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The Perfect Pair and a Big Daddy

Valentine’s Day activity planning was my task this year. I opted for something Jason was sure to love: spending a couple days at the Canyons Resort and on the slopes. (The terrific “Pair Pass” deals the Canyons has right now made the choice a relatively easy one.)

This was one of those self taken snapshots.
This is one of those cheesy self-taken snapshots but I still like it.

Although the Canyons Resort is historically important to both of us, we haven’t boarded there in years. For Jason it represents the magnificence of his glory days. While he was in college he got season passes there every year and literally arranged his whole life, and school schedule, to optimize his time on the mountain. The Canyons for me holds significance of the bittersweet variety: my very first attempt at boarding took place there. Ah yes…the pain, the misery, the beginnings of a hobby that I now absolutely love.

I got a better picture of Jason jumping this time...at least in one sense. He looks a little like an eagle impersonator in this shot.

I decided that rather than squishing everything into Valentine’s Day weekend I would prolong the fun by taking Jason up to the Canyons the weekend before. Jason, as expected, was very excited about my Park City plan. We headed up on Thursday night and had a delightful dinner at Café Terigo. (If you ever go there I would highly recommend their bread pudding with hot butter rum sauce. It’s divine!) The next morning we woke up, put on our snow gear, walked a couple minutes to the gondola, and headed up the mountain. Ahhhhh….the simple pleasures of waking up and moseying on out to the lift. Does life get any sweeter? Hint: the correct response is “no”.

This is me on Saddleback, a run that was once my nemesis.
This is me on Saddleback, a run that was once my nemesis. We are good buddies now.

It snowed practically the entire morning as we boarded, which helped to make the runs decent, but sadly the snow was still not as excellent as it could have been. Nevertheless, we relished our chance to ride the Canyons’ seemingly infinite terrain. I also found great satisfaction in riding down Saddleback, the very first run I tried to board over a decade ago. I too vividly remember that first endeavor; it was an endless succession of falling. It took me over an hour to make it back down to the lift and my knees and butt were so bruised I could have been mistaken for a chimney sweep. That’s why I found great pleasure in riding this hill once again and not falling, not taking over an hour, and not bruising myself. Yes, the ecstasy of no longer being a beginner is astounding.

Here's Jason outside our lodge trying to look tough.

After a full day of boarding Jas and I were not done gallivanting about. We headed down to Salt Lake City to see the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy play with the Utah Symphony. Wow! I’ve always been a fan of these guys but they were even better live than I had anticipated! After the concert I got to meet the band and get their autographs. Their lead singer even graciously offered to take a picture with me. Sweet!

Here I am with Scotty Morris of the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

I must say that my Park City plans worked out quite well but, then again, planning is one of my fortes.

Although our weekend was lovely, the Valentine’s Day surprises aren’t over for Jason. Next weekend is sure to bring awesomeness! Awesomeness that will certainly be the topic of another longwinded Rachel blog.

Rachel February 10, 2010 No Comments

The Three S’s

It’s that time of year again. The time when thousands of film geeks, thespians, drama queens, movie stars, and posers descend upon Utah: the Sundance Film Festival. Every year Jason and I go through the hassle of getting tickets and the annoyance of waiting in long theater lines just to be a part of the madness, but we never regret it. This year went to 4 shows over the course of 5 days. Our first film, Lovers of Hate, had a fantastic Q&A afterwards with nearly all of the cast and the writer/director. Attending our next film, Four Lions, was a truly crazy experience. We arrived half an hour early and yet the best seats available were in the far side of the third row. The theater was so packed and the staff was being so strict about not saving seats that attendees that went to the bathroom or concession stand were in real danger of losing their chairs. The best show we saw this year, Boy, was filmed in New Zealand and starred the most adorable kid. It was a charming film brimming with nostalgic innocence.

My friend David came with me and Jas to a couple shows. Here we are waiting in the cold for the Four Lions line to start moving.
My friend David came with me and Jas to a couple Sundance shows. Here we are waiting out in the cold for the Four Lions line to start moving.

We squeezed the viewing of these movies in between work, multiple family birthday parties, snowshoeing, and snowboarding…yes, all in a five day period.

I tried to get a picture of Jason taking a jump. This was my best success.
I tried to get a picture of Jason taking a jump. This was my best success.

Our day spent boarding in the midst of festival going was a delightful interlude. The snow was only mediocre but the sun and warm weather made for a fantastic time!

Yes, I am knee deep in fresh powder and I did just claim that the snow was
Yes, I am knee deep in fresh powder and I did just claim that the snow was only "mediocre". We Utah boarders are pretty spoiled when it comes to snow.

As soon as Jason and I returned home from boarding I packed up again and left for another adventure. My friend Fran had arranged for a girls’ escapade that night. A group of us ladies went snowshoeing at Sundance Resort under the guidance of the full moon. We hiked through vast fields of shimmering snow while the enormous moon drooped in the sky above us. Its glow seemed to make the whole world glisten and was only interrupted by the dappled shadows of the ghostly barren aspens that cut the skyline. Wow! It was absolutely breathtaking! After snowboarding all day and snowshoeing into the night I was completely exhausted when I returned home but very pleased with myself and what I had experienced. The following day Jason and I were back at the film festival and back into the lively cinema crowds – never a dull moment!

Isn
Isn't it gorgeous!

What an insane and fun week! We were never home and constantly tired but man did we have a blast!

Rachel February 3, 2010 1 Comment

A Hopping New Year

Party hopping: reserved for just the socially elite and the chronically noncommittal?

No, apparently it also for the super awesomest party people on the planet…yes, I’m talking about us…duh.

Although we typically get invited to a couple New Years Parties every year, this year we outdid ourselves in the invitee department. Our presence was requested at no less than 5 events. Yeah, you wish you were that cool. While we are not fantastic enough to somehow pull off going to five parties in one night, we decided to try attending three.

Here's
Here's Cody the seal. Kenny kindly offered to slide with him; there's nothing sweeter than volunteer idiocy.

We started our evening at the Rowley’s with some Killer Oompi. Killer Oompi is a game that has long been a tradition among Jason’s friends. It’s basically speed Uno with penalties. The loser of each round has to do something completely idiotic like go through a spanking tunnel or eating a carrot out of the winner’s nose. Visions of Cody sliding through the snow on his stomach while acting like a seal were fresh in our memories and still warming our hearts as we departed the Rowley’s for our next gathering. Good times.

Here's
Here's Jason with his harem of women at the Hughes' party. After all, what's more Italian than cavorting with a bunch of females?

We then stopped in at Cam and Fran’s. They adopt a different country theme for their party each year and this year the motif was Italy. Yes! Tiramisu: food of the gods…or of some fat Italians at the very least.

This is the Nothing Bundt Cake we took to my sister's house. It was nothing bund
This is the Nothing Bundt Cake we took to my sister's house. It was nothing bundt delicious!

We finished off the evening by counting down to 2010 with my sister and her kids. The youngsters were a little loopy from staying up past their bedtimes but they were very excited about ushering in the new year and getting to drink sparkling cider from fancy cups.

Instead of pumpkins
Instead of turning into pumpkins this is what happens to the Marshalls after midnight.

We returned home at 4 in the morning after our night of social scattering. Man, being awesome is exhausting!

Happy New Years to us!
Happy New Years to us!

Many thanks to all of you who hosted, entertained, and fed us; you were the wind beneath our wings.

Rachel January 7, 2010 No Comments
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