Hello everyone!

There is much to write about since obviously it has been awhile and I apologize!  But I have a moment to write to you all before I go to a Christmas party on the mountain.  Where to start... well our first big competition of the season went really well.  We had a total of 220 participants both male and female and it was a Slalom open... so basically the race down the mountain and they have to hit every gate on the way as fast as they can.  The first day was sooo cold and windy and by far more interesting than the second day.  One of the guys I work with had to be taken to the hospital because he was setting up for the competition and was going under a rope and got clotheslined in the process by a rope at the top of the mountain.  He is ok now.. he just has a rope burn on his neck and had a concussion... we are happy he didn't loose his head. That would of been a real bad day.  But it was fun watching all the athletes ski and to learn more about Slalom racing.  At the end of each day we do a medal ceremony for the top 3 placers.  again... it was cold and windy at both ceremonies.  I have met most of my volunteers for the season.  They are all older.  Like older than my parents or around the same age.  (I'm not saying that my parents are OLD... sorry mom and dad if you thought that...not what I meant.. just giving everyone an idea... please let me come home for xmas still!)  Anyways, before I met any of them, some people warned me not to let the volunteers walk all over me.  So keeping that in mind, I killed them with kindness on the very first day and I think I have already won most of them over.  It felt good knowing that I was getting along with them and they felt comfortable around me.  That was a major plus! 

After the long weekend, I had two days off of work (monday and tuesday).  Monday I went skiing for the first time!!! It was snowing and cold but I ended up loving it.  Well, that is a lie... the first run I acted like a brat and complained the whole way down the mountain because I was scared and kept falling.  I fell about 5 times but then I started to get the hang of it and by the time I was at the bottom of the mountain I wanted to go again, even though my body already hurt and I was grumpy.  BUT we ended up going two more times (because that is all my body could actually handle) and I only fell two more times.  It was a great success!  AND to answer my dad's question.. NO I DID NOT GO ON ANY OF THE BUNNY HILLS!!!! (that wasn't me yelling.  it was me being excited and proud that I started on the big kid slopes) so anyways, skiing was amazing...quiet the workout.  I'm finally not sore and can put my pants on without having to sit.  I'm ready to go again this week! wahoo!  Tuesday we drove out to Hebron to Emma's parents house to do laundry and bake Christmas cookies.  It was so much fun and so nice to be at a home home for the day.  I am so thankful that Paul and Nadine (Em's parents) have adopted me into their family.  They have been great to me and have opened up their arms and given me the love and attention I need from adult figures like my parents.  They have given me a home away from home which is amazing.  Tuesday night we went to a Christmas party at Emma's other job at 22 Broadway which is an Italian restaurant.  They did a Yankee swap which is kinda like a white elephant party.  We won a bottle of wine and two Ski the East pint glasses which we gave to Devin.  It was a lot of fun!  I am pretty sure I also scored myself a hostess position there a couple nights a week which will be awesome because then I'll have a little more money to stay comfortable on. :)

Work this week has been pretty slow because we didn't have a competition this weekend.  But this week we have a 4 day competition called the Eastern Cup.  It is going to be a busy week all around the mountain because it is the week before Christmas and people are starting to show up for the holiday festivities.  Today is Winterfest at Sunday River.  It is the first night for night skiing, we have fireworks, a warm coat drive, and an Ugly Sweater party at the Foggy Goggle.  Emma, Devin, and I don't have ugly sweaters, but we have plenty of Christmas decorations to decorate ourselves with.  It is suppose to snow 12-16 inches tonight... YIKES. and I have the day off tomorrow... maybe I'll build a snowman.

Anyways, I am about a week away from coming home to warm California.  I can't wait to see everyone and spend a few days with all my favorite people.  I am missing home every once and awhile and it is still hard to believe that I live all the way across the country now.  But for positive thoughts, I have found a list full of jobs I will be applying for back in California the next couple of weeks.  So good news is is that I will be returning at the end of the season, if any of you were concerned!  I love and miss you all! See youuu soon! Well maybe... I look like Casper now so I may blend into the walls. hehe just kidding!

Lots of loveeeee
Tor