tahoe snoe
Home sweet Ta-home!
Well, technically, Reno.... same difference.
So Jessica from Burton hooked me up with her awesome friend and my temporary(?) roomie Dave, who lives in Reno, and works at Alpine Meadows for Disabled Sports. Really awesome group, a non-profit that handles adaptive ski lessons, and other summer sports as well.
First night here, they had homemade chicken curry waiting for me. HELLO.... yummy. Two other chicks were here that he had met from working as instructors together years ago in Mammoth, Cali. Really cool chicks, Karen and Carlotta- 'Lotta for short of course. So I was stoked to have other chicks to ride with the next day, since Dave could only do 2 runs cause he was working. I was even more stoked to find out that DAMN could they ride! Karen especially, who just blazed a trail.
I was doing pretty good myself, didn't want to make a fool of myself trying something stupid.... and of course shite happened. Last run b4 lunch and we semi-split this tree run, nice n' long just how I like 'em (haha) with lots of frest powder. I'm playin follow the leader mostly, trying to stay on Karens line, and doing a bang up job till we reach this one rocky section and I decide to go right around it and she went left - big mistake. Thought i had enuff speed to make it through some scrub brush, and definatly didn't. Karen spotted me as i was about to hike out and shouted down - just keep going straight! - through what? there was totally no line, and after almost falling through the snow and literally seeing the creek beneath the rocks below me, i decided best to unstrap one and skate it out. A few branch shots to the face later and i'm free - only to fall again like 50 ft. later - but at least i was right at the trail. We get back to base and Lotta sees me and just starts laughing, and i am too - because i took one hell of a powder bath and it showed.
A pulled pork sandwich and some chili later and we're back out - but this time my appetite got the better of me. I had a serious case of the snowsnakes, got bit 3 or 4 times, and every time I was in the middle of the pack so Lotta would see me getting snipered and just start laughing as I'm on my back all doe-eyed going 'what the fuk is wrong with me!' So we had a good time, sick runs 'off piste' (i hate that phrase,) and said goodbye to Lotta who had to go back to teaching in the 'Bay area. Alpine was fun, but I didn't necessarily get that 'i'm home' feeling that i've been looking for in a mountain. Karen was cool and drove me into Squaw Valley to get a quick look-c of the Village, and I got the same thing - except that it might be a bit more fun since it actually had some restraunts and shops set up, but still not as much atmosphere as Steamboat had last year - so actually it was kinda disappointing from all the hype. Don't get me wrong though - the Mtn. itself looked sick, will definatly be checking that one off soon. The list is growing ;)
So we came back to Reno with plans to delve into some all you can eat sushi at Sushi Pier and then head to the movies to see Reno 911 (which is funny, since the movie was shot in my neck of the woods, but i've come all the way out to Reno to see it - even though the show itself turns out isn't even filmed here!) The three of us met up with 2 other instructors, one who was a mono-skier that we said hi to earlier. Um, yeah, he out-skiis most people on two skiis, chalk one up to inner-charachter over sheer physical ability anyday. And he brought his working dog with him - cutest thing ever, never roams unless told, and shared shitless of waiters stepping on his tail! So 5 TRAYS of sushi later, we've missed the movie but had some awesome conversation over sake and Asahi xtra dry.
Next morning Karen leaves to go see other family in the area, and I start my job hunt. At this point, Heavenly has given me an offer over the phone, but only as a part-time kids ski instructor - no snowboarding. The thing is, I'm a very beginning skiier - so even though u might think i'm on the mountian the whole day, i'm not, i'm on the buuuuunny hill. With a board on, I could advance my students and actually be able to show them some real runs and get some serious on-mtn experience. So I'm looking for a bit of both worlds - workin with the cute munchkins, and opportunity to mix it up with some boarding.
1st stop - Mt. Rose, closest to Reno, but feels like the LAX of ski resorts - people and busses all over the place from everywhere. Strictly a commuter mtn., but looked like a down-to-earth atmosphere, especially amidst "Slide Back Day", where everyone is in 80's gaper gear! Talked to the head of the kids school, who was friendly and wanted me to fill out an app, but didn't seem to think he'd be able to hire me for the season, so I did, but pressed on...
2nd stop - Diamond Peak at Incline Village, on the way down the pass from Rose, the whole area is gorgeous, and I finally got my first view of Lake Tahoe. Silver blue and with strokes of sunlight all over the surface, coming through gray denim clouds full of snow... not the highest visibility or the turquoise blue i was told of, but breathtaking in a way that only people who dream of white fluff can appreciate. The town reminds me of the nicer sides of Alpharetta, GA, big wooden slatted houses on open lots drapped with trees and set back in a way that seems to slow down time. The mountian itself isn't the biggest, but the people there were pretty darn cool, especially Bee, the elder of the instructors who ran the kids school. The way to a job here was easy, but brought concerns of it's own - all the Aussies' visas are up, including 6 instructors, so they needed immediate help. Thing about that is, that means they're understaffed. Rent around there is also not cheep from everything I heard, although doo-able. But I was honest and told them I had an offer from Heavenly, which I was trying to get to by nightfall, and some other possibilities through new buddy Dave. They said to let them know, and I would start training and orientation on wed. (another downside, wasted time on my birthday playing 'get to know you') But, I felt good here, comfortable..... almost.... home-y. almost.
3rd stop - so I come to the crossroads and make a call - get into Heavenly too late to see the school in action but visit the little bro who is there on vacation, or save it for the next day and get to Northstar, which is closer. A call into NStar gives me what I need - still looking for instructors, housing available, come on in. Someone to talk to at the school today? "Eeeeh, probably not by the time you get here, but they'll call you soon." Ha! Sucka you don't know meeeeeee..... I drive straight up to the school, do not pass go, do not collect $200, skip HR and onto the Village. It's bigger, friendlier, eveyone's smiling, and the average age is much closer to my own. A good vibe from the moment I got there, not to mention the drive was gorgeous, Kings Beach definatly looked like a place to explore - Mtn. town meets beachside villas and some old skool flare - purfect. Everybodys helpful, and I find my way into the ski school, where the girl at the obviously new and very slickly designed school (think gameshow on Nickelodeon set) is elated to hear that I want a job. Takes me right back to meet the director. I like this - direct - here ya go - get in the mix of it. I get back there and like it even more. It's from a part of my duality, one part quaint, one part state of the art. And here, the instructors were still hanging out together - something I also hadn't seen since Steamboat. Aaron the director comes and talks to me, and what starts as I need to get approval, I turn into a conversation about how we're both from the East coast, what made you stay, here's what i've done, yadayadayda.... aaaaaaaaand you've got the job if you want it. HHAHAHA! take that little HR boy. Listening and talking with Aaron really made me feel at home there and respect it even more too. Yeah, that's right.... made me feel at home. I was comfortable from the moment I started the drive, which in my road trip world, is a very good sign.
So I filled eveything out, said my goodbyes, and started out the door, only to get a text from Dave sayin - I got an in for you at Northstar! "Don't worry about callin in the favor Dave, I just walked in and got the job" "Really? Great, we're drinkin, you're late, come meet us!" So out I go, but now recognizing the uniforms, I spot two future fellow employees stranded on the road trying to hitch it out, so I listen to the voice in my head, and give them a ride (after much re-arranging of the completly stuffed Tachicoma!) Two awesome chicks and now new friends, who work at the restraunt mid-way, and live in employee housing - and are good friends with the housing director! So I give them a ride back to Kings Beach and we talk the whole way, they fill me in on what's going on this week, and give me the invite to drop by anytime - even tonight when they're making enchilada dinner! (Argentina and Peru, gotta love the diversity out here, so much fun!) But I got plans to meet up with the roomie, who's celebrating his own good day, as all his instructor-students passed their exams!
Off to River Ranch, all the way back by Alpine Meadows, and now it's snowing.... I mean really starting to snow. And out come the assholio drivers. Yeah, not one of my fav drives. But the guy with the platinum Donald Trump meets Ryan Seacrest toupe - priceless. Only wish I couda gotten a pic - words cannot describe how bad this thing is. But I got to meet another instructor, one who used to be a local but now only visits and works the weekends. A lot of folks here come from the Bay area just on weekends and ride or work. So after getting our seats robbed from infront of us by some obviously non-local 'mutton', we decide to up stakes and head for Truckee, the next real town, where a lot who work around here actually live. Some serious appetisers and 'movie theater' chili chicken nachos later, and we're grubbed out and fading, but not after a discussion about local mountains. In the boys opinion, N'Star is the way to go.... only thing is they don't act like it's the best mountain, except that the park is killer. But they keep insisting that the way to go is to work where you can make the $, and then go play on your own, which will be cheaper at that point anyway. Okay, but I still gotta see Heavenly tomorrow. Lil' bro finally picks up his phone, and its their last day to ride anyway, so the plan is on - butt-crack of dawn I'm up and packin for Heavenly.... meanwhile... it's still snowing.
Morning comes and damned if it STILL ain't snowing - even in Reno! Dave calls from the road, says it's super sketchy, and they're bombing the piss out of the mtns for avalanche control. So with a keen eye open and a tummy full of fresh made breakfast pizza, I head out determined. And half way there, I find out the lifts are closed. Yah. Meanwhile, the drive is not the worst ever, but definatly not the best, and from Carson to Heavenly, it just gets worse. You can't even see the lake when it's 100 ft. to the right. But I wanted to try for it anyway and still wanted to see the bro, and his digs at Mark Frank Montoya's hotel - the Block! It was just as I had pictured, but I guess not so for my bro, who is used to a bit more lavishness i guess. But the city was hard to check out, the winds were crazy and the snow was everywhere. After an hour inside though watching Happy Gilmore, I decided to get the boys out of their cocoons (the heater broke) and go eat - but on the way saw that the Cali side of the mtn was open, and in a flurry, all the sudden i was hiking back to the truck and clearing it out again, stuffing 3 boards INSIDE, and resting my arm on the edges as we raced through town to try and squeek an hour plus of riding in before they were getting picked up for the airport.
The powder was sick, the area open was more than enough to explore - and to take a dive on - but this time it wasn't me! My bro, who was much better than i expected for only his 2nd trip, as the story goes - hits a rock or a branch, which sends him flying forward into the snow - except it wasn't - it was a barely covered rock which raked his goggles into his nose and sent him into lala land for a minute. one look at the goggles proves why people shouldn't be allowed to wear sunglasses out there - absolutly saved his nose and maybe even his eye, because the whole front was gashed- not cut - gashed. and there was a nice p-tex worthy goue on his base too. But he kept truckin, and we got two more shorter runs in, and some good pics too. I managed a little frontside grab which i guess he never thought i could do, so all in all, it was really good for us to ride together finally, and i got my look at the mountain. Dropped them off, and decided to ride again for the last 2 hours on my own. Landed a few off some rocks and trees into powder, and missed the landings on a few too, then got into the nasty winds again, tried to call it a day, and got burried in white out on the way down. Another day of Mer vs. the scrub brush. Mer - 0, Scrub 2. Also had a close call with a tree, stopped short, and then had to use the same damn tree to lunge over and pull myself out. Good side - absolutly sick runs, and since it was so crappy out, had them mostly to myself to track as i pleased. Even almost pulled off the elusive frontside 180, except i overrotated and had to put my hands into the mountain to stop the spinout at the end. A fun mountain for sure, but I saw the touristyness that the boys spoke of the night before, and since I don't rock casinos, I didn't get the 'honey i'm home' feeling that N'Star gave me, so I managed to kill two birds with one stone that day.
Headed back with a belly full of local taco goodness, only to find that the storms had been so bad that they closed 395 - the main way back into Reno! Dave thought it was wrong and advised me to press on, only to loose his navagator rights as i was cought in a major traffic fuk that cost me almost 2 hours worth of turning around and re-routing severly east to come back west to Reno. I bought cookie dough on the way home, needless to say, and vegged out to Guy Ritchie movies and some well deserved green inspiration.
Woke up today to another call from Dave - don't go anywhere. They're about to close everything, and an even bigger storm is on the way tonight. So I got friendly at the Super Wallmart around the corner, and then spent the rest of the time veggin out with Dave once he got home to some strange movie called Brazil - which was nothing to the title - and followed up that madness with a mosh of lovely food - pulled pork that we were given, a spinach salad that i topped it with, scalloped potatos, rice n beans - all cooked up by Dave, who apparently got bored! Re-set our brains with some Family Guy to clear out the funky-movie-funk, and settled in for sleep. Me? I'm supposed to be waxing the board right now, but lookey lookey, I'm actually filling out my journal! But that's it for tonight, gonna pop in Mean Machine - one of the good movies we watched yesterday, and get my tech on.
Oh yeah. There's almost a foot of frest snow outside our door. This is Reno, that doesn't happen. Unless of course, you've got a lucky - and happy - lil' Mer-dur in town... ;)
Romance notes - since I should learn to keep them seperate anyhow - after gettin text silence from M.H. in Seattle for the last 5 days or so, decided to Myspace message, and got an answer back apologizing for lateness and filling in blanks almost immediatly. B.H., who is just a friend as far as I know, although certain remarks have made me wonder, is in Taiwan, shooting his heart out, and writing some great pieces for bulletins. I mean damn, the guy even got to shoot inside a Buddhist temple during New Years - how fukin sweet does it get! He inspires me to shoot and write more, while M makes me wanna stride to go bigger before i possibly get a visit into the mtns of the n.west..... we shall see, we shall seeeeeeeee.......
Well, technically, Reno.... same difference.
So Jessica from Burton hooked me up with her awesome friend and my temporary(?) roomie Dave, who lives in Reno, and works at Alpine Meadows for Disabled Sports. Really awesome group, a non-profit that handles adaptive ski lessons, and other summer sports as well.
First night here, they had homemade chicken curry waiting for me. HELLO.... yummy. Two other chicks were here that he had met from working as instructors together years ago in Mammoth, Cali. Really cool chicks, Karen and Carlotta- 'Lotta for short of course. So I was stoked to have other chicks to ride with the next day, since Dave could only do 2 runs cause he was working. I was even more stoked to find out that DAMN could they ride! Karen especially, who just blazed a trail.
I was doing pretty good myself, didn't want to make a fool of myself trying something stupid.... and of course shite happened. Last run b4 lunch and we semi-split this tree run, nice n' long just how I like 'em (haha) with lots of frest powder. I'm playin follow the leader mostly, trying to stay on Karens line, and doing a bang up job till we reach this one rocky section and I decide to go right around it and she went left - big mistake. Thought i had enuff speed to make it through some scrub brush, and definatly didn't. Karen spotted me as i was about to hike out and shouted down - just keep going straight! - through what? there was totally no line, and after almost falling through the snow and literally seeing the creek beneath the rocks below me, i decided best to unstrap one and skate it out. A few branch shots to the face later and i'm free - only to fall again like 50 ft. later - but at least i was right at the trail. We get back to base and Lotta sees me and just starts laughing, and i am too - because i took one hell of a powder bath and it showed.
A pulled pork sandwich and some chili later and we're back out - but this time my appetite got the better of me. I had a serious case of the snowsnakes, got bit 3 or 4 times, and every time I was in the middle of the pack so Lotta would see me getting snipered and just start laughing as I'm on my back all doe-eyed going 'what the fuk is wrong with me!' So we had a good time, sick runs 'off piste' (i hate that phrase,) and said goodbye to Lotta who had to go back to teaching in the 'Bay area. Alpine was fun, but I didn't necessarily get that 'i'm home' feeling that i've been looking for in a mountain. Karen was cool and drove me into Squaw Valley to get a quick look-c of the Village, and I got the same thing - except that it might be a bit more fun since it actually had some restraunts and shops set up, but still not as much atmosphere as Steamboat had last year - so actually it was kinda disappointing from all the hype. Don't get me wrong though - the Mtn. itself looked sick, will definatly be checking that one off soon. The list is growing ;)
So we came back to Reno with plans to delve into some all you can eat sushi at Sushi Pier and then head to the movies to see Reno 911 (which is funny, since the movie was shot in my neck of the woods, but i've come all the way out to Reno to see it - even though the show itself turns out isn't even filmed here!) The three of us met up with 2 other instructors, one who was a mono-skier that we said hi to earlier. Um, yeah, he out-skiis most people on two skiis, chalk one up to inner-charachter over sheer physical ability anyday. And he brought his working dog with him - cutest thing ever, never roams unless told, and shared shitless of waiters stepping on his tail! So 5 TRAYS of sushi later, we've missed the movie but had some awesome conversation over sake and Asahi xtra dry.
Next morning Karen leaves to go see other family in the area, and I start my job hunt. At this point, Heavenly has given me an offer over the phone, but only as a part-time kids ski instructor - no snowboarding. The thing is, I'm a very beginning skiier - so even though u might think i'm on the mountian the whole day, i'm not, i'm on the buuuuunny hill. With a board on, I could advance my students and actually be able to show them some real runs and get some serious on-mtn experience. So I'm looking for a bit of both worlds - workin with the cute munchkins, and opportunity to mix it up with some boarding.
1st stop - Mt. Rose, closest to Reno, but feels like the LAX of ski resorts - people and busses all over the place from everywhere. Strictly a commuter mtn., but looked like a down-to-earth atmosphere, especially amidst "Slide Back Day", where everyone is in 80's gaper gear! Talked to the head of the kids school, who was friendly and wanted me to fill out an app, but didn't seem to think he'd be able to hire me for the season, so I did, but pressed on...
2nd stop - Diamond Peak at Incline Village, on the way down the pass from Rose, the whole area is gorgeous, and I finally got my first view of Lake Tahoe. Silver blue and with strokes of sunlight all over the surface, coming through gray denim clouds full of snow... not the highest visibility or the turquoise blue i was told of, but breathtaking in a way that only people who dream of white fluff can appreciate. The town reminds me of the nicer sides of Alpharetta, GA, big wooden slatted houses on open lots drapped with trees and set back in a way that seems to slow down time. The mountian itself isn't the biggest, but the people there were pretty darn cool, especially Bee, the elder of the instructors who ran the kids school. The way to a job here was easy, but brought concerns of it's own - all the Aussies' visas are up, including 6 instructors, so they needed immediate help. Thing about that is, that means they're understaffed. Rent around there is also not cheep from everything I heard, although doo-able. But I was honest and told them I had an offer from Heavenly, which I was trying to get to by nightfall, and some other possibilities through new buddy Dave. They said to let them know, and I would start training and orientation on wed. (another downside, wasted time on my birthday playing 'get to know you') But, I felt good here, comfortable..... almost.... home-y. almost.
3rd stop - so I come to the crossroads and make a call - get into Heavenly too late to see the school in action but visit the little bro who is there on vacation, or save it for the next day and get to Northstar, which is closer. A call into NStar gives me what I need - still looking for instructors, housing available, come on in. Someone to talk to at the school today? "Eeeeh, probably not by the time you get here, but they'll call you soon." Ha! Sucka you don't know meeeeeee..... I drive straight up to the school, do not pass go, do not collect $200, skip HR and onto the Village. It's bigger, friendlier, eveyone's smiling, and the average age is much closer to my own. A good vibe from the moment I got there, not to mention the drive was gorgeous, Kings Beach definatly looked like a place to explore - Mtn. town meets beachside villas and some old skool flare - purfect. Everybodys helpful, and I find my way into the ski school, where the girl at the obviously new and very slickly designed school (think gameshow on Nickelodeon set) is elated to hear that I want a job. Takes me right back to meet the director. I like this - direct - here ya go - get in the mix of it. I get back there and like it even more. It's from a part of my duality, one part quaint, one part state of the art. And here, the instructors were still hanging out together - something I also hadn't seen since Steamboat. Aaron the director comes and talks to me, and what starts as I need to get approval, I turn into a conversation about how we're both from the East coast, what made you stay, here's what i've done, yadayadayda.... aaaaaaaaand you've got the job if you want it. HHAHAHA! take that little HR boy. Listening and talking with Aaron really made me feel at home there and respect it even more too. Yeah, that's right.... made me feel at home. I was comfortable from the moment I started the drive, which in my road trip world, is a very good sign.
So I filled eveything out, said my goodbyes, and started out the door, only to get a text from Dave sayin - I got an in for you at Northstar! "Don't worry about callin in the favor Dave, I just walked in and got the job" "Really? Great, we're drinkin, you're late, come meet us!" So out I go, but now recognizing the uniforms, I spot two future fellow employees stranded on the road trying to hitch it out, so I listen to the voice in my head, and give them a ride (after much re-arranging of the completly stuffed Tachicoma!) Two awesome chicks and now new friends, who work at the restraunt mid-way, and live in employee housing - and are good friends with the housing director! So I give them a ride back to Kings Beach and we talk the whole way, they fill me in on what's going on this week, and give me the invite to drop by anytime - even tonight when they're making enchilada dinner! (Argentina and Peru, gotta love the diversity out here, so much fun!) But I got plans to meet up with the roomie, who's celebrating his own good day, as all his instructor-students passed their exams!
Off to River Ranch, all the way back by Alpine Meadows, and now it's snowing.... I mean really starting to snow. And out come the assholio drivers. Yeah, not one of my fav drives. But the guy with the platinum Donald Trump meets Ryan Seacrest toupe - priceless. Only wish I couda gotten a pic - words cannot describe how bad this thing is. But I got to meet another instructor, one who used to be a local but now only visits and works the weekends. A lot of folks here come from the Bay area just on weekends and ride or work. So after getting our seats robbed from infront of us by some obviously non-local 'mutton', we decide to up stakes and head for Truckee, the next real town, where a lot who work around here actually live. Some serious appetisers and 'movie theater' chili chicken nachos later, and we're grubbed out and fading, but not after a discussion about local mountains. In the boys opinion, N'Star is the way to go.... only thing is they don't act like it's the best mountain, except that the park is killer. But they keep insisting that the way to go is to work where you can make the $, and then go play on your own, which will be cheaper at that point anyway. Okay, but I still gotta see Heavenly tomorrow. Lil' bro finally picks up his phone, and its their last day to ride anyway, so the plan is on - butt-crack of dawn I'm up and packin for Heavenly.... meanwhile... it's still snowing.
Morning comes and damned if it STILL ain't snowing - even in Reno! Dave calls from the road, says it's super sketchy, and they're bombing the piss out of the mtns for avalanche control. So with a keen eye open and a tummy full of fresh made breakfast pizza, I head out determined. And half way there, I find out the lifts are closed. Yah. Meanwhile, the drive is not the worst ever, but definatly not the best, and from Carson to Heavenly, it just gets worse. You can't even see the lake when it's 100 ft. to the right. But I wanted to try for it anyway and still wanted to see the bro, and his digs at Mark Frank Montoya's hotel - the Block! It was just as I had pictured, but I guess not so for my bro, who is used to a bit more lavishness i guess. But the city was hard to check out, the winds were crazy and the snow was everywhere. After an hour inside though watching Happy Gilmore, I decided to get the boys out of their cocoons (the heater broke) and go eat - but on the way saw that the Cali side of the mtn was open, and in a flurry, all the sudden i was hiking back to the truck and clearing it out again, stuffing 3 boards INSIDE, and resting my arm on the edges as we raced through town to try and squeek an hour plus of riding in before they were getting picked up for the airport.
The powder was sick, the area open was more than enough to explore - and to take a dive on - but this time it wasn't me! My bro, who was much better than i expected for only his 2nd trip, as the story goes - hits a rock or a branch, which sends him flying forward into the snow - except it wasn't - it was a barely covered rock which raked his goggles into his nose and sent him into lala land for a minute. one look at the goggles proves why people shouldn't be allowed to wear sunglasses out there - absolutly saved his nose and maybe even his eye, because the whole front was gashed- not cut - gashed. and there was a nice p-tex worthy goue on his base too. But he kept truckin, and we got two more shorter runs in, and some good pics too. I managed a little frontside grab which i guess he never thought i could do, so all in all, it was really good for us to ride together finally, and i got my look at the mountain. Dropped them off, and decided to ride again for the last 2 hours on my own. Landed a few off some rocks and trees into powder, and missed the landings on a few too, then got into the nasty winds again, tried to call it a day, and got burried in white out on the way down. Another day of Mer vs. the scrub brush. Mer - 0, Scrub 2. Also had a close call with a tree, stopped short, and then had to use the same damn tree to lunge over and pull myself out. Good side - absolutly sick runs, and since it was so crappy out, had them mostly to myself to track as i pleased. Even almost pulled off the elusive frontside 180, except i overrotated and had to put my hands into the mountain to stop the spinout at the end. A fun mountain for sure, but I saw the touristyness that the boys spoke of the night before, and since I don't rock casinos, I didn't get the 'honey i'm home' feeling that N'Star gave me, so I managed to kill two birds with one stone that day.
Headed back with a belly full of local taco goodness, only to find that the storms had been so bad that they closed 395 - the main way back into Reno! Dave thought it was wrong and advised me to press on, only to loose his navagator rights as i was cought in a major traffic fuk that cost me almost 2 hours worth of turning around and re-routing severly east to come back west to Reno. I bought cookie dough on the way home, needless to say, and vegged out to Guy Ritchie movies and some well deserved green inspiration.
Woke up today to another call from Dave - don't go anywhere. They're about to close everything, and an even bigger storm is on the way tonight. So I got friendly at the Super Wallmart around the corner, and then spent the rest of the time veggin out with Dave once he got home to some strange movie called Brazil - which was nothing to the title - and followed up that madness with a mosh of lovely food - pulled pork that we were given, a spinach salad that i topped it with, scalloped potatos, rice n beans - all cooked up by Dave, who apparently got bored! Re-set our brains with some Family Guy to clear out the funky-movie-funk, and settled in for sleep. Me? I'm supposed to be waxing the board right now, but lookey lookey, I'm actually filling out my journal! But that's it for tonight, gonna pop in Mean Machine - one of the good movies we watched yesterday, and get my tech on.
Oh yeah. There's almost a foot of frest snow outside our door. This is Reno, that doesn't happen. Unless of course, you've got a lucky - and happy - lil' Mer-dur in town... ;)
Romance notes - since I should learn to keep them seperate anyhow - after gettin text silence from M.H. in Seattle for the last 5 days or so, decided to Myspace message, and got an answer back apologizing for lateness and filling in blanks almost immediatly. B.H., who is just a friend as far as I know, although certain remarks have made me wonder, is in Taiwan, shooting his heart out, and writing some great pieces for bulletins. I mean damn, the guy even got to shoot inside a Buddhist temple during New Years - how fukin sweet does it get! He inspires me to shoot and write more, while M makes me wanna stride to go bigger before i possibly get a visit into the mtns of the n.west..... we shall see, we shall seeeeeeeee.......