Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of ...

Wake at 550am in preparation for our trip Half expecting to find Sparky waiting for me downstairs He’s not. Instead, still lying on the beach towel I laid him on last night Exercise, time to walk Sparky, over come with emotion, cry like a baby Grab Sparky’s leash and walk our usual route only this time without him – warm 34 degrees I wake Mindy before leaving on my run – coffee Meditate – stretch Carry Sparky to garage so kids don’t find him while on my run Ran three miles knowing we’d be skiing later Thoughts turn to Sparky during my run Back by 730am - Mindy out of the shower I decide to load the Honda & Thule carrier before a shower – wise move Shower at 800am. Mindy informs she told kids about Sparky Jacob crying – needs consoling – Bella taking it pretty well – asks to go out and see him I take Bella to see Sparky – Jacob doesn’t want to – I understand Mindy makes scrambled eggs for all – smell/taste bad. Toss ‘em out Load Honda with final gear Depart house at 910am for Rene’s place – Arlington Everyone slightly on edge Mindy phones dad to share the news about Sparky – he won’t need walked Space is at a premium- Rene has three or four pieces to shove in. We manage but it’s tight Off to Ellicottville, New York Exit off 271N near Mayfield Heights at Wendy’s for lunch – 1130am Rene calls car repair shop where she dropped her Navigator – check engine light on. They suggest catalytic converter - $1600. No! Back on the road by noon Rt 90 across NE Ohio to PA. Rt 90 to Rt 86 east of Erie – only about 30-40 miles in PA Rt 86 into NY – Southern-Tier Expy – across Lake Chautauqua to Salamanca Rt 219N 10 miles to HV resort – Wahoo! – 3:15pm Temperature flirting with freezing for the entire drive. Cloudy - no rain – no snow Drive-up to the concierge – check-in – 3 keys – Tamarack folks help tote gear to room – lots of it! Deal on 4-day lift tickets – kids pay for only 2-days – free Sun - Thurs We park in underground garage and take skis & poles to ski check Room #518 – hillside – not slopside Small but nice – just under 500 sq ft – flat panel, fireplace, full stainless kitchen, two Queen beds Relax – eat a snack – change into ski attire On the slopes by 430pm We take the kids to Tannembaum & Laurel trails (green and pretty) Bella is in awe of the differences – struggles a little initially. Does the ski-to-me thing for the first few runs. Rene stops in front of a tree waiting for Bella. Bella nearly crashes into it – tension high amongst all of us. I suggest everyone else ski’s off and I ski with Bella providing one set of instruction – Bella concurs I slowly show her the hazards that are non existent at MRM – trees, crevices, banks, creeks. She starts skiing much more controlled, following my lead. Once I asked her to follow the trail left by my skis she got the hang of it. Jacob was doing well, too. Bella admitted she needed a class. You might say it was a big ol’ ah-hah! Take an hour long break at Yodeler lodge – EBC Pale Ale for me – kids hot cocoa and pizza Ready to ski more. We skied until 830pm – the kids finally doing some easier blues comfortably. Ended our skiing on a very positive note. Let’s do the hot tub/pool then dinner! Hot tub was awesome – met some folks from Michigan – friendly – invited to their room Room to brush up – then the John Harvard’s brew pub for dinner. Only three Harvard beer’s on the menu, but many others. I went with their Pale Ale – decent. Ordered their Cuban for my meal – good but they got nothin’ on Barley’s. Sergio was our server – very attentive. Charge dinner to our room. Back to the room and off to bed – busy day ahead!