Black Mountain 2010

What a great February vacation! Hank and I spent the week skiing and relaxing at Whitney's Inn on Black Mountain, NH with Rob and Taka, Robert and Brian, and Kit and Erin. Taka had never skiied before and by the end of the week he was going up the lift by himself and skiing down. Robert and Brian started skiing at Black two years ago and have gotten really good...black diamond good. On Saturday, Robert even entered a ski race and did really well. Nancy's son, Kit is on the ski patrol at Black. He has worked very hard to become certified as a member of the US ski patrol and we're all very proud of him. Kit learned to ski with us at Black, too, when we had our camp...lots of great memories at this mountain!

Taka just turned 6...is he cute or what?

"Grampy" loved skiing with his grandsons...

Rob & Taka in the lodge...

Taka and his ski instructor, Elizabeth...

Elizabeth takes Taka up on the Platter Pull ("Platypus") lift...his first time up...

After a few times with Elizabeth, Taka went up all by himself!

Cheryl, Hank, Brian, Robert, Rob & Taka...

Kit, Robert & Brian at the triple chair...

Robert, Erin, Kit and Brian...

Kit working ski patrol at Black...

Dreamgirls

"The Dreamgirls" (the female half of our Gourmet group) took the Downeaster to Boston for the weekend for a show and some "retail therapy". I got on the train in Portland and my job was to save four seats together until the other three "girls" boarded in Wells. Who knew that the "soup Nazi" now works for Amtrak??? Trying to save seats on a sold-out train was more stress than going to work! I was lucky: I was not thrown off the train. I did manage to snap this photo of our "friendly" conductor as Alison boarded...

and here we are...Jo, Alison, me, and Claudia...finally on our way to Boston...

We saw "Dreamgirls" at the Colonial Theatre Saturday afternoon. Season 7 American Idol finalist, Syesha Mercado, played the role of Deena. It was fantastic!

Saturday night we had dinner at "Cantina Italiana" in the North End...

and ended the evening with Italian cookies at Mike's pastries.

On Sunday, we walked 'til our feet ached, shopped 'til we almost dropped, and finally dragged our bags onto the 5:00 p.m. Downeater for the trip home to Maine. Great getaway!!!