We aren't in the Rocky Mountains anymore...

The first real snow of the season has fallen in Baltimore. School was released early on Tuesday (during which mass chaos ensued) and we've been out of school for the past two days. Essentially, with Presidents day, I won't teach for week due to the two inches of slush that have hit the ground.

The celebrate the falling of this snow/slush/freezing rain my friend from church, Nancy, and I decided we would go skiing in Pennsylvania. Let's just get one thing straight, we weren't thinking clearly when we made this decision.

We assumed that because snow had fallen, conditions for skiing would be optimal. And, it was student night, rentals and lift ticket were a mere $25. Little did we know, roads-including major interstates-had not been plowed. We did indeed drive my 2005 Toyota Corolla. As we drove we kept noticing that we were the ONLY small sized car on the road. We were surrounded by a sea of Explorers, 4RUnners, Chevys and Xterras. All of which I'm sure would have been more than happy to help dig out two damsels in distress had the need arisen.

Now, about this buisness of skiing on the east coast. First, let's not confuse these hills with mountains. Second, this element of freezing rain brings skiing to a whole new level. Picture a frozen tundra, with wind blowing and snow swirling. Now add an ice-rink to the vision. Put that on a slope. Surround it with trees COVERED in ice, and a moderate temperature of 17 degrees with a 30 mph wind. Yes, these were the optimal conditions Nancy and I and envisioned, too, as we left Baltimore.

Overall, we had a good time. No broken bones, no major injuries, and we think we might even make it back up one more time this season, although probably not a day it has actually snowed.