"Is it possible to smell your own fear? 'Cause I think that's what I smell."
-girl at the rock gym

The smell of fear must be better than so many other things I've smelled at the rock gym. I am NOT looking forward to summer, where the ropes get all wet and nasty. Have you ever tried to tie a figure-8 knot with only your pinkies? Eeeeew.


"Many a redneck has been sent to his death by a beautiful girl."
- Wilderness Survival teacher

I'm taking the coolest class (on wilderness survival, as you may have surmised). And I just have to tell this story, because it's hilarious. One of our teachers also works for the Superstition Mountains Search and Rescue team, and they got a call because some dude took his girlfriend out for a hike, which also involved drinking many many beers. To impress her, he did a little free soloing up onto a ledge and couldn't get himself down. To try to flag down some help, he took off his shirt and started waving it around. The area he was in is a big wind tunnel, basically, so his shirt got ripped away. (Did I mention it was January?) He needed something else, so he took off his pants and started waving them around. They also got snatched by the wind. So.... yep, he took off his boxers, and they flew down the canyon too. So when the rescue team finally got to him, he was naked, freezing, and probably much more sober than he would have preferred. Man... you just can't make this stuff up.


I also just have to mention that I am so excited that Britney Spears shaved her whole goddamn head.