Fear cannot be without some hope, nor hope without some fear. - Baruch Spinoza

Easy run today, then plyometrics for strength, explosiveness, and balance to aide in skiing skills.  e-cises for heel.

Again, I have used up most of my allocated days for work.  Making progress and getting the hours in, but again I have not reached the work goals I set. 

Tomorrow luncheon technical presentation at the professional society.  Thursday AM - presentation to upper management on the project I've been working.  Today I was supposed to be on to another project, but have not gotten there.

I feel good about the research and testing I did yesterday on the project I'm working.  Probably should have done some of that type of testing before, but this is the first time I really needed it.  Interesting results - in a geeky geophysical sort of way.

I might be the most patient guy you've ever met.  Had a new hot water heater installed in November.  In December smelled gas.  shut off the gas and called the plumber who installed it.  I've been calling him on and off for four months now.  He's called back twice, once to say he was on his way over.  did he ever show?  So now, I'm about out of patience.  I'm going to call daily for a week.  Then I'm calling BBB, and who ever licenses plumbers, and the city, and anyone else I can think to call.

Love is the "affirmation of affirmations"; it enlarges the vision, expands the heart.  - Wilferd Peterson

The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in it's result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community.  - Albert Einstein

Washed my car and waxed the rear half yesterday.  Huge thunderstorms last night!  We need the moisture and the car was garaged anyway. Just saying that every time I wash my car it rains.  Perhaps I should wash it more often.

So I suppose I'm officially freeking out about the ski exam.  Last night the thunderstorm lasted at least a couple of hours.  Every time the thunder woke me I was making the second turn of one of the exam runs.  Again and again.

I'm in town till Thursday of this week then another four days of training.  I cannot believe the ski season is almost over.  One more training trip, then the exam weekend.  If I don't pass, I go to Vail two weeks after that.  It's a 14 hour drive.  I love to go ski there, but am not excited about the drive, or the time it will require me to be off work.

Attempted to do the e-cises yesterday after riding and lifting.  Hip flexor cramping prevented one of them, and left foot cramping prevented one of the other. 

Rest day today.  Tomorrow plyometrics, and perhaps a short run.  Foot still quite sore.

Core today because I got up too late to go ride and still make it to the office.  So instead I spent the better part of an hour on core, now for a little run.  Running is my weakness, and I need to start being much more consistant - especially with short runs.

I'm so excited that I felt strong today.  Still fighting cold sore virus.  Man, when I overdo - especially with the driving and lack of sleep - it really knocks me for a loop for several days.  Here it is Saturday and I'm still recovering from last weekend.  I've got to be more diciplined about rest on the long weekend trips.  Got to be.  Today I see that I would have been much better off staying in Ruidoso last Sunday night, sleeping in on Monday, and blowing off work on that day.  Instead I've missed at least four 1/2 days because of sleeping and generally being wimpy.

today: work, change  oil, laundry.

Today a cleaning bug hit me while exercising in the living room.  I finally threw out my bride and groom champagne glasses, which have been sitting on my mantle for over a year.  Kind of sad.  Silly.  Same old refrain - it takes time to get over a long term relationship.

Try not to go through life so fast that someone has to hit you with a brick to get your attention. - unknown

Perhaps I've been pushing too hard.  On the other hand maybe the message implies that one ought to keep one's eyes open. --and heart.

I'll think on that.

16 days till the exam.  One more training trip, then the trip to take the exam.  Think I'll go up two days early, and treat it much like the days before a big race.  Train just a little bit to keep sharp, but rest a lot.  That will be difficult because I love skiing at this time of year when the snow is good and the weather is beautiful.

Lots of work to do - and that 's a good thing as a consultant.  My daughter has been in three days this week and I've enjoyed her company and she's really good at the job.  And she works hard.

Got another cold sore. Arg!  On that last trip I broke some of the 'rules' I've developed for those kind of trips.  Got to stay ahead of the sleep issue while traveling.  Skiing four days and driving over 1,000 miles in four and a half days is a bit of a trick. 

In the stupid debate about whether health care should pay for contraception, this poster sort of sums up my thoughts:

I had planned to go swim this morning.  could have run, but I'm trying to stay true to my 1st goal and that is the skiing.  Plyometrics are the best work out I could do in the time I had for the ski goal. 

Wish I had four or five hours a day to work out.  I'm not sure what's the deal with sleeping 9 to 10 hours a night.

The Divine does not like to be shut up in a building.  The Divine likes to be out in the open.  It is right here in this very body.   Each one of us is a miniature universe, a living shrine. – Morihei Ueshiba

Most children come to the planet with a sense of awareness and excitement for life.  They are playful and have a deep desire to explore everything.  They are incredible examples of awe-inspiring living.  Then, life happens and they become more cautious.  Often, it is because their parents want to protect them and seeds of doubt are planted.  I am not saying that we should not guide our children, but I am saying that sometimes that guidance disconnects us from an innate knowing of oneness.

Here is what I know.  You are a unique expression.  You are gifted in ways that no other person on this planet has been gifted.  Your presence has already touched the lives of many people, and some have been changed because you exist.  You are connected to the Universe and there is support all around you.  Take some time today and activate the childlike enthusiasm for life.  Take it into your day and witness the contagious nature of your joy.  – Cynthia James

I've seen this in my own children.  So now I try to be curious and joyful, and excited about life.  I'm trying to cram in as much living as possible, because I sure don't know when I won't be able to.  Striving to find a ballance though between playing and working. 

Slept 11 hours last night.  Think I was just exhausted.  Too much traveling.  Pretty much fell asleep, or at least went into a trance state in my massage last night.  She really took care of me.  Think she went over on the time by at least 15 minutes.  It was awesome and felt like two hours.  So relaxing.

First Wednesday bike ride of the season tonight!  I haven't been on the bike for at least two weeks.  Skiing has been great though!

This is a shot of the Chutes from the lift.  Staffenburg is the first one on the left, just to the right of the last little island of trees.  You have to hike the ridge to get to it.

I've zoomed in.  From left to right the first really sunny spot you see is Staffenburg.  you can see the shadow cast by the cornice at the top just to the left of the sunny area.  That slope is shown in the next picture.

This is a look down Staffenburg from the top.  Here, I'm as high as the mountains on the far side of the valley.  It's really hard for a picture to do justice with the slope.  Those little dots in the valley are full size 40 ft high spruce trees.  This is a double black slope.  So fun to ski.  The snow you knock loose avalanches down past you as you ski.  Awesome.