Part 2: Pimpin’ Stickers
When we got to the stick-up site, we immediately took a Starbucks run for the crew. Turns out I wasn’t the only one struggling to keep my eyes open. After we were sufficiently caffeinated, we started unloading and setting up our tents, sound system and decorations in the rain. People started showing up sooner than later and before we knew it, there were two long lines of cars waiting to get their freebies, and by 7:00 a.m., we were ready to get our stick on.
What I like more than JACK’s generosity is that I get to be the middleman in the operation of giving. Sasha and I walked through the line of cars handing out stickers and taking pictures of those brave enough to weather the storm and take advantage of the fresh powder on the mountain. Turns out, most of them were good-looking men. That was a nice perk I wasn’t expecting. I remember thinking, ‘why don’t I snowboard more often?’ And then remembered that I tried once and basically fell the whole way down the mountain and was a sopping mess of ice and snow. Not my most fond memory. Maybe if someone volunteered to teach me I would reconsider, but I’m guessing most people who rather enjoy their free snow day rather than suffer down the mountain with me, and besides, we said no strings attached right? In that scenario I would be much more than a string; I would be an anchor.
By the end of the day I had rubbed elbows with families, old friends, puppies and excited cars filled with guys, girls, kids ditching school for the chance to ski or snowboard and of course my fellow sticker pimps: Yecenia, David, Eric, Trey, Lane, Mark, Andrew, Kristy, Ryan, and those in charge: Chad, DD and Sasha. All in all, we made hundreds of people’s day with free lift tickets, stickers, T-shirts and our sunny dispositions during the stormy weather. Just another reason why our job is better than yours.
Catch you next time! See all the SHOTS by CLICKING HERE!!
Xo, Ellen
Part 1: Does This Jacket Make Me Look Fat?
I have never been a huge fan of the snow. Growing up in L.A. has understandably turned me into a spoiled weather snob, something I take pride in. Most days of the year, it is a beautiful, sunny and clear 65 degrees (give or take), which some would argue is not weather at all, just bragging rights. Even in the rain, we Angelenos can be spotted sporting flip-flops and t-shirts (our staple ensemble), while other poor souls on our great continent are trying not to freeze in floor-length parkas, layered wool sweaters and leather gloves. Since we are so lucky here and never experience snow unless we turn on the news to see the looming weather crisis in the Mid-West or travel to it outside our city, I own none of these items. So when we got the news that JACK would be headed up to Big Bear for a stick up at the crack of dawn, I was not instantly excited; more like anxious about what clothes I had to find/borrow so I wouldn’t turn into an icicle at the top of the mountain.
Lucky for me, a good friend actually likes to snowboard and was nice enough to dress me for the occasion. When my alarm clock startled me out of dreamless sleep at 2:00 a.m., it was all laid out for me: wool tights, cashmere socks, thick lycra tights, thigh high wool socks, leather boots, three undershirts, a long-sleeve thermal, my JACK shirt, cashmere sweater, over-sized sweatshirt, Baby Phat puffy jacket (throwback to my hideous high school years), thick headband to cover my ears and leather gloves. After battling to get the numerous layers on top of one another, I felt like I was in one of those sumo-wrestling outfits, unable to completely flex my limbs or even so much as see my toes over the puffy snow gear, but was ready to take on the rain storm and subsequent snow storm and get to work giving away free lift tickets and t-shirts to everyone who showed up.
That’s one of my favorite things about JACK – he likes to give. In a world of takers, he hands over free concert tickets, prize packs, sports tickets, frozen turkeys and turkey basters for Thanksgiving, comedy club passes, gourmet granola, DVDs, T-shirts and on this rainy morning, lift tickets for you and yours. Often, ‘free’ is a word that comes with strings attached, but I like to think of JACK’s ‘free’ like I think of success – 90% is just showing up. The other 10 is letting us pimps stick your ride. Pretty good deal if you ask me.
We finally got to the station at our call time of 3:30 a.m. I couldn’t help but think that on a normal night out, I would probably just be getting home. After making sure all equipment and people were in their places, we loaded up all four station vehicles in search of the Inland Center in San Bernadino. I rode up with Sasha and DD, two of my three bosses. They, unlike me, are morning people, and laughed when they realized it was just the three of us. It was a good time to hear more about Lady Gaga, 90’s dance music, their pasts and what was in store for the rest of us once we arrived at our location.
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