Login

A Bear Lake Break

Jason and I decided that it had been too long since his family spent some quality time cooped up together. So, for Christmas this year, we gave his kin a cabin… for a few days.

The cabin was spacious enough to comfortably fit our sizeable group.
The cabin was spacious enough to comfortably fit our sizeable group.

Jason’s parents used to own a cabin. We have many pleasant memories of snowmobiling, sledding, ATV riding, gaming, and movie watching at that timbered retreat, which influenced our decision to rent this particular type of accommodation.

Bear Lake is often called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" because of its brilliant turquoise hue.
Bear Lake is often called the “Caribbean of the Rockies” because of its brilliant turquoise hue.
Family togetherness can be stimulating or stifling... or a little of both.
Family togetherness can be stimulating or stifling… or a little of both.

We reserved Shelton Lodge near Bear Lake, a 4700-square-foot log cottage that sleeps 26, for a few nights and enjoyed the rustic ambiance of its massive fireplace, comfy theater room, expansive decks, and impressive views.

Our run was a bit rough with snow-covered trails, but it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Our run was a bit rough with snow-covered trails, but it was thoroughly enjoyable.

What did we do during our Bear Lake break? We began it by opening Christmas gifts to each other, an activity improved by the festive decorations ornamenting the lodge. A large group of us went on an 8-mile run the next day over snowy paths and muddy hills. It was pleasant enough for shorts, not a typical December day. Although the lake was too frigid to encourage even digit dipping, we spent some time on its shores that afternoon throwing snowballs at each other and taking silly pictures.

A city park provided us easy, reedy access to the water's edge.
A city park provided us easy, reedy access to the water’s edge.
I took some goofy pictures of the gang by the lake.
I took some goofy pictures of the gang by the lake.

Eating took a surprisingly-large portion of our time. Rigorous commitment to snacking requires relentless dedication. We stuffed ourselves at meals, before meals, in between meals, after meals, and during any activities that could be synchronized with face stuffing. Among our surging stream of snacks, we happily sampled some of the town’s finest chocolate-covered raspberries, a famous local treat. Delightful! Our group also took full advantage of the cabin’s theater room, and we gladly integrated ingestion into our cinema viewing, as one should.

Where's the mountain?
Where’s the mountain?

We played many rounds of Exploding Kittens and Codenames. We didn’t play Blasting Canines though; I’ve heard that game is a little unstable.

The moon floated above the lake like a filigreed eye entranced by its own fiery reflection.
The moon floated above the lake like a filigreed eye entranced by its own fiery reflection.

The day-to-day mandates of life often inhibit the regular remembrance of the more important things. You forget to chuck snowballs at your siblings or make your mom wear a cone of shame amidst the daily grind; it’s easy to see how families unintentionally drift apart. So, I’m glad Jason and I successfully created an opportunity for some familial inseparability at a beautiful and entertaining spot.

Rachel March 24, 2018 No Comments

A Delayed Holiday

If you are looking for a tale of seasonal excitement, this isn’t it. If, instead, you are interested in a bland summary of a Christmas come slowly, read on.

Due to the pressures of my last master’s semester and the intenseness of Jason’s work schedule, Christmas was in no hurry to embrace us with its spirit or sparkle this year. We didn’t finish putting the ornaments on our tree or hanging the stockings by our chimney with slight care until just a few days before Christmas. Presents didn’t begin accumulating under our ever-plastic Tannenbaum until even later. This isn’t standard Rachel M.O. Rachel M.O. involves planning precisely, one could say anally, well in advance. Some aspects of our holiday, however, fit our norm all too well.

With a little help from Jason, I made 19 customized statements of affirmation for many of my family members. This was one of the projects that kept us up and intensely occupied.
With a little help from Jason, I made 19 customized statements of affirmation for many of my family members. This was one of the projects that kept us up and intensely occupied.

It’s a Rachel habit to enter a neurotic cleaning mode right before Christmas, but that didn’t happen this year. While the neurotic nature of our traditional Christmas Eve was maintained, it wasn’t spurred by housework. We stayed up to 4 AM working on gift projects and wrapping presents.

College friends we hadn't seen in a decade visited during the holidays.
College friends we hadn’t seen in a decade visited during the holidays.

Also true to tradition, we didn’t start opening our presents to each other until almost midnight on Christmas evening. Even our stockings didn’t get perused until late in the day. This was mostly due to the demands of those same gift projects. Somehow, we did fit in a little time for some fancy cooking though, a favorite holiday pastime of mine, but not as much as my stomach would have liked.

This year, Christmas arrived like a sneaky ninja, a sneaky ninja with a bullwhip. Once it crept in, it kept us too overworked to unwind. Yes, it is possible that I am incapable of relaxing, holiday whip-bearing ninjas or not, but there’s no point pondering that enigma as it will never be resolved.

Rachel March 18, 2018 No Comments

Yuletide with Yahoos

Jason and I have been throwing a Christmas party every December for nearly two decades. While we keep this event small because our sanity is only marginal after our Halloween bash, that doesn’t mean it is a calm and dignified affair. This year, it proceeded in a “regular” fashion, meaning all kinds of rowdy. Allow me to share a few of the highlights:

Our meal consisted of barbecued meats and sides from R&R (my favorite place to get brisket), a massive salad from Café Zupas, and a selection of sweets from Corner Bakery Café.

Cameron didn't just wear an ugly sweater to our party, he wore an ugly women's sweater.
Cameron didn’t just wear an ugly sweater to our party, he wore an ugly women’s sweater.

I again took humorous, and purposefully cheesy, holiday pictures of all attendees that wanted them. This time, however, I limited the shooting to just half an hour, so I could still dance and prance with the rest of the ungainly reindeer. You’d be amazed how many horrible pictures you can take in 30 minutes.

Jason and I prefer ugly sweaters with nerdy flair.
Jason and I prefer ugly sweaters with nerdy flair.

Rowley removed his tawdry reindeer onesie to reveal another kind of hoofed monstrosity, a reindeer mankini. (Thankfully, that wasn’t quite all he was wearing.) You will just have to imagine, or try not to imagine, this outfit. I didn’t want to be responsible for any PTSD, so pictures of this particular ensemble have been omitted here.

Just Dance is outlandish enough to mesh nicely with our party's vibe.
Just Dance is outlandish enough to mesh nicely with our party’s vibe.

The white elephant gifts ranged from hugely-sized Rice Krispies treats to fat “dad” bags. White elephants sure are unpredictable creatures.

In taking pictures of the partiers, I didn't hold back on the seasonal cheese- as the indoor snowflakes attest.
In taking pictures of the partiers, I didn’t hold back on the seasonal cheese- as the indoor snowflakes attest.

Half the partiers stayed until the bitter end playing Codenames. So, we had plenty of help carting crap out to our car in a hurriedly fashion a few minutes before midnight.

The white elephant exchange is the only element of our party that we've never changed.
The white elephant exchange is the only element of our party that we’ve never changed.

As anticipated, our Christmas gathering was a rather irreverent but relaxed affair. Between ugly sweaters, even uglier moustaches, and truly hideous mankinis, its foulness lightheartedly touched the holidays just right. Thanks friends for joining us yet again for this comical Christmas tradition.

Rachel March 9, 2018 3 Comments
 Categories

Recent Posts

Recent Comments
Blogroll