Cold, Hard & Icy

 

Out of bed around 730am, I headed downstairs to start some coffee. We talked about getting a much earlier start and heading up to MRM between 9-10pm. Given the hour, I didn’t expect us to leave before 10am.

I enjoyed coffee while playing on the internet. Did that for about an hour. Downloaded then reviewed the videos and photos from my GoPro. There was an issue with video playback. Looked more like time lapse video – staccato. The audio was fine and so were the still photos. I worried that something was amiss with the camera. It suddenly & inexplicably stopped working towards the end of the evening. That, however, appeared to be nothing more than a drained battery. I charged it again overnight.

I also wondered if it might be my photo software being compatible with the video file type – MP4. I didn’t have time to fool with it then. I needed to go do a run. It cooled off significantly overnight, now only about 30 degrees. Wasn’t cold enough to make snow however, and didn’t drop below freezing about 5am.

I took Mindy coffee then headed off on my run. She planned to shower while I was out. I ran the usual three mile weekend trail . It was chilly and that ever present easterly breeze still blowing strong. However, like the day before, the sky was clear and the sunshine brilliant. It was a really nice run.

The pug was waiting by the door when I got back. Mindy was upstairs finishing her ready. I leashed up the pug and took her on a walk. Gone about 10 minutes, I got in the shower as soon as we were back at home. By then Mindy was heading downstairs.

Mindy and Bella had us all but ready to go by the time I was showered, dressed, and downstairs. Each of us had a ham and cheese sandwich which served as our breakfast. Left the house at 1007am. Fast easy drive to MRM. The more we go the faster the drive seems to get. Arrived around 1045am. This time the lot wasn’t that full at all. That had more to do with the hour than the weather. Speaking of the weather, it was holding steady at 26 degrees under mostly sunny skies.

Mindy texted with Bob & Tina C, & Bob & Mary Ann on the drive up. The Cubra’s were already there. The Imber’s on their way. We were much more efficient with our ready. On the lift by 1110am. The park did the best they could grooming the hill after Saturday night’s midnight madness and freeze, coupled with no new snow.

The surface was hard pack. Certainly much faster than Saturday. After 5 or 6 turns, I headed to the Pilot to swap my Mantra’s for my AC30s. I knew they’d be much better on the hard, icy snow. I was able to carve with the AC30s like nobody’s business. Once again happy to have such diversity with my skis. It was cold, too, especially at the top of the hill with that easterly wind. It was biting even.

The Cubra boys and Zach were all doing the US air bag on site for the entire MLK weekend. We offered Bella the opportunity but she refused. She skied some with Cassie C. Mindy, Bella and I didn’t plan to stay too long since we would be celebrating Lindsey’s birthday with family at home at 5pm. Figured to leave around 3pm. However, as chilly as it was, we took a 30 minute break around 130pm.

During break, Mindy & Mary Ann had bloody Mary’s while I enjoyed a Jack & Coke. Bob C. brought some homemade finger snacks (sausage, crackers, and cheese). They were tasty. Headed back out around 2pm where we did 5 or 6 more runs. Called it quits at 245pm and said our goodbyes.

On the road for home by 3pm. Easy drive. Arrived home near 345pm. Lindsey and the boys were already there presumably doing their laundry. Mindy and I both took showers in the first 30-40 minutes of being home. The NFC championship game was already underway, too. The Falcons had an early 17-0 lead over the 49ers. Before I got in the shower, I did a little research into my video playback issue. Appears I was on to something. Photoshop Elements 8.0 doesn’t support MP4 video. I played the same videos using Quicktime and they appeared almost ideal.

After a quick shower, Mindy asked Landon to help bake brownies that would serve as Lindsey’s birthday cake. Dad arrived just as I was downstairs again after a shower. Dad was sporting a new do, the shortest I’ve seen his hair in quite a few years. Looks good.

Wasn’t long before Ashley, Steven and Olivia arrived. That’s all we were expecting. Failed to share that Mindy put a beef roast in the crock-pot before we left for MRM earlier that morning. That served as our main course. We visited for a while before dinner. We sat to eat around 545pm.

I waited for all others to be served and seated before making a plate of my own. The roast was quite good, as were the sides Mindy made, which included mashed potatoes & green beans. Dinner was good. Watched the end of the NFC championship game. SF beat Atlanta 28-24. Good game. Felt bad for Matt Ryan.
Dinner clean-up was a snap, thanks to using paper plates and plastic utensils. Must’ve been 630pm when we put candles on the tray of brownies and sang happy b-day to Lindsey. Gave her a card with a Kohl’s gift card. Celebration wrapped up around 650pm. Lindsey said she was tired and looked it, too. She and the boys, along with Dad, Ash, Steven, and Olivia departed. Everybody was gone by 7pm.
After everybody was gone we got comfy and cozy in the family room. Bella was already off to the neighbors. Said something about having Emily spend the night. Headed to my PC to spend a little more time with my GoPro. Having some technical difficulties with it locking up. Also looking into upgrading my Photoshop Elements from 8.0 to Premiere 11.0. The upgrade would among other things allow me to edit the GoPro MP4 videos.

Played around with the remote control feature too. Had some technical difficulties with it as well. Awfully pricey to have so many issues. Yikes! Mindy asked Bella to be home by 9pm. She called near her deadline a little worked up. Apparently wanted Lillian and Makayla to spend the night after Emily wasn’t permitted to. Mindy agreed after conferring briefly with me. Why not?

New England lead the AFC championship game at the half, but the Ravens came back in the 3rd quarter and took the lead. Bella came home about 10 minutes later upset saying that Kenny trumped the notion of the girls spending the night. Mindy did her best to calm her.

Mindy and I headed to bed around 945pm. I wasn’t sore, but my body was tired from two days of skiing.