Not a good day for me at Blackcomb. Today my past got cozy with my present and they didn't really get along. I've never thought of myself as old or inept or untalented in any area. I try something, I usually succeed. I might not WIN but I keep up. Today, all I could think about was how I used to ski. Back when I was 15. Is that a fair comparison? No. But it didn't stop me from reminiscing how I once hit the hill with gusto and skillz. How I could ski all day, take any run, race and laugh all the way to the bottom of the hill. Trees? No problem. Moguls? You call these moguls. In reality, I did do okay for someone who's skied 4 times in 17 years. I should be proud of myself. But the hard, judgmental part of me said I should have picked it back up just like riding a bike. That my quads shouldn't be burning after 3 turns. My boots hurt, my skis are old. If I had better boots, better skis. But let's face it, I'm just old. I think that was the part that hurt the most. I've never considered myself old. Not until today. My knee is injured, I couldn't ski one run worth a shit, today sucked.

And that's why I spent two hours in the Glacier Creek Lodge. Listening to Queen, The Who and Canned Heat. Talk about old, Jesus. The 70's are still alive and kicking here in Canada, folks. I hear Mott The Hoople is up for a Juno this year. Hang tight.

Part and parcel with staying at Spirit Creek Cabin is drinking; as one of the newbies this year I'm doing my best to fit right in. Along with about five different kinds of beer, white and red wine, port and gin, there are also two different kinds of Scotch whiskey. The stand out for me is a Laphroaig Single Islay Malt.

There are tons of things that make Scotch whiskey cool.

• You can say stuff like "double cask matured" and "non-chill filtered" and you're not just blowing smoke.
• It's always "By appointment to HRH the Prince of Whales". Knowing that you are drinking liquor made by appointment of a royal anything is pretty cool regardless, but when you think about the historical connection between the royals and God (note capital G) you realize that you are really drinking liquor made by appointment of the almighty. Drinking by appointment of the creator can't be beat. It makes the hangover somehow purposeful.
• you learn a little history and geography. For instance, I did not know that Islay was a Scottish Isle. Nor did I know that double cask matured means that after they take the scotch out of the oak barrels, they put it in quarter casks. What are quarter casks? No idea. But nuggets like this are indispensable at high-brow parties.

Laphroaig has a very woody taste. On the label it's described as 'peatiness' that is a result of this second, specially commissioned quarter cask and that it's only barrier filtered to preserve this unique flavor. When I had my first sip I was convinced that this would be an acquired taste and now that I've had it three times I'm convinced I was right. But it's a good one. So I'm having some more.

John is sorting vinyl albums alphabetically, Tatiana and Susanna are in the kitchen preparing Thai food for our dinner, Winnie is knitting a scarf, Ann is preparing the cilantro for some veggie spring rolls and I have a beer and a glass of scotch near by. It can only mean one thing, we're at the Spirit Creek Cabin in Whistler.

Did I mention that Jethro Tull is pouring out of the 'Hi-Fi"...? Oh yes, we are definitely at Sprit Creek Cabin.