Preparing for this new season or How to be a happy ski gypsy!

Davemac,,,
My kind of skier.

How amazing is the guy's attitude. He may be facing death and the unknown but remains so positive. I commend him.
I deal with people facing terminal illness every day and it has always amazed me with the different ways people cope with it. Some people become bitter and twisted, expect every-one to do every-thing for them, in the end they alienate all their families and friends and pass away, lonely and without ever achieving any of their dreams. Others are so positive, they remain as active and as nice as they possibly can, they are surrounded with family and friends and they try to achieve things they had previously not done.
I have a customer who has terminal throat cancer, he has up to two ywars left of his life, but is he enjoying it, sometimes a bit extreme, but his determination is great. Last month he came in with a prescription for malaria tabs and said he was going to travel to a place he had always wanted. The next day he came in with a prescription for viagra and said he was going to Thailand. I saw him last week, his illness had detioriorated a bit, but he had achieved his goals, I did not press for details, but he had a huge smile on his face.
My son is a tennis coach, he loves the job and coachs people of all ages and abilities. Some people are so determined they will practice the things he has taught them all week and can not wait to show him how they have progressed. Others expect him to make them stars overnight without them having to put in any effort or practice.
Once or twice a week he coachs at a wheelchair tennis club. His only charge to them is a pint at the end of the evening. He says its his most enjoyable lesson. The dedication and comradeship of these guys is unbelievable. He says they will put every-thing into achieving often playing until their hands bleed from blisters and calouses. They just wrap a bandage round and carry on, not a moan or groan, just sheer determination.
Sorry this is rambling and not ski-related but I think it sums up life and all sports and challenges.

RoseR wrote

Sorry this is rambling and not ski-related

This also is not skiing related, but in a way, is related to the thread.

Two weeks ago, my OH and I learned that our first guide dog puppy, which we had trained for a year, had completed his final training, been accepted, (there is a 25% reject level), and been placed with a blind man near to Edinburgh.

It was a terrific feeling to get that first acceptance.

We have less than two months to go with our second guide dog puppy, before she goes onto the next stage training, and about that time, we will get our third guide dog puppy.

Dave Mac, do you breed the puppies for guide dogs or do you just train them? It must feel like seeing your children do well and go off into the wide world.

RoseR wrote

Dave Mac, do you breed the puppies for guide dogs or do you just train them? It must feel like seeing your children do well and go off into the wide world.

Rose, there are specialist breeders set up, controlled by the Guide Dog Society. We take the puppy at 6/7 weeks, and go through house training, general training, early directed training.

House training is like the nappy stage of children. Up at 4.00am, walking round the garden, in your dressing gown and wellies.

General training, sits, downs, wait, stay, recall. Recall has to be 100%. No dog tricks, like holding up the paw, roll over.

Directed training. Approaching stairs, lead the person to the bannister, place paws on bottom step and stop. Food distraction, ie must leave all food alone unless instructed that it is for the dog. Must stop at doors, kerbs, obstructions.

After a while, you get to think about the needs of a blind person, and this helps with the training.

Dave Mac, I wont let my hubby see your reply, he is desperate to train dogs or to even have some of his own. I have always been against it, I dont think we could dedicate the time needed.

RoseR,

You understood and I am sure apply some of the "values" in the suggested videos.
Happy skiing begins with a "happy skier"!

I have many people who want to ski with me and I have found over the years the ones who are "happy" and who can take a negative event and NOT let it "interfer" with their life and their skiing are my best skiing partners!


My greatest "success" was getting my 80 years old mother-in-law who was dying of cancer to take up skiing! Great women and learnt a lot from her!

It is amazing how many "common" threads we all have. Slowly without "taking the internet mask" off,,,I am discovering your personalties, your preoccupations , your expertise! That is what skiing does. Unites people with vast experiences to share a common activity! I am sure all of you will be happy ski gypsies in 2009!

I hope Dave Mac,, when you come to visit your son this year that you might consider "stopping" off at that secret ski location and try some WC racing skis ( on a run closed just for you),,so that you can let out all "inhibitions" and let the skis fly!

Wow Pavelski what an amazing woman your mother in law must have been. Ski-ing at 80, well done to her.
I have always been proud of my achivements how ever small. The one achievment I am most proud of is qualifying as a Pharmacist. I left school at 15, no exams, no qualifications, nothing. I got married very young and turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. 20 odd years of hell. On my 40th birthday I decided I had to leave but could not afford it, could not face going it alone my wages as a pharmacy technician would not have been able to support me and my son. So I went to night school 3 nights a week, got Alevel maths, chemistry and biology.
Get accepted to Uni, and started a four year course in Pharmacy. I was at uni, four days a week, and worked the other three. I told no-body what I was doing, ex hubby assumed we were just not so well off, work assumed I had just cut my hours. My books were hidden in my car and I studied when every-one was asleep.
I survived, passed, got my first Pharmacist job and walked out.
I moved away, my son at 16 stayed with his Father but saw a lot of me. I met my now Hubby, we have bought several houses as building projects and sold them on. So here I am at 53, have a brilliant husband of 8 years, a lovely big house and garden, drive a nice car, have just got another promotion at work. Can afford ski holidays and now have the courage to try any-thing I set my mind to.
Life is 100% perfect, its been hard work but well worth it.