NO maybe's

I have spent the last two days engulfed by Whitefish Montana and skiing the fish. After snowing a fresh 6 inches, I was biting at the bit to grab my K2's and take some turns. It was an epic day, the weather was not April like at all, in fact it felt like it was Mid- Winter not Spring. If I wasn't on a mountain I prolli would have found myself saying... really SNOW... But here its winter paradise and we hold onto that white fluffy stuff as long as we can, or at least til closing day. For that day after we pray for a 95 degree day and melt our winter paradise away so we can bike, run and hike. Its all or nothing here you see... We want the snow as long as we can ride, play and ski in it and as soon as the season comes to a close we want it to go away as fast as possible. Only to find ourselves counting the days til the next winter season that will find us in winter paradise once again. Life is really just that simple here. No need for drama. No need for complications. We are here to live - to breath and to have fun doing it. And maybe just maybe there's a secret to that success found in a little map dot town that is found amongst the mountains. Maybe just maybe life is different here. No maybe's about it... IT IS.

Spring... STAY away!

Life on the mountain is starting to show signs of Spring, however Winter just doesn't want to give in and leave us. I woke up this morning with four inches of fresh snow, and I am almost certain I am living in one of the only places that welcomes this with a huge smile. That's what living in a ski town is all about, snow. As long as that mountain is open, we want snow and as much as possible. We will welcome Spring after April 10th well actually the 11th (employee ski day is held the day after the mountain is closed to the public). Granted the groomers are nice to tear up on a blue bird day but nothing beats shedding fresh pow. So we will take whatever white stuff we can get as well as enjoy the blue bird days where you can see all the way to Canada and beyond. For putting those K2's away is something that can hold off for another day, so please Spring stay away, well at least in Montana... esp on Big Mountain.

Nature

I am back and refreshed after two days off, I woke up to 7inches of snow and now realize that I have a view of a snowbank only in front of my windows - how crazy is that?? And yet the snow keeps falling. As I took some turns in knee deep powder in the Hellroaring Basin, I paused and just took a seat in the snow. Surround by nature in complete and utter silence. And wow the state of peace that brings. Breathing in fresh crisp air with simple beautiful views that can only be found outdoors in nature. Life is just different, life seems so simple when you are outdoors and surround by mother nature. You find nature speaking to you, providing you with some sort of calmness in the storm of life. You take a breath in and release in a steady and slow rhythm, what was once so heavy on your mind has some how just escaped you and you are left feeling in a state of ease. That's why I love nature so much, what else can refresh you, who else can you have the best talk with and yet no speak a single word, where else can you go and find peace just by enjoying your surrounds. You are never judged, your problems never seem to mindless or senseless. Most of all you are able to JUST BE. And most of the time that's just what you need and truly all you need.

Back in the Swing of things.

I am alive... After spending a week trapped in doors due to what was first thought as whooping cough but ended up being a server ear infection and a respiratory bacterial infection - I am now among the living. I couldn't be happier, thou I still don't feel 100% at best I am sitting at 60% yet anything is better than being stuck at home. One can only watch so many episodes of House and what I call trash tv, besides I was getting sick of eating chicken broth and walking around in like it was 110 outside. I bet everyone will agree being sick blows. So happy to be back in the swing of things. Now I can't wait to hit the slopes after all the snow we have gotten in the past week. Hope everyone else is drinking OJ, eating chicken noodle soup, staying warm and staying healthy.

Back to Life.

Life is now getting back into the swing of things. The guests are all gone, the house is clean, the laundry is done and the fridge is slowly getting back to the level of food storeage I can handle. Its been a busy few weeks with people coming and going. Lots of food prepared and eaten. Many photos of this and that. Heaps of smiles and laughter. Memories made and great times had. But now life gets back to life. A pleasant and yet kind of a sad fact. It always takes me a day or two to get use to the solitude but in no time I am back in my routine. I have found I love to just be here, to just live simple. No drama, no make-up, no gossip, no fashion, no questions, no non-sense, space filled with quiet and peace, time to reflect and think, dressing for comfort and warmth, and days that allow you to just be. Thats life in the Fish. Oh how I have loved the company but I welcome my back to life ways with open arms.

Guests from Minnesota

I have been counting down the days, and tomorrow the Niezwaags arrive. I can not wait to see them both and have a relaxing weekend on the mountain with them. For I know our time will be filled with the simple life... Life just the way I like it. Good food, coffee, great company, trashy tv, reflecting on remember whens, laughing, skiing and riding, smiling and chats. Man oh man have I missed their faces. I am honored they are taking their winter paradise vacation in Montana with me, thou they aren't escaping the snow from Minnesota they are escaping the wind and the extreme cold...Looking forward to seeing you my friends, Casey and Bridgette.

Whitefish, MT

Living in a ski town & up in the mountains we just might be the only place that you find yourself praying for snow and excited - thrilled to have the more snow the better. We simply can't get enough of SNOW. The mountain tops are covered as well as the trees. You can't help but look around and think this truly is WINTER PARADISE. When you take the lift up to the summit, you feel like you have left land of reality and are now seeing and breathing life in a Dr. Suess book. The trees and your surrounds look almost not real. Time seems to start slowing down and you start to feel like your in a drunken state from the tranquility. The view of the Flathead Valley and the Glacier Mountains is one of my eyes' favorite thing to see. For when you are climbing up the mountian and look back your eyes are filled with wonder when you see the view below. You think wow what could possibly top this, then you reach the summit and as your chair peaks over the top you see them; the Majestic, Astonishing, Slendor snowy enormous Mountains. A beauty that can't be described, its just somehting you have to see for yourself. Something I highly suggest you do. Us locals, think its pretty neat and we aren't the only ones. This place represents, utter peace. It is Mother Nature at her best. I am so grateful my life's journey lead me here. Whitefish, Montana you have captured my heart forever.

RAIN GO AWAY

Rain Rain go away, you are wrecking everything. It isn't spring it is winter. We are wanting SNOW not RAIN. I am sick of having a great snow dump of powder only for it to be destroyed by rain. This mother nature is not so not cool. So I beg you... to stop. As I look at the upcoming forecast I am hopefully that these rain storms are thru... and we are back to puffy fluffy white snow... PRAYING FOR SNOW in the FISH.

ski & board with caution.

Whitefish has had a bit of some sorrow lately. Working on the mountain, you tend to know what's happening and when it's happening. All the behind the scenes sort of things. We all know that boarding and skiing is a fun exciting winter activity. There are risks though like there always are when you are being active and then add in speed. Injuries are bound to happen and death can be likely. Its sad but its true. When so many people gather in one place and are being active as well as going at high speed things will happen sooner or later. In the course of my time here the only season where the town and the mountain were hit hard was the first season I was here. When an avalanche occurred on Fiberglass Hill and flowed into the Canyon, it took the lives of two. Though it didn't happen on the mountain - its a popular back country snow-hiking access point from Big Mountain that allows a quick back into the resort. Since then we have been well blessed. Sure many broken noses and such but wounds were healed. Then fast forward to this season. There was and still is much excitement about La Nina and the snow it will bring. Thus far it has granted us many amazing powder days and a settle base of 147 inches of snow and its only January.

We love our mountain here, we think its something and only something you will only find just here. With a view that takes your breath away, snowghosts and heaps of snow... you will be in winter paradise. Most of us love to find un-touched lines and make our tracks. We tend to stay off the groomed slopes and venture into the trees, where the powder is soft. In the past it never even came across my mind that skiing and riding in such a place has a risk. I tend to always have a ski partner but sometimes I don't. I think I ski with care but sometimes things just happen. Its a risk that comes with the winter activity/sport. At the end of December a young teen was found in a tree well off a groom run. He later passed away. It was an awakening to all of us. To have fun but ski with care. With our wounds still fresh tragedy struck again, yesterday. A day that we all dream about having ten inches over night and 30 inches in the past few days to play in. The locals live for days like these. There will be a line at chair one by 7:30am on such days. You can feel the excitment in the air. You see the smiles under the facemasks and goggles. What was an epic day soon went to blue when we found that ski patrol was assisting an older man at the bottom of a run. The news only grew worse when we found he didn't make it. Then later that night the body of a 20's something male was found not too far away from the sight the teen's body(in yet another tree well) was found two weeks prior (off the groomed runs by t-bar 2). So of course we are all reading the internet news. Wanting to know what happened and why. We are grasping for answers.

But the truth is no answers can be found only the stinging realization that death is a part of life. When we put on those boots and facemasks the last thing we think of are such things like death or injury. We are thinking in terms of how much fun awaits us on the mountain. For thats what brings us all here... fun in the snow. So we don't pay attention to the risk we are taking as we venture out to simply have fun.. We don't think in the terms of this could be my last day, this ride to the summit to could lead to my end on this earth. We don't think in such a way nor should we. Skiing has awlays been an escape for me. A way to just be at peace and ease surrounded by nature. And I feel that those who's lives were lost on the mountain share that in common with me. Though their lives end in tragedy I would hope before those moments there was a smile on their face because they were doing something that brought them happiness and peace. I would hope that they were filling their lungs to the max with the crisp cold air as they took in the sights around them. I pray that the families of those we have lost from our winter community are able to have some peace that they were out having fun. And sometimes bad things just happen. For the rest of us, we ski with a little more caution, we board with a partner - and we wait for that partner and we make sure we can see that partner at all times. For the rest of us we learn lessons - hard lessons that came at a great price from the lives of those taken. So I hope the next time you hit the slopes you aren't flying down the hill at an extreme speed. I hope the next time you are skiing in the trees you are keeping your distance from the tree wells(or at the very least paying attention to them). I hope the next time you venture in powder you go out with a partner - stay within eye distance to that partner and return with that partner. For the time on the mountain is meant to be filled with fun and happy memories yet we need to also be aware of the risks we are taking to have such a time.

Lost into Nature.

Today its the type of day where the mountain seems to be moving and breathing in complete and utter silence. The trees are all blanketed in white from the fresh snow that fell from the clouds above - almost like someone is just sprinkling it down from above. Big flakes that look more like your watching if from a scence from a movie rather than it happening in real life. It is truly a winter paradise. No wind. No noise. No sound at all. Not even a chirp from a bird or the roar of an engine as a car makes it way up and down the mountain. You can see the people and the cars but can't hear them. Its times like this I am at total peace. My body feels as thou a wave of calmness has swept over me. I have not a worried thought or stress in my head. I am at ease. You discover yourself in such moments just breathing in and out. And with each breathe you realize yourself letting go - falling completely further and further into nature's paradise. It truly is a wonderful place to be lost in. Its hard not to be in a state of tranquility. Its times like this you swear someone is talking to you. Whether that be mother nature a higher being or somoene you have lost... You not only hear but you feel them beside you as well. It may not happen to all - for you have to listen to hear them. You have to be still to feel them. You have to shut out the everyday noise of your life in order for your mind to hear. Maybe its not even the voice of someone else that you hear... maybe its just your inner voice talking to you. Whoever it is it brings me relief. That's the best thing about nature you can be totally lost in it yet knowing without a doubt just where you are. I encourage you all to try getting lost into Nature.

A place to stay

I often find myself surrounded by new faces. I find these amazing people just walking into my life like as if they have always been in my life or as if they had always had planned on walking into my life. These people who start out as strangers just find ways to make me smile and laugh. They find ways to make it feel as if I have had known them all along.

I found such people working and living in Whitefish. And I realize just how amazing it is to find such people by the chance of a little luck. My everyday is filled with simple happiness because I find myself surrounded by good honest and kind people. Who can laugh and smile. Who love living as much as I do and are just happy to be. So tonight I thank those that started out as strangers in my life who I know call a friend.

Esp to my Whitefish friends who have helped this amazing place turn into more that just a town but my home. You are my reasons for always wanting to stay. You have helped me feel like I belong here and need to be here. My life is more because of you. Whitefish is more because of you!! Thank you Kali. Emily. Stacy. Nikki. Marti. Allison. Karen. Erin. Denise. Katie. Hannah. Lori. If it weren't for you this would just be like any other pretty place in the world. It is you that gives this place meaning. It is you that makes it feel like a home and a place you want to stay!!... FOREVER

Stac

When I moved to Whitefish in the late fall of 2007, I didn't know I solo. I had never been to the little town that was found at the bottom of Big Moutain. As I made my drive from central North Dakota to the tip of the Northwestern corner of the Big Sky state, I didn't know what was in store for me.

I slowly started to meet people from work that would soon introduce me to two gals from Pennsylvania that would make Whitefish feel like home. I met Stacy Moir at the Northern on a night in December and knew in a matter of seconds I had just met the person that would be 'my person' in the mountains. Turned out I was right, she was this amazing girl with a huge heart that always had time for a smile, a chat, a cold drink. I soon found myself always with Emily *her roommate* and her. And we were always laughing. That first winter holds a lot of special memories for me, and most of those memories where created with her. That first winter was a year of growth and learning for us (Stacy, Emily and I) and we did that all together. We made a home for ourselves in a place we had never been too and somehow we found each other. To me in moments like that its fate, to find such friends. Almost like they were just waiting for me to find them and it took me going to Whitefish to do so. She has since moved away from Whitefish, and to be honest it hasn't been the same since she left. We (Emily and I) are always looking forward to her coming back to this winter paradise again someday but in the meantime we reflect of that winter filled with memories of smiles, laughter, great times, and an amazing friendship. We think of the challenges - changes - struggles - learning and growth of that first winter in the mountains and the strength we found in each other. And I am confident I made it thru and had such a great winter because I was lucky enough to find Stacy. For I know that winter would have been completely different if it wasn't for her.

So to Stacy, where-ever you are today in this life... know that I am grateful that your life's journey lead you to Whitefish. I am grateful that somehow our paths crossed and we became friends. You are a beautiful and rare soul. That has open my eyes to the possibilities this life holds. You have taught me the meaning of true friendship and above all how to treat others. For you are the friend that everyone wishes they had, and somehow I am lucky enough to call my friend. I encourage you to keep that adventurous spirit out yours alive. Keep challenging yourself. Continue to embark on new journey's in this life and be confident in the person that you are. You are making a difference in the lives that you meet and touch - I should know I was and still am one of those. Your a beautiful gal that's for sure but what's on the outside that everyone first sees doesn't even come close to compare the beauty that lies in your soul. Take care my friend.
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." -Anais Nin.

Having a friend like you (her) helped me to relax and not think of all of the people that I was missing. I found that I wasn't homesick or missing my friends because I had her around. She's the kind of friend you hope and dream of finding in a new place, in a strange place, in a place you don't know anyone. For she's like the girl down the block, the friend you have had forever. The friend that accepts, listens, understands and just befriends all parts of you. She is kind, compassionate, and caring. She helped exposed me to a world I had never known existed. And from that world I grew and found myself. What a gift to be truly thankful for.

"Every person is a new door to a different world." -Six Degrees of Seperation

Mard

Her name is Marti Alltucker but I call her Mard. She was the first personI met, the first friend I ever made when I moved to Whitefish. Most of my favorite memories of Whitefish involve her. She's your typical mountain woman. Completely laid back, lives the simple life, and is just happy to be outdoors. From her friendship I have learned to truly live, and live simple. She has taught me its not how much you have but what you do with what you have. She will always be honest with you, no matter what. Which is one of her greatest traits. When I am in a bind in the Fish its her that I call or her that I lean on. Because I know I can count on her.

She has found herself this guy, Karl. Who I love as much as I love her. And I am so happy she has found someone that gets her and just loves her for her being well her. They are two peas in a pod. Two beings just living the simple life and loving it!! To me they know a big secret, they know what this life is truly all about. And its how they live, what they say and how they say it, and how they treat others around them that makes me realize they know such things. These kinds of people don't talk bout how to live the simple life...they just live it. I am happy and grateful to learn how life should be truly lived thru them!!

PRAY for SNOW

We have been waiting and waiting for a day like today... It seems like for months or at least since right after Christmas... Last night while the town of Whitefish slept Mother Nature gave us a simple but great gift... SNOW... Granted I am sure its only the people that live in the mountains and in a ski town that pray for such things. The more we get.. the happier we are. Its puking right now outside as we speak. And its amazing the effects this white puffy stuff has on us, while at least in this place... its a positive effect. The more we get the happier we are. So for those of you who hate the snow... and don't want it... you can help us out.. PRAY for SNOW in Whitefish. We would gladly accept the white flakes instead of you. I have said it once before well actually prolli more than that... Whitefish is a Winter Wonderland... but in order for to be just that.. we need heaps of snow powder to blanket the mountains - trees and slopes. The forecast says more is to come our way and we are crossing our fingers that it does... Happy Pow Pow Day from the FiSH!!!!

A thanks to you.

I am kind of excited. Sitting at the edge of my sit. Smiling for no reason. Showing that tad bit more kindness. My head is in the air. My mind is drifting else where... and the best part is... its just because of being in this magical winter wonderland. This is my happiness. This is my peace. This is my life... This is me. So thank you for leading my journey to Whitefish...

Arlou

Today actually the last two days i realize that i am so not ready for kids anytime soon...after dog sitting and playin with Arlou for the last two days i realize that if a dog...a puppy is this much work a child will be even more...i don't think i said NO...NO...NO...bad dog...leave it...this is not yours...NO NO NO ARLOU! Its all sugar and spice when she sleeps and cuddles right next to you...however just when i think this...Arlou would let one pass and slap me back into reality...its hard not to when her farts fill up the entire room forcing you to breathe thru your clothing...i do realize things are different when a dog or a person is yours and your complete responsibity....i think everything changes when you realize that is your job to care for, teach, nuture, love...however after watching Marti this morning yelling at Arlou multi times maybe not...it did bring a smile to my face because I could just smile and laugh and not be the one yelling and enforcing the law....I also like how that during these times Arlou runs to me for protection... i am that aunt that spoils and protects i guess...and i am all about hanging and having arlou time but i have found i love to give her back....yet the more that i do watch her the more i think that maybe my life is ready to take on the caring and loving of another living life...maybe getting a puppy is something that thou would be alot of work end up being something life full filling...someone who is always here-someone to talk to other than my own voice from time to time.....

Then just when i have my mind made up...Arlou does something that slaps me back into reality and then i say...um maybe i can wait a bit longer for this adventure to start with another living life to care for...yes in fact i can....but someday. Til then i will spoil protect and watch arlou from time to time and get my filling and then...give her back....for once i have my own...giving back isn't something that is in the list of things i can do.

falling into Fall

Its that time of the year where we pull out the sweaters and spiced pumkin candles. Its that time of year where our suorroundings are changing just as the leaves are turning and then soon to be falling. How could you not love this time of year??

Its my favorite season. My favorite time to be outside. I love everything that comes with this season the slightly cool temps and ever so often crisp wind which is perfect sweater weather. I love the natural colors the browns creams and tans that so many wear that make the orange red and yellow leaves just pop. I love the way the green grass and the blue sky seem to make the fall trees look like something that crazy guy with the big hair that you catch from time to time on pbs painted. Its picture perfect all around. It is the time I enjoy the most to get lost behind the lens of my camera.

For this fall season I hope you find yourself falling into fall! Go for walks alone or with that special someone. Stomp in the leaves and pick so up and throw them into the air. Remember what it was like when you were little raking the leaves just so you can jump into them. Who says there's an age where you are too old to do that? Take in a football or soccer game. Do anything that brings you simple joy and happiness outdoors. Life is about enjoyin it! So get your butt off the couch, don't sleep the day away, stop being lazy and get outside.

Its time to love this life each and everyday and every season! For you only have this life once and it could be gone at any second. Happy Fall!

A season gone.

April 6, 2007...The last day of the 2007-2008 Ski Season on Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort. WoW what a season. What an experience. What an adventure. What a life these last 6 months have been. My life has been given so much, seen so much, met so many. Living on a mountain has slowed down my days and have opened eyes and heart to life. I have always been one who loved to be outside but even more so now. There is something completely life changing to take in the views that I see everyday. The lifestyle feels like in a way that everyday is saturday and I have found my favorite thing to do here is to just stop...to slow down...to take my surroundings all in...to be at peace with myself and with nature. to listen. to see. to just breath. to feel it all to the very depths of my soul. Because when I do this I have found in the end I can do more, give more, be more me and be a better person. I am at ease, I am at peace and I can't help but wanna give that feeling to everyone I see or talk to. It has been a crazy journey here in Whitefish and I look forward to the adventures and experiences I will take in when I return towards the end of the summer. Life is truly just about taking it all in and letting those moments be apart of you forever. Whether they be moments of sorrow, happiness, fear, success or failure. To see the beauty of it, to live through it, to let it change you, to let those things help you find a part of yourself you never knew. And the thing is you don't need to be in Whitefish, Fargo, L.A., The Twin Cities, Australia, China, Russia...it doesn't matter where you are...all that matters is the eyes you view life thru and the attitude you face life with. Life is 10 percent what it deals me and 90 percent on how I react to what I have been dealt. For it is our own being that creates and makes our own happiness or unhappiness.

Where it all leads...

I have come to the conclusion that life is all about the journey of finding ourselves, growing into ourselves, giving ourselves and leaving apart of ourselves behind. Its about opening your heart up and baring your naked soul to life. To feel each and every tear, pain, laugh, smile and moment with the depths of your being. To embrace hardships and times of sorrow in the same way we embrace happiness and success. To see the beauty of life whether it be thru laughter or tears. To stop worrying about where it all leads and to focus on the journey it is taking you on right now. For life has to be more and mean more than to just be born, grow and die. There has to be more. It doesn't make sense if thats just it... The journey would have no meaning if that were it. For if you ever ask anyone what they like best point a or point b ...Chances are if they are like me...they would say the journey to get there. So many people today are so worried about where they are goin? What will happen tomorrow or in the future they lose out on the beauty of today, of the moment of now. Life can be so overwhelming and most cases its because you are taking in too much of the future and looking too far into the future. I have learned so time ago to just let go of the wheel and just enjoy the ride and see where life will lead me. And so far I have always found myself in the places I have always belonged. I know for certain that I would not have grown into the person I am today if I would have never just let go. Its one of the best feelings in the world to just throw the list of "the way the things should go" out the window and tune out the voices of life and turn up & only listen to your own. By doing so I have found I am better at living, giving, loving. being me and being a better friend, sister, daughter and just an over all better person. I have come to feel even more blessed and honored to live this life and love this life. I am even more grateful for the people I have in my life...for my family and friends. Its not always sugar and spice and everything nice...but at least for now and hopefully I can carry this same sense of self with me when it isn't. So to all of you who stress too much, worry too much and think too much...let go and just enjoy the ride....life always has a way.

Almost done!!

As I sit at work with only one more day to come, I can't sit still. I can't wait to head out to Chair One and take the ride to the top on yet another amazing blue bird day with tons and tons of snow to pow thru. The next two days I will spend tearin up the slopes as well as taking in Coach Graham's team softball games in Kalispell. Then I head back into work on Sunday for my last day of work as well as the closing day for the resort. I plan to bum around for a day or two and then pack up and head East. To break up the trip back I will be stopping in Great Falls to see Miss. Lindsey Graham and then make my way back into Beulah on Friday sometime. My time in Beulah will be short stayed...hopefully. All depends on my recovery from surgery. I am hoping its not more than a few days...because thats prolli all I can handle!! I am sure some are wondering surgery?? I am goin in for surgery on my digestive tract wall...aka my colon. I am starting to realize that life after this might be a little uneasy at first. Then I plan to head to Fargo to send sometime with my brother for his birthday as well as see family and friends. Then its off to the Cities to see college friends and of course CHami. After seeing all the faces of those I have missed I am booked to take wedding pictures the first weekend of May and then start work out at oxbow that monday or tuesday of the first week of May. Thats the game plan now...but if I know anything is that whenever I am plans something always happens to destroy them or at least part of them....so fingers crossed...because the only set back that I see happening is my recovery being longer than I plan on having. I am getting super excited to see ALL of YOU. I have missed your faces, your smiles, your laughter and above all your company. It won't be long now!!