its too damn early

Maybe because its 614am... maybe its because I've been up for far too long and energy drinks don't settle well in my tummy... maybe its because yesterday felt like some sort of distorted dream... whatever the reason, in this early hour, I've been thinking a lot about the choices we make in our lives and where those choices have taken us. For me, the choices I have made in the last six years also leaving me wondering if I made the right choice, the last six months have been even more intense. One thing led to another and now I feel like a blob of self doubt. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder about something or regret something or wish that I could change something. Maybe I just need to take a step back and live a more simple existence, one in which I only work ONE job and I have enough time to do the things I enjoy. Maybe that is the key... or maybe I just need to leave Utah. :)

Thanks for letting me wine!

Piper out

My Three Jobs

It is common knowledge that I work 3 jobs, It has been one crazy winter of dashing from place to place, 80 hour work weeks and minimal sleep and zero free time. Now that one of my jobs is coming to an end, I would like to share my experiences of them with you.

The Canyons

I work 16 hours a week at The Canyons as a ski instructor.

I begin my days by parking, riding the Cabriolet (which is mighty cold might I add!), walking to the locker room, getting on my layers of Canyons branded gear, talking nonsense with my co-workers and then heading back outside.

Then the real fun begins...

Most of the winter I was assigned to what is called "Cats". These are 4-6 year olds and the 'reds' is what I tend to get, are the "never-evers". I get to dress them in color coded bibs and strap a harness to them. (Which quickly became my favorite aid as it made picking up crying children off the snow much, much easier.) Then I would pile their skies on a torn about $3 sled and march on to the gondola.

After trying to make small talk with the children for 15 min, we find ourselves at the top and then I get to drag the sled on to the "Magic Carpet" and pray that my kids follow me and don't get run over in the process.

Teaching skiing to young kids is rather interesting... they don't really listen and they are not coordinated enough to perform the edging and balancing needed to ski. Most of them squat, reach forward, lean back, fall on purpose, cry, push out both skis causing a fall, run into the fence, get stuck on the ice or all of the above. Again, thank god for the harness in which to pull them up!

My favorite is the kids who cry, mostly because they don't know why they are crying and they try to utter, "I don't want to ski!!" I think I like this some much because it usually isn't my kid, but one of my co-workers so I can mock them.

Have you ever tried dressing 4 year olds to ski? The attention span makes it the hardest mostly because, well, they have none! Its kinda like dressing a doll, sometimes its easy, and sometimes it doesn't really work. Bathroom breaks are awesome, especially when the child needs 'help'. But honestly the staff is the best part, because we all are here for the same reason, free season pass... and of course, teaching skiing to rich peoples kids.

The Waldorf Astoria's Dakota Mountain Lodge

I work here 40 hours a week at the Front Desk

Rich people and really pretty things. (It makes we wonder about this so called 'recession' that we are in). Luckily we usually run a rather low occupancy that it doesn't get to crazy, be we do get ridiculous requests... and hookers, lots of hookers. I see them probably once a week and boy do they stand out. You can always pick them out in their puffy hair and black leggings with ridiculous shoes.

Rich people are funny... and surprisingly cheap.

Black Diamond Gymnastics

I work 25 hours a week, Coaching the Compulsory Team

I love this job. I get to work with the same kids everyday and they know exactly what to expect from me. Admittedly I have to yell quite a bit because Park City kids don't really like to listen... some are rather disciplined and others are not. My favorite part is when a kid says that they can't do something, I make them do 10 push ups. Gymnastics is a very mental sport and self doubt is toxic. One of the best parts is getting to utilize the equipment and pretend I'm a gymnast again!

A down side about this job is that I spot a lot and thus have gotten kicked in the face, legs, arms and between the legs. I've been punched twice by my team girls, one of which was running full force at me when her fist met my eye. Its fun though, and I love those kids!!

That is all for tonight!

Piper Out