Lessons learned...

In reverse order,

1. 2& a half weeks of refrigeration make raspberries shrink to pea-size


2. the thousands of sheep off highway 5 make it beautiful


3. skiing without poles for a day is awkward


4. advertising was the most glamorous job in the '50s


5. even a CHP officer looking at my license believes I'm from Walnut Creek


6. never drive down a steep icy hill into a highway unless you want to crash


7. the cops in Incline Village allow 4 smooshed in a backseat, as long as we've got no warrants out for our arrest


8. if you're going to use the term "shit show" more than 100 times a day, beware of the mess you'll get into tomorrow


9. coiffeur is not pronounced coiff-wa, but this doesn't matter to some Americans


10. a junta is a coup, and I suck at Boulderdash


11. the Bay is peaceful
12. New Years Eve isn't the same without a partner in crime


13. it's crucial to organize your things when you're going to 5 different destinations unless you want to be called a "shit show" by your brother over & over again


14. spending time with ailing grandparents is the definition of precious


15. love of bicycle riding runs in my genes
16. preserving memories for those without memory is important to me
17. Canadian men's use of the term "buddy" and "oh yeah" makes me warm
18. fire and snow get right to my heart
19. friends make wreckless travel worthwhile