Be Prepared

In honor of next weekend's Ski Trip (last I checked there are still some spots open, sign up ASAP), I want to give you a few recommendations for items to pack that you might not expect.

For instance, get yourself a nice pair of these Noise-Cancelling headphones. Estimated time of arrival at our lodge in Michigan is usually about 2AM. And trust me, when you're on a bus with people like Laura Slon, Angie Bell, Katie Keiser, and Hannah Mauk... you'll appreciate silence. A lot. Especially if you want to get any sleep (wake-up call the next day is EARLY).

Once we get to the lodge and the slopes, I'm always shocked by just how COLD it is. My first year on ski trip, it was so cold that one of our two buses had a frozen engine and would not start. So dress warmly, like the kid from "A Christmas Story." Just make sure your arms can still move in all those coats.

And anyone who has been on a ski trip can tell you that there's a pretty good chance that someone will get hurt (we're not going to names, I'm just going to say that I've spent some time with ice packs on these trips). Bringing along some crutches can't hurt. Hitting trees can.

I'll see you guys Wednesday. And again Friday. PS, Welcome Stephanie Allen to the VI Band, which we can no longer call a boy band.

Live big, stay classy and SAFE.