Cat

I don't get why some people hate cats. I don't get why I always have to defend the fact I like them. I don't get why there's a stigma on single men who live with a cat. You know why I don't get all of that? Because Merlin is f***ing awesome. That's all I'm gonna say.

I'm not going to be one of those people who blab on endlessly about their adorable pet. But I had to post a few more pictures. He's not the perfect pet. But he's pretty damn close. So shut up about my cat. I think he's cool.

"And now...Lincoln Graves...with your Precision Forecast"

In the fall of 2006, my old colleague, Andrew Capasso, did a story on whether people on the street would recognize political candidates. He hit the streets of Bozeman with pictures of celebrities and those running for office to see who would recognize who. Just for fun, he threw a picture of me in the mix. One lady did recognize me. As Andrew laughed in the background, she said, "That's the guy that does the local weather. I forgot his name...but he does the weather."

Andrew, if you're reading this, I'm sure you'll be delighted to know that I'm about to become a weatherman.

I've been learning how to do weather for the past two weeks. My co-anchor, Mellisa, is about ready to pop...meaning she's very pregnant. The woman who was tapped to fill in for Mellisa just got a job in San Francisco. So, starting sometime in November, and going until sometime in January, I'll be delivering the forecast.

I'm okay with it....I guess. I'm not going to be very good in the beginning. The computer system is daunting. Delivering the weather and understanding it are two completely different things. But I'm excited to learn. I think it will be a good skill to have if I stay in this business for a while. I just wish the learning curve phase was already over. I hate looking stupid on-air.

Aged 3 Years

A fine wine gets better with age.

I don't.

Tonight, I was sitting on my couch, computer in my lap, talking to Beth on the phone. My screen saver rotates through all of the photos I have on my laptop. At some point, I stopped paying attention to what Beth was saying and started focusing on the photos. The ones I noticed were about three to four years old. They were eye-opening. For the first time in my life, I noticed a younger version of myself. Looking back at photos of when you're a child doesn't apply in this situation. I'm talking about an adult version of yourself looking at a different adult version. I've aged in the past three years. I really have. I only need look at the photos to realize it.

From this brief moment, I've developed a theory: the key to looking and feeling young is a care-free lifestyle.

My immersion into the news business hasn't been particularly wrenching. I don't feel as though I've struggled. In fact, I look back on where I've been and I smile at the good times I've had. But there has been stress. How could there not be? It's been a whirlwind three years and I feel like I just barely took the time to notice how disheveled that twister has left me. Real life puts you through the wringer....even if the highs outweigh the lows. I'm not writing all this with a wistful tone. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It just...is.

Three years ago I was carrying luggage for a living and hiking all day. Now I'm into my third year of trying to be a responsible adult. It's worn me down a little...and I'm just now noticing. I don't know what this means for the future. I can't go back to the way things were. I don't even want to. But now I see my four years spent as a wanderer weren't just good for my spirit. They were good for my health. I'll have to figure out how get a little closer to that point. For now, I suppose I'll just try to have a little more fun in my life.

Merlin

I don't know how it happened. I wasn't planning on it. If anything, I was thinking about sharing my apartment with a creature of the canine variety. But now I have Merlin. You know what he's saying in the above photo right? "Ha ha! I conned you into adopting me! I own you sucker!" Little bastard. Cute little bastard...but a bastard nonetheless.