The Blizzard

Greetings!

I’ve been scrambling (as usual) this past week. With a quick trip to the east coast and my brother and niece visiting for spring break skiing, it was hard to juggle work, play, entertaining and travel. However, I did manage to ski on the best powder day of the year at Monarch Mountain. With all of us decked out in our new powder skis (similar to strapping a snowboard on each foot), we ate up the mountain with big grins on our faces, whooping and hollering like frat boys. Even my 14 y/o niece was chasing us down black runs, in and out of the trees, in the hip-deep powder. Sometimes all you could see was her pink helmet!

Unfortunately, the blizzard hit right before my weekly commute to the Denver airport and to listen to the news—it sounded like the airport was going to be buried (of course the news always exaggerates). Fearing the worst, and with the highway that I normally travel already closed, I cut my day of skiing short and hit the road the day before my flight. My regular 3 hour drive was only 5, which isn’t bad considering it was a blizzard and I had to drive around the long way because of the road closures.

I rarely fly on the same day as I speak somewhere—it’s a little too nerve wracking for me and plus, it pretty much takes me 8-10 hours to get anywhere. But since I didn’t have to speak until 5:30p on Friday, and I was only going to west Arkansas, I thought I could make it work. Little did I know there would be a blizzard—the first time this year weather has impeded my travel. The drive to the airport was a little harry through Denver, with about 10” new snow, but I had plenty of time since I had stayed with my friend in Denver. Driving on five lanes of interstate with traffic but no visible lines is interesting. Fortunately everyone stayed in line and drove sanely. But the airport was dragging a little and although we boarded the flight almost on time, we sat on the tarmac for an hour before takeoff.

Although I was a couple hours later than planned, I made it in time! The U of AR Horse Fest, an annual event in Fayetteville, has a training clinic on Friday night, then a fun family day on Saturday. Unfortunately, that dang blizzard chased me all the way to AR and it rained and snowed all Friday and Saturday. Although the turnout was a little low and all the many outdoor events had to be cancelled, the folks that were there were enthusiastic and had a great time.

I have a quick turn around this week, with only two day at home before I head out to Ohio for Equine Affaire. Then from there, to SC to film the TV show. It’s a packing nightmare!

Enjoy the ride!

Julie