Whistler Blackcomb - in motion

Booyah!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU1M7phRJ7s

Northwest Trip...day 1 & 2

After a foggy couple days in Seattle and several cups of good coffee...we finally made it to Whistler.  Here's a few pics from the first couple days...

 I never thought we'd ever be doing this...

My panoramic shot wasn't working right but this is Avalanche Valley...when there is lots of snow, this valley fills up - can happen every 72 hours...

more pics to come...

Hunting for lost mitts...

I'm not sure why I'm up and awake at this ridiculously early hour...maybe it's the fact that this week brings slightly warmer temps (above 20F!) and our trip to B.C. is just days away. So, I grabbed a cup of coffee this morning, more of the leftover gingerbread blend that is honestly getting really old, and started printing out our itineraries, driving directions, and hotel confirmations. Time to start dragging out the boards and the bags, hats, mittens, boots and making massive lists. I'm really excited to have these now as I've had some serious issues with heal and ankle pinching and pressure in the past. I've also ordered some of these because they are just sweet and now I am crossing my fingers that they arrive before we step foot out the door.

What's on the docket today? I have two hard back-to-back interval days on the trainer to get completed before we leave and I take a rest week off the bike. For some reason, I just dread the trainer workouts recently. Once I get going, it's not so bad...it's just getting on the bike that takes willpower. But, I need to get it done with this morning so I can go and enjoy a girl's night in - tonight...eating pizza and watching pointless reality tv.

Hibernation part duex

I thought I had another blog post titled this...but maybe not. These little guys sure have the right idea.

Not much going on here because I have gone into hibernation officially......Ok, not really but this winter is becoming a real drag. Even the snowmen are frowning around here and it's not about the economy either. It's just dang cold.


Outside trips have been few and far between...Barry finally forced me outside last night to go and eat fajitas. Trust me, the trip between the car and the restaurant was painful.


So I've been staying inside, staring at the snow because it's just too cold to venture out there and drinking lots of warm fluids. I've gone through a good supply of coffee in the last month.


I'm hoping to restock soon though...we're heading to a coffee mecca next week where I plan to bring an extra bag just so I can stock pile on some great beans. I think my first stop may be here. Then, we are driving here for several days of (cross your fingers) gliding through the powder and roasting ourselves by cozy fires and drinking warm liquids (don't ask me why I didn't book a tropical vacation back in August...this just sounded nice).

Outside communication lost

I was deciding between this blog title and 'sweat effort' as those are basically the main things happening lately (not that the first is really a happening). There's definitely a trend in blog posts recently...mainly it's either training posts...should be training posts...or planning race schedule posts. So, I'll try to avoid those. If you are wondering...my handlebar tape could tell you that I'll need to change it before the spring in order to not have it completely stink when I ride by (ok, that's gross) or endanger myself by having it fall off mid-ride. The 'trainer' room has now become the sweat chamber.

Yesterday, while trying to upload the latest iPhone software (2.2), my iPhone basically gave up life (the blue bar kept streaming across in iTunes 'verifying iPhone...' and never stopped) like it was flatlining (in this case 'bluelining'). Hence, I have lost the main form of outside communication and with no landline...I need to get this fixed fast or try to communicate through facebook. Apple store here I come...again. This happened to me last time I tried to upgrade on my PC...at least I'm not in Pennslyvania this time. Work is probably wondering...

I hear the plow truck outside our house right now...I'm hoping I can actually get out. The weatherman called for another 3 inches of snow last night...but looking at our grill area...looks like we got at least 6. That leads me to another topic...If I read anymore posts about training in 50-60 degree weather and how terrible it is.... Ok, here's a compromise - you can post complaints if you open your couch to stranded cyclists in the north. I kid you not! They are calling for below zero highs next week.

Bracing...might have to go to Mexico to get away from it!

For all the cat owners out there...