Whoa, boy. We have been getting a lot of great snow so far this year here in Minnesota. Not our usual sloppy, mushy, freezy crap either, no sir, we're getting genuine powder! A rarity in these parts.
Some people have been heard complaining about all the snow, but not me. In fact, while cleaning the snow off my car today it was falling so fast that I had to start at the beginning again. This was clearly a sign that I was not meant to go to work today - I was to call in, get my gear, hop in my car, and head out to the slopes. So I did.
If you can't listen to those little signals/urges you get every once in a while, then you may need to make some adjustments in your life. That is my theory. Heed those calls! Live a little. Work to live, don't live to work.
When I got out to the ski hill (we don't really have mountains in any sense of the word) it was blowing snow so hard that visibility was down to several hundred feet at times and the light was so flat that you couldn't make out the surface of the snow at all. Fun! It improved as the day passed and the snowboarding just got better and better. Wow.
To close off the day today (Thursday, that is), I went over to the Bryant-Lake Bowl for a concert by Barb Cohen and friends (Jeremy Ylvisaker, Jacqueline Ferrier-Altan, Mark Anderson). She was great as usual - and brave to leave Los Angeles and come back here to Minnesota during this winter weather! She graciously permitted me to record the show to digital tape (miniDV). I chatted with Barb pre-show and discovered that she has a new album in the works (maybe out in six months) and she's been doing film/tv/movie scoring. Interesting. Apparently she's done a few cartoons and an indie film that may well go to Sundance. Way to go, Barb!
I'm a tired boy now... I'll post a mini pic from Christmas day of people ice skating and then I'm off to my cozy bed.

Thankfully, this is only a 2.5 day work week what with the holidays and all (only a half day on Friday since we get a partial New Year's Eve off). Quite nice, really! Although it hasn't been terribly busy at work, so really no biggie.
Had a very nice holiday break this weekend. Although the little gas station incident was, well, embarassing to say the least (and that slamming the finger in the car door thing wasn't real swell either. actually, it did swell a bit. doh). Got a bunch of new DVDs and some money and socks and shirts and stuff. Cool. Don't know when I'll have to time to watch all the movies, but then I own them so it isn't like they have to be returned to the rental place. You'd think with all the DVDs I have that I'd have a decent player and sound system, but I don't. I have a DVD drive in my PowerMac and it is hooked to its own stereo system without surround or anything. But hey... I'm ready. Just need a house now to put it all in...
I have to finish designing this site so I may get into that after I eat some dinner. It is getting late, so I'd best get a move on.
Anybody else downloaded and played the ONI demo yet? I really dig this game. The hand-to-hand combat is utterly amazing and smooth and very complete. Need to do an elbow jab behind you? Need to do a flying somersault? Need to slide underneath a laser beam? It is all there. Wow. Really decent.

On my way home to my parents' for the holidays this weekend I did something completely and utterly stupid. There is really no other word for it. I suppose it was rather humorous, but mostly stupid.
I stopped at the gas station to fill up on gas and check my tire pressure. Typically, I just pay at the pump and then leave. This time, I decided I should get a bottle of water and some cash and so entered the store while my tank was filling. This was the glitch in my routine -- I never do this.
Upon making my purchase and withdrawal I return to my car, get in and start it as it is cold out and then remember that I need to fill my tires with air. So I pull away from the pump and hear this horrific crunching sound from my vehicle. It sounds as if I have run over a very large chunk of frozen road sludge (you know the kind that collects behind your wheels?) except a bit more metallic. There is little mistaking what that sound was once I glance back.
I drive over to the air hose like a normal human being. I get out of my car and go put the pump nozzle back into its holder. Then I realize that one of the nozzles is missing. The guy at the next pump looks rather thrilled at what he's about to do and yells out "You've got a huge cord hanging from your gas tank." I just stare at him. Gosh, thanks Sherlock. It wasn't hard to notice it when I turned around.
Indeed, the nozzle and hose were hanging from my car - right where I left it. Looked rather silly. It came off right at the top of the gas pump, which thankfully is constructed for just such incidents. So, being polite, I tried to reattach the pump, but to no avail.
I mustered up what little dignity I had left and took it inside the station. I admitted my guilt and handed the hose to the attendant. Then I sheepishly drove away, trying to attract as little attention as possible.

Today is Christmas Day, celebrated by many peoples all over this world. Here in my town it is a crisp, bright joyful day, even though the temperatures are quite cold. I just had to go out and take some pictures of the lakes. So, if you click this link you can view a QuickTime VR panorama that I made this afternoon.