tired bones and blistered fingers

Was at the gym all day today (Central Rock Climbing Gym).
Got there this morning to help out with a party and 2 blistered pinkies, 1 chalk covered outfit, 206 tired bones, 1 starbucks latte, and 8.5 hours later I left completely exhausted and ready to go back tomorrow...
I plan on living there for the next couple days before I leave because I'm going to miss climbing a ton.

It's not even just the physical exercise either, that in itself is great and I know I am way stronger than before I started, but what I think I like most is the mental exercise of it all. It's all about finding your limits and then pushing them. And you have to completely get rid of self doubt, doubt's not gonna get you any farther up the wall.
Sure, there are somethings that at this point in my climbing are impossible for me and knowing that is important, but at the same time I'm not gonna let that keep me from trying difficult routes. If nothing was ever hard, then I wouldn't get any better.
Today was really nice cause Chris from SF came down to climb with us and he is a super crazy monkey climber, so he was giving me some good pointers on how to finish my problem ones. (Nicknamed "beasts" by the sisters. Like "Hey did you finish that one yet?"... "Nope, it's my beast right now though"...) I learned a lot, I love figuring the routes out and doing them right and you can't believe you ever did it another way or just see how ridiculously hard it would have been if you had kept trying the "wrong" way. Plus it was just amazing to do something I love with some friends before I leave, but hanging out with them is always amazing no matter what we do.

On that same note, the dinner last night went extremely well. We had a great crowd of friends show up to support me and it meant a lot that they were all there. Good food, great conversation, lots of laughs and smiles, all in all it was a success.
The food from O'Connors was amazing, and fortunately enough we have leftovers so I got to have it for dinner again tonight. More unfortunately our dessert didn't work out as well as hoped, the brownies sort of turned into rock solid dehydrated astronaut food.
My friend Erin Lynch, from HeiferProject camp, was an absolute champion and did a few samples of Irish dancing for us even though she had a sprained ankle. We also had some amazing singing by Mary Casiello and Erin, Heather, and myself did a few songs.
Apparently we are recording a cd that is going to be sold for donations toward my mission, so I'll let you know when that drops. It'll be number one for sure, rivaled only by this terrific band I know called SpaceTiger. (Look them up on facebook. They're hilariously awesome.)

As far as fundraising goes, I have a total of 2,275 raised to date. I am extremely overwhelmed by the generosity I witnessed from our closest friends last night. God is so good to have brought you all into my life, I cannot say it enough. Thank you for everything. For sharing your families, homes, and wisdom with me. I'll remember you all while I'm in Ireland and can't wait to share my adventures with you on here and in person when I come home for Christmas.

And now I think it's time for a strawberry-orange vanilla milkshake. Fruit & ice cream combined, can't really go wrong there.