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Last weekend was what California is all about. When we realized that the Mediterranean climate was forecasted to bring us sun and 80°F temperatures, Joey, Jimmy, Andrew, and I planned a beach bike ride to the Getty Villa. So, after enjoying a happy hour on Friday with Paige and Gina, we procured the free tickets required for admission to the Villa and toured it on Sunday. Fitting for the weather we were experiencing, the Villa showcases the arts and cultures of three ancient Mediterranean civilizations: the Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans. It was great, and after experiencing some extremely cold winters, I’m thankful to report that the nice weather has persisted – a week later it’s still sunny and 80°.

Since learning how to ski in January 2006, I’ve been on a total of four ski trips: two to Grand Targhee, one to Les Sybelles, and now one to Big Sky and Bridger Bowl. The trips to the Rockies are especially big, and this year included nine others (most friends from college): Greg, Tiff, John, Rachel, Andrew, Emily, Mark, Peter, and Katie. The yearly promise of powder, good times, and long drives once again held true, and I think it’s fair to say that we all challenged ourselves and improved our skiing abilities, not to mention our ability to celebrate New Years to the tune of Auld Lang Syne in downtown Bozeman.