go go gadget ARMS!
for my birthday this year, instead of doing the whole dinner-drink-bar-meet a guy on the dancefloor-exchange numbers-wake up the next day wondering what his name was-have an ackward conversation when he calls-meet up-find out he's actually balding and smells like wet dog-get a bail-out call from a girlfriend-go home single all over again thing that i've actually never done but have been told is just a real downer...
i decided to go another route.
i decided to go.... rock climbing.
indoors.
on a wall.
in a totally safe not even remotely death defying environment.
it was awesome!
and while i'd like to sit here and tell you all about the ways in which i monkey'd myself up the indoor rock-like walls with ease and grace...
i'm afraid you and i both know... that didn't happen.
not in the least.
what i instead can tell you is.... i'm short. and as in most cases... this does work to my advantage.
on three of the seven sections of wall i attempted to climb.... somewhere in the middle, half way up, i encountered what i'd like to call a malfunction of design.
for most people.. this might not be a problem. while standing on one lump of wall with the right foot, the average person can then reach up to another lump of wall, balance, step with the left foot onto yet another lump of wall somewhat higher than the right foot's lump, pull/push/stand and suddenly be several inches higher up on said wall.
its a quite simple idea, really, one that in theory, i'm very keen on.
but in practice... well. its just not that simple.
for those poor souls who, like myself, tower at an un-impressive 5'2 inches, reaching, standing, climbing from lump to lump gets to be.... difficult. our wing span just isn't as long as a normally heighted person and so suddenly, those "helpful" tips from below...
"oooh. AJ. see if you can reach that green one by your left shin. put your left foot on that.... GOOD! now ok. see that right one by your right knee? get your right foot on that while reaching for the yellow one thats a few (read:: 72) inches above your head and then just step up and you'll have it!"
get to be, oh i dunno.........
pure insanity.
my well-meaning'ed friends below had me in such ackward spread eagle positions that i didn't know whether or not to be frustrated or flattered that they thought i could actually maneuver myself in such impossible ways.
needless to say, it was quite an adventure.
one of my many pauses in climbing to re-asses my situation. it never helped. but admitting defeat never comes easily.
*sigh*
HA! my last and final climb. god love the designer of this section of wall!!!
(three of the taller chicks in the group. notice how they all made it to the top.
show-off's...)
either way though, i had a fantastic time, and a fantastic birthday.
you can see more photos here. but they're all pretty much the same and, just to warn you... they're all shots of ass.
and nobody looks good from that angle....
i'm just sayin!
Comments
ooh how fun, what a great way to celebrate.
where was this at? i might like to try it sometime.
Posted by: katie | January 10, 2007 2:16 PM
looks like lots of fun.
happy birthday!
Posted by: TJ | January 10, 2007 3:07 PM
That is a great way to celebrate your birthday. Definitely better than meeting a random guy while drunk, oh wait, sometimes that works. It has worked for me so far!
Posted by: Laurie | January 10, 2007 3:08 PM
looks like a blast. i'm the worst rock climber ever--screw getting halfway up; i'm proud if i can get off the floor...
but you know what the best part of your adventure is? that you're doing it with a bunch of girl friends. i don't seem to have any these days and reading your post made me realize i miss it. guy friends are great and all, but it's just not the same...
Posted by: curly su | January 10, 2007 3:17 PM
Whoo Hooo! AJ ass! hehe. Guess its bad to mention i'm 5'11. Rock climbing is great excerise, more legs than arms if you do it right.
Posted by: andy | January 10, 2007 3:22 PM
go go gadget arms and legs! did you go out, get drunk, meet a boy and make out with him, give him your number, go home alone, wake up with a killer hangover the next night?! :)
Posted by: Kim | January 10, 2007 3:52 PM
I always thought that would be so much fun! Do you have to have really good upper body strength to pull it off? Mine kinda sucks...
Posted by: Misty | January 10, 2007 4:22 PM
dude i have so wanted to try the same thing, but just KNOW they do not make those damn things for short limbed people...way to rock it anyway!
Posted by: miss petite america | January 10, 2007 5:35 PM
i was under the ASSumption that every first-time indoor rock climber did the tom cruise/mission impossible hang-by-one-hand-and-look-back pose for the camera at some point.
what'd ya think of the little shoes they give you to climb in?
Posted by: good ol' j. | January 10, 2007 5:43 PM
Awesome idea for a birthday trip. Sweeeeeet!
Posted by: Denise "Firefly" | January 10, 2007 7:28 PM
FantASStic! that looks like a blASSt!
Posted by: jeanne | January 10, 2007 9:24 PM
Sounds and looks like fun.
Posted by: JKrunning | January 10, 2007 9:30 PM
Happy B Day!!!!!!!!!!!!
I take my youngest from time to time to go climbing. It is a fun thing to do.
By the way UNC is still #1 and dook lost!
Posted by: Kurt | January 11, 2007 9:58 AM
Happy B Day!!!!!!!!!!!!
I take my youngest from time to time to go climbing. It is a fun thing to do.
By the way UNC is still #1 and dook lost!
Posted by: Kurt | January 11, 2007 10:00 AM
Hey,
We have lots of rock-climbing walls in CO...
Oh wait. We have lots of ROCKS here. Wanna climb a real one when you're out here?
Posted by: J. Lee | January 11, 2007 10:09 AM
Happy Birthday! This is the year, A - THIS IS THE YEAR! And you KNOW what I'm talkin' 'bout... :)
Posted by: Nic | January 11, 2007 10:59 AM
It's awesome to try new things. Rock climbing always looks fun when OTHERS do it. Me and rock climbing would never work.
Gravity just loves my form and therefore has a stronger pull on me.
Posted by: Patrick | January 11, 2007 11:23 AM
I was going to leave a comment, but I don't have time. I have a bunch of ass pictures to review.
Posted by: Iron Pol | January 11, 2007 1:35 PM
Beeee careful... Its sooo addicting!! & wait til you get to touch real rock...
Precious stuff..
Your Bald friend... :P
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecanonrattman/63719898/in/set-410551/
Posted by: Paul | January 11, 2007 5:10 PM
Feliz cumpleanos
Posted by: qcmier | January 11, 2007 7:58 PM
Yep, we coloradings are all over the place all year. I tried rock climbing once. Loved it till I got to the top. Then I discovered I got vertigo and had to wait till I slipped off before I got down. Was still fun though. :D
Posted by: Porscha | January 11, 2007 10:57 PM
oh good god . . . i'd totally fall and squish someone . . . you go AJ!
Posted by: Susan | January 12, 2007 1:55 PM
Happy happy birthday!!! Looks like FUN! :)
Posted by: Trisaratops | January 12, 2007 2:37 PM
Always good to start something new! Just started running myself - and bloggin' about it. Hope to see you there some time!
Posted by: Dree | January 13, 2007 9:05 AM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: aprilanne | January 13, 2007 6:53 PM