This is the time of the year when it's almost downright unbearable, thinking about skiing, watching ski movies, getting teased by little dustings of snow--but don't despair, it's coming soon! *I'm thankful I've had some diversions this past week or so to keep the mind off skiing for at least parts of the day....


Our friend Glen Poulsen held his annual "Burning Lamb" Asado at his property outside of Bridgeport, CA--it's a big camp-out with families and dogs and guitars and a huge campfire, an Argentinean lamb-roast (with actual Argentineans to do the honors), and lots of other great food and friends. *With just a dusting of snow on the ground, maybe a few inches up high, the trails weren't really bikeable and it was too freezing cold for climbing, so we did the old-fashioned thing and took a hike out of Twin Lakes. *It was beautiful--fall colors (buttery yellows, burnt oranges...SNL, anyone?) and snow. *



Then, I went to Portland for a night to shoot a commercial for The North Face--the makeup artist had a tough job, as she had to make it look like I had been out in a storm, complete with frosted hair! *There was also a guy who had the job of making me look snowy--after each take they would call him in and he'd squirt me with water (I was wearing a one-piece ski outfit, so it was fine) and then throw this snowy stuff on that would stick to the water. *He said it was the same stuff they use in baby diapers to absorb all of the "liquid." *If it's good enough for babies' bottoms, it's good enough for me!



Portland was Tuesday--on Thursday I flew to Montreal (pictured here) to begin the MSP East Coast movie tour. *We're showing Claim in 7 cities, and Montreal was an awesome first stop. It keeps getting more and more French every time I go back, which I thought was cool; I liked when people were speaking French to me and I just sort of nodded at them and smiled. *After about one and a half words of my high school French, they would make a big sigh and let me know that I shouldn't bother. *I didn't take it personally.



Although apparently they keep entire clusters of small children on one big leash.....qu'est que c'est?! *



From Montreal we drove south to Burlington, Vermont. *It is so awesome to be on the East Coast during the fall--I'm told we missed the peak foliage, but I thought it was quite brilliant, myself.



Highlights in Burlington (always a totally awesome place to hang out) included a stop at the best costume store ever, Old Gold, Matt from Ski Rack and Chris and Rush from Volkl showing us a great time, and the best thing was we got invited to a soiree with the members of the Freestyle Ski Team of UVM, and they taught me a new game, called Beirut--I still need some practice at that one. *Our host, Ryland (sp?) was very gracious, and everyone was super nice. *Thanks, FST!



Last night we were in Portsmouth, NH--lots of stoke from the NH skiers, they are super fired up, let me tell you! *This morning we checked out the sea wall at Hampton Beach.



Heimer is stoked here because right now he's on a plane to Mexico....and Matti is stoked because he found this mandolin today at Daddy's Junky Music in Portsmouth. *



Now we're in Boston--the show is tomorrow night, which is nice because right now I'm chilling out and watching the Red Sox game. *Go Sox!




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