Weekend On the Slopes

Anyone who knows me understands just how much I hate snow, cold weather and skiing. Yet, somehow, I still found myself with my family in a car driving 6 hours to go skiing with some of our friends for a weekend.

We went to Hakuba in Northern Japan. It is near Nagano and was the location for the Alpine Skiing and Ski Jumping 1998 Winter Olympic events. We stayed at this cute little pension (similar to a bed & breakfast) called Alpine Wind. The owners were very friendly and helpful and it had an onsen in the back, which was wonderful after being on the slopes all day. At night we gathered near the fireplace to enjoy card games and wine.

I am not sure if I have ever seen so much snow in one place. The week prior to our trip there was a storm that blew through and dropped 2 meters (almost 6.5 feet!) in 24 hours. Apparently there is crazy snowfall here every year.

The first day on the slopes was miserable. It was freezing cold and snowed like crazy. I haven't been on the slopes in 2 years, and even before then my experience is very limited, so the inability to see and the continuously falling snow was not a good combination. Needless to say, I was pretty much on the same baby slope all day. Sami really picked up skiing and was off to the more advanced slopes before lunch. Emily decided to try snowboarding instead of skiing and by the end of the weekend she was doing pretty good. And Chris and Matt... I swear they were born for the slopes. Off they went to the black diamond runs.

 

The second day was much better. It was about 8 degrees warmer, sunny and there was not a flake in the sky. I even managed to do a few intermediate runs. And if you consider slow plowing and rolling down the slopes to be a sign of success, then I am one step closer to being in the next Winter Olympics myself.

While I am still not a fan of snow, cold weather and skiing, views like this made the trip worthwhile.

How to Not Ski in Japan

I am unable to ski this year due to my knee incident in Vietnam (can you hear the sadness in my voice -- not). So I decided to be a good mom and wife and go along to "watch". As usual, things in Japan aren't always how we thought they would be. 

So how do you go and just watch?

1. Get up at 4 am, pack, and load car.
2. Depart at 4:45 am.
3. Drive 2 hours without any issues.
4. Hit toll booth where the ETC lane needs shoveled clear so it takes 15 minutes to pay ¥300 in the one lane open.
5. Drive 1/2 way up a snowy mountain while it snows the biggest flakes Alexis has ever seen.
6. Stop and put on tire chains.
7. Drive 1/4 way up mountain until you reach a car that is stopped in the middle of the one lane mountain road.
8. Spin around and slide back down 1/4 way of mountain.
9. Try again to make it up the mountain.
10. Finally reach the top where there are several huts with ski rentals. NO lodge in sight.
11. Everyone puts on their ski gear, except for Alexis who has none as she was NOT skiing due to her knee injury.
12. Load Alexis, in jeans, crappy gloves, Uggs and no hat, onto a ski lift along with a 10 pound backpack and camera case.
13. Son calms Alexis down, who is deathly afraid of heights, on the 20 minute ski lift ride.
14. Ski lift drops everyone off in the middle of a mountain, with no lodge in sight.
15. Alexis walks through 8 foot snow to a series of buildings carrying 10 pound backpack and camera bag, while wearing jeans, crappy gloves, Uggs and no hat.
16. Said buildings contain tables, approximately 500 Japanese children and someone’s kitchen.
17. While sitting in building Alexis cannot see nor have any idea where her husband, 11 year old and 7 year old are. Camera will remain in bag.
18. Alexis may return home after the spring thaw, as she is not going back down that ski lift.

Highlight of the trip:  The building has free Internet.
Moral of the story:  Be a crappy mom and wife and JUST STAY HOME.

Skiing in Japan

My idea of a perfect weekend or vacation is soaking up the warm sun rays, in minimal clothing, while engrossing myself in a good book. My husband's idea of the perfect trip is flying down a cold, snowy mountain with your feet attached to two skinny pieces of plastic. You can probably guess who wins from pictures of all our past vacations.

Matt has really been hoping that at the ripe age of 35 I would suddenly develop a love for skiing. I have to admit, the slopes here are beautiful, but as Diana Ross loved to sing there "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" to make me want to play in the cold, wet, snow all day long.

Skiing is a popular activity in Japan. And unlike almost everything else, it is actually decently priced. It doesn't actually snow where we live, so you have to drive at least 3 hours to find decent skiing.  Matt loves when the weather turns colder and he can head North and hit the slopes. Last year we took a family trip to Gifu, where Sami learned to ski. This year, thanks to my knee injury, there will be no skiing in my near future. (Can you sense my disappointment?) So this month I stayed home with Sami since she isn't ready to brave the slopes alone quite yet, and Matt and the other two kids took a few day ski trips to Hachi Kita.

This year, Chris and Matt traded their skis in for a snowboard, and surprisingly they did very well. In fact, Chris is way better at snowboarding than skiing. We have a store nearby that sells lots of used ski and snowboard equipment so both were able to find themselves some good, cheap gear. Emily wasn't quite ready to trade her skis in, but she is planning to next weekend when she goes to Fuki Ski Jam with her two friends.

Matt, Chris, Emily and our neighbor Maggie getting ready to brave the slopes

 Beautiful mountains

 Emily and Chris on the slopes

 Chris and his gear

 Chris trying to be cool

Emily & Maggie

 Matt & Chris on the chairlift. As you can see it is really snowing.

I think Sami was feeling a bit left out of all the fun, so Matt helped her practice the proper ski look at home. 

Walking In a Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we were bracing for the "biggest snowfall in 4 years". At first a winter storm warning was issued for 2-4 inches and in some places maybe even 6 inches. Heck even Wilmington real estate was calling for some type of snow. Then it was downgraded to 1-3 inches. In the end all we got was a dusting. But in anticipation everything shut down. Chris's basketball game was canceled yesterday and church, Youth group and Awana's are all canceled for today. I even put flannel sheets on my bed to give us the more winter feel.

The kids were excited in hopes of seeing some real snow. In the end it didn't amount to much, but we still managed to have a mini snowball fight. I told them we still have lots of winter left for snow, but considering it will be 60 this weekend I somehow don't see it happening any time soon.

The snow started falling around 3:30 pm.
The snow was more slush than actual snow. But it looks cool in pictures.
The same railing around 8 pm. Cool, huh?
Our yard this morning when we woke up. The kids had hopes to waking up to a completely covered ground and building a snowman. Yep, not even close.

Sending Thoughts To My Illinois Friends

And anyone in the direct path of this storm!

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED... ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

That is the weather warning at where I lived up until just 6 months ago, where I was visiting exactly a week ago today. I am sending Matt a thank you e-card today. Weather like this reiterates why I don't want to move back North. Well at least until hurricane season starts.

Stay safe my buddies! Great time to cuddle up with a good book and read.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

It seems that Mother Nature really wanted to show me what I am missing since moving South. We are now under a snow advisory and they are calling for about 5 inches total for today. What a difference between here and North Carolina. Schools are still in session, stores are full of people and the streets are full.

While I hate snow with a passion, I have to admit it is pretty to look at.

Matt and Chris a week ago when we had school cancelled for a "snow day".
Our yard in NC on the "snow day".

Merchant Street in Decatur as the snow began to really fall.
Nelson Park in Decatur. (Now I have to admit this is pretty)
Lake Decatur where we took our boat out.

Our old house in Decatur.

Matt's Travels

Matt is still in Tucson, Arizona on business and will be there until Friday. Lucky man you may say? Usually I would agree with you, but this time I have to say "Poor Matt", and believe me I do not say that often.

Matt had been saying all last week how unseasonably cold it had been out in Tucson. Then yesterday Matt decided to drive up to Northern Arizona to go skiing in the mountains. A less than 3 hour drive there turned into 5 hours as he drove through what he called blizzard conditions to get to the ski lodge. After skiing for 2.5 hours he barely made it back to Tucson after almost 6 hours of driving and the police shutting roads down. (For Matt to say that he was scared to drive, it must have been bad. Of course the idiot didn't stop anywhere.)

Then this morning he called me to say that they were under a winter storm warning and there was almost 2 inches of snow on the ground. He was unable to get on the roads he was needing to take to the Proving Grounds as they were being blocked off.

Who would have thought that right now in Tucson, Arizona it would only be 32 degrees? What a weird, weird winter it is turning out to be.

Sending Prayers to Our Old Town

Unless you live in a bubble, you know about the ice/winter storm that tore through the Midwest last week. Decatur, Illinois was slammed by the storm and the area is so bad that the National Guard has been called in to help. We have several friends who are still without power. Over half of the city is still powerless. I can't even begin to imagine.

Val and Neil have been living in ADM temporary housing since their house was damaged and left powerless early Friday morning. Their animals have been dispatched to relatives, while they and little Noah and Maia have been staying elsewhere. I know they are going stir crazy. Imagine living in a tiny apartment with none of your belongings while it is too dangerous to venture outside in fear of stepping on power lines or trying to drive where there is no traffic lights through a city of 94,000 people. She has been tracking her story on her blog. I encourage you to go check it out.

Jamie and Mark are still powerless as well. Luckily Sunday Mark's parent's power was restored so Mark and the girls have been staying there. However Jamie is bunkered down at the house with a kerosene heater trying to keep the dogs and cats alive. Poor Pebbles (their kitten) had to be taken to the vet as he has a respiratory infection. Matt is worried at the safety of Jamie staying at the house with the heater. Jamie is more worried that the three stations in town that carry kerosene will run out. (or that she will beat up some idiot in the kerosene line)

Our friends from the gym, Carla and Luis, are also still powerless. They have been staying with family. Their cat and dog are still at the house.

They are staying it could be next week before power is restored. It's winter. It's cold. Tomorrow is is supposed to be a high of 18 degrees. The National Guard has been called in to try to help. Tension is high everywhere.

So tonight when you are sitting in your warm house mad because some petty little thing has gone wrong, think about those who are living where we just lived 4 months ago. Their lives have been ripped apart with just one visit from Mother Nature.

To all my Decatur friends, stay safe. We are praying for you.

Illinois vs North Carolina

Forecast for Fuquay-Varina, NC

Thursday: Warm. High around 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs in the low 70s

Special Weather Alert for Decatur, Illinois:

WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LINCOLN HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.

RAIN WILL CHANGE TO FREEZING RAIN ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS GREAT THAN ONE QUARTER INCH ARE POSSIBLE BY LATE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...ESPECIALLY ON ELEVATED SURFACES...AS
ARCTIC AIR CONTINUES TO FILTER SOUTHEAST. THIS PRECIPITATION WILL
MIX WITH SLEET AND SNOW IN THE EVENING...AND CHANGE OVER TO ALL
SNOW OVERNIGHT. HEAVY SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT...INTO MIDDAY
FRIDAY...WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES POSSIBLE.

Okay so it is supposed to get cooler here this weekend. High 50s, but I will take it anyday. Looks like those sleds we gave away may come in handy this weekend. Happy shoveling my Illinois friends. Love ya!