By Grapthar's Hammer, What A Savings!

No, this has nothing to do with electronics. (If you don't get the joke, you obviously don't watch quality cinema!)

Today is a friend's birthday--which must certainly suck, if you think about it. So I took him to lunch at a Mongolian Barbecue place (his choice, but not that I minded at all), and in the same strip mall is a Play It Again Sports.

Play It Again Sports is a used sports equipment store, and we went in to see the cost of treadmills. My dad told me once that I wanted a treadmill back when I was in the army--under Bush 41--so I'm apparently rather good at procrastinating on this topic. But as soon as we went in I was drawn to the skis.

I found a pair of parabolic 178's (just my size) that were former rentals somewhere for $49.99. With boots and poles, the total came to just under $100. After I go skiing three times, I'll be money ahead on rentals.

Granted, I don't ski much. In fact, I didn't go at all last year--but part of the reason is the cost! Now, each trip will only cost me about $50 out of pocket (for the lift), "saving" me $35 for rentals. And without having to wait in line for rentals and returns, I'll be a happier camper in the process. This relatively inexpensive purchase (new skis alone run into the hundreds) gives me a reason to ski more, and that's not a bad thing.

It's nice to have two weeks off for a break, as well as the ski week we get off in February.