noglider - I checked the calendar and it's actually been 8 weeks that I've been hacking at this hill. (A little longer than I thought.)

There are 5 hills on my route and there's one left that kicks my butt every time. It's very short but it's really really steep and it comes right before the final climb on the commute. I am wary to try it because I feel like, if I make it up, I'll run out of juice for the long climb. It will happen - I'm just not quite there yet.

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!