Hi.

[jules]

I ran into Simon on IRC last night and he made me aware of my almost total absence here.... I posted 20 times in the past year. I blame time for distorting itself on me, and Marley for being such a gigantic furry beast of a cat.

I catch up with a few of you on chat every once in a while, but I suppose a "where I've been/where I'm going" sort of post is overdue.

Last April, I decided I was going to graduate a year early, convinced the school administration to let me and began getting my ass in gear. Finished the year strong after failing a few classes for a while, spent a bunch of money and Saturday mornings on standardized tests, and got myself into a summer chem class at the local community college (3 days a week x 4 hrs x 6 weeks). I pretty much lived alone with my brother for the summer, taking busses to class and work and doing cool things like bathing in the river when our water got shut off. I climbed every single weekend from May to August until I broke my foot (I took three weeks off and then was back up climbing in an Aircast.) Took driver's ed, failed my driving test, started my senior year. Climbed a lot more. Visited my brother in college and narrowly escaped getting molested at a frat party. Got my license. Good stuff like that.

I applied to Northern Arizona University out in Flagstaff in September. They called me a few weeks later to let me know I was in, and offered me 25% of the tuition in academic scholarship soon after. That pretty much made up my mind. I still have not gone out to visit, but already sent in my enrollment deposits and everything-- it's a done deal. If I don't like it, tough. I'll like it. I just finished with midterms and now am counting down the days until I graduate (129) and move to Arizona (200). I am going to study environmental engineering with geology. I'll turn 17 ten days after I move in.

I'm still working in an indoor climbing gym, same place I've been for almost two years, and have worked my way up to 4th in command (after the owner, manager, and asst. manager). I work 9 hrs every Sunday as a supervisor, and 3 hrs. every Wednesday as a youth coach. My kids, ages 9-16 (the sixteen-year-old is actually a little older than me) are wonderful and seeing them puts a grin on my face that you can't wipe off if you try. They all love climbing, love training, and love me and the other coach. It is wonderful and rewarding and those 3 hrs per week are the best I have.

I guess that's about it; school, climbing and work, and feeding Marley. That boy sure can eat.

[MAC]

:o

#1 - I always knew you were smart!
#2 - there's nothing wrong with bathing in the river but don't do it right by the bridge...ppl throw things off the bridge
#3 - have no fear, you'll pass your driving test and soon you'll have a car payment to worry about
#4 - anybody trys to molest you, you just send me and mudflap a photo of the perpetrator and his current address
#5 - good luck in college!
#6 - my daughter has started rock-climbing and loves it, it was her whole christmas this year (but she's only 7). So, Yah rock-climbing!
#7 - the world has enough fat cats but wait until you turn 30 to make a fat man.

:)

[Mudflap]

Good to hear from you Jules. Thank you SSimon for strong arming (har!) her into posting here.

Jules: Best of luck to you. I can't comprehend the glory of being a high school senior w/out suck ass hair bands dominating the MTV culture. But hey, you guys have Linkin Park. Rock on and enjoy the rest of high school. Can I sign your year book?

Becuz yer so smert and intellijunt, college won't present too much of a challenge to you as long as you don't develop the nasty (and addicting) habit of cutting classes. Even if your professor lectures straight from some text book, don't cut class. A lot of grading is subjective and the professors give no benefit of the doubt to students that cut class (unless they're hottie chix0rs like yourself) (that also give head) (Which you WILL NOT be doing.)

Wonderaz lives in Arizona. Avoid him at all costs.

As a reformed frat boy, I advise you to enjoy their parties but get protected status from the brothers you're hanging out with. Back in my day, when Zima was the trendy wine cooler-ish faggy drink of choice (spurned by myself and those I respected, btw) there were two kinds of girls that came to our house:

1. The party girls that showed up, batted their eyelashes for free beer/liquor, trashed the ladies bathroom downstairs (cleaning the girls bathroom after a party was the worst part of being a pledge), and generally got fucked by whomever was most persistient.

2. Our unofficial "sisters" that were always welcome to hang out, were great fun to chat with and be around, were good for making introductions b/t brothers and other cool chiX0rs, and generally nice people. Class 2 girls were greatly respected by our brothers and had nothing to worry about while hanging out at our house. None of the brothers made unwanted advances towards them nor treated them rudely, crudely, or dishonorably. Even when intoxicated to the Nth degree. Any non-brothers attending one of our functions (i.e. parties) that should happen to mistreat one of our "sisters" were quickly shown the door and given "counselling" proportinate to the nature of their offense. The class 2 chix0rs were able to enjoy their college experience free of the risk, danger, and bullshit that is so prevelant in the college scene. At least while they were hanging around us. Just hang out with the guys you like and respect and don't be a cock tease. You'll do fine.

Avoid stoners. Even if you don't partake, don't hang around 'em. They have a tendency of not graduating and taking their buddies down with 'em.

Don't ever give up the rock climbing. Its good for your soul.

And please, don't be a stranger.

[Pianomahnn]

Avoid stoners. . .Don't ever give up the rock climbing.

Uhm...hard to avoid them when they congregate around the rocks.

[Cruise Director]

Jules, cograts on the college acceptance. Remember that Zion park is a mere 1/2 hour from Casa de Cruise and you are only a few hours south of said Casa. You are welcome to crash here at any time that you want to go climbing.

Muddy makes a great point about the frats. If your on the "inside" track with them, you can have no better friends in the World. Pretty good bunch when you get to know them (even though they pay money for friends :P )

See you in the fall!

[Kayla]

And you will eventually be coming to San Francisco so I can show you a good time, right ;) hehehehehe bwahahaha