Virginia (just after) Christmas and Tahoe New Year

Here's a more upbeat post after my whiny I'm-never-going-to-travel-via-plane-again last post.

It was awesome to go home and see my parents again (3 months in a row! Oct they were out here, Nov. we congregated in MN for Thanksgiving) as well as the godparents and doggies in VA.

I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, but here are a few from the Friday gathering...

Duncan, hoping for a bit of turkey to drop. He certainly lucked out. By the end of the evening, his beard was so greasy from slurping up the droppings that he needed a serious bath!

Doggies getting chained up for a bit

The elegant table setting

Carol, Wolfgang (this kid is already a musical genius) and me at dinner

Mom giving Bill a little ducky ornament to add to his (ducky) collection

Dad relaxing after the great meal of turkey!

Tiffany holding W, opening up his book

W meets the doggies

A little sampling of dessert (nice to have my Mom's rumballs, which actually turned out like they should!!) Peppermint bark is also quite divine.



Although I had to work today and am on call tomorrow, starting a 15 day stretch with back-to-back Saturday calls and another OB rotation (goodbye, life!), I had the 31st and 1st off!

Phi's mom had a good deal on rooms at a hotel/casino in Reno, and so up to Tahoe we went again! Jeremy came up for the day, too.

Wednesday, we skiied Northstar in North Lake Tahoe.

I was marginally better than last time (last February when some classmates, Erin, and TJ went to Squaw Valley during blocktime), tackling the blues, albeit not without falling a few times. The conditions were great, though-- it was a beautiful day, and the snow was soft, making my face plant(s) only slightly painful. I'm so terrified of going fast that I sort of lose it trying to slow down. Aargh, how I wish I were a better skiier.

But get this-- because on Tuesday, when I went to rent skis from Sierra Snowboard, they didn't have any rentals, I actually impulsively took the plunge and bought skis! They (along with boots, poles, etc!) were on sale for $200 (a fantastic deal!). I figure that I'm here in jail near Tahoe for 2 and a half more years, love and hope to live somewhere with mountains, and am dating an awesome skiier, so I will probably get my money's worth! I now have a reason (gotta get use out of them!) to go up more often. Here are some pics from the day:

Phi and Jeremy riding the gondola up


Jeremy (doesn't he look soooo happy?!) and Shom

Goggles are sexy!!

Phi, atop the mountain, overlooking the lake (which you can't really see from the picture, though :( )

Here you can see it a little...

We were exhausted from the day outside. Shomir and I had a nice dinner at the Grand Sierra in Reno, but didn't even make it until midnight! Slightly lame but hey, we're all getting old, and we really needed our beauty rest.

Sunday, while Phi watched many sporting events and probably did some more gambling, Shom and I did another half-day of skiing at Homewood, another resort which is right on the west shore of Lake Tahoe.

Isn't this scenery gorgeous?? This is what you see when you get off the lift...

Pretending to be tourist and read the trail maps

These slopes were a bit more challenging for me, but it was still fun!

Not sure when the next time will be we'll go back, but I'm sure we will.

Here are a couple of snaps from the scenic lookout points on our way back to Sac:

I can't believe I live near this natural beauty!!

Although I am starting to get a sore throat and should probably get some more rest, a bunch of us are going to see 'Slumdog Millionaire' tonight and I want to enjoy my last night of freedom for a while!

Happy 2009, everyone!