It's official. We can add snowboarding to the list of neat stuff that Jimbo does outside. After living in Flagstaff for four years and Southern California for ten, I have finally, FINALLY learned how to knuckle drag. I can barely type this post as a result of repeated impacts to the hard pack throughout the day, and my knees feel like over-ripe cantaloupe, but after just two runs with my friend Yvonne, a former snowboard instructor, I can now carve solid S turns without repeatedly introducing his face to the snow. This was infinitely more enjoyable than my first attempt at boarding when my friend Shawn took me to the top of a mountain and said, "go down."

I'm still not overly keen on any sport that requires me to spend $62 (not including gas, food, lodging and did I mention gas) bucks a day just to participate, but it was still enjoyable enough to expect a few post season investments at REI real, real soon.

For the record, it's like 70 degrees and sunny up at Mammoth right now and the spa is bubbling. One more reason why you really ought to be here with me.