Fun and Games!

Life continues to be full of fun and games here in Jackson Hole!

The College Bowl games are finally over, not that I didn't enjoy watching them 24/7 (ha) - Barry LOVES that he can ski all day and tape all the football games and come home and watch them all night! We were thrilled to watch TCU end up undefeated, Rose Bowl Champions, and ranked #2 in the AP Poll...GO FROGS! Now it is on to Pro football play-offs and College basketball - doesn't seem like I will get much time for viewing "Live to Dance" or "Parenthood" anytime soon.

There were lots of fun and games going on in Kansas City yesterday as my Mom celebrated her 75th Birthday! As most of you would agree, she is one of the youngest 75 year-olds around! Need some proof? She won an I-Pad at work for having the highest sales volume - she's a ringer. And my brother got her a Wii Fit for her birthday since she had so much fun playing with his kids in Florida over Christmas. So my Mom is one cool and in touch Grandma sporting her new I-Pad and Wii! Hope you had a HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! See you next week to continue the celebration in Texas.

Closer to home, we have had some exciting fun and games happening in Jackson Hole:

Nachtspektakel - it is difficult to pronounce, but "easy to do" (according to locals). Jackson Hole celebrated its first Nachtspektakel last week. It is a "night spectacle" ski tour, an age-old European tradition made popular in Germany where skiers can eat, drink and ski. Sounded like all the makings for a fun evening...and you know me, anything that I can do to become more "local" is on my list! The fee was only $20 and it included drinks and appetizers, as well as demo skis from Dynafit...what a great deal! The problem arose when I read on further and they noted that "participants will 'skin' up to Casper Lodge starting at 5:30." Okay, I can eat and drink and ski, but I don't "skin" (unless of course they were talking about bacon and cheese potato skins). I learned that skins are something that you put on your skis so that you can hike UP the mountain to the Casper Lodge (conveniently located about 3/4 of the way up the mountain) for drinks and light fare. They then went on to promote the evening as follows, "the event will culminate with a group descent at 8:00 pm lit by headlamps." Okay, a few more obstacles - first, I surely would still be trying to "skin" up the mountain at 8:00 pm; secondly I don't have (nor do I have it on my wish list at Nordstrom)  a headlamp! So needless to say, we did not participate in Jackson Hole's inaugural Nachtspektakel. I believe I am going to seek out the parties that are "bring your favorite appetizer to share" or "BYOB!"

Enjoying Nachtspektakel!

US Ski Mountaineering National Championships - Since we are on the theme of climbing UP the mountain, I might as well report on the US Ski Mountaineering National Championships that were held in Jackson Hole last weekend. This event includes a small group of U.S. athletes who start at the bottom of the mountain with skis on their feet (using skins of course), climb mountains, ski them, then repeat the climb several times with varying courses and elements in what you are climbing up and skiing down. This feat is performed as fast as they possibly can (and not even drinks and food for them along the way at the Casper Lodge)! For the lesser of us, there are chairlifts. These athletes scoff at the idea, "you big sissies," they comment. By the time that Barry and I arrived at the mountain to ski our groomed blue runs (via chairlift) on Saturday, these athletes were already home resting for stage two of their competition on Sunday at Grand Targhee Resort. These are what I consider "Mountain Athletes!"

U.S. Ski Mountaineering National Championship - Jackson Hole

Do Moose Play Hockey?

In Jackson Hole they do...last night we went to the Jackson Hole Moose Hockey Club's game against the New York St. Nicks. The Moose compete nationwide in the highest level of USA Hockey's governing board - the Senior Elite Division. Unfortunately we did not win, but it was a fun evening of priced-right entertainment (admission only $8...cheaper than a movie), and the club has a good message:

Melody Ranch Hockey - We also have a neighborhood outdoor Hockey Rink right down the street from our house! This is actually our pond near the walking path, which has frozen  just in time to  let the neighborhood kids and Dad's have regular matches. So, our hockey playing friends (Jeff P.), be sure to pack your skates when you come out to visit!

Melody Ranch Hockey

Moose be fun to live in Melody Ranch - Our resident Melody Ranch Cow Moose and her calf continue to "hang out and play" in the neighborhood. They have really made Melody Ranch "home." It is amazing to watch them just relax in our yards and munch on all of our trees and bushes. Last weekend the Cow Moose was literally standing on our front porch, with her behind in our window, eating our bush near the front door! They discourage people from disrupting the wildlife - if they are in your driveway, you should just call in late to work etc. And if they eat all of your landscaping, you should just replant next spring. We are here to co-exist!

The Cow resting outside our neighbor's
house after eating their apple tree!



Captured this picture from Ashley's bedroom window.
These are our neighbors in the back!
Bet the moose wants to jump on the trampoline!

Not so fun....American Airlines Plane has a "runway excursion." It is funny to me that they create terminology to make things seem "minor."

Crews work to dig out an American Airlines 757 airplane that slid more than 650 feet off the end of the runway after landing at Jackson Hole Airport in early January. The pilot told passengers the brakes on the jet did not work (really??). Luckily nobody was hurt.

Now erase that last picture from your memory, and come on out for some fun and games!