Back to my Roots.

I recently was reading back through when I originally started my blog.  I really enjoyed how I shared little bits and pieces of my daily life.  I've really enjoyed sharing my pictures - but I miss just sharing random stories as well.  So I'm going to start going back down that route and getting back to the beginning.

It's been snowing here pretty heavily for the last week or so.  Wind gusts have reached well past 45 miles per hour.  The prospect of having to ski the quarter of a mile to get to work is not a pleasant one to look forward to.  That also means that I really haven't been out skiing as much.  (Although, I did ski Fern today!)

The day that all the snow began to dump on us was also the day before I had to work the graveyard shift.  So in an attempt to tire myself out, I went out for an 8 miles ski down Spring Creek.  I ended up being dropped off with Ranger Orville Bach and a nice couple from Seattle.  We skied mostly together and had lunch at Lone Star Geyser.  Since we were really enjoying not being around the crowd that was soon going to mass exodus out the way our original plan had been, we decided to break the Howard Eaton trail.  Howard Eaton is in the "more to most difficult" trail; however, there was so much snow on it that whoever was in the lead didn't get any speed going downhill.  

All of this didn't wear me out though.  I only had an hour nap before having to work all night!  Sorry to those people around me - I'm sure I wasn't nearly as pleasant as I normally am. 

2011 Snow Lodge Winter Olympics - Opening Ceremonies

I've been mentioned that we have our own Winter Olympics here  - Rainer beer: official sponsor of the 2011 winter games.  There were started in 1985 as a way to help keep stir crazy, snowed-in employees from going absolutely bonkers.  There are few traditions that have been started - such as Gunga Ga Lunga and Rainer Man.

Opening ceremonies were held a few days ago.  Everything starts with a parade and quickly progressed into a speech.  We learned of the Birkebeiners who sometime around 1200 were ruling Norway.  The opposing party came and kidnapped their infant king, King Ràiner.  They were well known for the amazing skiing abilities and went out during the winter on their trusty skies to bring King Ràiner back.

We continue to have Birkebeiners who protect the queen during the Winter Olympics.  They perform each event in their woodsman clothes, shield and staff.  Later this afternoon, we competed in the tug-o-war (on skis) and won!!!!  "Team Rainer" beat "Team Other Beer" for the Gold Metal.  Then merriment was had by all at the Appalachian Appreciation Dance.

 
There are quite a few more event such as the Snow Pole Throw, Bison Chip Toss, Slalom and more.  I am afraid that I'm going to be at work during the rest of the Olympics, but if by some magic I end up attended anymore events - I will share them with yall.  Gunga Ga Lunga!

Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday to my beautiful mom!  (Her birthday was really yesterday - and I did call, I'm just a little late on the blog post.)  I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you (like last year).  A beautiful sunset always reminds me of my mom - and I wish she could be there to witness them with me.

I've been working the graveyard shift the last few nights and feel any brain power that I have left fading.  I'm going to get some shut eye so I can wake up for the 2011 Snow Lodge Olympic opening ceremony - Gunga Ga Lunga!

Almost Over.

I feel like we just got here and there are only a few weeks left.  I was so excited when we started seeing mountains off in the distance (way back in New Mexico) and it just continued to rise until we pulled up under the Roosevelt Arch.  Yellowstone had been dressed in a blanket of snow - it was amazing.

Since our first (very poor) attempt at skiing, we have spent many hours skiing through the peaceful forests and snow covered meadows.  I've seen more geysers erupt than I would have thought my life path would meander by.  I've really been blessed to have enjoyed an amazing winter in Yellowstone.  I'm excited for the next few weeks - Snow Lodge Olympics 2011!

Being Better.

I'm going to really try to commit to posting more than I have been recently.  I'm not even going to try to give an excuse as to a lack of posting - just a promise to do better (even if some of them are brief postings...like today...)

There is a nice layer of powder over everything this morning so I'm going to ski a short loop trail before going into work this morning.  I hope everyone has a fantastic day!  Stay warm.

 

Frosty grass in front of Old Faithful Geyser.