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reno
Mar 23, 2004, 2:57 PM
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I can hear her calling to me as I approach the door to my apartment. Her voice is such that it penetrates through walls, doors, and time-space. There is no escaping the forthcoming wrath... I know this, and I accept it. I've been gone for the better part of two days, and I left her at home alone. I was climbing, and even though I told her my plans, she's not happy about it. She didn't say anything when I left, but she's damn sure letting me know about it now.
With my pack and rope on my back, a worn, tired, and satisfied look on my face, I dig deep for the resolve to make it through this. Before I grab the door knob, I sigh, close my eyes, and think back.
The problem, as I see it, is that I can't find the words to tell her how important climbing is to me. She's not a climber, so she can't fathom the joy and happiness from a hard day or two of climbing. I've tried to rationalize with her. I've tried to describe the sensation. I've tried to say "Look, this is what I do... deal with it!"
(None of these approaches have worked, by the way.)
This time, I was running laps in the canyon, and sleeping under the stars. I had a solid partner in Heath, who was insightful enough to bring extra coffee and a stove, else we'd have been eating our Ramen noodles dry and uncooked. As usual, I brought my rack (I've got more trad gear than he does,) and he brought the ropes (a pair of 9.8's.)
The first route, a fun 5.8 line, was the perfect warm-up. I nearly slipped and was too close to a 20 footer onto a red Tri-Cam for comfort, but managed to hang on. I ran the last part out a bit, due to a dearth of draws and slings, but the top slab is easy 5.5 stuff, and I had good feet.
Those moments... the exhiliration of near-falls, the satisfaction of a properly slotted stopper, the feel of a -just-the-right-size cam... those are the things she'd never understand.
Next in line was a quirky 5.9 line that starts with fist jams, has a short section of face work, then has a bomber horizontal crack before moving into a finger-crack. At the horizontal, I drop in a #3 Friend and a 2.5 Tri-cam, equalize them, and move into the finger stuff. Akward moves get me up slowly, and I take a moment to slot a blindly placed nut ("Hmmm.... feels about this size...") Heath later tells me the nut was "Fair," but not the best.
Calculated risk, a part of every climber's life, has no place in her life. She's a quiet, stay at home type, who rarely ventures beyond the safety of four walls, and then only to the front yard. Safety is her way, and she's quite happy with that. She'd never understand the thrill of a little danger.
Heath is warmed up, has his head in place, and leads the next line, a smooth and polished 5.7 route that wanders back and forth to follow a broken crack system. I'm patient as I belay him, for several reasons: first, he's patient when he belays me; second, I was *there* at one time -- a new trad climber still learning; and third, I'm enjoying the sun, breeze, and sound of birds. This moment, alone with the creations of nature, has a calming effect on my troubled mind. Lately, I've been over-stressed with concerns about work (or a lack thereof,) money, a forthcoming job interview that might take me away from my beloved Colorado, and a myriad of other things.
When I get overwhelmed, I take time off to climb. She never seems overwhelmed, because I have been tasked with taking care of such issues. Oh, to have a life such as hers...
The rest of the trip went along the same trend... Climb, rest, climb. In the evening, we sat and drank a few cold beers, talked about stuff, and generally enjoyed the camaraderie so commonly known amongst climbers. In the eve of the second day, I drove home, listening to a Boz Scaggs tape and sipping a cup of over-heated, burnt, and bitter truck-stop coffee.
Then I made it to the door...
I took that deep breath, turned the knob, and faced the music:
MEOW! MEOW MEOW!
"I know... I'm sorry."
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chronicle
Mar 23, 2004, 3:10 PM
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Funny. You had me thinking about my fiance and how lucky I was that she likes climbing, and understands why I do it. Then, whap, it's a cat. Nice story though.
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holmeslovesguinness
Mar 23, 2004, 3:23 PM
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Funny story. Being the owner of several dogs and cats, I can relate ;-)
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cantbuymefriends
Mar 23, 2004, 3:29 PM
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Well, you had me there for a minute. I thought it was a dog... :wink:
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crazyfingers
Mar 23, 2004, 11:13 PM
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Not married are you... Great story. :)
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reno
Mar 24, 2004, 1:06 AM
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In reply to: Where the hell have you been?
That's classic, Tim... Thanks!
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petro
Mar 24, 2004, 1:10 AM
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Guys with cats should be met with an overwelming shock and awe force that would make even the strongest man whimper and plead for mercy like the nancy boy he is.
What are you thinking? I have a 25 cent-12 gauge solution to all your cat problems.
I mean, I'm all for slightly faggish hobbies and passtimes to offset the natural studliness caused by climbing, but I was thinking, playing frisbee, gourmet cooking, model trains, oil painting, whatever, but cats... Come On!!!
What are you, the type to worry if your friends think that your doiley under the soap-dish is cute, or if the vertical rainbow colored stripes on your climbing tights make you look too thin. Sweety, my advice is to steal your testicles back from your kitty cat, and get a life.
:lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted:
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dorkmaster
Mar 24, 2004, 1:14 AM
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haha that's an awesome story! I loved it. I have a kitty too, but we dont do long trips (being 15...), so she doesnt miss me that much. nice pic too!
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reno
Mar 24, 2004, 1:45 AM
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In reply to: Honey, I've met reno, climbed, skiied, and partied with him...
Well, she skiied and climbed with me.
;)
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oldsalt
Apr 5, 2004, 7:15 PM
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Nice story. Fortunately, both wife and cats accept my growing addiction to rocks.
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tradmanclimbs
Apr 5, 2004, 7:27 PM
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:x I lived with a miniture asian leopard for 9 years. About 12 lbs but all muscle and attitude. He was so cool I can't even begin to tell you. He even stalked and bit the $#it out of a few unwanted guests. We moved to a cabin way up in the sticks and he went on walkabout 4 weeks ago. pretty bummed but hope he might still come home. Figure he went down the mountain because he is a jungle cat and hates snow?
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andypro
Apr 5, 2004, 10:15 PM
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:shock: :shock: I want one! Where can I get me wunadem?!
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minnie
Apr 5, 2004, 10:21 PM
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I'm a DVM and knew it was a cat story from the start. Cats can complain lounder and longer than any human mate and take up more bed space than your human mate.
BUT if you can't get along with a cat, you are really insecure.
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scottcody
Apr 5, 2004, 10:34 PM
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Petro...
You drive a truck, don't you.... I bet it is lifted too. :)
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dieselweasel
Apr 5, 2004, 10:39 PM
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I am disappointed and somewhat suprised that nobody has made the obvious suggestion that this fellow is pussy whipped.
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tradmanclimbs
Apr 5, 2004, 11:06 PM
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He is Bengal. Supposed to be 4 generations removed from the actual wild cat to be considered a bengal and not a Hybred. I read about them it time mag and had to have one. Cost me big$$$$ that i didn't have. I am pretty sure that Beasti didn't get bred down as much as he was supposed to be :shock: but we still got allong very well. Sometimes you had to bite him to keep him in line. It took me about six or eight months of getting the crap bit out of me to figure this out. BE a nice Kitty didn't work and smacking a cat is counter productive. he seemed to understand the biteing thing. Not recomended for kids and old people.
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chalker7
Apr 6, 2004, 3:16 AM
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hmmm.....i thought it was his mom!
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mrmojorisin
Apr 6, 2004, 3:31 AM
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hahahahaha man you really had me going, the whole time I was reading this I'm feeling bad for you because I think you have to face dealing with your wife or something. Great story it really sucked me in.
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reprieve
Apr 6, 2004, 3:34 AM
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Registered: Jan 24, 2004
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you prolly could have submitted this as an article, yes?
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rockclimbergirl
Apr 13, 2004, 1:19 AM
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Registered: Jan 15, 2004
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I love it... great story
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ilikecookies
Apr 13, 2004, 2:31 AM
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edited because i didn't realize that some words were censored, even if you meant a cat. it changes the "pu" to "si", so it says sissy
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wanlessrm
Apr 13, 2004, 2:54 AM
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Registered: Jul 29, 2002
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Get a male cat he'll love to run around the neighborhood while your out.
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cedk
Apr 13, 2004, 2:25 PM
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Registered: Oct 31, 2001
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After reading the first 3 lines of your story I've skipped down here to say that I suspect the big SHOCKER ending is that this is about your pet.
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cedk
Apr 13, 2004, 2:40 PM
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Yep.
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