What Snoo '99

February 99 - Blackcomb, Canada - DAMN if that wasn't the sweetest mountain I ever saw.  Tons of new snow, incredible views, great exchange rate and a lot of talent on the slopes.  I stayed with other members of Seattle Ski Buddies at the Tantalus Lodge.  The hottub always seemed to be full of sore bodies, but everyone had great spirit - the snow was unbelievable.  There were several events sponsored by Altitude 99, but the allure of a quiet dinner with friends by the fireplace won out in most cases.  I'll be back next year . . . also this month I taught two good friends how to ski . . . well, falling down gracefully as some would put it, but they TRIED hard, and that's what matters.

March 99 - Acres/Crystal/Baker/Stevens/Alpental - TONS of intense skiing and boarding.  With our good friend El Nina, I'm stoked by the record dumps of snow this season.  Every pass, even dumpy little ACRES had enough fluff to make it sweet.  Got my first board and pounded out the baby steps on the face of Crystal Mountain.  My buddy Jeffrey drove us home that night and I was HELLA sore.  Almost couldn't get my legs out of the car.  But once you go bi-plankular, you have a hard time letting go of it.  It's a maniacal combination of skate boarding and surfing, only the wave is frozen, but it can be soft, or ice.  Any way you carve it up, no one will ever know how much cash I blew on that white stuff this year.  Woo HOO!  End of the month, I snowmobiled for the first time - bombed all over the Lake Wenatchee area with my good friend Gary.  Damn, Winter is a good thing.

May 99 - Scottsdale, AZ - Spent a week with my best friend celebrating the old man's 30th birthday - JaEEEzzuz!  He's gettin old, that's for damn sure.  We took in the sights, shot a lot of film between his place, Old Town Scottsdale and the Papago Park Mountain.  I learned how damn hot and dry the desert really is.  Found out that sujuaro cactii cost about $2,000 for a 4 footer with NO ARMS.  Layed out by the pool with margaritas.   Saw The Phantom Menace with him on OPENING DAY.  No line.  Now that was weird . . .

June 99 - Seattle . . . ah, summer rain.  It has POURED many a day during June.  Not to worry, for those of us born and raised here in the Pacific Northwest we just adapt.  Saw AUSTIN POWERS: The Spy Who Shagged Me - oh BE HAVE!  Got to visit with my dear friend Elle, visiting from Meridian, ID.  Attended the last Seattle GLBT Pride celebration of the century and sure enough, in the middle of a rainy weekend, we made the sun come out for several hours.  Looking forward to finding my first condominium!

What Snoo Part II