Ever since you saw my post earlier this week about life in Missouri being good, you’ve had trouble sleeping. You’ve tossed and turned in anticipation, wondering what this small town girl’s up to in her free time.

You’ve been reprimanded by your supervisor for compulsively checking A Small Town Girl’s Guide during the work day. You try to explain to them how big of a deal Small Town Girl’s new hobby announcement is, and they just won’t listen. You feel misunderstood. You feel all alone in the small town world you’ve found yourself sucked into. I know. And it’s alright.

Small Town Girl’s pull is magnetic, and the cliff-hanger (pun intended) in that last post was just too much. You need to know what my new hobby is. That new hobby, my internet-stalking, blog-reading friend, is rock climbing.

I’ve started climbing with some frequency, and while I’m still not very good at it, I’m gaining focus and determination through climbing (and through running) that carries over into my work, my relationships, and my perspectives on small town life.

I’ll be leaving this weekend for a hard-earned vacation to a city I’ve wanted to see for years. Any guesses as to which city I’m visiting? I’ll give you a hint; I’ll have the opportunity to practice my new hobby when I arrive there.

Here are a couple of photos of my vacation destination, and the mountains we’ll be hiking, climbing and camping in while we’re there. I’d always admired climbers, but never thought I’ve have the strength and skill to be one. Luckily, life in small town Missouri allows me the resources to try new hobbies like this one. Here’s to hoping our climbing goes well next week.