A place where a pick up truck is considered the best family vehicle....

So the packers won the superbowl. I just got back from a 10 trip in Mexico (A-W-E-S-O-M-E) and I started my new real grown up job on Tuesday.

Needless to say im exhausted. As soon as i get together some pictures there'll be a mexico post full of beach, climbing, party and stuff.

Henry got his cast off.

Winter Drags on....

So there's been lots of snow and lots of cold around here. I don't have any pictures to post this very moment. BUT I figure its time for a little update.....

Tomorrow I leave for Mexico.

Bonnie, Katie Pryor and I are going skydiving together this summer.

I start a new "grown up" job the very DAY i get back from Mexico. (the 22nd of Feb.)

Thats all thats on my mind for now. I'll get a post with some pictures and something significant up there soon.

OHHHHH and here's little Henry signing his own cast. He broke his leg, but dont worry he's already walking around on his cast, just like a little pirate...... He is soooo adorable :)

Climbing INSIDE

Okay, so the alternative to NOT climbing in the freezing cold during winter is indoor climbing. Last week was the 12th annual "Quick on the Draw" competition at my gym, Adventure Rock. Everyone looks forward to this competition all year. I had been looking forward to the competition for about 2 years now.................

This year was my second year competing. My first Year of doing the competetion (pre-spain life) I was in the lowest level, recreational, and this year I competed in the second level, Advanced. (There are four levels- Open, Advanced, Intermediate, Recreational.)

(Hanging out between climbs)

The competition began at 9am sharp. We had 3 hours to complete 7 different routes and 5 different bouldering problems, none of which we had seen before. It's a sort of free-for-all and everyone just goes around waiting in lines and trying all the different routes and problems. After the three hours they tallied our scores. I took first for my division. Lindsey, who I climbed with this year and also my first year, took second. :)

(Lots of people all trying to get their climbs done within the 3 hour limit)

Later that afternoon the top five competitors from the top two divisions, both male and female, competed in finals. If you did the math correct, there were 20 of us in finals. They basically put us in "isolation" in a back room together and we waited. One by one they called us out to the gym to climb the route that was designed for our division.

(Lindsey on the Women's Advanced Final Route)

When I walked out to the gym it was pretty dark and there was a spotlight on me and the route. I couldnt see much anyone, but I knew that there was near 200 people watching. Everyone was just staring in silence. (at least thats what I felt) I turned to my belayer and whispered.... " So do I just start climbing??" His reply was "Well, you might want to wait until they start playing your song." "Oh, okay." In a couple of seconds they started playing what I had picked as my theme song: Flashing Lights by Kanye West. (I thought it matched the mood with the darkness and neon holds)

(Me, on my way up the final route)

I took a deep breath and started to climb, trying not to shake too much, pretending that I wasn't really extremely super nervous. As I worked my way up the wall, I could hear the crowd cheering in the background. Way above me I could see a swinging draw.... that meant that the previous climber (Lindsay) had at least reached that draw. It was swinging from when they pulled the rope out. I needed to reach that point. I climbed on. Finally, I passed the swinging draw. The crowd picked up. I felt pretty good. I reached one more hold. Everyone was shouting and screaming. hmmmm. I grabbed the next hold. Everyone got even louder, which i didnt think was possible. Maybe I had won??? I'm not sure.

(clipping)

Okay, well, I'll just keep climbing. BUT Wait, what?! this is really hard. Now what....I guess I have to reach THAT hold??? What???????!!!!!! I dont know how to get there....Well maybe I won? if not I got really close..... and drop. I fell.

(David Nimmer crushing Men's Open Final Route)

End of the climb and end of the story. Eventually I was told that I had reached the farthest and I was first place. I got a really cool trophy with a mustache hold on it. Mustaches was the THEME for this year's competition. Hence the mustache holds in all the pictures.

It was a fun day with a much more happy than expected ending. :)