6 reasons why climbing is the best sport, ever

1. You get SO STRONG. Seriously. And it trains your entire body--that means arms, legs, AND core. You'll feel good about yourself. Plus, the world of pullups will open up to you. Additionally, it strengthens your mind and makes you improve your mental game.

2. You'll make lots of friends. Unless you're one of those people who grunts noncommittally every time a potential friend asks you a question, the expansion of your friendship circle is pretty inevitable. When you boulder, you'll need a spotter and/or a witness to support you when you say you just sent that V4 (or higher). Top-roping/leading: You need a belayer, and if your mom or dad refuse to take the belay certification class, you're out of luck. Ask a friendly staff member for a belay. Or you could find a person your age with a Grigri/ATC hanging from his/her harness. But I would start with the staff.

3. Sometimes, you'll flash a hard route. Most of the time you won't. But I like the fact that you might get it right (if you know what you're doing), rather than the "you'll never get it right the first time but just keep trying and eventually you will" #$%^. Yes, it's true. But it isn't really something anyone wants to hear.

4. There will always be something to work on. Whether it's your three-month lead project or a brand new boulder problem, it's pretty hard to be bored at the rockwall. 

5. There's something for everyone. Scared of heights? Start with bouldering. You will, eventually, move on to big walls. If you want. Need something daring? Try a lead climb (I don't care how easy it is). And even better, take some falls. Want to try some hard stuff? Start on top-rope. The falls are generally less scary, and it allows you to rest wherever you need to--without downclimbing or heading up to the nearest quickdraw and resting there. And if you really want a challenge, offer to clean (unclip the rope from the quickdraws) a route after someone's lead climbed it. Harder than it sounds.

6. It is just so. Much. Fun. 

Gender stereotypes make EVERYONE mad

Haha--the comics are funny today.

Ugh, sports section.

Ads, ads...more ads...

Flu: Look, Kayla, minions!

Kayla: Minion mac'n'cheese--weird.

Flu: And a fart gun!

Kayla: Wait...so the boys get the "Genius" shirt, and the girls get the heart? Really, Target?

That makes me so mad! 

Flu: Let's write them an angry, hate-filled letter!

Kayla: Cut out the "angry, hate-filled" part and you've got a deal.

Hmm...let's call it "Target Letter".

<typing> Dear Target,

I am a twelve-year-old girl living in Northern VA. My friend and I were very offended by the ad for the $7 Minion T-Shirts. Aside from the fact that you are doing the usual "girls wear pink and boys wear blue" marketing stereotype, the fact that the "girls' shirt" had a heart and the "boys' shirt" had a minion making a potion and the word "Genius" (spelled with cool letters!) on it made me incredibly mad. Not only are you assuming boys would like this shirt better than girls, you are subtly reinforcing the stereotype that boys are smarter than girls. Please do something about this ad!

How should we end it?

Flu: <whispers>

Kayla: Oh, okay!

<typing> Respectfully, Kayla.

Flu: I told you to write "Disrespectfully". 

Kayla: Yeah, well, kindness counts. C'mon, let's go...um...

Flu: I'm going back to bed.

Kayla: Good idea.

Little Chefs

 Today Flu and I will be making butterscotch pudding (from a box).

Always wear an apron...

...and tie your hair back.

Make sure to clean up your messes. And most importantly, have fun!

I can't believe that's going to be butterscotch.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh.

Flu: Look, Kayla, I'm whisking!

Kayla: Well, the pudding's been mixed--we just need to wait for it to set. It'll only take five minutes.

Looks great.

Mm--tastes great, too.

Flu, you try some!

Flu: But it looks like pumpkin.

Kayla: So?

Flu: I hate pumpkin.

Kayla: All right then...more for me. <licks lips>

Flu: Well, it won't kill me to try. Unless you poisoned it. Did you poison it?

Kayla: No.

Flu: Fine.

Hmm....

Flu: All gone.

Kayla: Not cool, Flu.

Taryn's note: Thanks to Kathy for letting me take pics of Kayla and Flu while we made pudding. :)

Important life lesson

If you can avoid it, never sneeze while you're yawning. The results will not be pretty. In fact, they will be the opposite of pretty. There will be snot on your hands. And on your nose.

Don't do it.

Kayla in Chincoteague

So this is the house I'll be spending vacation in...
I wonder if it's haunted? Eh, who cares--I'm going in!

Hello, house! No ghosts so far...

Ah, air-conditioning!

I am so eating breakfast here.

So...many...stairs...

This is a nice room!

Hello, new friend! Mind if I share this room with you?

Hello?

<sighs> You don't talk much, do you?
Okay, this is getting weird.

I think I'll sleep here instead.

Hmm...a little small.

Now this is more like it!

Talk about privacy--the toilet's behind a wall!

Ooh, fluffy. Fluffy fluffy fluffy.

Ah, what a view.

Free candy? Don't mind if I do.

This isn't free.

Why...is...the chocolate...so...high?

I'll settle for licorice.

Giddyup!

This bear is rocking her bikini.

Does this hat make my head look small?

Ooh, fuzzy.

Do you think they'd fit me?

<yawns> Shopping is exhausting...

Pretty. Pretty pretty pretty.

Aw, so cute!

This is the life!

So many flavors, so little time...

I think this is a good choice, though.

Why don't they ever make hats in
my size?

I think I have a problem with napping
on T-shirts.

Found my name!

Aren't I adorable?

I'm doing it! Look!

So, do I like, eat this?

This piece goes here...

These two fit together...

and they go here.

Finished!

"Take a very long walk to burn off all that energy
today." Now that is useless.

Praise the sun!

A few days later...

Goodbye, Chincoteague...see you next year.