12 April, 2006 (Wednesday)

Stupid online updates
I'm pissed off. Riled. Very annoyed. I just spent the last 3 hours writing up a half-dozen updates to stick on here, re-logged into my Yahoo mail, but when I clicked update on the Notepad I lost it all. 3 hours work - gone. I couldn't even hit the back button to retrieve it like you sometimes can with email. So all that pithy prose and hand crafted description is gone, and with it my patience to write it all up again. Guess that's a lesson that I should be using notepad or wordpad before pulling it over, but I got lazy and now I've had enough. Dammit! I think I'll just go for a walk and kick something. (Picture: Ridge Daylodge - our little ticket office out back)


Cute blondes and cattle prods
Sarah is working here at the Ridge today. She's the cook at the little cafe here. We go way back. I've known her since my first night at the beginning of the season, back when she used to work at Sam's as a waitress. About mid-season she was fired, something about drinking on the job and losing a whole lot of alcohol. Whatever the case, she's always been friendly, all chipmunk grin and dirty blonde hair.

We chatted, as we do when I'm at the Ridge and she's at the cafe - travelling plans and evenings out. I got me a cheese burger. Five minutes after returning to my little ticket cubicle I hear girl screams and the pounding of running feet. She bursts out the back door, the cook (Steven) in fast pursuit. Sarah comes over to throw me some cookies in a brown paper bag, and then she's off yowling. The cook is after her again with what looks like a cattle prod. Some way to keep yourself entertained on a quiet afternoon. I wonder what other toys are behind the counter? (Picture: My ticket shelf - watch the coffee)


Big White Idol
Big White Idol is a highlight of the mountain events calendar. It's held every Wednesday @ Happy Valley, and brings out all the closet karaoke singers. Tonight Precious and Lauren entered. It was a cack.

At first I didn't recognise either of the gals. They were dressed as Sonny and Cher. Lauren had a black wig and long sparkly blue dress, while Precious had on bad flares, pimp glasses and a dirty moustache and sideburns. She looked like a dirty little man. Everytime I saw her that evening I had to do a double take. Crazy. (Picture: Double-take!)

They were first up and had choreographed their song "I've got you babe". Unfortunately neither of the gals could actually sing. Nevertheless the crowd went nuts and the two crooned their parts passionately. The rest of the acts were pre-pubescent kids and staff. Vittorio put on a rowsing version of Mack the Knife. Sean got up and sang (he confided to me later that he even provided his own music). Cassey complimented him on his snow boots... and apparently it was Sean's birthday on Monday, but he didn't tell anybody. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN! (Picture: Sonny and Cher on stage)

At the end of the event winners were announced. By popular acclaim Sean got runner up, scoring a MP3 player. Precious and Lauren came in third. They screamed that the judging was rigged.

Afterwards it was back to the Ptarmigan for a glass or two of wine before making it to Sam's for the Sammy Awards. The awards were as expected - rigged. Winners were more aligned to Sam's staff nominations than anything else. It was a farce, but everybody was still drinking. Pa-ching for Sam's! (Picture: Anthony and Gabbi @ Sam's)

Sean got re-acquainted with Cassey and gave her a proper thank you for her judging efforts earlier in the night. Somehow or other I ended up running around taking random pictures and later on the dance floor. It is official - I have no moves.