A byootaful Life

**I’m going to preface this by saying there is a slight possibility of SPOILERS if you’re an avid Fringe fan. There’s no plot details, but I do mention what I saw while watching the filming. Just sayin’…**

Last week Phill and I decided to do lunch in the city together. We passed a street that was blocked off with a police car and stopped to have a look, since the police man was just leaning against his car looking rather disinterested so we figured it wasn’t a crash or crime scene or anything. There were a few taxis lined up inside the barriers, which wouldn’t have been that strange except they were clearly labeled “NY TAXI” and well, we weren’t in New York. We realised they were filming something and that meant the possibility of famous people being around, so we headed across the road for a closer look.

It turned out they were filming Fringe, which is of course a pretty popular science fiction show right now. Phill watches it – I used to, but stopped after the first season. However, that didn’t make me any less excited to see Joshua Jackson and John Noble! We saw Joshua standing in the middle of the road chatting to some people and later, John Noble was sitting on top of a bus. Random, but I guess somehow Walter ends up on the top of a Vancouver bus and calls out to Peter to help him down… just as the bus starts to move. We watched them do a couple takes of the scene, but my stomach was rumbling so we left them to it while we went to find some food.

We saw John’s stunt double hanging around and I was surprised the real John was up on top of the bus, but once they started filming we understood why – he had lines to deliver. We couldn’t see how he was tied down, but he had to be, right? Especially since the bus moves at the end of the scene!

It was pretty cool and the filming crew were very easy-going with the crowds gathering – there were even people hanging around to be extras in the background. We could have ended up in a future episode of Fringe, but alas, I was too hungry. Maybe next time!

So last weekend I took the plunge – I went to Ladies Free Day at Cypress Mountain, along with 99 other ladies, all eager to learn how to snowboard or ski. I was feeling nervous and a little stressed as I waited for the bus ($11 one way or $23 return – how does that work?) and the feeling didn’t go away as the bus slowly climbed up the mountain, taking me to certain doom. Well, maybe I’m being a little dramatic…

The first thing we did once we arrived was to head to the gathering area – the bar. I was keen for something alcoholic (even though it was only 9am!) but made do with an apple juice and a muffin from the spread they’d put out for us. The numerous female instructors greeted us and introduced us to fellow snowboarders or skiiers. At about 9:30am, they welcomed us to the Ladies Free Day and put on a video they had made which took us through what was about to happen and also some basics of learning to either snowboard or to ski. Then we separated into groups of six, met our instructor and then headed downstairs to hire our equipment. My shoes were easy to fit, since I’d worn them before I knew what fit I was looking for, but my helmet took about ten attempts. Apparently my head is rather small. Finally, I got myself a snowboard and I was ready to go.

Argh!

We headed out onto the snow and wow, it was such a beautiful day! It was pleasantly warm, with blue skies and sunshine. In fact, it was so warm that some people were stripping off their outer layers and just snowboarding in their hoodies. I could have gone back inside to take off my thermals, but to be honest I was a little worried I’d panic and not come back out, so I sucked it up and left them on. We started out by sitting on the ground, feeling how our boards moved on the snow when they were flat, compared to when they were on the edges. Then we strapped one foot on and sort of shuffled along the ground, then graduated to pushing off with our free foot, then planting it on the board so we glided along the snow. That was fun.

We moved onto a tiny slope that looked to me like it was the biggest slope in the world. The plan was to glide down it, then turn to stop. Yeah, easy huh? I started off halfway down the slope, but I did end up trying it from the top after a couple  turns. The hardest part was getting through the first attempt, since I have a big fear of speed after my incident in Japan. My instructor was awesome – she came with me and I held onto her. The next couple turns she worked on getting me to let go of my death grip on her, which was really hard to do. I wasn’t bad as such, but I did lack confidence big time.

Then it was time for the bunny hill. Well, not even the real bunny hill, but the beginner’s bunny hill – a little roped-off area at the foot of the bunny hill. Now, the slope was friggin’ huge! It was to practice getting up (there’s a hard way and an easy way) and going down front-on, controlling your speed by rocking from your toes to your heels. I actually wasn’t that bad – I think I was actually better at this than at the little slope. I’d had a bit of practice when we were in Japan – I took about an hour to go down the family run exactly this way, clinging to Phill who was going down backwards in front of me. After a couple tries I started getting the hang of it (until I over-analysed it, panicked and fell on my butt of course!)

We graduated to the “falling leaf”, where you go to the left, then to the right, then back to the left, floating down the slope like a leaf falling from a tree. I must admit I didn’t try that – I was still struggling with the previous step and I figured I’d just get frustrated trying something harder when I couldn’t do the last thing! There was a lot of falling down but the snow was so cold and lovely, I didn’t mind. Before I knew it, our two-hour lesson was finished and it was time for lunch. I hadn’t given up, I’d tried pretty hard and I’d survived – YAY!

All in all, the day was really enjoyable and such good value. The only costs involved was the bus to go up and back (initially Phill was going to rent a car to drive me up but that fell through the night before because the previous renters didn’t return the car(!!) so I went up alone – I think this worked out well because I didn’t have to worry about anyone else being there) and $2 for a locker. Everything else was free – equipment hire and a full-day lift pass.

I was so sore the next day – the whole left side of my body was aching! And I think I must have got a little whiplash in my neck because a few hours after I got home, my neck started hurting. It was so bad I had to take a couple Tylenol before I could sleep, but by the morning it had disappeared.

It hasn’t turned me into an avid snowboarder but I did learn some basic skills that are going to help me when I go up next. As I said to my friends, I still suck, but now I might suck just a little less. My instructor was amazing (all of the ladies there were!) and I was lucky to be put in a group with five other really kind, genuine girls who were so supportive and positive. Every time one of us successfully did something, we all cheered and clapped. Every time one of us fell on our butt, we all cheered and clapped. It made “giving it a go” much easier, knowing there was no judging or humiliation.

Thanks Cypress for such a great day!

K opened the curtains and there was Puddy, looking rather hungry but otherwise okay. I’m relieved to know she’s home and she’s uninjured. Thank you everyone for all your support and concern.

It’s inevitable that, after I tell people I moved to Vancouver, they ask if I’ve been snowboarding yet. The answer is no, for a few reasons. Firstly, I haven’t had time. Secondly, I haven’t had the money and thirdly (and perhaps most importantly) I am absolutely and utterly terrified of snowboarding. Or skiing. Or anything that involves hurtling down a snow-covered mountain at top speed on a board or pair of skis that don’t have brakes.

Pathetic, I know, but it’s true. The mere thought of going “up the mountain” gives me anxiety. Ever since our trip to Japan where I stacked it on the first day while snowboarding and ended up with a couple of broken ribs, I have been too scared to get back on the board and try again. I think it’s partly due to the “risk factor” – the possibility of more injuries and pain – but mostly due to the “humiliation factor”. I hate failing at things so sometimes it’s easier to just say no, rather than to say yes and fail miserably as a result, especially when it’s something like sports.

It’s not a healthy attitude to have, I know, so I’m changing. I have decided to suck it up and try again. All I needed was the perfect opportunity and it has come along. Next weekend, I am going snowboarding. I am having a lesson and I am not going to freak out about it. I am going to fall over, I am going to stack it, I am going to humiliate myself, but I am going to do all of this so I can learn how to snowboard. Eventually, I will be able to go down the mountain without  crying or stacking it every few minutes and that will be a very momentus day.

I’ve been feeling pretty low because of Puddy’s disappearance, so it’s been good to have something else to think about. It’s been two weeks now and she’s still missing. I hear about cats that go missing for months and then come home, so I am keeping positive. Thank you for your support and kindness – it’s been comforting reading your comments. I really hope that I can get on here soon and announce she’s come home – until then, I hope she is uninjured and safe.

I just wanted to say thank you everyone for your comments on my previous post.  I was hoping I’d have some good news to share by now, but unfortunately Puddy is still missing. I’ve been checking my emails religiously, hoping to hear that it’s all good, she came home sheepishly and is now curled up on the couch enjoying a nap, but so far there’s been no updates. It’s been a week now and I’m trying not to let it stress me out but, being a worrier, it’s all can think about.

I think the constant worrying over the past few days has led to a cold because I woke up this morning feeling rotton and with a sore neck and a sore throat. I’ve tried to nip it in the butt by taking cold & flu tablets and Vitamin C so hopefully it won’t have the chance to take hold. I have to admit I am feeling a little miserable today and the cold wet weather isn’t exactly helping. Phill has been great, making me cups of tea and just generally being the wonderful guy he is.

Hopefully I get some good news soon – fingers crossed.