Snowboarding Boots

Today I ordered new snowboarding boots and they shipped today. Backcountry.com is amazing that way. I'm pretty much giddy and can't wait for our Vermont trip to try them out. My well-used K2 boots are 8 years old. I can't believe I've been snowboarding that long and I still can't get out of the pipe. I blame it on snowshoe for never opening their pipe until the last week of the season. My prediction is that they don't even bother to open it this year. They just taunt me with the phrase on their website, "opening soon," my ass.

Snowboarding has come a long way in the past 8 years. My K2 boots were the only women's boots I could find at that time, yet after I purchased them and did a bit more reading I found out that they were just men's boots with a women's tag on it. Sneaking marketing bastards. I'm grateful that I now have an abundance of brands and styles of brands to choose from in the world of women's boots. However, after further investigation, the shaft continues. This time although there are plenty of women's boots out there, it only matters if you have small feet. I wear a 10.5 and I found 2 brands, that make a women's boot over size 10. Even then, 1 of the brands only offers 10.5's in their entry-level boots. Seriously, this is ridiculous. I realize 10.5 is big, but I know I am not alone out here. Two years ago when I bought bindings I ran into the same problem. Companies make women's bindings, but not for boots over size 6, or some unrealistically small size. No offense ML, but often female athletes tend to not be petite little girls wearing size 6.

So big props to Northwave who makes a kickass boot and actually offers it up to size 11, gasp! I'm excited to finally get to play along in the world of women's snowboard gear.

Happy Valentines Day

We had a great evening last night. Big-M and I have the tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day with our friends. Every year this decision is confirmed as a good one.

This tradition of ours is obviously practical, as going out on Valentine's Day is ridiculous to attempt; that is, unless you enjoy crowded restaurants, higher prices, bad service (b/c they are so busy), and an environment of awkward relationships between all the people who only pay attention to their relationships on this one day every year. Big-M is my valentine all year long!! cheese I know, but true.

Not only is our tradition practical, but when we celebrate we love to have our friends around. Don't get me wrong, we thrive off our own little time together, but friends make a party and true celebration.

So anyway, thanks to our friends who spent their own valentine's day with us, enjoying specials foods, wine, and other friends. We love you all.

thermals

I need to give props to big-M and ML(medium-M?) for my current warmness. Big-M has always been a proponent of wearing long underwear and I was previously sold for extended outdoor events like football games. In comes ML wearing them on a more daily basis. So a couple weeks ago I gave it a shot...and amazingly I'm actually not cold all the time! I don't deal well with basic physical discomfort, like being cold, so this has been revolutionary for my daily demeanor. Everyone should try it.

Harvard names female president

mmmmm....although big news, not a big surprise

Something I had to post even if no one reads it

This is a quote from an AP article today:

"The Federal Reserve is keeping close tabs on the performance of productivity and unit labor costs for any signs that slowing productivity and rising wage pressures are having an adverse impact on inflation. The hope is that businesses will meet worker wage demands by trimming their record profits rather than boosting the cost of their goods."

The last line is the one that cracks me up. It's nice and all, but what is the incentive for companies to trim profits instead of boost costs? Obviously costs can't be raised infinitely because there is a price point at which people (or enough people) won't pay for the service or good. Until that point is met, of course they will raise costs. It's ridiculous to think that out of the goodness of their hearts they'll cut profits? Does our government really think this?

Okay, I'll concede that maybe a few places will play along, privately held companies who are looking to improve their image, maybe pro-community places like Tom's of Maine, or amazing businesses like digital bazaar.