On Mondays, Ray is going to start taking over the blog to share his thoughts on food, fashion, fitness, and fun.  Because you’ve only heard of him from my perspective, we figured we’d start with him introducing himself.  These questions all come from The Kitchn.

1) If you could do anything you wanted for one day, what would you do?

This is obviously a tough one, but if i had to choose just one thing it would be to go heli-skiing in Alaska. Leading up to high school my winters consisted of hockey and skiing. After being drafted in the United States Hockey League (USHL) draft, I had to put skiing on the back burner to focus on my hockey career. Fast forward ten years and Jess and I were lucky enough to make Colorado our home and to have big mountain skiing in our backyard. One of my dreams has always been to go heli-skiing in Alaska and I believe that would be a once in a lifetime experience.

2) What is your most vivid childhood memory?

Hockey road trips with my dad. Playing travel hockey required road trips just about every other weekend and my dad would work all day on a Thursday or Friday to come home and drive long hours to get me to my games. I have always been grateful for those hours in the car with my dad, not only because I slept most of the time, but for the father and son life lessons that were shared in that time together.

3) If you could wake up tomorrow and have one new talent or ability, what would it be?

A photographic memory.  I know I may be past the point in my life where this ability would have come in handy (school), but I think it would make day to day life a little easier.

4) What advice would you give your younger self?

Always give 100%. I would have to admit that I have been guilty in multiple situations to not have given everything. You never know when your last day could be or how a situation can change your life.

5) What do you hope people think when they think of you?

Reliable.

6) Who has been kindest to you?

I have been blessed with a step-mother that has given me unconditional love.  She came into my life when I was about 10 years old and had to deal with every bit of teenage attitude. She has been by my side from the first day of meeting me and always goes out of her way to make sure I am happy and taken care of.  I will always be grateful for having her in my life.

7) If you could hold on to just one memory the rest of your life, what would it be?

I am going to answer this with an event that will be happening next year, our wedding. It will be a week of people spending time with us in a place we love and, most importantly, it will be a moment where every special person in our lives will be together at once.

8) When you imagine yourself at 80 years old, what do you see?

I see a retired, happy, and loved husband/father.

9) What are you most grateful for?

Life. I know it is a very general and may be a typical answer, but a lot of other people in the world have it a lot harder than most of us. I have been fortunate to have had a great upbringing and have been able to live my life under my terms. Yes, we have those days/weeks that are hard, but in the grand scheme of things, most us have the ability to change something that is restricting us in our daily lives.

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What elements would you like to see covered on future Man Mondays?  Are there any burning questions that you’d love to have answered?

Create a great life!