Every year Google rents a ski resort and takes the entire company on a trip. I didn't know if I was looking forward to it or not.

Both my knees are pretty well shot. One from a raquet ball accident and the other from falling off a mountain. They aren't too bad for hiking and whatnot, but aren't terribly amenable to any sideways-type motion. So I wasn't sure how into skiiing I'd be. Besides, I don't know how to ski, and I didn't want to spend the entire day listening to someone tell me how to get back up once I'd managed to fall. I mean, is there really anything to do at a ski resort besides, well, ski? Apparently there is.

The invitation came out and we had to pick what activity we wanted. I guess they rent all your gear for you and everything and snowboarding is popular. I was preparing to sit in a lodge near a fire and smoke cigars, read a book and drink myself silly on brandy. But then I saw they had inner tubing! I can do that, dodgy knees and all! I needed gear, however.

Along comes this email on the misc list at work telling us that The Sports Basement was holding special hours for Googlers -- and we'd get 20% off anything we bought during the special sale. Coincidence, or clever marketing? Hmmmm....

So I wound up getting some decent waterproof boots, waterproof pants with far too many zippers, a fleece liner, a decent jacket (also with excess zipperage), waterproof gloves, and a fleece beenie. I am very eXtreme, let me tell you. I may in fact, if the situation warrants, "Do the Dew". And how.

Now we'll see what this ski resort thing is all about. In style.