A Privilege of Participation

   It is a wonderful feeling to be good enough at something to participate in the activity.  Of course skiing is one of my activities that I am good enough to ski with at least my contemporaries and even many youngsters.    However, I am not so good at singing and although I did sing in the choir in high school,  I never felt confident enough to join an adult choir.   Probably a good thing because my youngest daughter winces when I attempt to sing along with her.  Thus,  until this week I have never had to chance to be a participant in a musical production.  No, I didn't sing!  However, in the production of an original Christmas Cantata written by my wife Nancy Rehkugler, composed by Paulette Fry and directed by Sue Bonne, I was privileged to have an opportunity to assist with the sound system.  I became one of the 50 or so people involved in the premier presentation at the Sunday worship of the United Presbyterian Church of Cortland.
   With training by the sound system guru Tom Corey, I  was able to cut in  and out the soloist's microphones for the two duets.   While it was certainly a very small part of the presentation, I am pleased to say the sound levels were well done and on cue.  Although, I probably did not need to know how to read music, I found my task much easier since I was able to follow the music.
   The cantata was a most worshipful and magnificent event and truly a blessing for me to be a small part of the production that was received with enthusiastic acclaim by the congregation.
    The moral of all this is perhaps, don't underestimate the value of giving someone the opportunity to participate in an activity.
(For background on the cantata go to  http://beingsixtyplus.blogspot.com/)

Novice Mistake

    A great day on the slopes after winter storm Damon  dumped a pile of snow on Greek Peak and the surrounding area.  Although the roads were treacherous this morning, I had a safe trip  to the area by traveling at 30 MPH or so.   The new snow had a high water content.  A typical Northeast "powder" condition.  Early runs on the untracked surface were great and even later in the day conditions remained comfortable.
   During my coffee break I watched a family traversing from one lift to another.  Clearly a novice group.   Dad skating ahead carrying a pair of skis.  Mom and two youngsters trailing behind with one of the younger children frequently tumbling in the snow to be pulled to his feet by Mom.   I hope the family was having fun, but clearly it wasn't the best of days for the parents or maybe even the children.  The early days of skiing with a young family can be a challenge.  I hope they prevail and become veterans.
   As a veteran, I find I still can be prone to making a novice mistake.   I decided to take a selfie this morning as I was riding the lift.  Removing gloves to get out my camera was necessary.  Normally I am wise enough to secure my gloves before moving to photography.   Today, however, I made the mistake of putting my gloves on the seat of the quad chair.  Within a second or two a gust of wind blew my gloves to the snow below.   What a stupid novice mistake!  At least I didn't drop a pole.  I managed to keep my hands warm under my coat for the ride up but by the time I reached the bottom the hands were nearly frost bitten.  Moral of the story:  No matter how experienced you are, mistakes will happen.

Ski Patrol on the Snow

Selfie

Reflections on Opening Day

  Friday past was opening day at our local ski area, Greek Peak.   A welcomed early opening supported by low temperatures the week before and a 8 inch natural snow fall.   The opening day crowd was a mix of young and old skiers eager to start the season, even if there were only two lifts and two trails available.
   Eager to get first tracks, I arrived early and managed to get to the slope before the lifts were admitting skiers.  Not knowing what to expect for conditions, I talked friend Andy into going to the beginner chair and slope first.   Big mistake!!   What a fiasco.   The chairs were covered with about 8 inches of snow and the start of the lift was delayed by about 15 minutes.   The phones were not working and the attendants had to arrange for radios for communication.  Not a good impression about the new management of the slope.   Although we were not at the quad chair lift at the start, it seems there was a delay there too.
  We remained upbeat anyway and finally  got to sit on a snowy seat for a ride to the top.  (I routinely wear a waterproof seat warmer under my waterproof/breathable ski pants as a precaution.)
Grooming was good and at least we got first tracks with better than usual early season conditions.  Normally I would not have gone to the beginner slope, but decided it would be wise to get  the kinks out before heading to a more difficult trail.   After a few runs we were ready for playing with the big boys.  By that time the more difficult trail was beginning to deteriorate.  A choppy surface began to develop with a few "gotchas" here and there.   Even though I routinely work out to stay fit, top to bottom traverse was a challenge.   Different muscles than used for walking and tennis.   As the crowd increased, it was time to quit and take a coffee break.  Enough for the first day.
   With the new year, the coffee service prices were a surprise for the geezer community.  After many seasons of geezer age coffee prices at a dollar, a shocking three dollar coffee is on the agenda.   Ah well, I guess we had it too good for too long.   Not a problem for me.  I have always brought my own thermos of home brewed coffee and will continue that tradition.  And my daily apple fritter energizes me for the rest of the day.
   With special opening for fresh tracks skiing on the next day, Saturday at 7:30 A.M.  I eagerly got off to an early start on the Iliad slope.  However, I had failed to recognize that the first tracks access to the Visions Quad lift came with a price.  Ten dollars for the first hour until regular pass holders are admitted to the lift.   I new wrinkle in the operation of the area.  For early season it was worth it since in that hour there were relatively few skiers and we had a well groomed trail.  However, by the end of the hour the conditions had deteriorated.  I wonder how the standard pass holders felt about that?
     Conclusions?  1.  Glad to have an early opportunity to ski.   2.  With the new management, there is a different feel the skiing at Greek Peak.   3. With change comes welcomed new things but also as sense of mourning for some of the old shoe comfort of the past.   Meanwhile, I look forward to the return of the Tough Old Geezer Skier for this new season.  Thank God, we can ski!

Spiders and Snow

     A few days ago as I stepped into the shower I was greeted by a sizable daddy long legs spider.   I am not afraid of spiders but I don't necessarily like them either.  By the time my shower was over the spider was washed down the drain.  Good riddance!   So, I can imagine some of my friends who detest winter are disappointed when they open the door in the morning and are greeted with several inches of snow.    Our recent snowfall certainly is an example of that disappointment for them.  However, just as the spider washed down the drain, the forecast for rain may wash much of that snow down the drain.
    So what purpose spiders and snow in God's universe.   They are both loved and loathed by different people.   I first asked myself, "Why spiders"?     As a skier it is obvious the snow is provided for renewing water supplies and certainly for downhill skiing.  But spiders?   Well, maybe they are useful.   How about the beauty of the finely crafted spider web glistening with dew in the morning sun?  And probably in the order of ecology they contribute to a greater system we can only partially understand.    On the practical side, I understand the study of spider web material reveals possibilities of making very thin and strong strands of material.
   Let's get back to snow.  Although most of the public groan when hearing about the next snow storm, the skier delights in the news.  No loathing on the skiers part.  Just the hope for a powder day and great condition at the local ski area.  What a diverse people we are!  It is good to be tolerant of our differing likes and dislikes.   Yes, some can loathe both spiders and snow, or love them both.   Or they can love one and not the other.   Meanwhile, I am enjoying the anticipation of the next ski season.   A recent visit to Greek Peak gives me hope for an early start as I observed the beauty of snow making in full force.

Glorious Day for Making Snow

Construction Entertainment -Agriculture Conflict

   This morning I decided to take my daily constitutional walk along Route 13 in South Cortland to observe close hand the many construction projects under way.  I find it entertaining to watch construction projects and drive-by's do not give me sufficient time to savor the scene.  Over the last year or so we have had a plethora of new construction projects sprouting up.   The first project past Bennie Road headed south on Route 13 is a new Cannon Pool business building on the right.   Next on the left one will encounter the construction of the building for the Tractor Supply Company.  Directly across the road from Tractor Supply is the new Byrne Dairy yogurt plant opened earlier this year.   Continuing down the road on the right you will see the building in progress for expansion of  the Pyrotek Corporation.   And finally at the intersection with Gracie and Webb Roads a new Sunoco convenience store and gas station is nearing completion.
   The scenes were bustling with workers digging, paving,  and erecting elements of the buildings.   Construction machinery abounded.   A beautiful day when humans were creating new venues for manufacturing, sales and production of useful products.  At the same tine I was enjoying all the construction activity I was conflicted about the loss of fertile and productive land for agriculture.   Over the past several years there has been a creep of structures over taking some of the best agricultural land in Cortland County and perhaps even in the State of New York.  Yes, it is zoned commercial now and perhaps we should expect this to happen.   The question for me is,  When will it swallow up the the corn and soy bean fields that extend beyond this current spate of construction?  I am reminded that we can expect the world population in a few short years to expand from 7 billion to 9 billion  before it levels off.  I guess I will always lament the loss of valuable agricultural land to other uses,   Meanwhile, I am grateful I still have both the pleasure of observing creative building projects and watching crops growing of the remaining prime agricultural land.  Lets continue to applaud the land owners who put land into a trust that preserves our rural landscape.

Byrne Dairy- Yogurt Plant

Steel Erection at Pyrotek

Soybeans Have Been Harvested

Sunoco Station -Opening Soon

Tractor Supply Nearing Completion

Pre Season - Skier Fellowship

   Thanks to the leadership of Frank Bonamie our senior skier group had a great lunch at the Acorn Grill at Greek Peak today.   As Frank said, "I was ready for a few laughs".   And  we did laugh and lunch and and the eight of us had a great time catching up on our summer activities and reminiscing about the past ski season.   Frank was a generous host for the lunch too!!  We owe you one Frank!
   During the off season we all have found activities to keep us fit and to prepare for another season.  Frank may well be ahead of us with his new Skier's Edge machine.  He even can wear his ski boots on this new version of the Skier's Edge.
The rest of us have fitness workouts with tennis, walking, swimming and golf.  
    In a couple of months we all hope that Greek Peak will be open for business.  For some of us we anticipate trying out new gear.   Others of us will settle in with the tried and true equipment that has served us well in the past.  We all are looking forward to both the skiing and the fellowship.   Good health to all and sorry that many missed our lunch get together today.  Here are a few pictures to remind you all of what you missed ( Note - Dick got away before I could get him in the picture).

Andy, John, Gerry, Alan, Pat and Frank

Andy, John, Midge, Gerry, Alan, Pat, and Frank

View From the Hotel Entrance

When Less is More

    No doubt I am a minimalist.  In comparison to my senior generation, I think I am an anomaly.  I tend to want to minimize  things on my desk and be satisfied with lack of clutter in my basement, my tool bench and in general my surroundings.   To me having less is more satisfying.  In some ways that is strange since I grew up in a family with limited resources and often felt left out from  having things.  Perhaps this is maturing and really understanding that having things can also be a burden.
   The minimalist nature seems to play out in all things in my life.   A recent  home example is some landscaping rehabilitation at our home.   Over the period of 15 years or so since our home was built some of the landscaping grew in size to fully occupy the front of the house and even spill out onto the sidewalk.   Also some of the arborvitae required a ladder to access the tops for trimming.   After recognizing the problem it was obvious that many of the trees had to go.  See below for the before and after views.  Removal is now complete opening up the area and a modest amount of replanting is done.  Hopefully the careful selection of the new plantings will control the size.  And space will be available for annual flowers to add some color during the growing season.   To our eyes less will be more attractive.
   In the vein of less is more I can apply the same thought to skiing.  Carving a good turn is probably accomplished better with more subtle movements.   Finesse is likely better than trying to muscle your way down the mountain.
   Also another example of less is more.   For the the last two years we have owned a hybrid car - a Toyota Prius.   I like driving it in the "Eco" mode.   This means that I focus on gradual acceleration to the legal speed limit and try to anticipate red lights to minimize the amount of braking force needed.  This minimalist approach has produced an average 50 miles per gallon in 28,000 miles of driving.
    Although I am a minimalist advocate, maybe one can take it too far.   Probably some of the drivers around me are annoyed by my gradual acceleration when the light changes.  Maybe, the less or more that I need to work on in those situations is to be less annoying.  I guess the conclusion is that taking the minimalist notion to the extreme can be as bad as being a hoarder.
   And finally, I've written enough on this topic!

Before

After

Before