My Memory's Rendition of Gray

We've had a wet weekend here in Las Vegas. Rain poured non-stop all day Saturday, and rain clouds were scattered across the valley throughout Sunday. My neighborhood in the Northwest collected 0.30 inches, which is a significant amount for the desert valley. There were even reports of flooding in some areas. It appears that Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of six more weeks of winter may be fairly accurate. For most, this is cold and intolerable weather, but for me I really don't mind it. In fact, despite my endless desire to be on a tropical beach, the cool, damp cloudy weather is somewhat nostalgic, reminding me of San Francisco.

Mornings in the Bay almost always start under a blanket of gray, with just the peaks of skyscrapers and bridges poking out from under the fog. The air is an eerily calm and quiet mist. What is great about this image is that by late morning, the fog lifts to reveal a bustling, beautiful metropolis that is in full motion by this part of the day. The transition of post-rain desert isn't as idyllic as this, but it paints its own picture of tranquility nevertheless. In either case, both are impressions that I have delicately framed in my mind that I am sure I will again revisit on another gray day.

Image from SFBAYIMAGES.com

Shoo-shoo, Retarded Flu!

As we all know, it's not only holiday time, it is also the season of illness. As much as I've taken preventative measures throughout the year, I haven't been able to escape getting sick. I seem to have acquired a mild cold - my ears are plugged and my head is congested. Knowing that things could be much worse, and although I have also developed a bothersome cough, I am thankful for the absence of nasal secretions and overall body aches (knocking on wood).

Typically, I would be popping the nearest over-the-counter pills or using some medicinal ointment at the first sign of illness, but this time I didn't. What we know as the common cold is really our bodies' reaction to viruses that our system is attempting to expel. So if I'm coughing uncontrollably or my nose is dripping profusely, it's really my body productively attempting to rid the invaders. I've decided to allow my sickness to take its natural course and stick with good old fashioned eating right, drinking fluids, and rest, rest, rest. This regimen is rather difficult for me, since I am a person who is constantly on the go, but I'd prefer to take a more "holistic" approach and just deal with it. Besides, if my illness gets to an intolerable point, I always have shooting whiskey to fall back on - and I won't have to worry whether it will interfere with the effectiveness of so-called medicines that I would otherwise be taking.

Let The Snowboarding Begin!

I've been excited to get back on a snowboard since I got a taste of the sport last winter season, and I finally got the chance to do so today.

Following days and days of snow storms, Brian Head Resort in Utah was the perfect venue to start off the snowboard season. Four of my friends and I left Las Vegas at 5:30am for the 3-hour drive, in order to reach the snow park promptly at its opening time. We spent nearly the whole day there, to the point of exhaustion!

The end of last snow season was spent with a climactic 3-day trip to Lake Tahoe for an entire weekend of snowboarding. The itinerary covered Heavenly Ski Resort on Day 1, Kirkwood on Day 2, and Northstar on Day 3. It was an extraordinary weekend getaway, with many memorable moments and just a lot of fun.

Since then, I've been plagued with snow dreams, just eager to tackle the slopes. Ironically, I am not a fan of winter, nor do I care for cold weather or snow. However, snowboarding has become something of a hobby of mine now. Although I can't say I am skilled at it, I enjoy it immensely. I would encourage everyone to give it a try.

Never Too Sick To Snowboard

It's my second snowboarding season, and I've decided to take some vacation days here and there during the work week to get some all-day snowboarding practice in. Yes, that means I will be playing hooky during the snow season. Fortunately, I have a boss who is completely understanding of my newest addiction, and is totally open to me taking off to play in the snow - as long as I don't have any critical deadlines to meet and there is someone to cover for me in the office.

I told the bossman that I will be using some of my many vacation days accumulated over the past year. "No calling in sick," I told him. "I'll just give you a few days notice." He teased that I might as well feign a cough when notifying him.

More often than not, I call into work when I am severely hungover or incapacitated/disoriented from illness that would keep me in bed all day. However, I have managed to come into work on occasion slightly hungover or sick, while still able to function. Some of my friends have come into work still drunk from the previous night's festivities - they're brave and obviously far more skilled as drinkers than I.

Anyway, I suck when it comes to faking sick when I have to tell a boss I'm not going to be in the office, when in fact I am on my way to the ski resort for a day of fun. My conscience becomes far too guilt-ridden with a lie like that. And besides, if I were to call in sick then show up to work with snow burn or a snowboarding injury, I'd have to create another lie to cover for it! Clearly, that's a bad cycle I'd rather not get into.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Living in Las Vegas means extreme desert heat in the summer, and that should be it. Not the case. Right now the temperature is 39 degrees Fahrenheit, with winter weather advisories in effect. Tomorrow's forecast calls for snow. Snow!

I remember one morning 4 or 5 years ago, I had to report to work at 5am, and was astounded to find myself in a different world when I opened the door to leave the house. Overnight, we must have had several inches of snowfall. It was the most beautiful, wondrous sight I have seen in Las Vegas. I recall the stillness in the air, the crisp coldness, and the crunching of snow as I took several steps toward my car.

Panic set in as I struggled to brush the thick layer of snow off of my windows. I have lived my entire life on the west coast, and never had I experienced snow like this. Once I managed to de-ice my car windows, driving wasn't any less difficult. The roads were empty and the snow was fresh, so the streets were completely covered in white powder. I couldn't tell where the lanes separated, and so I must have driven 15 mph in my confusion. Fortunately, a mile into my drive, a news van showed up on the road. I was comforted in the fact that I could follow his tire tracks through the snow.

I eventually made it to work, but was completely distracted throughout the day as snow continued to fall and I was able to watch it all from my office window. It was such an incredible day to witness, but I don't know if I can ever deal with commuting through such conditions again. Despite all of that, I am truly a wimp when it comes to the cold. Once the temperature drops below 60 degrees, I'm geared up like I live in Antartica. Fortunately, Vegas winters pass in a blink of an eye, so I should be fine.