Falling Behind

My sister informed me I need to update on here and she is correct. i realized I have barely posted anything this year. It's been a super busy winter in Snowmass. I have been working 7 days a week and if I'm not working I'm sleeping. Or trying to.
Cool things I have done this season. Made it to 50 days of riding. Which is the most I have ever gotten in any year of snowboarding. I also went riding off the groomed trails into out of bounds territory which was so much fun, but also hard work. I did a moonlight hike up Buttermilk and hung out with a bunch of co-workers til 3 in the morning and then snowboarded down in the moonlight. That was pretty amazing. I took some pictures but they didn't turn out too well since the digital camera wouldn't let me adjust how long the shutter stayed open. I need an even better camera now I think.
I went to a Nuggets game and sadly watched the Pistons lose by one point. While this is not epic, I do love my sports games and to me, going to any game, is pretty exciting.
I can't think of too much else I have done. I did check out two other new resorts in CO that I have never been too. Winter Park and Loveland. I have to say, Loveland has the greatest amount of gapers and beginners I have ever seen in my life.
I have been using a new app this season called Alpine Replay. It allows you to track the runs you make while also recording the amount of vertical you drop, how long you're on the slopes, how many miles you did that day, etc. I have become quite addicted to it and got my friend to also start using it.
In one week I will be in the land down under and plan to have lots of things to blog about then. After that, I'm headed back to Hawaii for a visit. I have lots of plans for the summer as well, so hopefully I will have more to write about. I don't really have any photos relevant to this post, but here is a recent one from a days on the slopes.

Hot air balloon taking off in the early morning. 

Bragging

I'm posting these photos from the fall trip to Aspen, mainly just cause I like them and think they are shareable. I forgot to post them before.

Maroon Bells

Fall colors outside of Ashcroft

Outdoor patio at the Jerome

Yellow aspens on Cooper Street

Chicka, Chicka, Yea-ah!!

11 days into my 100 days of riding this season. I have to be honest though, the conditions on the mountain are making it hard for me to force myself to get even just one run in. Since we have had no snow and there appears to be none in sight, I don't see it improving either. There are still some amazing views though. 

Top of Elk Camp just after noon.

  I am trying my best to get some more photos as well, and hopefully this coming week with the full moon I'm going to shoot some night photos. Gotta find a partner to keep me company. Here are some more recent shots.





This first one is of the sunrise in Snowmass Village and the second is from the top of Elk Camp looking out toward Maroon Bells. The photo below is taken from the middle of Bull Run looking down on the village.

Resolution Time

Well it's that time of year again. I looked back on what I resolved to do this year and out of 27 I accomplished 14 which is slightly more than half. So I consider that pretty good. Now it's time to make resolutions for the New Year 2012. Some of these are the same as last year since I still need to do them and keep them up.

NEW YEARS 2012 GOALS

1. Become debt free
2. Own a car
3. Find “The One”- does not mean get married
4. Go back to Hawaii
5. Visit Grandma
6. Visit Marie or have her come here
7. Party with Sam and Ben.
8. Get back into Lake Powell shape.
9. Knock out three states on my list.
10. Visit another country.
11. Ride 100 days on the slopes for 2011/2012 season.
12. Make a budget
13. Stick to my budget
14. Pick a place to have a permanent home.
15. Learn to stand up paddle.
16. Ride Crested Butte and Telluride.
17. See Grand Canyon
18. Advance my photography skills.
19. Hit up an amusement park.
20. See Nickelback in concert. If they tour this year.
21. Become happy again.
22. Actually have a savings account with money in it. Preferably over $5000
23. Look into owning my own bar and restaurant.
24. Plan an amazing 4^th of July.
25. Do something awesome for my birthday since I am turning the big 3-0.

Colorado

Here I am, almost three weeks into the resort life again. So far I have worked my ass off, quite literally. One day off so far. I can't complain though, anything is better than Michigan. I feel so much better and much happier. I have been eating healthier and been more active and it's a start back in the right direction. Now to just get back to Hawaii and my life will be perfect. I will post some photos soon of the beautiful mountains. I just need to get some time to take some. Maybe on Christmas day when I'm up on the slopes. In the meantime, I have been catching up with my girlfriends and I have to say it's been so nice having actual girlfriends around and being able to stop by and say hi to them. More frequent updates soon!!!!

YES!!!!!

Hooray!!!! I am leaving Michigan. I will be in Aspen, Colorado for the winter selling ski and snowboard gear and getting to ride every day for free. This is awesome!!! Finally my life will be vaulting out of this horrible pit they call the Great Lake State and into the mountains.

Aerial Michigan

The only fun thing I have done in Michigan is go flying in some small planes. One of my friends is studytng Aviation Science, basically becoming a pilot, and has taken me up a couple times. The first plane was a Cessna 152 which is very small and cramped and honestly doesn't feel that sturdy. It kind of feels like it just floats in the air and is pushed by wind. The Cirrus SR I rode in yesterday was much more solid and quite a bit more comfortable. Since it's almost fall I did get a few good pictures from the air. I hope to take a drive up the coast and capture some fall colors in the next couple weeks, but I am also headed to Colorado on a week vacation, so I should get some fun stuff done there as well.