We just got back from our ski trip and I'll post a longer report tomorrow.  The tl;dr (too long; didn't read) version is:  We had a good time, especially the kids.  Trying to ski on a bad ankle was a fishy idea.  I had a crash course refresher in physics.

POKER

I decided to embrace Rush poker.  I hated Rush poker, but it's starting to grow on me.  It's definitely taking some of the fish and weaker regulars away from 2/4+.  But it looks like it's here to stay.  The big positives I see for me are:

* I have something to play.  When the number of 2/4+ tables fall below 16, there are still 100+ players on Rush, which means there are almost 50 tables.  The highest Rush tables are 1/2, but I think I can sustain a high enough win rate to make those hours productive.  Assuming I make the right adjustments, I think my hourly rate can drop less than 30%.

*  I can play on my laptop.  I no longer need to be connected to a 30" monitor to see all my tables.  Three or four Rush tables gets me about the same number of hands per hour as 12-16 regular tables.  So I can play anywhere - even on vacation.  I ordered another Belkin gamepad just for this purpose.

* For someone who likes playing different table conditions, this game can't be beat.  On a typical 2/4+ table, most players have very similar stats.  In Rush, you get a huge mix of strategies, from super-tight to super-aggressive.  And the table mix changes every hand because the players are always getting shuffled around.

* I can get on and off in a hurry.  Sometimes, it can take up to 10 minutes to get on all my tables, and another 5 to get off of all my tables, but it literally takes no time to get on and only a few minutes to get off.  So I can squeeze in a short hour or two session.

I'm still waiting for the thrid party technology to catch up.  Holdem Manager's HUD seems a little buggy and Table Ninja also has a few things to iron out (like clicking the speed fold button).  The regular games are superior for strategy and game play, but as a "poker pro" I have to adapt to the game conditions around me.