Monday, July 29, 2013

Eagles, Industries, and Skiing

January always seems like a slower month after the party month of December.  Although, it doesn't stop us from living it up.  After we got back from Hawaii we needed another adventure.  Danny and Haley live by part of the Great Salt Lake and are lucky to have eagles make their winter home in a nearby tree.  We decided we like eagles, so we should get together.  Fortunately, they liked the idea as well.  We headed up to their house for the weekend of the 17th and were able to see four or five different eagles.  Mike and Danny felt like exploring the territory, probably because of their Carhartt's and hiking boots, so we packed up Danny's new backpack he was trying out and headed out to a section of the Great Salt Lake. It was frozen over so obviously we had to run and slide across the ice on our feet, bellies, and knees.  We also wrote our names in the snow and walked around the surrounding area, which happened to be supplied with ample amounts of cattails.  On this day, I learned how fun cattails can actually be.  We, primarily Danny and Mike, spent lots of time throwing cattails at one another and watching them explode.  By the end we were covered in cattail seeds.  They remind me of exploding hot dogs, how could that not be fun?

The next weekend we were hoping to go skiing.  However, it was not a good time for skiing.  The snow was incredibly low and the weather was not looking like it would cooperate.  We decided we would wake up in the morning and see what the weather was looking like.  As it turns out, it was going to be really windy and was even supposed to rain which didn't sound too appealing, especially since we would only be able to go five times during the season.  We later found out it turned into 15 inches of snow, which wasn't very comforting. So instead of skiing we were now faced with a free Saturday.  We stopped by Mike's parents and decided we should check out some of the famous industries in our area, Ikea and Cabella's.  It would be my first time at both shops.  Both are brilliantly designed, although, I must admit, Cabella's isn't my cup of tea.  It is made for the hunters of the world and as I have never been hunting you can see the dilemma.  Nevertheless, it was worth seeing.  They have an aquarium with lots of big fishes and mannequins which seemed so inviting. Can you blame me?  We also went to Ikea as well.  Another brilliant design.  They know how to lock you in their store and keep you shopping.  Thus, it is not so convenient if you want to do a quick in and out. However, if you have the time you can find practically everything and anything you need to decorate your home.  After wearing ourselves out shopping, we were hungry and joined Ryan, McKenzie, Dusty, and Michelle for lunch at the Red Iguana, one of Ryan's favorite places too eat.  It was wet and cold outside so the employees were kind enough to bring out some hot cocoa, which may have even been a better surprise than the actual food.  Although, it wasn't too shabby we will never quite understand his love of the place.  McKenzie, his wife, doesn't quite get it either.

The next few weeks we were ready to go skiing, again.  Although, this time we were ready to brave anything as the snow was still very low.  The first weekend we hit the slopes their was a base of 68 inches.  Mike said it usually will have an average base of 41 feet!  The first weekend we were trying to get back into the ski mode.  I hadn't been out for a full day of skiing in a really long time.  Mike is a really good skier though and was very patient with me.  He can fly down those hills, figuratively speaking.  It didn't take him long to get back in the swing of things.  By midday we had worked up an appetite and took a lunch break in the lodge.  It was a good thing for me because we had gotten ski boots that were just a little bit small.  They were so tight they cut off the circulation of blood to my feet.  By the end of the day, my feet had had enough and pulling the boots off was incredibly painful, if we had been ice climbing we would have referred to it as the "screamy barfies".  Despite the boots, it was still a fun day on the slopes.  However, you better believe that Mike would make sure I had the proper gear for the next time.

Within the next week, we returned to Sport's Authority.  Unfortunately, the main staff was unwilling to work with us.  In fact, the guy helping us told us that some other boots were much better quality even though they had plastic buckles instead of metal buckles.  Some imagination he had.  Luckily, Mike's friend Katy worked at Sport's Authority and was much more helpful.  She did us a favor and was able to call around and get us connected with a pair one size bigger.  Bigger boots made the next go around was much more pleasant, even though the snow was even lower at 62 or 63 inches.  Mike and I went off boxes and even got some air.  It was my first time trying the boxes and I must say it was quite exhilarating. For Mike, it was like a walk in the park-though as always he still had a good time.  We hit the slopes again and again.  One time as I was waiting in line, I leaned a little too far against the railing, which was not secure, and in slow motion toppled onto the ground.  Here I am supposed to be an athlete and I fell while standing in a line, pretty embarrassing yet hilarious. Don't worry this wouldn't be my last attempt at the slopes we still had more skiing in store.



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