How to lose friends

I almost lost my friends' dog today.

It was a nightmare. I might as well have lost place of someone's child. It was just as bad.

Beth and Aaron took a weekend trip. I was put in charge of Spike, their little Boston Terrier. Spike is a handful...albeit an obedient and well trained handful. Despite his neurotic state of mind, he's pretty much a good dog.

Not today.

I went hiking with the little bastard. He was behaving normally up until we met another dog on the trail. Spike doesn't really like other dogs. He's not mean to them or anything. He's just completely disinterested...if not a little wary. Upon meeting the first dog, Spike held back on the trail a little bit. As I walked towards him to offer some encouragement he turned around and trotted towards the trailhead. "Spike!," I yelled. "Come on." He reluctantly passed the other dog (who was also somewhat disinterested) and followed me. Thirty minutes later...it happened again. Only this time...he bolted. One minute he was fine...the next, he was running back towards the trailhead. Keep in mind, we're about 2 miles from the car. I, in turn, took off after him. I ran my ass off all the way back to the car, taking a pretty bad fall and spraining my ankle in the process. At one point I catch a glimpse of him on a long straight-a-way, but as soon as I yelled his name...he was off again. I finally reached the parking lot, out of breath and in a lot of pain, and Spike is nowhere to be seen. The panic started to set in. A private, gated road sat just off the parking lot. A guy in his truck told me he had seen Spike by that road. So I drive up there looking for him. Nothing. I stop and ask people at various cabins if they'd seen him. Nothing. After 25 minutes, I call Beth and tell her. I have to do this at someone's cabin because there's no cell service where I was. "Spike's given us scares before," she says. I can hear Aaron on the other end and he's not happy. I wouldn't be either. I tell Beth to call friends in Bozeman to come down the canyon and help me look for him. Then we hung up. By this time I was crying. I felt completely helpless. For all intents and purposes, Spike was lost in the Gallatin National Forest. How the hell was I going to find him? I scoured the immediate area as whatever hope I still had, faded quickly. I would say that he'd been missing for about 45 minutes. All of sudden, I spot him in a grassy, open area.

Praise the lord. Seriously. I'm not a churchgoer, but I do consider myself "spiritual"...whatever that means. I'd be lying if I said I didn't say a prayer. I can't know for sure but from previous behavior (that Beth told me about on the phone) he was probably lying in that grassy spot the whole time....little jerk.

So that was my day. I'm drained, in pain, and emotionally exhausted. Like I said, I might as well have lost a kid. That's how I feel.

Etc.

"Lost" was........well.......I'm speechless. I watched it with Jeff and we both agree it was one of, if not the, best episode in the series. I can't say it enough. I LOVE this show. I wish I was trapped on the island with them. I want to run around the island with Jack and Kate and Sawyer. I want to punch Ben in the face. I want to blow people up. I want to hang out with Hurley. For some strange, odd reason...I want to be a part of the "Lost" life. How messed up is it that I want to survive a plane crash and be stranded on a tropical island in the south seas? Regardless I love what the writers have done. I have not been disappointed with a single episode. I hate that some people were upset when the writers took a detour from the main castaways and started to focus on "The Others." Who cares? That's what's great about the show. It takes you in new directions that you never see coming. I can't wait for next season.

Since I'm a news geek I keep up with the news back home in Salt Lake through the internet. I'm a KUTV loyalist. I've had a crush on Michelle King since I was little. I'm also an Allie MacKay fan. Sad to see her go. Her farewell seemed rushed. Like she couldn't wait to get out of there or they couldn't wait to get rid of her. Ah well, maybe it's time for a change. She's been there (or at Fox13) for a while. She left once and then came back. All good things must come to an end. I know plenty of people that hated her but I was not one of them.

Finally, my desk friends. Hjustin and urbanprincess did it already. So I'm jumping on the bandwagon.


My friends are less adorable and I don't have my own work area. I have a desk in a big, open newsroom. Whatever. I have family pictures on the bottom of the monitor, a turtle in the middle of the pictures with a bobbing head, a skull on the top right corner (don't ask), a picture of a mewing kitten to the left, a bendable dog toy next to that (taken from the local library which had to recall the toys because the paint on them was toxic and peeling), and a barrel of monkeys hanging from the dog. The picture's not very good...sorry.

Oh...one more thing. I have a three day holiday weekend and absolutely NO plans. My life is boring.

Bozeman Vice

It was cold, rainy, and snowy today in Bozeman. So I wore a sweater to work. Around 5:30, I walked into closet at work to get ready for the 6 o'clock newscast. Jenny, my co-anchor, was in there. Jokingly, I say, "I'm just gonna wear this jacket with a sweater tonight." She looked at me and said, "You should." I was puzzled. I got my jacket, put it on, and looked in the mirror. Hmm. "Should I do this?" I said to myself. In the end I did. Here's what it looked like.

I polled nearly a dozen people before I went on the air. All the girls said, "go for it." The guys, including myself, were skeptical. In fact, I was the only one skeptical. The other guys were against it. But I went ahead with it. No one called the station like they did when Jenny wore a men's necktie.

I probably wouldn't wear something like that at a bigger television station in a bigger city. But hey, this is Bozeman...market 192 out of 210 markets. On top of that, Bozeman is a casual, laid-back town.

What do you all think? Do I look completely ridiculous? Do you care what a news anchor wears? Can I do this again? Be honest.

Curling up

I'm laying (or is it lying) on the most uncomfortable "couch" in the world. A $200 futon from Walmart. It sucks. I bought it when I first got to Bozeman. It served as my bed for a few months. I thought, "as soon as I get a real mattress and I don't have to sleep on this God forsaken piece of wrought iron anymore...life will be good." It was...for a little while. But now I'm wanting a real, plush, comfortable sofa. Sometimes you want to rest but not necessarily in bed. There are times when I'd love to come home to this.


Instead, it's more like this.

Okay, I exaggerate a little. I do have a thin piece of material that attempts to pass for a futon pad. I might as well be laying (or is it lying) across the bars you see above. I'd consider investing in a nice couch but I may be leaving here in as little as 6 months and I just don't want to deal with it. So I suffer in misery. Thank God I have a nice bed.

Ahhh...sweet relief

May sweeps is over. (Okay...technically it's not. That happens Wednesday. But for me...it basically is. Thank God)

We're usually supposed to churn out a few special projects for sweeps. I came up with one. A story on stream access in Montana. I know it sounds boring and to many it probably is. But I had my eye on that story since my first day on the job and now it's finally finished. It got rave reviews too. Feels nice.

I also did a story about a "zone of death" in Yellowstone National Park. In a nutshell...you could commit murder in part of Yellowstone and get away with it easily. For those who don't know, the park straddles three states. Most of it is in Wyoming but there are smaller portions in Montana and Idaho. The "zone of death" is in the Idaho portion. Since the park is federal land you must be tried in a federal district court if you commit a crime. But the constitution says a jury of your peers must be made up of people from the district AND state the crime was committed in. So if you kill someone in the Idaho portion you need a jury from that little slice of Idaho. The problem? No one lives there. (The Montana portion of Yellowstone almost fits this scenario but there are a few dozen people who live in that part of the world). A Michigan law professor discovered this loophole and wrote an essay about it. Then a Wyoming author decided to write a book based on the idea. Here it is:

I'm reading now. It's pretty good...for your average, run of the mill mystery/adventure novel. Even after the story though, I'm still wondering...could this really happen. The law professor I interviewed said yes. Hjustin, you're the only lawyer I know. Would this thing stand up in court. A murderer couldn't go free on a technicality could he/she? It seems ridiculous. Anyway, it was a fun story and I got to go into Yellowstone and get paid for it. It was awesome.

Have I mentioned to anyone that I'm going head to head with a former CNN news anchor this fall. The other station in town has hired former CNN newswoman Donna Kelley to anchor the local evening news. I'd be more intimidated if I thought I was staying in Bozeman for much longer. But hopefully I'll be on my way to a new job somewhere else in the country. It's still disheartening though. Good for them for getting here. She's a Bozeman native and wants to live here forever so...the job fits. But in hiring her they're sort of changing Bozeman from a starter marker (where rookies come to learn) to a higher caliber one. Should be interesting.

That's all. Have a good day.

Busy

It's one of those weeks.
I'm being run ragged.
Overall...it's good.
But I'm tired.
I'll be back on Monday.

Mom

This is my mom and I. She's awesome. I've always been a mama's boy. I'm the youngest so she babied me a lot. Mom, thanks for everything. I love you and I would never be where I am today without you. Thank you. I miss you.

Happy Mother's Day

TGIF

It's been a long, exhausting week.

First...news stuff:

Busy news week. I loved it. I know that usually means someone out there isn't having such a great time (i.e., car accidents, shootings, etc.), but it's why I love my job. In the span of this week, we covered a mass school evacuation (about 30 different schools), a paraglider killed in a freak accident, Montana lawmakers holding a special session (bigger deal than it sounds), a fatal car accident, a massive barn fire, an alleged police brutality case (I'm siding with the cop on this one), important local school elections, and a 4.8 earthquake that caused damage in Sheridan, Montana. Good week in news.

I also found out today, our station's been nominated for a Montana Broadcasters Award for Best Spot News Coverage...a story I was a part of. It was a plane crash in April 2006. We really did kick ass. What's really funny is that we're up against our sister station in Missoula in that category. Please, please let us win. We need the bragging rights.

In other news....

Heidi and Justin came to visit for a couple days. They, too, are Glacier buddies. Unlike the other travelers who've wandered through my apartment, they are NOT headed back to Glacier...although they're still a part of the seasonal world. They spent the winter in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and and are heading back for the summer. Good to see them.

I had a very vivid dream last night. I was back in New Zealand visiting all the people I met when I worked there a few years ago. It was awesome. I was so happy when I woke up. I immediately texted my friend Hannah who lives there. Unfortunately, she must have changed her number. I got a response back...but it wasn't Hannah. Sad. I think I have her email address though.

Finally...look at these:

My friend, Maureen, sent me this link in an email: www.flightpad.net/cats.htm
There's a bunch of hysterical cat pictures on there. The ones above were my favorites. Check it out...even if you hate cats. It's hilarious.

That's all for now. Have a good weekend.

Senioritis

This is a picture from the Onion. The headline reads "Bill Clinton Suffering from Senioritis."

I can relate. I'm suffering from a severe lack of motivation...mostly involving work. I have 6 months left on my contract and I'm itching for a change of scenery. I don't remember having senioritis when I was actually a senior. What do I do about it? How do I get over it?

Here's a funny story: I'm sure many of you have caught Dr. 90210 on E! once or twice. It's a fun show to watch. I catch it when I catch it and I'm satisfied with that. I've seen the show enough to know about Dr. Rey and his family. I've seen the brattly little daughter scream when she doesn't get what she wants. I never really thought much of her. I was home earlier tonight watching TV and I turned the channel just in time to see Dr. Rey and his wife bawling over a little, pink casket. "Holy shit! Their daughter died?!!" That's exactly what I thought. I have no vested interest in the people on this show but I was genuinely shocked and saddened over what I thought was happening. I was ready to get on the Internet and find out what happened to the little girl. However...I was wrong. There was a little dog in that casket. Their dog had died. I felt stupid.

Speaking of E!, I'm watching the True Hollywood Story on Britney Spears. What a whack job.

And finally, this is disgusting, creepy, horrifying, mortifying, terrifying, and any other adjectives that escape me right now...oh, and it's one more reason I hate spiders.

Caption?

I have nothing important or worthwhile to say. Therefore I give you this. Any thoughts?

It

Have you found "it?" I haven't. I've been doing some soul-searching this week. Here's why:

Two very good friends, Ron & Jessie (boyfriend-girlfriend), stopped through Bozeman on their way to Glacier National Park for the summer. We had a great time...but as they left this morning, I couldn't help being just a little bit sad.

I have talked of my love for Glacier many times on this blog. For some who read this...maybe it's merely uninteresting. For others...perhaps annoying. I'm sure some have thought, "get over it Lincoln." I've had the same thought. But in recent weeks I've developed a theory on why I can't get over it...and by that, I mean "it."

In a sense, I went to Glacier because I was running away from something. Life wasn't too great back in the spring of 2002, so I went looking for an escape. I wound up in northwest Montana. Who knew the experience would become so profound for me? One thing you have to know about Glacier (and any seasonal worker-type life) is that it's not "reality." For one thing...it's ALWAYS temporary. Summer ends...and your time spent in paradise also ends. Sure, you can always come back next year (like I did) but each year is a unique and different experience. Second...there is the constant hounding from friends and family back home. "When are you going to get a real job, Lincoln?" They feel the need to remind you that you're simply "having fun" and that you can't do it forever. For the most part...they are right. There is usually no growth in the seasonal life. It is what it is...and the responsibilities of "real life" eventually come calling. Most people go back to real life and get on with it. But some, myself included, have a harder time. The reason? They haven't found...."it."

But wait...that's not quite right. I did find "it." But "it" turned out to be a slice of life that isn't part of reality. Are you still with me? "It" can be many different things to many different people. Maybe it's your significant other. Maybe it's your hometown. Maybe it's your job. Most people, though, have some kind of defining characteristic or part of life that keeps them grounded, connected...and well...happy. For the young people venturing to Glacier (or any other seasonal job) "it" has already been found...or is in the process of being found. Perhaps school is waiting for them at the end of the summer. Perhaps a new job. Many are there for a summer hiatus of sorts. They come to the park, have a blast, and go back to whatever life plans they had before. But others, like me, arrive with the intent of "finding something." Boy did I find "it." The only problem?...As I mentioned...Glacier isn't reality. I found something that is inherently in conflict with long-term life goals.

I found "it" but...."it" couldn't sustain itself.

There are others out there like me. We look back on our experience and long for those wonderful days. "Real life" is somewhat of a challenge because nothing we find can compare to our seasonal experience.

There are a few people, like Ron & Jessie, that turn places like Glacier into real, long-term life. It's difficult, but it can be done. They are NOT irresponsible. They are NOT lost, wandering souls. They are simply able to deal with the intricacies of turning a temporary world into a permanent one. It's hard to explain how...but they do it...and find "it."

I'm not particularly sad right now...just a little wistful. In my heart of hearts I know I couldn't have stayed in Glacier forever. There were other goals (like being a news anchor) that I wanted to pursue. I've done that, I don't regret anything, and I plan to keep pursuing. But..at the same time...I'm still looking for "it." Life in Bozeman is good but I haven't found that "spark." I don't know what "it" will turn out to be but I am confident I'll find it somewhere, somehow, down the road in life. Until that happens, I'll always look to Glacier as somewhat of a beacon. A big part of me still resides there...but only because a new home hasn't been found.

100% Pure Montana

We had a unique Montana experience today....the annual Three Forks Horse Roundup. Every year the Mantle family of Three Forks, Montana (a town about 30 miles west of Bozeman) move their 400 horses to summer feeding grounds. They've been doing it for years. The route they use just happens to pass right through Main Street in downtown Three Forks. In the past it was a little known horse drive that locals were amused by. Today...it's a full fledged event that draws thousands of spectators. It was pretty cool. It's not everyday you see hundreds of horses running through town in a big herd. Unfortunately, this may have been the last year. The family is looking for newer property that would probably eliminate the need for a horse drive. Ah well...it was good while it lasted.

The roundup draws everyone....including the competition. This is my arch rival, Andrea. She works as an anchor at the other station in town. As you can see...we hate each other. (Please note the sarcasm).

Summer

Ask anyone at work and they will tell you I wasn't the happiest person to be around this past Monday.

I had just gotten back from Oklahoma City. I had just seen the inner workings of a "real" TV station. Being back at my station (in television market 192) was a little depressing. Our limitations were all I could focus on. Don't get me wrong...I am incredibly fortunate and happy to have my job. But....it's time. It's time to move on. I need new challenges. One of the only things sustaining me right now is the fact that a Montana summer is right around the corner. Despite my whining I do, and always will, love Bozeman and the rest of this state.

The temperature is supposed to reach 80 degrees this weekend. I'm stoked. It will be a weekend full of hiking, golfing, hanging out and maybe, just maybe, a trip to the Olive Garden in Billings.

It is still April so chilly weather is still in my future. But before I know it, I'll be floating down the Madison River getting a sunburn. I love summer.

One more thing I love about summer:

The countdown is on. Another Harry Potter movie AND the final book in the series will be released. Amanda believes having the countdowns on her page is a bit...geeky. I completely disagree. I support you in posting them Amanda. I will celebrate my Harry Potter obsession with no reservation.

Caption Time

I found another picture I can't stop laughing at. Care to caption?

When Worlds Collide

Although my feet have been planted firmly in the ground of TV news for a while now, I still consider myself a seasonal wanderer in some ways. They are two very different worlds. One involves a long, sought after career choice that's full of responsibility and commitment. The other is a carefree, nomadic slice of American life that few get to experience. On my weekend trip to Oklahoma City, those two worlds collided...with me hanging out with friends from both. Luckily...the real collision occurred about a year ago, when my former co-anchor, Melissa, left Bozeman for a news anchor job in Oklahoma City. A good friend from Glacier, Stephanie, just happened to live in OKC and I wound up introducing the two, by phone, to each other. Melissa, a good friend from my new professional life, left Montana and moved in with Stephanie, a good friend from my old, seasonal life. It was a little strange to me. Even wierder...this is where they moved to.

After that strange coincidence...a picture seemed mandatory.

Both of them now live in Oklahoma, and while they both have some OK pride, they aren't above making fun of the state. It's a little strange. For one thing....it's flat. Very, very flat. That was odd. I have lived in the mountains all my life. I can't imagine looking outside and not seeing mountains. But there are no mountains in Oklahoma.

There are no mountains, but OKC is still a vibrant metropolitan area. It's a big city and that means big city TV news...exactly what Missy moved there for. I was able to go into her station and watch a live show. Awesome. They have a real newsroom, a big staff, a helicopter (which was leaving for breaking news when we arrived) and a very sexy studio.

Of course, Oklahoma City has seen its share of big news. A trip to the Oklahoma City National Memorial is almost mandatory. Stephanie took me there. It was pretty powerful. There have been major disagreements over what a September 11 memorial should look like. Maybe they should look to OKC. It's beautiful. There's a memorial chair for all 168 victims of the 1995 bombing. All chairs lie in the footprint of the old building. There's a nearby museum that's pretty depressing to walk though. Depressing...yet everyone should go there. Here are some photos of the memorial.

Remember that picture on the right? The fireman was carrying a baby girl named Baylee Almon. It sort of became the photo to symbolize the the whole tragedy. The chair on the left is her memorial chair. All in all, it was a sad to be there. The 12th anniversary was just the day before. But it was well worth it. I'm glad I got to see it.

We had lots of fun though too...even experiencing a famous piece of Oklahoman culture. Have you ever heard of Ken's Steaks & Ribs? It's a cool, little restaurant in Amber, Oklahoma...about 45 minutes outside of Oklahoma City. I guess they get a lot of big name guests who come to experience the only 5 menu options: ribs, steak, brisket, chicken, and prime rib. They're only open 3 nights a week and Ken himself is the one who keeps things organized. You stand in line to wait for your table and Ken walks up and down the line getting your name and chatting with you. There's usually a wait to get inside so Ken doesn't tolerate guests staying after dinner to chat. Once you're done eating he will tell you to go. He's awesome. He particularly liked our foursome...well he liked the 3 girls. They, of course, got all his attention. But whatever.

And that's a brief summary of my trip to Oklahoma. It was good to see my midwestern Glacier buddies Stephanie and Katie (who drove down from Kansas City to join us). It was also good to catch up with Melissa and get a vague idea of what I can expect from the broadcasting world when I find my next job.

My two worlds collided in Oklahoma...where the wind comes sweeping down the plains...and it was damn windy there.

Sensitivity, overreaction, and guilt

I was at the gym Monday morning when the news of the Virginia Tech shootings came blaring across all the TV's in the cardio area. I immediately thought of the "Guns are cool" post I wrote a few days ago. I felt guilty. So I removed it when I got home.

I've since put it back up. I don't want to write about gun rights and how guns should be viewed in light of the rampage. I just know that taking the post down seemed like the right thing to do. I intended to put it back up anyway.

Some whacko decided to slaughter 32 people. He used two guns to do that. I'm sure there's something to be said for more gun control. I won't get into that now. But as far as my previous post goes...it's still accurate. There was something cool about shooting a gun. I hope that doesn't make me insensitive.

(Not so) Good Eats

I'm a little disappointed.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Food Network. I've been excited for the Food Network awards for a while now. But as I'm watching them right now...I'm not impressed. They weren't what I expected them to be. I thought they were going to give out awards TO the people on Food Network. Instead it's the people ON Food Network giving awards to restaurants, people, and businesses I've never heard of. Whatever.

I saw the following video on bestsaria's blog. I have no idea what it is or where it came from but I, too, can't stop watching it.



Anyone know anything about this guy/actor/sketch?

Confession

Forgive me father, for I have sinned. I am coveting the following object.



I have never been a gun person. I don't come from a gun family. I have no reason to own a gun. (I don't hunt, I don't kill people, and I don't go to shooting ranges). I've shot a few guns in my lifetime but the memories are hazy. Frankly, guns have always intimidated me. BUT....I went shooting today...and....IT....WAS...........AWESOME!

A couple weeks ago I told my friend Danny (an avid hunter from Michigan who has many guns) that I wanted him to teach me how to shoot a gun. I'm not sure why. I'm just a little curious. More than anything I want to feel comfortable around guns. I doubt I'll ever buy one of my own but in the event that I had to handle a gun in the future, I want to know what I'm doing.

Danny happily obliged. In fact he was downright excited. So we headed into the woods and he taught me how to shoot a .357 Magnum (see above photo) and a 30-06 rifle. The rifle was cool. Nothing special...but cool. (I'm still experiencing some kick-back pain in my shoulder) The .357 however was...well....there aren't words to describe it. I'm a little frightened at how much I liked it. There's just something attractive about having such a powerful object in your hands. Danny's a good teacher too. We covered many gun safety issues before he let me touch the thing. (Mom, I swear to God) As far as target practice went, I performed admirably. Much better than Danny expected.

I'm not sure there's a moral to this story. I have no intention of buying a gun. But I want to do some more shooting. I wasn't raised in a gun hating family but still....I feel a little rebellious for wanting to handle them.

I sort of like guns. Is that a bad thing?

DUH........

I do good work at the TV station that employs me. I'm a good anchor. I'm a good reporter. I can write well. I can edit well. I can handle myself well in an interview. I've received great feedback and praise from many people. I was even my station's employee of the year last year.

However, there are still moments when I'm reminded of 3 very important things.
1. I'm still a rookie.
2. I still have a lot to learn.
3. There is still much experience I have to gain.

Consider tonight's newscast for instance. As it drew to a close we had a sudden problem with our video server. Long story short: video wasn't rolling and we (Jenny, Jeff, and I) had to fill a minute and a half of showtime with "anchor banter." There was no other option.

In my ear, the director said, "Don't toss it." I sort of heard him, but it didn't really register. By that time I had made the decision to say "that will do it for us tonight." That was followed by ".....uhhhhh." Idiot, Lincoln.

Jenny saved my butt. She rescued me...and I thank her for that. I've been beating myself up about it thinking, "I'm better than that." I guess that's not true....at least not yet.

On a related note, I would normally post a clip of what happened. However, my screw-up just happened to fall on the same day we all got an official email forbidding anyone from posting anything that appears on our station....on the internet. The basic gyst: they own our news programs and my image and likeness. A little frustrating...but I will comply.

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.