That’s what the dictionary tells me a “nemesis” is.

I’m someone. And my nemesis is a tree.

I’m not big on resolutions but I have vowed that by the end of this skijoring season we WILL glide smoothly ON BY this tree. It’s not going to be easy. This tree has been a thorn in my side for as long as we’ve been skijoring this trail… although, in all fairness, my dedication to getting by it has been inconsistent. But I shall be inconsistent no more!

I’m going to try to use the Premack principle to achieve my goal. That is, as long as you actively try to get to the tree, you will be denied. AFTER we pass the tree, your reward is getting to check out the tree (and the magical portal to Happiest Land that apparently lives inside of it). We’ll see how it goes. I’ll post our progress periodically.

In contrast, here are a couple of things to be proud of. First, an excellently executed WHOA. What I also love about this video is that those tracks right in front of me (on the rightmost side of the trail) are my own tracks from going out this way, and they illustrate nicely how different the skate ski motion is from touring skis.

And while this HAW is not stellar (we usually turn right there, so they were anticipating), I love LOVE how the dogs stop and wait nicely lined out for me to get up after I fall biffing the turn.

Such good doggies. Most of the time. Much of the time.

Except around that damned tree. *shakes fist*