Hello Spring ... Hello HV!

I was up and out of bed a few minutes after 530am. I felt decent, though my neck and shoulder a little stiff. But after calisthenics it loosened up significantly. Was at my PC with coffee by 550am. Checked the weather. It was below freezing and not expected to warm up too much throughout the day, or for the next few for that matter. While checking the local weather, I noticed a winter storm warning hovering over Ellicottville icon. Wow, they’re in the midst of a huge later winter dumping. Looking at the details, they had gotten about a foot over the last day or two and were expecting that much again through Friday. Hmmm? I guess winter isn’t over just yet.

I woke Mindy near 610am with the usual cup of coffee. Downstairs again, I poured a little more coffee but then quickly moved on to meditation and stretching. Both went well. It was cold so I wore full winter running gear. Headed out near 645am. These days it’s almost completely dark at the run’s outset but day light by my return. I ran the full 4.1 miles, my legs feeling reenergized.

Mindy was just coming out the door to depart as I made my way up the driveway. In passing I shared how much snow they’re getting and expecting at HV and how the weekend there looks incredibly wintery. She smiled and told me to look into it. Hmm? Inside, I leashed up the pug and headed out for a walk. She took care of business pretty quick.

Back at the house I got busy making my eggs. I asked Bell what she thought about spending the weekend at HV. It didn’t take but a second for her to express her strong opinion – “No. Ski season is over!” While the pan heated, I went back to the HV website checking their webcams first to double check the existing snow pack. About as good as it gets, and all runs and lifts opened. I planned to check for lodging options too, but needed to get moving with my work prep. Finished frying some eggs then enjoyed a relaxing breakfast.

By then, Bella was up in her room. I hollered up to make sure she brushed her teeth and hair. I didn’t expect her response. She told me that she couldn’t because she had to clean her room. I could only laugh. Mindy told both kids the night before that there’s a new rule. You don’t get to use your screens if your room isn’t clean when she gets home from school. Apparently Bella took it to heart and wasn’t about to lose screens to the point of making it a priority over personal hygiene.

It was 755a by the time I finished breakfast and packing a light lunch. I planned to shower after seeing Bella onto the school bus. With 15 minutes to kill, I headed back to the HV website to look into lodging options. Not only were they getting some of the best snow of the season, but the lodging and lift tickets dropped to spring rates this week too. They had a couple rooms available in the Inn and a few in the Tamarack. The prices looked to be about 67% of winter rates. I did a couple what ifs, looking at Friday – Monday or 3 nights. Wow! Great rates! I was energized and suddenly overcome with the desire to take a long three day weekend and head to the Valley! I couldn’t pull the trigger, however. Would still need to talk with Mindy, my boss, and then iron out logistics.

I moved forward with my day, heading out to the bus with Bella at 810am. The bus was there at 815am. Right on time. Back at the house I quickly rushed off to the shower. Was downstairs and ready to go by 840am. It was a new Albany day, but with a spare mouse and power supply I no longer need to check to make sure I have them in my backpack. I left the house at 845am. It was a fast, easy drive across town to New Albany. Made it in about 20 minutes. Listened to XM’s Blue Collar comedy most of the way.

Easy work day. Our 10am weekly call was canceled since there were no pressing matters. That’s always good news. Sent Mindy a text early on asking that she give me call when she had a minute to talk about HV. Spent some face to face time with both of the managers I interact most with. Mindy called me sooner than I expected. Had to be around 1030am. Said she was on a break. I shared the details regarding a potential HV weekend – the cost and availability. Agreed on 3 nights – Fri – Sun, coming home on Monday afternoon. She said to book it. She would ask her mom to keep Eiknarf. I planned to let my boss know that I wanted to keep Monday as a scheduled day off but cancel the rest of the next week’s vacation. It’s something he and I had already discussed a couple weeks ago. The only concern I shared with Mindy was that the two rooms available at the Inn might be gone by the day’s end, especially given the wintry forecast. Come what may. If it is meant to be then the rooms will still be available. I didn’t want to mess with it during the work day.

I quickly snapped off an email to my peer making sure he would cover me on Monday. Said he would.
Spent the rest of my day working on mostly reactive measures. I didn’t bother taking a lunch break. The day moved fast. It was after 4pm in a hurry. I stayed busy until 435pm then packed for home. Aside from a couple bathroom breaks, I didn’t budge from my desk all day.

Called Mindy once I was safely on 270. She confirmed that he mom agreed to keep the pug for the weekend. I asked how the kids were about the possible ski trip. Said Bella was still a bit negative and that she hadn’t had the opportunity to talk about it with Jacob since he was off playing basketball with friends. She wasn’t too worried about their opinions. They’ll go and like it! 

I made good time barreling around 270. Arrived home before 510pm. Mindy was in middle of making tacos, actually she had just started. Said it would be about 30 minutes. After unpacking my work gear I went to my PC to try and book one of the rooms available earlier. As a matter of fact, I still had the reservation page up. However, after a refresh, the rooms at the Inn were no longer showing available.  They did, however, have rooms at the Tamarack, which the rooms there are newer, nicer, and with more amenities, not to mention more centrally located. But even though they market as ski in ski out, it’s a lot more like the condo we stayed at in Utah. Ski storage and an elevator ride to your floor. Still, very nice, and they had a liftview room available too. I consulted with Mindy. As expected, she expressed sadness that the Inn was full, but was good with the Tamarack. I suggested I call their central reservations desk to double check on the Inn.

Good move. According to the women, they still had two rooms at the Inn, but both smoking and one only Saturday and Sunday night. The other Friday and Saturday. Suggested we could do the move thing. Nah, not interested. Actually. I was liking the idea of the Tamarack. The women shared that I could get a much better rate by booking online. OK. I booked the room at the Tamarack – a Deluxe hotel room overlooking Mardi Gras and Cindy’s lifts.

Felt good having it booked. We could turn our attention to prep. Love it when a spontaneous plan comes together like that. No fretting, counting down the days, no sir. Instead, Bam! While dinner simmered, Mindy talked with Bella who was already warming to the idea. But when she told Jacob, who had just come inside from playing basketball, he was adamant about not going. I didn’t say a word. Let Mindy handle it. He was fine with the idea once we sat down to dinner.

The tacos were decent. I had a burrito and a taco. After that I was full. Clean-up was a snap since we used paper plates. Clean-up consisted mostly of putting away leftovers and then washing pans. Dinner and clean-up were behind us by 630pm. We spent the evening hours organizing our gear for our impromptu ski trip. Sent a note to all of our local ski peeps encouraging them to join us.

Settled down in the family room around 730pm tuning into In Through the Worm Hole. Watched more than two hours of it. Great programming. Really makes one think. Mindy graciously worked on my back, neck and shoulder again, finishing up by rubbing some Bengay into the small knot at the epicenter. She headed to bed around 915-930pm. I stayed up a while longer or until 1010pm.