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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 3, 2010 - 08:34pm PT
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I'm doing the write up for Mr. E since he's down with the death-flu. I'll link a few pics before I get to the "news".
Sick of work and sick cold and sick of Christmas. We've barely climbed in months. We bailed for Arizona for a week. Seeking the ever elusive "warmth" and climbing...we traveled ever southward.... at least until the border patrol stopped us.
We started in Flagstaff. Eager to get together to see the rough draft of the Sedona climbing guide we lurked in Flagstaff for a few days. Temperature in the mornings... -3 degrees. The meeting would get canceled when our page-maker's mother gets injured. Thanks to Pennsylenvy for putting us up BTW.
A single day of climbing in Sedona. BRRR.
Mr E leading.
Heading south for Phoenix. Stayed with more friends Mike and Manny. We totally wimp out on a trip to Queen Creek when we stepped out of the car and were greeted with 38 degree weather. We opt for sight-seeing in the mountains, then, we retreat to Phoenix and end up in a nice warm theater drinking coffee and watching Avatar in 3-D. Stole the glasses for later pictures of course.
Heading ever south to Tuscon- the plan is to spend New Years at Cochise Stronghold. Nature's having a sushi-night at his pad. The Doctor drives down from Flag to meet us. His new car dies on the way. We back-track with jumper cables for the rescue.
THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH NATURE!
Nature doing his thing...
We repay Nature by kidnapping his dog when we leave for Cochise. Sorry- she'd just too cute and her loyalty is easily purchased with a kind word and a scratch behind the ears.
Cochise Stronghold. The Doctor...driving his new and improved "Suspicious-mobile" gets pulled over by the border patrol of course.
Cochise at sunset:
The three of us spend the day on some single pitch stuff. The Doc's dog Bosco showing Sita the finer points of being a crag-dog.
Crag-dog boot camp:
New Year's eve. When we get back to camp we are joined by friends Jefe, Lisa Mae, Colin, and Helen.
Erik and I take a stroll at sunset. I'm munching chips, drinking soda, and wearing a stupid hat:
So here's "THE NEWS" part.... Feigning the need to drop to his knee to take this photo...
Then turns and hands me a box with a ring and asked me to marry him. I'm stunned. Turns out he's been plotting for some time and had blabbed to anyone who would listen.
Good thing I said "YES" ;)
Pictures of climbing on Sheepshead to follow when I get done with dinner.
Happy New Year everyone!
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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May I have the honor of being the first to congratulate you guys here? (Or at least I'm trying.)
Congratulations!
Be happy together.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Yay! C0ongratulations!!!!
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville
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Congratulations ! ! !
What a great way to start a decade !
Having shared some time with both of you I can honestly say that you two are a real dynamic duo.
Wedded bliss awaits!
-wayne
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cyndiebransford
climber
31 years in Joshua Tree, now Alaska
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Congratulations! Sounds like an auspicious start to the new year. May it bring lots of joy and happiness your way.
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Denise Umstot
climber
Princess of the El Cap Bridge!
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Congratulations! What a wonderful way to start the New Year!
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nita
Social climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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nita
Social climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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Now that's how you start the New Year!..Good news!!
xoxo.
sending Love
nita
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MisterE
Social climber
Across Town From Easy Street
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Here's the engagement ring. It's a simple Tiffany & Co Platinum with an inset diamond.
Skip restores antique lamps (among other things), and the simple elegance of the ring seemed appropriate
Thanks for the well-wishes, and the pix, Nita!
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drljefe
climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
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Lisa Mae and I feel privileged to have been the first to hear the NEWS.
I must say, I got a little weepy, I was so happy.
Thanks so much for sharing that moment with us.
Their whole story is just so classic...
Erik "Followed His Heart" to LA for Skip.
He proposes on their one year anniversary, New Years Eve, with a full moon...
A Blue Moon, no less.
Definitely Once in a Blue Moon.
Congrats you two.
I also had the luck of climbing behind the two lovebirds the next day and I gotta say, Skip is climbing really well, and is a joy to share a belay with.
What a great way to crack open 2010.
Pics to follow.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Congeatulaions! I was hopping that was what the "news" was!
I'll post as yet unrevealed photos of the couple from earlier last year when I get back to my computer tomorrow or Tuesday.
I stole my avatar shades, too!
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Sweet, sweet, sweet
Congratulations you two!
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Congratulations you two - WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!
(wait a minute...he proposes one day ...and then gets sick a few days later???...he ain't got no flu...he's got OMGWHID syndrome!!!!)
Don't worry tho JTM - all of us married guys got "the flu" a few days later too - but we got over it in time for the wedding.
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em kn0t
Trad climber
isle of wyde
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sweet joy!
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F10
Trad climber
e350
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Congrats to both of you
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Said it on facebook and I'll say it here - congratulations! :)
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 3, 2010 - 09:49pm PT
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Thanks everyone. Great pics from Facelift Nita!
I'll wrap up the climbing pics just to get it all down in one thread.
Helen and Jefe had decided to climb "Peacemaker" (10a, 6P) on Sheepshead the next day Erik and I decided to join them as a second team. We beat them up the trail to be first in line. The timing was perfect all day with never more than 2 people on a ledge. Totally fun day, but Erik and I were...er.. somewhat out of shape and took a major beating from the multi-pitch. Colin and The Doctor teamed up to climb "Absinthe of Mallet" to the left of Peacemaker.
Erik led all the pitches and unexpectedly greased off the slippery dark slab around pitch 3 taking a whipper as I got yarded off the ledge. This inspired major confidence in Jefe and Helen for sure.
P 1. Helen and Jefe starting up.
Helen's hubby Colin leading the arete to our left with the Doctor.
Helen giving me the hang loose as she figures out the chimney exit to the first pitch. Bad pachinco-ball fall if you slip. She did awesome of course.
Mr. E leading some pitch:
Me following:
The exit from the last pitch had so many bolts heading in so many directions it was totally inscrutable. WE ended up on what we call "The Mr. E Variation". Up several bolts. Traverse 50 feet of unprotected ledge.
Wedge a quickdraw into a crack for protection (since we had no gear). Traverse another unprotected 25 feet to a mystery bolt. Climb a loose gravelly, ball-bearing-like lump to a chimney. Wedge yourself in for the belay, listen to me whine and complain for 20 minutes "cleaning".
Fortunately Helen heard me commenting they probably shouldn't follow.
Mr E's belay:
Me topping out. Long live Pirate Bunny:
Hiked off the back no problem.
Doug showed up to pay the ransom and reclaim his dog. We see him climbing on the way down the trail:
The Doctor:
Sunset that day going back to camp:
Really cool pink haze morning the next morning before we broke camp:
Sweet Rosebud:
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Reeotch
Trad climber
Kayenta, AZ
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Congrats! Mr. E and justthemaid.
Good job Eric, what took you so long???!!! ;)
But, seriously, congratulations!
BTW, when will you be heading back to Sedona to climb?
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 3, 2010 - 10:09pm PT
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Thanks Jefe- It was so awesome to share the holiday with you guys. So cool to finally meet Lisa Mae too. Classy lady. Colin and Helen were super nice. Great company all around!
...We will be heading back to Sedona as soon as the book gets published for the book party. Hopefully in the next couple of months. We'll post up when we have a date.
PS.. Yeah- I date him for a year. He NEVER gets sick. We get back. Now I'm waiting on him hand and foot spooning him soup and rum.
Is this some kind of test???
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LuckyPink
climber
the last bivy
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wooHOO... I KNEW IT!! I knew it when I saw another pic of you two on the ST recently on one of these threads.. I almost posted up there..going by the look of you two in that pic alone...I was thinking "they could use that photo in the wedding invites" when I find it i'll move it over here on this thread.. but hey..you might need to use that photo of the 3D glasses...
anyway big congratulations you will be SO HAPPY obviously, although the soup thing IS probably a test...
Harrison says hi and congrats as well
Maureen (Mo) aka lucky pink
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