Skiing, Moguls, Steeps, then Blizzard

What a great weekend. We were up in Lutsen skiing this weekend. Melissa and I try to get up there every year right before my birthday and this year was no different. Since today is my birthday. Anyway, skiing was interesting to say the least this weekend. We got up to Lutsen Friday night and just hunkered down in the old hotel and hung out watching the boob tube. Got up around 8 on Saturday morning, had breakfast and headed up to the mountain. We got our secret parking place and geared up. It was snowing on and off for most of the day, which was great. We skied all of our favorite runs: Split Rock - Chris's Couloir - and others. We also headed over to Moose Mountain and skied the mile long mogul run Grizzly. It was a blast. The moguls had just opened so they weren't very icy and were really fun. We skied almost all day moving around between mountains and practiced different things in prep for Montana here in a few weeks. Then at about 245 everything went right in the tank. The forecast had called for falling temps through the day, but I had no idea that it was going to happen all at once. The wind started to blow and I mean really hard, like 40mph, they closed a few lifts, the gondola and with the little snow that was still falling it became a blizzard. We called it a day then, but it wasn't easy getting back to the car. But it was an adventure to say the least. Sunday came and we bailed on skiing, due to -60 degree wind chills. No fun to ski in that kind of cold. Oh well, it was a fun weekend anyway.

Like I said today is my birthday, I am 37 today. I don't feel 37 at all. Since I have really started to bike and ski hard I have lost a ton of weight and I feel great. With all of the exercising that Melissa and I have been doing we are able to still have some crappy food once and a while so it has been a fairly easy diet, and I use that term loosely...

I think tonight for my birthday dinner, Melissa and I are going over to CiCi's Pizza. It is a fun place in Eagan, a pizza buffet that has at any given time 12-14 pizza's on the line. And it is cheap. $12 for the both of us. Check it out here: http://www.cicispizza.com/ Should be a fun night.

Like I said I am going to try to be better about updating my Blog...

Back again.

Ok, so I have been away from my blog for quite sometime, I know shame on me. During that time I cannot even tell you how many things have changed. Jobs mostly. I left NACR and did a contracting deal at a major US Bank... Which sucked so bad I can't even tell you how bad it sucked. I left there and have now found a home at the State of Minnesota. Still doing IT stuff, but so far I really like it here. I won't bore you with the details.

Last year I rode my bike(s) a lot. Almost 1200 miles total and this year will be no different. I know for sure that; at least right now that I am going to be entering one race. And I plan on trying to ride at least 60-70 miles a week. I am hoping for more but that is going to be a good starting point.

Now lets talk about the real deal. It is ski season and I am hitting it hard so far this year. I have 15 ski days in and a season pass for Lutsen, Melissa and I are having a blast so far this season. Minnesota is actually having a winter this year and Lutsen has some good snow. We have been skiing Lutsen and Welch Village mostly here in the cities and are getting ready for our big trip out to Whitefish Montana here in 14 days. I can't wait. Whitefish season to date has gotten 310" of snow and are getting more what seems like daily. I have my powder skis waxed and ready to go. I am really looking forward to getting away. Melissa and I are taking the Amtrak out there which should be just a blast. It takes 22 hours which is about the same amount of time that it would take to drive. We have a sleeper room which will be awesome. The cost of the train round trip is about a third of what it would cost to fly and much easier then driving, plus it will be really fun.

I know I say this but I am going to try to be better about my blog because I do enjoy it.

Hang with me...

New Life

So my last day at this job is Wednesday June 9th and then I am moving on to bigger and better things. I am very much looking forward to the change. It will be good. Better pay, a better future, and just better chance of everything being better. So there will be more on that soon.

In other news; sailing season has started and so far since the weather hasn't been the greatest we have only been able to get out and race once. And even though we came in last we had a great time and it is fun getting out on the water again. I owned a small sailboat a number of years ago and it is fun to be out sailing again. My friend Steve owns the Flying Scot and is an excellent helmsman so it is good. I am learning the subtle art of crewing very quickly so it has been a lot of fun.

I have been doing a ton of biking as well. I can finally do almost all of the trails around here without dying, having a heart attack, or puking so that is something. Biking is a lot of fun when you can actually do it.

This weekend Melissa is working so it might be another long weekend on the couch.

More later.

Save Bud Bundy

Ok, So I know I haven't posted for a while. But I haven't had any to say. So here is what has been going on lately. I have been doing a lot of biking I found a great new trail that I had never ridden before over in Burnsville which is not very far from my house. I have ridden there about 10 times or so, it is a 2.6 mile loop, not hard but not easy. So right now it is perfect for me. Took my first pretty good fall there. Took a turn a little long and my bike slipped out from under me and I fell on my left side, scrapped up my left leg and arm. Felt like an idiot but it wasn't major. The best thing about this trail is the fact that there is never anyone there. Well maybe that isn't good now that I think about it, what if I fell and laid there, no one would ever find me. I would have to chew off my own limb for dinner and possibly a toe or two for lunch.

In other news I starting sailing well I guess I should say crewing last night. My friend Steve owns a Flying Scot on a local lake and I got the nod for crew duties. We were out last night, we rigged her up and then launched. Did a little shake down sail, a couple tacks and jibes. Nice boat. I had a great time. I used to sail a bit, but it has been a very long time and nothing quite like this. I had a 12' Mini-Scow that had one sail and one line to mind. So there will be a learning curve but it will be a lot of fun. Races are every Wednesday and Sunday and I am hoping that we get out almost every Wednesday this summer. Steve is a great skipper and very patient so he is easy to work with. I think we will make a great team. I am hoping to be able to post some pictures soon.

Melissa and I are going down to the Farmers Market this weekend to hopefully pick up some flowers to plant. The weather is suppose to be perfect this weekend. I love the farmers market and am looking forward to going again.

But the most important news of the day is the fact that we all need to get behind Bud Bundy, apparently he was arrested after being found yelling at his ex-wife. And apparently Bud was carrying some bud as well. Not good Bud what would Al and Peggy think!!! Come on lets think about your family.

Stay tuned, I am going to try to be better about posting again.

Weekend and other ramblings

Ok, So I know it has been a while since I have posted anything. My excuse, well I have none. My reason, well I guess I don't have one of those either. I haven't been up to very much. This weekend Melissa worked so I created the usual ass crater on the couch downstairs while I watched movies, ate sandwiches and thought about whether or not I should run over to Walmart and look around. Saturday I did have some fun, I went over to Midway Stadium in St. Paul and watch Hamline college play St. Olaf in baseball, 1pm start turn out to be a double header which was very cool, there was full my day gone right there. Good games Hamline lost both, but since I didn't really care who won it was a good afternoon. Sunday, I got out on my bike at Lebanon Hills park which is a local park with a mountain bike trail system. There is a beginner, intermediate and 2 advanced loops over there. I rode the beginner loop twice and then tried to ride the intermediate trail I only got about 3/4's of a mile in and had to turn back. I need to build up my stamina a bit more, so I think I am going to stick to the beginner trail for a while which is fine. After biking I stopped at Sam's Club and walked around. I love Sam's they just have so much stuff to look at. Then I went home showered, started my laundry and made lunch. My god my life is boring. I watched the Twins game and then ran a few more errands. Melissa got home and we went to Davanni's I had a coupon for a free solo pizza when you bought one. So we had those, they were good. This week the weather is suppose to be nice. So Melissa and I are going to get out on some bike rides. Should be a good week... More later.

Snowing Outside

Ok, Right now it is snowing like hell outside. It is April 11th and it is snowing. Question: Where was the snow in February, where was it in January when it mattered. Now the snow is going to be on the ground for maybe 7 hours, 8 tops. I just don't get it at all. Plus it has been colder than crap outside. So much for that global warming deal. I am just not buying that whole thing. Done venting...

It is April Now

Well, another month is gone. The Twins open there season with a nice win last night or the team from Baltimore. I made my debut on ESPN, so that is something. Saw three nice taters last night at the game 2 from the good guys and one for the bad guys. Either way it was a great game and a fun night. It is suppose to snow today 2 - 5 inches. And up to a foot up in Lutsen, so ski season might not yet be over.... Stay Tuned.