Another day in paradise...and I might be an introvert...

I took the day off yesterday from work so that I could take a day for myself to go skiing.  I drove by myself, I skied by myself and the few times I had to ride up the lift with someone I only spoke enough to acknowledge their existence.  It was GLORIOUS!!!!!!!  I let my skies take me where they wanted I didn't plan each run and have to worry about meeting someone or leaving someone behind, I stopped to take pictures when I wanted I stopped for a quick snack when I wanted.  I didn't have to hear "I do it"  "mom do it" or "where's my __insert annoying item here"  I didn't have to pretend I was interested in hearing about every detail of someones day or their last fight with their so and so or their job.  So maybe it comes with old age or with becoming a mom I find myself feeling like I might be an introvert even though many years and tests have told me I'm an extrovert.

But most of all my body hurt at the end of the day in a good way and my heart felt like it might explode a few times but in a good way and even though I had to take some advil I found great peace in the snow capped trees and great pride in the limits I tested that day!  There is no greater silence than that of a ski run through the trees and as you pause for a minute to take it all in the only sound I heard was the soft powdery fall of some snow off a tree limb that just couldn't bare the weight any longer.  As I went down a run that felt a lot harder than the last time I took it aver 2 years ago and had to grunt with exertion as I prayed my legs would bring my skis around from one side of the mountain to the other then let out a whoohoo as I realized I was still standing and not face first in that boulder or tree I felt the heart pounding exhilaration that has always drawn me to the sport.

I hiked to the top of the highest peak they let you ski down and way off in the distance I could hear the beep beep of a construction truck backing up and I thought how great is it to be up here right now surrounded by nothing but nature and blinded by the snow.  I love my life and I am grateful that I have a job that allows me to live it and a life to come back home to that is so hectic and loving that it makes me appreciate these few moments I get alone.  On my drive back as I blasted music that I may normally be embarrassed

to play otherwise I smiled because I new my son would be waiting for me to give me a big hug and rush me off to "play with toys" and my dog would be jumping on me for attention and hubs would be trying to talk louder and louder so his story could be heard over my sons gleeful shouts.  So here's to my alone days that may be few and far between but glorious and make me appreciate the zoo that is my life otherwise.  For one day I didn't have an employee crying in my office or someone asking me where their paperwork was.

I have some pretty great news for my upcoming tri season and I just want to have everything in place before I talk about it but pretty soon skiing will be taking a back seat to some new training!

My favorite day of the year!

My favorite day of the year because I get to celebrate without feeling any guilt about being selfish! :-)   It also means there is usually a ski day somewhere around the corner because that's my favorite way to celebrate.  My son woke up at 1 am crying and wanting to be comforted and as I got out of bed my husband says "he just wanted to be the first to tell you happy birthday!"  :-)   I have great things coming my way with a new bike, signed up for a half iron distance in May (my first big event since my son being born a little over two years ago) and putting on a summer track meet!!!!  I was a little sad to have to come back to work after winter break because my son and I had such an awesome time hanging out together but I also feel lucky that I have a job that allows us to do the things we want and enjoy doing.  Actions, experiences and travel bring me way more joy than any material things ever could.  So yeah I have cabinets and light fixtures from the 70s in my house that could use some updating but right next to that I have a photo hanging of my husband's first marathon of the two of us running together and my son always says mom, dad, running and near that I have a photo of us being goofy hanging my son upside down and he laughs when he sees that. So I am looking forward to another year of fun experiences no matter how challenging it will be to get there!

I was hoping for a snow day to spend my birthday at home with my two favorite guys playing in the snow but we only got a dusting.  But I did come in to this:

Looking back on some old memories from this day on different years:

January 5, 2015 at 9:39am · My son's favorite place Explora!

 

January 5, 2013 at 1:45pm ·

At Popejoy about to see Rock of Ages with hubs!

Surprise Birthday Party! — in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  January 5, 2013

I have the most awesome husband, family and friends!!

January 5, 2012 at 10:36am ·This was only as far back as 2012?  Maybe I should revisit this haircut!

January 5, 2012 at 8:13am ·

I was so excited to read an e-mail this morning from a good friend to see that she said I was the one that inspired her to start running, that is such a good feeling and she is so talented I'm glad she became a runner!

 

January 5, 2011 at 8:23am ·Awww when Lexi was just a puppy:

1st day of puppy training classes yesterday learned all about clicker training. When we got back Lexi was in heaven with all the treats and thought we had been replaced by some nice strangers...
 

 

This is what I looked like in Jan 5, 2011: 

 

 

January 5, 2011 at 8:46pm ·Indoor Soccer

Scored a B-day goal!! We totally shoulda won that game!

January 5, 2010 at 6:30am ·Having Winter Break end right before your birthday:

Yesterday was brutal that's what is bad about taking time off but that's ok I only have a half day today!