All grown up

I started my job this week. And so far I'm really pleased. It seems like a great fit. I love a good challenge, and I think I will have plenty of challenges to keep me busy.


I broke the news to Grace (my 7 year old niece) that I am no longer a student like she is. She simply replied, "Oh, man. Well what ARE you?" I liked how she obviously already knows that being a grown up is not all it's cracked up to be. I told her I am a consultant, and explained that I will be helping organizations that have problems and helping them fix them. To which she replied, "Oh. Kind of like Super Nanny, but without kids." Yep, kind of.

Meanwhile, Addie (my 22 month old niece) thinks I'm a telephone operator. She turns on the phone and waits. When the operator recording comes on -- "If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again..."-- Addie thinks it is me. And I'm sure she proceeds with her usual conversation with me: "Tete? I wuv you." or maybe she even tries out her ABCs or 123s which often sound like a little recording because she seems to get stuck on G and 2... But I have to say she is pretty darn good for just shy of being 2 years old.

In other news, J and I went skiing in Whitefish, Montana. He goes every year with a great group to the same place. The skiing was fantastic. The first day was a bit rocky as I got my ski legs back, but I certainly got very comfortable after 6 days of skiing. Unfortunately, I think I have a new (and rather expensive) hobby. I'm not sure you can tell in the pictures, but it was VERY cold. The first day it was -8 F on the mountain. Yikes. I was all bundled up -- so much so that I looked part skier, part scuba diver (pic #3 shows it best). But I was warm (or at least as warm as I could be).



I also became one of "Charlie's Angles" on the trip. There is a gentleman that is 72 years old that skis with J's group every year and he skis with the ladies (his "Angels"). He was a baggage handler for an airline up until 3 months ago when he retired. He is rather spunky, to say the least. He used to ski straight down the mountain (because he didn't know how to turn) and has slowed down in recent years. He now turns by turning his entire body which ever direction he wants to go -- needless to say, looking quite out of control. You are best advised to ski BEHIND him. And while he uses polls, both are carried in one hand and are only used to help him get up when he falls. He is certainly a character. And sweet Charlie gave me some skiing tips the first day I skied with him: "Your form is really good, but you might want to bend over just a little more..." The guys tried to cover for him, saying that he probably meant to say "bend my knees." Except, Charlie actually said "under his breath" as I skied away, "so that I can get a better view." That's Charlie for you.