Accidental Drinking

My friend Dan from San Diego was in town for work this week. He always calls me when he's here and we go grab dinner. Wednesday night, Dan, Cory, and I did just that. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be) it was trivia night at the Market Arms, which is where we went for dinner. Of course we participated in trivia. We didn't do half bad for only three people. We also drank a little more than three people might otherwise drink.

Oh well. Every once in a while it's fun to have an "oops I got drunk" night. Hopefully next time I just won't need to go to work the next day...or maybe I just won't choose a bar or pub to eat in :)

Me and Dan During Trivia at the Market Arms

Bigger Sky, Better Snow

This weekend I went to Bozeman, MT to visit Cory's family and ski. Upon arrival at the airport, you're greeted by a giant, bronze grizzly bear. It's my favorite.

Gallatin Field Grizzly Bear

We skied Big Sky on Friday and Bridger Bowl on Saturday. Both days were fantastic. It was the best snow I've skied all season, for sure. Maybe even the best snow in a few seasons. You can't go wrong with fluffy powder...

Tram to the top of Lone Peak

Lone Peak at Big Sky

...well, if you forget to buckle your boots for a few runs - like Cory's cousin Steve did - you can go wrong. Nevertheless, we all survived skiing all day and playing Mousetrap and Apples to Apples all night. Steve's 7-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy are an unstoppable combination when it comes to board games.

Liz, Cory, and Cody at Bridger Bowl

The kids are also unstoppable on the mountain. Here's Cody, who's on the freestyle ski team, at practice doing a Back Iron Cross.

[Video to come when I get my HD camera cord]

My legs were tired after two full days on the mountain, but it was well worth it to get out of the Seattle area rain and onto some skiable snow! Oh yeah, and to spend time with Cory's family :)

Montana Wall Art & Cory

Skiing in the Rain (Read: Skiing in Washington State)

This weekend we went up to Mt. Baker. We planned our trip months in advance, booked a place to stay for Friday and Saturday night, and got all pumped up because a huge snow storm came into Seattle during the week. It snowed a few inches in Seattle (which is rare) and multiple feet on all the surrounding mountains. Then on Thursday and Friday it rained. It rained in the city and it rained on the mountains. All of them. Including Baker.

It also rained at Baker on Saturday. It poured on Sunday.

Laura in the Rain at Mt. Baker

We braved the rain on Saturday and went up to the mountain. Ironically, the only other time I tried to ski Baker, the mountain was closed due to too much snow. The next day it rained. I think this is why there are no true ski resorts in Washington. All the mountains are filled with locals and devoid of tourists. If you're not from the state of Washington, you're not going to take your chances by planning a ski vacation here. Go to Colorado, Utah, or Tahoe, where the threat of rain is non-existent. Even if you don't get a powder day, you're more likely to get a bluebird day than a dousing.

Me and Laura in a Rain Cloud

We had a good time cruising and attempting the new-snow-turned-slush. We made the best of it and came dripping into the lodge about 3 hours later. We did not attempt to ski on Sunday. Some day we'll have a dry day at Baker.

Staying Dry in the Lodge

I just hope it's sooner, rather than later.

Don't Worry - We still had fun and beer!

Old Dog, New Smells

Our dog Vera is 13.5 and has developed a major flatulence problem over the past year or two. It's pretty much the most overwhelming, disgusting, and penetrating smell you can imagine. We've tried giving her doggy sweet potatoes, lighting candles, and making her sleep across the room, but nothing seems to tame her odor. What can you do? The only real solution we've come up with is to hide our faces in our shirts for a few minutes. When you hear the "pfffft" sneak out you only have a second or two to take your last breath of non-toxic air before you have to duck and cover...

Vera - so innocent-looking, yet so noxious

I've come to realize that old people and animals start to become more and more annoying (and in this case smelly), so that it's just a little easier to let them go when that day comes. It's hard to face the reality that you'll have to make the difficult decision to put your dog down some day, but it's comforting to know that your life will be easier in a few small ways. Thanks, Mother Nature...and sorry Mom and Dad - just be glad this post isn't about you.

Birthday Bowling

Bowling is a great birthday activity. I don't know why we don't do it more often. Last night we had about 20 people show up for cheap, late-night (9pm) bowling at West Seattle Bowl. It cost less than $10 a person (excluding beers, which were only $1 each - costs per person varied drastically) and we bowled until almost 1am.

With the addition of an amazing grizzly bear bowling ball gift for the birthday boy - complete with intimidating bear claw slashes on the back - the night was a complete success.