Category Archives: Park City, Utah

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Park City: Home?

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MK sent me last week to Park City to look at some houses. Mostly everyone thought this was crazy, but I took a lot of pictures, and yes, he would trust me enough to buy a place that I loved without him seeing it. At least I thought so – so far no place…even though JM showed me more than enough – I’m in love with two houses and three condos!

Anyway, TB picked me up and we house hunted for two whole days, hung out in the cool mountain air, checked out downtown and the Deer Valley Resort, which was breathtaking in the summer! I loved seeing everyone out hiking and biking. I had a wonderful time with my lovely hosts. I got to eat at my favorite place, Davanza’s. SB even told me she didn’t want me to leave, and that MK and I needed to hurry up and be done at the beach.

Here are some pictures!

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Better Or Worse?

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When we were chillin’ chilly style up in Utah, I mentioned (more than once, I think, but only found this time) the crazy liquor laws. And it went beyond that. Not being able to drink on election day. Really NEEDING a drink one night and not being able to get one. Inviting guests and forcing them to BYOB (BTOB, I guess).

So I’m in CVS yesterday, and I’m realizing California is basically the polar opposite. You have to gamble to get this much booze thrown at you. It’s everywhere. You can buy huge crazy bottles of anything you want at the grocery store. At CVS. I noticed it in particular because the CVS advertises so crazy. CVS just took over Long’s drug stores out here. They had no awnings. CVS put these awnings up “Liquor”, “Photos”, “Liquor”, “Pharmacy”, “Liquor”. All around the building. So if you’re visiting from a normal state that doesn’t sell booze EVERYWHERE – you know you don’t have to go to A LIQUOR STORE, you just go to CVS. Makeup, check. Toothpaste, check. Handle of rum, check. And it’s Sunday. At midnight.

So, is it better or worse? I should think it’s awesome after going virtually dry right? I can always throw a cocktail party. But for some reason I think it’s totally crazy. Some WalMart’s have better wine steals than BevMo. And of course I have to hit up Trader Joe’s for the Two Buck Chuck. It was almost easier in Utah, where everything was in one place. You knew what your choices were and you dealt with it. Here we’re running around price comparing things. Don’t even get me started on the CostCo giant sized bottles of Vodka in my kitchen right now (I’ve lost count). It’s crazy. Are they trying to keep us so drunk we don’t notice how broke the state is…?

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Going Back to Cali, Cali, Cali

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It wasn’t easy to get in the car and go. We had to wait for the property manager and say tear filled goodbyes. We finally got on the road at about 6pm. Utah was mad at us for leaving, so it rained most of the way through the state. You can only go about 55-60mph with a giant U-Haul trailer behind you, so it was slow going. MK drove the first three hours, then slept while I took over, back and forth until he woke me up and the sun was shining over Pacific Beach at around 9am.

There aren’t any exciting road trip pictures, we’ve made that drive so much it felt like a commute. The traffic at 2am on Friday in Vegas was crazy, but I survived it. Other than that and a little wind, it was an easy drive. We had breakfast and got our keys.

Immediately walking in the front door of our complex, you need a key to a gate. Then you need a fob to the elevator. Then another key. And there are stairs, so we couldn’t go in and out the front to unload our things. So we had to park the U-Haul out front, unpack the car in the garage, then bring those things up the elevator to the condo. Then you go take the car out and reload it. It was a rather inefficient system, since someone had to guard the U-Haul. We finished at around 2. We ran some errands and took a nap, since neither of us really slept that much on the drive.

I got to go see KE – which was awesome Number One because she’s doing well and Number Two, seriously our house is close enough to Garnet (where the bars are) that once I get my bike we won’t have to drive! Or we can take a cheap cab. Score.

I’m not taking pictures of the condo, it’s not that exciting. It’s a 2BR/2BA with a huge kitchen and dining room so it doesn’t feel as small as I was afraid it would. Plenty of room for company!

Sunday morning we went to the La Jolla Farmer’s Market. That might be my favorite thing on the planet – this time we even got a ton of fruit and veggies:

Delicious!

Delicious!

After the obligatory stocking up trip to Costco, we met some friends for drinks at San Diego’s first bar, The Waterfront – which is not on the water front. We watched the the Sea World fireworks from our pool last night. We got a great night’s rest and MK got his computers up and running in time for work. He’s unpacking his things now, I’m already done. I win.

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Fun While It Lasted

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We went out for a few runs yesterday, but it was just too warm. Skiing on warm snow is akin to a bagel in a small toaster – you’re trying to make it work but it’s fighting you. Okay, that wasn’t really funny, but I’m trying to cheer myself up here. Skiing for the winter is essentially over. We’re going to try to stop out there Saturday, and the resort closes on Sunday.

I know some of you (CH!) couldn’t be more happy to not have to hear about skiing for a while – but I don’t think I overdid it. I told you about the company and the good times. I told you about me getting better. It’s been a crazy fun six months, as always it just flew by. I’m going to miss the B’s, SB is the cutest thing I know.

I’m happy and sad to be going. We have two weeks to pack. I hate packing. I’m pretty sure my laundry room is in my living room – going to an apartment from this monster house is going to be a new and tough adjustment. MK is going to love being on the beach, I’m glad for that. And hopefully the B’s will plan a visit so I don’t get too sad missing them.

Who else is coming? 🙂

sunset on Mission Bay

sunset on Mission Bay

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Ski Weekend

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Where were you all weekend? I was at Deer Valley – looking for my feet.

weekend

have you seen a pair of skis around here?

It was hard to get a good shot, but there were spots the powder was up to my knees. MK taught me the ‘right’ way to get through this much snow and I had a blast, skiing more on Friday and Saturday that any other days out here, tons of runs, lots of new things. With a straight week of snow storms I’m sort of in denial – it can’t be spring, we can’t be leaving, it just got fun, I just got better…

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Vacation, Continued

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As I mentioned Monday, MK called me up and asked if he could drive to San Diego, and change my flight to meet him there. I had an awesome lazy Sunday shopping with SB, enjoying the sun at Cedar Door with SB KD and JC, and saying goodbye to JC KD and LC over some drinks. I slept in Monday and caught an afternoon flight.

MK decided he wanted to move back to San Diego (I’m not even making a formal announcement this time, what’s the point). You can click here and see all of our moves, and reminisce over where we’ve been. I’m sure there are other places we could try – remember that I asked you here to give us some suggestions.

MK really loved the water and the vibe of San Diego, it’s everything we love about Austin without allergies and heatstroke. We’ve secured a place, that’s why we went – on the bay (Mission Bay, Sail Bay to be specific.)

There are a ton of reasons I’m happy about this. One, our friends threw us a come back soon party to remind us that we met some great people when we lived there, that actually want us to come back. Two, I’m gonna get a beach cruiser. I get in good shape, and get tan. There were friends that didn’t get to visit that I hope will this time around. I might some day have family there…

We stayed with friends and had a great time. We drove back and were planning on hitting a bunch of National Parks and the Grand Canyon, but the thing isn’t even open yet. So we settled for Zion National Park and headed home – on word a huge spring storm was going to give us a little more time to ski.

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Dumb And Dumber

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Was filmed in Park City, I understand. My own version of dumb and dumber is skiing beyond my ability, listening to the three that surpass me (BB, TB, MK) and throwing myself repeatedly down many black and double blue runs. I mean, I can do all that now, I know what I’m doing, I know the right way to ski. It clicked, finally. But I knew beforehand that the right way was the way that hurt most, even though it should be easier, because of my crappy knees. So don’t tell my insurance I have a blog, ok? I’m putting off the doctor visit, but I managed to dislocate my knee (dumb) and then SKI the rest of a great day (dumber) on it. There was no way I couldn’t. It was too fun.

So now I can’t feel most of a leg. But I kinda feel badass. Ski season is fast approaching its end and I need to go out with a bang. It might be a bang and a cast, but that’s better than regret. Maybe it’s the sunshine or the new vitamins or even that idea that I can really be happy here, but I am not going to be a quitter. A time-outer, yes. But not a quitter. I’m going to try and get in as many good days as I can this last month we’re here.

As always with our transitions and and adventures our time here has flown by. Thanks to the love and support of my unrelenting therapist TB, I’m well enough again to live large and enjoy the time we have left.

ski therapy

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Going Out With A Bang

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There was a lot of funniness crammed into three days with this group we just had. The pre-visit entry was supposed to give you some idea. Then they get here and it’s a whirlwind and they’re gone and I’m still recovering. There aren’t that many stories to relate that wouldn’t include you wondering why we were laughing so hard. Those you had to be there kinds. If I quip “It’s kind of like eating a banana with a spoon” or “She’s the kind of girl that would floss her teeth with her hair” laugh with me even though there’s no context…

SF showed up with Freebirds. As you heard. That blew my mind and was pretty freaking awesomely thoughtful. You know how much we miss our Texas food. Actually, maybe you don’t. Even she seemed surprised how excited we were.

Yum!

Yum!

Everyone else showed up with gifts too! We got a handle of Titos and some Cedar Door mexican martini mix. It was late Thursday when they all got in so we passed out after meeting. We got up relatively (5 girls remember) early, hit Starbucks and bombarded the rental place in a flurry of pigtails and ribbons and silly name tags. Oh and monkey stickers. They were so not prepared.

Time to ski!

Time to ski!

Neither was the mountain! SF KB and CP had all never skied before. My input was worthless but with the tireless help of MK, TB and JH they kinda got the concept, and quickly. We took them up to the greens where I kept up with CP and TB was with KB and MK apparently threw SF into a tree and knocked her out or something. Typing that confused me!

The Rookies

The Rookies

We headed up to Silver Lake Lodge at 1:30 and met up with JV and his father and friend Brian. I love love love big groups and felt so great up there with (almost – long story) everyone talking and laughing and having good times. Even the broken headed SF couldn’t quit and we made it all the way to the top and back down to end the day.

Almost Everyone, JV took the pic.

Almost Everyone, JV took the pic.

Getting to ski with JV was great and we all were happy after a long day to come home to beers and the hot tub. SF and I went to go get dinner fixings…and the power went out. Such is my life. We all drove to the super crowded Main Street and ate all our weights times two in pizza wings and fry sauce. We played Cranium by the light of the fire and the headlamps of B and JV, the resident pilots. The power came on just in time for bed.

Davanza's Rules!

Davanza's Rules!

The boys left early and we got back to the mountain. Much fun and aches were had by all.

Day Two

Day Two

All the girls

All the girls

We got a little silly and took CP down a blue, and I also skied through MK’s legs which I’m pretty proud of but decided the pictures don’t look like what they are supposed to reflect and are therefore confusing and inappropriate…

I cooked that dinner the power previously prevented and TB brought over the free entertainment, aka SB, to amuse us all. MK survived 7 girls in the house at once. SF KB and CP left Sunday morning. TB JH and I shopped and ate out Sunday and she left Monday morning. JH got me a great thank you hat gift.

Our company is all over and I’m a little sad. I am just so thankful to all my friends that visited my mountains (LOL) and kept me happy and busy. Thank you ALL for coming. You are the greatest friends a girl could have!

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Park City Mountain Resort

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We have company this weekend that snowboards. MK had taken care of NN and ND in my absence so this was my first trip this year to a resort other than Deer Valley. (DV doesn’t do snowboards). The main problem I had with Park City resort is that they don’t limit their ticket sales. There is no “sold out” point. It was amazingly crowded. We couldn’t find parking. On the mountain no matter what your level of ability, you got to harrowing spots. The pit stops for food were packed. The bathrooms were dirty.

I’m not going to preach too much about etiquette and skiing vs. snowboarding. The evidence speaks for itself…and to be fair there were some crazy skiers out there too. I got pretty worn out looking out for people that were supposed to be looking out for me – that’s why I got better at skiing in the first place- and trying a new strange mountain. I hope tomorrow is a little calmer. Seriously it was a strong reminder that we are so spoiled at Deer Valley and will continue to appreciate that.

Otherwise we had a lot of fun. We weren’t happy to see KG get hurt, but did enjoy the Celtics game. We made new friends and found an interesting new bar. Keeping busy is always fun but I’m headed to a lazy dinner and night in with a movie – unless my eyes don’t cooperate, a distinct possibility.

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Appreciating Your Understanding

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Man, I miss you guys! This intermittent blogging is just not working for me! I’m not even sure what’s going on or what to tell you about. We’re sending the computer in so that’s the good news, mainly that it’s not my fault and will get fixed apparently under warranty. Bad news is I’m going to be begging for blogging during SXSW! That’s right folks, finally after much drama my flight is (correctly) booked and I’m off. I was nervous MK wasn’t going to send me but I convinced him getting away will be good for me. SB and others will be there and that has me super excited that this year will be the best yet. The party invites are already rolling in. The band list looks great, as always.

Hopefully KD will put up with my chronicling our adventures this year for posterity from her gear since I’ll be empty handed. Or maybe even JC’s iPhone would do the trick – Apple had a WordPress application that Blackberry doesn’t. Boo. If nothing else, know that I’ll take a ton of pictures and good notes!

In other quick blurt update kinda news we had a ton of snow this week. I still end up last all the time but have to admit I impressed myself – if no one else- this week by learning a lot about how to ski when you can’t see your skis.The pictures don’t do the snow of the crazy new runs justice. I almost want to get myself the shirt ASH liked, “Sometimes I amaze even myself!”

powder lotsa snow new run tb in powder me ski

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