still rewinding... You know what was funny about my trip. Well there were lots of things, but firstly, the fact I was picked for a "random search" approximately 4 times during our travels last week and my companion, Michael, was chosen twice. Isn't that funny?! How can that happen? Needless to say, even if we did attempt to smuggle some sort of weapon or mind-altering substance onto any of our planes, we may just have succeeded. But search, schmearch. If you're charming, happy travelers like us, they're too busy being entertained to notice too much. So we made it to Northstar, which was right next to the great Lake Tahoe, or Dah-Oh as the Indians originally called it. Of course, the all-knowing English-speaking settlers liked Tahoe better, so there you go. Yeah, I learned some things in my travels. Don't even get me started about Captain Dick... But back to Northstar Adventures: After a restless night Wednesday (altitude, hard bed, etc) Michael and I journeyed to mid-mountain where we parted company - him, well to ski, because he can, and me to join 6 other novices in a 2 hour ski lesson. Oh yeah, we learned to sidestep up a mountain, pizza, or wedge, or snowplow, to stop (like that really works), and the duck walk. Please at least try to picture me duckwalking in a circle with skis on! I'd hate to think I did that for naught. Uh-huh, really worth my $65; but I made some friends. Peter and Melissa from Cincinnati, Darryl, a/k/a Momentum Man (oh God, I'm laughing thinking about his near collision at the bottom of the slope - we had great seats for that), little Daniel, (ah, cute) Matthew, (approx 15 yrs old, who will someday be a stud - and he knows that) and Anita (little happy Asian). Basically, we all sucked at skiing, but like I said, the duckwalking made it all worthwhile. After the lesson, I bravely hopped on the ski lift and headed up a very small mountain. I didn't make it very far down before frustration and embarassment overtook and destroyed me and my confidence. I hated that! I thereafter quite rudely shoved Mike off to ski and sat at the Mid-Mountain Cafe trying to figure out why I was so intimidated by this sport. I ran into acquaintences and had some wine (yes!) before the inevitable trip down the mountain to the lodge. Started out with the same frustrations, but by the time I reached the bottom, I was a little more sure of myself. That is until a couple two-year-olds practically knocked me down. Saint Michael patiently encouraged me down, never once laughing, although that really must've took a great deal of self-control. But once down, I was a smiling, happy girl again. Especially after a shower and a quick journal entry. Later that night, we met some people for dinner and some hot tubbing and a lot of wine. I may write more about our hotel-room escapades later, but for now, I will leave you in suspense, like I have been known to do. I really must leave my tiny office and head home.

Quickly though, on a topic I must mention at least briefly so I do not get too far off my present quandries; I went out with Ed again last night. We dined at Old Chicago and saw "Blackhawk Down". Although he is a sweet, sweet guy, with lots o' potential (there I go again on the potential) there's just not a lot of "zap" going on. (Let me tell ya about Zap sometime!) Is it me, or have I surpassed all the "regular" guys out there, striving for something much more deep and meaningful, with zap. Of course!!! Duh! But I'll dwell on that later.