Woo-hoo!
Ok, this isn't the best picture in the universe, but it is me on a snowboard, in the middle of a mountain....
...and the fact that I'm typing this is proof that I made it down! I actually made it down in control, doing a toe-side falling leaf pattern most of the way. (Going very slowly, but I only fell twice, and I didn't scoot down on my bottom despite the great temptation to do so!) So, according to my dad who is actually a snowboard instructor and has written a book about how to teach snowboarding, I can call myself a snowboarder. However... I've got a long way to go before I can be called a competant snowboarder. Still, there's nothing like accomplishing something you weren't quite sure you were going to be able to do.
The other thing I've done in the past day that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do... I managed to cut a column on Eid and the need some of us American Muslims feel to compete with Christmas I'm writing for the Religion News Service from 988 word to 785. That also is no mean feat! It's a complex issue, with lots and lots of facets. I couldn't address all of them in the column, but I'm pleased with the over all result.