I bought a season pass so I can learn to ski this winter -- this was opening weekend and it was a mixed bag. Saturday was good conditions (I thought) and I surprised myself by having a pleasant day. Today it was REALLY cold and windy and icy and I struggled. It was clear today and beautiful, but I didn't bring my camera and didn't want to take my mitten off to get a picture with my phone. You'll have to take my word for it.

I already feel like I've made good progress this weekend. I have ridden the chair and gotten on and off without hysteria or injury. I've made it down the dreaded "anthill" -- which is a really steep hill one must ski down to get to all of the green runs from the top -- three times now. Twice in good snow once in bad snow. Yesterday I skiied a blue run and liked it. I'm slow and silly looking but doing better.

I'm learning to ski so I can backcountry tour -- but I've got to say that so far I sort of enjoy the resorty feel of resort skiing. There are lodges at the bottom and the top, and both serve food and beer. Love it.

These pictures are really little, but we'll pretend this post is arty. I went hiking with Traci, Caleb and Don Stolte on Sunday. The hike involved lots of snow, ice and fire.

Opening day is Saturday, and I'm pretty excited to get started on my ski-learnin'. I feel like learning to ski will be a little like mowing a tall lawn -- hopefully I will see gratifying quick improvement, which I realize will be followed by a plateau. But when you're first learning something, a little improvement is like night and day. I already saw some of that last year.

It's only early December and I already feel myself putting on the holiday weight and resigning myself to gluttony and indulgence. I wish I could say this bothers me. Oh, I'm sure I'll whine intermittently about this. . . but bring on the holidays!