Family Day @ MRM

I was up and out of bed even before 7a hoping to get a jump on the ski day ahead. I started a pot of Starbucks, completed my exercises then freed Frankie. I checked the weather too. It was clear and only 10 degrees. I played around online for about 30 minutes before finally taking Frankie out. She was all about taking care of business. We might’ve been out for 5-7 minutes. It was gorgeous outside, the sun coming up in a clear blue winter sky. Inside, I delivered coffee and the pug to Mindy just ahead of leaving for a run. After a routine stretch, I left for a run. It was near 845a. I planned to run only three miles, this being a Saturday and all. Great run. I was back at home just after 915a. Mindy was already busy in he kitchen prepping ski snacks. I wanted/needed a shower. I asked Mindy if I should leave it run for her. At first she opted not, but then changed her mind. I left it run when I was finished. It didn’t take long for me dress for skiing. I purposefully left off my 3rd upper layer. Didn’t want to be too warm inside. I asked the kids to garb up in their base layers while Mindy finished showering. I headed downstairs to prep the Honda and then carb up. I heated the leftover cream of chicken over rice. And man was it good. I had all of our ski gear ready and loaded by 1020a. I added a couple Great Lakes Burning River’s to our cooler. We were backing out the drive at 1030a. Looked to be a perfect ski day – sunshine and temps in the mid 20s. Mindy phoned Bob I. as we headed north on I-270. Had to leave a VM, though. Bob must’ve been out on his morning run.  We called Tommy next. He answered and sounded eager to join us after a couple early morning errands. We made good time arriving at the ski park by 1115a. Mindy recognized Scott & Zach parked just a few spots east of us. Weren’t 100% sure it was them until I saw Scott’s skis (same as mine). Zach has sure grown a bunch since last season! After z brief meet and greet, we headed to the ticket window to get our daily passes. That didn’t take long. Like most other occasions, Jacob and I headed in to take a leak before hitting the slopes. Jacob and I started through the lift line when I spotted Mindy & Bella coming out of the restroom. I figured we better wait. Jacob wasn’t too thrilled. He was ready to go. At the top of the hill, we hooked up with Scott & Zach. Scott had just talked with Bob, who was just leaving his house and heading our way. Bella wanted to do a Blue run to warm up. Smart thinking. I did the first run or two with her. We waited for Mindy mid-mountain for some time. Apparently, she ended up taking an unexpected spill while hardly moving. We skied for about 90 minutes before we spotted Bob making his maiden run. His style is easy to spot. Excellent form. Tommy texted that his ETA was near 130p. By then, however, we were ready for a break. Mindy and Bella headed in around 120p. I kept skiing with Jacob, Bob, Scott & Zach. Around 140p, we found Tommy preparing to head up the lift. We made two runs together before I received a text from Mindy advising that she had a cold pitcher of Sam Adams waiting. I begged off to take a break with my family while Tommy and the others kept going. Mindy was beginning to worry that her pitcher of beer would go to waste. Never fear, Jimmy is here! It was good to warm up, enjoy some beer, and eat half a sandwich. The others came in about 20 minutes later. Bob immediately went after another pitcher of beer. That’s what I’m talking about! We stayed indoors for maybe another 40 minutes yucking it up. Scott introduced us to his other friend Bob, his son Cameron, and his daughter Cassie. Cassie was taking lessons earlier. Not sure if that was her first time on the slopes or not. Bella was willing to ski with her, perhaps even give her some pointers. It must’ve been between 230-3p when we hit the slopes again. Everybody seemed in top form, Jacob and Bella included. Bella’s now skiing with much more control. After 45 minutes or so, she joined me on a run between the terrain park jumps, which requires an alert skier if you want to avoid any unexpected air. I purposefully took the very bottom edge of a jump with Bella following slowly well behind. I didn’t realize she was mimicking my every move. Suddenly, I heard a scream from Bella. Turning around, I spotted her on the ground with scattered skis about 100yards up the hill. A couple skiers stopped to help as I pegged my way back up. She was OK but was crying. Said she fell going over the same jump that I just completed. Wasn’t prepared for it. Told me she thought she had a concussion. Wanted to go home. I helped her collect herself and then get back onto her skis. We skied back to the lift cautiously, me reminding her to make her big S turns. We headed in the gift shop to warm up and take a little break. I bought Bella what I thought was a jester’s helmet cover. I couldn’t get it to fit over her helmet once outside, however. We found Mindy and she tried too. Turns out, it was just a hat, not a helmet cover. Mindy offered to return it for me. I gave her the receipt and my card. She and Bella headed back in the gift shop while I skied on the with the boys. Jacob, meanwhile, was off skiing with Zach and Cameron, and appeared to be having the time of his life. We notice that he skis more boldly while with the other boys. I’ll be they skied together for nearly two hours, or until our next break. As darkness set in, it started getting pretty cold again. Thinking we broke around 6p. Inside, we shared another pitcher of Sam Adams. Oh yeah, failed to mention that we enjoyed some of Scott’s lemon nip and Mindy’s cough syrup (Goldschlager) on the slopes earlier, too. No wonder Jacob’s skiing so well. After our second break, we skied until almost 730p. Tommy, Jacob and I stayed out for a few extra runs, and then just Jacob and I. He was lovin’ it. We met Mindy and Bella in the lodge having hot cocoa. We left the park for home around 745p. It is funny how away from the slopes Jacob returns to his 10 year old antics almost in an instant. Mindy had to correct him more than once during our drive home. Mindy slept during most of the drive home. We arrived home around 830p. This time everyone helped carry in the gear, although we left some of it in the Honda. Jacob took Frankie out while the rest of us stowed ski gear. Mindy was in bed in a hurry after complaining of a headache and feeling unusually sleepy. The kids and I hung out downstairs on the sofa watching TV. Mindy did get up long enough to see the kids into bed, but then headed right back soon after. I stayed up sipping a Jack & Coke and watching the History Channel. I watched an episode about Hippies, and then another about the Charles Manson Family killings. Manson … what an ass. I liked the way the History Channel segued from the hippy movement right into the Manson killings pointing out the correlation. Made sense, but just hadn’t thought of it in those terms. I was up until 1230a. Surprised even myself.