<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6807" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230044-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" />For a few years now, I've been intrigued by the thought of scaling a wall at a Rock Gym.  Since this 365 project involves me Carpe Diem-ing, I thought, "Why not now?"

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(The Living Social coupon helped spur me on as well.  I heart Living Social and Groupon!  They make life so much more fun and less expensive!)

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Well, you know what they say?  "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt?"

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At the<strong><a href="http://www.phoenixrockgym.com/" target="_blank"> Phoenix Rock Gym</a></strong>, they say, "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.  Or dies."

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And they're not kidding!

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As you may have figured out through this blog, I'm sort of a positive thinker, and honestly, it never crossed my mind that I could get hurt or DIE at the indoor rock gym until I signed this waiver.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230024.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6805" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230024-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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And then saw this sign from across the crowded gym.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230042.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6806" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230042-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

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Ummmm...I signed up for a blogilicious activity. Not death or dismemberment.

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HOLY CRAP!!!!!  WHAT DID I JUST GET MYSELF INTO????

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You know the drill.  Once you're there, you better suck it up, Buttercup.

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Here I am at the Rock Gym with Sarah aka Pilates Teacher Extraordinaire aka Ms. Fitness America who has previously scaled Real Rocks!  What I am I going to do?  Shamefully exit the gym like a little wussy girl???  It's time to walk the talk, Late Bloomer!

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[caption id="attachment_6816" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Breathe..."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230025.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6816" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230025-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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After watching a safety video, a perky young thang strapped Sarah and me up in harnesses while peppering us with questions about the video.

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I blurted, "I am a kinesthetic learner, so I'm going to need some serious individualized instruction here.  I learn by doing."

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Perky Young Thang must be an Education major because she knew <em>exactly</em> what I was talking about.

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Whew!

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She reassured me that Lynn would show Sarah and me the ropes.  Literally and figuratively.

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Whew again!

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Lynn (a boy Lynn, not a girl Lynn) was extraordinarily patient with two chatty women who needed to document this rock wall adventure for blogilistic purposes.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230026.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6817" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230026-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230028.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6818" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230028-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

Foreshadowing (insert eerie music of your choice here):  The rope does not go pictured left, it goes pictured right.  Pay attention, girls!

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Lynn, The Master of Calm, instructed us to first climb halfway up the wall.  The second time, we'd go for the gusto to the top.

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I volunteered Sarah to go first.

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What?!?!?!  She'd done this before, and I needed to watch her to learn!  The whole I Do, We Do, You Do, Gradual Release of Responsibility thing!  Perky Young Thang who's more than likely an Education major knows <em>exactly</em> what I'm talkin' about!

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Sarah aka Pilates Teacher Extraordinaire aka Ms. Fitness America scaled that wall like it was nobody's business.

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I was PUMPED to follow in her footsteps!

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Oops!  Just kidding!  I mean, I was PANICKED while following in her footsteps.

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I shouted down, "Am I halfway there?"

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Master of Calm begged to differ. "Nope.  You've got a little ways to go."

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Crap.  Crap.  Crap.

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I inched up a few more steps and announced, "I'm finished!!!"

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Master of Calm said (calmly), "O.k."

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Sarah hoisted me down.

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I fessed up immediately.  I looked Master of Calm straight in the eye.  "I was scared sh*^less!!!!"

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Master of Calm offered, "That's o.k."

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Sarah chimed in with something of a cheerleader-ish, "You can do it!"

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I tried again.

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In the name of Late Bloomers everywhere!

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In the name of Living Curiously!

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In the name of What-the-Hell-Will-I-Write-About-If-I-Don't-Haul-My-Cookies-to-the-Top-of-That-Freakin'-Wall?!?!?!

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[caption id="attachment_6819" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="When you are a Rock Wall Climbing Blogger, you have no choice but to plaster your cookies on the Internet for all God&#39;s children to see. Does this wall make my butt look big?"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230030.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6819 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230030-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

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I did it!

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In the name of Late Bloomies, and Living Curiously, and Stellar Writing Material!

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And just when Sarah and I thought my writing material had been exhausted...

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[caption id="attachment_6822" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Whoa."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230035.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6822" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P7230035-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

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While I was walking over to our stuff to grab a sip of water, Sarah disappeared.  I found her around the corner of the gym checking out the various "walls".

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"Let's try the walls over here!" Sarah beamed.

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I agreed.  "It's much less scarier over here!"

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