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My 28lb Bowling Ball

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:08:00 +0000

My days are now spent lugging around my 28lb bowling ball and I love every minute of it and would never change a thing. Annalise is the love of my life and the biggest blessing I have ever relieved next to my successful back surgery. I and open to sharing my experience with anyone that needs help getting through back pain just drop me and email I am here for you.

Uh-Oh

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:21:00 +0000

Introducing Zhao Jing Chu

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:03:00 +0000

It is with great honor excitement and God's blessing that I share with you the referral of my daughter to be Zhao Jing Chu soon to be Annalise Jing Chu.

To read more about her referral come on by Love you Forever. A bit busy to post about my back but I will be picking up my Mt bike from the shop this week and starting to ride. I had the rear shock rebuilt.

Your my Best Friend

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:50:00 +0000

That’s all she wrote

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:28:00 +0000

I have terminated from Heavenly the teaching season is over. Boulder Base is closed and this weekend is the last weekend for the Nevada side of the mountain with California saying open until May 4th. What a great season it was. The best part for me was my ability to ski and teach all day 6+ hours as hard as I could. My back felt better when I was skiing several days in a row. Exercise in general is so important for those of us that have had back surgery. The more I move the better it feels. January brought so much powder. It was a dream come true to be skiing all my favorite runs and getting face shots one right after the other. Now it’s mud season the ground is coming up and I will be riding my spinning bike to get ready to saddle up and get back into the mountains on my mountain bike once the snow is gone. I hope to get back on my road bike this year, as it has been more difficult due to positioning vs my mt bike. In June after school gets out I will be going down to Shell beach to ride my bikes and get a way can’t wait but until then I need to keep moving it makes me feel so much better.

18 Stars

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:38:00 +0000

We call it the Star Program. Ever star is worth $10 in tips from teaching ski lessons. I'm doing well considering its only Tuesday. Today's lesson was with a 3 year old and a 4 year old. I got them both up to the top of the hill and I could bring them down both on one bamboo pole. It’s called the magic stick. I have to say I earned those stars. Coming up this week, 2 students from my caseload in the School District are coming up for adaptive lessons. Then on Friday I am off completely and don't plan on putting my boots on. Then I finish off the week on Saturday with a Woman’s Clinic, woman skiing together/learning together is always a good time. It's also known as Chicks on Sticks. Paula you should look into it’s all day Saturday could you break away from Hannah. The skiing has been great but it’s getting warm in the afternoons very spring like. I’m hoping to make some free runs tomorrow to really check out the conditions. Every Star I get will go to bringing home to the most precious little girl.

Spring Break

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:13:00 +0000

Spring Break is here and a storm is coming in. Hope we get a little bit. Katie and Bridgette have the next week off wont be here until next Saturday but my parents are coming on Friday for Easter. They are staying at the Ridge Tahoe where a Gondola takes you down to the slopes. I love skiing with my Dad it is his fault I am so addicted to this sport. This week I should have lots of time to work on the Mountain and make some extra money for the adoption fund of course. I am going back to being Jacqueline’s Secret weapon, she hand picks my lessons and their have been some big tippers out lately. I do plan on taking a few days off to get those important things done like taxes homework and blogging. This master’s class and all this snow/skiing is really cutting into my blogging time and I have some great posts building in my head just bursting to come out stay tuned.

Another Epic Day

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:53:00 +0000

We got on the mountain at 9:00 to try to find some untracked powder. It snowed another 2+ over night. But all I could find was condensation in between the lenses of my goggles this is not good I was skiing visually impaired. After 5 runs I was ready to pack it in. With the help of the hand dryer in the bathroom I was able to heat up the lenses enough to get the condensation to evaporate. My day was saved. No pictures or video for you today it was dumping so hard you would have only seen big white dots. I was ready to hang it up again when we ran into a friend that talked us into going over to Dipper chair. When we got to the top a patrolman was tuning the sign to open Mott’s Canyon. I screamed and we headed down to the gate. By the time I got there he was dropping the rope and I was the 4th person in. Mott’s is the steepest vertical we have at Heavenly. As I crested over the edge of the first shoot there was no stopping and I dropped in. The bottom gave out on me and the world turned white as the snow barreled over my head. I had to concentrate on my breathing blow out as you dive under so the snow doesn’t get into your mouth and choke you, breath in when you rise up to make another turn. I was the first chick on sticks to the bottom of the chair and first in my group. The snow was typical sierra snow heavy and deep so many people were digging themselves out. We all have to pay our dues sometime and let me tell you I have spend my days digging too. By 2:30 I was cooked and headed to the lodge to warm up and find my ski buddy that had packed it in a few runs early because I was lapping him in Motts while he dug himself out, “no friends on a powder day” we headed down the mountain to get in at 4:00 I made it all day 7 hours with only a few breaks. What a season. I think we are at the peek for snow but they are calling for more next weekend. Bring it on this is the best year of my life in so many ways!

Ski Lesson 4 Me

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:48:00 +0000

A When you spend much of you ski time teaching other people how to ski, when I get a chance to go out with one of the top level instructors for a day it is a special day for me. One of my best friend Heidi is not only on the cover of our trail map again this year, she is on the Western Demonstration Team for Ski Instructors of America. This is the highest honor you can achieve in our division and in April she will be trying out for a spot on the National Demonstration Team. Heidi also does double winters by going to Australia in the summer to teach and ski. I first met Heidi when she came to Heavenly as a first time instructor. I helped her up the ranks in our certification process and now the tables are turned she is my coach. On Saturday we were both at Boulder and got off in the afternoon and went out for a spin around the mountain. She shared with me all the latest buss words being use in upper level skiing and showed me though some great demos exactly what she was talking about. Skiing has changed so much with the development of shape skies we are making new moves and to keep up with these top dogs you have to be able to adapt your old school to the new school technique. After some diagnosis and tips we played a game of cat and mouse. That is when the leader goes and that would be Heidi and I would follow her turn for turn and make the turn at the exact same time she is mimicking her body movements. You have to trust the person behind you because if you want to stop you signal them by raising your pole into the air and we move apart. I try to say as close as I can. What a blast. Even better I got to ski on her Speedmachine Moc 3 and at then end of the day she sold them to me. It was a deal I could not pass up. I have been testing new skis and these are outstanding, very stable and can make great short turns. They are not as forgiving as I may like but I love the stability and great for teaching on. It is so great to be back in action again and able to ski with the best of the best in our sport.

Back for More

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:11:00 +0000

Some of you may remember the post Boots on Please. My little buddy came back for more. All the way up to the mountain in the car he was talking about his ski boots. When they got there mom was afraid he was not going to put them. I got the one size bigger, we played with the buckles and he put them on right away. We even got the helmet on too. Can you say moving forward. We took off right back to the chair. I shared with Mom that we may go up on the mountain and she turned a pail shade of white. But I reassured her just like I did on the phone the day before that I would not let him go without being in physical contact with him at all times. We sang songs while riding the chair lift and he was able to sing songs in French and a few other languages I could not make out. Children with autism for the most part have great balance and this guy sure did. He also loved speed but needed a bit of help to know how to steer his skis across the hill to slow down. With webbing connected to the ski tip holder I was able to start his turn and he then would finish it. It was time to move on and off we when up the Gunbarrel chair lift. This is a high speed quad chair that takes you but the mountain over the top of a double black diamond run to where there is an easy beginner run. You then get to ride this chair back down the mountain and for new skiers it is a true Disneyland experience down loading this chair. For my skier is was no different he would just say over and over again, “For you safety please remain seated at all times keep your legs, arms, hands and feet….and would stop there because this was not car. Things must be on a literal plain for children like this. Mom was so excited she said she was ready to take a lesson too. It is the new family sport.

Motts Canyon

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:28:00 +0000

The Steep and Deep of Heavenly

Snow Snow and More Snow

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:25:00 +0000

I have lived in this house for over 10 years now and have never seen this much snow ever. The height of winter usually comes in the middle to the end of Feb. Never this much snow at the end of Jan. We have another month to go. What is up with the weather. It is so sad to think of all the babies in China that are suffering from the cold when I am out playing in it. My prayers are with all of them in China.

After teaching for 6 hours Saturday in quite the snowstorm. I had all the intentions on making the first chair up the mountain at 8:30. We woke to 2+ feet of snow on top of the all ready 5 feet of snow blanketing the ground. We had to throw a treat out the doggie door to get Lilly to venture out and do her morning duty.

First was to finish fixing the snow blower. It locked up on Friday and by Saturday night it was in about 100 pieces on the floor of the garage. Thank you Will for finding the answer.
The mountain was on a delay so we started to shovel, bow and dig our way out. Starting with the drive way.
No Mom you go first
opps the back window was open and all my school PE equipment full of snow too
The front door, somewhere
My bedroom slider
Where is the 6 foot fence
Hot tub
back deck and the 2 sheds won't be getting anything from there for a while
backyard
Snow blowing
sticking to the path she is one smart girl
Everyone needs a place to sit out side. This back deck is the sunny spot of the house

By the time we got dug out the mountain opened at 10:00 I was trembling with excitement the snow was so light and living only down the street from the lifts we were guaranteed some fresh tracks. We were at the rope when they opened the upper mountain and had first tracks down Little Dipper chair line. So wish the camera was out I got a bit forward and did a forward roll and landed in a seated position with my skis pointed down the hill ready to go again. First fall of the year and just made me giggle. Then they opened Motts Canyon a double black diamond. This is some of the steepest runs on the mountain. All I can say was it was incredible. Powder shooting over my head, a day you can only dream about for a skier like me. I will post the video once You-Tube is back up and running.

Finished off with a hot tub and enough time to watch the 4th quarter of the Supper Bowl.

Paulette's ProDisc

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:34:00 +0000

This video was from my first season back on skis after my surgery 5-8 months post-op

ADR in Action

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Another great powder day sponcered by ProDisc

Mammoth Crocs

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:22:00 +0000

FYI Yahoo Finance Message board that posted this link: I am NOT affiliated with Crocs, I am NOT a PR folk or a journalist (you maybe able to tell that from my writing) I am just a consumer, ADR recipient that loves my Crocs. I think that should way more then people that are paid to promote Crocs I know your lurking around here so why don’t you leave a comment and tell me why.

If you are a Crocs lover like I am then you must get a par of Mammoth Crocs for the winter they are the best. I fell in love with Crocs after my back surgery because my feet hurt from the surgically inducted leg and foot pain that comes from getting your spine spread open to get in the ADR. They were the only shoes I wore for months. However I did not like putting them on in the morning when they were cold. Now with real sheepskin lining in them they are the bomb. The wholes on the bottom are filled in and now the snow does not get into them when I go out to get wood for the fire. Just minor details when you live in the mountains. I ordered a pair and they were here in less then 4 days with free shipping. Ok sorry for sounding like a cameral but they are the best foot invention ever and now are the best after ski boot/shoes I have. Boy to my feet feel good in them after a long hard day in my torture chambers.

Feels So Good

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:55:00 +0000

My back feels so good when I am skiing. I’m not sure what it is if it is the exercise, or the position I get my hips in when I am skiing but I feel so good during and after a hard day of skiing. I feel better after a day of skiing then I do after a hard day at school teaching APE. I am back truly back to where I was before I broke my back.

Today I tried out a few new skis on the market, I’m trying to figure out what it is that I like and don’t like in a ski. I would love a ski that works well in all conditions but I know that is asking way too much. I now have a good powder ski and I really need an all mountain ski that can work in crud and off peest conditions but I love a good carving ski for hard snow conditions and groomers. So what I need is really 3 pairs of skis. That’s what I have now and I don’t think I can get away from it. What a better way to spend the extra money I am making at Heavenly but adding to my quiver. Then my problem is what ski to take out. Boy have come a long way from worrying if I had enough pain meds to get me out of the house to what ski I will need to rip up the mountain on. I love my artificial disc.

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:10:00 +0000

God helps us all

Boots On PLEASE

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 05:11:00 +0000

If you have ever skied before you know how uncomfortable ski boots can be. But for a child with autism, they can be the scariest part of skiing as they were for my student today. Some of you know that I am a level III certified alpine ski instructor but I am also a level III adaptive ski instructor with the ability to teach any individual with a disabilities how to ski. Today was my first adaptive ski lesson in 3 years. My student was an 11 year old boy with severer autism I will call him Timmy for this post which was not his real name. Timmy put one foot into the boot and freaked out he felt like his foot was stuck and he would have nothing to do with the boots from that point on. I got a larger size boot fit it to a pair of skis and we took off into the forest on the snowmobile ride. He liked the ride and I was happy to get away from his parents. We spent the next 2 ½ hours trying to get the boots on his feet. We played with the boot and the buckles, put flags in a circle around the boots and carried them everywhere we went. We made snowmen, and snow angels with our boots right next to us the whole time. Timmy even road the magic carpet (a conveyer belt that brings the kids back up the hill) while carrying his boots. It was my hope that they would get heavy and he may what to then put them on his feet and not just on his hands. At one point I was able to get just the liners on his feet and we slid down the hill on them and road the magic carpet with them of course. Every time I would try to put them on his feet he would run off in his socks on the snow burr. Then after all the kids when in for lunch, and his parent brought me a bag of M&M’s and a Sierra Mist, what would we ever do without candy and soda, low and behold I got the boots on his feet. We walked down the hill in the boots and he was ok and yes we road the magic carpet in the boots too. Great progress but I was not ready to stop we had 30 minutes left and a full bag of M&M’s. Timmy then carried one ski in his arms down the hill we put it on and he loved sliding on it and called it his skateboard. Then it was time for the big step 2 skis and yes 2 boots I too put my skis on and down we went. Timmy had great balance and I could see he was going to be able to ski, with my help and the help of some special adaptive equipment to keep the skis together at the tips and webbing that connects to the tips of the skis, around his legs and to my hands. I use the webbing to control his speed and direction. With only 15 minutes left we headed for the chairlift and off we went with his Sierra Mist in hand, this was to keep his hands off the wedding, we skied all the way down the hill to where his parents were standing. To say the least they were presently surprised by all his progress. Yes 2 ½ hours to get the boots on and 30 minutes to learn how to ski. What a challenge. Tomorrow I am working with one of my students from school, he too has autism but the good thing is he knows how to put the boots on because he mom owns a ski shop. This lesson should be a piece of cake.

Powder to my ProDisc

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:10:00 +0000

And a above. Face shots and wait deep powder all day. The storm broke this morning and only light snow flurries all day. What a blast I just don’t know how else to describe it but it was the best powder skiing I have done in many years. We skied hard harder then I have since surgery and I was able to last all day long. I am feeling so much stronger then I was just 2 weeks ago. Wish I did not have to go back to school. But we have the whole season a head of us with plenty of snow to play in. My backyard is looking good these days and my back is feeling great!

9 feet on the Top

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:15:00 +0000

Before
48 hour Later

4-5 feet at home. Mountain opens at 9:00 got to go...

3-6 Feet of Snow

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:35:00 +0000

And still dumping snow. The mountain opened at 10:00 and we only had one student. I just love being back at the Boulder Base. It is just down the street and some of the best skiing at Heavenly. Lets just say it dumping like I have not seen in a long time. Yesterday’s 3-5 feet was very wet. By this afternoon we have some beautiful light powder another couple feet. We went on a clinic to determine the terrain abilities and they were incredible the trees are filling in and the snow was light and fluffy.
I just love skiing with the boys. Then this after noon I back lined which is a way to get out of work and a good friend of mine and I changed into our skivvies and hit the mountain. The wind was howling we were able to get 1 run on the top of the mountain before they shut it down.

The best thing about skiing out of Boulder is WP-Western Perimeter. This is the best tree skiing on the mountain and brings to Boulder Base. Don’t worry I don’t ski trees just spaces. Can’t wait for tomorrow.

Blizzard Warning

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:57:00 +0000

Can you see the smile on my face right through this blog.

Powder Sking Anyone?

Team Pink

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 02:06:00 +0000

I have worked for Heavenly everyday but 2 since school got out on the 22. I am really putting my body to the test. Teaching upper levels is much easier then the assignment I was given a few days ago, 6 kids ranging from the age of 4-9 mostly 5-6 for 6 hours. Most of then were never-evers on skis and did not know how to stop or turn. I had them all by myself all day and to top it off they were Spanish speaking and I only know how to order a beer in Spanish. We had a great time but it was brutally hard work on my body. By the end of the day I had all but 2 turning and stopping. I took my luck and went out of the forest (the children’s area) and headed for the chairlift. With 2 on a bamboo pole and one with an edge wedge (a device that holds the tips of the skis together) we made it down to the first corner of the run with only one kid in the fencing that is what it is there for. I practiced a bit of “tough love” to let them know how important and serious this was to stay in control. They all made it down the hill and I was able to get one of them off the pole and only had the 4 years old that I had to hang on to. I was a bit worried about how my body was going to take it, I had a wild snowmobile ride out to the forest and the guy bounced me up into the air and I landed hard on my butt. I have not fallen yet and I put myself in the hands of some stupid driver and he hurts my hip. I am feeling much better 2 days later and have even worked the last 2-day. But now I’m off for a few days unless I get called in on a privet request. Tonight I am going out to a 10 course New Years Eve dinner with friends. Happy New Years everyone see you next year.

Secret Weapon

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:30:00 +0000

I taught my first ski lesson in over 3 years yesterday. The Nevada base ski school not open yet so I have become my girlfriend Jacqueline’s “Secret Weapon”. Jax is the supervisor at Heavenly’s California adults ski school and they are slammed. She called me at home and hand picked my first lesson, a couple around a level 6. That means they can ski intermediate train pretty much all over the mountain. They had never taken a lesson, I just love clients like this, they have so much to learn. At first I was worried I did not remember how to teach but sure enough it all came back, jocks and all, it was all there. I guess the Secret Weapon worked for both of us so we went out and celebrated on the $30 tip I got from the lesson, and took Jacqueline out to dinner. Off to teach again this AM, Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas Eve and a White Christmas Day.

2nd Annual ADR Ski Trip

paulette@charter.net (Kudo) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:40:00 +0000

Their's take of An ADR ski trip in the future some tome in Feb may be the week after Pres. day. Stay tuned