So snow shoeing looks real easy—strap on the shoes over snow boots and walk in the snow. Right? That’s what I thought too. My husband Tom certainly had a good laugh as he watched me struggling to put one foot in front of the other in the deep snow in our backyard.

We made a joint New Years Resolution this year. No we aren’t going to go on a diet—there is no imagination to that sort of resolution. Everyone knows that in order to lose weight, one must exercise more and eat less, and quite frankly I don’t want to do that just now. Swimsuit season is months away and my pants aren’t snug enough for drastic measures. Our resolution this year—clean the basement. I mean really clean the basement.

I have to respond to your amusing Christmas Tree story, which made me laugh out loud. I think your experience is UNIVERSAL.

The Sun Valley Nordic Center is a perfect place for beginning skate skiers. Despite my snowboarding fiasco, I’m going try my hand at skate skiing. I figure I’ll be a natural, after all, I’ve cross country skied without too much trouble ,and I think I’ve done some sort of skate ski maneuver on the flats on my downhill skies. Piece of cake . .

Yesterday I tried my hand, or I should say wrist, at snowboarding—today I attempted cross country skating. The human body is simply not made to take so much punishment in the span of two days. After a lengthy, moan-filled jacuzzi soak, I’m now ensconced in softest chair in my house. I’m a glutton for punishment, but it does make for a humorous story.