Open mouth...insert foot

I was talking with someone today about embarassing moments. They asked, "what's the most embarassing thing you've ever done." I didn't have to think very hard. Without further ado, I present the most embarassing moment of my life.

For two summers (2002 and 2003) I was a tour bus driver in Glacier National Park. It was an awesome job. I spent my day driving a cool, vintage bus across Going-to-the-Sun Road...arguably the most scenic drive in the country. I also met lots of cool people. One such group of people were affiliated with the Montana Hope Project. The Montana Hope Project is an organization that caters to children, and family members of children, that suffer from physical and mental illnesses. Every year, the Project is taken on a tour of Glacier...with the help of nearly 25 tour buses and their drivers. I was one of those drivers in the summer of '03. The tour lasted most of the day. The buses criss-crossed the park in a big caravan stopping at various points of interest. At one point, we all stopped to take a look at Running Eagle Falls. It was a long stop...about 45 minutes. A total of about 75 people were all standing near the bank of the river milling about. A few of us drivers were near the water's edge chatting. My friend Dave decided to pick up a large rock and throw it in the river...splashing water all across my leg in the process.

I didn't even comprehend what was about to come out of my mouth.

In a group full of MENTALLY CHALLENGED children, and their families, I yelled at my friend, "YOU RETARD!"

It was almost as if the waterfall we were all looking at decided to stop running. It was silent. Completely silent. Or at least that's how I remember it. I was mortified. I was afraid to look at anyone. I'm not even sure how many people noticed. I avoided all eye contact and walked back to my bus.

Besides my friends, no one ever said anything about it. Still, it was...without a doubt...the most embarassing moment of my life.

Nothing to say

I've sat in front of my computer for an hour now trying to think of something meaningful to write. Nothing has come to me. Therefore...I present a random survey. It's the ultimate cure for any kind of blogger's block.

Your senior year in high school.

1. Who were your best friends? Erin. There were a few others but Erin was pretty much my life in high school.
2.What sports did you play? Ha ha ha....like I played sports in high school.
3. What kind of car did you drive? 1985 Dodge Ram Pickup - Light Blue
4. It's Friday night, where were you? David's hot tub playing the "Scary Hot Tub Game."
5. Were you a party animal? Not at all.
6. Were you considered a flirt? By some.
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No...and don't even ask me about my A'cappella auditioning experience.
8. Were you a nerd? At the time I would have said "a little bit." I look back now and realize that yes...yes I was.
9. Did you get suspended/expelled? Nope.
10. Who was your favorite teacher? Mrs. Craigle of course.
11. Where did you eat lunch? The Journalism Room
12.What was your school's full name? West High School
13. School mascot? Panther
14. Did you go to Prom? Yeah. We had A LOT of dances.
15. If you could go back and do it over, would you? Tough question. If I knew then what I know now...maybe for a little bit...but just for a brief visit.
16. What do you remember most about graduation? Not much, really. I can't even remember what I did that night. It was obviously uneventful.
17. What were you involved in during High school? The school paper and TV West. That's about it.
18. Where were you on senior skip day? What the hell is senior skip day? We didn't have that...at least I don't think we did.
19. Did you have a job your senior year? Hmm. I don't think so. I can't believe my memory is so vague.
20. Have you gained weight since then? Not really.
21. Where did you go after graduation? University of Utah for broadcast journalism. Graduated in 2001. Worked at the Olympics. Went to Glacier. Wandered for 4 years.
22. When did you graduate? 1998
23. Who was your Senior prom date? Erin...I think. Like I said, we had A LOT of dances. I'd have to check the pictures.
24. Are you going to your 10 year reunion? I'm not opposed to it.
25. Who was your least favorite teacher. Mr. Eckberg.
26. Were you popular? No
27. Did you get picked on? Only by my friends...whom I picked on as well.
28. Was high school a good experience overall? The last two years were pretty good. The first two years were less than stellar. I truly remember very little from those first two years.
29. What would former classmates say about where you are in life now? They'd probably say "cool...that's what he always wanted to do."
30. What advice would you give to present day high schoolers? Probably something stupid about "having fun being young." But I'm convinced that it's sort of ridiculous to give advice to kids and teenagers. Everyone needs to grow up their own way and make their own mistakes. We all "get it" eventually.

Wierd Moment

The following conversation took place tonight at the supermarket. I approached the check-out stand with my groceries and was greeted by the female employee. It was about 11:40 pm.

Checker: How are you tonight?
Me: I'm good. How are you?
Checker: I want to go home.
Me: (slight chuckle) That good huh?
Checker: I'm not a night person. Of course I'm not a day person either.
Me: Um...so what do you do about that?
Checker: I sleep...a lot. I take it your a night person because you're here at this time.
Woman: (she had just gotten in line behind me) He doesn't have a choice.

At this point I realize the woman recognizes me. The checker appears confused from here on out.

Woman: I guess since I'm here at this time I didn't watch the news tonight.
Me: I suppose. Although I'm here and I worked tonight. I just finished.
Woman: Well as long as I wasn't on the news. That would be a bad thing.
Me: Yes it would be.
Woman: And sometimes I CAN be on the news.

Checker and I exchange "huh" glances.

Me: What do you do?
Woman: I'm a city prosecutor.
Me: Ahh...I see.
Checker: (looking at me) What did she say?
Me: She's a city prosecutor.
Checker: (looks panicked in the woman's direction and chuckles nervously) Oh..um...pretend I'm not here.
Woman: Do something bad?
Checker: I'm always in trouble. That's why I moved here. To stay out of trouble. I got involved with the wrong guy.
Woman: That's what usually happens.
Checker: He was a bad deal. He had a spell over me and I can't explain it. I would have died for that man. I hated him when I first met him but something happened. He cast a spell over me. He could charm the pants off a nun.

By this time, the pace at which my groceries were being rung up and slowed to a crawl.

Checker: (looking at me) I knew you looked familiar. I didn't want to say anything. (thinks for a moment). You've never read my name on the news have you?
Me: (slightly uncomfortable) Not that I know of.
Checker: (looks at the attorney) See? I told you I've stayed out of trouble.

She handed me my receipt and I left...wondering what had just happened.

The End

Commitment

I've done it.

I've signed up for the 2007 Bridger Ridge Run. It's a 20 mile run along the ridgeline of the Bridger Mountains (that's an aerial photo above...this is the range that towers over Bozeman). I decided to do this last August when I covered the Run for a story.

I am not a runner. I don't particularly like to run. But in covering it last year it didn't really seem like much of a "run" to me. It was more like fast-paced hiking. I can hike. I love to hike. And it's not that I CAN'T run. But I've hiked a lot....up to 30 miles in a day. So I figured I could do this. I'll run when I can. I'm certainly not expecting to be the first across the finish line. In signing up they ask how long you think it will take for you to finish the race. I said 6 hours. We'll see how accurate I am.

In other news...

...the seasonal migration has begun. Although I have removed myself from world of seasonal work (for now) all my friends are in the process of moving from winter season work to summer season work. For most of them, this means an annual migration up to Glacier National Park. Lucky for me...a few of them stop in Bozeman. Dave was the first as he stopped in Big Sky/Bozeman this weekend. Amanda also came down from Whitefish. It was a good weekend. Snowboarding, dinner at Buck's T-4 and good times all around. More friends will be stopping by over the next month or so. I can't wait.

And finally....

...what is your sexy name? Mine:

Get Your Sexy Name

Happiness

Katie is the inspiration for this post. And because I had a minor pity party for myself tonight (details not important) I figured I should suck it up and think of happier things. So here goes.

Things that make me happy:

The fact that summer is not too far away.
The latest episode of "Lost." All I can say is "Whoa. Didn't see that coming."
The weekend is finally here.
My two new, cool oversize wall maps I just got. (I'm a geek...I know).
My job (most of the time).
Glacier National Park.
An Irish Cream latte from Rockford Coffee.
Cats & Dogs.
Floating the Madison River.
Driving home after a long absence and seeing the Salt Lake City skyline.
Seeing old Glacier buddies for the first time in a long time.
Giving someone a gift or a compliment they didn't expect.
Powder days at Big Sky.
Hiking to Delicate Arch in the middle of the night and waiting for the sun to rise.
Any and all kinds of breaking news (more of an adrenaline rush than happiness but whatever).
Chocolate chip cookies.
Doing a good job at work on a specific story.
The Olive Garden (and by default Chocolate Lasagna...weep, weep...R.I.P my favorite dessert).
My friends (even though I see them rarely).
The Park Cafe in St. Mary, Montana.
Swinging on a swingset at any park on a hot, summer night.
Fireworks.
Hiking.
Seeing any and all wildlife while hiking (especially moose and bears).
Sleeping in (especially on a dreary, rainy day).
Reminiscing on the old playground slang of yester-year. Thanks hjustin.
Game Show Network, The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, The Travel Channel, and Food Network.
Mom & Dad.

Dirt

Anyone else a fan of the FX show "Dirt?" The critics have sort of panned it but I've watched from episode 1, and I'm a fan. The season finale was tonight. Good, good stuff. I'm a little obsessed with Courtney Cox.

I haven't talked about "Lost" in a while. Again, the critics have been harsh on this season but, whoa...last week's episode was goooooooood. I'm forbidden from talking about it at work because some of my colleagues haven't seen the latest episodes. Very frustrating. Anyway, I love that show as well.

Um....that is all.

Numb from Novocaine

Sarah's post from today dovetails nicely with a story of my own. I went to the dentist this morning. My eroded teeth are being filled with tooth-colored fillings. It's sort of a patch job until I can afford to get permanent crowns for my teeth. Anyway, I was lying back in the dentist's chair with a strange device (it keeps my mouth open for me) lying on my chin. I was fairly vulnerable and could only grunt to communicate.

Really...could there be a better time for my cell phone (complete with The Legend of Zelda ringtone) to go crazy on the window sill next to me? It was slightly embarassing. Especially when it rang two times in 2 minutes. The dentist just laughed and continued torturing me.

Celebrated my my 27th birthday yesterday. Okay, I didn't really celebrate. It was just like any other day. I woke up. I went to work. Nothing special. No big deal. I would have gone out to dinner but the night shift prevents that. Thanks to everyone who called or sent me messages. I appreciate it.

Back in the Saddle

Spring is in the air.

I went on my first official hike of the season yesterday. Hiked up Storm Castle Mountain in Gallatin Canyon. Not too hard, not too easy. Just right. It was beautiful up there. That's me admiring the view. I think we may get some snow this week but that's okay. As far as I'm concerned...summer is here.

I've seen it before but every time I do, I shake my head in disbelief. Someone smoking a cigarette on the trail. What a huge oxymoron. I just don't get it.

I'm still sick. But I'm getting better. I've received lots of advice on my problematic sinuses. I appreciate it all. Like I said, I'm feeling better but I won't declare myself cured until I go a couple weeks without getting sick again.

Two notes of interest: I'm going golfing today. Woohoo! I love golf...even though I suck at it. Also, Giada De Laurentis of Food Network is amazing. I love her.

Relief

They say working in TV news (or other various professions) can desensitize you to the trials and tribulations of the world. You become so used to death, misery, and destruction that you're not fazed by human suffering. Basically...your heart dies.

I'm relieved because I'm pretty sure my heart isn't dead.

In the past day or so I've seen an adversary of mine (and I use the term loosely) brought down several pegs. It's been hard for them and I'm seeing real, genuine angst and sadness.

I hate it.

I don't like seeing them like this and I offered my support. No matter what anyone does to me, I don't want to see them sad or depressed. I take no comfort in it. It does me no good. So despite past (and very possibly...future) differences, I wish them happiness and all the best.

In other news....

I completed that dreaded sinus irrigation. It was not so bad. There is a fleeting sensation of drowning (everyone's felt it when water gets sucked up the nose) but it passes quickly. There's nothing particularly enjoyable about it but I'm not scared of it anymore.

I'm a map geek. I love maps. I just got a really cool one in the mail yesterday. It's a huge, topographical map of Montana. I'm in love with it. I have another one coming soon. Don't judge me.

Thank you to Liz for pointing the following video out to everyone on her blog. I thought I'd post it on mine as well. Very amusing.

Sinus Irrigation

Has anyone ever had to irrigate their sinuses with a saline solution?

I went to the doctor today and she told me I should do that...then gave me instructions. Frankly, I was terrified. Then Beth told me it was possible for me to drown with just one tablespoon of water. I have no idea if that's true or not but the info didn't ease my fears. So if anyone out there has had to do this...a little advice is appreciated.

I suspected I had sinusits. The doctor says I don't. She says I've developed seasonal allergies which are contributing to chronic, mild sinus infections. I hope she's right. I hope her plan for a cure really works. I'm now supposed to take Alavert every morning along with a spray of Flonase in each nostril....plus the irrigation to start things out. Blech.

I had an embarassing moment on the news tonight. It was the end of the show. Jenny read a story about the new Skywalk at the Grand Canyon. We talked about it at the end of the show and Andrew and I were apparently reading each other's minds. Him and I have had other embarassing moments together...worse than this. But here, we were like a married couple finishing each others sentences...or saying them at the same time.

Grrr....

Getting sick again.
Going to the doctor.
Might have sinusitis.
Pretty pissed off.
That's all.

The Greatest Post...EVER

In the past few days I have experienced countless moments of giddy euphoria....all from re-living long forgotten moments of my childhood. It started when I was writing the previous post on this blog. In it, I mentioned that I really wanted to see some TV shows from my youth...specifically "Zoobilee Zoo" and "You Can't Do That On Television." As I wrote that, a thought occurred to me. In this age of web use and YouTube, I'm sure I could find something online to satisfy my thirst for nostalgia.

I had no idea.

The past few days have been filled with glee. Sub-conscious memories that had disappeared long ago, suddenly broke to the surface. I was astounded. I've always been the type of person to suffer from a black & white memory. But in reviewing some of my favorite childhood TV shows (the vast majority on Nickelodeon) I'm remembering songs, plotlines, and episodes I didn't know I had ever seen. It's been remarkable. I even shared some of these memories with people at work. They were just as excited as I was. It's obviously a matter of timing as to whether someone is familiar with these shows. Most, but not all, aired on Nickelodeon during the 80's and early 90's.

Those were the days.

You can find complete episodes of certain shows online. But for me, nothing brings a smile to my face more than the theme songs and program intros I used to see daily.

"You Can't Do That On Television" - In my mind, the ultimate Nickelodeon classic. It's my all-time favorite.


"Hey, Dude" - A close second to "You Can't Do That On Television." I was obsessed with this show and I had a huge crush on Melody (who later went on to play Marcia Brady and then marry Ben Stiller).


"Heathcliff" - One of the most memorable theme songs...besides "Hey Dude."


"Salute Your Shorts" - There were two versions of this intro. This is the newer one.


"Clarissa Explains It All" - Again, two versions of this intro. This is also a newer one.


"Picture Pages" - I don't remember anything about this show (or was it a segment) other than the song.


"Today's Special" - I don't ever remember being a fan of this show but I know my older sister was.


"Pinwheel" - Again, don't remember anything but the song.


"Inspector Gadget" - I had a crush on Penny


"Fraggle Rock" - I don't think this was on Nickelodeon...but whatever.

"He-Man" - I loved the show and I had the toys...although my cousin always had more and I remember being very jealous.


"Smurfs" - What a freakin' classic.


"Zoobilee Zoo" - I don't remember anyone else ever watching this show. But I know I loved it as a little kid...so I'm including it.


I'm probably forgetting some. But for now, this is enough to keep me happy for a while.

The Post of Revelations

I'm feeling self-revealing. Here goes.

I don't like little dogs. (with the exception of my sister's Yorkshire Terrier).
I watch The View and Desperate Housewives....what of it?
I hated this girl in the 6th grade so I screwed her over by taking her assignments out of the "IN" basket and throwing them away...thus preventing her from going on the biggest field trip of the year. She was a horrible girl so I don't feel that bad...but I swear I wouldn't do something like that again.
I can't fathom the idea of someone NOT liking the outdoors...and sometimes get angry at the fact.
I really don't like Jay Leno.
I eat Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Slim-Fast Meal Bars. No..I'm not trying to lose weight. I'm actually sort of a pig. But I had one once when I was hiking and it was DELICIOUS. So now I buy them all the time. Frankly, it's a little embarassing in the check-out line but...ultimately, it's worth it.
There are two shows I watched as a child that I wish I could see again; Zoobilee Zoo and You Can't Do That on Television.
I have a crush. I'm not saying who it is because they sometimes read this blog.
I have no interest in traveling to Asia....or Mexico.
One of the meanest "bad boyfriend" things I've ever done was cringe in disgust when my ex-girlfriend showed up with a new haircut. I grew to love it but in the beginning...bad news.
It's not that I'm scared of dying. It's just that I have a lot planned in life and I want to accomplish it all.
The one talent I want more than any other...and one that I will never have...is singing.
There are Disney songs and a few tunes from Britney Spears on my iPod. What of it?
I have two favorite alcoholic drinks. 1.) Mohito 2.) White Russian
It's very difficult for me to eat pizza without ranch dressing.
I've always been overly concerned with what other people think of me. It's a habit I need to break.
My love affair/obsession with Shania Twain has faded dramatically. (For those who know me well, that probably comes as a shock to you.)
Sandra Bullock is the sexiest actress in Hollywood.
I haven't been to bed before 2 a.m. in the past two weeks. That needs to change.

That's all. What can you reveal about yourself?

Losing the War

I, like everyone else, have a problem with junk email. Up until now I had a tedious, yet effective way of ridding myself of it. I would open each and every item and follow the "unsubscribe" instructions. For the most part it worked. As the days went by and I kept up the annoying task, the amount of junk emails would dwindle down to nothing. It would stay like that for a while...that is until my internet surfing habits caught up with me...and new, unwanted items would show up in my inbox. It's been the same cycle for years...until now.

I've recently noticed more and more crap coming to me through email. A few weeks ago I started my diligent "unsubscribing" process. I had no reason to think it wouldn't work. But it didn't. I'm getting more and more emails and I can't seem to stop them. It's pissing me off. My old battle plan isn't working anymore and I don't know what to do. Maybe it's time for a new address.

And finally, THIS is a prime example of why we should all be a little more neighborly. Just a thought.

Gossip

I did some gossiping this weekend. And now I wonder if I should feel guilty. A 'Google' search on gossip provided some insight but it hasn't helped me in examining my moral compass. I'm not a mean-spirited person. I know this about myself. However, any fly on the wall this weekend may feel differently.

There were moments when I simply "wanted to know" something about someone. I'm not sure why. Why do I care who is sleeping with who(or is it whom)? What's the point of knowing mindless, banal information? I don't know. I just know I wanted to know it.

In other circumstances I was "gossiping" (if that's what you want to call it) to make sense of the world around me. A little over 5 years ago I was at the center of some relentless and juicy gossip within my circle of friends. I didn't know I was being talked about and when I found out...I was livid. I lashed out and said some hurtful (if not somewhat truthful) things to a few people. A friend sympathized with me but made no apologies for "talking" with others. She wrote in an email, "We share our feelings, our emotions, and our lives with one another because that is how we cope, that is how we understand and come to terms with events and issues that we have a hard time interpreting on our own. It's about support and love and trust." I was still angry...but her words have resonated with me ever since. But is she justifying gossip?

This post has a serious tone that I didn't intend to convey. My weekend was fun-filled and not at all dramatic. I was just wondering what everyone else thought of "gossip." Is it bad? Good? Neither? What does the word even mean?

Farewell Friend

An anchor team no more

It was Steve's last night tonight. I went through a similar goodbye when my former co-anchor Melissa left last year. It doesn't get any easier. We all work at a small-market television station. It's not like big city TV. We make lots of mistakes. We screw up a lot. We're even a little immature. But we also laugh a lot....and we're bonded in ways that most people don't get to experience.

More than any "TV person" I know, Steve is himself on camera. Some of us can convincingly "fake being natural" when we're on screen. Steve never had to. He's completely himself and it's always been a breath of fresh air. He's crazy. He's blunt. He's natural. He's likeable. He's Steve.

Steve, buddy....good luck in whatever you do. It's been a pleasure working with you. I, and everyone else in the newsroom, will miss those random outbursts from the edit bay. We'll miss the way you keep us grounded in what can sometimes be an alternate universe. Simply put, we'll miss you. Take care my friend.

My Own Private Montana

A few things:
I really, really like Ellen Degeneres. I think she's hilarious.
It should approach 60 degrees tomorrow in Bozeman. YES!!!
I've been having trouble sleeping lately.
Scooter Libby: Guilty....one of the few big news stories I have no interest in.
It's Steve's (our sports anchor) last day tomorrow. I dislike change.
I need more vacation time.
That's all.

There are some days when I'm head over heels in love with my job. Today was one of those days. I spent the day at a small Montana ski resort talking to an animated group of New Yorkers. They had won a contest where they got an entire Montana ski area all to themselves for a couple days...the first contest of its kind in the nation. It wasn't a real meaty, news-worthy story but it was one helluva good time. I got paid to snowboard and hang out with cool people. Here's the story for mom...and anyone else who's interested. (There's a "cheesy reporter" moment in here. Don't hold it against me).



I really want to be some sort of outdoor reporter. Maybe work for The Discovery Channel or National Geographic. I need to combine my love of the outdoors with my love of broadcasting. Hopefully someday.

High School Demons

Let's flash back to the mid-90's. I was in the middle of a 4-year stint at West High School. If I had to pick a word to describe my high school experience, I'd pick "fine." It was fine. It wasn't horrible. It wasn't stellar. It was fine.

I wasn't teased or bullied. I was also NOT popular. I existed...and even though that "existence" was generally "fine," I was very insecure. No self-esteem whatsoever. (You might be thinking, "oh shut up, it was high school...everyone was put through hell.") You're right. I'm not whining or even complaining. I'm simply providing a frame of reference. I was an insecure high school boy with little or no confidence.

For the most part, I'm over that. I got over it years ago. People who I looked at in high school with envy have looked at me the same way in recent years. But every once in a while, something will happen that makes me feel insecure and hurt...like the high schooler I once was.

The details aren't important. Suffice it to say recent events have left me feeling a little blue. Ten years I go I would have been sufficiently angry at the people (whether intentionally or not) who brought on my sour mood. These days I'm more angry at MYSELF for even caring. I try not to. But it happens. Which is why I ask, "does high school (and adolescence in general) haunt us forever?

The complexities of blogging

This is Sarah.

This is her blog.

She recently had a post in which she explained that management officials within her workplace had requested she "stop blogging." They found her blog and apparently didn't like what they saw.


You can visit her blog to find out why. From what I've read, she did nothing that would invite the wrath of management. Support her if you can.

I generally like my job and the place where I work. I've had disagreements with management but hey...who hasn't? My only predicament when wanting to blog about those disagreements....I'm fairly certain my contract expressly forbids me from such disclosures.

As for you Sarah...keep it up. You have a following in Utah as well as many places out of the Beehive State.

(Disclaimer: I have no permission to use Sarah's photo or even write about her. Sarah, if you mind, just let me know and I will gladly remove)

In Like a Lion...

I did a Google image search for "March" and found this. Not exactly sure what it means, but I like it.

I love the month of March. In my opinion, the year begins in March. Spring isn't too far away. Mild temperatures are first experienced in March. There's still enough snow to have fun for all the winter enthusiasts. My birthday is in March (along with several other friends and family members). Easter sometimes falls in March (although not this year) and I like Easter. St. Patrick's Day is in March. I also like St. Patrick's Day. I just like March. And when you factor in my sickness for the ENTIRE month of February this year, March is like a new beginning. I'm feeling good and I'm rarin' to go!

Sweeps is over in the TV business. This was quite possibly the worst sweeps period we've had at our station. The general mood this February was gloomy. Another reason I'm looking forward to March.

I got my Montana state tax refund in the mail tonight. Woohoo! Not much but when you consider how much I make...a little goes a long way. I can't wait for the federal refund...which should be much bigger.

Now, I shall settle in and watch the latest episode of "Lost" on abc.com. Goodnight.

Women Troubles

I'm having cramps.

Or at least that's what I'm comparing them to. One side effect of the antibiotics I'm taking is abdominal pain. Intense, painful cramping in my gut. It sucks. I imagined today that "this must feel what it's like to be a woman."

I thought I might get a little sympathy from my female co-workers when I said this. I was empathizing with them after all. Instead, I got this: (said in a mean, nasty voice).

"Now you know what it feels like. Now you know what I'm experiencing when I come in here once a month acting like a bitch."

My response: "What's your excuse every other time?"

I love you Beth. :)

Another rambler

At long last, I am starting to feel better. I've been sick since January 30. I would have called in sick on Friday but I had an interview scheduled. Only when I lapsed into an embarassing and violent coughing fit in front of that interview subject, did I think "okay...time to go to the doctor." I finished the interview, left work early (not that my dying voice would let me anchor anyway) and went to the doctor. I have some sort of infection. They put me on Z-pack or azithromycin...also known by it's complete, accurate chemical name:

2R,3S,4R,5R,8R,10R,11R,12S,13S,14R)-13- [(2,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-3-O-methyl -α-L-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-2-ethyl- 3,4,10-trihydroxy-3,5,6,8,10,12,14-heptamethyl -11-[[3,4,6-trideoxy-3-(dimethylamino) -β-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl]]oxy]-1-oxa- 6-azacyclopentadecan-15-one

Chemistry is ridiculous.

I'm watching the Oscars. Jennifer Hudson just won. Good for her...I guess. I haven't paid much attention this year. I did rent The Departed and Babel today. Haven't watched Babel yet. The Departed was really good. Talk about a movie where EVERYONE dies.

I'm doing some seriously random internet surfing tonight. I'm on my couch and on the wall above me is a map of the world. I've been picking out remote, unknown islands and looking them up on Wikipedia. The most interesting place so far: Campbell Island; a remote, sub-Antarctic island of New Zealand. Here's a picture:

Beautiful eh? Apparently there are feral cats and rabbits tearing the place up. They were introduced by stupid people along with rats. The rats were eradicated. As for people, it's uninhabited. There's a weather station there and the only human visitors are those on periodic research or conservation expeditions. I'm fascinated with far-off, remote places. I'd like to go there for no other reason than to say I've been there. There's something adventurous about walking where few others ever have. Someday.

"An Incovenient Truth" just won for Best Documentary. Duh. A shoe-in if I ever saw one.

It's still winter. There are more freezing nights and snowfall in Bozeman's future but for the first time today, I sensed Spring in the air. It was warm, sunny, and refreshing. I can't wait. I'm not going to waste a day this summer. Golfing, floating, hiking, playing in the park. I will make the most of what's potentially my last Montana summer.

Sick & Twisted

Warning: This post contains graphic, violent material. Reader discretion is advised.

So I had a nightmare last night...a nightmare probably inspired by the movie "The Devil's Rejects." I'm a fan of horror/slasher flicks and a co-worker recommended I see it. So I did. I'm not bothered by such movies and they don't really "scare" me. I can go to sleep just fine afterwards. But every once in a while, one of them sinks into my sub-conscious and causes me to have a nightmare.

The scenario was as follows: I, and a group of several other people were being held hostage by some nameless and faceless madman. People around us were killed and us survivors began to develop some sort of Stockholm Syndrome. We started to identify with this guy and befriend him. Sort of. Escape was still on our mind...on my mind. I guess he knew this or he just didn't trust me. I asked to go to the bathroom and he followed me in there. I was washing my face in the sink when he grabbed my hair, lifted my head up and cut my throat. Sick, I know. It was a dream so it didn't hurt. And apparently the wound was superficial because I played dead, waited for him to leave and saved the rest of the group by surprising him and ambushing him. That's all I remember. It was disturbing. Not scary, but definitely disturbing. The last dream I had that truly frightened me was a few years ago. That was inspired by "The Grudge." Didn't think much of the movie but it certainly worked its way into my psyche.

Another disturbing incident today: I was driving home from work tonight when I had to pull over for a fire truck racing down the road. A few moments later the truck pulled onto a side road and stopped...lights still flashing but siren off. There was nothing around so I wondered why the truck was stopped. I drove past, looked inside the windows and my mouth dropped. I clearly saw 3 firemen looking over a large piece of paper. The obvious assumption: it was a map and they were wondering where the hell to go from there. I could be wrong, but I don't think I was. Makes me feel very safe. :)

One last note: Just heard this little gem on Conan. "Britney Spears will reveal that she shaved her head to reduce aerodynamic drag as she plummets from fame."

Up and at 'em

It's about 6 a.m. and I'm wide awake. Not sure why. I've always been fascinated with being a morning person. There's something about it that seems so appealing. But I just can't shake my nocturnal habits. (My current work schedule doesn't help) I've tried though. It's a little easier in the summertime when daybreak comes early.

I just deleted a blog entry I wrote late last night. It was very long, rambling, and cryptic. When I started this blog I didn't realize how cathartic it would sometimes turn out to be. That was my goal in writing last night. My mind was swirling and I needed to empty it a little. I'm pretty conscious of what I should and shouldn't be writing about in the public arena. I was conscious of it last night. Still, I awoke this morning with a little hesitation and decided to err on the side of caution. Just know that it was work-related. I mentioned drama in a previous post and that's really what it was all about. But things are on the up and up and I should probably focus on that rather than complaining.

I'm heading into Yellowstone National Park this weekend for a story. Beth and I are working on a two part series about snowmobiling in the park. You'd have to have been hiding under a rock for the past 10 years not to hear about the Yellowstone snowmobiling controversy. We're being taken in on a snowcoach to Old Faithful to interview snowmobilers. I went in on a snowmobile for the first time 2 years ago and it changed my perspective a little bit. I was always anti-snowmobiling until I got on one for the first time. Now, I'm torn. Maybe this trip will clear things up a bit.

All right, I'm thinking about trying to go back to sleep. Otherwise I'll be very tired today. Good Thursday everyone.

Infested

I'm infested with germs. I have to be. There is no other explanation for the following:

I became ill (cold/flu-like symptoms) around the end of January. On this 19th day of February, I'm still ill. I thought I was getting better but...no dice. I seem to be re-living the first days of sickness. I'm getting annoyed. I just want to feel better.

In other news, the drama at work has started up again. We seem to go through some kind of drama every few months or so. Management vs. underlings. I'm sure it's a scenario repeated through millions of offices across the world. A part of life I guess.

I intended on writing more but as soon as I got home I downed some Tyelnol PM. (Thank you so much to Tyelnol for making a line of liquid medicinal products. For those of us who have trouble swallowing pills...it is a Godsend.) I'm feeling very sleepy as a result.

Good night.

MSNBC Debut

I've made my official debut on MSNBC.

My parents were scanning the msnbc.com homepage and noticed a headline about a Montana teen who survived an avalanche. Curious, he clicked on it and started to hear my voice. This is the same story I wrote about earlier in the week...the one where a 15-year-old boy was buried in an avalanche for 20 minutes and survived. The regional news director for our company sent the story to NBC Newschannel (a web based video server for NBC affiliates). It showed up on MSNBC today.

Here's the link. Lincoln's avalanche story I have no idea how long they'll keep the video posted so the link may not work after a while.

Happy Saturday.

Mind Vomiting

I have no interest in being a political reporter or war correspondent.

I was on a motorcycle kick nearly 4 years ago. On whim, I bought a Honda Nighthawk and drove it to Glacier National Park for the summer. In the fall, I sold it and never thought I'd want one again. Now I sort of do. I miss the feeling of riding one. Don't worry, mom. I obviously can't afford it.

I apologize for past rantings on how cold it is in Montana. I've tried to make it seem as though I'm suffering more than others in cold climates. On average, Bozeman isn't any colder than, say...Salt Lake. In fact I think we've been warmer. The arctic blasts we get are pretty severe but hey...they don't last long.

I miss southern Utah...Moab area specifically.

2007 is going by pretty fast so far.

Going to Wal-Mart late at night is an adventure. Restocking is in full force and it's a challenge to navigate through the aisles.

I'm going to Oklahoma City in April. Never thought I'd go there. It will be my first foray in to the midwest.

This post is boring. I'm sorry.

Alive

I have to share this picture with everyone.

This is a picture of Mark Hoffman and his son Kamron, both of Clyde Park, Montana. On Sunday afternoon, the two of them were snowmobiling with friends in the Crazy Mountains. They triggered an avalanche which 15-year-old Kamron got caught in. After the snow stopped moving, Mark and his friend began searching frantically for Kamron. They searched for 20 minutes. Anyone who knows anything about avalanches knows that being buried for 20 minutes will almost certainly kill you. Mark knew that too. He spotted his son's boot sticking out of the snow and quickly dug him out. Snow was lodged under Kamron's helmet filling his mouth and nose. Mark brushed it all away and watched astonished as Kamron started breathing again. The above picture was taken soon after Mark realized his son was still alive...pretty much against all odds.

I interviewed both of them today. I've covered a few stories now where people are killed in avalanches. I've interviewed many people who have lost loved ones...not only in avalanches but in all kinds of accidents or crimes. I'm well aware of how the news media focuses on death and tragedy. I'll admit that I've become numb to most of it. It's sad...but true. But I found out today just how wonderful and inspirational it can be to cover a story with a happy and miraculous ending. I had a great day. I was walking around with a smile on my face after talking to Mark and Kamron. This kid really did cheat death and it was amazing to see his parents grin from ear to ear knowing they still had their child.

Awesome, amazing story. I think the above picture captures it all.

Happy Valentine's Day

I have no strong feelings for or against this day. I am single...but that doesn't mean I walk around cursing a relationship-oriented holiday. On the flip side I never saw it as an overly special day when I wasn't single. (Not that I ever forgot it. I was always mindful of special occasions and holidays when I was with Erin).

My feelings on today: Eh...whatever.

On a somewhat related note, I'm wearing boxers with hearts on them. I have a pair of boxers for every holiday. I absent-mindedly put on a hawaiian pair this morning. Then I read hjustin's blog in which he mentioned Valentine's day boxers. So I changed.

And now, I too, feel a little weird about posting information about my underwear.

Even weirder that someone else's blog inspired me too.

Uh...gotta go.

Hey dummy

I had a really good weekend. On Saturday I went on up to Big Sky Ski Resort and a fun-filled day riding in the powder. I was also there to film the 3rd Annual Big Sky Dummy Jump. Every year the resort builds a huge ski jump for helpless, hapless dummies....dummies built by whomever wants to enter the competition. It was awesome. We aired highlights on the news tonight. Really good video!! Have a look.



It was awesome. Good to be there.

So, I'm being bothered by something that's really, really lame. I lost my debit card about two weeks ago and had to order a new one from the bank. I got it tonight in the mail and...well...I don't like it. Specifically, I don't like the design on the card. My old card had a nice picture of Lone Mountain at Big Sky Resort. A local picture from a local bank. I liked it. My new card has a dull, ugly picture of Crater Lake. I don't like it....at all. I know it's really petty and dumb, but I want my old card back.

I just got home, got on my computer, and saw on MSNBC.com the breaking news about a gunman on the rampage at Trolley Square. Scary stuff. I haven't lived in Salt Lake for a while but I got a pain in my gut when I read about it. Praying and thinking about everyone involved.

Anna Nicole Smith

Is it wrong that I feel no emotion whatsoever about Anna Nicole's death? I was a little stunned at first when I heard it but then I thought, "okay onto work now...I have a lot to do today." I just don't care.

On a related note, I was a little embarassed today to be a part of a company that made the "death of Anna Nicole" the Top Story in this evening's newscast. Lame. We just had a plane crash that killed three beloved medical personel, and we lead our show with the death of a former Playboy playmate. Lame. Not my decision...I promise.

What the hell?

It's only Thursday? Are you kidding me? This has been a long, slow, draining week.

Watched the latest episode of Lost this morning on abc.com. Ahhh....muy bueno. Good to have it back. Is it strange that I'd like to be stranded on an island with these folks?

My apartment's dirty. I'm still slightly sick. It's snowing outside. I want a dog.

Um....that's all.

Thoughts on TV news

There are 2 main television stations in Butte and Bozeman that put on nightly newscasts. Ours...and the competition over at CBS.

We're friendly with each other. We hang out. We joke. We complain about work. We get along.

We also compete. There's no getting around it. Each station likes to edge out the other. First on the scene, exclusive video and interviews, inside information, well-placed sources, and everything else that goes with being, or trying to be, the best.

We win some. They win some. We've got our fans. They have their fans. Sometimes we kick their ass. Other times they kick ours. In the past 24 hours, it definitely went back and forth.

A medical aircraft crashed near Bozeman last night. Big story. In those moments when it was breaking news, we kicked their ass. We were on scene first. We had the info first. We reported it first. Today, though, they kicked ours. Every media outlet in town was clamoring for footage of the crash scene in a remote area near the mountains. Who finally got it? Them. We tried but things didn't work out.

I was pissed and upset. But hey, it's a constant battle. We'll win some battles down the road and they will too. No big deal. I shouldn't get upset....but I know I will the next time they win.

P.S. I missed Lost tonight. Damn.

Video Vault

I am technologically illiterate. I like posting video to this blog but the only way I've been able to do it is to throw the footage on a DVD, pop it into my computer, film my screen with my digital camera, upload that data to my computer, and share the crappy footage with all of you. Inadequate at best. So, for the past few days I've been working on a better way. I finally found some software that will convert DVD's I burn at work into files I can upload to YouTube or MySpace. In honor of my achievement, I share 3 short news clips with you.

First, footage of that fire I wrote about in my previous post.


Second, a shout-out to my buddy Chris Erickson. He built his own ice climbing wall near Rockford, Illinois. I had just done a big story about ice climbing in Montana and I thought it would be a good idea to profile Chris's endeavor.


And finally, a little spat we had on the anchor desk the other night. Disclaimer: I am a big Harry Potter fan. If you aren't...you probably won't understand what we're talking about.



That's it for now. I'm exhausted...and still a little sick. I can't seem to shake it. It was 65 degrees in Bozeman today. I loved it. Bring on summer.

Ready, Aim, FIRE!!!.....oh...and a Survey

I had a crazy night. Hopefully I'll post some video soon that illustrates that. But I was too tired. I finished the news last night and was about to go home when I started to hear some interesting traffic on the police scanner. Something about a manhunt in a nearby town. Intrigued, I got a camera ready and headed out to see what was up. To make a long story short, I didn't get anything on the manhunt...but I did end up in Belgrade watching a big hardware store burn to the ground. AWESOME sight to see. I've seen my share of raging forest fires. This is the first structure fire (that I can remember) that just blew me away. I got great video of one of the largest fires in Gallatin County history. But I didn't get to sleep until about 4 am. I'm tired. Therefore, I will forego a meaningful post and complete the following survey. Enjoy. (Or don't. I'm not offended if you don't read it).

1. Height? 5'10
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No
3. Do you own a gun? No
4. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No
5. What do you think of hot dogs? I approve. I don't eat them that often but I like them
6. What's your favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Ice cold milk
8. Can you do push ups? Yes
9. Is your bathroom clean? Yes
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I do have a jade necklace I bought in New Zeland that I sometimes wear. But it's not girly.
11. Do you like painkillers? I suppose. But I don't pop pills often.
12. What is your secret weapon to lure in women/men? Um...I'm not sure...but I think it's broken.
13. Do you have A.D.D.? Sometimes
14. Middle Name? Riley
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? a) I'm extremely tired but I have to stay up and watch the latest episode of Dirt. b) I have way too much to do at work in the next two weeks. c) I kicked ASS in covering the biggest Gallatin County structure fire in at least a decade last night.
16. Name the last 3 things you've bought? a) Gas for my car b) An Irish Cream latte c) a beer
17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? a) Water b) Milk c) Orange Juice
18. Current worry? Deadlines at work
19. Current hate? Being poor
20. Favorite place to be? Physical place - Glacier National Park. Emotional place - with good friends.
21. How did you ring in the New Year? Hopefully with good friends
22. Where would you like to go? Number one place: Patagonia
23. Do you own slippers? No
24. What shirt are you wearing? A dark gray T-shirt
25. Do you burn or tan? First exposure of the summer - burn, then everything else is a tan.
26. Favorite color? Dark green
27. Would you be a pirate? Sure...why not?
28. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing in the shower
29. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Freddy Krueger
30. What's in your pockets? I'm wearing pajama pants. No pockets
31. Best bed sheets as a child? I think I had smurf sheets. Not sure though. If I did, I know I liked them.
32. Worst injury you've ever had? I cut my finger while slicing potatoes for Thanksgiving one year. Bad news.
33. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2
34. Who is your loudest friend? Jenny Prendergast
35. Who is your most silent friend? Brandon's a quiet guy
36. Does someone have a crush on you? Not that I know of.
37. Do you wish on shooting stars? Usually
38. What is your favorite book? A Brief History of Nearly Everything
39. What is your favorite candy? Chocolate
40. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? Um...don't care.
41. What song do you want played at your funeral? Depressing...I don't know.
42. What were you doing @ 12 AM last night? Watching a local hardware store go up in flames...really, really big flames
43. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I've only had 2 hours of sleep.
44. Do you like your job? Almost always.
45. What job would you be doing if you didn't have your current one? I'd probably still be a bellman somewhere.
46. Where is the most beautiful place on Earth? Glacier National Park
47. Are there any people out there that dislike you? Probably. I can think of at least 2 Gallatin County officials.
48. Are you a leader or a follower? Depends on the situation.
49. Are you a good friend. I think so...except when it comes to keeping in touch.
50. Do you like reading or filling out these surveys? Sometimes. I have to be in the right mood.

Holy Crap

This is a concept rendering of a home expected to be built at Yellowstone Club, a private ski and golf community about an hour south of Bozeman. What's special about it you ask? When built, it will be the world's most expensive house.

Price tag? $155 million

If we all pool our resources, maybe we could buy a part of it. You know...like a lamp shade or something.

Urban Deer

I got home from work tonight and headed straight to the mailbox. I grabbed my mail and started thumbing through it as I walked towards my apartment. Before I reached the stairs, I looked up and saw this.

Not a huge deal...I know. I've seen plenty of deer before...even in the middle of Bozeman. What's funny is what went through my mind when I first spotted them.

You see, my co-worker Andrew is a Connecticut native who is terrified of deer. He thinks he's going to hit one on the highway one of these days. More specifically, he thinks the deer is going to have some vendetta against him and run out in front of his car on purpose. I can only imagine the fear he would have felt had he been in my shoes last night. Oh Andrew. You make me laugh.

Hi-Def Porn and Bison

Once again, we've managed to anger viewers in southwest Montana.

First it was Jenny's tie incident. (see previous post). Then, on the 10 o'clock news two nights ago, I chose to run a story about how the porn business is dealing with Hi-Def technology. Apparently, people in the business are finding that it's showing too many imperfections that weren't previously seen. It wasn't a long story...a 20-second blurb at the most and it was at the very end of the newscast.

I'm not stupid. I knew it could be a little controversial. But I ran it for 3 reasons.
1. It was the late news. I wouldn't have run it at 6 o'clock.
2. It came from our national NBC News feed.
3. Controversial or not...it was interesting and unusual.

What I really wanted to do was segue from that to some brief anchor chatter on how hi-def technology is changing things in the broadcasting business too. Because of hi-def, people are beginning to see just how ugly people in TV can be.

I guess that was lost on some people...or they just didn't care. A story about porn is inappropriate...no matter what the story is. Some say that's the attitude in Montana. That may be true to a certain extent but I think the story would have gotten complaints no matter which city it was shown in.

Then, on last night's news, we showed video of a bison near Yellowstone National Park being shot and killed. (For those who don't know, bison hunting is a hot-button issue in this part of the country). The hunter had shot at the animal 4 times. The first 3 shots were legal as it was on public property. But the bison starting running and jumped a fence before the last shot was fired. The final shot was on private property...which is a no-no. We had video of the incident and people weren't happy we showed it.

I've always heard that it's better to have angry reaction than no reaction at all. I agree. Whether people are happy or not, I feel like we're having some sort of a dialogue with the community. I like that.

The Lady Wore Red

It seems my co-anchor, Jenny, struck quite a nerve yesterday with the southwest Montana viewing audience. The reason? A red necktie. Have a look.

We do occasionally hear from viewers. Whether it be through email or over the phone, sporadic feedback comes our way. But 6 different calls during a half-hour newscast is unprecedented. They all called to say they hated Jenny's tie. "How are we supposed to take you guys seriously," said one caller. "You need to teach your female anchor how to dress," said another. They were pretty ruthless.

I was dumbfounded. Not that people had an opinion about her tie but that people would actually take the time to call us and say they hated it. I have a feeling that we could falsely accuse some well-known politician of a crime and we wouldn't get nearly as many calls as we did last night.

As far as the tie is concerned...I'm ambivalent. I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of it, but if you know Jenny like I do, you'd realize she's the kind of person that can pull it off.

What do you all think about women wearing ties? Is it really that big of a deal. Would you call into your local news and complain about it? I'm curious so let me know. Be truthful...but be nice as well.

Long time no post

It has been a while. I've been busy with work and I just never got around to updating this thing. But here I am.

I finally caved in and got high speed internet hooked up in my apartment. I should have done it sooner. It makes life so much easier. And because I have easily accessable internet service, I went to town on my myspace page and blog. (At least I thought I did. I'm having some technical difficulties with things so don't be surprised if both pages look a little strange. I'm working on it). I know I said I was going to "rid myself" of Mypace. I had every intention of doing so. But I decided against it. I am bad at keeping in touch. But that doesn't mean I should throw the recent re-connections I've made out the window. On top of that, a flurry of new friends found their way to MySpace in the past week or so. So I'm sticking around. I can't guarantee my "keep in touch" habits will improve but I'll try not to freak out about it.

There was an interesting bit of news out of Missoula recently. It's a little morbid but I couldn't help but laugh a little too. It's definitely one of those stupid criminal stories. Take a look.

Frozen Feet

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I guess I should feel bad for this guy. In a sense I do. He didn't deserve to die. But hey...teaches you a lesson doesn't it?

Chlamydia

No...I don't have it. I swear.

But it is on my mind today. We've had this inane little assignment at work where we call around to 10 different counties in southwest Montana and ask stupid questions like "Where am I most likely to get my car stolen in your county?" Never mind the fact that some of these very rural places have seen ONE stolen car in the past 4 years. I still have to ask.

But perhaps this assignment wasn't so inane after all. The point is to discover possible story ideas in our viewing area. I was so pissed at having to make these calls that I convinced myself nothing was going to come of them. I was wrong. One of my questions was, "what is the most reported disease in your county?"

The answer? Chlamydia

And this isn't juse one county. It's nearly all of them.

Some of the people I told weren't surprised by this. I was. This isn't the most common STD. It's the most common disease...period. Am I naive? Does this shock anyone else? I was kind of blown away by it.

So despite the fact that I hated this assignment, I'm now planning a special story on STD's in Montana.

On an unrelated note, I have OFFICIALLY decided to rid myself of MySpace. It should be done within the next couple weeks. It was fun while it lasted but...the ride's over.

The Awkward Phase

You know what's amusing?......watching someone at the gym trying to use a machine they've never used before.

There's a lot of newbies at the gym these days. I suppose it's all those New Year's Resolutions. It's really been a pain in the ass because of how crowded it is. But at least I've been treated to some fairly comical happenings.

I can't ridicule these people too much. I've been in the same boat and it's a pretty embarassing boat to be in. But as I watched a middle-aged man fiddle with one particular machine for more than 10 minutes...I couldn't help but chuckle.

Random new year musings

2006 flew by. I can honestly say I have never experienced a faster-moving year. I hope the rushed sensation of 2006 was an anomaly. I don't want my life to go by so fast.

I've also never had a year so dominated by one single theme....that theme being my job. It was all-consuming. There wasn't an aspect of my life in which my job didn't make an appearance. I'm okay with that...for now. I truly enjoy what I do. But I don't want to become that person who has nothing but their job. A successful career is great...when you have other things going on in life. When it's all you have then you should probably worry a little bit. BUT...this was the first year at a job I've dreamed about since I was a little kid. I think it's natural for that realized dream to become dominant...at least for now.

I don't have specific New Year Resolutions. But there are things I want to do in 2007:
Spend more time outdoors
Run the Bridger Ridge Run
Do more of my own cooking (meaning less TV dinners)
Be more humble, yet confident and say less but mean more
Value people
Be more honest with myself and others

It's a short list and I'm sure I've left things off. I just don't believe in making big, specific resloutions. I just want to be more well-rounded in general.

I'm going to be 27 this year. Yikes! Where did my youth go? Ah...well. As long as I can keep most of my hair and fix my worn down teeth, I think I'll be okay.

Finally, this will be a year of preparation. My current contract expires near the end of 2007. More than likely I'll be looking for another broadcasting job in a bigger American city. I have no idea where I'll end up or what I'll be doing...but by the time 2007 ends I could be well on my way to bigger and better things.

Then again, life has a way of surprising us all. On any given New Year's Eve, I like to wonder where I'll be and what I'll be doing for the next one. I'm always surprised by the final outcome. So who knows where I'll be a year from now? That's what makes life exciting. I like the unpredictability.

myspace fatigue

I'm getting tired of myspace.com and I'm heavily leaning towards deleting my profile very soon.

I just don't see the point. Myspace was new and exciting when it was...well...new and exciting. But we all know the great feeling of a new toy/experience/town/etc. wears off eventually. That's how I feel about myspace.

I did find old friends out there in the world. But after the excitement of reconnecting I was left to wonder, "now what?" The only thing we have in common now is the fact that we knew each other at one point in our lives. It's good to see how you are and what you're up to but...there's just not much to share anymore.

My problem is that I've never been very good at keeping in touch. Ever since I joined myspace I now have a constant reminder of all the people I'm not keeping in touch with. I don't leave comments on other people's pages because I want to. I do it because I feel like I'm supposed to. It's nerve-wracking. There's too much pressure. And don't get me started on updating my own page. I see everyone else out there doing it and I'm filled with anxiety over how my page has been the same for (GASP!) months! You'd think I could just be happy with things and not worry about living up to the expectations of others. But I can't. Not when I see how much work others are putting into their own pages. I'd rather just call it quits.

A dumb little webpage should not be causing me this much stress. But it is. So while I haven't made a final decision on what's going to happen to my myspace page, I'm pretty sure it will go the way of the dodo.

National Holiweek

Disclaimer: I'm stealing a bit from hjustin. I saw his blog which reminded of a long held thought of my own about "Dead Week."

We have plenty of holidays. Can't we have at least one holiweek. A full, solid week to wind down, regroup and get ready for new horizons. There is no better time than the week between Christmas and New Year's.

Plenty of people have already found ways to turn the last week of the year into one mega-holiday. Let's just make it official and give everyone else the right to take a week off from work. Consider it a reward for making through yet another year. I'd start the holiday on December 24. We wouldn't have to go back to work until January 2nd. That's a full 9 days off. Drastic, I know...but just think how great it would be. We're all pretty much in limbo anyway after Christmas. We're just waiting for the year to end. I would even venture to say the days between Christmas and New Year's aren't "real" days. They're wasted. There's no point in going back to "real life" on "wasted days."

Who's with me?

Merry Christmas

As another Christmas winds to a close, I thought I'd leave you all with this little gem of a picture.
Priceless. Just priceless.

Season's Greetings everyone!

Thoughts on Being Home

I love The Gateway. I know there's been controversy surrounding the area ever since the plans were first announced. I know downtown Salt Lake City is dying and The Gateway probably doesn't help matters. Even I was a little pissed at The Salt Lake Tribune when they touted the importance of going "downtown"...and then moved their offices to The Gateway. I know it all and yet...I still love The Gateway. I'm not even sure why. I don't even shop that much. I just like the atmosphere down there. And it's nice to see an outdoor mall bustling in the winter time. I realize Christmas has a lot to do with it but I remember being at The Gateway in the wintertime when it first opened. There was NO ONE there. I thought, "How the hell is this place supposed to thrive in the winter? I think they made a huge mistake." I guess they knew what they were doing.

I DON'T miss these stupid Salt Lake inversions. I'd really like to see the mountains when I come home for a visit. Just once please...before I leave on Tuesday.

Long time no blog

Hello everyone. I took a little 10 day break from blogging. Not by choice mind you. It's been a hectic couple of weeks. News in a small town is never consistent. For the most part...nothing happens. But when it rains....it pours. Lots of local news over the past couple weeks. That's bad because it's been busy. It's good because that's why I love my job. But that's all behind me. I drove home to Salt Lake last night and that's where I'll be for the Christmas holiday. I have no plans other than to relax. That's all for now. Later.

Blue Planet

I rented 4 movies this past weekend. Thank You For Smoking was excellent. The Da Vinci Code was okay. Pulse sucked. But Deep Blue was...awesome.

It's a documentary about the sea and the creatures that live in, near, and in some cases on, the world's oceans. As someone who can easily become entranced by any type of nature documentary on various cable channels, this was a special treat. I recommend it to anyone.

I think I have a second calling to work with animals in some way.

A Fighting Spirit

I've been a news anchor in Bozeman for just over a year now. In honor of that milestone I had my 1-year employee evaluation yesterday. Here's a taste of how my boss views me:

I have a fighting spirit
I like to challenge authority and policies
I go over people's heads (like my boss's)
I don't follow protocol
I use my "leadership position" in a negative way

From what I've written it would appear I was berated during the hour-long meeting. But I wasn't. There were many positive accolades thrown my way as well...mostly dealing with my job performance as a working journalist and anchor.

The gyst was this: I'm excellent at my job. But when it comes to things I don't like (policies, rules, etc.) I deal with them in the wrong way.

Whether I deal with those things in the "wrong way" is up for debate. I think it's a matter of opinion. Yes, I've done some stupid things...(name calling comes to mind)...but in most cases it was in the heat of the moment and I later realized I should have kept my cool. But I don't think my "fighting spirit" or "questioning attitude" is a bad thing. If I'm told of a new rule or policy I don't agree with, I'm going to stand up and tell you why I don't like it. If you don't do anything about it, I will go over your head to the next person in line and express my frustrations. I'm not an idiot. If the boss to end all bosses says, "no, Lincoln" then I'll back down. But until all my options are exhausted my "fighting spirit" will live on. Part of that spirt is "rallying the troops" so to speak. I'll get everyone on my side and go from there. I guess that's where I mis-use my leadership position. Again, I don't think getting people on my side is a bad thing. But I do see where doing that can lead to an "us against them" environment. Things shouldn't be like that.

The moral of the story, for me anyway, is to use my "fighting spirit" in a more productive manner. I'm the type of person to speak up and give my opinion. I'm not going to suppress that. But I do realize I can use it in a better way.

All in all, my evaluation was a positive experience. I was given an enormous amount of praise in the quality of my work. Yet again, I've been validated in my career choice. But in other areas of professional growth, I have a lot to learn. I know that.

No matter what...I'll always get a little pleasure being a pain in management's side. I just need to make sure I'm being a pain for the right reasons.

Grrr...

I'm in a bad mood.

For the last 5 or so years I've considered myself a fairly healthy, active person. I hiked. I snowboarded. I worked out. Hell, I still do all those things.

And yet...I seem to be falling apart.

My teeth are so badly worn down from grinding them that I need thousands of dollars in dental work to fix them.

I was reminded today just how bad my eyesight is when I couldn't find my glasses for a short period of time. (There is nothing more frustrating than LOOKING for something when you can't SEE.)

And let's not forget that I'm in the early stages of a receding hairline. Yup ladies and gentlemen, I'm going bald.

I'm a pretty vain person so I would have no problem paying to fix all this stuff. Oh..but wait. I'm living below the poverty line. I can't afford anything.

I suppose the icing on the cake would be to start getting fat. Maybe I should just forego all physical activity and just let nature take it's course. It's already starting to anyway.

Family Time

It is time, once again, for the annual Graves family Christmas extravaganza.

No, that's not the official name. I just came up with that. I'll be heading home to SLC tomorrow for our big family Christmas party. (But Utah standards my extended family is not large. My grandma had seven children. By other standards, some are convinced I belong to a polygamous enclave. And while, on a side note, I am connected to polygamy like every other person in Utah...my extended family is not made up of polygamists. Just so you know.

I'm excited to see everyone. I haven't been to one of these in a few years. I know by the end of it I'll be looking at aunts, uncles, and cousins and wondering how in the world I'm related to such oddballs...but hey...they're family and I love 'em.

It will be a quick visit but I hope to catch up with a few friends. I will of course be having an Olive Garden dinner with Ms. Kathryn. I'll be hoping against hope that Chocolate Lasagna has returned to the menu...even though I know, deep down, that isn't the case. Poor me.

What a jerk?

I'm referring to myself. Whether it was via text message, MySpace comment, phone call, email, actual letter or blog reference, I received many Thanksgiving salutations. And did I respond? No. (well except for the personal interactions and phone calls in which I sort of had to say something back). I'm not a mean person. I was just lazy. I figured, "I'll wish them well a little later." But I never did. So I'm scolding myself publicly and apologizing for not responding to the well wishers. Sorry.

On to other tidbits:
Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you I'm not a football fan. I've never cared about it and I barely know how the game is played. BUT...believe it or not, I've gotten into lately. It all started with going to a Bobcat (Montana State University) Football game in our station's company suite. The free food and alcohol helped me enjoy things but as I went to each game week after week, I started to get into the game. Then when MSU played their arch rival in Missoula, UM, I watched on TV. And then, yesterday at the Bobcat playoff game, I was cheering with the best of 'em as they crushed the competition. I even called home to see how my alma mater, the U of U was fairing against BYU. (Although I was saddened at the Utes' loss I was disappointed that I had missed what was apparently a very good game). The moral of the story: I probably won't be watching NFL football anytime soon, but I have a new appreciation for football.

Did I tell everyone that my former co-anchor Melissa already got promoted at the station she works for in Oklahoma City. She's now the noon and 4 pm anchor Monday thru Friday. I may have mentioned that already but I want to show you these pictures of her station's new set.

I'm a bit of a TV news geek so I may be the only one who cares...but this is an awesome news set. "Sexy," as Melissa put it. I couldn't agree more. Although my station's humble little news set is pretty nice for small-market television...I can't wait to sit with the big boys at the grown-ups table.

I'm in a coffee shop right now and there's a girl across the room with quite possibly the most annoying laugh....ever. It's loud, not at all infectious and several people are cringing. Just thought I'd share.

Big issues at work these days. It's not appropriate for me to delve into them but I'm really annoyed. I'm not perfect but I feel like one of the few sensible ones. All I want is to be given the tools needed to do my job and to stop being treated like a child. Is that so much to ask?

Snow moved into Bozeman last night. I was on call so I was downtown filming the scene. It was picure perfect. A scene from a postcard. The snow falling lightly. Children running up and down Main Street in their coats. Not too cold. Everyone having a good time. It's those moments when I really like winter.

Happy Holidays everyone. Cherish that greeting because I don't hand them out very often.

"Scattered throughout the nation like candy from a pinata."

That's the expression used by my dear friend Katie to describe where her friends are. I'm in the same boat as Katie for I was a seasonal worker for 4 wonderful years. And while it's cool to have all those friends in all parts of the country (and the world for that matter)....it's also a little sad. We see so little of each other. For a time, we were together 24/7 while working in our respective seasonal jobs. Then...when the season's over, the reality of life sets in. We all must go our separate ways and wait for the chance meetings that occur because so and so is passing through so and so. (Just this past weekend, Heidi passed through Bozeman).

I can't complain too much. I'd rather know these people while they live in Texas, Missouri, or Oregon...than never have known them at all.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

All Stars!!!

I have a new obsession. And I suppose I'd better get my fix because this one isn't going to stick around for much longer.

During a sleepless night this past weekend I happened upon Food Network's All Star Thanksgiving Special. All of the network's biggest stars (Emeril, Rachel Ray, etc.) cook a dish of their choosing in their own kitchens. Then...at the end of the show they all come together and show off their creations.

I have no idea why but I was....entranced. Seeing Emeril give an excited Paula (the southern grandma type lady) some alcoholic sorbet made me giggle.

I certainly don't cook. But I love the Food Network. And seeing everyone on there together in one kitchen made me happy.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pop a HotPocket into the microwave and have lunch.

True or False?

I don't usually do these but I kinda liked this one. So here ya go. Copy and do it for your own blog.

TRUE OR FALSE
Appearance:
I'm short: False
I have scars: True
I tan easily: True
I burn easily: False
I wish my hair was a different color: False
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color: False
I wear glasses or contacts: True
I'm legally blind without them: Extremely close to true.
I have 5 or more piercing: False
I have/had piercing in places besides my ears: False

Relationships:
I miss someone right now: False
I've gotten divorced: False
I've had a crush on a teacher: True
I've hugged a stranger: True
I like my bubble: True

Embarrassment:
I've laughed so hard I've cried: True
I've glued my hand to something: False
I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose: True...it was milk.
I've had my pants rip/drop in public: False
I was born with a disease/impairment: False
I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend: True
I've had my wisdom teeth removed: True...It was awful
I've had a serious surgery: False
I've had chicken pox: True

Experiences:
I've gotten lost in a city: True
I've seen a shooting star: True
I've wished on a shooting star: True
I've gone out in public in my pajamas: True
I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator: True
I've been to a casino: True
I've been skydiving: True
I've played spin the bottle: True
I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour: False....who does that?
I've been in a car crash: True...not a serious one though.
I've caught a snowflake on my tongue: True
I've sat on a roof top at night: True
I've played chicken: False
I've played a prank on someone: True
I've ridden in a taxi: True
I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show: False
I've eaten Sushi: True...I don't consider it real food.

Random:
I own something from Hot Topic: False
I own something I got on E-Bay: true
I own something from Abercrombie: True
I own something from American Eagle: True
I own something from Anchor Blue: False

More Random:
I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant: False
I watch the news: True
I curse regularly: Okay, okay it's true.
I sing in the shower: True
I'm a morning person: Ha ha! False.
I have listened to more than 30 CD's in a day: False
I've worn pajamas to school: False
I know how to shoot a gun: I have before but probably false.
I laugh at my own jokes: Sad...but true.
I am really ticklish: True
I play video games: False
I'm good at remembering names: False

Lost...Found Again

I've jumped back on the bandwagon.

It's been about a year since I stopped keeping track of the television show Lost. I started my new job and all TV viewing sort of fell by the wayside.

But I was inspired this weekend to play a little catch-up. I was in the video store when I saw Season 2 on the shelves. "Why not?," I thought.

So now I'm in the middle of Season 2. I'll probably have to wait until this season appears on DVD in another year but whatever.

I'm just happy to be back. What a damn good show.

A Long Week

It has been a long, tiring, and exhausting week. I am so happy this election season is over.

I've said before that I hate politics. I still do. But my excitement always builds on Election Night. This past Tuesday was my first real Election Night coverage as a broadcast journalist. It was awesome. It was a fly by the seat of my pants, non-stop 4 hours of live coverage. Yes...4 hours. We were on the air from 10 p.m to 2 a.m. To be fair, I played a fairly minor role. Our coverage was a regional newscast originating from Missoula. The main anchors there carried the show and they tossed to us, reporters across the state, for live coverage when they needed it. It went well. I was tired and exhausted...but I had so much fun. It was also a big deal for us considering the big role Montana's Senate race played on the national scene. NBC even used our reporters for national live shots. What a night.

In other news...big flooding at my home away from home.

It's hard to tell from this picture but water poured into the ground floor of the Many Glacier Hotel. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love this building. I basically lived there for 4 summers. I haven't heard how bad the damage is but the lake rose several feet...more than enough to flood the building. Going-to-the-Sun road was also washed out in several places. It's the worst flooding in the park in about 100 years.

That's all for now. Two more weeks of November Sweeps and I have another short vacation coming to me. Woohoo!!

Vote

I'll make this brief.

I don't care who you vote for today.

Just vote.

And if you decide not to...don't bitch when things don't turn out your way.

If you don't vote...you don't have the right to an opinion on how things turned out.

Go vote now.

Identity

When meeting new people I usually share the following tidbits about myself.

1. I am a news anchor.
2. I'm from Utah.
3. I live in, and love, Montana.
4. I worked in Glacier National Park for 4 summers.

That's it. Tonight, I'm realizing that I'm a fairly lame person. Isn't there anything more to me? Don't I have more of an identity? Apparently I don't.

I need more of a life.

Little Annoyances

I'm not necessarily in a bad mood but...I'm annoyed.

My glasses broke recently. The frame, right around the top of the lens, just snapped. I really liked those glasses. Now I'm wearing my backup pair. They suck. I hate the way they look. The lenses are scratched. The prescription isn't quite strong enough. And now I have to go through the process of getting new glasses. I hate that. Getting an eye exam, picking out frames, paying for the damn things, and of course getting used to a new pair. I always get headaches when I get a new pair. Annoying.

November Sweeps is here. For those who don't know, it's a big time in television. Networks put on their best programming. Local news outlets do their best special stories. That means I'm busy. Very busy. Thankfully, Thanksgiving (no pun intended) is right around the corner. That's when my hectic schedule will slow down a bit. Annoying.

I have the teeth of a 90-year-old. I'm not kidding. I went to the dentist yesterday for a check-up and cleaning. I apparently grind my teeth so badly, in the daytime and nighttime, that my teeth are severely worn down. My gums are healthy. The teeth themselves are generally healthy. But I was told, and I quote, "Lincoln. This is the worst case of wear I've seen in a 26-year-old. Those teeth should be in a 90-year-old's mouth." Well thank you very much. I didn't realize I was such a decrepit old man. Depressing. I guess I'll be getting a nightguard soon. Although I tried that once and it didn't work out. I would take it out in my sleep. I think it eventually broke. We'll see though. I have another appointment next week to fill the two cavities he discovered. Icing on the cake and....Annoying.

No...I don't have direct deposit. And if one more person looks at me with an astonished "why not?" look, I'm going to punch them in the face. I LIKE going to the bank. I LIKE depositing part of my check and getting cash for the other part of it. True, that makes me the ONLY person in the office actually needing and looking for my paycheck on payday. I'm the only one who's frustrated when they don't show up for some reason. And when that happens someone will inevitably say, "you should get direct deposit." Shut up. I don't want it! "Well then don't complain when your check doesn't arrive on time." Again...shut up. I will complain and I have every right to complain. It's my company's responsibility to make sure my check gets to me on time. Now leave me alone. You are becoming...Annoying.

I'm not going to elaborate on this one but...for the record...I AM NOT A WEATHERMAN. Not that there's anything wrong with meteorologists. I'm just not one. And yet some still think I forecast the weather. Annoying.

Politics. I don't want to see any more political ads. I don't want to see any more campaign signs. I don't want to interview any more politicians. Political season...is....Annoying.

And I'm probably annoying you. So I'll shut up and stop whining...for now.