the other side of the mountain

pg and i just had an argument that was essentially a rehash of a rather long-running one; the difference being that i think, for the first time, i have finally grasped the breadth of the divide between the way the two of us think. and that has two effects on me: first, it makes me realize how inappropriate my approach to certain things is with her, and by extension with others who i've interacted with with similar issues over the years. second, that her achievements and choices command an even higher level of respect for the simple reason that i cannot fathom doing things the way she would. the effect on her is that she's now mad at me :(

that's the now, but it's really not representative of the weekend. simply put, yesterday's snowboarding was childishly exciting and exhilarating:

1. i'm really proud of pg for her first day of snowboarding, she's already handling way better than i did my first time.

2. goofy really does change one's perspective 180 degrees.

3. the moguls almost killed me. after a few relaxed runs escorting pg and a couple of speedy black diamonds, i picked a black route with a red diamond warning that it hadn't been groomed. i was about three metres in when i realized that "not groomed" meant moguls anywhere between two feet and five feet high, and i haven't done real moguls since 2009 and never this strenuous. the first attempt was an exasperating (literal) flop, but by the second i was switching fairly well and i've got to say that i haven't had so much fun on a board since my trip with the dutch group!

that was some serious adrenaline right there. also, in the warm weather (above zero) i overheated on those runs and came down the groomed section at the end with my jacket open and steam pouring out :P

speaking of my jacket, we only noticed when we left the apartment that we dressed like we were sponsored by salomon: regular boots, snowboard boots, pants, jacket, t-shirt (salomon fsk)... and pg's jacket and bag?

notes from the bus ride: pg needs to charge her kindle before long trips, and all of this month's wired magazine articles are astounding.

this morning was slow because we were both aching after yesterday: i started my day with on the rain-slick precipice of darkness and came to the conclusion that doing the first few levels again is even more entertaining and that there were important things i missed the first time around.

we had a mostly pleasant lunch with my aunt (my uncle's more chilled, but there're still occasional moments) and then rushed off to visit the cathedral in old montreal.

notre dame de grace is a beautiful cathedral presenting an exquisitely illustrated history of christian dogma's dominator culture. the two things i couldn't get out of my head were the narrative of jesus dying so that the demons could run amok and the idea that bureaucrats shall inherit the earth.

everything on the walls and the overall atmosphere of wealth presses all my buttons vis-a-vis the catholic church versus the sermon on the mount. but that's just, like, my opinion, man.

on the way to the dollar cinema we stopped for not-quite-falafel and not-quite-humus, which might not be as tasty as the israeli style but at least it's healthy, and then got to where we were going. it turns out that the last time i looked for it i walked straight past but on the wrong floor - they really should put signs around there.

paranorman is a marvelously entertaining film! totally not for little kids, though. the hysterical cries were annoying but i can only blame the parents.

after heavy shopping we came home for dinner and bed; we had so much difficulty streaming one piece that i eventually caved and paid $10 for a month's premium access. first impression: totally worth it.

and back to the dog box. okay, not really, things have chilled out a bit. but back to the week: i'm feeling pretty damn good about life right now.