Checking In 03.26.2012

Saturday was pretty interesting. We rounded the troops to take off at 7:30. We were a little late to get ready so LMP & Co. went to a nearby Starbucks to get coffee. We met them up there, then took off for the mountain. We stopped in Enumclaw for gas, and they went in the store to get comfortable.

Up on the mountain, it took forever and a day to get going. I always take a long time to get ready because when it comes to these things I just plod through taking my time so I don’t forget anything. We talked on the way up and were going to get a locker to be able to hike up in our casual shoes and not go on that same hike in ski boots. The others didn’t take part in this and we were to meet them up at the lodge area at the base of the runs.

Once they paid for their passes, the friend had to get new gloves because LMP’s spares weren’t good enough. We didn’t start skiing until after 10:30.

I have to admit it was super awkward at first. GAries was taking a long time to get her gloves on (messing with her hair/beenie/helmet) and so all of us took off to get our click into our skiis and get on the lift. There was definitely a divide the whole time, especially early. On the ski lift there wasn’t much talking, but the friend had talked about skiing in New England the weekend before and how vastly different it was even without going down a slope. I was a little jittery on the first run. I don’t know how everyone else was feeling. GAries also lagged behind all day on the slope as she never really tucked in her poles and went fast down a slope. She has been snowboarding/skiing much more than LG or myself have been.

After a couple of runs, the friend and LMP took off to the upper slopes that are all black diamonds or higher. This left GAries with the 3 of us and I think that was fine – and something I was expected.

Then lunch came and went… I had probably the worst bratwurst ever. It had a maple flavor and then the sauerkraut had garlic in it as well.

After lunch, GAries did one short Blue Run with me as Twin tried a different Blue run that I would go down two times later. GAries didn’t go on another blue run after that, but LG and I went down the one Twin just did and that was a lot of fun. LG said it was intense. After that run Twin had just about enough after riding 50 miles on her bike Friday and retired to the lodge. The 3 of us (GAries, LG and myself) put in one long run. They went down the green slopes and I went down the blue again. LMP and his friend had disappeared after lunch and we never saw them on the slopes again.

What was also weird, was that they never said "bye." They were just always following us and on the last leg of the drive home we lost them and they never turned up again. Obviously there should’ve been more communication as to what was next after skiing. It might be the fact we never saw LMP and his friend after lunch. I really don’t know, but text messaged LMP after getting home to say bye and summarize the day and that we’d see them again soon. Had I not done that, we probably wouldn’t have heard from them again until the next time they might want to hang out.

Talking last night, Twin believes GAries has some real self-esteem issues despite being the "baby" in her family and what not. That’s probably a pretty good assessment with my reasoning being that if she’s going to be in a relationship with LMP who belittles her ability to be an adult then there is a self-esteem issue. In all of the car rides, LMP drove and the friend sat in the Passenger’s seat and GAries in the back. GAries was also pretty quiet, but it sounds like her and Twin talked a fair bit at lunch while LG and I were getting food.

I had a great time. I’m definitely more confident in my skills. However, I’m anxious for the next time Twin and I go skiing so we can do what we do best despite what vehicle we’re using – having fun, letting loose and experiencing something together equally.