There is no escaping it! I had to go home, go through the mail and sort out all the tax information. Thankfully, my brother-in-law, Bob, has been checking on the house and putting the mail on the kitchen table. So, it only took a few hours to find all the paperwork.
The Mustang is licensed and issued, but I am not driving it while salt is still on the roads. I tried Uber and Lift for a ride to Westvale where the accountant’s office is located. Both started with reasonable rates but canceled and started their search again—this time at a higher rate. Instead, I called a taxi, For 1$ more, I was able to get a ride… he waited for me and brought me back!
My Neighbor Dennis, let me drive his brand-new pickup to run errands after he saw me walking back from the grocery store. I had never driven a pickup this large. A Chevy 3500 HD dually!
2012 Mustang Convertible Customized to be “My” Car
With that task done, I took one day to “veg out”. I sat in the family room all day with the fireplace going and binged an 8-DVD set of Horatio Hornblower.
The following day, I met some friends for lunch. We have been friends since high school. It’s always good when we get together.
Get together with schoolmates
Ski Vacation
Then Tuesday, March 7th, I flew to Denver. The plan was to get a little skiing in with friends and family.
Colorado Scenic View Taken by Brynn
Skiing Day #1
Day one of skiing was great! I went up the chair with my granddaughter and her parents. It was the first time any of us went up the chair with her. She skied so well! We were all amazed. She followed me turn for turn effortlessly… unless I was going too slow. She could even maneuver through the Haunted Forest… a section of glades for the younger skiers.
Me and my granddaughter skiing through the Haunted Forest
I made a couple of runs on my own and then finished skiing with my daughter. My daughter and I had a very late lunch at a lodge up the mountain. A good friend, Maureen Kline, met us at the lodge and skied down with us. She also invited us to her condo to utilize the hot tubs and swimming pools!
Day #2 – Powder Day
Overnight, there was a good snowfall. My son-in-law and I left early. The plan was to make a couple of runs and then meet up with Maureen while my daughter and granddaughter stayed at their mountain home and played. After two runs in untracked, 6-8″ of powder, we started moving across the mountain toward Maureen’s suspected location.
My son-in-law wanted to check a chair that went higher up and offered nice trees to ski through. Not being accustomed to skiing deeper powder, he left the choice to me. I thought it looked good. At first glance, there was a clear trail leading down to what appeared to be a gulley. I did not want to go that way!
My son-in-law said he’d follow me, rather than his typical jetting ahead on his snowboard. 🙂
The powder was several inches deep at this altitude. I felt pretty comfortable in the powder by now. We ended up going the trail I initially wanted to avoid. Huge moguls disguised by the deep snow and the few tracks from previous skiers. It was a blast! A lot of work, but the fun was worth it.
By the time we reached the bottom, my quads were cramping. We took another chair up to the lodge for a snack. I tried to contact Maureen. It seems that we had crossed paths. She was where we just came from, but even higher up on the mountain.
I decided to call it quits. My quads were still cramping even after the rest and plenty of water. My son-in-law and I agreed to meet at the bottom lodge after he went higher up the mountain for a last run. When he came walking, I knew I made the right decision. He looked totally spent!
My daughter’s family, Maureen, her friends, and I went to dinner afterward. What a great way to end a fabulous day!
Day #3 – Pool Day
The next morning, We let my daughter and granddaughter sleep in. My friend Steve Mayka was going to meet us and Maurren for some skiing. However, I had completely worn myself out… literally. I could not bend over to put my socks on. So, instead, my son-in-law dropped me off at Maureen’s condo so I could meet with everyone.
When my granddaughter woke up. She did not want to ski. She just wanted to play with “mom” at home. When given the choice to go swimming, her face lit up! So, while Maureen, Steve, and friends skied, I sat in the hot tub and the rest of the family played in the pool.
This respite from Paradise was perfect! I was informed of the unusually cold weather in Bermuda while I was gone.