Crested Butte

Beaufield, her best friend Amber from Nebraska and I rented a car last week and left town. We went to Crested Butte to visit Beau's friend Clint. We skied and hung out for 4 days. It was great. We also took some great pictures but left the camera at the Karaoke bar...it has yet to be found. Oh well.
It is currently the beginning of Spring Break month here. Hopefully town will get busy and we can all make money before we peace out!
We got some snow the other day -- Thank goodness!
Let's see, what else is going on?
I learned how to snowboard and love it.
I have been trying to be really good about my knee so skiing is on the back burner for this season.
I want sushi something fierce.
I also want Pizza Hut.
I miss my family and friends.
I also miss civilization outside of this box canyon.
I would do this again for another season -- Panama seems more appealing right now.
I have the itch for NYC, BAD.
...and a Philly cheese steak.
My hat obsession has become an increasing problem here.
I still dread having to shower or fix myself for work.
I want a pet again, preferably an english bulldog.
I need to take my GMATS when I get home but probably won't because I am not prepared.
Grad school is going to be pushed back another year (This is something I have recently discovered due to Peace Corps).
I have a list of schools based on different priorities I have been compiling. Currently location is top of the list, not academic excellence. Clearly I need more time to consider my options.
I decided I am going to take my time before applying to any programs. And by taking my time I am referring to my 27 months in Panama.
Somehow I have managed to be called a boy in a small ski town where most girls are tomboys by normal standards. How does that happen? I find being a ski bum has enabled my boy-like qualities to take over yet again. Beau says that I am a black man stuck in a white woman's body. I can't really argue that...I get ESPN updates on my cell phone and eat like it's my job.
That might be all I have right now...
Most of my friends are either close to marriage or in a serious relationship. I find it difficult to think about being in a relationship at all. In fact it almost scares me. haha. I figure it will work out when it is meant to, hopefully when I least expect it!

Ok, that is all for now.

Let's Go To Arizona.

Beau and I in Flagstaff -- Thanks Adam!
The Grand Canyon.





Beau and Adam after a day of skiing Snowbowl.



Our friend, Adam, invited Beau and I to join him for a visit to his home town...the day before he was leaving. WE SAID OF COURSE! So Tuesday we headed to Flagstaff, Arizona and just got back today (Friday afternoon). We had a friggin' blast. I taught Beau how to ski -- she snowboards already but never tried skiing. I was highly impressed. We worked really well together and had so much fun. After the mountain closed we met friends of Adams for some Apres skiing drinks and nachos. Bob, his best friend's dad challenged me to a jalapeno eating contest. I definitely won. haha.
The next day we woke up early and went to the Grand Canyon, seeing as he lives an hour away. Beau and I had never been and were really excited for the experience. We had a big dinner party at Adam's house with his friends and family last night. It was a great time and I think we were all glad to get out of Telluride for a few days.
I have to go to work now but figured I would attempt to share at least a portion of what is going on my life these days. Everything is still minute by minute for me and I love every single second!!!

Gwethen the guwl

Josh in Amanda's ridiculous sneakers.
Frozen hair after the best day I've ever had on a mountain.

Amanda and Lindsey.
Prospect.

Amanda and I had the best day on Monday. By some miracle we both had the whole day off work -- it dumped snow the night before. Neither of us were aware of this when we decided to go skiing. Knee deep, first tracks. It was glorious. We ran into lots of friends on the mountain and had plenty of dance party action on the chair lifts and the hill. haha. It was SO MUCH FUN.
My knee didn't hurt at all and still feels great. Work has been fun. One of the one and a half year olds at the daycare, Finn was adorable yesterday. I was changing his diaper (SUPER DUPER) and he goes, "Gwethen, my dad is a boy and you are a guwl. And I am growing to a big boy can't you see my mustache?" HOW CUTE IS THAT??? I couldn't stop laughing. The kids I get to work with are hilarious. Talk about personality and smarts. They always want to cuddle, sing and dance. I mean, who doesn't?
Tonight there is a Prom the lift operators put together at a local bar. It should be hilarious. Of course I have to work tonight so I will be there late. I am okay with that as long as I can get some pictures of mountain people attempting to dress up! haha. HILARIOUS.

That is all I have for now == this cafe is freezing and I don't want to type anymore. I head back to NJ on April 7th, thanks very much to Christine Ellen Ritner. :)

Mad love to my homies.

Long Time No Talk.

My apologies for the delayed entry. Let me see...where do I begin?
First of all, I absolutely love it here -- and LOVE my jobs. I am working at an awesome daycare center, Mountain Munchkins...not sure if I wrote about it yet or not. 16 one and two year olds and 8 infants. They are adorable! The shifts are nine and a half hours long, pretty draining but totally worth it. My boss is really big on early childhood education and pushes the staff to take classes and go to seminars in town. It is really a great program.
I am working in town at The Cantina, an awesome restaurant that just opened. I love the people I work with and the food is out of this world. My boss has become one of my best friends out here which is pretty fun.
I am also ski instructing which has been awesome. I am only doing it when it is really busy on the mountain. It has been pretty chill.
I found out that the pain in my knee is a because I tore my LCL. That was great news...NOT. I have been banded from the mountain for most of the season by the doctor. I wore a stupid brace that made me develop a pimp walk -- not as cool as it sounds, trust me. I wore the brace and my knee does feel better. I am still going to teach in Februrary and eventually will ski this season. Things are looking up! haha. At least it has been crazy warm here and we haven't had a dumping of snow since Christmas. It makes it easier for me to be out of commission.
I am starting to get ready for Peace Corps Panama a bit more. And I am going to start studying for the GMATs so I can take them in April for grad school....gross. My newest idea for grad school is to find a school near a ski resort so I can still do the ski bum thing and get my degree. Super Duper.
Hmm, OH! Timbo came out to visit for New Years. It was quite a visit. We had a crazy night with some crazy rich Texans that adopted Tim and I as their children. We skied, ate way too much and played lots of Cranium with my friends. It was a lot of fun and I am so glad he got to see the postcard I live in every day. I miss that kid a ton. The week flew by and I wish he could have stayed forever.
I miss everyone from home and really missed NYC on New Years. I am excited to visit in April.
Word up.

I love the Gondola.

The view from the Gondola heading into town. I love this place so much. I went home for Thanksgiving and got to spend lots of time with family and friends. It was so much fun! Tim and I worked out together but were too sore to continue the rest of the week. Pathetic, I know. My baby cousins are getting so big it is crazy!
Dana, Tim and I attempted to get tattoos together on an impulse. The people that worked at the tattoo shop were really rude and charged WAY too much so it was a no go.
I flew back to Telluride on Saturday and had to land in Cortez because it was too dangerous to land in Telluride. So my day of travel was complete after 16 hours. I was exhausted but went out to see people anyway. The mountain is opened so we have been skiing as much as possible! There are only 2 runs open because we need a few good snow storms and the resort is trying to save money. It has been snowing quite a bit since Thanksgiving so that is a good thing! I cannot wait for more runs to open.
I got a job with an awesome daycare center based on child development. I absolutely love it! The babies are adorable. It is only infants and toddlers up to the age of 3. My boss is great and the staff is as well. I have snow college for ski instructing this weekend and an interview for a waitressing position in town on Friday. Then I will have to decide where I will make the most money and let go of one of my jobs. My goal is to make as much money as possible while being a ski bum. We will see how well that turns out...at least my apartment building is right on the mountain and rent is dirt cheap!
Last night was Noel night in town. Every shop had sales and the bars and restaurants had specials. There were tons of people hanging out around town. It was a lot of fun! The Christmas tree lighting was cute and all the shops put up their holiday lights. I am in love with this town! Amanda got a job at Slope Styles, a snowboarding shop. She seems to really like it, I am so happy she found something fun! She also interviewed at the restaurant in town to be a waitress. We are both hoping to work there, the cash would be splendid! Plus it is mexican food -- can't go wrong there!
Well, that is all for now. Hasta Luego!

Ski Boots for $15?

Here are some pictures of fun evenings with friends at Big Billies, my new residence.





Yes, that is correct - ski boots for $15. I love living in this little town. The leftovers from the ski swap were even more marked down and I had no idea. Not only are the boots I bought awesome, they just happen to match my new skis. What are the odds?!
I am currently in the Denver Airport waiting for my connecting flight home for Turkey Day! Not going to lie, I am really excited to see everyone. Things in Telluride have been great. I nailed my interview at a great daycare center in Mountain Village and will be starting work on Tuesday. Snow College for ski instructors starts on December 5th and I also applied as a waitress in town. Things are slowly falling into place.
Kate's costume birthday party was hilarious. We all had so much fun! I dressed as a saucy school teacher with the school bus skirt I found from the free box in town. The Gondola is running now and it makes going to town so much cooler! The view is unbelievable.

The truth is...you can't escape it.

My first week in Telluride has gone by rather quickly. I set up my apartment to the best of my ability, became a member of the local library and received my new skis in the mail yesterday. Big Billies apartment building is like college...but better? Only because there are no exams to worry about.
There are so many people to meet everyday and so much to see that I barely sleep in! That is a shocker, I know. We have played lots of games, watched movies and went to see a live Bluegrass show in town the other night. There was a corn hole competition the other day. Amanda and I signed up but I was feeling under the weather so I asked a nice fellow to take my place. And I watched football all day instead. The Packers gave the Bears a pretty good beating. That would normally excite me but the Bears are like the equivalent of a high school team.
There is a free box in town where people drop off stuff they no longer want. It is pretty amazing. I found an awesome skirt with school buses all over it. I might wear it tonight if I am feeling saucy. I met some boys from Maryland who happen to know people I went to high school with...that was weird. And I have a great group of....wait for it...wait for it... girl friends here! Yeah, that's right, I said it, girls as friends. haha. We have been having lots of fun hanging out and exploring the town. A bunch of our new fabulous friends are starting orientation tomorrow as ski lift operators, I think life may be a bit boring without all of them around during the day!
Tomorrow night Jen (my fabulous friend from Denver) and I threw together a Super Sweet 23rd Costume Party for our friend Kate from Michigan. I am very excited. It will be great. Tonight we are going to bake her a delicious cake.
Last night I made a big dinner for a bunch of people in our land lords apartment. He has a great place and a real stove. I was so excited that he let me use his kitchen!
We are building a fort in my room tonight. I am also very excited about that.
Hasta Luego for now.