Saturday, February 17, 2007

Spring skiing


Among the best times in my life, spring skiing was right up there. I wasn't that great in powder so skiing in April and May (and even in June at Sunshine) was enjoyable for me. The sun, no jacket, the babes (forgive me). Hello.
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I remember skiing at Marmot Basin in May one year and it was truly amazing. The ski area itself wasn't particularly great but the weather made up for it.
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We all remember Lake Louise. All ski areas are larger now I bet, but back in the 1970's, Lake Louise had so much variety. Once one got off the first chairlift, one could go anywhere, the back and/or the front. There was a run in the back that was so long and it had every type of terrain one wanted. I really enjoyed Switzer, although I didn't ski it very often. I especially had a good time in the beer stube, I always found it funner (no such word, I don't care) to ski in the States as far as the relaxation after skiing goes, they seemed to have a better grasp of what skiiers want after a hard day on the slopes. I've never skiied in Vermont or Quebec but I bet their apres skiing is world class.
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I can't ski anymore but golf is okay, if not better. Golf is similar to skiing in that one is on one's own. People who put down golf don't get life. They should be shot, tethered and then tarred. The feathers come later. To be trite, someone said 'golf is a good walk ruined'. Perhaps if one is golfing with Ger, but normally it's the thrill of getting 'good wood' on the ball and watching the golf ball take a beautiful, long arc into a......trap. Does any one know that I am the worst golfer in the history of mankind in bunkers? When my cleated feet are on green grass I'm okay, I have some characteristics of the humanoid species. My cleats hit the sand: "hi, ack, iron?, pin? ack, ack, scratch, ack?" Once I was in a trap and someone had to force feed me because I broke down and bawled amidst the sand. My dignity was kept intact, or at least partially hidden because everyone was looking for lost balls. They knew what to expect.
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I have been known in the past to be somewhat competitive. I think I'm over that now. No not really, that competitive spirit is just lying dormant at the moment, ready to break out. Most of my family is either so nice and/or not as good as me so it's not a prob (I'm going to regret saying that, I know). Ger could be a problem. Two virgos. I still remember every shot I made at Canyon Meadows to beat Ger with a made putt on the last hole. I golf with Ger and I'm aware, a lot of fun. I am always aware but you know, I gotta beat Ger.
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Some year we should rent the Canyon Meadows (I hope it is still there) course for a day on a long weekend and have a family tourney. And on that course everyone can participate. Roy and Leo would be the Great, Most Honourable Poobahs, which means they would have to buy the trophy. And we'd have a prize for the cutest grand and great grand nephews and nieces whom made a putt, which I would award of course. How many are there? I'd better start saving my money now.

Ger



I've probably mentioned this a thousand times and I will continue to do so: "do we really have to take Ger to the lake Anna?" "yes, he will be okay, he won't fuss" "okay" "he's fussing, can we kill him now, I'm getting ill" "quiet, I'll change his diapers the moment we stop, I can't do it now, the car would tilt" "Yay we are here, let's swim" trod, trod, trod, Anna is taking Ger to the water's edge while he was bawling. Plop. Although the level of the lake rose by an inch there was quietude. Ger looked around and was pleased with life at that moment. The silence was deafening. All that was heard from Ger for the rest of the day was the odd "goo goo".