Hey Jakey,

I've got Olympic fever! Well, not really, I just know a lot more about what is going on than I normally would, because I have to upload Olympics content to our website. It's all very interesting, keeping up with these incredible athletes. They're like from another planet. I've never been particularly athletic, so just *knowing* that people exist who are able to do such things blows my mind. And makes me envious.

Since Day One, sweetie, I've been maintaining that you will eventually be captain of your high school snowboard team. I mean, how dreamy will you actually be? But, now I know what the competition 'round here is like. This area is a breeding ground for honest-to-god Olympic snowboarders and skiers. SLT is thick with them. B at work has two kids who will probably eventually be in the Olympics in eight years. They're all over the TV as it is. Hannah Teter, Travis Cabral, Daron Rahlves, Dan Finch, they're all from Tahoe.



Kids around here are on the mountain by the time they're two. And I'm wondering, why you, at exactly two years of age, are not yet shussing down the slopes with the rest of them. Then, I finally made the connection: I have to be there with you. I have to be able to ski or board myself. I have to actually want to go the resorts and do ski and board-type stuff. Sorry, sweetie, I'm holding you back. If I can ever get myself to the point where I want to hurl myself down a mountain while having BOTH feet strapped into slippery devices of death, then I will take you with me, and we can learn together.

Here is my last snowboard experience, about three years ago: My friend P came up from SoCal and spent the week with me, and we went to Kirkwood, down the road from us. She went boarding, and I took a lesson. About halfway thru the lesson, after falling on my ass for the 90th time, I stayed down. I motioned for the instructor to come over. I looked up and patiently explained to him that he was a wonderful teacher, but snowboarding was just not for me. I pointed at the lift above our heads, "You see that girl there with the red snowboard and the lavendar hat? The one that's laughing at me right now? I'm doing this all for her and now I'm done." He helped me to my feet, I unstrapped myself from the snowboard, went to the lodge and began to drink.

Yes, I've had much better luck with X-country skiing and with snowshoes, even with downhill. Just don't ask me to snowboard again anytime soon.

More later. Got to get to work. Love you!

Who Should Paint You: Alfred Gockel

All American yet funky, you inspire an artist's imagination. And while not everyone will understand your portrait, you will!

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