Tuesday, January 15, 2013
6:02 pm
Daniel J. Summers
For the past two winters, I've been learning and practicing my snow skiing skills. It's a fun sport. The first year, I recorded a few green runs on my BlackBerry, and last year, I recorded a few blue runs using my HTC Evo 4G Android phone. I attempted an easy black, but I kept messing up whenever I would try to record it!
This year, we went up to Sipapu, our favorite ski resort in northern New Mexico. The second day we were there, a storm blew through, dumping 3-4 inches on top of everything, including the already-groomed trails. I found myself skiing alone as the clouds broke, and decided to try shooting some tougher runs. The result was three “black-n-blue” runs. No, that's not what I looked like when I was done, it was the rating of the trails. :)
The first one is comprised of the two runs that go under lift #1, Gamble ♦ (“Upper Gamble” on some maps) and Lower Gamble ■. Toward the end of this one, my oldest son is the one in the lift chair passing me.
The second run is Rufous ■ and Paul's Folly ♦.
The third one is Flower ♦ and Salt Lick ■. This one seemed to be the most popular on Facebook. Flower is one of my favorite trails, so it's either that, or they liked the music better on this one.
There you have it; fun on the slopes! I hope to be able to record more on future trips.
Friday, October 9, 2009
12:00 pm
Daniel J. Summers
This week has been the 2009 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. I've been “live-photo-blogging” the event when I go, and uploading the pictures to Facebook. The album is public - even if you're not on Facebook, you can still view the album.
The final live photos will probably be Sunday morning during the farewell mass ascension, from 0700-0900 MDT. Hope you enjoy them!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
5:09 pm
Daniel J. Summers
Morgan Freeberg over at House of Eratosthenes has tagged me. I guess I've now arrived as a blogger! :) Anyway, here are my answers. In keeping with his tradition, the questions will be colored red and green.
1. Wrapping or gift bags?
Mix and match. Oddly-shaped gifts are pretty well suited for gift bags. When wrapping for kids, though, paper is definitely the way to go. It's a lot more fun to rip paper than just pull a few pieces out of a bag.
2. Real or artificial tree?
I grew up with real trees, and really prefer the look and scent. However, the cost and trouble have won out, and we have an artificial tree. Pulling a pre-lit tree out of the box, putting three pieces together, and plugging it in is a lot easier than getting a real tree. Plus, we know that all our ornaments will fit!
3. When do you put up the tree?
Thanksgiving weekend, usually Friday.
4. When do you take the tree down?
The weekend after New Year's Day.
5. Do you like egg nog?
I used to, but the older I get, the more I think it's way too sweet.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
One year, as an “early” Christmas gift, I got a boom box (think mid-80s). It was a high-quality one - AM/FM radio, dual cassette decks, large speakers. It was stolen out of our car at church one Wednesday night. :(
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
We have a couple of versions, none an actual “scene” that you would put out on a table. We do have one in a snow globe, that you can wind up and hear a song.
8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Undergarments. Now, that's fine, but as a kid, you're thinking “What?!?!?”
9. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?
Mail, on December 1st. (However, this year we were traveling, so we got them mailed late. If you're reading this and haven't gotten yours yet, hang on - they're coming!)
10. Favorite Christmas movie?
It's a Wonderful Life
11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
December 26th! Of course, it's not a constant thing, but we usually wrap up the major shopping by the first week in December. Again, this year has been a little different, as we were on vacation.
12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My wife makes the best hashbrown and chicken casseroles - they're my favorite! And, since they're not a specific holiday food, we can have them year-round. (I put up her recipe for her cheesy sausage hashbrown casserole earlier this year.)
13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear.
14. Favorite Christmas song?
I'd like to gripe about Christmas songs I can't stand, but this is a positive question, not a negative one. :) My favorite would probably be “O Holy Night.”
Saturday, November 24, 2007
10:45 pm
Daniel J. Summers
Once the turkey has settled, the Christmas season swings into motion. (Yes, I know the Christmas trees are usually up before Labor Day - but that doesn't mean I have to go along with it!) Let's start this one by trotting out a “new classic” of Christmas. The house in the video is real - it isn't a computer-generated animation. The guy would broadcast the sound on a low-frequency FM transmitter, so if a car were parked in front of the house, they could listen on their radios. The music is “Wizards in Winter” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, from their album The Lost Christmas Eve.
