Many people have had to think of innovative ways to fill their excess time during stay at home orders in order to stay sane. I, on the other hand, have been the busiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. While I haven’t had the chance to perfect my sourdough loaves or make millions on tik tok (yet), I have somehow managed to make it halfway through PT school. Although my first clinical rotation in Durango, CO, was cancelled this summer, I was lucky enough to be able to keep chugging away at school this entire time. Instead of going to clinic, my program pushed didactic material via zoom, and we were lucky enough to be able to meet in small groups to do hands-on work throughout the summer. Although its been a grind, I officially made it to the halfway mark in time for Thanksgiving and headed to Bozeman for an entire SIX weeks off school. This vacation has been my light at the end of the tunnel since around the time I started “covid- condensed” neuroanatomy back in June and quickly realized I was in for a loooongg six months.
So, for the first time in I can’t remember how long, I have a moment to breathe and catch up on projects and loose-ends. I thought this would be a great opportunity to re-vamp the long lost blog and give an update on where I’m at with ski racing, school, and other pursuits. I made the decision to not travel to Europe this winter, and instead focus on the Olympic season in a hopefully post-vaccinated world where covid19 is waning. Instead, I am using this six weeks to focus on training and use my parents as patients (nothing better than a dad with a fused ankle and deep fibular nerve hanging on by no more than a string to really up your critical thinking skills). Unfortunately, David caught covid19 one week prior to his departure for Europe and had to drastically change his plans for the season. The silver lining is being able to spend more time together. I was able to ski to my heart’s content every day in bluebird conditions in West Yellowstone, while David was able to slowly build back his training. Luckily he is so fit that his recovery pace was perfect for me, and I haven’t been able to get enough sleep since.
There isn’t much for snow yet in Bozeman but luckily that means more time to explore more bike trails!
The conditions have been stellar in west yellowstone though- even SQ was a pro out on the perfectly groomed trails!
Here is a photo summary of some other highlights I’ve been up to over the past- who knows how long.
The spring started off in Bozeman, where I ended up staying to get more time on snow when classes went online due to covid. This time was filled with powder skiing and powdered sugar (to make cinnamon rolls).
Thus also began the new craze of fashionable masks:
Then I headed back to Abq and somehow figured out how to survive 100 degree heat and ride my first rock roll. I fueled most of my training on swedish fish, gummy worms, skittles, and sunbum chapstick (the different flavors taste like candy!).
I became a New Mexico resident after undergoing the right of passage of being hit by a hydroplaning flying saucer with bald tires during a thunderstorm AND having my window smashed and wallet stolen:
And as always, the Abq sunsets never failed to impress!!!!!
More updates on the horizon!
-JJ