Snow Day

So the weatherman was off by a day on the second snow storm to come through, but it finally arrived. Started off with an inch of snow overnight and it just kept snowing all day. The kids in the neighborhood officially declared it a snow day and took over the hill in front of our house for sledding.

The animals at the zoo didn't seem to mind the snow too much. Snow leopards, wolves and elk were all out enjoying the weather. The sea otters and squirrels were competing to see who could be the biggest hams for the camera.

Woodland Park was invaded by locals armed with all sorts of sledding equipment. Families were sliding down the hill stacked two and three deep on a single sled. I even saw one guy using a cookie sheet as his vehicle of choice.

Let it Snow

We woke up this morning to an inch and a half of snow and I somehow convinced Tim that we should still participate in the Jingle Bell Run downtown. As I slogged through 3.1 miles of freezing wind, dodged icy patches, and generally pined for the warmth of my down comforter, I realized two things 1) I have a long way to go before I am in good enough shape to live out of a backpack for an extended period of time, and 2) I am so glad we decided to start off our trip in Aruba.

Currently in Oranjestad, it is a sunny 86 degrees. The average temperature in Aruba is 82 degrees with less than 20 inches of rainfall annually. We will be starting our adventure with a week at the Amsterdam Manor Resort. I can't think of a better way to kick off a trip around the world than snorkeling in crystal blue waters or sipping cocktails on a white sand beach at sunset. Just the thought is enough to keep me warm until this snow thaws ( or at least until the Resolution Run and Polar Bear Dip on New Years Day ).