Feels Like Spring : (

Dogs on Varnum Pond - two Saturdays ago. Morning ski before my massage.

The Trail to the Pond - after one of many little snowstorms last week.

Jim and his college friend Alan who was visiting (and the Farmtown Waterfall)

 It MUST be my birthday weekend if Jim is snowshoeing up White Cap with me...  Sunday of last week.

On my actual birthday I had a pretty sweet day.  It squalled off and on all day, and nothing makes me happier than snow on my birthday.  I have had many, many snowstorms on my birthday.  I remember a kickass, dumping birthday party we had when I lived in the A-Frame up in Wyman Township.  It just snowed and snowed.  People were going out on the deck and howling at the storm (me included).  I started the night thinking no one would show, both because of the weather and that very natural fear one has when hosting a bash.  But show they did.  Man, that was a fun night.  I was much younger then - musta been 24 or so.  This year was mellower, but just as nice.  For the first time ever, kids brought me stuff.  It was wild.  One brought in a cake, another brought in a bunch of cupcakes for a whole class, another candy that looks like rocks (because I like to hike : )  And at two different times, kids sang me Happy Birthday.  Two of my homeroom boys sang me down the hallway and my AP class that day sang me Happy Birthday horribly.  They were purposely off-key and several kept starting the song over and over while the others continued with it.  They stuck with it all the way to the end.  It was so stinking sweet.  I LOVE this junior class, and I will miss them so much next year.  

Al met me at the house and we did my body comp.  I did NOT meet my VERY lofty goal, but I am doing well enough.  In the lower end of the "fit" category - pretty close to the "athletic" category, but not IN it.  So I have set another goal.  Goals are good.  From there Al and I went on a sweet ski, and I was able to connect a loop I have been trying to work out all winter.  Made it happen on my birthday.  Wahoo!  Went home, shared some bevvies and then headed up to Strong for local burgers with Al and Barry.  A sweet, fun night.  And now, I am knocking on 40's door.

Isn't she CUTE??  Love her.  She is an imp.

Saturday I took several members of the Outing Club for a day of outdoor workshops at Windham HS.  We ended the day with the Maine Outdoor Film Festival.  A long day, but a good one.  They have a kicking Outing Club - I chummed it up with their advisor - he is about my age (two years older, I think) and wants to get our clubs together.  We are game.  Kids won some cool stuff, and we won a prize for the whole club.  He mentioned something about getting us out on the salt water.  THAT would be fun!

The Crew

One of mine - being belayed...

Another of mine - loving it : )

The Whole Crew - that's the Windham advisor on the far left.  I love how "my" kids are mixed in among all the other outing club kids from the other schools.  So cool.

Sunday - I HAD to get out.  It was so nice out this weekend!  Dogs playing out in Temple.

Sure looks like Spring...  Skied this afternoon/evening for an hour and I fear those days are numbered (at least here in Farmington).  I think I will be able to drive to snow for awhile yet, and I am holding out hope for a big dumping storm before Spring really sets in, but we will see.  If we have an early Spring, I will be on my bike earlier and there are no complaints about biking, that is for sure.

I did set some birthday goals - one: I wanna clean up my mouth.  I swear A LOT, and I especially wanna lose the F word.  two: eat better - limit sugar - food as fuel.  three: drink more tea.

four: make sure my husband knows how much I love, appreciate and value him.

And Birthdays?  You can slow down anytime now : )