Shin to Win

Last weekend brought more crazy weather. My race was delayed because the lifts could not run because of wind. It was a bit icy over night as well.

While waiting for the lifts to start turning, MBSEF gave out the overall awards. This was a little strange because we had not done the last race yet…so how could they give the overall award with knowing how we would do in the final race? Also, the awards were inside, so it was crowded, hot, and no one could hear. They gave me third. More on this in a bit. I also won the Mayor of Arc City award for my excellent carving skills.

The Bigs drive by this billboard every day. It gives them anxiety.

I really enjoy board games (Monopoly anyone?). The Mother does not. Too much sitting still…Nan gene? We compromise and play backgammon. I usually win.

It is spring break, so I pace around the house a lot complaining of being bored. The Bigs pace around the house a lot too…but they complain about global warming and apocolypses – it has been in the 70s all week. That’s about 20 degrees warmer than it should be and we are looking at the SHORTEST ski season we have ever had. Anyway, Dad took me mountain biking because it was so nice out and because I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. I wore my cool new shirt from Stio (The Mother cannot understand why STIO has not asked me to be a model for their kids line yet).

In my boredom, I also built a proximity sensor and speed gun. Many of you received the complementary presentation I created to go along with my circuitry and programming wizardry. I wonder – how many of you (besides Uncle Chris, of course) picked up on my War Games references?

This week, they gave out the awards for our last race. I placed 2nd, which I believe would have moved me up in the overall standings, but, as you’ll remember, they already gave the overall award…sigh.

I’m in the middle of a four-day spring-break training camp. The first two days were devoted to teaching us to shin slalom gates. I’m getting the hang of it:

In honor of St Patrick’s Day, we made Irish food all week using recipes we found at NY Times Cooking and the ATK app. We kicked things off with corned beef and fried cabbage (contains bacon – oh, and The Mother thought she could sneak some kale in too, I noticed).

Up next. Boxty. From the NY TIMES: “Boxty, breadlike potato pancakes that originated in Ireland as early as the late 18th century, were created as a resourceful way to transform less-than-stellar potatoes into a hearty side dish. “

They were supposed to be topped with sour cream, smoked salmon, and pickled onions but SOMEONE forgot to pickle the onions, so we threw some pepperoncini on. Overall…yum.

Up next, Guinness Irish Stew with Horseradish Cream…would have been more enjoyable had it not been 70 outside…

For this one, I made an Irish Soda Bread…perfect from sopping up the stew!

With our corned beef leftovers we made reubens and had some NA Guinness.

We rounded things out with a Dublin Coddle (sausage and potatoes)

Dad also made skillet poached cod with spinach (kale) and butter beans. Not Irish, but yummy.