Vail – 03/16/2012

Vail 03/16/2012 Photo Album

Birthdays haven’t been something I look forward to since I turned 21. These milestones seem to fly by faster than telephone poles viewed from the window as one drives by. But I suppose there is no stopping them so why not jump on board and enjoy.

A birthday is probably a fine excuse for celebrating life, spending time with family and loved ones and choosing to do something enjoyable. That’s what I did on Friday, March 16, 2012. Actually my birthday celebration began on Thursday evening when Dan joined Jane and I for dinner at the Phoenician Kabob, one of my favorite restaurants in Denver. Dan had a busy day on Friday as he prepared to depart for Tanzania. Dan’s gift to me was special; he paid for my wellerfish url for the remainder of the year so you readers can look forward to a continuation of my ramblings.

With the early spring weather in Colorado I chose to spend Friday with my lovely wife skiing at Vail. I actually love the time of my birthday as there are so many things to do. Spring skiing is always fun, baseball is beginning to kick in, March Madness is in progress, bulbs begin to bloom, and fishing can be decent. Friday was definitely my best skiing day of the season so far. Temperatures were probably in the fifties on the mountain so there were no cold hands or feet to deal with. Once the sun got high in the sky, the hard crusty snow softened to the consistency of mashed potatoes in places where direct sunlight pounded the brilliant white surface.

Jane Looking Good in Steep Mogul Section

My highlights on the day were skiing moguls in Sun Up Bowl and then navigating some more massive soft moguls on Genghis Kahn in China Bowl. Second was sharing lunch with Jane at Los Amigos at the base in Vail Village. Since it was a weekday we were able to get a table without waiting and soak up the sun while enjoying Mexican fare.

Birthday Dave on Espresso

After we returned to our house from skiing the temperature in Denver remained over 70. Jane and I enjoyed a Lefthand Milk Stout on the patio before some clouds rolled in and forced us inside. Jane prepared one of my favorite meals for dinner, salmon wrapped in pancetta and grilled over charcoal.

Pretty Aspen Grove

I suppose birthdays aren’t that bad after all.