Lesson the first: Love thy Dog

Meet Sebastian, my inter-species life mate and canine love of my life.

My friend and I were supposed to return to Montreal for a raucous New Years Eve Party hosted by one of his friends. We went last years and the house party ranked as one of the top two of my New Years career. I was so excited to go. I convinced my boss to give us both(we work together) New Years Eve off and Jan 2 off. I was all set to Party.

Then the person who was supposed to watch Sebastian fell through. Okay problem solved my cousin would let me use her house so I could bring the dog. No need to panic party still on. Saturday I took Seb for the hike I mentioned. Sunday he started limping. He's almost 9 years in human years so I chalked it up to arthritis. I gave him some Glucosamine and went to bed. The next morning he did not get up with me at 6am and by 430pm that night he could not stand up. He spent the whole day on the bed. He would not put pressure on the leg. 400 dollars later my pooch tested positive for lyme disease. He needs one month of antibiotics. He needs my attention. No more party.

How can I relate this to food?: Hmmm. You can't always eat the chocolate cake because your dog may need you? Be flexible? Give yourself the freedom to fall off track? Life's a journey, take a wrong turn?

....A Continuation

Something I forgot to add to my last post. I recognized my problem and then in an effort to acknowledge and honor this issue, I purposely did not go back out for a ski...

I went Ice Skating, with my friends nephew, on a frozen lake--how cool is that. We don't get that in Manhattan. The ice was rough and raised in places, but I managed to stay on my feet. The ice showed cracks and slush in some places; I was terrified that my 175-180 pound body slamming onto the surface would break through. Heath(er) Bar Crunch Ice Cream might be a bit salty.
So no tricks.

At 330pn I waited with a cup of coffee by the gondola to welcome my friend after his ski. Everyone was taking pleasure in the final run of the day. I watched as they indulged in winter's rapture, their skis carving out thin slices of snow. I told myself, it was okay. The hill will be here when I return. I can always return... whenever I want to...

All I need to know about Food I learned...

From Skiing. Yes, you all knew that was coming.

The last day of skiing that I spoke about revealed some things in how I relate to food.

As you all know I went out early in the morning for a few runs. It was a beautiful morning. I skied blue(intermediate) runs with exceptional technique. My friend and I decided to share a lift ticket to save money so I knew I had be done by noon. I came back to the room at 10am, ate my peanut butter sandwich and felt done, felt full. We were leaving early the next day.

My friend woke up and told me I had another hour and half before he needed the ticket. I sat on the couch with the my ski-boots and ski-pants still on. Maybe I'll go out for one more run.

I realized that behavior was much like my relationship to food. Sitting on the couch was akin to stalking an oven, fork and knife in hand, waiting for another bite of perfection to fly out and onto my plate. Just as a perfect run can not be duplicated, the next bite is never as exquisite as the one that sent shivers through the tongue.

The problem with a food addicts like me is that we are always looking to warm ourselves with food. We are always trying to experience the same bliss from bite to bite.

The important step is that I recognize it.

Making the World Your own

I like people, I love Humanity but I hate crowds. Yesterday, as I was hiking during a rainy, icy and foggy day I realized that Ive always loved the things that the majority hates. Nothing makes me happier than crappy weather. Did this desire arise from a need to be alone or do I just like crappy weather?

Nobody wants to get up at 7am on vacation to ski. But I do so I can be alone as possible. Maybe it's just exercise that I like to do alone? That seems to be my pattern.

The world just looks better when quiet.

Ambition vs. Sloth: Conversations with the Self

7 AM at the Homewood Suites, Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

The ambitious part of Heather's brain:
Let's go. Time to make first tracks on the hill.
The sloth that lives in Heather's brain:
We did that yesterday. Let's go back to sleep. We're just about to
ride the space shuttle.
Ambition: You've got fifteen minutes
Sloth: Blast off.

715am
Ambition: Okay you landed on Mars. Now get up.
Sloth: So Not Happening
Ambition: Last night you we're really excited about getting on the hill--before everyone else.
Sloth: Oh, throw my words in my face...err...brain.
Ambition: Empty fresh groomed runs.
Sloth: 15 more minutes.
Ambition: If you think I'm annoying now....

730am
Ambition: You've opened the space station on Mars, Now, WAKE UP YOU LAZY PIECE OF...oh.. you're up.
Sloth: Bathroom. The human drags herself to the television; the resort info channel indicates 0 degrees F, she climbs back in bed. I really don't want to go. I'll just sleep more and go at 9am.
Ambition: You're going to regret not going.
Sloth: When I'm sixty I'm going to regret?
Ambition: Yes
Sloth: I doubt that.
Ambition: Remember how happy you were yesterday. Skiing with the Polar Bears.
Sloth: I hate you.
Ambition: That's okay. She doesn't.

Life is a struggle. Always let ambition win.

Look at these beautiful pics I took atop a mountain at 8am. I'd go for sunrise if they'd let me.

The world belongs to me.











Dressing the Part, 0 degrees F.

Skier food-Peanut butter, strawberry jam, and a bit of nutella. Easy to carry, about the same numbers as a Power Bar and tastes great when frozen.

Ski In, Ski Out, and an In room Kitchen for 200 dollars a night.

The price may make some wince or you may think I have money. I don't have much money and I'm am sharing the room with my buddy, Ray. $400 for 4 nights of bliss doesn't sound so bad. Plus we stopped at the grocery before we arrived and I figured a net cost of $3.50 per meal by making it in the room. Also, I can control what I eat better.

I looove skiing, parts of me want to move to a ski area and work as a nurse in a clinic so I could ski my brains out. The other parts which want to act, write, and ride subways seem to win these conflicts. Right now it's 8:00 am and the temp is -8F. (I have skied once in that temp when I was 18 and had much more body fat). I got up early to enjoy the mountain in solitude. Yesterday at 11am the place was jumping. I think only the die-hards are out now. Gonna do it at least two runs, if only to claim, I skied with the polar bears.

Post pics when I come back.

Excellent News for those in Debt

I'm carry credit card debt and I'm sure many of us do. Anyone who has felt the sting from a credit card company will enjoy this article. Susan Tompor writes a clear analysis for the Detroit Free Press. Go read!