How to know a good Skier

Whenever you are learning something new there is a period where you are taking longer to do the task.  I went skiing for a day when I was visiting my family in Colorado, and noticed this taking place as I watched people about to ski.  If you have been skiing you know walking in ski boots you get snow compacted on the bottom of your boots.  A experienced skier can get this snow off the boot very efficiently before they put the boot in the binding.  I ski about once a year and it took me a couple minutes to get the snow off my boots.  I watched other people and other people had similar trouble.  The easiest thing to do is to brace yourself with the poles and kick the bottom of your boots on the bindings. 

Then as you are skiing you can tell a good skier if they can go fast with comfort and make nice turns.  The faster with ease the better.  I think knowing how to ski in different types of snow is also a measure of the quality of the skier.  I was talking to Toby and he said when you are going over lots of powder you need to lean way back.  This is opposed to bending your knees and leaning into the turns.  It will start to burn after a little while in your quadriceps, so it may be necessary to stop.  The more in shape you are the longer you can ski without stopping.  Newer skiers need lots of breaks and lots of time to catch their breath.  The thing you don't realize is when you are in the mountains there is actually less air to breath.  So you are sucking wind and there is less wind to breath!  It isn't easy...

Couldn't Do it

I couldn't do it. I texted and called people last weekend during my no technology weekend. Other people were using their phones and computers and I just got tempted.

We had a great time in Helen, GA! We ate some delicious food brought by every member of the small group. We each brought something, I bought the meat and hot dogs for grilling. We had s'mores! I tried building us a fire and it didn't happen because of all the rain. The first night there was a crazy thunder storm and literally the lightening bolts were coming down right next to us in our plush cabin!

The next day we went tubing and had so much fun. We tied up together 2-3 people tied up. It was so much fun! Then we went back to the cabin and watched the World Cup game USA vs. Ghana. It was a close game but Ghana pulled through and won, my friend Lauren made pigs in a blanket for the game... yummy. That night was when we grilled out and we even had tater tots. Then the s'mores... Are you seeing a delicious trend?

Then this week, when I got back I've been busy. I went to the Braves game with my Dad for Father's day that was what I got him. We had great seats in section 402 above home plate in the upper deck and we could see everything. I had hot dog, and I was looking forward to the boiled peanuts before the game but the lady said the fire went out! So we bought regular peanuts. I drank a ton of water as it was humid and really hot at the game, I also had Poweraid!

Then yesterday we had my Bridal portraits at the St. Regis in Buckhead. My photographer Lee Patterson is such an artist! His company Patterson Photography is the best, some of their clients include famous golfers and Baseball players! He took some of the most amazing shots! On the staircase, on the balcony looking at the chandelier. Then we look some sitting down lounging on an side room. I am so excited about the wedding and seeing these pictures developed! He is such a great guy and an amazing photographer!! I love my wedding dress and train! I felt like a princess!

Technology Free

My small group and I are about to embark on an adventure and bonding experience. We are going to the North Georgia Mountains for a small group retreat. I am really happy to be going on this girls weekend and even more thrilled about spending some one on one time with some amazing girls. No dogs, Kyle is watching Ruby and Lee, no boys, but also no technology. No cell phones, no PDA’s, no computer and no internet. This trip is all about spending time with one another and enjoying their company. It is really nice to get away and do this kind of thing at least once a year.

Last year my girl friend Chris had a camping trip; it is this weekend this year so unfortunately I’ll have to miss it. It was a little more rustic than what we will be doing this year, in a cushy cabin. Last year we were car camping. Meaning you set up tents right next to your car. You can use bathrooms nearby but still sleeping in tents, getting the experience of semi-roughing it. We did something I had never done before. We made pizza pies, peanut butter pies, blueberry pies, cherry pies, etc. You get the supplies you would for a regular one of these and use pie pans, and bread and butter then you put over the fire… and cook. That was probably my favorite part about the camping trip, besides spending time with some amazing girls.

This weekend we are going to do some hiking and tubing and cooking as well. We will hike in the morning and tub Saturday afternoon. I got my tub-top bikini as I done want bad tan lines for the wedding and bug spray and of course SUNSCREEN for the tubing adventure. Then when we get back for lunch, we’ll make sandwiches. I am eagerly awaiting the burgers and hot dogs for dinner. I was in charge of getting the meat! I got turkey hot-dogs and turkey meat and regular meat for the hamburgers. I hope we got some good chips; I really like some good chips! I’m bringing milk and stuff for snacks also, if I get hungry.

Well it’s almost that time, to Hit the Road Jack!