For Mom

During my last visit home, my mom asked me if I had brought pictures of my new apartment. I didn't. I told her I'd go back to Bozeman, take some, and then post them on the blog. So here you go mom....and anyone else who cares.

The Living Room

The Kitchen

The Bedroom

And the best part...a view of the Bridgers from my bedroom window

A Better Attitude

I've whined a lot about winter on this blog and I feel a little bad about that. I've always loved winter. Where did that love go? I'm not exactly sure. But I woke up this morning, saw the mountains covered with freshly fallen snow, and vowed to get excited about winter again. So I went on a short hike. Here are some highlights.

It was a good hike. I'm excited about winter again. The snowboarding. The crisp air. The way freshly fallen snow muffles all sounds. The beauty of snow-covered mountains. I'm ready for it. I know I'll be sick of the cold by February but I figure I'll try to embrace winter and just go with the flow. Who's with me?

Bad coffee?

Here's the scenario:

On Sunday evening I went to my favorite Bozeman coffee shop, Rockford Coffee. I ordered a non-fat, Irish Cream latte and hopped on the internet for 45 minutes. I slowly nursed my latte the entire time. I wrapped things up and headed back to my apartment for a night of TV watching. Within 15 minutes of sitting on the couch my insides started to squirm. I quickly developed the chills and body aches crept over me. It wasn't long before I felt like I had to vomit. So...vomit I did. Afterwards I crawled into bed and spent a sleepless night tossing and turning.

I woke up the next morning feeling weak. My stomach was feeling better but I had no appetite. I tried to determine what caused my night of sickness and the only conclusion I could reach...bad coffee. But can coffee do that to someone? Was it the milk? I have no idea.

I haven't felt 100% all week. Yesterday I felt like someone was squeezing my head from all sides. I couldn't get rid of the pressure. To top that off, I walked around all day light-headed. Today is treating me a little better. (although I'm feeling slightly queasy eating a plain bagel with cream cheese and raspberry jam right now). Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

I'm skeptical of one latte kicking my ass. And yet...I don't know that I'll touch any type of coffee ever again. I think I've developed a coffee aversion by merely speculating that it could have made me sick. I think of coffee now and I get queasy.

I guess it's a good thing. I've been spending way too much money on lattes anyway.

Hoodwinked

I don't like being tricked.

That said, I feel as though I was manipulated into seeing "Man of the Year," the new Robin Williams movie. How was I tricked you ask?....by the damn movie trailer.

I saw the preview a couple weeks ago and thought it would be a funny movie to see. It wasn't. I'm all for carefully structured movie trailers where the entire plot isn't given away. I am NOT for a trailer that completely misrepresents what the movie is about.

Despite this tirade, I really did like "Man of the Year." I recommend everyone go see it. BUT...if you're expecting a comedy you will be disappointed. There are funny moments but this movie is definitely not a comedy. It's more of a conspiracy minded drama. Just be warned.

I wouldn't even be complaining about it had I not been in the mood to laugh last night. That's all I wanted. A good laugh. I didn't get that. So despite the fact I DID like the film, I can't help feeling gypped.

I was tricked...and I don't like being tricked.

A Re-Posting

I've chosen to re-post one of my blog entries for two reasons. One...I'm lazy and I'm having a hard time finding the motivation to write anything. I'd call it writer's block but it's really nothing of the sort. Two...it's been on my mind lately. In recent weeks, I've had several conversations about Mormonism. Sometimes it's hard to articulate myself in these conversations. I feel the following post best exemplifies how I feel about the Mormon religion.

I first posted this on March 20, 2006. Title: Mormonism

Ahh the Mormons. I am one and I'm not one. It all depends on how you look at. I almost prefer to look at Mormons as a race of people. I'm certainly not a Mormon in practice. However in a cultural sense, I will always be a part of the race. I've got Mormon blood in me. But like a lot of people who feel conflicted about their relationship with a certain group, I myself have a love-hate relationship with Mormonism.

I don't go to church anymore. I don't want to and I don't feel guilty about it. I'm just way too liberal for such a conservative religion. I think abortion should be legal. I believe gay people should be allowed to tie the knot if they so wish. I don't see a problem with premarital sex. I enjoy my Irish Cream cappucinos and I think a beer or a glass of wine are acceptable beverages. My views don't mesh well with Mormon teachings.

And yet...

I don't want to be known as a former Mormon. I don't want my name removed from membership rolls. There's something comforting about being a part (even if I don't play the part) of such a unique and often mis-understood crowd. There's something rebellious and satisfying about telling new friends that I have polygamy in my family. I can walk into any Mormon church in the world and know that help is waiting for me if I need it. I can still walk the grounds of Temple Square and feel a tremendous sense of peace.

And yet...

I can be critical of "The Church." I can roll my eyes at that whole priesthood revelation of the late 1970's. I can snort when young Mormons refuse to see a movie because it's rated "R." I can cringe with embarassment when I explain the whole "undergarments" thing to Mormonism rookies.

And yet....

I'm the first to defend "The Church" when someone makes fun of it. I get exasperated when the ignorant try and tell me Mormons still practice polygamy. I can get irate when someone tries to tell me that Mormons aren't Christians. I can tell the story of Joe Smith and what he's all about and I get frustrated when the listener's eyebrow raises and they say, "What is this crap?"

I don't particularly understand my relationship with Mormonism. Am I believer? Probably not. I'm at a place now where I feel more personally connected with God than at any other time in my life. I got there by doing my own thing...not following Mormon doctrine. But Mormonism isn't just a faith to me. It's a culture. Sometimes that culture is too conservative and over-bearing. But I know that if I ever turn to it for help...I will be received with open arms; even if I do see things a little differently than they do.

But I suppose my relationship with Mormonism is a bit like my view on religion in general. We're all individuals and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. That's how I see things. That's why I'll understand those who faithfully follow that Mormon lifestyle just the same as those who shun it with ridicule. Believe what you want to believe. I'm in the middle and I'm happy staying there.

What is News?

Hatchfest is a cool film/arts festival that takes place in Bozeman every October. Yesterday I had the honor of participating (in a very minor role) in a panel entitled "Journalism: Telling Stories that Inspire." The real guests of honor were some producers, reporters, and anchors from CNN, CNBC, and other national media outlets. The discussion turned towards the state of today's media. While not attacking any media reps personally, there was definitely an anti-media diatribe coming from the audience. I understand all the complaints and criticism. Sometimes it's hard for me to refute them. But I will say this: News has changed. Everything IS news. I grew up watching newscasts that contained stories about school shootings AND celebrity break-ups. I'm not defending coverage of either topic. I'm just saying that that's what news has become. Is that a bad thing? I don't know. Regardless of the subject matter, those of us in the media are still telling "stories." We're storytellers. Sometimes the story is about a crazed gunmen who shoots 5 little Amish girls. And sometimes the story is about TomKat. Love it or hate it...that's what "news" is these days. I'm okay with that.

Halloween Memories

I used to be freakishly obsessed with Halloween. Just ask my old neighbors.

I believe it started in my early teen years one October. I was looking through the garage and found a very old prosthetic leg that somehow ended up in storage. I proudly planted that leg upside down in the garden in front of our house. Then I nailed two pieces of wood together, wrote "Danger - Quicksand" on my new sign and placed it near the leg. With that, my Halloween decoration obsession was born.

A 13-year-old's attempt at outdoor decorating can be pretty feeble. And although all my decorations have been very low-budget, my displays got more impressive over the years.

I did all kinds of things for my craft. I stole cornstalks from nearby farms. I made headstones out of huge pieces of styrofoam. I saved stacks and stacks of newspapers to crumple up, stuff inside some clothes, and bring dummies to life. Here's an old picture of my nieces and nephews surrounding one dummy.

And over the years, my displays became more elaborate. The neighbors loved it all. Even when it got a little grotesque. (I'm sure a few people were put off by the dummy impaled on a 25 foot pole in the front yard.)

But, like many childhood obsessions, my Halloween fixation has faded. I don't really care anymore. Perhaps I'll get back into one day if and when I have kids. I don't know. For now I can only muster up the energy to hang a skull from my rear-view mirror. It's a sad reminder of what I would have done years ago.