Cold is Cool! Free ski opportunity for 4th & 5th grade students

I know we are barely into fall, but the Cold is Cool sign up opportunity has returned for the 2015-2016 ski season!

Though the program, every Michigan 4th and 5th grader has the opportunity to ski for free this winter.  From the website:
“The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) wants to give Michigan kids an opportunity to get out, have fun and get healthy this winter. This is why MSIA has established a state-wide program that provides every 4th and 5th grader the opportunity to ski for free. Students can obtain a “Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport that gives them up to three free lift tickets or trail passes at 30 participating ski areas, plus additional discounts on the slopes and in Michigan ski shops.

In addition to the lift tickets donated by the participating ski areas, the Cold is Cool Passport also includes a coupon for 20% off a helmet purchase and $15 off the purchase of $100 at over 50 participating ski shops.  Some ski areas have also included coupons for equipment rental and free or discounted lessons.  Coupons for free lift tickets in New Hampshire, Northwest Rockies, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont are also included. ”

Visit the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association site for more information, including a link to the registration form and a table of participating ski resorts.

Book Review: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

After seeing the movie “Unbroken” directed by Angelina Jolie, I wanted to read the book to see how “based on a true story” the movie actually was.  A friend from Boston sent me the book and I started reading it…and couldn’t put it down.  In fact, I who hate walking on my treadmill walked miles and miles on my treadmill while reading it.  It is probably the most captivating nonfiction read ever for me.

I found it fascinating how Hilenbrand was able to pull you in with Louie’s very personal story, then interject whole sections of historical information and even interweave the personal stories of other people that cross paths with Louie.  For me, it worked well – it hooked me in and I wanted to keep reading until I finished it.

Typically in history classes when dealing with World War II, the subject matter is focused more on the European front.  It was a refreshing change to read one that was almost exclusively focused on the Pacific – especially having had an uncle that was on Pearl Harbor when it was bombed and who the fought on the Marshall Islands.  I know that I learned a lot more about the war in the Pacific in general, and the topics surrounding the Japanese in the war specifically.   The book was able to fill in many gaps for me – as my uncle only talked about the war one time with me.

But more than those reasons – and a variety of other reasons – what got me the most were some of the insights Hillenbrand shared throughout the book.   I think one of my two favorite passages from the book is “The paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent upon those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer. In seeking the Bird’s death to free himself, Louie had chained himself, once again, to his tyrant.”  It is insights like this that made the book stick with me long after closing it – it’s made me think and reflect days beyond.  She truly provides some insight into human nature as a whole, not just when under adversity.