Mark, belaying the seventh pitch.  Here Mark is in the classic "launch position."  We found that this position was the safest for the belayer.  When the impact jerks the belayer up out of his hammock to slam his belay plate (and waist) into the belay bolt, this position provided the most control and minimized the scraped body parts that would always result from other positions.

We would sit like this for ten, twelve, and more hours.  The "entertainment" consists of belay signals coming down from a distraught leader: "Ok, give me a foot.  No, watch out! This thing chipped bad! Damn, it's still holding though.  Ok, moving up, so give me another foot.  Oh, crap! Another chip. I can't BELIEVE that this thing is still holding!" On and on.  Punctuated by: PING, whoosh, slam!

As belayer, things start seeming funny that just aren't.  Flicking spiders off of the wall is hugely entertaining!  Moving little red mites around ("red mite teleportation") occupies much time and provides opportunity for scientific analysis (read: speculation): "Where do they go when it rains?  What do they eat?  What eats them?  Why do the sometimes go around each other when they meet, and why do they sometimes go over and under each other?"  The mind turns to mush.