Skiing Grand Targhee (again)

This weekend I had the privilege of skiing Grand Targhee again, but the experience was much different. Last weekend there wasn't a cloud in the sky. This weekend, you couldn't see more then 100 yards down the mountain because it was snowing so hard and we we're skiing in the world's best powder. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's certainly the most powder I've skied in! The mountain received 7" on Friday and 8 more on Saturday. Needless to say, there were no groomed trails and you could make first tracks anywhere, all day long. Just be careful you don't get stuck on a flat traverse or you'll lose your skies, boots and poles in the deep powdery pillow of snow! Even falling/tumbling/somersaulting/etc was fun and painless! No pictures from the mountain this weekend, but below is proof we all survived (without any major mishaps).

4 co-workers just crazy enough to let me adventure with them - Scottlan, Eric, Jaime and Brandon

Skiing Grand Targhee

Saturday was my first experience skiing "out West" and what a great time we had. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the breeze made it feel more like summer and there were hardly any people (or is the mountain that much bigger?) While there are some "groomed" trails that we're used to in the East, you essentially have free roam of the mountain. For good reason, they put up some ropes near the cliffs, but I still found myself in an interesting quandary. Fortunately, I only deposited a few brain cells and a little bit of blood to memorialize the unseen drop-off and unintentional 180! I suppose there's a number of spiritual applications for the event... "The faster you spiral out of control, the harder you'll crash" or "Let the One who knows the way be the Guide". Here's a few pictures, with a few more on the way from my accomplice:

The Teton's at sunrise with some low-lying fog
This is one of those cliffs that would have been roped off
Never trust a bug with a crooked smile or his accomplice with a really big telephoto lens.
The Grand Teton's from the top of Targhee

Disregarding all of Momma's advice about hiding in snow forts... daring someone to knock the snow off the trees.

Dreams from the Bus

You've all had dreams, woken up and questioned whether or not your dream was real. You tell me - could I possibly have dreamed this up?

While riding the bus to work this week (refer to "November 2008" post if you're wondering what that's all about), the following occurred.

[Time is somewhere between 5:15 and 6:30AM, bus is nearly full, Joe is sleeping, the bus radio occasionally cackles too life]

Radio: Dispatch, this is bus number 343. We have an injury to report.
Dispatch: 343, this is dispatch, go ahead.
Radio: Person was sat on.

[Joe half opens one eye, notices the interior bus lights are still on indicating we're still in town, dull murmur of colluctive "huh?" as passengers turn to one another and question whether they truly heard the radio correctly.]

Dispatch: 343, could you please repeat.
Radio: A male passenger was sat on, minor injuries.

[Dull chuckle seeps from the bus passengers as they confirm what they heard.]
[Joe waffles in and out of consciousness until driver hits brakes during dense fog. Joe turns to seatmate to confirm the person getting sat on, only to realize the man didn't have a neck pillow and was about to rest his sleeping head on my shoulder - can't ask him!]

[Bus arrives at work, Joe stumbles into office.]

Joe: Paul, did you hear a humorous announcement on the bus?
Paul: I was sound asleep and didn't hear anything.
Joe: Bummer.

Now I ask you - is it possible to make up a quasi-plausible scenario that I have never in my life thought of before, while dreaming? Or did this really happen? And how do I find out if it really happened without others questioning my sanity?

Encouraging Tidbits

I found two Bible verses particularly encouraging this week. In John 14:18, Jesus tells His disciples that "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." and in John 15:16, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you..."

Whether you believe the Bible or not, history tells us that Jesus was a man, living on the earth. Although his disciples had not grasped it, Jesus would be killed and resurrected by the end of the week. Soon after, He would ascend to Heaven and no longer be there as a crutch for the disciples. But He left us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit to encourage, counsel and guide us daily as disciples. If we're fearful or discouraged, we're just a prayer away from Comfort!

Now as Christians, we refer to our choice to follow Christ (which is necessary). However, before we ever chose to follow Him, He created and chose us (me and you) to be followers! Congrats - YOU are a chosen one! Now have you chosen to follow Him? What are you waiting for? :)

Home for the Holidays

I was lucky enough to be home for 3 weeks over the holidays! It couldn't have been a better start to a vacation as I left Seattle in a snow storm and arrived at JFK in a snow storm. Well, except for the flat tire along the interstate. But after convincing the NYS police that I was in NY and not NJ, AAA was there in no time to change it. Every day was filled with something... Christmas shopping, Christmas caroling with the young people, Christmas Eve, Christmas (including the much loved demolition of some ceilings in Joy's new house), sheetrocking, painting, XC skiing, XC skiing and more XC skiing, friends, food and lots of fun!! Unfortunately, there's only a few pictures from the all the escapades - and possibly the only remaining proof of a goatee.

XC Skiing with Amy (her 1st time!)

My trip home culminated with Ryan and Joanna's wedding! While I'm not much for wedding's, it was great to spend time with Ryan, his family and friends.

Can you guess who doesn't fit in?

An important lesson for the kids - always be nice to your friends... some day they might be twice your size (literally).

5 Brothers (Phillip, Ryan, Squirt, Stephen and Brandon)

... and one sister to help keep everyone in line.

Seattle - December 2008

Prior to heading home for Christmas, I took a "business" trip to Seattle. Here are a smattering of photos from the trip. Seattle is on the list of places to visit in the summer, as you are within 2 hours of Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Olympic National Park (with the only US rainforest), the Cascade Mountains, the Future of Flight Museum, the Museum of Flight, Boeing, Boeing, Boeing, continuous runways along the highways, oh, and downtown Seattle too! (What more could you possibly want?) Maybe these pictures will help...

I took a tour of the Boeing assembly plant (above). Unfortunately no cameras were allowed inside. The blue doors you see there are the end of individual assembly lines (e.g. 737, 747, 767, 787). Each door is the size of 3 football fields! The building is the largest in the world with a floor plan that would fit 95 football fields! For some inside pictures checkout their website: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/facilities/ Needless to say, it was facinating to see assembly lines that move 1.67 inches/minute (who moves the garbage cans every day or two?) and spare spar's (the massive steel I-beams that are in the center of all planes).
Every boy dreams of flying an SR-71 Blackbird at Mach 3.41 (this is an actual cockpit of a Blackbird that was wrecked).
Has anyone seen the President?

Pike's Place Market in downtown Seattle... the sign is supposed to be famous. No, I don't know why.

The Space Needle

Mt. Rainier

Seattle Waterfront

Pike's Place Fish Market. Yes, I saw them throwing fish. No, I'm not sure what the big deal was, except they were some big (expensive) fish!

Space Needle

Sunset over Puget Sound from the Space Needle

My favorite picture of downtown Seattle at dusk with Mt. Rainier in the background on the right!

December 2008

Here is December's newsletter (and last one if this blog proves efficient). Click on it to enlarge.

November 2008

For those who may not have seen my November newsletter, it is below and you should be able to click on it if you care to read the words.

Yellowstone - October 2008

Prior to moving to Idaho Falls, I had the opportunity to spend a few days at Yellowstone and the Grand Teton's. Here's a few sights along the way...

Near Mammoth Hot Springs

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Would you like to pet the grizzly?

(Yes, I am close enough to pet him..... in a car.)

Elk (one of many)

Fountain Paint Pots (Colorful, boiling mud)

A Buffalo keeping his eye on me!

Old Faithful

A deer at sunset

The Grand Teton's

Unfortunately, I missed pictures of some other wildlife (moose, fox, coyote attacking an elk, etc.). But it's simply amazing that you can find so much variety in landscape, terrain and wildlife all in one day. From boiling mud caldroons and hot springs to the mountains around, Yellowstone is a must see and a true testament to our Creator who had the imagination to create it all!

If you're really bored, you can go to this link and view all 400 unedited pictures from Yellowstone: http://picasaweb.google.com/sportsmanjoe/Yellowstone10_08?authkey=TBeBGot-gHU&feat=directlink