Rocky Mountain High(s) (and Lows)

Just back from spring break in Telluride with some friends and their kids. Here are the highs and lows:

High: H skiing double black diamond mogul runs
Low: Me having to take the bail out run around and wait for her at the bottom--I'm proud of her, but it's a bit humiliating being out-skied by a 7-year-old (guess I'll be taking a bumps lesson next year)

High: T skiing a black diamond mogul run
Low: A good 20 feet of that being on his butt

Low: Friend we were with dislocating his shoulder
High: He's an ER doc, and re-set it himself (ew!)

High: Same friend feeling better and testing his range of motion later that night
Low: Friend dislocating it again in the process (and re-setting it again)

High: T getting big air off a jump in the terrain park and landing on his feet
Low: After landing on his feet, falling backward on his butt, then forward on his head (thank goodness for helmets!)

High: Everyone skiing the Plunge
Low: Not being able to locate "I skied the Plunge" t-shirts after telling the kids about them and getting them all amped--that was whack

High: Scenic drive on winding mountain roads past Ralph Lauren's ranch to the airport
Low: Said winding mountain roads inducing carsickness in both H and T, which then almost triggered a chain reaction of puke amongst the rest of us! We pulled over and the local police stopped to make sure we were OK, then proceeded to direct traffic as we got everyone cleaned up. We put all the pukey clothes in one suitcase--I feel bad for the TSA screener who inspected that one!

High: 6 days of skiing under robin's egg-blue skies
Low: we now look like a family of reverse raccoons

I spent last night and today in re-entry mode--going through mail, grocery shopping, laundering pukey clothes, watching recorded shows. I think Stephanie is the chef to beat on Top Chef. And sadly, I'm a bit bored by AI--I still like David Cook (but he's no Blake, despite Randy's comment about him being the most original contestant ever--as if), Jason Castro and Brooke White, but nobody really grabs my attention and we won't be going to the concert this year. Last week's Rock of Love was great not only because Megan finally went (yeah!), but also because Heather rules!

Tainted Guv

Poor Eliot Spitzer, or Eliot Mess as he should now be known. I honestly don't have an issue with his using an, ahem, escort service, but I think with the image he's cultivated for himself, he's going to have a hard time recovering. And if I were his wife, I'd be seriously PO'd that he was wasting that kind of money! Seriously, I told A last night that if it were him, I'd be less mad about the hooker and more mad about the $3000!

If He Serenaded Me With "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"....

So for a host of odd reasons (mostly because I'm a lemming), I went to see Bret Michaels (formerly of Poison and currently of Rock of Love) on Sunday night. I was pleasantly surprised by the show. I was also mildly horrified that I apparently know more Poison songs than I thought. He did some covers and was altogether pretty darn entertaining. He's very self-aware and embraces his cheesiness/tawdriness, which I love. He's also proof positive that you can take any not-that-attractive and/or somewhat cheesy dude, slap a guitar on him and instantly make him 100x hotter than he otherwise would be. Big John was there (shoulda asked him for my "pass"), as were Ambre and Inna. Inna is indeed a "tank" and Ambre is much prettier in person than on the show--she looks younger and less haggard.

I've realized that reality TV is taking over my life, so have cut off not only America's Next Top Model, but also Dancing With the Stars. I'm pretty OK with this, especially since the eye candy that is Maks is not on this season.

Bohemian Rhapsody

T has been obsessed with this song ever since he watched Michael Johns sing it on American Idol. So I downloaded it to his iPod in his room and he's been rocking it out. It's so darn cute to hear him sing "If I'm not back again this time tomowwow, cawwy on, cawwy on" since he can't say his R's.

Hello.... Is it Me You're Looking For?

I did like David Cook's rendition of this song last night, but I can't get fully on board with him for admittedly shallow reasons: I don't like his comb-over, and he's too doughy for me. I liked Jason Castro again, and was less gaga over David Archuleta. And Randy, did you really think INXS sang Don't You Forget About Me? I am bored with Danny, David Hernandez, Luke and Chikezie, and they can go at any time.

What a Day for a Daydream

So far, I'm pretty underwhelmed by this season of AI. In fact, I was so nostalgic for last season, I spent a good chunk of the day yesterday on YouTube watching the magic of Blake Lewis. He was so darned musical, talented and easy on the eyes, and no one else seems to have that combination this year. I like the musicality of Jason Castro, but I don't see myself becoming a fanatic. And David Archuleta is definitely a great vocalist, and he seems genuinely nice and humble, but he doesn't make me feel like a crazed fan. Michael Johns is definitely pretty, but he lacks Blake's musical talent. David Hernandez is kinda cute--in that gay stripper sort of way. I don't have a strong opinion about any of the girls, except that Carly needs to fix her teeth. I also think she's overrated, and the fact that her husband (he of the scary tattooed face) hasn't been shown on the show recently is clear evidence of the AI powers-that-be trying to make her palatable to Middle America. I still like Brooke, but there's no "wow" factor there, either.

I'm just back from a girls' weekend skiing in Keystone. It was 40 and sunny the whole time, and I've got the reverse-raccoon look going on now. One of the girls brought Red Vines--so much better than Twizzlers. They're like the red laces of my youth....