With only two days left in the Vail ski season, it's time to assess this little Colorado adventure.

MOI
Despite spending most of the last year in the oppressive heat and humidity of Samoa, I adjusted to the dry cold of the Rockies reasonably well. I missed one day of work due to cold. I probably could have worked that day, but I was in my mid-season malaise and needed a day off. I have, however, for most of the season, been blowing flecks of blood out of nose every morning. No, this is not for using coke or picking my schnoze. I think this is because the lining of my nose fell apart under the extremely dry conditions here. Fortunately this has come to an end because it's really disconcerting to see streams of bloody mucus oozing forth from your nose.

I lost about 15 pounds since I arrived here. The excess weight that I put on courtesy of multiple half-gallons of Safeway Moose Tracks ice cream is a thing of the past. Despite not eating all that well here, hard skiing everyday has tightened up my body to the point that I'm better shape than when I left Samoa, which is pretty hard to believe.

I met my goals on two fronts. The first is that I have a far greater appreciation and understanding of the relationship of light, shutter speed and aperture size. I can know confidently look up at the sky, judge the relative strength of the light and say to myself, ok, this is 500/9.5 or whatever. It helps that I can check out my judgment on the digital camera, but I'm usually right these days. The second is that I am a far, far greater skier than I have ever been at any time in my life. This is partially to due to fantastic equipment, so brilliant in function, that I couldn't have possibility have imagined in my former skiing life, but mostly to skiing just about every day since I arrived here in January. Hopefully I won't have another 15 year hiatus before I ski again in North America.

THE SUBARU
Buying the Subaru was a sheer stroke of genius with only a little bit of luck. When I bought the car, I only knew that I wanted an Outback. I didn't know where I was going to end up. I was surprised that I was even able to get a loan at the time without having a job. When I came to Vail, it was obvious that I had made the right choice. Every 5th car on the road here is an Outback. It's just the perfect car for the conditions around these parts. It's practical, it's safe, and what's more, chicks dig them (ok, so maybe not much). The car proves it's true merits after a big snow dump. The Subie powers through anything Mother Nature can throw at her. The anti-lock brakes take up the second the car begins to slide on the ice. I never had any problems getting around, even in the most dire of conditions. Although lately the temps have been so warm that I have been blasting the AC, during the coldest part of the winter I was growing attached to my heated seats. I know it's incredibly bourgeois, but I can't help it. I guess I'm sliding gracefully into the comforts of middle age.

THE KITTENS
Both Fil and Mak have performed admirably under some trying circumstances. They weathered the drive out and settled into my first condo, managing to adjust to living mostly indoors. They also didn’t kill either of the two budgies that occupied the same house, a minor miracle. They didn't take to the snow or cold all that well, but that didn't stop them from eventually coming and going at all hours, catching mice and generally enjoying the lackadaisical life of the feline. In my new place. there's a huge dog, a Chesapeake Bay Duck Killer or some such breed. Fil doesn't seem to mind. Mak is a bit more circumspect. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to move back to California or any place warm year round despite to 2+ day car drive, which their pea brains will quickly forget.

All-in-all, despite some minor problems and constantly being surrounded by right-wing alcoholic bums, this has been a worthwhile experience. I made some money (I'm debt free except for that pesky car payment). I met some interesting people. And I had a great time.