August 28, 2007

Fox Mountain Guides

Well, I finally did it. I booked and paid for a climbing guide! No backing out now!

I will be doing my very first outdoor, top-rope climb with my new friend, Karen on 9/22.

We will either be climbing at Boone or at the south side of Looking Glass.

What's even crazier is that we will be belaying one another! Holy crap! I can't believe I am going to learn how to belay! And then I will be belaying her on a real freakin' mountain! Yikes!

I am so stoked! I just hung up with Karsten, one of the guides with Fox. We talked for an hour? Unfortunately, he will be climbing at Yosemite on 9/22, so I will not get to meet him. Everyone at Fox guides seems so nice and down to earth! Just thought I would share my excitement! I absolutely cannot wait for this moment!

August 27, 2007

One of the places I’ll be going to in Cali...

The Crux Climbing Gym

This place ooks awesome! I cannot wait!

:)

August 27, 2007 Chill and Grill w/ Phil

My friend from Liverpool will be heading back home as I am heading out to the Pacific Coast next week.

We all got together and had a party/cook-out and festivities in his honor.

It was a great night last night. I had an absolute blast.

My friend and co-worker, Ace, is a genius in the kitchen as well. The food was amazing! :)

Also, I finally got to see him and his girlfriend, Jaime's new house. They have an awesome place. I loved it!

Here are a few pics from the night.This is me and my friend, Phil:

Phil and Jaime:

Me and my friend, Joe, from high school. I can't believe he was there. I have not seen him since 1993!

I ended up staying at this party until like close to 5:00 am! hahahaha

It was a blast! Late in the night after most everyone else had left, we were all jamming to music. Most of these guys are musicians. So, of course the guitar and harmonica was going to make an appearnce at some point in the evening!

Andrew Evans and Shelley Maggee:

Phil on the harp:

Shelley and Phil jammin' out to some good ole harmonica blues:

Later, we moved the party back inside into the man cave. There's nothing like goofing around and just having fun with friends and living in the moment!

I think they were still jammin' out to Gomez!

Jammin' to G Love and Special Sauce!

We also had a special entertainer that night! Just for 'shits and giggles'!!!

Freakin' hilarious!!! hahahaha

Good friends and good times!!! Yay!

August 26, 2007 A Secret

The Peace Corp.

With everything going on in the world lately, and with me being confused as to what my life is supposed to be about. What do I want out of life? I've been really thinking about a lot of stuff lately.

I've been reading up on The Peace Corp.

I'm stuck in Chapter 2 of this one book. The Chapter is about deifining what your sense of purpose is. Honestly, I can't finish the chapter. There's a little quiz or question thingy that you have to fill out. It helps you with figuring out what you want out of your life, etc. I can't fill it out. I don't really know what the answers are, so I put the book away. Every time I pick it back up, and see the questions, all I think about is a feeling that I want to help people somehow. The book is supposed to be about how to find your passions, define them so you can try to use them to make a living doing what you love. But what if your passion is something that you can't really make money doing? I have this feeling lately that I really want to volunteer and help people. I'm not sure how to really get involved in things...

I have bills, a mortgage, a dog, etc. I need to make money, you know? But a part of me wishes that I didn't have these things so I could just up and move away for 27 months and join The Peace Corp.

I thought about joining Habitat for Humanity and help with the building homes stuff. Maybe I could help at a rape crisis center. There's a lot of things I could do to help around here I suppose...I can't be in a leadership type role though. Like I don't think I could handle being a treasurer or chairman of anything...I'm more the team worker/laborer type.

My main thing that really bothers me right now in this world is sex slavery and sex survival in these torn countries. Young female teens being sold into sex slavery...degrading themselves to feed their families or being kidnapped and sold for sex. It pisses me off. It makes me very sad. These girls are daughters of doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. They are victimes of war...it's not fair. We get everything here, and we all take it all for granted.

You see these movies and watch news events about the genocide, poverty, child abuse, etc. and sex survival in war torn countries like Damascus, among other places. I get mad when I read or hear about females in these other countries who are killed if they are raped...they become an embarrasment to their familes and their fathers and brothers consider them a disgrace! I get so angry! I just feel like I wish I could help.

What if I wasn't meant to fall in love? What I wasn't meant to find the perfect career? What if it is that I was meant to help others? What if that was my calling?

August 25, 2007 Confessions of a SUErial Skiller!

1. What is your favorite tv show? Talk SUEp

2. In just a few words or less sum up what you think about the future of computers or technology.What can I say, it's the information SUEper highway!

3. What are most days like for you? They're SUErrific!

4. What is your favorite city in Iowa? SUE City

5. I saw a cop drive by on a scooter in The Vista the other night...I thought to myself sarcastically, "Now, he sure is in Hot PurSUEt!"

6. What's you favorite season? MonSUEn season

7. What is one food that has really disgusted you before but you are willing to give it another try? SUEshi

8. I could try it at SUEnami in The Vista?

9. If learned to cook, I could become a SUE Chef! (I"m afraid of what that food might taste like!)

10. What is one word that describes you? SUEphisticated (haha)

11. What is your goal right now in life? I am just in the purSUET of happiness is all.

12. Do you ever think of yourself as the biggest dork on the planet? Of course! I am the Sork of Dorks!!!

13. How would you define your sense of style? SUEperfluous baby!

14. What is your favorite day of the week? SUEsdays!

15. How would you describe your weekend this past weekend? SUErreal

August 17, 2007 Well...*sigh*

So...i won't be going to Cedar Rock, NC tomorrow to climb my first outdoor climb. For starters, I don't have a sitter for my dog. :(
And, it's just too damn hot lately. I think I'll wait until after my California trip too, b/c I need to save my money. I'm currently evaluating a hole in my large piece of luggage...wondering if it will hold up...or buy a new piece. I also need a pair of board shorts...gotta cover my ass! I don't want to spend the money on gas to Cedar Rock. I'm really upset though, b/c I really wanted to go. :(

And...we had rain today, finally! We have needed this rain! However, it only means that now the grass is really going to shoot up this weekend. I will need to get out in the yard! And with the rain, if it continues tonight, it will make it cooler in the early am when i get up to mow it. :) So, I should really stay home for that reason as well.

I haven't been out to a bar since June (?) I think? I really can't remember! I think it was actually June 15th to see Everything After play at Headliners. Wow, I am that lame? So, maybe I'll go out tonight. If Dylan reads this blog, maybe we can hit up the mexican food tonight??? Call me...

I watched this movie The Departed last night. I really liked it. I like mobster movies. I also love movies with unpredictable endings too. This one was definitely that! :)

I need a shower and I have a huge headache right now...TENSION. I am so sick of these headaches. I've been getting them so frequently lately. It sux. I think I'm gonna go to the doc about it and ask for an MRI on my neck. Weird things are happening to me lately. My eyes feel like they are going cross-eyed at times (not because I'm reading directions on how to put something together either) and sometimes when I move my head, my eyes see these black things floating around. All of this happens when my neck is throbbing. What if it is all related somehow? I need an MRI, I think.

I guess I will just climb at the gym this weekend...I only have 11 more days and I'll be kayaking and learning to surf in California. I am so stoked! It's going to be so radical and I cannot wait! :) YEAH!!!

I think I'm going to absolutely love it out there in Cali and may not want to come back! haha

I'm going to take a nap and put a cold wrap around neck! :(

Hope everyone has a great weekend! PEACE!!!

August 15, 2007 I'm so excited and I just can't fight it!

I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

I'm going up to Cedar Rock, NC to climb outside for my very first time this weekend!

I am about to pee in my pants! Yay!

Thanks Fred and Karen!!!

August 12, 2007 Finally, some pics...gym climbing

So...if you have been reading my blogs, you will know that I have been trying out indoor climbing.

My goal is to eventually get outside to climb. At my own pace...I will get there. I want to learn with experienced climbers, but I am a beginner who is not trying to impress anyone or become something she's not. I just like to have fun and like learning new things!

"BITE ME!"

At least I have the balls to get out and do something different!

Anyways, I have made some really great friends at Stronghold lately. I'm loving life more and more. I look forward to it more and more.

I met up with new friends, Karen and Fred today, so I decided to get some pics. I want proof! hehe I have been documenting pretty much everything I am doing on my "to do" list. :)

(yes, I have a "to do" list!)

I found a new route that I really really like!!! It has a lie back maneuver on it. I can't quite get it yet, but I keep praticing though...never gonna stop until I get it down.

I was finally able to put my other arm up. This shit is hard! For me it is anyways!

I felt that I did pretty good today. I climbed the route that I call the angry route. It put a bad taste in my mouth one Tuesday night... I climbed it better and faster today! I had a lot more confidence. Yay!

This pic is me climbing up my fav wall after I got out of my lay back position...I go off route a lot right now. One day, I'll stay on route. I promise!

They posted this pic on the rock climbing website I joined that a friend referred me to. They put my pic on the main page for new photos. hee hee I think they do that for everyone though...

http://www.rockclimbing.com/

I sooo love doing this!!! Yay! It's fun! Hard but fun!

My friend Fred has been climbing for 7 years on and off. He's a very nice guy. I met him through my new friend Karen. They climb outdoors. I think we are planning a trip outside in October. :) I am so stoked!!!

This is Fred on my lay bak wall that I like.

This is my friend, Karen:

She just started climbing too. She is getting stronger. I love climbing with these guys! We have so much fun!

Anyways, I was so hungry afterwards! I treid to get 2 friends to go out for Mexican but no avail. Luckily my neighbor, Jason, who I love so dearly was game!

My God, this is the life! I would so die if I could not eat Mexican!!! lol

Here is Jason when he finds he's gonna have to pick up the tab! haha

This is the shirt I wore climbing today! I thought it was very appropriate. lol

I love them XMEN!

Me and Jason









Today was an awesome day! I feel so good after climbing. Yay!

August 3, 2007 Black Diamond Diva!

Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman!

My climbing harness! Yay!

July 31, 2007 The Age of Nothing

In an age of nothing, at a time when we stand at the brink of our own destruction, strengthen your belief in yourself...in the future of humanity...in the things of this world which cannot easily be perceived.

Awaken that which lies dormant now within your soul.

Re-ignite the flame of your conciousness and measure the strength of your convictions.

Reveal the lie; renounce your hatred; seek and embrace the truths you are fortunate enough to discover...cherish them. Use them to anchor you in the sea of chaos that is this world we live in.

When twilight draws near, when you are pushed to the very limits of your soul, when it seems that all you have left is the dead remains of the fabric of your life, just believe...

* David Draiman of Disturbed *

July 31, 2007 Determined

"Eventually, I sickened of people, myself included, who didn't think enough of themselves to make something of themselves. - people who did only what they had to and never what they could have done. I learned from them the infected loneliness that comes at the end of every misspent day. I knew I could do better."

- Mark Twight, "I hurt, therefore, I am."

July 30, 2007

So...I have been renting my harness when I climb indoor at the gym...and a chalk bag...and shoes.


Well, as of Saturday, I have shoes now! :)


Someone let me use their harness Tuesday night and I used it this past Saturday. It was really nice of this person to let me use it, however, I am giving it back.


Today, I bought a chalk bag and chalk. And I bought a harness of my own online from Amazon.com. It's a womens' Black Diamond - Diva - in red. I love that color! I bought it for $12 brand new! LOL! What a great day it has been! I went onto Amazon this morning just to poke around and see out of curiosity how much a new harness would cost. It was brand new but on close-out. It's a $65+ harness that was on close-out for $34. As I was checking out and about to pay for my purchase, I applied for the Amazon card, b/c it gave me $30 off of my purchase! So, with shipping, etc., I only paid $12 for my harness. Next week, when the purchase posts on my account, I will pay off the $12 and close out that card! Yahoo!!!


Life works in mysterious ways! Things always work out for the better...


The fact that I landed this great deal on a brand new harness and found a perfect fit, used, great condition climbing shoe this weekend is just a sign to me, "Keep on keepin' on!" Keep climbing!
I am so stoked!

July 29, 2007 Learning the Ropes

Wow!

Look what I found as I explored again online...for climbing.

Rock Climbing at Chimney Rock - Fox Mountain Guides

Stronghold also recommended a few more! Yay! I can't wait! I think I'm booking for one of these next 3 weekends coming up...then after that, I'll be in California! :)

July 28, 2007 Nothing Wrong with a Rainy Day

I woke up this morning at 7 am. I got bored so I started to clean a little around my room, etc. (very gross in there...creatures were stirring...)

Around close to noon, I said screw it...I'm going climbing at the gym...

Well, on the way there, I decided to make a little pit stop at Get Your Gear On in Five Points. So glad I did! I found a pair of climbing shoes.

Online these shoes are close to over $100. New climbing shoes are so expensive. I bought mine today for $40. They are used, but in very great condition!

The guys at the store even let me demo the shoes today. So I took 'em out to Stronghold and test drove em. Awesome! I love em!

I climbed 4 routes today. It was busy in there. I climbed the same wall my previous blog was about...in like so much less time than it took the other night. Then these 2 guys were working on this one wall that seemed too hard for me, but they convinced me to try it out, so I did. I didn't make to the top but I learned a little about this manuever where your fingers grip this ledge and your arm goes straight and you push your feet up high against the wall. The maneuver is called a lie back. It was kinda cool. I feel better with people who encourage me instead of belittling me. These guys were super cool this day. The belayer's name was DJ.

So now I have 3 new goals at the climbing gym. I want to finish that wall I started today getting to the top and learn how to do that maneuver. And I want to climb my other wall I started on Tuesday night faster with less thinking! :)

My belayer made me tie into my harness myself. I had trouble remembering the figure eight follow through, but he was cool and patient and walked me through it again. Just like my friend from Tuesday night said, it takes time learning the ropes and the knots, etc.

I met another cool guy named Brian there today. He checked out my shoes for me. He examined them and made sure they were ok and couldn't believe what a sweet deal I was getting on them. He showed me how to inspect the soles of my shoes, etc. to make sure when purchasing used shoes how to make sure you're getting a good pair. He said I was smart to get a used pair, since I was a beginner. He also gave me some advice on cimbing, etc. as well. I watched him climb a crack. It was friggin' cool as shit! I heard his wife was a pretty awesome climber too.

I met another chic and her boyfriend there today too. It was a fun-filled day! I went back over to the gear store and bought my shoes! They are mine now! :)

I may go kayaking down the Congaree with a group on Wednesday eve. The guy at the gear store was really nice. He told me about this guided kayaking trip on Wednesday. I might go! It sounded like fun. It's just $30. It will have 2 rapids, but he said I could handle it though. We'll see....

I also found a TREK there for under $300. My good friend Jody rides and I want to go trail ridin' with those guys, so...may be gettin' a bike soon too. That's all folks!!!

July 26, 2007 Go Ahead...Push My Buttons!

Especially the one that says "Relax"!

I have a tendency to get very frustrated when I can't do something...however, I am not a quitter! I may feel like quitting for a second, but I have to get my heart pumping again and then I'm back. And if you say to me that I'm a quitter, it just pisses me off! Then I definitely will not quit...

My closest friends have always called me a trooper...never a quitter.

I experienced something Tuesday that was challenging for me in so many ways.

I climbed a new wall at the gym. :)

It was difficult for me. But I met a new climbing partner, or rather, someone who is teaching/coaching me how to climb. I am very beginner, and I also don't know anything about ropes, knots, etc. My friend taught me how to tie a figure 8 knot into my harness and a little bit about belaying. It's way overwhelming. I sooo need to just relax! However, I am excited now that I know this much! :)

I'm not trying to "train" for some climbing competition nor do I have goals to climb any huge mountains anytime soon. I just want to learn to climb and get outside one day and do it on a real piece of rock. It's something I've always wanted to try but have been afraid to try for one reason or another...whether it be because of fear of heights or b/c I don't think that physically I can do it...I just want to do it is all. I want to do it for me, not anyone else. The same reason I took trapeze lessons...personal transformation! But I also just want something more challenging in my life.

1. This experience Tuesday night was very physically challenging for me. My upper body is weak. I seriously thought my arms were gonna fall off! I kept slipping off, and I got tired. Physically, my hands and wrists were hurting. I wasn't trying to quit, but I was hurting though. My friend kept pushing me though...pushing all my buttons! I was getting very frustrated. You know? I honestly didn't think I could physically do it, but I did. I felt accomplished that I finally made it up there. It took me forever! It was kind of embarrassing to struggle that hard in front of someone that could easily do it though. I always get intimidated. I hate that about myself. But I have to remember that I am totally new at this, and I am learning. Everyone has a different learning curve! And my friend has climbed for years! It's not about impressing him either! I am doing this for myself and am very interested in climbing. But sometimes, it's hard to let someone "see you sweat".

2. This experience was mentally challenging for me! In more ways than one. It was intimidating physically but also mentally. I hate the word "can't", but it kept coming out of my mouth. Ugh! And when I FINALLY reached the top and was being lowered, I felt accomplished physically sort of that I actually made it...however, mentally, I did not feel that way. I was kind of angry at myself...and not totally at myself. Angry for feeling intimidated and angry for not having enough confidence in myself! I'm there to climb, not to impress anyone! So what if I freak out a little! So what if I'm not jumping around the wall like a monkey! I'm learning! I am a beginner. At least I'm doing it. At least I'm trying out something I've never done before. At least I have guts to get up there...

So, go ahead...push my buttons! I like challenges. I want to learn new things every day! I like meeting people who are motivating and who inspire me to push on.