Skiing for minimum wage

Well, it's Monday, so it stands to reason that I found another new job. While I was looking for a resort job for Nate Dragoo so that he and Kristen move to Nevada, too, and get in on our cockameme scheme to buy a cabin and get more dogs (holy run-on sentance!), I found a ski patrol posting at Heavenly. And, since I had nothing to loose but a semi-regular substitute teaching gig, I decided to see what would come of it. My interview consisted of a few basic questions and having to ski a black run on a powder day. Okay. So, I got the job. Woohoo! It's mostly a training gig... so they train me to do cool stuff and I show up every day for $8.75 per hour. I'm just counting experience as some extra pay. The first day on the job was pretty darn sweet. Basically I skied around, learned the mountain, and helped fix people... It was pretty fabulous, mostly. It's not a super good idea for me, as it makes me contemplate another excuse to continue to be seasonal---indefinitely (eventually, they pay you more money). Although, I feel like, for the first time in a while, this is a good fit. I just need to learn to tele faster! I bet I'll figure it out. Anyways, I think it'll be sweet. Also, the perks included a proverbial crap load of buddy passes, if any of you loyal blog readers want to come out and tear it up. I'm just sayin's all. ;)

Bear's Sweet Powder Day

Bear was really proud of himself. He takes frequent breaks in the snow. Mostly he eats it. This went on for about 25 minutes then we promptly went up the hill and skied 2 feet of new snow. Good times were had by all, including Bear, the powder hound.

How to Cure a Root Canal

Obviously I did not go to dental school, but I do know that really there is no cure for a root canal, other than Hanna Barbera Push-Up Pops. But here's how you make it better.

Step1: Make your appointment no more than 10 minutes from the nearest lift and sometime between 7 and 8 am so you can still hit the steeps when they're done blasting.

Step 2: Bring lots of painkillers.

Step 3: Ignore the "Lot Full" sign. It's noon. The nancies went home already. That rockstar parking spot right by the lift is yours!

Step 4: You've got to want it. It's at least 6,000 separate lift rides to the best snow. Bundle up, bring some snacks, and suck it up.

Step 5: Boldly go where you have never gone before. It snowed 1.5 feet last night. Find those two little black diamonds with the letters in them. EX just means ski EXtra fast to get through all the snow.

Step 6. Let the skis teeter precariously over the edge of where you're dropping in. It makes you feel bad ass.

Step 7: Drop in! Drop your knee to the ski, lift that heel and happily carve your root canal away through the 2 feet of fresh powder, because EX also means fresh tracks at noon thanks to the avalanche blasting.

Step 8: Ski 'till your legs hurt. It'll distract you from the pain in your teeth.

Step 9: Go have a beer. It fixes everything.