Lisa drove us up to Ironton where we hit the Ironton Nordic Trailhead. 2 loops, 6 “hills,” some ass-plants and a boatload of sunshine later, we’d had a great morning of cross-country action at 8000 feet. I had to head back for my 12:30pm clinic at the Ouray Ice Festival. I hit the B&B (I’m staying at the Secret Garden – a client and the comfiest beds in town!), grabbed my ice gear, put on my ice boots for the first time since the Ankle Incident of ‘09, and set out to walk to the Ice Park.

Only a 15 minute walk, I admittedly wanted the cardio and hill climb. I could have taken the shuttle, but where’s the fun in that? I got up to the sponsor tents and found that my clinic (Advanced Ice for Women) was to be taught by Angela Hawse…freakin’ W00T! Angela was one of my first guides at Chicks With Picks when I started ice climbing and just a killer teacher. Patient, talented and it’s just obvious she’s one of those people who are truly living their dream. I have yet to catch up with my friend Margot Talbot (also one of my first guides at Chicks). Margo used to guide Mt. Vinson and do Zodiac tours of Antarctica and is an incredible ice climbing instructor. Hopefully I’ll see her today!

Anywhoo – I’d told Angela about the Ankle Incident just to give her a heads-up. Our group set out into the gorge. The approaches to many of the climbing areas at the Ouray Ice Park have burly approaches. Not like Death Incarnate or anything, but steep and tedious. Two things of which my ankle is not a fan, apparently. My hardware started banging up against the sides of the boot. Serious suckage. Flat terrain down below proved a reward. Yaaaay – bottom!

Clinics, from a logistics standpoint at the Ice Fest, are tough. You’re working with people in a wide range of capabilities and for 6 people, they give you two ropes. Which means when it’s below freezing in the gorge, there’s a lot of cold standing around. It was to be my demise yesterday. I got in 2/3 of a pitch and decided to come down, knowing that working the top section would take me a bit and I didn’t want to be a rope hog. Climbing = warm. Belaying/waiting = cold. I got stuck on an epic belay for another gal in my clinic (it happens), and my feet froze out. Diagnosed with Raynaud’s Phenomenon back in 2006, my digits get cold and fast. I never got in another climbing time and had to hike out to warm up. Bummer, but the ice will be there when I come back and staying warm is paramount. The ankle was pissed from the approach banging and swelling in my boot. Time to call it a day.

The comp was going on up above – this is the part of the Ice Fest where incredibly talented athletes climb a hard-as-shit route with a pucker factor of 11 for the glory of the win. Friends (The Fields, not of cookie-making fame) were rooting for Caroline George who unfortunately had a peel-off fluke low on the course. I’d taken a mixed climbing clinic awhile back from Josh Wharton (who moved through mixed routes like they’re a symphony and he’s a concert pianist), and was hoping he’d pull out another win or be given a serious run for his money. I’d heard that evening from Piper that he’d won. Applause, Josh! Not that you have any idea who I am, but bravo anywhoo and know that some of those delicate footwork techniques vastly improved my footwork on steep ice. You can view the entire comp results here.

After the day, I was zapped. Skiing, hiking, approaches, climbing…my body was one huge middle finger. Everyone I knew was bagging the overpriced lasagna dinner event that evening and Piper and I had decided to cook. None of the group meals here are dairy or gluten-free, so as of this year, I’d be skipping them anyway. Fine and dandy – we made meat, garlic, sauce and brown rice penne (listed in order of importance) with salad. It was fat kid/cake = nomnom.

The big event of the evening was the Guy Lacelle Tribute Superhero Party at the Opera House, preceded by a movie event. My friends and I opted for the movie with the party on “tentative” status. The parties here are legendary, run late and filled with drunken debauchery – not so much the scene for many in my group.  The flick du jour? A screening of a German film called The North Face (Norwand), a slightly fictionalized account of the German Reich’s push for glory on the treacherous Eiger. The film, while brilliant (and humbling when you compare mountaineering techniques from the 30s to present day), left me wanted to sell all of my gear on eBay and slit my wrists. Death is a kissing cousin for those who pursue high altitude mountaineering and all four of the climbers featured in the film met with heinous and painful demises. THANKS FOR THE DOWNER! The majority of us felt completely unfestive, bagged the party and retired for the evening.

Back at the B&B, I did hot/cold therapy on my ankle and decided I would go Nordic skiing again today. I’ve given my morning clinic spot to Piper, knowing that my Steep Ice clinic is undoubtedly in the same location I was in yesterday and with the same approach. Today, I’ll check out the vendor booths, catch up with more friends and get my cardio on up in Ironton.

Thanks for checking in with The Redhead. Spongebob Square Ankle and I are looking forward to another day of adventure, while it won’t be on the ice.

At 5am this morning, my alarm went off and I’m fairly sure I grunted. The next word out of my mouth was likely “fuuuuuuck” and I rolled out of bed and headed to the shower. It was Go Time. T-minus one hour and counting till I left for Ouray for the annual Ouray Ice Fest.

Yup – if you’re new to Erikaville, I climb ice. Willingly. And I dig it. Each year, I make the soujurn from WherethefuckeverI’mliving, USA to Ouray, Colorado to climb, mix and mingle with four years worth of friends. New, old…the friend status doesn’t matter. Two things you can be sure of in Ouray, though: it’ll be balls-ass cold and beer will flow like milk from a cow’s teat.

Ice is nice...Erika gets vertical

Today was filled with meeting a long-term client I’d never met in Ridgway for lunch and catching up with friends on the way into town. Tonight is the annual dinner benefitting the Ouray volunteer fire department followed by an athlete slide show (which are always top-notch and awe-inspiring). Tomorrow? A morning of nordic skiing with my friend Lisa followed by an afternoon technical climbing clinic (Steep Ice Technique). I’ll check in with you tomorrow eve when I return, but until then, wish me warm thoughts. It’s possible I’m nuts for what I love, but I’ve been called worse than “nuts.”

However, a little word to you folks in NYC who think that the red sauce that you ladle over your dog is “onions.”

It’s not.

Onions are chopped little bits of white vegetable that crunch when you bite them and cause heartburn occasionally following consumption.

Red Sauce is stringy bits of onion in a sweet sauce that interferes with the mustard on my dog.

Please notify all hot dog vendors in the greater NYC area and have rectified immediately.

This past weekend brought me to New York City, a place where I’d previously spent a few day trips but had never really had the opportunity or time to explore appropriately.  It was beyond fun to enjoy the city from an ant’s-eye-view, as how could we be anything but when buildings of fifty-plus stories were looming overhead, taunting our human stature with their architectural prowess?  My partner-in-crime and I laughed often, giggled more, pointed, stared, sweated, brunched, gaped, walked, ran, taxied, subwayed, ate, conversed, and questioned one another on our lives, past loves, passions, and thoughts.  The hum of the city surrounding us never seemed to silence itself, reminding me that while over 2000 miles from the place where I pay property taxes, life — indeed — goes on without me.

Amidst the 8,213,839 people (give or take a few thou) who make up the greater New York City populace, I was blessed to be a silent witness to a few conversations that I’ll share with you here.  I’m not an eavesdropper or a nosey neighbor … but sometimes the thoughts and words of others give you a perspective that you don’t expect, weren’t looking for, yet end-up finding very welcome.

Brunch at Bubby’s

Recommended to us by our concierge who had yet to steer us wrong, we taxied down to Tribeca from our Times Square digs to grab a bite at this “adorable” restaurant on Sunday.  The wait was minimal, but I believe that I was able to gain a pound by just gazing in wild wonder at their confectionery creations on display (sour cherry pie … mmmmmmmmmmm …).  Seating was tight quarters, but we ordered and took some time to pass the tourist guide to NYC I’d purchased back and forth, contemplating our plan of attack for the day.  To our left was a younger couple — borderline goth gal with a sleeve of tattoos covering the majority of her right arm accompanied by skater-guy-in-his-mid-30s, complete with Vans and shirt by DC Shoes.

We were soon surrounded as a couple in their early 40s joined us on our right, and it’s their story that enchants me.

She placed the Sunday Times on the table in front of her and hung her purse on the back of her chair.  Her husband took his seat and set about rearranging the condiments on the table to maximize space (c’mon … you do it, too).  Definitely married, and I’ll figure not for terribly long.  No children were discussed.

They moved in perfect harmony with one another, from each word exchanged to the divvying-up of the Sunday paper.  Sports section for him, Op-Ed and everything else for her … and then it began.

“Alright … you wanna know what it is?  I don’ like makin’ the bed,” he says.

“Whas wrong with makin’ the bed? You sleep in it,” she responded.

“But what I don’ get is why I gotta make the bed when you’re gonna come lie in it with your coffee and mess it up after I make it. I go out for a run or to get bagels or somethin’ and I come back and it’s like I did it for nuttin,“ he responds.

“You don’ wanna make the bed? Fine. Don’ make the bed. I’ll make the bed,” she conceded.

“Really? You’re gonna make the bed?” he asks incredulously.

“Yeah. I’ll do it. It’s fine,” she says.

He takes a swig of coffee, and without missing a beat:

“OK, so since we’re on the subject, I don’ like doin’ laundry either.”

She laughed and flung a playful smack in his direction and he grabbed her hand, silencing her fist with a kiss.  Our omelets arrived and I had to shift my focus from inconspicuous consumption of conversation to conspicuous related to my food.  I’m sure they had no idea how their little exchange moved me, and I’m certain my breakfast tasted better for it, though.  It’s fun to see people who “fit” together in this world of puzzle-piece unique personalities.

Monster on the Sidewalk

Our Monday necessitated a caffeine infusion prior to our departure for the airport.  A walk from our hotel down to the Bread Factory yielded the most innocuous yet grin-producing “conversation observation” of my trip.  Strolling down 43^rd Street hand-in-hand, we were actively shunning the Starbucks conglomerate in an attempt to continue to do as the locals do when the sound of childish laughter crept up behind us on the sidewalk.

“Stay beside me, honey.”

“But I’m taking BIG STEPS!”

“Well, take smaller steps, honey.  I don’t want you getting too far in front of me.”

“But my foot is GODZILLA!  That’s why I have to take big steps!”

We arrived shortly thereafter at The Bread Factory.  I won’t deny that when left alone at the table, I pretended my foot was Godzilla, too.  I even growled a bit.  Overhearing this exchange reminded me that the day before, I had skipped in the Meatpacking District, stomped my feet in rain puddles, and had probably made airplane noises sometime throughout the weekend as well.

Fuck growing-up.  Godzilla feet and rain puddles are more fun.

E Train Disdain

While I don’t believe that all good things must come to an end, you do have to continue the story elsewhere on occasion.  Monday signaled the end of our Big Apple excursion, and we opted to take the subway to JFK.  E Train uptown to Sutphin Blvd., pick up the Airtrain for a flat $5 and you’re on your way. A relatively hassle-free journey, save stairs and baggage owner(s) who would have preferred escalators, the E Train brought us right to our intended destination with plenty of time to spare.

My “conversation observations” end with this interlude on the E Train.

We boarded the train at the 42^nd Street Station — if you’ve ever been to Shibuya Station in Tokyo, it’s similar.  If not, it’s the main station in Times Square, allowing you to get most anywhere with a little yellow and blue Metrocard magic.  After herding our luggage onto the train and securing a preliminary pole prior to seats later coming available, I listened as two schoolteachers discussed their day and the politics of the school system. Lesson planners on their laps provided the foundation for an exchange that finally led one of the women to explain to the other:

“At this point in my life, I could care less what people think about me.  Right now, the only thing I need to be concerned with is the Powers-That-Be, and everyone else can just kiss my ass.”

This was punctuated by a “mmmm-hmmm” by her companion and a furious brushing of her ebony hair.  Her hair shined in the overhead fluorescent lights, giving the unimpressive walls of the train car a little snicker that something so lovely could ride between their institutional walls.  I noticed that her skin was perfect as well, a hue of mocha that seemed perfectly hydrated, lineless, and proud to frame her hazel eyes.

I guess she was having a bad day.  We all have crappy days, but her remark did make me wonder what had prompted the whole buy-now-pay-later feeling about the karma store she was shopping in.

*****

I’d gone from witnessing playful coexistence to a child’s monster fantasies played-out through her feet to frustration voiced in unwavering tones of disdain.  Mind you, I’ve never met one of these folks formally, but these three peeks into the worlds of others through their words … what a gift!  As I travel to more and more places, I’m reminded that, while the geography changes, daily life does not.  Children grow, couples bicker, office politics persist (and Dilbert is never far away) — 2000 miles doesn’t make me any better than the next person.  It just means I live in a different time zone.

I hope you enjoyed a small taste of my journey this past weekend.  I’m sure I could ask 42 people to tell me 42 different stories about their experiences in New York City — that’s the beauty of the human machine.  Scenery doesn’t much change, but our perception and what we’re willing to perceive does.  Much like life, it’s your choice what you take away from each and every opportunity, and I have to tell you — I’m entirely satisfied with the bite I took out of the Big Apple.

A closing word on perception:

Special thanks to my partner-in-crime who helped me see the bright side to my delayed luggage upon our arrival.  I’ve had terrible luck with luggage and traveling this year, and he quelled my impending panic to a more manageable level of inconvenience.  I enjoyed a couple of hard-boiled eggs (which I like a lot but hadn’t had in months) and his smile, as well as a few giggles that would have surely been missed had my suitcase actually made the intended flight.  We also arrived at the hotel just in time for our room to be ready for an early check-in!  It’s perfectly clear to me that I could have ruined the experience by behaving like a brat … but a little shift in perception prompted by another’s point of view allowed me to enjoy eggs, laughter, and a soft place to land.