Today on the reduced price bakery rack at my neighborhood grocery store I noticed a peculiar item for sale: a "Marion Berry pie." Because it was very cheap, and because I was fascinated by the prospect of a pie named after the former mayor of DC, I bought the pie.

It turns out that the marionberry is a type of blackberry. The "Marion" in the name comes from an Oregon county where the hybrid was developed. So my pie is more likely to be filled with fruit than with, say, cocaine.

I became somewhat depressed today when I began researching the various discount ticket packages available at Salt Lake's ski resorts, and I learned I wasn't young enough to qualify for a "young adult" discount. (And they don't mean "young adult" as a euphemism for teens or students. K-12 students have their own discount, as do college students.)

Luckily my old age didn't prevent me from climbing Mount Olympus yesterday. (They're kind of weird about mountain names in these parts.)

We had our first snowfall of the season today. I hope things clear up by Monday, though, because I have plans to visit a corn maze cut in the shape of Utah's American Idol hero David Archuleta.

I really miss Mike Huckabee.

I'm incredibly proud to announce that Wailin's weekly column debuted today in the Chicago Tribune. If you look carefully, you may be able to see a cameo appearance by yours truly. (Hint: I'm a "friend.")