At The Movies!

I'm so excited as I love working Film Festivals and I'm in NAPA right now working this event.  In the past I've worked both the Denver Film Fest and the biggest and the best, Sundance.   I've done everything from arrange transportation to cooking for the starving artists to working the Red Carpet.   At this one I'm a concierge for the the VIP patrons.

I just love the ambiance and the environment which makes me feel like I'm inhaling creativity everywhere I go.

Today I set a new record, 2 movies and 5 short films in 8.5 hours plus worked 3 events.

The Fabulous Ice Age is an interesting documentary exploring the popularity of the old skating stars like Sonja Heine and the extravagant shows -- like Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice.  I loved the movie as it reminded me of all the Saturday afternoons I've spent with my mom watching ice skating competitions.

Old Stock was a quirky picture about a young man who decides to hide out and live

in an assisted living home after a car accident.......so he starts acting as if he's 65 instead of 20.   

 

On the Mountain

Most of you know my #1 passion is skiing. Nothing excites me more than flying down the slopes on a clear, sunny Colorado day. So, I'm just thrilled because I'm back in Summit County, CO for several weeks.

In my younger days, I did it all -- tree skiing, the bumps and double-black diamond runs -- with my brothers, sisters and friends. We'd be the first ones on the lifts at 8:30 a.m., the last ones off the mountain, then rush home, clean up, and off to hit the bars and dance all night. I have so many wonderful memories of skiing in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and all over Europe with them.

This year has been a little tougher on me after having had my left knee operated on a year ago and not skiing at all last season. My left knee just hasn't felt quite right nor stable enough for the past year, but I just had to figure out a way to get back on the mountain. So, now I'm skiing with a brace on my left leg. That first run was nerve racking as I was so scared to make the first turn down the slope as it had been 2 years since I skied and I'm dealing with a brace and breaking in new boots! I survived not only the first run but on day 2 I took my first fall of the season and suffered only a jammed thumb.

I'm just so happy to be back on the mountain, though now I arrive about 10:30 and am lucky to last 4 hours. And while I might hit a Happy Hour, no more all night partying for me.

What did you love doing?

Have you given it up just because you've gotten older?

WHY?

Maybe it's time to dust off those tap shoes or start playing tennis again.

I guarantee you that once the passion returns you'll feel much younger!

Below is one of my favorite mountain shots taken in Bachelor Gulch.

Is Vail #1?

It was in 1957 that Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, two enterprising skiers, first discovered the majestic mountain location that became Vail.

Since the Vail Resort opened in December 1962, it has continually set the 'gold' standard for terrain, luxury accommodations, apres-ski activities and a base village that offers every imaginable amenity.

http://vail.snow.com/vail.history.asp

The front face of the mountain alone is bigger than many other Colorado resorts. Add to that the expansive back bowls and at over 5,000 acres, Vail offers a winter wonderland for all levels of skiers!


But, at 97 bucks a day lift tickets are outrageously expensive! No problem for us though as we had the Colorado Pass, which gave us 10 days of skiing at either Vail or Beaver Creek. It was so much fun to ski Vail as my sister Paula had never been there before. She loved the wide open trails!


While there are some very expensive restaurants in Vail Village, we found a reasonably priced one on the mountain. Located at 11,000 feet at the top of Chairs 3 and 7 is the Wildwood Smokehouse which offers luncheon fare ranging from chicken and wild rice soup to barbecue pork along with breathtaking views of the Gore Range.

So, is Vail #1? Well, that depends on who you ask since some surveys rank it as #1 while others rate Deer Valley in Utah as #1.

It doesn't really matter, because if you get to ski either one you'll have a memorable vacation experience!