Shredding the Slopes by Moonlight...Jahúú

About the only joy in my life right now is my snowboarding. Though I can never put other things entirely out of my mind, at least while I am riding I can (must) focus on something else, if only for a minute or two. I have found the slopes at Snoqualmie to be pretty rad, with great overall weaving opportunities and a few sketchy spots to test my (hopefully) improving skills. I plan on spending as much time as possible riding there on my trips over and back to Seattle, heck I am even getting pretty good. Monday night found me weaving down the run on Central Summit in a freezing rain, icy, pretty whack conditions, but managing to keep an edge and even throwing a sick move or two at it...I was pretty stoked and just kicking it. Of course, I did manage a few pretty gnarly bonks but kept throwing it down until they turned out the lights...it was like totally bitchin', dudes;-)

...and dudes, it is a GF cap, so I just KNOW that you love it too, right?;-)

*Sigh*

And Then They Were Gone

After an emotional and fun-filled week, Victoria and Jarrett flew out of Sea-Tac to day and headed home. I did enjoy their company, Victoria certainly has developed into the bright, pretty and charming daughter that every father wishes for and her beau Jarrett actually seems to be a nice guy (doggone it;-). I will miss Victoria's companionship and Jarrett's good humor, but it is now time to start putting my life back together and that I must do by myself. But, before they left, we wandered through downtown Seattle, managed to make some new friends in the form of four foreign visitors; David, Frank, Tomiaka and Jus; from Belgium, China, Japan and France, respectively.

These young men are visiting our country, heading for southern California, travelling and sleeping in a Chevy Van...too much fun. We met when they were in need of a tire being changed and kept crossing paths with them until we finally asked them to join us in a walk down to the waterfront and ate with them at Ivar's, Victoria's favorite place to eat in Seattle.

They are a bright group of young men enjoying life and we left wishing them well in their journey.

On our return stroll through downtown, we ran into an old acquaintance...a clever young man who entertained us on New Year's Eve at the Space Needle. We had another good laugh recalling his quick wit and good nature...it is often remarkable the way in which we make friends as we travel through this life, but always a wonderful experience:D

After a tearful good-bye, I watched as Victoria's plane departed and headed back home to face whatever tomorrow brings...

...it should prove to be an interesting New Year indeed.

Celebrating the New Year in Style

Victoria, Jarret and I decided to make the most of the opportunity to celebrate New Years and not anything dampen our holiday spirit. Besides, I had a promise to keep about having as much fun as I could in the new year and I always keep my promises...ALL of them;-) So, here is what we did...




So, who knows what the new year might bring, but if this is indeed to be the "Year of Togetherness" for those in love, then I suppose that there could be worse things...for all of us who are in love;-)

Gleðilegt Nýtt Ár

On this eve of another new year, one filled both with opportunity and uncertainty, I wish to offer to my friends and loved ones, wherever they may be, my passionate hope that at the dawning of 2007 we will find---

A renewed sense of hope and optimism for all of mankind, everywhere
That we all, no matter our differences, treat each other as brothers
And walk life's path hand-in-hand with our sisters.
That no child should ever again go to bed hungry
And that genocide, global-warming and pandemics are all just a bad dream
That all who know me will always think fondly of me,
And that no one, anywhere, should ever consider life to be so hopeless as to end it prematurely.
May we always find the time to take pause in our lives to stop and smell the roses,
That we never miss an opportunity to say to our loved ones, "I love you!",
And that we always, always, always, remember to hug our children and remind them that they are the reason that God smiles!
I can only hope that y'all have the opportunity to love life as much as it deserves to be,
That life is as kind to you as you deserve it to be,
And that you share your love with all those you hold dear and close in your heart.
May y'all enjoy the Happiest of New Years and know that all of my best wishes and love go out to you, no matter the distance between us,
For how hollow would our existance be indeed, if it were not for the love that we share!