with respect and reverence

i'll address the subject line in a second. first an update on august's cd promotion and sales. as of this morning, i've sold 37 cds. that's AWESOME!! i've got sell 13 more in the next 14 days to hit my goal, so (not to beat a dead horse), please get your orders in soon and please tell all your friends and coworkers about the promotion. (remember...i'm giving away free cds to everyone who orders and some other as of yet undetermined item to those who order multiple copies!!)

now, on to the subject at hand. as most of you know, i enjoy rock climbing. there are many things i like about it, but one benefit in particular is the "quiet" that i get when i climb. i've tried lots of sports, but climbing's the first one where things get quiet in my mind. when i'm climbing well, it's almost like there are two of me on a route - one that talks with my belayer and other climbing partners and one who focuses on breathing, on footwork, on focus. i don't mean to get all zen on you, but it's very meditative. i love it. you're pushing yourself to your physical and mental edge, but (if you climb with the right mental approach and mindset) it's somehow very relaxing and fun. very fun. in a world where you're always around noise (both mental and actual), an afternoon of mental stillness is prize to behold.

well, i turned b.w.e. onto climbing with my enthusiasm and, while she's not like me - going to the gym 2-3 times a week and reading every climbing publication available - she wants to get into it a little bit. with that in mind, we bought her a pair of climbing shoes and headed out on sunday to foster falls for her maiden sport climbing voyage. my goals were simple: get her up a couple of routes, complete my first lead climb, complete a route that kicked my ass last time (not me in the picture. i still have a lump on my shin to prove it and it's been 2 months) and, more importantly, have fun and get everyone home in one piece. 5 goals. 4 completed.

i fell. the details would bore most of you, but i was attempting to lead a route (still not me in the picture) that i'd previously climbed. i was just starting the route, lost my footing and fell to the ground from about 6 feet up; not far, but enough to hurt. here's where the subject line comes in: that's how i tell myself to climb,. with respect and reverence for the rock. it sounds hokey, i know, but it's how i approach the sport and the rock. well, when i started to climb gravity boots (the route that i fell from), i approached the rock with a cocky and flippant attitude. no respect. no thought. no attention to the placement of my feet. when i turned to look for another foothold **WHAM SMACK BOOM** i was on the ground. i had failed to pay attention and paid for it with a left foot that's almost too sore to walk on this morning. luckily, i didn't break it or even sprain it. in fact, i climbed for another 8 hours with a constant throbbing reminder to be smart and mindful.

lesson learned. for the next two weeks (or until this thing quits hurting) every time i stand up or jog or whatever i'll be reminded that next time i'll approach the climb with an open mind and clear head. i'll also remember why they say that footwork is the most important aspect of climbing...

(we DID take a few pictures. they'll go on the laptop tonite and hopefully up here tomorrow or wednesday. i'm sure b.w.e. got a great picture of my ass in a climbing harness.)