First of all I would like apologize for my site being down
for the past couple of months. There was
a slight technical hitch that was a little over my head thus unfixable quickly
and thus the delay. I am back now and ready to be a blogging extraordinaire in
2011. It is hard to believe that 2010 has come and gone. It was a year with
such anticipation, excitment, highest of highs and lowest of lows, success and
defeats, growth and challenge; it was a year I will never forget. As for 2011, I am excited to see what it
brings me and the rest of the world.
I am back in school full time again at the University of
Calgary. This semester is a little less
intimidating as I have met some acquaintances and class buddies. I am learning
the lingo of “Uni” and trying not to date myself on a daily basis. I have
embraced being a mature student and decided to not take being asked if I am a
TA in a bad way!!
Being a student you get this amazing little break between
the two semesters and for the first time in probably 15 years I was able to
spend Christmas in Fernie and enjoy it to its fullest. There was no guilt for over eating and
drinking, the gym was a place that didn’t even cross my mind, I was able to
free ski without the worry I putting my ski career in jeopardy while ripping
around trees and over cliffs and I was able to be a fair weather weekend
warrior athlete. My Christmas was filled
with great friends and family who shared in the activities, traditions and
celebrations of the Brydon household. I kicked off the holiday celebrations
with the annual Christmas tree hunt with my Mom which involves snowshoeing in
the deep woods behind my house, my mother finding the “perfect” tree, my mad
hand saw skills be used to falling the tree and followed lastly but definitely
not least – the carrying of the tree back to the homestead. Just to clarify, the carrying action is done solely
by yours truly while the conductor took pictures, held the saw and tried to
stay on her own two feet. You are now
probably thinking that the worst of the adventure is done – well I beg to
differ. The next step is where my skill as a mathematician comes into
play. We needed to get a 17ft pine tree
through the door, around two 90 degree turns and vertical while keep all
chandeliers intact!! Our genius this
year was the stapling of the angel to the top of the tree before the final
hoist– we also managed to string two sets of lights!
Two epic days of cat skiing at Island Lake Lodge are up in
my top moments of 2010. The snow was
amazing the company even better and above and beyond all – it reminded me how
much I love to ski. My feet would beg to
differ as I am now suffering from 2 black toe nails! There is no better
combination than great friends, fresh powder, an amazing cat ski operation and
bluebird skies – Thank you Island Lake Lodge. My life has also changed with the
introduction of my “comfy” boots called Poisons and my fat “Shogun” Salomon’s;
they have changed my life!!
I also tried out my skating skills on the golf course pond –
let’s just say that it is a good thing I stuck to skiing. By the time we had
cleared off the snow, sketchy ice and hazardous speed bumps the sun was setting
and jack frost was coming out so the actually “skate time” was minimal although
a blast. I swallowed my pride one day
and attempted the feet of skate skiing.
I was the diesel burner sweating profusely and out of breath as my
friends ran by on snowshoes. When people recognized me I claimed that I was
Emily’s twin sister. It was at this point that I thanked my parents for putting
me in a gravity sport!!
New Years was celebrated at chez Brydon in front of a big
bonfire alongside friends and family! Snowshoeing, “bonfiring” and games filled
the evening. Just a side note – in the
game we played, it was the “cougars” versus the “geriatrics” and luckily then
cougars (that would be my age generation) held our own, although the geri’s put
up a valiant effort.
My Christmas was one the best that I can remember; a perfect
way to close out a year filled with so many lifelong memories. It lived up to
all my hopes, dreams and expectations of a perfect holiday season.
I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and welcomed the
New Year with flying colours!!
May all your dreams and goals for 2011 come true.
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