ah! climbing again...

Went out to Reimers Ranch with Dominic, Kiara and Darcy (my daughters), and Travis Newman on Saturday. This was Travis's first time ever climbing outdoors, and he did great. I tell ya, what a pleasure it is to teach new climbers, especially those as attentive as Travis was. Anyhow...by the time the day was done, Travis had toproped a 5.8, led a 5.7, and learned how to safely belay. Yes, I did say that he LED a 5.7. No, leading a 5.7 isn't a big trick, but yes it's pretty good to do that on your first day of climbing. Great job, Travis.

It was also a huge pleasure to have Dominic out on the rock with us again. Dom taught me so much of what I know now, and it really brings my spirits up to have him out there, even if (as was the case Saturday) he doesn't end up climbing very much. I always enjoy listening to him teaching others (he taught Travis about backclipping and how to flake a rope). I hope he and his girfriend, Rebecca, will be able to make it out more often as soon as the weather starts to cool off.

I always love having Kiara out with me, and Saturday was no exception. What was new was having Darcy out there this time. She came out one other time last year, but more to watch than to climb. This time we actually put her in Kiara's harness and let her climb a bit. She was able to make it about 6' up a little 5.7 route before she ran out of things she could do. That's cool though. I'm SO proud of her and excited that this is something she wants to do. Will she and Kiara stick with it? Heck, I dunno. Don't care either. For now, I'm just enjoying the thrill out taking them out with me.

As always, the post-climb consisted of slow-cooked dead animal. This time it was at the FM620 location of Rudy's BBQ. Yum yum yum yum yum. And man did a big ol' iced tea hit the spot after what was a typical Central Texas furnace summer day.

Mark

Gearing up for school again

Well, it seems as if it was only yesterday that I completed my undergrad (BBA) at St. Edward's University, but I guess I'm turning out to be a glutton for punishment. I head back to SEU on September 12 to begin my pursuit of a Master of Science In Organizational Leadership and Ethics.

The undergrad was, well, a necessary evil, but I'm very excited about getting started on MSOLE. What will I do with it? I don't really know, but that's okay. The most important thing is that I am following my heart and doing what really interests me. Call it getting prepared for the next step and trusting that the next step will reveal itself somewhere along the way.

Maybe today, perhaps?

Thinking of my Georgia family

My heart continues to ache for my family after the sudden loss of my nephew on August 10. I was in Georgia from August 12-16 trying to help out, and I believe that I did some good. Now, however, my birth mother Sharon Duble and her husband Allen Duble are home alone on Lookout Mountain, and I just know that times will be hard for them for a while longer. Thankfully, the Lookout Mountain Duble contingent is very large and very strong, and their local community support system will take very good care of them. Still, I don't like knowing that my family is hurting with me so far out of reach.

My new blog

This is a new thing for me, and I hope to keep it going for a while. Those who know me know I have a way of picking something up, going gangbusters on it for a while, and then moving on to the next thing.

Will this be different? Who knows? Time will tell, I guess.

For now, welcome to all who find their way here.

Mark