The CragBaby

Ms. Pear and her friend Em are avid hikers who love the adventure of ascending mountain peaks. They recently took a trip that started with a day on the Upper Exum route of the Grand in the Tetons, then drove to Seattle to complete Mt. Rainier. Below are some of the pics from Rainier. Thanks for sharing the pics, Ms. Pear.

The night bouldering posse hit up the rock at The Gate a couple weeks ago where the combination of the granite and heat shredded our finger tips. The crew consisted of Shaft, Severhead, SP, Doughy, Triznut, Trent, Rafiti and myself.

The Gate was probably a poor choice for bouldering as it really was rough on the fingers, especially with the heat. Here SP got a nice little flapper, to which he applied some of Doughy’s concoction.

Another woman contestant working the crux move on the third (out of five) problem.

After the comp was the Revolution after party. Good times! Free drinks, music, go-go dancers and climbers everywhere. Pictured are Shaft and I on the dance floor.

Dr. C and Dr. M on the dance floor. Dr. M busted out some madly impressive dance skills.

Trend setters Shua and Ms. Orange hopped on an empty stage and next thing we knew the stage was rockin’ with people.

All beer was served in Mammut beer glasses, which could be taken as a souveneir. We all thought they were great … and some of us stuffed our pockets.

Mr. Math and I decided to head down to Division Wall one lovely Sunday so that I could hop on Liquid Oxygen and he could get in an endurance workout. On the way we met up with T and a couple of her friends and then ran into the Stone Face Killah, A-zilla and Quiet R at the crag.

Mr. Math real smiley even though I don’t know if he got enough laps in for the day.

My lil’ one was quite tuckered and slept part of the time inside Mr. Math’s backpack.

I am still working on the recovery from the small ankle fracture that occurred in April. I tried approximately 5 weeks of physical therapy but barely noticed a difference and felt like I could do all the exercises at home. A friend of mine urged me to see an acupuncturist he had used with an injury and I have been blown away with the difference. I have now gone to this gentleman four times and can see a substantial increase in my ankle’s range of motion.

If looking for an acupuncturist or are currently experiencing an ailment, I would highly suggest Dr. Ding Chinese Health Clinic located at 3090 East 3300 South, Suite 400. The phone number is 801-487-4370 and he can usually schedule an appointment within a few days.

Lately I have been a little bummered out. I typically am an up-beat and optimistic person, yet lately have been getting down each day. Over the past couple weeks I have tried to pin-point what it is exactly that is bothering me. It most likely is a handful of variables, but I believe the main portion is from the current misalignment between where I want to be in life and where I currently am.

I have lived in Salt Lake City 6 years as of this August. I love Salt Lake and I consider it my home … yet I am ready to move on. I am ready to move geographically, start a new adventure, try a new career, go back to school, meet new friends, learn a new language….. something…. something other than what I am doing here.

It isn’t that I am not happy here; it is just the point that there is more to life than what is entailed within one city / state / country. The completely frustrating aspect is I yearn for something new, but for some odd reason I can’t quite seem to get all the “ducks in a row” to make things happen. And I think I realized that maybe there is a reason for me to be waiting. I don’t know what the future entails but I do believe that things happen for a reason. Perhaps I need to consider more options. Perhaps I need to stick around because a new leaf will turn in Utah. Perhaps I have yet to make a contact that is necessary to open a door. I don’t know. I guess I will keep on brainstorming and hope that soon a new opportunity will come my way.

My employing firm has a summer intern who has not only been fantastic to work with and completely gung-ho about learning the ropes of venture capital, but he has enlightened my life in many different aspects. For instance, he is a lover of classic films. After one of our conversation concerning a classic movie, I thought I would go home and give one a try. I was instantly hooked! The films I have seen so far include:

• Bringing Up Baby- One of the sillier, but still enjoyable, films. This film was produced by Henry Hawk in 1938 and includes Cary Grant and Kathryn Hepburn. The story line is about an absent-minded, well-to-do girl (Hepburn) who randomly meets the conservative paleontologist (Grant). The two end up on a wild adventure pursuing a leopard, making the paleontologist miss his wedding.
• Casablanca – A definite must see classic produced in 1942 including Henry Bogart and Inga Bergman. Set in unoccupied French territory Cassablanca during World War II, the story is entwined with a former freedom fighter/current night club owner’s (Rick Blaine’s) ability to help rebel Victor Lazlo escape to the United States. Lazlo, however, is inconveniently married to Blaine’s only love, Ilsa. The most well known quote from this show is, “Here is looking at you, kid.” I have now watched the movie twice and would eagerly watch it again.
• North by Northwest – fantastic! Yes ladies, it is true… Cary Grant is as handsome as the rumors suggest. This film is another Hitchcock produced classic that includes Cary Grant as an executive who is mistaken as a government agent and chased across the US. One of the most popular scenes is when Grant is alone in a mid-western field and is being dive bombed by an airplane.
• To Catch a Thief – another fantastic Hitchcock produced film! Created in 1959 and including Cary Grant and Grace Kellie, the plot is based around a jewelry thief in Nice whose robberies are being blamed on the previous jewel thief (played by Grant).
• Citizen Cane – My friend PE Bruce suggested this one. I actually need to re-watch it as I was so tired that day I only made it halfway through it. What I did see was great.

After the redpoint of my nemesis, Right Pile, I was eager to try the 5.12a Pile Surgery right next it, especially since the climbs link. I had worked out the moves the week prior with Kathryn and felt like a redpoint was actually possible. Deebx was jazzed to get out and climb on Wednesday, so the two of us ran up to the Pile to get some laps in for the day. After a couple attempts, I snagged my first 12a redpoint on Pile Surgery. Yay! As H.I.P. #1 said, it was a great way to start off my birthday month.

Deebx, thanks so much for you patience, wanting to get out that day and the great belays!