One Step Forward, Ten Steps Back.

Well, Saturday, Dani and I took two girls from Women On Edge to 5.8 wall in Ogden Canyon. We showed them first how to set up a top rope and then to repel down, tie in, and start climbing. Everyone was able to make it to the top of each of the three routes we set up. It was so much fun to get these girls outside for the first time and let them see the wonderful world that is outdoor climbing.

Monday night, Ben did a lead belay clinic in which four people showed up and it was so neat. Everyone was soaking in all the information quickly and asking good questions and trying to really learn the best and safest methods of lead climbing. It was so much fun to be Ben's assistant!

Last night we had another regular meeting at the Weber State Gym where I planned on going over different holds and how to use them and different ways to use your hands when climbing in hopes of breaking my climbers of the ladder method that so easily becomes a habit at first. I had my friend Chris come along with Ben to help run the clinic and show us some demonstrations. Of course, Dani couldn't make it and apparently neither could any of the other regulars. We had two new girls show up around 7:20pm who had to pick up a car before nine and... oh, did I mention that one of them had a boot? Hehe, it was fun still but definitely interesting when they showed up, started filling out the paperwork and then said: "do we have to climb today?" Needless to say, we started out with a discussion on what they were wanting to accomplish that night and in the end we decided to go ahead and do a belay clinic using Tim to climb so the girl without the boot could also learn the belay. We'll have to go over it all again when they come back to make sure they remember.

Women On Edge: Week 2

Yesterday was our second meeting for Women On Edge (my womens climbing group). It was great! Last week, only 2 girls showed up but this time, there were 7 so with the three leaders that made 10 women all working together to climb! I was so excited about the turnout and I hope it keeps going that way if not increasing! The only downside was that the 2 girls from last week didn't show so it was 7 new girls so yet again we had to start over with the belay clinics and all, but it was so worth it. The other downside was that 3 of the girls seemed to come just so they could climb together and they didn't really want to be much a part of our group including warm up and cool down and getting to know each other. They were still fun but we'll see if they actually ever make it back here, the other 4, however, were so much fun! They were pushing each other, working over fears, trying difficult routes, and during cool down exercises, we had so much fun together! We all got in a circle and went around saying our names, something about ourselves, and then demonstrated our favorite stretches. I really think that at least some of them will be back and really participate in the group. I can't wait for next week!

I LOVE MY LIFE!!! ...hopefully it continues as it has been.

Well, first of all I must say that work today was amazing! I had a good, solid, class IV patient (nice messy perio) on whom I was able to use some local anesthetic which I haven't been able to do since school because I've been to big of a wimp to do shots for the Dr. but no more!!! Watch out cavities... here I come! It was fun to do something different and to actually feel like I'm working really really hard for that patient. I'm also coming in special just for her because I really enjoy working on her and she really seems to trust me and my hands. It seriously feels so good... I get the biggest high from doing hard work and stressing myself out and seeing that the patient actually appreciates and really does trust me and all the hard work I do.

Second of all, this summer has been a blast! I know you really wouldn't be able to tell from my blog since I hardly write anymore but I've just been so busy! I work on Thursday and Friday only for now with some subbing as an assistant and/or hygienist at my office and other local offices. I loved that schedule this summer because Ben worked Thursday and Friday with some Saturdays so when he was done with work on Sat or sometimes even Fri, we could head out on some crazy climbing, fishing, rafting, backpacking, camping, or whatever other type of adventure we felt like having that week with no need to be back until Wednesday night! I may have lost out on a few job offers over the summer but I don't regret it one bit... it was so worth it!!!

The problem I have now is this fall. I have all of this free time with only working two days a week and all but Ben will be starting 19 credits of intense Clinical Lab Science classes to finish up his license and degree. On top of that he will be running a monthly climbing clinic at Weber's rock climbing wall and working every other Saturday at the WSU Outdoor Programs. I don't know when he'll have time to be with me or if... I'm so worried about what I'm going to do with all of that time. I'm going to be running a weekly women's climbing group called Women On Edge at the Weber wall in the Stromberg gym. (ps. it's open to all students and community members... it's free for students and for community it's $5.00 per week which is a great deal and basically helps with equipment costs. So if you're a girl and you climb, or you've always wanted to try it out, come join us!) Aside from that, I don't know what's going to happen or what I will do to try and fill my free time... I guess a lot of painting and knitting! Hopefully all goes well.