Dear Fakin' It,

That's me!

I purchased a snowboard, boots and bindings this weekend. For those who know me, this will probably come as a surprise seeing as how I've only been snowboarding once in my life. ONCE.

Carpe Diem anyone?

It all started when a friend gave me his bro-code to BackCountry.com (because he works there, he gets a discount and can share it with his friends...his bros if you will). I started looking for a coat that would go with some pants I purchased on a whim last season. I found one, purchased it, picked it up, tried it on and loved it.

Saturday rolls around and I decide to 'look' for a board, boots and bindings. I recruit my friend Stevie to come with me and we go to Milo Snowboard in Holladay and started looking around. I sucked up my pride and asked a guy for help seeing as how I am very much a beginner snowboarder and had no clue what to look for - except that I knew I didn't need or want anything fancy.

Anyway...70 minutes later at Milo's, I walked out with a snowboard, boots and yup, bindings. So much for research. The thing is, I liked what I walked out with and I don't have an ounce of buyer's remorse. I've put all my gear on a total of 3 times in the past 36 hours just to make sure. But I do sort of feel like a poser because I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to snowboarding. Again, I've been once. One day. I haven't even ventured to toe side or carving...just heel side. Trust me, I know how ridiculous this sounds and to quote my roommate Cheryl probably says it best - "I'm really impressed that you would go all in after only having been once." Translation: You're either a fool or really adventurous. I choose the second. Everyone is a beginner at one point or another, right? I'm just a little later than most.

For all I know, I could be a pro-boarder waiting to break loose from her shell to which her 9-9 job has confined her.

So now, all I have to decide is where to buy a season pass...

Dear Future Fan Base,

Don't worry, I'm still Val from the Block.

This was for a client at work - a 'viral' spot for Mozy - an online computer backup site. I'm the voice of the 'loving wife and adoring mother.'

www.mozy.com

Dear Nabisco,

Although the discovery of the Double Stuf Oreo was nothing short of genius, I must say the Holiday Oreo takes the cake...or should I say cookie?

Ok, that was lame.

But seriously, for the Holiday Oreo to come in festive colors AND automatic Double Stuf makes the Original DSO a blatant underdog.

The good news is, I normally side with the underdog - so in this case - I'll continue to eat both varieties of Oreo cookies. Despite the annoying and very unattractive bits that are always left in the teeth.

<--- more delicious, but only slightly more than --->

Dear November Snowfall

Even though I'm not excited to drive with you on the ground, I am anxious to get on the slopes and try out snowboarding again.

In this instance, I prefer to look for the silver lining (snow = snowboarding) rather than focus on the opposition (snow = driving nightmare).

Dear President Elect Obama,

Yes we can...and will...because we did.

Dear Halloween,

Hands down TA is the best place for a costume contest. Where else can you wear a sweatsuit to work and get away with it?

The $60 we won was worth the lunch hour spent spray painting cardboard and discussing choreography for a minute and a half skit which involved real tetris music, marching, falling into place and a quick "up, down, wave, wave, turn, turn" sequence.

Trust me, it was a hit.

Dear Skycoaster at Lagoon,

150-foot drop.
I conquered you and it was AMAZING!!
Thank you sister dearest for the free pass.
Thank you brother dearest for sharing the moment of sheer terror with me.