3 Sisters 7 Days

Wedding Planning Part I: Wedding planners see Black and White and are very structured, aka vultures.

Seriously. A vulture is a person or thing that preys.

That’s what I feel like right now.  The drama that goes along with wedding planning!

I don’t understand why companies feel the need to squeeze every single dime out of you because “it is your wedding.” I am finding that it ISN’T your wedding at all!

Yesterday, my sisters Jeanna, Juliann, and Francine went to see my reception venue and to sign all the paperwork and finalize the date of my wedding.  All is good. They also had the opportunity to discuss in detail some of the choices I will have for MY wedding, including (pardon the paraphrasing):

Okay, here are the colors of the linens you can choose from. If you don’t like these colors, then you can go to an assigned outside vendor and pay more out of pocket to get the “right” color for you. Oh, you don’t like the beer we provide? Well, we can provide the beer you want and charge you extra. No, we won’t refund you the open bar tab that you are already paying for.  So, I am paying for an open bar and for beer that no one will drink? I will bring in some drinkable beer and you will charge me for AND charge me for the beer you provide? Oh, okay. After all, it is MY wedding.

I just get so upset with companies taking advantage of my emotions.  We want choices! Yes, it easier to get a whole package deal and this place is affordable, near the beach, and accessible to Jeanna, who’s pregnant and handling my out-of-state wedding planning.  But it’s already over our budget, and I can’t imagine spending more money to make it better.  Why can’t I provide some necessities and they can give me a refund on some of the services I won’t use?

Stay tuned for more wedding planning woes.

Side Note: I do appreciate everything Jeanna is doing and I do trust her, I am just a little emotional right now.

This is probably the best picture out of my/our entire stay in CA.  Maz has been to the beach before, but not like this past trip.  We actually spent a good amount of time at the La Jolla shores (my favorite place) and snorkeled.  Neither of us had ever done that before, but we had a good time.  I think the trickiest part is learning how to get in and out of the water with fins. Well, at least Maz was able to keep his fins on…

The last few months have been quite frustrating. I have not been completely satisfied with my work and I have been looking for new ways to bring in different streams of income without committing myself to one full time job. I have this weird phobia of walking into an office/cube everyday at the same time and only given two weeks of vacation a year.

As I have been reviewing my life and trying to come to terms with where I am right now, I have realized how lucky I really am. I get to spend time with my family when they visit; I get to snowboard for free during the week, and run in  beautiful weather at 10am on a Tuesday. I get to shop with no crowds, and I can usually enjoy coffee in a real mug and drink it in peace. Let’s not forget the great deals- since starting REI last year, I have grown my wardrobe immensely. There is no way I could have paid full price for some of the items I have accumulated, or the camping equipment I have gotten- I even got a free pair of cross country ski’s!

I do have  a trade off- I find myself working on the weekends, some nights, dealing with customers in a retail environment, and not having a great paycheck.  The very worse part of the whole gig is the time clock. I don’t do well with getting to a destination at a certain time and actually punching a clock; that whole process goes against everything I believe in.  But I do get over it once I am climbing a mountain mid week and not in the office…

Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to moving on from REI. I want to branch off and do something I absolutely love! The problem is that I don’t know what that is exactly.  I can continue the way I have been for the last few months- stressed beyond belief, in denial that I actually work in retail, pissed at the low pay check (I am getting paid less than when I was in college), tired from constantly looking for new gigs, and unsatisfied with my professional life. Or, I can embrace the position I am in; enjoy the free time I have, be grateful that I can pay our health insurance, be thankful that I get great deals for myself and family, take advantage of having lots of vacation time to go back home to CA and participate in marathons…

So, until I figure out what my next move is, I think I will just think positive and enjoy where I am right now.

I have a feeling, there will be good things to come.

This picture was taken of Maz learning how to snowboard. It was his second time using a board in almost FOUR years.  He actually didn’t do too bad; we just need to keep him out of the powder.  He’s 6′3″ and I have no idea how he got out of this mess or in it.   I guess I need to rephrase the term “weight on your back foot” because someone didn’t get it!

He’ll get it one day OR he’ll welcome back his long lost friends, the ski. 

Side-note: I don’t think I would be as pleasant as he looks- what a sport!

Yesterday I had a fantastic time snowboarding at Monarch Mountain, CO.  It is  a great mountain to ski or snowboard on, especially since it’s the most ffordable lift ticket in CO.  Some resorts are reaching the $100 mark for one all day lift ticket in CO…I just can’t imagine or justify paying that price for a few hours on the slopes, not to mention the crowds. One of the perks for working at REI this winter is that I get free lift tickets to Monarch Mountain and yesterday was the first day I took advantage of the deal.

Okay, I realized yesterday (thanks to the 21 year old fellow snowboarder) that I am a little dated in the sport.  I didn’t know the key word for a snowboard, boots, and bindings is “deck”. Umm, there is a “lift” I can get to extend my board to accommodate my new boots. I guess the boots have gotten bigger, and since I have an older, “vintage” board, the new boots and older board don’t match.

And this is just the equipment, don’t let me get started on the new lingo…Pow-Pow (powder), shredding the Gnar, and my favorite of the day. “word.” Seriously, every time someone said something/anything, this “kid” would respond with “word.” I guess it’s a gesture of acknowledgement and agreement.  And then there are the infamous “pot shacks.” I had such a blank stare when I first heard that word: “pot shack” To my knowledge, these “riders” find abandoned cabins on the slopes and smoke pot, and they are on almost every mountain.  That doesn’t even cross my mind, I mean it’s all I can do to get off the chair lift in one piece, let alone put any type of substance in my body.

Check this website out http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/snowboarddictionary.asp so the next time you grab your deck to shred the gnar you will fit in like a wallflower…word.

Side-note: I did push myself yesterday. I hiked with board in hand for about 20 minutes up a mountain, only to ride down a huge drop…it was close to a 90 degree angle and all powder…it was great!

I guess this year – or should I say, season – I am trying new winter sports.  I have been snowboarding for over 10 years and that, until now, has been the extent of my winter sporting. This season, I  tried snowshoeing, and last week was my first “go” at cross country skiing.

Okay, the last time I put skis on my feet, I think I was about twelve years old and hated every minute of it.  I lasted the day, and the whole time, I couldn’t understand the “fun” in the sport. All I wanted to do was strap my feet into a snowboard…six years later I finally got the snowboard.

Anyway, back to cross country skiing.  It was harder than I expected, but it wasn’t too difficult.  It was another version of snowshoeing and hiking with some hills. I did fall a lot, and I did do a lot of snow plowing, which worked some of the time; when the poles or the skis didn’t stop me, I just went for the ground.

I kept trying to use the same motion as running…move arms and legs in unison and BAM I should be good.  Nope, there is much more to it.  First of all, my feet were on skis the width of an Oreo and I had to use poles while coordinating my feet/skis.  Second, going up hill was ridiculous. I ended up making a “V”  and virtually walking up the hills hoping to not slide back down.  As soon as I got off the hills, and the up/down rotation, I was good to go. I actually enjoyed skiing on the flat surface and taking in the scenery that Breckenridge has to offer.  The best part of the day was that I kept moving enough that I didn’t get cold

So, yes this sport is something I would probably do again, and it’s a great cross training sport…I was tight the next day, that’s for sure. Tomorrow: Snowboarding at Monarch.

We are approaching mid January and I could not be more prepared to start off the new year right.

Since the Holidays are over and work has come to almost a halt, I find myself able to take on more than expected.  Last November I was supposed to be a mentor with Team in Training, but the Colorado Springs Team in Training group was smaller than expected and I was busier than expected with holidays, so I postponed my volunteer commitment until the new year.

I had such a great experience last winter/spring training and fundraising with Team in Training that I am excited to be on the mentor side of things.  It is such a good cause to be a part of -  saving lives and being  part of such a great organization.  I mean, I am a huge advocate of running, so to be able to train someone to run a 1/2 marathon or a whole marathon from scratch is simply crazy.  I can’t wait to see the transformation of the participants…I do hope they enjoy running as much as I do.

We had our first meeting for the season last night, it looks like we should have a pretty big group. We signed up ten people.  We still have about 6 more information meetings and a kick off party to go.  My position this season will be focused on helping the runners/walkers fund raise and keeping them on target with their training.  I will be dedicating Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings for training and I will be coming up with at least one fundraising event for the participants.  In addition to mentoring, I will be taking advantage of the training as well because I will be running the San Diego Marathon in June.

I am looking forward to 2010 knowing I am on the right track…

Side note: Team in Training is an organization that raises money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) through various running/cycling and triathlon events.  The goal is to train individuals to complete a goal, such as a marathon, while fund raising for LLS. Last year I raised $4,000 and ran my very first marathon in San Diego.

We are working on day EIGHT of a very cold and frigid December.  No kidding. This morning I woke up to -10 degree weather!

The other day, REI scheduled some of its employees to participate in a snowshoe demo day. It was really a way for us to know more about the “art” of snowshoeing and the gear involved for a successful snowshoeing day.  The date was chosen weeks ago, without knowing what the exact weather would be like.  Usually Colorado has up and down days, meaning we can be in 20 degree weather one day and 55 the next.  And almost always the sun is shining and, since we are so high in elevation ,we depend on the sun to warm us on the colder days.  Well, with this new “trend,” the sun has been scarce, leaving us with a cloud-covered sky and bitter cold air with wind.

Anyway, REI has this thing about doing outdoor activities no matter the weather…REI carries everything you need for any extreme condition for any outdoor sport.  Okay, I get that, but even though I work there and I outfit a lot of customers daily…I am a fair weather skier. I don’t enjoy being cold!

That morning, it was 6 degrees when we headed up the mountain.  Mind you that I was freaked out already about the snowshoeing demo day becasuse the temperatures have not been in my favor. Yes, I work at REI. No, I don’t have the appropriate gear to lead a successful day of snowshoeing in the freezing cold.  I ended up borrowing some insulated shoes, I got new radiant glove liners (they are supposed to be the best), I purchased some hand and toe warmers, I wore Maz’s long johns (I seem to have lost mine) under my snowboarding pants and my running fleece under a Taku jacket.  Okay, I had done everything people have told me to do, from head to toe with minor improvising.  I was ready to go – apprehensive, but ready to go.

We were almost there so I got ready by introducing oxygen to the hand and toe warmers (I guess that’s supposed to help). Then I placed them in my gloves and boots accordingly.  Just to let you know, in addition to the insulated boots, I was wearing wool socks which should have kept my feet toasty.  I was also wearing my snowboarding gloves with a radiant liner to secure the heat from the hand warmer.

I was getting warmed up to the idea of getting a cardio workout that would send blood flowing throughout my body, especially to the much needed extremities.

So, once the snowshoes were on and I’d figured out the dynamics of the poles, we set out…straight up.  Yes, this should have brought feeling back to the hands. I heard people huffing and puffing, walking in foot deep snow, and I saw people taking jackets off. As I was climbing the hill, I kept waiting … waiting for a huff or a puff, an elevated heart rate, and, most of all, blood flow to my fingers. Nothing happened.

“Okay, I need more time,” I thought. We’ll keep going up hill and eventually everything will work out.”

Umm, maybe in a perfect world.  Remember this is a demo day clinic so the “leaders” needed to educate us on the equipment and I guess they couldn’t do that while we were moving. Yup, we stopped. In the snow. The blood that was reaching for my fingers and toes stopped.  I started to cry. Seriously, the pain in my fingers was probably one of the worst pains I have ever experienced. I borrowed gloves from a co-worker (size XL in Men’s) that seemed to work a bit. I had volunteers rubbing my hands to help with the circulation. I knew what people were thinking…”Lets not invite her next time.” And I knew what I was thinking “I don’t want to do this again.”

The day continued. No blood in fingers or toes. We went up and down, up and down,e with plenty of stops to educate. Let’s not forget the hour long avalanche lecture…I don’t rememeber a thing, I was a bit more concerned with saving my fingers and toes. I looked around and notice that others were really interested in this, and they didn’t seem to be bothered by the teen temperatures and snow covering our feet.

Okay, it’s official, I am a baby…but, I am okay with that.

Finally the day was over and I couldn’t wait to get back home. Don’t get me wrong I do love the outdoors, and I spend majority of my time outside, but I draw the line when it comes to frigid temperatures and the lack of feeling in some important parts of my body.

Later, at home, I did some research on my day – looking up “cold fingers and toes.”  Well, there seems to be a diagnosis for body’s reaction to cold; it’s called Raynaud’s disease. It’s a blood vessel issue and it occurs in 3-5% of the population.  Your toes and fingers turn white with any drop in temperature from grabbing something from the freezer to spending the day at a snowshoeing clinic with a bunch of outdoor enthusiasts that get a high by confronting extreme conditions.  So, problem solved.

Today I spent the day in the mountains of Colorado. REI decided that some of its employees needed to know a little more about the sport of snowshoeing so they set up a demo/clinic day.  I do think they could have picked a better day with better weather conditions but that’s another story (one that I will write about later).

There are a few things I have heard about snowshoeing: 1- you get hot easily; 2- anyone can snowshoe; 3- it can be tough and it is a good workout; 4- you want easily movable clothes; 5-waterproof shoes; and 6-gators.

My thoughts on what I’d heard, after a day out snowshoing:

1 – Okay, so I understand getting hot easily. I am runner so I have become accustomed to this and I do know how to dress accordingly.

2 – It is true, anyone can snowshoe…I am one of the most uncoordinated people on this planet and even I was able to put the snowshoes on and use the poles!

3- Going up hill I guess is tough. We did do a little up hill and I watched people stop and delay, but I didn’t really feel too much of a workout. I think that maybe if we would have gone longer without stopping, it would have been better.

4 – Yes, you do want flexible and breathable clothing. I wore my snowboarding pants with lots of room and I was golden.  I had to wear more layers on the top half of my body, so I was a little more restricted, but it wasn’t too big of a deal. I think I had 3 layers under my jacket.

5 – I borrowed waterproof insulated shoes (we’ll get into that later as well).  Typically those will work and they seemed to for the other participants.

6 – Gators- I didn’t know what they were before I started REI. They are covers that you put on over your calf and ankle that  hook into your shoelace or tie/buckle under your shoe.  Basically they are there to stop the snow from going into your boot.  Gators should be waterproof and they actually allow you to wear water resistant pants since gators protect the bottom part of your legs.  Lucky for me my snowboarding pants have a small inner liner that I hooked to the top of my boot to protect me from invasive snow.

So, my first experience with snowshoeing did have some hiccups (more on that later), but the overall sport seems fun.  I mean, you are basically hiking with things on your feet that resemble  tennis rackets, though they have come a long way from the typical vision of a snow shoe.  Not too hard at all. I don’t know what the ideal temperature is for snowshoeing, given the melting factor.  I do know the weather conditions today were not ideal for me…I am definitely a fair weather snow sport enthusiast.  I was happy to come home to my running shoes!

Housekeeper.

Yep, what with the flailing economy overall and budget cuts run amok in California, we’ve given up the housekeeper. And, because my replacement staff, a.k.a. my (older) children, are lousy  housekeepers, I’ve had to take over. My two big beefs with the help: (1) book bags, shoes, and toys in high-traffic areas, such as the stairs and landing; and (2) dirty, sticky kitchen counter, stove top, and floors.

Managing (1) turned out to be fairly easy, once I figured out what motivates them: Money. Every evening for three weeks straight, I picked up all of their “crap,” and added it to the Salvation Army bucket. They had to buy it back at 5 cents an item – yep, I charged for each shoe and every book, pencil, etc. in their book bags. By week four, I was no longer adding new items to the bucket.

Dealing with (2) has been much, much more difficult – so much so that I’ve blown up twice in the past week, prompting the kids to refer to me as the “time bomb.”

Okay, I’m a bit of a fanatic about floors. I can’t stand crumbs and dust balls, even the ones “you can’t see” in corners under the cabinets, and I am disgusted by sticky floors, even when I’m wearing shoes or slippers. Ideally, I like the kitchen-family room floor mopped every day; I can live with once a week, if the spots are cleaned daily. Considering floors are my “thing,” I can even stand the kids’ complete inability to clean the floor well enough. But these two can’t even sweep regularly or well enough so that I can follow up with a quick spot cleaning – unless I nag them, sometimes at something approaching a full-blown holler.

Counters and stove tops drive me almost as crazy. Counters and stove tops should be cleaned and shined after EVERY meal, and burners should be scrubbed cleaned every time a dish boils over or anything else occurs to make them dirty, sticky, or greasy. I know they don’t agree. (And I don’t care; after all, it’s my house.) If they know what I want, and they are fully capable of recognizing filth, why don’t they clean the kitchen properly?

They must either enjoy getting me upset, and/or don’t care about the restrictions, punishments, and other related side-effects, or they’re simply much less intelligent than I thought.

So today I took drastic measures. I cleaned the kitchen, and charged them for my time. As of this afternoon, their allowances through the end of the year are shot, and Christmas is on the endangered list.