Viking, ski's and "Other Topics"

[Mike P]

Viking, ski's and "Other Topics"


It is snowing. We got five inches last night. Four more are on the way. Of course the newspaper didn't arrive this morning. Our delivery guy seems to bail at anything over half an inch. In his defense, where I live is rather hilly and that old Ford Escort wagon he drives is lucky it can make the route on dry roads. Without a newspaper to read, the Swedish woman makes me talk to her while we are having our morning coffee around the wood burning stove. And with five or six inches of powder on the ground, I dread what I know she is eventually going to say. True to her Scandinavian childhood she is going to utter those words that strike terror to my entire being! "Lets get out the ski's dear" is said with an accent never conquered by a conversion to English. And I cringe at the words.

She kicks my ass. No other way to put it. Anything else would not give the meaning that is accomplished by that little vulgarity. The woman is fifty-nine years old and can ski like a twenty year old. Cross country or downhill, it doesn't matter. But what she has in mind today is cross country. At least with downhill I have some gravity to help move this ever growing bulk and lifts to get me back up to the top. But she had the ultimate torture in mind for me today. She wanted to take on the hills and hollows here in the neighborhood. And there are no lifts.

I used to like doing this with her twenty years and thirty pounds ago. I still couldn't keep up with her. Like most children in Sweden she started skiing when she was four years old; for her it is easier then walking. It was a very fun way of scouting whitetails back then. But it was back then. It is not now. I would enjoy the flat country and the fun going down the hills. But climbing hills with skis is an art form. And it is an art I have never mastered.


So why am I telling you this and why is this thread in "Crossbow Hunting" and not in "Other Topics?" Two reasons. First, I am buying some time by hacking this out in my office and out of sight from the soon to be "Viking on Ski's" taskmaster. And second, it involves the two forum categories listed above.

I never went to "Other Topics." When it first made its appearance it was dominated with political posts and quite frankly was spewing some pretty good venom. I was not interested. I just lived here in "Crossbow Hunting" although I would check out the Trading Post every so often. And then a couple of days ago for some reason I clicked on "Other Topics" and I was most surprised. All the political bull is gone and there are some really interesting posts there.

Now that is just what I needed! As if I didn't spend enough time checking in here at the forum to see what's going on, now my time will be doubled! If your a "Crossbow Hunting" visitor and do not check out "Other Topics" your missing some good stuff.

The Viking is making sounds out in the mud room that are pretty scary. And she is telling me to get the lead out. I am yelling back at her that I still have a little bit to finish up.

I am already receiving benefits from discovering this new category.

[mikej]

good luck with the skiing mike

[VixChix]

Mike, you gave me my morning chuckle! Forget the Other Topics... Go out and ski!

I have the fondest and best memories of my dear Dad kicking my butt on his ancient XC skis even back in the days when I was younger and much fitter. He was a machine.

I can still picture him now, stopping to point out animal tracks, or the way the snow had drifted into patterns, or the colours of the sunset. I remember him often distracting me with "something over there" as he covertly knocked a pile of snow from an overhanging branch down the back of my neck. It was a game we played. I'd give anything to be able to go a few more miles on skis with him today.

Enjoy! Or, if you can't enjoy the skiing, then enjoy the moment you return to sit at the wood stove.

[sumner4991]

Get out there Mike! Just don't pull a Bono.

[GA.crossbowhunt]

dang sax you beat me to it. those trees dont move an inch and i should know.