Fresh powder

Today we woke up with the intention of making it to Solitude early.

We head to the car, with all our gear.  Ryan wanted to go yesterday to avoid a snowstorm that hit last night.  I had already reserved yesterday for driving an hour away to see "Ice Castles" in Midway, Utah.  The castles underwhelmed us.  They were cool, sure, but the whole thing could fit in a front yard, and children were everywhere.  In the middle of the daycare-style chaos, there was a high fashion photo shoot going on.  We caught one of the models taking a pouty-lipped selfie when the photographer was through with her.

But I digress - we get in the car, with the intention of driving to the ski resort.  No dice.  There is a cop at the mouth of the canyon making sure anyone going up has either 4WD or chains.  We have neither.  

Ok, we will have to take the bus.  Of course, we have no cash, so we drive home, grab cash, drive back, park a few blocks away from the station and carry all our stuff with us to wait.

The bus arrives, the people ahead of us get on, we do not.  "I'm afraid we don't have any more room, sorry guys, the next shuttle is in one hour and 15 minutes."  Ryan leaves me and our skis at the station and walks back to get the car.  

He picks me up, we load our skis back into the car.  To Wal-Mart we go to buy chains so we can drive up.  But wait, the gift card is at home.  We stop home (again) to get the gift card, and head on to Wal-Mart.

We get to the automotive section and find the chains.  The clerk shows us a chart.  "Just look for your tire code and it will tell you what size chains you need."  Of course we have no idea what kind of tires we have.  Ryan goes back out to the car while I try to look up Honda Fit Sport tires online on slow Salt Lake 3G.

He comes back, we figure out what chains we need.  

They are out.

We call the Wal-Mart in Sandy.  

Out.

We debate going to an auto parts store or just calling it quits and ordering the chains online for next time.  We can't decide.  A coin is flipped.  Heads - we give it up.  Tails - go find chains.

It was heads.

The saddest part is that we bought a pass that is only good today - separate from our other package.  75 bucks down the drain.  

Happy Holidays and Sympathy Shivers

It was hard being away from home for the holidays this year.  We were fortunate to come home for Thanksgiving, but Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.  We decided to live it up for Christmas.  We bought a bottle of champagne, a hunk of cheese, a bunch of olives, a tray of baklava, and ingredients to make chicken frances.  We also bought each other a couple of gifts to open on Christmas Eve. Our parents really made it feel like Christmas by sending us gifts to open on Christmas morning.  They were both very generous, the shipping boxes full of gifts like gloves, gift cards, thick warm ski socks, some gourmet vinegars and specialty foods, and a portable speaker for playing our music, among other thoughtful gifts.

Our tree was up right before Thanksgiving so we could enjoy it when we got home from Ohio, our stockings were hung, and soon our mantle and fridge were full of Christmas cards.  I had put so much thought into our Christmas Day meal that we had nothing planned to eat on Christmas Eve.

On the 23rd I stopped at City Cakes and bought two servings of their vegan mac and cheese.  I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid gluten over the holiday week, so I rolled with the pasta and baklava.

On Christmas Eve we Skyped into my moms house for the gift exchange portion of their night.  Ryan's parents were over at their house so it was great to get to say hello to everyone.  We held up our gifts and watched other get opened.  I got to see my cousins new boyfriend, whom otherwise I may not have met for a long time.

After the Skype session we had our mac and cheese and exchanged gifts with each other.  Ryan, as is tradition, got me a really neat rock from a rock shop downtown.  It's agate from the Green River area of Utah.  I've got 7 rocks in my Christmas collection now :)  7 holidays together already!

Ryan also got me a new yoga mat, new slippers, and a shoe horn (I commented that I really like shoe horns and would like to have one about a month ago - he remembered!)  From me, Ryan received new ski mittens and ski socks.

On New Years Eve we decided to use the remainder of our Mazza gift card that was given to us by my Mom.  We ordered a variety of appetizers and enjoyed their unique tea before coming home and watching a little of the New Years Eve broadcast.  We were in bed at 11, MST.

New Years Day we wanted to go on a hike, but after driving to a trail just north of downtown, we realized the inversion pollution was just too think and we wouldn't be above it.  We headed back and made an ice cream stop along the way.  It was back to work the next day.  We had a really nice holiday thanks to our families.  Here's to hoping next year we will be home to celebrate.

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It was a strange week, going back to work for only 2 days, then having another weekend, then being off again for New Years.  Over that time we went skiing.  I spent the majority of the time trying to get up off the snow and back onto my skis after falling again and again.  It was not a good day on the slopes for me.  Very sore the next day.  But, on the bright side, it was a really beautiful day and I counted that as my workout for the weekend.

The midwest is experiencing arctic cold right now.  It's in the mid 20's here in Salt Lake City.  Most of my friends on social media are in Ohio/Midwest and posting about how frigid it is.  I feel the same way!  I really think I'm having sympathy chills over here.

Last weekend Ryan and I didn't really do much.  We have grown stagnant with our dinners, so we got a few cookbooks at the library and picked out some recipes for this week, then went grocery shopping.  We managed to squeeze in a stop at City Cakes where we cashed in one our filled up loyalty cards for a free cookie and coffee.  There is a girl that works at the bakery and she's often there when we stop in, I joke that she's my only friend in Salt Lake City.

Looking forward to "Ice Castles" on Saturday.  Its s display put on just outside Park City, and we have discount tickets.  Should be a good time :)

Rudolf Socks! :) Thanks Mom.

Wearing the new ear warmer and scarf  (and Ryan in new fleece) from my mom :)

Chicken, GF pasta from Ryan's mom, and broccoli for Christmas Day

A lit up street in Sugar House on our way home from Mazza