It's 2:20 AM and I'm finally going to try to write something...

So it has been a grueling couple of months here since my last (non-picture filled) post. I have been swamped with my part-time job, waking up by 11 AM to catch The Price Is Right, and honing my combat skills and knowledge of modern weaponry and warfare by playing LOTS of Call of Duty 4, not to mention committing countless hours to catching up on all of the great TV shows out there before the new seasons start....so I hope you can all understand my lack of this completely superfluous act of "blogging". Anyway, enough of my sob story...I am committed now! This past weekend I got to see my whole family (probably 99% of my readership, so I should just say: "I got to see you!") which was very nice, even though I would've rather it been this weekend and not for the same reason. I got to catch up with a lot of them (you) but there is plenty that I have left out since my last blog, so I decided I would make a list of the goings-on over the past couple of months:

1.) I found out that hyphens were, for the most part, removed from the English language, but are still accepted, so I should've said 'goings on' instead of 'goings-on.'
2.) I recently went up to the Chicago Bears training camp with my friend Amanda. She worked there for a few weeks this summer and made friends with a few of the players. The night we went up, we went out to the bar and about 1/2 the team showed up! Alex Brown bought us tequila shots and I talked/hung out with a few of the Bears players. Fun stuff!
3.) Today I had to yell at some Asians for backing into my car and walking away. Apparently the stereotype is true... and luckily there was no damage.
4.) Ben and I had our cars broken into outside of our apartment a few weeks ago. My iPod was stolen. Fortunately I didn't use it much and all my climbing gear was still in the trunk.
5.) FOOTBALL SEASON IS UPON US!!!
6.) Unfortunately, I've made only a couple of trips down to Jackson Falls since my last post.
7.) Fortunately, one of those trips involved my hardest climb to date: Spiders From Mars (5.10b). Those of you that have been keeping up and didn't skip the long section about climbing in that last post will know that Spiders was a long time nemesis/project for me...I'm glad it is finally over!
8.) The next trip down to Jackson I on-sighted Gully Gee Whiz, a 5.10b, making my hardest grade to date seem like a joke. If I can on-sight 10b, I should be able to red-point at least 2 grades harder....
9.) I am out of climbing shape and I live only 5 minutes from the rock gym...I need some motivation....hopefully the cool temps will help!!!
10.) My climbing partner, Andrew, and I are planning to go to Pere Marquette State Park this weekend in search of boulders/climbable rock. We know it is out there....but where? First Ascents here we come!
11.) I have been asked to play in a 60s funk/soul group...I haven't played my sax in 7 over 9 months (mom, don't show this to dad) but I have a rehearsal Monday night and hopefully I remember how to play....it's just like riding a bike...I hope...
12.) I am a Colonel in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and very proud of it...
13.) I am still getting along great with Ben and Nicole and enjoying life here in St. Louis. I do hope to start getting out more soon and start taking advantage of all the city has to offer though. Life is good, but can always be better.

Here are a few pictures to leave you with tonight...well, this morning...

The Family on my 22nd b-day in South Africa

The Jazz St. Louis Family (minus Gene and Kate) at one of our fundraisers

Me 'hang-dogging' (or hang dogging) and rehydrating on my big project: Flingin' Hog (5.11a)