I leave for Tanzania in two and a half weeks. I haven't got much in the way of training done lately and I feel thick and ordinary. Which, of course, I am.
You might have caught that little whiff of pancreas worry on Monday. I haven't heard back from the doctor and I haven't thought much about it since. I assume she'll let me know if something looks not right in the blood work. Right?
Whatever. I do have to go get one more vial full of germs shoved into my arm before I leave; if there's evidence you've been hanging around in east Africa, you can't get back into the special happy place called the United States without evidence that you're immune to yellow fever. I need to get on it. Blech.
Wouldn't it be nice if my blog lost its medical theme, even for just a day?
Yeah, I think so too. Tomorrow I'll get back on the 100 things business and try not to mention anything medical or even medicinal.
Happy and excellent Thursday to you.
Showing posts with label Kili. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kili. Show all posts
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Point Free
I thought I was doing ok, what with the climbing 1500 stairs a day thing. I thought that was cool. But then last night I got a text message from Bibi saying she is doing 2000 a day. And then I remember that I was... dragging during our hike last weekend and then I think, who am I kidding, exactly? I am not in any kind of shape to climb Kili. Not. At. All.
But I will go on the trip and I will try and if I don't summit, well at least I can blame my butt for being so big. If the rest of the girls don't make it, they won't have that excuse because they don't weigh more than 100 pound apiece. I am pretty sure I could bench press Sri, and Mischa? She wears children's clothing.
So today I am will climb 2000 stairs rather than 1500 and I'll go to the climbing gym and OH! I didn't tell you! I finished a V1 route - which - calm down, I know it's not a big deal - I couldn't have done a month ago because I was sooo out of shape.
Oh wait I am still exactly that: out of shape. Just less out of shape.
Where was I going with this?
Oh right. My point was that it is a damned good thing that I lack the gene that causes jealousy and competitiveness. If I were a different sort of person I would feel like I needed to climb 2500 stairs a day just to make a point, and I would do the socially awkward thing where I try to lift my friends just to prove to them that they are puny, and I'd try buying my clothing in the toddlers' section at K-Mart just to fit in - which I would clearly never accomplish in any section of the store other than the Grown Up one. But as I said, I lack the drive to measure up (or down) and so I am sitting on self-satisfied, too big butt engaging in a caffeine related food crime - in my sweatpants. And I am pretty much ok with that.
Here is an unrelated (pointless) photo I took out the window the other night.
Happy Wednesday.
But I will go on the trip and I will try and if I don't summit, well at least I can blame my butt for being so big. If the rest of the girls don't make it, they won't have that excuse because they don't weigh more than 100 pound apiece. I am pretty sure I could bench press Sri, and Mischa? She wears children's clothing.
So today I am will climb 2000 stairs rather than 1500 and I'll go to the climbing gym and OH! I didn't tell you! I finished a V1 route - which - calm down, I know it's not a big deal - I couldn't have done a month ago because I was sooo out of shape.
Oh wait I am still exactly that: out of shape. Just less out of shape.
Where was I going with this?
Oh right. My point was that it is a damned good thing that I lack the gene that causes jealousy and competitiveness. If I were a different sort of person I would feel like I needed to climb 2500 stairs a day just to make a point, and I would do the socially awkward thing where I try to lift my friends just to prove to them that they are puny, and I'd try buying my clothing in the toddlers' section at K-Mart just to fit in - which I would clearly never accomplish in any section of the store other than the Grown Up one. But as I said, I lack the drive to measure up (or down) and so I am sitting on self-satisfied, too big butt engaging in a caffeine related food crime - in my sweatpants. And I am pretty much ok with that.
Here is an unrelated (pointless) photo I took out the window the other night.
Happy Wednesday.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sin of the Week, 6/01/08
I don't want to say exactly how careless I was about calculating grades this week because if I explained it in any detail, you would be disappointed in me. A lot.
Let's just say that tomorrow morning, I have to do grade changes for two people I calculated completely wrong for. That's what happens when I am furiously running a calculator half an hour before grades are due. Dammit.
Other noteworthy bad behavior: I forgot Sri's birthday (horror) and instead of going out with my friends last night, like any good, well-adjusted person would do, I stayed home and ordered gear for the trip - gear I can't afford for a trip I very likely will never take. Is that sin? Or just stupidity?
I worked out like a crazy person both yesterday and today, so I am going to recline and eat peanut butter for the rest of the afternoon.
Have a good Sunday.
Let's just say that tomorrow morning, I have to do grade changes for two people I calculated completely wrong for. That's what happens when I am furiously running a calculator half an hour before grades are due. Dammit.
Other noteworthy bad behavior: I forgot Sri's birthday (horror) and instead of going out with my friends last night, like any good, well-adjusted person would do, I stayed home and ordered gear for the trip - gear I can't afford for a trip I very likely will never take. Is that sin? Or just stupidity?
I worked out like a crazy person both yesterday and today, so I am going to recline and eat peanut butter for the rest of the afternoon.
Have a good Sunday.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Whole lot of nothin'
I worked out. Like a crazy person. Then I ate cheese and had a beer.
Oh well.
I don't suppose I can create a whole blog post around my fattitude, my apathy, and my fatigue, so I leave you with this one question:
What is the one thing you want to do more than any other? And why aren't you doing it?
See you tomorrow.
Oh well.
I don't suppose I can create a whole blog post around my fattitude, my apathy, and my fatigue, so I leave you with this one question:
What is the one thing you want to do more than any other? And why aren't you doing it?
See you tomorrow.
Friday, May 16, 2008
I am (not) sexy
This morning at 6:00am, I got up and went to the bathroom. While there, I examined the cuffs of my new Windstopper fleece that I bought for the Kili trip.
I was feeling happy about the stitching and construction and other aspects of design such as the cute little tab in the back. Then I realized that I should not be able to see behind my own head and that I should not be wearing my new fleece jacket at all since I ordered this lovely new jacket only three days ago, so it has not yet arrived. Also, admiring its cuffs and tabs would be impossible for another reason: I would never wear a fleece jacket to bed. Want to know what Nina sleeps in? It's the second reason I am not sexy:
Anyway there I was, in mid-realization that I was not awake.. and that since I was dreaming about peeing, I might actually be, in real life, peeing.
So I hurled myself out of bed and onto the floor, where I examined my situation and all related clothing items for any evidence of a flood. There was none. But gosh I felt stupid and when I climbed back in bed, I said a short intercessory prayer (you know I don't do those anymore) that I could get back to sleep and NOT dream about peeing or having to pee. And you know what? I couldn't get back to sleep anyway and I spent the whole day, in my nightgown, working on my budget to see if there would be any slight possible way I could cut back on work in the fall. That's right: working on my budget, in my nightgown, with my hair up and my glasses on.
You know you want me.
Have a good weekend.
I was feeling happy about the stitching and construction and other aspects of design such as the cute little tab in the back. Then I realized that I should not be able to see behind my own head and that I should not be wearing my new fleece jacket at all since I ordered this lovely new jacket only three days ago, so it has not yet arrived. Also, admiring its cuffs and tabs would be impossible for another reason: I would never wear a fleece jacket to bed. Want to know what Nina sleeps in? It's the second reason I am not sexy:
Anyway there I was, in mid-realization that I was not awake.. and that since I was dreaming about peeing, I might actually be, in real life, peeing.
So I hurled myself out of bed and onto the floor, where I examined my situation and all related clothing items for any evidence of a flood. There was none. But gosh I felt stupid and when I climbed back in bed, I said a short intercessory prayer (you know I don't do those anymore) that I could get back to sleep and NOT dream about peeing or having to pee. And you know what? I couldn't get back to sleep anyway and I spent the whole day, in my nightgown, working on my budget to see if there would be any slight possible way I could cut back on work in the fall. That's right: working on my budget, in my nightgown, with my hair up and my glasses on.
You know you want me.
Have a good weekend.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Can I get an amen?
Behold, dear reader, the last cupcake:
Today is the last day of the organized paper cutting, thumb-screwing, grade bribing, soul-deflating semester. Today.
I liberated myself from my office at 3:05pm and went directly to Magnolia for the last cupcake I will see until August 27th, when I return home from Africa.
Anyone who would a daily email detailing my workouts, my diet (including a full break down of micro and macro nutrients), and my pain level can email me at readerwritesmith@gmail.com. I am determined to get back in shape. I am determined to summit. And if you want to know, I am willing to tell all... down to the last scrap of wheat germ.
I love you. And love is all that matters.
Today is the last day of the organized paper cutting, thumb-screwing, grade bribing, soul-deflating semester. Today.
I liberated myself from my office at 3:05pm and went directly to Magnolia for the last cupcake I will see until August 27th, when I return home from Africa.
Anyone who would a daily email detailing my workouts, my diet (including a full break down of micro and macro nutrients), and my pain level can email me at readerwritesmith@gmail.com. I am determined to get back in shape. I am determined to summit. And if you want to know, I am willing to tell all... down to the last scrap of wheat germ.
I love you. And love is all that matters.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Gear check
Bibi spent $518.33.
Sri spent $477.75.
Nina spent $219.87.
Of course, Nina still has to buy $100 more worth of wind-stopper fleece and a few more layers of whatever, so in the end I will about catch up to Sri. Then we will be basically set for Kilimanjaro. Now all that remains to be done is work out like crazy people, which we did right after we spent all that money. Then we went out and did... guess what we did? Same thing we always do after we work out: had a few drinks. I guess it was different in that we played bar trivia in the meantime.
Guess whose real name is Juan Rodriguez?
(A-Rod).
See you tomorrow.
Sri spent $477.75.
Nina spent $219.87.
Of course, Nina still has to buy $100 more worth of wind-stopper fleece and a few more layers of whatever, so in the end I will about catch up to Sri. Then we will be basically set for Kilimanjaro. Now all that remains to be done is work out like crazy people, which we did right after we spent all that money. Then we went out and did... guess what we did? Same thing we always do after we work out: had a few drinks. I guess it was different in that we played bar trivia in the meantime.
Guess whose real name is Juan Rodriguez?
(A-Rod).
See you tomorrow.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Sin of the week, 5/4/08
The worst thing I did this week was be culturally insensitive and not care at all about it.
One of my students asked me what I was doing for summer vacation, and I mentioned that I was going to Africa.
"Oh, that's great," she replied. "You must be going over there to do relief work. What a great idea!"
"Oh," I said. "Yeah, I guess it's great. Yeah."
"So, what kind of work will you be doing? The math teacher is going to dig a well in a village in Kenya. It's so awesome!" she said.
"Oh," I said. "I, um, I am going to be bringing clothing* over there for, um, the mountain people in Tanzania."
"Clothing?" she said.
"Yeah. The don't have enough warm clothing up there."
"Africa is really hot, right?"
"Well yeah, but the mountains are colder. And stuff."
My student then figured out that I am just a smarmy American tourist with sporting ambitions and relatively little interest in the welfare of African people. And I felt shabby.
Shabby is what I am.
Get ready for Monday. It's on its way.
*We leave our gear behind when climbing in impoverished countries. The local guides can use it and we can get more at home. (But I am still shabby).
One of my students asked me what I was doing for summer vacation, and I mentioned that I was going to Africa.
"Oh, that's great," she replied. "You must be going over there to do relief work. What a great idea!"
"Oh," I said. "Yeah, I guess it's great. Yeah."
"So, what kind of work will you be doing? The math teacher is going to dig a well in a village in Kenya. It's so awesome!" she said.
"Oh," I said. "I, um, I am going to be bringing clothing* over there for, um, the mountain people in Tanzania."
"Clothing?" she said.
"Yeah. The don't have enough warm clothing up there."
"Africa is really hot, right?"
"Well yeah, but the mountains are colder. And stuff."
My student then figured out that I am just a smarmy American tourist with sporting ambitions and relatively little interest in the welfare of African people. And I felt shabby.
Shabby is what I am.
Get ready for Monday. It's on its way.
*We leave our gear behind when climbing in impoverished countries. The local guides can use it and we can get more at home. (But I am still shabby).
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
And it goes to zero
Two weeks ago, I sent an email to my dad listing the dates I would be available for a family vacation this summer. I also listed the dates that I had professional obligations that would bring me within driving distance of his place. Since I knew that their schedule was pretty packed this summer, I left told him that I would come back from Africa early if that's what it would take to make a family vacation possible.
For a few days I was puzzled that I didn't hear back from him. Since I copied his wife on the email, I figured there was no chance it had gone astray. After fours days and no reply, I started crying just a little bit. When I hit the seven day mark, I cried a whole lot, finalized my plans for Africa, and moved on.
My brother Buzz has never been thrilled with the idea of me going to Africa. He didn't love it the first time I did it, and now that I will be visiting the country right next door to Kenya, he is the opposite of happy. When I told him I had booked the trip and why, he told me that Dad had written an email in response to my email as part of a reply to some other email he had gotten from Leta. And had forgotten (somehow) to copy me. Or whatever. So my brother was the only person who knew that the only time it is convenient for my dad and his wife for us all to get together are the first two weeks of August, which is precisely when I will be in Africa. The rest of their summer is already wall to wall with plans.
So now there will be no family vacation and I will be going to Africa and my brother is the opposite of happy with me and who the hell knows how my dad feels about any of it? He knew the dates I was planning my trip back in January, so the fact that the only dates that he declared it ok for us to visit happen to be the only dates when I can't make it? What does that mean, exactly?
I am done. Done letting other people tell me what is important, done putting other people's feelings first, done bleeding money to see people who think they are doing me a favor. And I am most especially done letting my dad hurt me.
So if anyone notices my anxiety level flat-lining as if I were in a coma, please note that it is no accident. There really does reach a point where "it" goes well beyond not sweating the small stuff. I am sweating NO stuff.
Lalalalalalala.
Happy Tuesday.
For a few days I was puzzled that I didn't hear back from him. Since I copied his wife on the email, I figured there was no chance it had gone astray. After fours days and no reply, I started crying just a little bit. When I hit the seven day mark, I cried a whole lot, finalized my plans for Africa, and moved on.
My brother Buzz has never been thrilled with the idea of me going to Africa. He didn't love it the first time I did it, and now that I will be visiting the country right next door to Kenya, he is the opposite of happy. When I told him I had booked the trip and why, he told me that Dad had written an email in response to my email as part of a reply to some other email he had gotten from Leta. And had forgotten (somehow) to copy me. Or whatever. So my brother was the only person who knew that the only time it is convenient for my dad and his wife for us all to get together are the first two weeks of August, which is precisely when I will be in Africa. The rest of their summer is already wall to wall with plans.
So now there will be no family vacation and I will be going to Africa and my brother is the opposite of happy with me and who the hell knows how my dad feels about any of it? He knew the dates I was planning my trip back in January, so the fact that the only dates that he declared it ok for us to visit happen to be the only dates when I can't make it? What does that mean, exactly?
I am done. Done letting other people tell me what is important, done putting other people's feelings first, done bleeding money to see people who think they are doing me a favor. And I am most especially done letting my dad hurt me.
So if anyone notices my anxiety level flat-lining as if I were in a coma, please note that it is no accident. There really does reach a point where "it" goes well beyond not sweating the small stuff. I am sweating NO stuff.
Lalalalalalala.
Happy Tuesday.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Finally
I am getting better at climbing. Finally, finally. I finished a few routes last night, and it took three instead of two and a half hours for me to burn my hands out. Progress made.
Other news: we are looking into a trip to Boulder, CO for Memorial Day Weekend. Can we afford it? Not really. But when we consider that it's three nights and we can camp for two of them... well... it starts looking less expensive. Now all we need are men-folk to gather fire wood and drive our tent stakes. OK maybe we don't need them, but they would be nice.
Additional other news: I am now almost sort of caught up on my job. Ok not really. But a little bit caught up. And next week is a lighter week, which I will need while I push myself up and down all manner of stairs.
Fortunately, my dearest P made me the most fun and inspiring workout CD ever. Take a look see:
Please note: I DID recently receive other blogger gifts that are so fabuloso that I am still swooning. Swooning so completely that I have not yet written about them. Fortunately, the statute of post limitations doesn't run out until next week.
What is the most excellent gift you ever received from a fellow blogger? (If you haven't received any yet, let us know that, too. Knitting season is coming sooner than you think).
Love,
Nina
Other news: we are looking into a trip to Boulder, CO for Memorial Day Weekend. Can we afford it? Not really. But when we consider that it's three nights and we can camp for two of them... well... it starts looking less expensive. Now all we need are men-folk to gather fire wood and drive our tent stakes. OK maybe we don't need them, but they would be nice.
Additional other news: I am now almost sort of caught up on my job. Ok not really. But a little bit caught up. And next week is a lighter week, which I will need while I push myself up and down all manner of stairs.
Fortunately, my dearest P made me the most fun and inspiring workout CD ever. Take a look see:
Please note: I DID recently receive other blogger gifts that are so fabuloso that I am still swooning. Swooning so completely that I have not yet written about them. Fortunately, the statute of post limitations doesn't run out until next week.
What is the most excellent gift you ever received from a fellow blogger? (If you haven't received any yet, let us know that, too. Knitting season is coming sooner than you think).
Love,
Nina
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
47
What's that, you say?
It's the number of papers I need to grade by the end of the day. Rewrites, most of them, but damn... It is going to be a rough day. And yes, I am going to the gym tonight.
Oh and here's your Larry update: We went out to dinner the other night (that would be the night I got told to come to Jesus) and Pax, the only one of us who still hangs out with Larry, has recently learned that Larry and his new crew of sycophants climb at our gym.
You might be wondering, since we are in that gym on a near daily basis, how we could never have seen him. Well, I'll tell you. It's because of Thursday.
Sri works late on Thursday. I have a meeting every Thursday night until 830. Bibi doesn't like to climb alone, and so she never goes on Thursday.
Larry always climbs on Thursday and on no other day. (If you were reading back when I told the Larry story, you know how busy a boy he is. Click on that Larry label if you care to find out).
Initially, we were all grossed out beyond measure to know that such a disgusting person was all over our climbing holds, that on Friday nights when we showed up to climb, the wall would still be hot with his nastiness.
Then we had another thought: we know his schedule. We never have to see him there if we don't want to.
And then we had a third thought. If we do want to run into him, say, on a Thursday, we know just where to find him. Sri's idea is that sometime just before Kili, we should all show up to climb on a Thursday, just to wreck his day and make him all itchy and uncomfortable.
Could we be any more immature and vengeful? I think not.
Happy Wednesday.
It's the number of papers I need to grade by the end of the day. Rewrites, most of them, but damn... It is going to be a rough day. And yes, I am going to the gym tonight.
Oh and here's your Larry update: We went out to dinner the other night (that would be the night I got told to come to Jesus) and Pax, the only one of us who still hangs out with Larry, has recently learned that Larry and his new crew of sycophants climb at our gym.
You might be wondering, since we are in that gym on a near daily basis, how we could never have seen him. Well, I'll tell you. It's because of Thursday.
Sri works late on Thursday. I have a meeting every Thursday night until 830. Bibi doesn't like to climb alone, and so she never goes on Thursday.
Larry always climbs on Thursday and on no other day. (If you were reading back when I told the Larry story, you know how busy a boy he is. Click on that Larry label if you care to find out).
Initially, we were all grossed out beyond measure to know that such a disgusting person was all over our climbing holds, that on Friday nights when we showed up to climb, the wall would still be hot with his nastiness.
Then we had another thought: we know his schedule. We never have to see him there if we don't want to.
And then we had a third thought. If we do want to run into him, say, on a Thursday, we know just where to find him. Sri's idea is that sometime just before Kili, we should all show up to climb on a Thursday, just to wreck his day and make him all itchy and uncomfortable.
Could we be any more immature and vengeful? I think not.
Happy Wednesday.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Mean girls
I had another bruising night at the gym. After getting crushed and tearing my hands to bits, we went to Rachel's, one of the many restaurants that will seat a bunch of girls covered in chalk and sporting inexcusable hair. At Rachel's, we compared our calendars and mapped out our training schedule for the summer. We will be climbing Mt. Washington, Mt. Marcy, and if Sri has her way, we'll be going out to Colorado to climb Snowmass Mountain. We will also be hopping Breakneck a whole bunch of times and we'll do Gertrude's Nose a whole bunch too.
After reviewing this training schedule in its full glory, I started to feel a little bit trembly and squeamish.
Have I mentioned I am thick and ordinary? Have I told you I have been face first in a plate of cookies for the last eight months?
Yes. I have mentioned. I have told. You totally know.
Guess who else knows? My awesome (but mean) friends, who staged what might be categorized as a climbing intervention last night by saying, in no so many words:
We are not going to Africa and leaving a climber at camp five. We are ALL summiting. Time to come to Jesus, Nina.
OK so perhaps they didn't mention Jesus, seeing as one is Jewish, one is Buddhist, and the other is Muslim. But isn't it Jesus who is supposed to hook you up when you are short on whatever goodness you need to do better?
Right Right?
Tune in tomorrow for a Larry update. Yes, there is one.
After reviewing this training schedule in its full glory, I started to feel a little bit trembly and squeamish.
Have I mentioned I am thick and ordinary? Have I told you I have been face first in a plate of cookies for the last eight months?
Yes. I have mentioned. I have told. You totally know.
Guess who else knows? My awesome (but mean) friends, who staged what might be categorized as a climbing intervention last night by saying, in no so many words:
We are not going to Africa and leaving a climber at camp five. We are ALL summiting. Time to come to Jesus, Nina.
OK so perhaps they didn't mention Jesus, seeing as one is Jewish, one is Buddhist, and the other is Muslim. But isn't it Jesus who is supposed to hook you up when you are short on whatever goodness you need to do better?
Right Right?
Tune in tomorrow for a Larry update. Yes, there is one.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Fun and foreboding
Yesterday was my second day (or third?) back climbing, and I am beginning to get the feel of it back. The problem, of course, is that I now "know" how to climb a route, but I can't complete most of them because I am not strong enough. Not cool. Not cool at all.
On the other hand, it is gratifying to watch Sri climb, since she has made so much progress.
I don't have an adjective for yesterday's other developments at the gym.
One feature of climbing is the friendliness of climbers, especially toward other climbers. So yesterday we were climbing for over three hours, off and on, with an equal number of guys who were alternately coaching and spotting us. It was all very friendly, when you consider spotting often involves grabbing the climber's ass as he (or she) falls.
After we were all good and tired, we went out for tacos and made plans to climb in the Gunks next weekend.
How long do you all think it will take before this all goes from innocent good clean fun to someone running off into the woods to make out with one of those boys?
Not long, I say. And while I am glad we have new climbing friends, I hope - while not really hoping - that no drama comes of this development.
Oh and my hands really hurt. And I am really sore. And I have less than 90 days to get back in shape.
Happy Monday.
On the other hand, it is gratifying to watch Sri climb, since she has made so much progress.
I don't have an adjective for yesterday's other developments at the gym.
One feature of climbing is the friendliness of climbers, especially toward other climbers. So yesterday we were climbing for over three hours, off and on, with an equal number of guys who were alternately coaching and spotting us. It was all very friendly, when you consider spotting often involves grabbing the climber's ass as he (or she) falls.
After we were all good and tired, we went out for tacos and made plans to climb in the Gunks next weekend.
How long do you all think it will take before this all goes from innocent good clean fun to someone running off into the woods to make out with one of those boys?
Not long, I say. And while I am glad we have new climbing friends, I hope - while not really hoping - that no drama comes of this development.
Oh and my hands really hurt. And I am really sore. And I have less than 90 days to get back in shape.
Happy Monday.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Weekend workout
So I am off to NJ this weekend to play with the adorable and never ending talk-a-thon, Liam.
We are going to build a fire tonight:
And at least one of us will noing on some Bobby:
I will report tomorrow evening after a full schedule of noinging and chasing Liam around the yard. Yes, it counts as Kili training.
Happy Saturday.
We are going to build a fire tonight:
And at least one of us will noing on some Bobby:
I will report tomorrow evening after a full schedule of noinging and chasing Liam around the yard. Yes, it counts as Kili training.
Happy Saturday.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Overheard at the gym
Marco, route setter and trainer: So Nina's back.
Curly, lead climber: Yeah.
Marco: how long was she gone, you think?
Curly: too long, apparently. She's wrecked.
Marco: Yeah.
Curly: (laughing) I heard her bitching to Sri that her fingers hurt.
Marco: Jesus.
Curly: Yeah, well she lost all her conditioning. She's like a baby all over again.
Marco: Anyone know where she's been?
Curly: Something about being busy or something.
Marco: Well she looks like shit. She's going to have to turn it up if she wants to summit Kili.
Curly: I imagine she will. No choice, really.
Marco: Sri looks great.
Curly: Yeah. Nina brought her here totally green about a year ago and now she can kick Nina's ass.
Marco: Bet it pisses her off.
Curly: (laughing) Then you don't know Nina. She could care less. Happy for her, I imagine.
First of all, I only overheard the first half of that conversation. Sri overheard the second. And you would think, wouldn't you? that it stings.
It doesn't sting.
And anyway, it's all true. I re-suck at climbing, Sri can kick my ass, and I am happy for her. And I am going to have to turn it up the ELEVEN if I think I am going to be able to climb Kili or any other damn thing this summer.
So starting now, if you catch me on email or IM or my new nemesis, Gchat, please tell me to put down the whiskey, step away from the computer, and go run some stairs. I have a little more than 90 days and I need every single one of them.
Thursday is a long day. I hope yours is good.
Curly, lead climber: Yeah.
Marco: how long was she gone, you think?
Curly: too long, apparently. She's wrecked.
Marco: Yeah.
Curly: (laughing) I heard her bitching to Sri that her fingers hurt.
Marco: Jesus.
Curly: Yeah, well she lost all her conditioning. She's like a baby all over again.
Marco: Anyone know where she's been?
Curly: Something about being busy or something.
Marco: Well she looks like shit. She's going to have to turn it up if she wants to summit Kili.
Curly: I imagine she will. No choice, really.
Marco: Sri looks great.
Curly: Yeah. Nina brought her here totally green about a year ago and now she can kick Nina's ass.
Marco: Bet it pisses her off.
Curly: (laughing) Then you don't know Nina. She could care less. Happy for her, I imagine.
First of all, I only overheard the first half of that conversation. Sri overheard the second. And you would think, wouldn't you? that it stings.
It doesn't sting.
And anyway, it's all true. I re-suck at climbing, Sri can kick my ass, and I am happy for her. And I am going to have to turn it up the ELEVEN if I think I am going to be able to climb Kili or any other damn thing this summer.
So starting now, if you catch me on email or IM or my new nemesis, Gchat, please tell me to put down the whiskey, step away from the computer, and go run some stairs. I have a little more than 90 days and I need every single one of them.
Thursday is a long day. I hope yours is good.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
AOUS
I sold the last lot of my beloved US Steel stock today. I bought it five years ago for $7 a share, and I sold the last of it for $119.26 this morning to cover the cost of the enormous plane ticket to Tanzania.
Oh wait. The ticket is of the usual size. The bill for the ticket is of unusual size. I have never spent so much money with a single click of a mouse in my entire life.
What does this mean?
Aside from the fact that I am now a lot less afloat than I was, I am now a lot more afraid of not summiting because I am out of shape. That's right. In case you have not noticed, I have spent the last six month square on my ass in front of the computer feeling sorry for myself and sharing it with all of you instead of working out. My credit card bill is not the only thing that is enormous (and of unusual size) around here.
So I hereby request, since you all are such nice people, that the next time I post a bunch of stuff about hating everything, you kindly tell me to shut up and go run some stairs. Nothing shrinks a girl's ass and relieves her morose self pity like mind numbing cardio, and I need to do a whole lot of it to get myself back in the kind of shape I was in when we did the inca trail. (We smoked it. Non-event. I probably couldn't clear Dead Woman Pass now).
You (not I) should have a cookie. It's Tuesday.
Oh wait. The ticket is of the usual size. The bill for the ticket is of unusual size. I have never spent so much money with a single click of a mouse in my entire life.
What does this mean?
Aside from the fact that I am now a lot less afloat than I was, I am now a lot more afraid of not summiting because I am out of shape. That's right. In case you have not noticed, I have spent the last six month square on my ass in front of the computer feeling sorry for myself and sharing it with all of you instead of working out. My credit card bill is not the only thing that is enormous (and of unusual size) around here.
So I hereby request, since you all are such nice people, that the next time I post a bunch of stuff about hating everything, you kindly tell me to shut up and go run some stairs. Nothing shrinks a girl's ass and relieves her morose self pity like mind numbing cardio, and I need to do a whole lot of it to get myself back in the kind of shape I was in when we did the inca trail. (We smoked it. Non-event. I probably couldn't clear Dead Woman Pass now).
You (not I) should have a cookie. It's Tuesday.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Perhaps tomorrow
I promised to tell the story of Grip. I fear I cannot deliver, at least not today.
I have papers to grade this afternoon and then I am meeting Bibi to run stairs tonight. I am sure you will understand, if you glance at my Kili training to the right, how much I can't afford to skip work outs. Beyond a few runs on the treadmill and some gratuitous crunching, I have not done much. Unless you count cookie avoidance. (Which I obviously do).
I do not even have a witty and interesting way of telling you how today's post will be a whole lot of nothing.
Oh look! It's already over!
See you tomorrow. (And thank you for reading).
I have papers to grade this afternoon and then I am meeting Bibi to run stairs tonight. I am sure you will understand, if you glance at my Kili training to the right, how much I can't afford to skip work outs. Beyond a few runs on the treadmill and some gratuitous crunching, I have not done much. Unless you count cookie avoidance. (Which I obviously do).
I do not even have a witty and interesting way of telling you how today's post will be a whole lot of nothing.
Oh look! It's already over!
See you tomorrow. (And thank you for reading).
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
You girls break my cab!
I got an email from "anonymous" yesterday.
Dear Nina,
LESS JESUS. MORE ROCK CLIMBING.
Thanks,
Anon.
Anonymous, you make a valid point. The blog was better when I wrote more about doing things rather than thinking real hard about things. (My life was better, too).
So anonymous, I hear and I obey and report that Bibi, Sri, Mischa and I booked a trip to Tanzania today. The itinerary includes a 5 day safari, a 7 day ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and 5 days at the beach in Zanzibar.
Of course, the centerpiece of the trip is the climb.
Some quick facts about Kili:
1) the summit is 19340 feet above sea level
2) the climb takes 5-8 days depending on the route
3) you camp on the way (no showers or hot water)
4) the route includes 5 climate changes - which means lots of gear
5) 14,000 people per year attempt the climb
6) 60% do not make it to the summit
7) altitude sickness is the primary reason people do not summit
We started our quest for mountaineering greatness by having a whole bunch of beers and a little bit of cake.
Then we demonstrated yoga poses for each other in the taxi on the way home. (Please note: taxi drivers do not like this at all).
I have added to my already copious sidebar a record of my training, which I will update every day until we depart. As you can see, I have done absolutely nothing but resist two cookies (the cake probably puts me back down at at zero, but I ain't changin' it. Those cookies looked good).
PS Nobody tell my brother that I am deliberately going to the country that is next door to Kenya on one side and Rwanda on the other. Thank you.
Dear Nina,
LESS JESUS. MORE ROCK CLIMBING.
Thanks,
Anon.
Anonymous, you make a valid point. The blog was better when I wrote more about doing things rather than thinking real hard about things. (My life was better, too).
So anonymous, I hear and I obey and report that Bibi, Sri, Mischa and I booked a trip to Tanzania today. The itinerary includes a 5 day safari, a 7 day ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and 5 days at the beach in Zanzibar.
Of course, the centerpiece of the trip is the climb.
Some quick facts about Kili:
1) the summit is 19340 feet above sea level
2) the climb takes 5-8 days depending on the route
3) you camp on the way (no showers or hot water)
4) the route includes 5 climate changes - which means lots of gear
5) 14,000 people per year attempt the climb
6) 60% do not make it to the summit
7) altitude sickness is the primary reason people do not summit
We started our quest for mountaineering greatness by having a whole bunch of beers and a little bit of cake.
Then we demonstrated yoga poses for each other in the taxi on the way home. (Please note: taxi drivers do not like this at all).
I have added to my already copious sidebar a record of my training, which I will update every day until we depart. As you can see, I have done absolutely nothing but resist two cookies (the cake probably puts me back down at at zero, but I ain't changin' it. Those cookies looked good).
PS Nobody tell my brother that I am deliberately going to the country that is next door to Kenya on one side and Rwanda on the other. Thank you.
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