Hello Snow Ski Season!

I fell asleep on the sofa and remained there until about 1am. I topped off my water glass then headed up to bed where I slept until 715am. Still a little groggy, I stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen where I started coffee.

I spent the next couple hours playing on the internet and enjoying coffee. Headed out for a run around 9am. It was partly sunny, humid, and 70 degrees. I considered tossing the running shirt aside but ended up wearing it. No doubt that I would have been much more comfortable without one. Ran three miles. Mindy was up and on the deck enjoying coffee when I got back home.

I joined Mindy on the deck around 10am. Kenny was out there talking with her. They were talking about the pond cleaning project. I pointed to the swan I rescued from the muck. It belongs to Kenny. He took it with him.

Mindy & I made plans to visit Aspen Ski & Board in Polaris for their annual summer sale where all last year’s gear is marked down by as much as 80%. Very exciting event. It marks the beginning of the ski season at our home – winter’s first right of passage. Figured to make an afternoon of it – sale, Polaris mall, and then lunch. Mindy wanted to get new ski boots. Her others have become problematic. Too bad Jacob was still in Michigan. He needs new board boots. I planned to look at new powder skis – at least 110mm at the waist.

Bella, of course, was going with us. I half expected her to put up a fight but she didn’t. She seemed good with it. She wants a new, shiny black ski helmet. We left the house around 1pm. We drove the Accord. Made sure Mindy had ski socks, and I took my ski boots just in case I bought new skis. 

Easy drive around 270 and then up Rt. 23 to Polaris. As expected, the parking lot was packed. Bella complained of being extremely thirsty. Mindy and she went in the KFC out front of ASBCO to get a drink while I ventured over to the ski shop.

We looked at all the stuff set up on tables outside. We found a really nice helmet meeting all of Bella’s requirements marked down by about 70%. Good deal! I urged Mindy to head inside to get help looking for new boots. She agreed. Meanwhile, I checked out all the clearance skis hoping I might find a pair of last year’s Line Mr. Pollard’s Opus at 179cms. No such luck. However, they did have the Line Influence at 115mm under foot. And they just happen to be all black! The only problem was that they only had them in 186cms, which even though they’re a full rockered ski, still are a bit too long for me.

I went inside to check on Mindy and look at their new 2014 models. Mindy had help from two employees. By the way, the place was an absolute zoo – packed with customers. Lots of snow ski stories and it’s only August! Mindy tried on three different pair of ski boots. They were focused on getting her in more of an advanced ski boot this go round. Given her tiny feet, they had a little trouble finding just the right fit and style, but ultimately did. They outfitted her with some 2012 Lange boots that Mindy really liked. And the price was incredible – only $150.

It’s tempting to spend more money on ski stuff, but we bought just the boots for Mindy and the helmet for Bella. After an hour or so at ASBCO we were hungry. Headed just up the road to the Polaris mall destined for Molly Woo’s – a Cameron Mitchell Asian restaurant. We planned to use our $100 Mitchell’s gift card.

Given the hour – about 3pm, there weren’t too many customers dining. Maybe 3 or four other groups. We let Bella decide, inside or out. She opted for the patio where there were no other customers. Didn’t take us long to order drinks and appetizers. We had ordered soft drinks and opted to share some calamari and pot stickers. Big day for Bella. She’s never eaten Asian cuisine.

We placed our lunch/dinner orders when our drinks arrived. Mindy went with the Happy Family, I went with Kung Pao scallops, and Bella went with Asian noodles. I ordered a bowl of won-ton soup too. The calamari and pot stickers were scrumptious. A little tough getting Bella to try the pot stickers but she liked them.

Our lunch was delicious. We were done and gone by 4pm. After lunch we perused the Polaris mall. I haven’t been in the actual mall but one other time and that was maybe ten years ago shortly after it opened.

Not sure why I was expecting more, for the most part, a mall is a mall is a mall. We popped in the Finishline where we bought Bella new school tennis shoes. Bella was eager to visit the Apple store. Said she’d never been in one. I took her inside while Mindy shopped elsewhere. We didn’t stay in there long, though. Funny, she wanted to handle the iPhone 4, not the 5 since as she put it, the 4 will likely be her first phone.

By the time we left the Apple store, I was ready to leave. We ended up walking to the other end of the mall where we reunited with Mindy and then ventured into Macy’s. Mindy & Bella looked at all sorts of girly stuff. I was bored to tears. After Macy’s we finally headed for home. It was already after 515pm. Where had the day gone? And by the time we were home and settled it was already after 6pm.

Mindy and I headed out onto the deck around 7pm, me eventually cracking open a Dubhe from Uinta – an SLC microbrewery. I set-up my Bose dock where we streamed Pandora for the rest of the evening. Somewhere close to 9pm Bella asked if she could have a sleepover at Makayla’s. We agreed but asked that she be home no later than 11am Sunday morning.

Sent Darwin a text at some point inviting him over for a beer or two. He was home and eager for some adult companionship. He joined us around 10pm, arriving by bicycle. Mindy was tired and headed inside about 30 minutes after Darwin showed up. He and I sat out on the deck putting back a few beers until almost 1am. The time flew by. By the time Darwin headed for home I was more than ready for bed.