Bruised and Beaten

[patrickneedluv2]

So, today, the first day of RD training, was one of the toughest days I have ever been through. Not because of the new job and responsibilities (we haven’t gotten to that yet). Oh no. I wish it had been that. Instead, someone decided it would be fun to have some physical activity the first day of training and suggested the Houghton Ropes Course. Ok, for those of you who know me, I’m not a very active person. I like relaxing and hanging out. If I were back in High School, I might say the opposite, but times have changed and so have I. Anyway, the course didn’t start out to bad. First we did the human knot and some jump rope games. It was fun, but the mood soon changed. We all had to put on our harness to start the “high elevation” course. So, we got to climb rope ladders, swing across “molten jell-o”, climb this ridiculous thing called the “centipede”, and climb a telephone pole (40 ft high) just to jump off it to try and ring a bell. At first, I was so positive in my attitude about the course. I wanted to do things that I have never done before, and I was excited about the experience. Well, that changed. I will say that I attempted everything, but I didn’t complete anything. I got really scared on the rope ladder because it felt like nothing was supporting me. As for the 40 ft telephone pole, I made it to the top, but I was so exhausted from the climb that I couldn’t pull myself up on the small platform (of course, this was the last thing we did, so I was physically exhausted from everything prior). I was able to sort of jump down from the pole (it was about 36 ft in the air). As for the “centipede”….Well, I will just say that I will never go on anything called the “centipede” again. To make matters worse, the people who were our guides were complete jerks. In the situation of when I got really scared on the rope ladder, I had to beg to be let down. I was at the point of shaking and almost crying by the time the woman let me down. Also, when I was nearly dangling from the 40 ft pole, the guy kept telling me to try to get on the platform after I had failed to do so 10 times. I had to snap at him to make him realize that I had to strength left in me. Then I almost fell. And, of course, they had to make you feel stupid if you didn't accomplish the task. Anyway, I am covered with bruises. I counted 15 bruises all together in the shower. Plus, I am so sore that I just want to lie around. The only positive things that came out of this trip are: I got to meet the other RDs and created some bonds, it motivated me to lose some weight and build muscles, and I never have to do it again. Anyway, I should be going. I’m starved!

P.S. I’m excited about being Mrs. Brian Pinto!!