A Powder Paradise Christmas

I know today is Christmas, but here at Powder Paradise we celebrated last Tuesday - due to work schedules.  What a Christmas it was!!!

The first thing I did was hop in the shower as I wanted to be fresh and pretty for the days festivities.   As I was lathering away I heard a squeal in my room and the door shut.  I started giggling to myself.  Jocelyn - one of my housemates - was planning on waking everybody up by jumping on them; she was extremely excited that it was (Poweder Paradise) Christmas.   She had run into wake me up but I was already up and in the shower so she squealed with excitement.  

I finished up my shower and got ready...or I tried to get ready...all I could here from downstairs was banging and Jocelyn shouting "hurry up Emmieeeeeeeeeeee...it's Christmas!!!"  I put my makeup on hold and head downstairs  to  be welcomed by "Happy Christmas" and a mimosa.   We then went to the living room to look at our stockings.   We each had one over the fireplace with our initial on it - so Santa would know who's is who's - and each one was full.  SANTA CAME!!!




Him and his Reindeer even left us a note!!!

 

We then sat down to a pancakes, pineapple and maple syrup - which I didn't eat because I am not a big breakfast eater especially when I first get up and I am not big on pancakes either, but I did help myself to another mimosa to replace the pancakes.

 

After breakfast - and a glass of wine for me - we walked to the shuttle and went to the village to pick up mail and grab mulled wine and mimosa's at Black Diamond (where I work).  Everyone was in such a great mood as our next stop was tree cutting.  Yup we were planning on cutting down our tree!   The chef at Black Diamond printed off a (free) tree cutting licence for us and we all hopped in my boss'(Theresa) pick up - some in the cab some in the back - and off we went to find the perfect tree.

 

 There was a lot too choose from and a lot of snow to get through as well, it didn't stop us though. We were like kids in a candy store...we were all so excited to cut down our very own tree. We hiked through snow heaps of snow, some of it up to our crotches.   Jocelyn sunk right down in one spot screamed and yelled "The snow is vagina deep!!! I have snow in my vagina!!!"  Yup, very non-censored for a Christmas excursion, but that is Joce and we love her dearly,  she is the entertainer of the group.  

 

To make the atmosphere I played my Christmas Radio on my phone so we had music the whole time, well at least I did :)

 

The boys kept going further into the woods but the trees were getting bigger and bigger and I was looking at the trunks thinking we have to chop it down and they are getting thicker and thicker and taller and taller, how are we gonna do this?  We turned around and hiked back through the vagina deep snow to the truck and stood back to take a look.   Pete (Peaches) - Jocelyn's Fiance - was scoping out a tree for quite awhile and said "the only thing is the back of this tree is flat; there are no branches."   Perfect, we are putting it against a wall anyways we don't need a back to it.   So one by one, we took the axe and began chopping away.   And yes, I actually hit the tree in the right spot!  Well not the first time I missed and Will said "Emmie, hit the tree we are cutting down not the other one!"  We must've been a funny sight to watch, there are all the boys in all their winter apparel, snowpants, hats, coats gloves; then there are us girls, make up hair done, dressed up in our celebration clothes cutting down a tree...Jocelyn was in a dress and tights...we are a great bunch that is for sure.

 

 After many chops and everyone taking part in the tree chopping the tree started to bend ever so slightly then it fell and I yelled TIMBER!!!   Yay!!! We actually cut down our own tree!!!  It was great.   To be honest I wasn't expecting it to be that much fun, usually I have these high expectations and then it just doesn't seem as good as I wanted it to be, this however exceeded what I was expecting!!! It was soooooo much fun.

 

The boys picked up the tree and carried to the road, stood it up and proudly posed around it so us girls could take photos of them.  It was like when somebody stand there with their big fish catch, and they hold it up proudly, they were proud of their tree and so were we!  They put the tree in the back of the pick up (with me) Tom, Tommy and Peaches hopped in the back as well and we were off, singing away to the Christmas carols playing on my Christmas radio, proud and excited about our catch.  The boys carried the tree into the chalet, up the stairs and out to the porch and began working on the bottom and branches so it could fit in the corner properly.  While the boys worked at the tree and setting it up for about an hour while us girls stood in the kitchen drinking wine, nibbling on food and preparing food.    After an hour of hard work the boys had our tree placed in a recycling bin jammed with fire kindling to keep it in place...it looked awesome!!! It was now time to decorate the tree!   We had the fire going, wine poured, lights tinsel and decorations, Lauren even made an angel out of tinfoil for the top of the tree!!! Honestly....it's the prettiest Christmas tree in the world, backless and all, it's perfect!!!   We put all the presents under it and then had to wait for Collin and Isam to get home as they both had to work.

 

Dinner was amazing,  we had turkey, stuffing, ham, sweet potato, gravy, carrots...I could go on.  There was so much food...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.  We had table crackers as well and we all got little toys and crowns in them.   Our friend Shannen (from the hostel) joined us for dinner as well which was really nice....she loved every minute of it.   I loved every minute of it I was having a blast - I started drinking at 10am -  the day was going perfect.   

 

After dinner was presents!   We did a secret Santa and I was excited to hand out all the gifts as I wasn't getting one.   What happened was we pulled names when Isam was at his staff party.   I pulled one for him.   When he got home that night he was pretty drunk but I didn't want to forget to give him his name.  "Whats this?"  "It's for your secret Santa."   "I don't understand."  " Well you have to buy a gift for under $10 for the person you have."  "Oh,  well it only says your name on here baby."   Yup, my boyfriend LOL...gee thanks baby....your not supposed to tell me.   Haha.   So I told him not to worry about getting me anything as we were planning on doing a nice night out.   So as much as I was giftless to me there is nothing better about giving gifts and handing them out.    The whiskey was brought out and the Baileys and that's pretty much where I got really drunk.   A few friends from work stopped by to say hi and I just got more happy and more drunk.

 

It was the perfect day and the most epic Christmas...I couldn't have asked for a better day.   Though, I could've asked for a better day after as I was super cross eyed and had to work at 8am till 4pm as the only server all day...haha...I did warn my boss' that I was gong to be cross eyed so they weren't surprised.

 

Now today for Christmas it is work....it's ok I don't mind.   The owners are serving us a "family dinner" tonight at work with wine and beer...I'm so excited!!!

 

Anyways...I know you all need to be off celebrating with your loved ones. I send my love to you all and a big WARM hug to my loved ones who have been without heat.  I know it's cold but just remember you have each other and there are still many things to be grateful for, such as knowing someone like me :o) haha

 

                                     MERRY CHRSTMAS FROM POWDER PARADISE

 

 

                                                                          - MY BEAUTIFUL LIFE-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Powder Paradise

 

A month's worth of groceries, our bags, and 2 of us, packed up in someones truck (no no, we didn't have someones truck, someone gave us a lift) and we were off to Big White.  I was a little excited as the shock of not going to Asia was wearing off, but my excitement didn't last long.   We were suppossed to stay with with a friend from the hostel till mid-december; however, Isam had called him on our way up and he was told that our bed was no longer available?!?!  WTF?!?  He is telling us this now!?!  What are we suppossed to do?  He still told us to come and we would figure everything out once we got there; which we did.   One of the guys living there was heading to Kelowna for the night so we got his bed, but then he moved out the next day so we got to keep his bed.

Originally we were able to stay with our mate until mid-december but since his other 2 mates moved out he said we were able to stay for the whole season, but we weren't sure what we wanted to do.  We liked the guys and the place was quite nice.   It was very cabin like - even though it was an apartment - it was all wooden like with wooden pillars, wooden staircase up to the loft - where we slept - bear skins on the wall - yes real ones - the shower was massive you could fit 5 people in it and it was also a steamer it was awesome - one of the guys left it on one morning and I didn't know how to turn it off.  I was sittin gon the toilet thinking "gee, it's really fucking hot in here" lol not really the greatest way to pee.   The place (not the shower) was really cozy, but as a couple we really wanted a bit of privacy and unfortunately we didn't have any there.  We were up in the loft but there were two other beds up there as well so we never had a space just for us.

We wanted to decide soon as we really were in limbo, we weren't unpacked and we couldn't settle as we didn't really know what was going on.   Our buddy really wanted an answer aswell, were we staying or were we going?  

With figuring out where we wanted to live, we had other things going on.  I still didn't have a job at the hill yet and Isam was starting his on the Monday (we moved up on Saturday).     I did have a job offer at a nice restaurant, however the guy that wanted to hire me doesn't have a very good reputation on the mountain and I had heard nothing but bad things about him so I really wanted to use him as a last resort.   We went for a walk after we moved our stuff in just to look around.    Isam really wanted me to stop into Black Diamond, one of the places I had dropped off my resume - and the other bar that wanted to hire Isam - but I didn't want to go in.   The owner didn't seem to like me when I dropped it off and then I sent a follow up email and didn't have a reply so I didn't think they were interested.   As we walked by the owner saw us and waved through the window and then came outside "Hi Emmie, did Theresa call you.  We would like you to come in for an interview.  Does tomorrow at 11:30am work?"    He knew me by name!   I guess I left a better impression then I thought.

The interview went really well.  They quizzed me on a couple things like how I would approach a table and introduce myself...basic stuff.   She even told me she loved the fact that I sent a follow up email, it showed I was really motivated and wanted to work there.  I was in there for half an hour talking and laughing.  I didn't even realize that Don (the owner/husband) had told Isam to come in - he had been outside smoking and waiting for me.    I got the job!!! I was so excited!!! Plus one of our friends from the hostel got a job there as well. 

Black Diamond is a casual fine dining restaurant.  We do breakfast and lunch and then at dinner all the candles come out and the lights get dimmed and there is a fire place in the middle of the dining room...it's so pretty.   The owners are fantastic...they are amazing people to work for and treat us all like family.  The staff is fantastic we all get a long great and have drinks together after work and go riding together.  The food is to die for...I'm drueling just thinking about it and the cocktail menu is to die for as well.  We have had beer and wine training which was awesome and not because we got to drink...learning the products really made me excited to serve and sell the products we have in, plus the wine rep gave us a lot of selling tactics that I never really thought of before and explained how to word our description of the wine...he made me look forward to serving and selling wine.     

It feels so good to be serving again.    I really do love it, though that could because we are not busy yet and I am not ripping my hair out questioning myself on my carerr choice which usually happens when I have had a horrible day on the floor lol.      

It's still quite slow up here.  The hills opened 2 weekends ago, just a few lifts and only for the weekend.  It's the earliest Big White has opened in 50 years.    There is so much snow up here and it's all powder, you can't even make snowballs with the snow up here.  It's amazing, there is soo much snow they don't need to blow fake snow and it's some of the best snow around,  it gets grey and foggy but it barely rains here.  The average temperature is about -5 to -10 which is so warm compared to winters back home though this week the temperature is dropping quite a bit.  Isam is not used to the cold or this much snow.  There are heaps of people up here includ him that have never experienced snow like this or have never seen snow at all and they are so excited.   I wish I had that excitement, seeing snow is no biggie for me lol, I admire the childhood excitement in their eyes and wonder what it's like to see snow for the first time...I'm kind of jealous.

There is one thing I am experiencing for the first time...snowboarding an actual mountain. OMG!!! It's amazing!!! I went out for my first time yesterday - I also hadn't been boarding in 4 years - and it was not only the best riding of my life but I think I even boarded the best I have ever boarded.   I was a little nervous at first, I was really praying and hoping it was like riding a bike - once you can do it you never forget - but my day wasn't starting out like that.  I was falling, I felt akward couldn't find my edges, couldn't carve "this is not like riding a bike" I said to my mate Sam (who I work with who by the way is in a cast already and hasn't been able to work. At least he has an awesome wrist guard now).  "It's alright Emmie you are doing fine."  We went down the bunny hill...not for me to meet up with our friend Luis (from work) who is just learning "perfect" I said "I really need to work on my edges."  "The carpet is going a little fast isn't it?" I said to the girl working the carpet.  She must've thought I was a piece of work.  It honestly looked like it was going fast but it wasn't - i just fall easy.   I didn't fall getting off any lifts which is amazing for me and after doing two runs down Hummingbird - a green run which is the length of the hills back home - we headed up to one of the longer green runs.

There are 118 runs here at Big White, the longest one being 7.2km!!!  Big White is also known for it's powdery snow and is some of the best in BC (from what I have heard).  It's literally a powder paradise and amazing to ride in. 

 Living here reminds me of when I lived on the Island - not weather wise of course.   All staff live here, we are isolated, going to Kelowna is like going to the mainland (Airlie beach).  Instead of views of beaches and islands it's snowy hills and mountains.   It really great, I'm loving it here.

Anyways back to riding.

It was so cold and windy on the chair lift.   Sam said something to me and I was like "what?!? I can't hear you!"  But as soon as we got off the lift it was perfect, everything was perfect.  I wish I could explain how I felt riding down this mountain with fresh powder lined with trees on both sides just completely covered in the beautiful fresh powder.   "Wow!" I thought "this is incredible.  This is what it's all about, I can't believe this is what I have been missing."  At the top of my lungs I shouted "I love BC!!!"   I felt like I was in heaven.  I was riding the best I ever had in a winter wonderland and I felt amazing...though I did have to sit down everyonce inwhile as the hills here are long.  It doesn't just take 5 minutes to get down it take like 20 mins or half an hour - with me maybe a bit longer.   I fell just at the bottom of the hill, I rolled but my legs got twisted behind me so I snowplowed the rest of the way down and called it a day.   I was sore, tired and hungry.   I was suppossed to go out again this morning but I was so achey and my knee was bothering me a bit - from my twisty fall - so when Sam texted me in the morning I replied with "ouch" and decided to stay in bed.

Where is my bed you are probably asking.  Isam and I found an awesome chalet in Snowpines which is about a 15-20 minute walk to the village (depending on weather and snow depth) so it usually takes about 10 -15 minutes to walk home, which means we are not central at all.  The walk can take the breath out of you considering the village is at a higher elevation then we are but it gets your cardio and is definitely keeping us fit.   We live with 8 others; all couples except for two guys in a shared room and one of the couples have an apartment in the basement.  It sounds like a lot of people but the place is huge and even when we are all in the living room it doesn't feel like there is that many of us.  The ceilings are huge and there are so many windows so the sun just pours through on really sunny days, we have a huge stone fireplace in the centre of the living space and a really nice sized kitchen  and a huge balcony out the front where we have a beautiful view of the Monashee Mountains.  Everyone (in our chalet) is 24 and over, clean and in bed by 11pm everynight.   Everyone works mornings except me and Isam so it is pretty chilled which is what we wanted. Plus, we all get along great.  A few nights ago we had a barbecue and sat around with drinks, played cards and strung the Christmas lights on the balcony.  We counted down from 10 at the top of our lungs and then turned the lights on at zero and cheersed eachother.   Next, we have a huge (early) Christmas day planned, heaps of food, wine, alcohol and snowboarding...it's gonna be so great.   To top of my mountain living...our chalet has the perfect name -   I don't know if you have ever noticed but chalets always have a name? Well ours is perfect, it completely fits in with this winter wonderland known for it's powder...Powder Paradise...how perfect.

                                                                                      - My Beautiful Life -