17 February, 2006 (Friday)
Epilogue: Making it hard to say “No”
A few nights after Valentine’s night I received a new story from Tim, our favourite security guard with an extenda-baton: The story goes that, at the end of the night, three Australian gals were looking for a lift back to Snowpines Estate. Snowpines is a good 20 minutes walk down hill at the edge of the Ridge, well away from the village.
Tim initially gave them a very firm: "No way! You gals can walk.” But one offered to show him Jager-Nipple Shots. Tim thinks to himself, heck “I think I’ve seen just about everything”, and says: “I know what Jager is, but I’m not so sure on the Nipple Shots…”
Well, for a lift home the girls were quick off the mark. Each pulled out a pair of shot glasses from their pockets, flipped up their tops (no bras) and stuck the shot glasses over their nipples. Tim was surprised but added the trick to his list and of course gave them a lift home. Wouldn't want to risk chest colds.
Not sure who the girls were (yet), but apparently it occurred in front of a crowd of 20 people. There are sure to be witnesses!
Moving on from Valentine's Day
It's a Friday morning and the Gem is (as you'd expect) relatively quiet. Yes, there are people lingering around the Westridge Warming Hut (tm of Big White Ski Resort ), but that's as much a symptom of the fact that it's shelter in a basin of chill as the company that's on offer.
So i'm sitting here at my ticket station, typing away with numbed hands. I'm not a morning person, I'll be the first to admit. So my head is still a bit muzzy and my eyes feel like they're dark pits in a crater of fatigue. I'll also blame the 10pm finish last night (and then the subsequent 45 minute call home. I'm such a good son sometimes), but not the fact that I sat up in bed after 12 typing away some thoughts which had popped into my head just on the cusp of sleep. No, definitely not self inflicted. Never that.
The Westridge Warming Hut is all happening today, although the crew haven't been their usual talkative selves. I think I've exchanged maybe 5 words with either Jess or Lauren. Do I smell funny? (Not a trick question) So who's who in the zoo?
This season is passing fast, two months already down and not more than two to go. Yet despite my best intentions I seem to be getting side-tracked fairly regularly with the lure of snow, pub time and general bumming.
Still, the last week or two I seem to have started to hit some sort of compromise where I've been putting aside a little time for writing. It isn't a raging torrent (yet), but the flow has been steady and the quality is steadily improving (from my perspective anyway). The subconcious has also been churning away, I can feel it - thoughts of "where to from here" and "what direction should I head" have been bubbling and burning. No clear answers as yet, but I can feel that it isn't too far off. The shape is there, it's now a matter of clarity and detail.
I'm thinking that a roadtrip could be in the offing at the end of this season. It'll mean having to find a vehicle (which will mean I'm going to have to save a fair bit in the next two months), but it'll be worth it. Although I'm a little scared at the prospect of driving over here. I've got the 12-month overseas license thing, but driving on the wrong side of the road... not good.
I don't think I've been on a proper roadtrip, bar the annual Hotham expedition, before. For travel mates... That's where I'm going to have to start investing some thought. Jae seems to be lining up a trip to Toronto with family. Not sure on Josh, I'm getting the impression that his plans could change significantly over the next few months. Dave seems hell bent on heading up to Alaska. He might even have started lining up a pose to go with him. Sneaky bugger! So the plan is still to do the coast. I'm looking forward to some sun and beach time in Tofino. Seattle and San Fran should be nice, and then perhaps to Vegas (if Nick can make it that far!).
The edges of a plan, next step will be feasibility and basic logistics. Dates and places, rough budget, a basic route and a few landmarks to get me started. With another two or three people it should be a lot of fun. Looks like I've got some work cut out for me.
A few nights after Valentine’s night I received a new story from Tim, our favourite security guard with an extenda-baton: The story goes that, at the end of the night, three Australian gals were looking for a lift back to Snowpines Estate. Snowpines is a good 20 minutes walk down hill at the edge of the Ridge, well away from the village.
Tim initially gave them a very firm: "No way! You gals can walk.” But one offered to show him Jager-Nipple Shots. Tim thinks to himself, heck “I think I’ve seen just about everything”, and says: “I know what Jager is, but I’m not so sure on the Nipple Shots…”
Well, for a lift home the girls were quick off the mark. Each pulled out a pair of shot glasses from their pockets, flipped up their tops (no bras) and stuck the shot glasses over their nipples. Tim was surprised but added the trick to his list and of course gave them a lift home. Wouldn't want to risk chest colds.
Not sure who the girls were (yet), but apparently it occurred in front of a crowd of 20 people. There are sure to be witnesses!
Moving on from Valentine's Day
It's a Friday morning and the Gem is (as you'd expect) relatively quiet. Yes, there are people lingering around the Westridge Warming Hut (tm of Big White Ski Resort ), but that's as much a symptom of the fact that it's shelter in a basin of chill as the company that's on offer.
So i'm sitting here at my ticket station, typing away with numbed hands. I'm not a morning person, I'll be the first to admit. So my head is still a bit muzzy and my eyes feel like they're dark pits in a crater of fatigue. I'll also blame the 10pm finish last night (and then the subsequent 45 minute call home. I'm such a good son sometimes), but not the fact that I sat up in bed after 12 typing away some thoughts which had popped into my head just on the cusp of sleep. No, definitely not self inflicted. Never that.
The Westridge Warming Hut is all happening today, although the crew haven't been their usual talkative selves. I think I've exchanged maybe 5 words with either Jess or Lauren. Do I smell funny? (Not a trick question) So who's who in the zoo?
- There's Jess, who used to live with Tanya. She's from Melbourne (I think) and this is her second season in Canada. She's previously done a season at Silverstar with Kate (who's just headed to Ireland). Jess lives with her twin sister Emma - the resident masseusse on the mountain, her boyfriend Cam - who's currently enjoying a break from teaching activities, and the twins John and Mike. A household of twins! She also works nights at Raakel's. Jess previously worked as a teacher, but she loves the snow. I haven't seen her on the mountain yet, but apparently she and Em really carve it up.
- Then there's Alex, the Kiwi guy. He was telling me this morning that he comes from a background of fashion design where he was an assistant designer working 60 to 70 hours a week before coming over here. He's appreciating the break here, working 4 days to pay off his fashion addiction - 2 new jackets, pants and a pair of goggles last time he was in town. Ouch!
- And of course little blonde Lauren from Brisbane. She was due to leave pretty soon to meet up with her mother (at least that's her official version, but I hear...) and do a tour of Asia, but after a fall off her skis she begged out on account of a neck injury. The story is that she rang home with reports of a neckbrace and doctor's recommendations that she not travelin that condition... but she's been back on the slopes since.
She's a terror! I think she's staying the rest of the season now and deferring a semester of university. She's studying Business of some description. - Emily, her partner in crime is off today. She's the one currently seeing our neighbour from 306, the poet, Chris. Ah, romance in the snow. The sweet smell of new love post Valentine's Day.
It's beautiful. Just beautiful. (Picture: Chris and Emily - V-day)
This season is passing fast, two months already down and not more than two to go. Yet despite my best intentions I seem to be getting side-tracked fairly regularly with the lure of snow, pub time and general bumming.
Still, the last week or two I seem to have started to hit some sort of compromise where I've been putting aside a little time for writing. It isn't a raging torrent (yet), but the flow has been steady and the quality is steadily improving (from my perspective anyway). The subconcious has also been churning away, I can feel it - thoughts of "where to from here" and "what direction should I head" have been bubbling and burning. No clear answers as yet, but I can feel that it isn't too far off. The shape is there, it's now a matter of clarity and detail.
I'm thinking that a roadtrip could be in the offing at the end of this season. It'll mean having to find a vehicle (which will mean I'm going to have to save a fair bit in the next two months), but it'll be worth it. Although I'm a little scared at the prospect of driving over here. I've got the 12-month overseas license thing, but driving on the wrong side of the road... not good.
I don't think I've been on a proper roadtrip, bar the annual Hotham expedition, before. For travel mates... That's where I'm going to have to start investing some thought. Jae seems to be lining up a trip to Toronto with family. Not sure on Josh, I'm getting the impression that his plans could change significantly over the next few months. Dave seems hell bent on heading up to Alaska. He might even have started lining up a pose to go with him. Sneaky bugger! So the plan is still to do the coast. I'm looking forward to some sun and beach time in Tofino. Seattle and San Fran should be nice, and then perhaps to Vegas (if Nick can make it that far!).
The edges of a plan, next step will be feasibility and basic logistics. Dates and places, rough budget, a basic route and a few landmarks to get me started. With another two or three people it should be a lot of fun. Looks like I've got some work cut out for me.
posted by the wastrel @ 1:27 AM
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