Checklists

Checklists are great. From Taxiing checklist, to packing lists, they are simply fun compressed onto paper. Yeah. you better have to read this twice, because how can that statement come from my hand? Don't get me wrong, I understand the necessity of lists, especially with the power of my "humming bird" brain. It is just that they are tedious and boring. And I have yet to develop a habit of using them (despite smashing my finger with that proverbial hammer for some 39 odd years).
Last week, I went off on my own to the Adaptive Nordic Ski Team's fall camp. A good opportunity for us to get on snow, and train with each other providing good models of exertion and technique. I don't see how anyone can be competitive without training with others doing the same thing you are- no matter what you are doing; flying, soccer, whatever. The team met in Steamboat Springs CO. Our coach, who lives there, acquired sweet deals on some condos near the gondola for the alpine skiing. We stayed for a week, and here is the first example of checklists. Instead of using one, I packed "on the fly", knowing full well, that we were getting some stuff from the ski team. In short, I over packed. I arrived in CO with two bags - Ski box and duffel with my frame and clothes. I departed CO with three - Ski box, and two duffel. This was an example of not so much smashing finger with proverbial hammer, but still there was room for improvement. Had I used a packing list, I could have more efficiently packed.
The week went well. We arrived just after a large dumping of snow. Sidewalks were not completely shoveled and such. The rest of the week was clear skies, and nice cold temps. CO is an awesome place in that, if there is sun, it is T-shirt weather, snow or not. We could have used more snow, and we hoped for it all week (but it did not come until the day we left). We skied on early season, barely covered, trails, up in Rabbit Ears pass, and on some trails in town. We finished the week with two time trials on a course fabricated from man made snow, and natural, pushed and groomed in a 1K loop at the base of the ski jumps at Howelsen Hill. So we had "enough" to ski on, keeping in mind that T-day had not happened yet.
I came home and was able to spend Thnaksgiving with the family. I will categorize this year as an "off" year for T-day. We had supper with Grammie and Grandpa, and Omi....at CI Shenanigans. But we already had our substitute T-day, an almost Canadian version, when Karl, Regs, and Pres were here in Oct, so all is OK. Well, at CI's we had another example of checklist importance. Keelie.....needs support systems. Easy fix: diaper bag. What is so hard about that? Leave the house with Keelie-check. Formula-check. With Diaper bag-check. How about: what is in diaper bag? ummmm. Yeah.
When one uses diaper bag, diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, and extra clothes don't replace themselves. = smash finger with proverbial hammer. What do you do at CI Shenanigans in Spokane, when your diaper bag (which you are so proud that you brought) has nothing of value in it in regard to "servicing" your soiled child? (I thought we were experienced parents?) Fun ensues. Disaster was averted, but we don't get any parent of the year awards for that fiasco.
I want to play video games on your gps. -Ethan (He is referring to the PSP)

Into Fall

Due to a poll run at "The Herald", I ran a poll of my own. In their case, their street is referred to as SEC row. At first, I thought our area had an equal distribution, only more local i.e. PAC-10, or WAC row. Then, I thought; no, we are represented by really only one school. So, I did my own survey. Of the flags I counted, WSU (that would be Washington State for non Northwest types) was represented the most with seven. Then there was one each of the following: UW (Washington), So. Cal, Oregon, Montana, Boise State, and one U of Idaho. I was a little surprised by this count. I would have thought more UofI, and such. SC was a bit of a surprise all together. I know there must be other Universities backed in "the Village", just these were the only backings represented by flags.
IF Riles had the Swine flu, we got a mild dose. I am pretty sure she did not. She did have a temp, but from the stories I hear, we did not even come close to what it should have done. So, I nervously await the true bug.
Halloween came and went. I think we missed out on a good colorful fall by the quick freeze we had a few weeks back. But the cold did not last, the weather lately has been more like a Western Washington fall, which is a little demoralizing. Still, it does look and feel like fall, like Halloween. The kids were not too enthusiastic in coming up with new costumes. This does not bother us parents much. One less frivolous one use thing to buy the better. (Lets not even mention the links to pagan rituals and all ....sorry I just did) Still to be social, Ethan and Rileigh visited Grammie and Grandpa's neighbors. Ethan as "Jungle Fever" Power Ranger, and Riles as....herself. She balked when it came time to actually put on her "fairy" costume. She mentioned something about not being pretty enough or something. Once done with the rounds, Ethan was as energetic handing out the candy as last year. This year, though, I think he had a better command of what was actually taking place. Riles chose to observe from a reasonable distance -but she did have to see what was going on.
And now on with Fall, and the upcoming winter season.