.  He said he was up until 4:00.  Bad, bad Bobby!  Almost as bad as "I'm just a bad, bad French boy" Bruno says after a few cocktails in a room full of women.  Bad, bad Bruno that's what Coyle should say!


What does this all have to do with skiing you may ask?  Nothing but I just want to keep you hanging until I get back up there.

Sarah

4/4/10 Easter Weekend

Today was much warmer but unfortunetly the people had to leave after only a few games of tennis.  We were still talking about the skiing we may have missed.  It was all around a very beautiful weekend here though.  It was very, very nice today.

I hear Bear Mt. is closing for the season.  Sad but we all must be happy every moment we are walking the face of this earth.  Hi Kitty, I say, as she is laying on my sketches on my desk.  I'm in my massage chair thinking about these plans I have to get done.  Kim is watching the Yankee's.

Happy Easter to all you religious types.

Sarah

4/1/10 April Fools

Beach, mountain, beach, mountain, beach, mountain...we sat around twisted about missing the last good week of skiing.  We chose the beach.  We are sticking with our decision no matter how difficult to deal with.  Regarde the pictures.  Did we make the right choice?  Don't know.  Will never know.  I was with my peeps (most of them any ways) so it coudn't have been that bad of a decision.

3/28/10 Clean Up Day

We didn't go skiing today.  It was overcast and cold.  I said I would only go if it was sunny and warm enough to soften the snow.  No diceola.  Instead I decided to clean up the yard.  You see all of the snow has melted at the Hill House leaving big piles of construction shitola all over the property.  Kim informed me she was going for her walk.  I said put on your work cloths babe because we are about to get dirty before the rain comes.  She was very hesitant at first but could tell by the look on my face that I wasn't going to take no for an answer.  I tried to make it sound appealing like we would have a family day wondering the property with Lola.   We would just pick up a few pieces of trash.  You know, nothing big.  Easy.  Easy like a Sunday morning.  HAH, I trapped her.  She never knew what hit her.  Ask Juliana about houses.  She knows.

It looks like rain is in the forcast starting tonight.  We are going to give up on the skiing if that's the case.  That means I skied 35 days and Kim 31.  Lola skied one day down the driveway but we can't count that because she didn't have skis on.  I'll keep you posted on the rain,

Until then, Sarah

3/27/10 Mogul Challenge

What the hell?  That's what I say about the boarder patrol getting into policing the Bear parking lot entrance.  I felt like I was going in and out of Mexico.  Give me a break.  They corral us into a tiny drinking area where we can't even hear the band.  On top of that they have muzak coming from some bar speaker.  Why can't we be more like the Alps: throw your skis on the ground, walk all over every ones gear, find a lounge chair in the snow facing the sun, demand a white wine, and do it all while you are decked in Armani.  I was lucky to get a stinking Budwiser and find a seat on a bench under a Bud banner while a girl in a Giants jacket blew smoke in my face.

I would give today a ()1/2 because (like a women in the parking lot reminded me) at least we had sun and at least I was skiing.  It was colder than I expected today.  Luckily I threw an extra coat in the truck.  The mountain was dangerously skied off and chalk boardie.  Bear was really the only place to ski because it was the most in the sun.    We managed to get 10 sliding runs in.  It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow.  If that happens the snow would be great.  Of course a nice dumping would also do the trick.  Rain is in the forecast for Monday but maybe it will be snow instead.  That would be a nice surprise:)

Sarah

3/26/10 I'm back!

Lola just wondered on by.  She was barking in the living room trying to get us to come take her to bed.  If we won't put her to bed then she gives up and puts herself to bed.  Then she barks from the bedroom for us to join her.  Bark, bark.."please come to bed I love you both so much" she barks on endlessly.  It is really very appealing.  We want to join her  (at least I do!) but it's usually only 8:30 so I can't.  It wouldn't be socially acceptable to hit the hay before 10:00 on a Friday night, at least that is what I'm told.  I never really do what I want.  What I want to do is go to bed and sleep but sleep can't come to a hot flash type of gal.  It's just not happening.  Kim just said "you're going to sleep on the couch tonight right?"  I said "no MF I'm not!  I'm going to toss and turn all night and keep you up until your sinking ass matches the crack of dawn!"  Ok I didn't say that but I COULD HAVE!

I hope we can go skiing tomorrow and we hope it's not a sheet of ice like today.  It's been some strange weather out there.  It's going to be interesting to hit the slopes again after a week off.  My finger is in one of those metal cast type of deals so I don't know what that means for skiing but we will soon find out.

Tomorrow then,
Sarah

all about ski boots

ttp://www.spadout.com/a/ski-boot-stiffness-a-complex-measure/

3/18/10 The Day After

I'm really bumming.  We have to leave VT for awhile.  It's really, really beautiful here so I'm acting just like a flatlander and getting the hell out of dodge.  I wish I could draw with this computer so I could put a stick figure up with a big L on the forehead.  We don't have a choice.  After being up here for three solid months things need to be taken care of back on the old homestead.

Here are some pictures of last nights celebration.  Thanks to Becky for cooking the great meal!!!

I'll be back,

Sarah

3/17/10 HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL YOU IRISH CATHOLICS!

I know a few people that fall into that category:  Mary Coyle, God bless her living soul.  Oh, and let me think hard here I'm scraping the barrel...oh Juliana is half!  I wonder if we should get Adam Sandler to do a song about who is Irish (or half)?  Instead of put on your yarmulke here comes Hanukkah he could write something like this:

Put on your shamrock here comes the beer?   What the hell rhymes with shamrock anyway?  Ok so let's try the second verse:

When you feel like the only kid in town
without a shamrock
here's a list of people who are Irish
just like you and me:  (speak for yourself ya Irish bastard ya!)

JFK was Irish
Yeats too
but no one from the Who

Shaw was ..  Ok enough already.  I have to go take a bath and soak my bones after 15 runs and using up 1200 calories on glorious, sunny skiing.  The party starts in an hour at our house and not a one of the guests is an Irish gal.  Shimmering Shamrock to that!

Sarah
(I'll be doing some jigging a little latter mattie!)

3/16/10 Tour and Sugaring

We skipped out on a beautiful sunny day of possibly great skiing for a tour of Woodstock and a bit of sugaring (maple syrup collection and production).  It was a trade off but I don't regret it even though I did look up at Killington longingly a time or two.

The first part of the day consisted of Becky driving us around pointing out a lot of beautiful houses and farms giving us small bits of gossip along the way.  The only problem was that she is just not enough of a Peyton Place type of chick.  Kim and I needed more gossip.  I'm sitting here watching American Idol so I'm going to critique Becky like an AI contestant.  "You just needed to put a little more feeling into it.  You needed to give us more, damn it!"  She promised to bone up on her tour guide responsibilities for next time.  I mean come on we need to know more along the lines of 'who's doing whom'.   She was, though, a great location scout.  Just judge for yourself.  Our pictures are attached.  We then proceeded to Long Trail Brewery for our free "lovely ladies lunch".

Kim and I dumped Becky (she couldn't wait to get out of the vehicle so she could take a nap to tune up for happy hour at her moms).  We then went to meet up with Alex at the Jenne Farm to check out the sugar maple trees.  Very cool.

We are back on the slopes tomorrow.  It's supposed to be 55 degrees and bright, bright sun.  YEAH!!!

Until then,

Sarah

3/15/10 No Ski Day

That's all I have to say...nothing, nada, aucun, for a ski day up here in a most beautiful VT.  It's been raining all day.  Of course the mountain claims they have had 10 inches of snow over the past two days.  I'm sure it's 10 inches of cement with some ice thrown in for good measure.

We are going for our free lunch at Long Trail Brewery tomorrow instead of skiing.  How you may ask did we manage to get a free lunch?  We met a man who is the boss of Long Trail while were eating at the P&P.  He wrote on the back of his card "Please give these lovely lady's a free lunch".  He didn't specify how many lovely ladies so we are going to bring Becky.  She's a lovely lady after all isn't she?  Becky is first going to give us an official tour of the Woodstock she grew up in.  

We'll go skiing on Wed. then we are off to Sagaponack to hang with Kitty and of course Juliana and Moxie (Zoe is going to Mexico with someone else):.  We are coming back up to spend time with Amy and Izzy for spring break.  The skiing should be full of sunshine and beer then.

Sarah

3/14/10 Zero

Good day to all you people of the United States of America.  I would hope I have foreign readers by now but I really don't think that could be possible yet.  If one of you readers is a foreigner please let me know. We have a saying here in the U.S. "having fun with foreigners".   If you are a foreigner and would like that explained before you get involved with the Hill House Gang then you better contact Coyle's husband.  He's probably out in the street right now hornning his horn.    Why are we called Americans anyhow?  Why aren't Brazilians or Canadians called Americans?  Why do we get to actually use the name of the America's in our title and no other country in the America's gets to use that title?  The hubris of it all I say.

Oh I forgot, this is just supposed to be a crummy little blog about the skiing up here on Killington Mountain (or should I say Broke Ass Mountain?)  It was a zero star day yesterday.  You got that right zero stars.  We tried. We should be given the gold medal for trying.  We picked up Amy and Eric at the back gondola at Killington in hopes of hitting better snow at Pico.  What a shit show that was.  Not only did they only have one run going (high winds) with only lots of nice green trails available but there was a lift line because of the special Olympics.   We then headed back to Killington and took a total of three torturous runs trying to find something decent to ski.  The last run down Super Star I thought it may be possible to die so I quit and headed for the bar.  Toooooo many yahoo's were heading  right for me.  It was like a shooting gallery and I was the target.  Just imagine very few runs open and bus loads of teenagers from New Jersey flying towards you in Jets jackets.  You get the picture.  After we hit the bar for lunch we headed over to Suicide Six to see some of the Special Olympics.  Of course, I didn't get any pictures of this cool event except for this Cat that the mountain must of purchased off of Mt. Bachelor.

It's worse today with the rain and all so we are staying home.  Alan and Bobby couldn't make it up here yesterday because of the storm on the East coast.  They tried to catch the ferry boat but it crashed into the dock because of the high seas.  That was their start to a very lovely day of sciatica and circular driving.

Until then,
Sarah

3/12/10 syrup

We haven't been skiing in two days.  No reason really but we had some little things to do.  We did go skiing on Wed. and I failed to write about it because we weren't suppose to be here and the day didn't end well.  ADT (always those idiots) had to come again but it was really sunny and warm.  What to do.  Leave a note telling them you are right down the street and to call you when they read the note, that's what you do.  I called them when I was on top of Super Star to see about their ETA.  No way we could make it before they slipped away so screw it.  Nothing better than skiing on a sunny day with no wind.

Ok back to my previous statement "didn't end well."  You see the problem was all about...oh never mind.  Let's go on to something more appealing like our new neighbors coming over for cocktails tonight including a couple that we met last night after a of couple of cocktails or that we are going to go tapping the trees with our electrician any day now.

We are going skiing with Amy and Eric in the morning.  Bobby and Alan are coming up tomorrow night for a few days.  Always a good time.

Sarah

3/9/10 A New Day

I've decided that we are going to leave Vermont for awhile.  It's a long story but it partially has to do with my writing. Some people aren't in favor of it.  No it's true.  Hard to believe but true.   C'est vrai...or is that si c'est vrai?  You can see what they mean, right?

I'll leave you with this: today was a () snowball day because the best way down the mountain was Carpenter's Run.  Which means the best way home was a green slush run.  Tomorrow is always better unless it rains.

Until then,

Sarah

3/7/10 Mt. Peg

We climbed Mt. Peg today with the dogs because of course I've sustained yet another injury.  I have jammed, sprained, fractured or all of the above my index finger.  I can not grip a pole.  Let me tell you how this happened although it's taking me forever to type.  I bent down to pick up my ski and hit my binding.  It was enough to say "shit" but not really anything big.  Now I'm looking at a finger that looks like a..well, I don't really know what it looks like but it's big.

Loser with a big L.   It's beautiful here right now.  Sick of typing.   See ya.

Sarah

3/6/10 Pico

Did a few runs in the Pico sun then we went to listen to the band out on the deck.  Really nice weather.  Nice snow.  I'll let the pictures tell the story.  Going to tele tomorrow.  Hopefully Pam, Lizzie and Becky will join us for some fun in the sun.    () () () 1/2

Sarah

Beautiful Friday 3/5/10

ADT never showed.  Surprise, surprise.  They say they said Monday.  Liars!!!  Any hoot we stacked wood and shoveled the driveway.  We are mountain women hear us roar.  We didn't get to the slopes until after noon but boy was it worth it.  The snow was the same as yesterday but the weather just made it all so beautiful.  Regarde the picture (bandaid is from slapping trees):

We were taking a run down Vertigo when two F-18's buzzed us.  They were so close we could almost smell that military beer breath I'm oh so familiar with.  They were flying inverted (for all you non miliary type that means upside down).  I hope no one reports them because it was an awesome sight.  And thank the ski gods that this time they didn't take out any gondola cable!

Today was () () () 1/2 kind of snowball day.  Tomorrow calls for even more sun.

Until then,
Sarah

3-4-10 greetings from your Navajo sister:

11 runs and 800 calories.  Lots of bumps.  Lots of knee pain.  The snow was generally soft but the bumps are, well, still bumps.  Best run was Sky Hawk.  Worst run was Royal Flush.  For some reason there were areas of loose ice lumps...not generally my fav if you know why I mean.  Kim is just getting over her cold that she caught from me or directly from the GBGG.  It's hard to tell.  I heard GBGG is down in Mexico.  Now that he has polluted Vermont he's hanging in the Mexican sun while I'm still spitting goobers over the chairlift.    Thanks GBGG.

We can't go skiing until tomorrow afternoon because we have to wait for ADT to come and fix the alarm in the morning.  I was first concerned when I lit a fire and the smoke was so bad I thought I was back in the tear gas tank in the Marine Corps but still the alarm didn't go off.  Then we lost power for 24 hours and ni a call from the bastards.  What's up you may ask?  You can't expect much when you pay top dollar.  Why pay less is my motto right Jules?  So come one come all you thieves out there.  The Hill House is ripe for the picking.

() () () today.

Sarah

3/3/10 No skiing today so I'll just post my research for today.

The mtDNA of Sarah Lynn Ferguson was compared to a dataset of 152 populations in 9 journals (Location 16090 to 16340). The closest matches in a set of 152 populations are listed in the table below:

Native Americans, Southwestern North America	RMI: 50.000
Navajos, United States (Navajo Indian Reservation)	RMI: 36.544
Apaches, United States (White Mountain Apache Reservation)

3/2/10 Suicide Six

We didn't ski yesterday..had to recover.  Becky and I went to Suicide Six for the two for one special today.  It worked out to be $20 a piece but of course Becky paid.  She's very generous that way.  Becky hadn't been on skis for some years but managed to look like she was just on them yesterday.  We did 5 runs on some very cute runs.  The snow was decent.  The lodge is adorable.  What a great place for kids.  Didn't need much clothing because the sun was out.  I wish I would have had sun glasses vs. goggles.  

I think Becky will be ready to get back up to Killington soon.  She'll get used to those new fangled short skis soon enough!

Sarah

2/28/10

I forgot to give the snowball and calorie count for yesterday.  Eight and over 1500.  I know it was supposed to be one to four snowballs but yesterday blew the roof off of the scale system. 15 runs with deep powder.

Today was overcast but no snow falling.  It was difficult skiing because my legs were shot.  I started off at Devils Fiddle and Outer Limits with Mary.  Then Eric and Amy joined us.  By the time we quit for the day my legs felt like rubber.  The run of the day was under the chair on Bear.  I didn't go off  of the cliff even though many people on the lift were egging me on.  I know better than to fall for that kind of egg on!  They just want one less skier on the mountain.

It was fun skiing this weekend with Amy, Eric, Izzy, Kim, and Mary.  I didn't tele once because I had to alpine with my people with such great conditions.  They say more snow is coming.  I think I need to give my legs time to recover but then I'm back on the tele's.

Today was () () () just because a lot of the deep powder was gone on the easy runs and my legs were just too shot to do anything else....even though it seems like we couldn't seem to find very many easy runs.   I really needed them too,  damn it!

Awesome day number 1000

How many days can I ski like there is no tomorrow but tomorrow keeps coming and coming.  We skied so many aggressive runs  that I think I really will need a tubby tonight.  Very nice powder.  The best.  Even Mary (a great but slightly rusty skier) decided at the last minute that she couldn't quit skiing.  We skied until 4:00.  The bars were packed with lots of very happy skiers.  The mood is high.  Maybe, just maybe, times are a changing?

Get on down like a .....

Until tomorrow,


Sarah

PS  Kudo's to Kim for going down Julio near the end of the day.   Also, kudo's to our bestest, newest friend Becky for watching our little girl while we skied our asses off and PARTIAAD.

Guest Blogger:

Hi, it's Mary - and I've been invited to be the guest blogger tonight, so I'll be brief

Although we all are told not to say this because her head is too big already, let me just bite the bullet and get it over with - Sarah is a kick-ass skier....still

But it's Kim who made the most improvement since I skied with both of them over five years ago. Kim has gotten pretty damn good!

Amy, it's a gift from God you weren't here when the power went out, as I heard Sarah muttering under her breath that if Amy were here, she would have made her build an fire-pit in the snow;  and she'd  be serving us all up hot coffee and hot cakes in no time. Who needs power when we've got Amy!

Talking to Doctor Zoe brought new insight into Sarah's chronic illnesses. She seems to recover from her life-threatening illnesses while skiing or shopping for ski wear. So Nurse Julianna, take note, or you'll be serving her cinnamin toast and tea for the next thirty years.  (It's worth it - just get it over with and hand her your credit cards)

The skiing was fanastic today - so good that I'm playing hooky from work and staying an extra day. Thanks Sarah and Kim!! I had a fantastic time here, getting to know Becky, the friend and neighbor, Bridget her doggie, and hanging with my ski pals. Looking forward to seeing Amy and Eric - and missing Susan Pinkwater, Marie and Jay -all casualities of global warming.

Have a warm and cozy weekend,

Mary

Awesome Friday

Woke up to rain in Woodstock.  All of our gloves were still wet from being soaked to the bone yesterday.  Most lifts weren't open.  Most likely, we were thinking, no way-no how on the skiing.  We put the gloves in the dryer and couldn't leave until noon.  Got to the back gonadola and bought a used ticket for Mary off of some girl who thought the lower runs were some indication of the conditions for the entire mountain.  We were skeptical about our day but it started to snow, AGAIN!

Only three chairs were open because of the power outages and one of them didn't open until 12:30.  There were lines.  There were periods of zero visability.  There were periods of hail smacking your face.  It was a () () () () snowball day.   Why you may ask?  Words can't even explain how incredible the skiing was today.  We went down a run that is never open (Flume) and we skied it with no other human in sight.  Ovation was a piece of magic.  The only problem with today was that there wasn't enough time but there is always tomorrow.  Expectations of more snow overnight and tomorrow are making me.. oh never mind.

Until tomorrow, sweet dreams skiers.

Sarah

Bday

Great day of skiing.  Great day period.  I have power back at the house.  I'm stocked.  Nothing else to say.  Life is grand.

20 inches.  It's up to 48 inches now.  I missed the best ski day of the century and hurt my knee digging the truck out.  Now, even if the snow stays dry tomorrow I won't be able to go because something is crunching in my knee.  There is a jinx I swear.  Please, please on my bday let me get to the slopes somehow tomorrow.  It's like a bad dream.  Almost like I can't swim to the ship!

finally got the truck out.  waiting for Kim.  leaving for the slopes now.  Can't go.  Truck going sideways.  This is the story of my life.  Wait, wait, wait for the snow then can't even go.

2-24-10

Now I'm really pissed at GBGG because I couldn't put the plow on last night and now we are buried under 20 inches of snow and I got the truck stuck.  No way to go skiing.  I'm really, really pissed.   Tow truck on the way.

2-23-10 part deux

Couldn't motivate to ski.  GBGG has really done the job this time.  It is snowing big time here though so I'm defintely going in the a.m.   It's dusk at the Hill House and really super beautiful looking out the windows at the winter wonderland.  The little things in life...

2-23-10

I just had a crazy dream during my sick induced sleep.  We were going on a cruise and the ship was docked quite far out in the middle of the Hudson off of the midtown docks.  The current looked fierce.  We had to jump probably 30 ft down into the water and swim to the ship.  Mary Sculley was calling from the side of the ship to hurry up.  Kim just jumps and starts swimming.  Lola jumps but is having trouble with the current.  I stand on the dock looking down.  I'm holding a package of some sort.  I'm calling for Kim to wait but she doesn't hear me (oh really).  I start to jump and say screw this.  I call for Lola and she returns to the shore.  I wake up.  Let me just ask the audience...who just swims off??

It's dumping, of course, now that I'm sick.  I'm contemplating going out anyway.  I can't stand it.  It is going to dump 20 inches over the next two days.  I'm going.  I'll let you know when I get back if I actually could ski in between sneezes and a pounding headache.  Thanks GREAT BIG GERM GIVER.

2-22-10 Sick Day

I can't blame Izzy for this cold but I know who I can blame.  I won't mention names but let's just say he's a GREAT BIG GERM GIVER!  The skiing would have been really good today because it's sunny and warm.  Oh well, I'm on the couch again but without the beer.

It has come to my attention that some of my readers are upset with the way Kim is mentioned in these blogs.  So I would like to give Kim a chance to do a counter view.  Kim go ahead.

Hi this is Kim writing.  Well I just wanted to say that I'm very pleased with everything that Sarah writes and I think she is just brilliant.  I also wanted to say what a great per

Oh shit here she comes now.  Gotta go,

Sarah

YES

http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2010/02/20/indomitable-spirits-shown-by-medal-winning-women/

Izzy

I've decided how I'm going to make some money.  Izzy.  I'm going to train her for the Portuguese Olympic ski team.

Sarah

Sunday

No skiing today.  No new snow.  No new skiing.  Bobby and Sean went out.  Have fun.  It's warm enough but I'm feeling lazy.  Kim took the other guests for a walk in to town with the dogs.   It's going to be a long couple of blocks because Lola is with them.  Maybe I won't even exercise today how about them there chickens?

Coyle is coming up on Wednesday.  I'm hoping for some new snow by then.   According to the weather forecast it looks like I might get lucky...at least with the snow part.

Got a call from my niece in Arizona at 3:00 in the morning.  Don't know what she wanted because she didn't answer her phone when I called back.  I'm going to take a guess where she was and pass on a note to her right now:  College keggers don't give you permission to call your old aunt at 3:00 in the A.M.!  Oh and by the way, you aren't supposed to be at a kegger.  YOU AREN'T 21!  Go home.  Damn kids now a days!

Sarah

Saturday 2

Tele'd again today.  Different skis.  Not as fun because they weren't as cool looking.  I fell three times.  I'm sure it's because the skis were butt ugly.  When you're learning something new you can't control your fall as well so each time it hurt pretty bad.  I'll give an updated injury report in the a.m.  I'm sure you care.  I hate you all!

 The snow was pretty soft because the temps were above freezing.  It was snowing when I left.  If I can walk tomorrow I'm alpining.  I've had enough snow down my pants and up my shirt for now.

It was a () () 1/2 snowball day because of the ugly skis.    Bobby and his guest are here.  Also, Kim's friend Amy (not my sister although she would probably claim association with Kim before me) and her fiancee, Chad.

I think I know that Lindsey and Julia didn't win today but I'm not sure and I'm not allowed to look until 8:00.

Until tomorrow, Sarah

Saturday

Partially sunny but no new snow.  Tonight 2 inches are coming.  I forgot to add my injury status last night. Which is probably a good thing because I think it is way different now.  What a difference a day makes.  New injuries just pop up over night.

-Right shoulder (don't have the slightest idea)
-left toe still hurts from skiing three days ago.
-both knees on top aren't the greatest
-bruising on right side still there (friggen pipe)
-right elbow (I know this is from picking up my skis)

I know you readers could care less about my injuries but you know how I like to keep everybody informed about my body.  It's either info about the outside or inside...your choice.

Going tele skiing again today.  It's amazing how few women do this sport.  I can't even rent my size of boot let alone buy them.  They are going to take my lining out of my ski boot to see if they can stick them in the tele boots to make them smaller.  There isn't another shop on the mountain with tele skis.  I looked on line for my size of "NTN" type tele boots.  Nothing, nada.  It feels like when I was practically the first woman in central park with roller blades.  There was no one to ask how to stop.  I had to hold on to Juliana's bike and teach myself by crashing into the grass to stop.  Women always have to suffer don't they?

A Telemarking kind of day!

Same, same, same so I had to do something different, different, different.  I rented telemark skis.  The guy told me it would be easier on my knees not the other way around which turned out to be quite surprising especially since I have two ice bags on my knees right now.  I must not tell a lie.  I don't really have the ice on my knees yet because I haven't had enough energy to get up to get it.  (I'm on the couch eating chips and salsa and drinking a beer).  Kim, I yell, get me some ice.   Another surprise, no answer!  Worthless.

Anyway,  Lola, get me some ice!  That thing doesn't even move.  If it wasn't for that constant barking at snow falling I would think she was dead or something.  Again, worthless.

I actually had a great day.  I took 13 runs and burned over 700 calories and that wasn't even skiing the hard stuff.  As I noted earlier the conditions have been the same for a long time.  The only thing that was more interesting today is that I made Kim watch and critique me the entire day.  I think she secretly liked it, getting even that is.  Kim!  Kim!  What are you doing you aren't watching!

I have to give today () () () () snowballs because I was completely entertained.  My ski buddy was less than thrilled with the day because she had to watch me all day but I told you the ranking only has to do with my happiness.  As it should.  As it should:)

Sarah

And don't tell me what Bode did today.  I have to wait until 8:00.  The NY Times barely mentioned Julia's second silver medal.  They suck.

Go Julia!

Hooray for Julia Mancuso for another silver medal in the Super Combined.  Keep it coming Julia!

TODAY FEB 18, 2010

Today was a very late start especially since we were planning on driving those extra few minutes to Pico.  We were almost to the Donkey when Kim remembered that she left the iron on.  I was all for taking the risk and skiing a few runs then calling it a day but she wouldn't hear of it.  Exact quote "if you think you are mad now wait until the house burns down."   And there was Lola to think about.  Poor little ting.

We didn't get on the mountain until 12:30 and headed straight for the infamous yellow chair.  It looks like a lift right out of my childhood.  Even so we still managed 11 runs and close to 600 calories.   The snow was soft there.  Not so much for the rest of the mountain where it was skied off.  The light was flat.  Overall I think I will have to give it () () 1/2 snowballs.   No new snow and that damn iron being the ultimate cause of the reduction in snowballs.

Injury count:  second to last toe on left foot (too small of boot for a friggen old skier), top of both knees when I get up to get a beer, right rib injury for riding the rusty pipe for far too long.

Tomorrow I'm going telemarking.  It's supposed to snow some.  Until then,

Sarah

PS  A huge cheer for Lindsey and Julia!!!!

Hanging by the fire

Valentines Night @ the Hill House

First Post

TODAY - FEB. 17, 2010

The day started out past the first run time even though I told Kim about 100 times last night that I wanted to get out for the first run.  Apparently, she cares very little about a nice 6 inches of new powder.  I made that quite clear in the truck as we were driving.  I made it especially clear as I saw people running for the gondola as we drove into the parking lot.  I considered my options as I ran up the stairs: 1) go into the lodge bathroom and risk losing more powder runs, 2) skip the lodge and take a run just slowing down enough to go in the woods 3) don't bother stopping and piss on myself.  I won't tell you which option I chose but let me tell you it was a bit windy so option 2 and 3 kind of went together.  

Although there was lots of very light powder, as usual, it was covering up that nice sheet of ice that Amy loves.   Just to make my point I will skip right to the last run.  I decided, even though we had already done 14 very tough runs and burned over 1000 calories (ask Kim it's true!), that we should go down Outer Limits and maybe jump the rope and get a bit of that very fine Devil Fiddle run in.  Kim said go ahead while she ditched me for some other nice end of the day skiing on Bear Mountain.  FYI for Killington novices DON'T GO DOWN BEAR MOUNTAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY.   I noticed as I was going up the chair that there wasn't one skier on the run that I had decided to go down.  Wow, I said to myself, what idiots to miss out on this snow.   Hummm, I also said to myself as I slid down the side of an ice bump the size of a small elephant, why don't I just cut over to Devils and see if that's better.  There wasn't really a good place to jump the rope so I skied down a while and saw an opening in the trees.  I smashed through some branches and hit an 8 inch round rusty water pipe and slid down that side ways (still upright mind you) like I was in Troy's snowboard park.  That is until I decided to fall over backwards and ride the rusty pipe with my bare side because my coat had come up.  Thank god only about A THOUSAND people on the chairlift saw me.  

There were some very fine runs in between including Double Dipper and the woods next to it.  Very fast skiing.  I will have to give () () () snowballs today.  I had a great day of skiing in mostly powder conditions.  It loses one snowball just because I'm angry that some jerk put a water pipe right on the other side of that damn rope!

Sarah 

See you on the mountain!