Class 2 – Cancelled due to snow.
WHAT???? NOOOOOOOOOO! I’ve been looking forward to this all week. Now I will stand in front of the DVD and shake my hips back and forth for an hour. Somehow doesn’t feel as sexy.
Tags: 40 for 40, 40 year challenge, creative exercise, hula hoop, workout
Our next chance for skiing actually never happened. We went to an antique shop, sat in the hot tub, took a nap….and both Chris and I decided we were entirely too sore and tired to attempt the slopes. I will admit that I was more than relieved to realize that Chris felt the same way I did.
So we got an extra needed break before the final night skiing session before we headed home. It was New Years Eve and the slopes were basically empty. The sky was clear and the evening crisp. It was beautiful. The weather had been in the 50s all day, so when we arrived, they were still making snow.
And strangely, skiing just seemed to make sense.
Unfortunately, the first time we were on the ski lift, we approached that terrible ramp and realized the snow hadn’t been pushed to the sides yet. I panicked – slid too far to the right, crashed and tweeked my shoulder. I haven’t felt pain like that and not had to go to the hospital. It didn’t matter. The hospital could wait.
The rest of the evening was wonderful. Skiing started to make sense. The freshly-created powder made learning the sport much easier. Chris and I laughed and smiled and just enjoyed each other’s company. At one point, I slid over Chris’ skis, my skis slid in opposite directions and I proceeded to be stuck in the splits. As if that wasn’t enough, I was laughing too hard to move. I think this is how skiing is supposed to be.
I was sad when the evening was over, and even began to talk about our next ski trip.
I have a few take-aways on this challenge.
First – I have to question just how much of life I have missed out on because I didn’t face my fears. Yes, the first sessions of skiing were incredibly frustrating, but without going through the first day, I wouldn’t have gotten to spend a lovely, romantic New Years Eve with my fiancé, enjoying the snow.
Second – I have to show up. Mentally and physically. I have to believe that I can achieve something, and be willing to show up, and put in the work to do it. But I have to show up mentally as well.
Third – I have met the most incredible, amazing man. Chris, with his gentle words and solid encouragement, was such a testimony of love and care. It’s amazing just how much one can achieve when someone else believes in them.
It’s now 3 weeks since this trip, and, now that my shoulder feels better, I’m dreaming of my next trip to the slopes.
Tags: 40 for 40, 40 year challenge, facing fears, skiing
Part of Skiing I hadn’t really considered was just how much all of that stuff costs! WOW.
Ski pants – on sale $30 (regular price, $50)
Ski goggles – $40
New beanie – $15
Gloves – $35
Warm socks (well, these were just fun) 2 for $10
Jacket – found on ebay for $40 + shipping, (regular price $150)
Ski rental – I think 3 days was about $100
Lift ticket – full day, 2 session – $66
Night ticket (which is better anyway) $31.
Locker rental – 75 cents each time you open it
Ski holder rental – 50 cents each time you open it
If you’re a newbie and you’re planning a ski adventure, think ahead. Look around. Check ebay. Check Craigslist. I figure this three session ski adventure for me cost right in the neighborhood of $375. I bet if I had been a bit more diligent I could have lowered that cost significantly by buying more gear lightly used, or just on sale.
So be smart when you’re trying new things…Hum…now that I think about it, I probably should have bought extra health insurance before this trip as well.
Tags: 40 4 40, 40 year challenge, budget vacation, ski deals, frugal travel, ski costs
Part two of the ski adventure actually happened less than 90 minutes after the first post occurred. By the time we got off the mountain, back to the cabin, and ate dinner, we were already late for our second twilight ski session.
In the few minutes we got to sit down, I had the strong realization that something in my hip felt, well, twingy. Power through was all I could think.
Chris told me that we never had to ski again if I didn’t want to. This evening I would decide.
Thankfully, the slopes had fewer people on them this time around. The temperature was right at freezing. It’s time to do it, and get on the main slope again. I have to admit, I was more than nervous going back up the chair lift. Chris and I had a good talk while we were being lifted up the mountain. I told him my fears. He was gracious. I have found a wonderful man.
Getting off the lift this time wasn’t an issue. I still can’t believe the hardest dismount for the whole mountain is supposed to be for beginners.
But I digress.
Chris gave me a smile and we practiced turning slowly down the mountain. “Trust that you can do more than you think you can” he told me. I couldn’t believe I was starting to have fun. We moved down the mountain and a decent pace, and snowplowing only happened most of the time…
Until the icy patch at the bottom of the hill. I couldn’t stop so the “don’t be afraid to fall” mantra came to my mind, so I did. Chris was already standing in line to get back on the lift.
Unfortunately I fell so my hand smashed eloquently into the top of my ski pole, and one ski dug into the side of my knee.
That’s going to leave a mark, or two, at best.
I looked up and he shrugged and gestured what I think was a “what happened?”
I wasn’t having fun. Again.
I struggled to get up.
I was more than ready to hang up my skis, go home and sit in the hot tub. Chris, as always, believed in my abilities much more than I did. So here was my decision time – do I prove him right, or wrong?
My hand really hurt, but I managed to compose myself a bit and go straight to the line back up the mountain. I’d like to say I pretended like everything was fine and composed myself and joyfully conquered my fears. But that wouldn’t be true.
I so wanted to be good at this. I so wanted to be having fun. I so wanted Chris to be proud of me.
I don’t want to go on and on, but it was simply decision time. I had to choose how this day was going to turn out. No one else could make me have fun.
So I was determined. The night went ok. I started getting the hang of the sport a bit more. If nothing else, I just wanted to enjoy my holiday with Chris, and that I did.
But I will admit, the thought of spending the next day in the hot tub sounded pretty good.
Tags: 40 for 40, 40 year challenge, facing fears, skiing, sugar mountain
“State your name and how long it’s been since you’ve hula hooped”
Oh wow. The group of 8 or 9 of us are standing in a large circle, with giant hoops around our waists. I don’t remember these being so large, I thought, holding the big green and blue sparkly circle. I don’t remember them being heavy.
And how long has it been? I remember having a hoop as a kid, but due to a large amount of moving and my constant trying to become more of a tomboy I’m guessing the hoop might have stayed in Oklahoma. Circa 1982. The answer then, would be 29. It’s been 29 years since I’ve hula hooped.
I gasped a little when I heard myself say it.
Getting older is weird.
Sunny is our petite red headed instructor who is more cheerleader than instructor, who tells us the basics and is incredibly positive on how we will love the sport. Her explanation of the bruises we will have at the end of the class was a bit disconcerting, but being that the hoops are weighted, and they are circling our frames a few hundred times a class, I guess a few blemishes are to be expected.
So here’s the thing. Hooping is just about moving your hips, right? Side to side. Front to back. It’s about consistency.
AND I LOVE IT.
I think our brains and our bodies are just made to be able to do certain things. And what makes sense to my self might not make sense to someone else.
But this makes sense to my brain and my body.
Guessing I might be a little sore tomorrow.
Tags: 40 year challenge, exercise, fitness, fun new hobbies, groupon, hula hoop
My mom has had a joke she’s told since I was small. She said that if she ever got the chance to go skiing, she would instead buy a fake cast, put it on her leg, and spend the time sitting in the lodge by a fireplace, drinking hot cocoa and telling stories about her terrible skiing accident.
When my fiancé suggested that we go skiing with his family over new years, I was excited but more than slightly nervous. I have never skied, I’m trying to make a good impression with the future family, and I am not the most coordinated person in the world.
Not the best combo.
But I’m game and so I reluctantly found myself hitting the slopes in North Carolina. Day Ski session. It was a holiday, and it seemed like everyone decided to try out a new sport that day as well. The bunny slope was packed and people were literally running into each other, creating wonderful slow speed pileups.
“Let’s not do the bunny slopes, we’ll just go up the lift and get on the slopes to learn,” was suggested. To the right there was a much less menacing slope, but no. We had to go to a bigger hill. I was terrified.
While simply trying to wait in line for the chairlift, I couldn’t even stand up without sliding down a short incline. Instantly I was in a panic. I’ve never felt so out of control in my life, and looking up the steep mountain wasn’t helping.
Needless to say I wasn’t having fun.
My goggles were filling with tears. By the time we got to the lift, I was cold and scared. This hill we were going to attempt wasn’t small, and I couldn’t even stand up.
What doesn’t kill you is supposed to make your stronger, right? I was pretty sure I wouldn’t meet my demise on Sugar Mountain, but I was convinced a trip to the hospital was imminent.
We get on the lift and Chris tried to reassure me. But if I couldn’t stand still on skis in the queue for the lift, how could I possibly ski down a mountain? The first stop had a green marking – I kept my tips up but quickly saw the only way off the lift was a ramp at a 45 degree angle. Needless to say, I crashed, hard.
“How soon can we go home?” was all I was thinking. I couldn’t see through my foggy goggles.
It took about an hour to get down the slope. It wasn’t fun. Chris was trying to reassure me, but I was sore, tired and very defeated. The only way I could imagine continuing was if we could walk back up to a more flat section of the mountain and start from there. Chris, without hesitation, picked up our skis and started walking. Uphill. This honestly might have been the hardest workout of the day.
He sat with me on the side of the slope and quietly gave me pointers and encouragement. We watched as people flew by. His patience was nothing short of calming. Slowly I built some confidence, and was able to fairly painlessly ski down the remainder of the hill.
“Do you want to try this one again?” Chris asked.
“No,” was my instant reply. Pause. I pointed to the smaller hill on the right. “But I’ll do that one.”
The second hill went much better. The slope wasn’t very steep and I could actually keep control a little better. While I still didn’t feel particularly good about skiing, it didn’t take me an hour to get down the mountain.
I think slowly my fear is turned to uncertainty. I have to admit, at 4:30 when they cleared the mountain, I was nothing short of relieved. My whole body hurt and my spirit was still a little broken. The break was a huge relief…but we only have until 6pm- then we have to come back.
Tags: 40 year challenge, facing fear, family, love, pain, skiing, snow
Chris, my man, loves baseball. He may even be obsessed with baseball. He played it, very well, as a teen but due to a major injury he had to stop pitching to save his nerves in his shoulder. I’ve wanted to try out a batting cage since watching When Harry Met Sally, but honestly just wanted to see him do what he loves for a while.
I will admit, I was nervous about looking completely ridiculous.
But turns out, I loved it. Probably a little too much, cause now I dream about going back.
We went in one of the faster pitch cages, so he enjoy it. I think we made it up to nearly 80 miles per hour. And while I missed more than I hit…I think I got it.
I never liked playing baseball as a kid, probably because I sucked at it. But turns out, I’ve held the bat incorrectly my entire life. A few minor adjustments and some encouraging words and everything changed.
Those adages like Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Follow Thru, etc…yeah, I’ll admit they are all true.
I think a large part of my life has been spent in a bit of fear. I tried to play, didn’t really get it, was afraid to ask what I was doing wrong, was afraid to look foolish, and I missed an opportunity to not only just have fun, but maybe be pretty good at a sport. I didn’t want to look foolish in front of Chris, but turns out he was fine with that.
I put undue pressure on myself about something I knew nothing about…and all it took was a simple lowering of my shoulder and batting became very fun.
Now I wonder just how much of life I may have missed just because I didn’t want to have to learn.
I know better…and plan to go back to the cages this weekend.
Tags: batting cages, faith, fear, sports, trying new things
