What to begin with? How about the good? Well, there are a few good things to remark upon, such as the beautiful weather that is fore casted through the weekend or all of the new stock rolling in the door each day from lots of different companies (in the past few days alone we've received inventory from Patagonia, Isis, Oboz, etc.) or maybe even the fact that soccer fields everywhere are finally drying out and the indoor season at the Riley Rink is in full swing. I'm positive that there are more good things, but my mind is somewhat occupied by the worse things. The bad and the absolutely heinous part have both been spawned from a single event that occurred yesterday afternoon at the emirates stadium, which quite literally added more injury than I thought possible to a largely insulting situation. Needless to say, 2 key players off with injuries before halftime and another later in the game after the third substitution had already been made to our beloved captain was more than I could handle. Fabregas is even slated to be out through the world cup this summer. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, which leaves an undermanned Arsenal in a bad position for the game next week at the Nou Camp. Anyways, enough rantings for one day. I hope you all enjoy the weather and get outside to do something fun, while it lasts, you never know, it's just Vermont.

The wintry landscape of yesterday has passed us by and we move on to the beloved Vermont mud season. The snows have receded slowly up the slopes of Equinox revealing first the pond, then Mount Bluff, and is now working on the largest of the rock slides. I'm sad to have to put away all of the new winter acquisitions for my wardrobe, which I enjoyed wearing so much, my favorite being an Arc'teryx Hercules hoody or a Mammut Minto Hybrid jacket. Alas, they shall have to be replaced by a couple new pairs of shorts, a pair of Rampart shorts from Arc'teryx and a nice pair from Prana. Hopefully, I'll be needing them in a few weeks when I should be leaving the Green Mountains behind and donning my Sole flipflops and soccer flats for the next 9 months as the sunny Mediterranean coast and, Barcelona Futbal Club's, Campe Nou become my home away from home. I do not envy you all for having to deal with the coming bugs or the muggy start to the summer, the only respite coming from a good bug repellent (which we'd be more than happy to recommend to you, haha) and a nice swimming hole. On the other hand it is still one of the most luscious, green and beautiful places I can think of and I shall sorely miss how green my valley will be.

Why must things happen to those who don't want them, while those who would welcome those things are left without. One of lifes great mysteries, and maybe we shall never know the answer to that query, but one must wonder. Feet of snow have fallen hundreds of miles south, where people either don't want it or can't handle the volume dumped upon them. I would give my life savings(not much mind you) and just about everything else I own, except for winter gear, to be blessed with a gift such as 24 inches or more of fresh powder. So please, pray to whomever you care to for those snowy drifts to migrate in a more sensical direction, north that is. So, anyways, on a happier note, Arsenal won today against the liverpool side at home, while Chelsea ate the proverbial poo thanks to Everton. Man. U, unfortunately, snuck by with a tie due to an own goal by Aston Villa. Either way, Arsenal is climbing towards the top again, FANTASTIC! Have a good one.

-Riley

Why does this always happen? Rain and dismal weather just rear their ugly heads at the worst times, What is with that? It makes me want to chunder everywhere, Yuck. Anyways, though few there are some beneficial points to this untimely precipitation, my car has been washed clean and the warmer weather is somewhat of a respite, though i still prefer the alternative. Either way, we must survive this warm spell and reach the far side with high hopes for a continually snowy winter, the base will certainly be firmly packed down and should not have any troubles sticking around afterward. Crosscountry skiing will be at a premium and downhill skiing will hopefully be improved as well. Keep your chins up.

-Riley