Clever Lefty

Skiing Mishaps - I mean Yay! Skiing Fun!!

Uhhh...let's see, what has happened recently. We had a nice visit with Marc's sister and niece, who came to Ottawa during Spring Break last week. We took advantage of the beeautiful weather, and went skiing (my first time!!!) last weekend. It was....um....interesting. And fun. But interesting. My hands were shaking too much with fear to take a "before" shot.

Once I started, I couldn't slow down. Marc said it was like watching a heat-seeking missile. It was not good. Imagine someone racing by you from behind, emitting a high-pitched "wooooooooaaaaa!! Trying...to....slow....down......"

So, I fell once, and I just happened to take some poor lady out with me. Yes, I know that the people in front of you have the right of way. I know you're supposed to SNOWPLOW! SNOWPLOW!SNOWPLOW! I veered onto a more difficult slope (definitely NOT on purpose) and didn't turn in time, clipping her on the side. I felt bad, until the woman stood up and started swearing/screaming at me. My sympathy ended there. I was so shaken that I was nervous about trying again, but I finally gathered the gumption to haul myself onto the fast chair lift, where I was promptly pushed face first into the snow by the chair that came zooming from behind at 95 miles/hour (well, not that fast, but it felt like it). Anyway, I was about to burst into tears and write the rest of the say off when Marc's sister spotted the real bunny hill.

I'm taking the picture from the bottom of the bunny hill - the top starts at the little booth. My kind of hill. We practiced our control and turning until we felt comfortable going on the real slopes again (by the way, don't believe the signs that say "easy" slope. They ain't).

Yay for skiing! Where everyone gets a chance to brush with death!

Side note: I did retain a lot of control throughout the day, learning to turn and stop on the actual slope so that I was not a danger to myself or others.

In knitting-related news:

So, I buy a Phildar magazine in order to get this pattern. Lovely, non? I think I'm brilliant by ordering from the Netherlands. No problem, I'll translate the pattern when I receive it. Well, there's a problem. It ain't that easy. I can't find the terms identified in the pattern in any of the 4(!) Danish/English knitting translation glossaries that I downloaded last weekend. great googly-moogly.

A cry for craft materials

Dear Mom,

Please send Shrinky-Dinks, ASAP. Seriously. You'll see why later.

Signed,

Your Retail Challenged Offspring in Canada

Digging out

We are in the middle of "nasty weather", consisting of about 5 inches of snow (more to come tomorrow). I enjoy the last few snowfalls of the season before spring hits. It's comforting knowing that fresh air in the house and warmer temperatures are on the way (along with the dreaded spring cleaning - I won't go there right now).

I'm seriously debating on getting rid of our movie channels through cable and subscribing to Zip.ca. Marc and I have been on a DVD kick (that and the Food Network). There never seems to be any good movies on cable, and I like the idea of getting DVDs in the mail every so often; something to look forward to because...

I LOVE MAIL!!!

Bills, cards, especially magazines and catalogues. Love it.

Hogwart's House

In anticipation of the next big book release in July, I thought I'd take a quick Hogwart's House quiz; Here's the result:

You're a Slytherpuff!: This is a rare combination
but those that are true Slytherpuffs are not
people you want to make your enemy. You take
loyalty very seriously and if someone gives you
their word you expect them to keep it. You
either project a cold exterior and have a heart
of gold inside or you seem all cuddly and nice
on the outside and you are ruthless on the
inside. People frequently underestimate you but
this usually suits your purpose. Whoever has
your loyalty is a very lucky person because you
will fight tooth and nail to protect them. You
have a protective streak and you like to
champion the underdog. In life, experience has
taught you that it's better not to be too
idealistic or expect to much of other people.
Still, deep inside you, you still have hope
that everything will always turn out for the
best. Your weakness is that sometimes you trust
blindly, follow without question and this can
lead you into trouble. With the loyalty of a
Hufflepuff and the ruthlessness of a Slytherin
you are a formidable person!

Which Mix of the Hogwarts Houses are You?
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