Home sweet home

It was a great weekend. I returned home (in more ways than one) for a friend's wedding. It was pretty much a Glacier reunion. Dave, Audrey, and Danny drove down from the park, picked me up in Bozeman, and we continued to Salt Lake. I hadn't seen Audrey in about a year. In Glacier we knew ourselves as "The Family." Like most families do, we picked up right where we left off. I remember sitting in Dave's Explorer as we were driving to Salt Lake. Danny was reading. Audrey was sleeping. Dave was driving. I looked around and smiled. I felt "at home." It was actually strange to think I hadn't been living with these guys for nearly the past two years.

The wedding was at the Rustler Lodge in Alta. Wow. Gorgeous place for a wedding. Siri looked beautiful.

Nice wedding. Good food. REALLY good wedding cake. I had three pieces. Don't judge me. Afterwards, we goofed around on a ski lift.

For a while, I forgot I would be going back to Bozeman and they would be going back to Glacier. I just assumed we'd all be returning together. I miss those guys.

I also miss mom & dad...that was the second homecoming I had. I hadn't seen them since the Holidays. It was a quick visit but they took care of all four of us.

We headed back to Montana on Sunday...stopping along the Gallatin River for a little rest and relaxation.

Good weather. Good friends. Good times.

Wedding #3 is this weekend. I leave for Portland on Wednesday for Jason & Shelley's wedding. Should be fun.

My Savior

So maybe I'm not the brightest crayon in the box.

In training for the Bridger Ridge Run and doing my best to follow "boot camp" expectations...I've been running. Up until now...it's been hell. Whenever I finish a run, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. My legs hurt. My knees hurt. My ankles hurt. My body hurts. Until now, I chalked it all up to being a rookie runner. I confided in a friend and she said, "maybe you need new running shoes."

Duh Lincoln. You'd think I would have thought of that. But I just assumed that since my tennis shoes weren't smelly or falling apart...they'd do just fine. I was wrong. I went into a local shoe store and told the saleswoman I wanted a good pair of trail running shoes. I walked out with a pair of Montrail Hardrock shoes.

I went running right away. I expected blisters with new shoes and I got them. But my body felt much better. I'm still not the biggest fan of running...but these shoes have helped BIG TIME.

In other news....

I'm making the quickest of quick trips to Salt Lake this weekend. A friend I met in Glacier is getting married in Alta. Dave, Audrey, and Danny are driving down from Glacier, picking me up, and we're driving together. We'll come back on Sunday.

And finally...a confession. I've been horrible about blogging. My posts are infrequent as of late. I've been even worse about reading other blogs. I apologize. I'll try to be better.

You win some...

....you lose some.

Last night...we lost some.

As much as I wanted to win against our "parent station" last night...it wasn't in the cards. (See previous post for an explanation of what we lost and why it's depressing). Still, it was a good night. While I wasn't happy to see the Missoula station walk away with the award we wanted, it was nice to see them clean up in the other categories. I'd rather be a part of a winning company than just sitting on the sidelines.

The after party was awesome. It was nice to hang out with the people from Missoula. We see each other on television every day...but we're rarely in the same room together. They're actually pretty fun. Here are some pics from the evening.

The whole crew together at the after-party

Me and Christin ; the 2007 Broadcaster of the Year

Me, Christin, and our weather guy Mark; 2007 Weathercaster of the Year

Beth and I with the main anchors in Missoula; Heidi and Steve

All in all...a fun night. We'll get 'em next year.

Bring it on

I'm really not much of a competitive person. I don't LIKE to lose....but I don't whine or pout if I do lose. However, there's a competition this weekend which I'm a part of. I don't want to lose this competition.




vs.




I work for the NBC affiliate in Butte & Bozeman, Montana. Our parent station is in Missoula. There's also another sister station in Kalispell. The Missoula station is considered the flagship of our company. It's the biggest station in the biggest town with the biggest toys. We do a damn good job in Bozeman but in many ways....we're the child and they're the parent. Not that WE feel that way. But when it comes to office politics, Missoula is "mom & dad" and we have to listen to what they say. It can be frustrating.

All of which makes this weekend competition especially interesting. The annual Montana Broadcasters Association awards are this weekend. The Missoula station is up for quite a few awards. Good for them. I hope they win most of them. WE, however, are up for one award...Best Spot TV News Coverage. It was for a plane crash back in April of 2006. Forgive the ego, but we kicked some butt and took some names in covering that. I think our nomination is well deserved. In every category there are two nominees. In this particular category we're going up against....yep....our own parents.

It would be mighty satisfying to look at "mom & dad" and say "ha-haaa!" (Said in the voice of Nelson from The Simpsons).

Please, please let us win.

Money Woes

This post is all about money.

I don't make much of it. I never really have. Even before that, I was part of your average middle class family. We didn't have a lot of money (although we never went without anything). I've grown accustomed to not having a lot of money. And you know what? I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being poor.

They say money can't make you happy. How about I get a chance to test that theory? I remember working as a bellman in Big Sky for a season. I probably made the most money there than in any other job I've had. It was nice. I lost a cell phone and without hesitation, without thinking, "crap, can I afford a new one," I bought one. No worries. I went on road trips where I wasn't worrying about having enough money to pay for gas or buy food. I had money and I loved it. I want to feel that way again.

I don't see it happening soon. Even when I leave Bozeman and move on to my next job in broadcasting (wherever that may be) I don't anticipate making a LOT of money. Sure, it will be better than the meager wage I currently earn...but I won't be rich. But "rich" isn't even what I'm after. I want to be comfortable. I want to feel like I did in Big Sky. I want to be able to have fun without "money woes" even entering my mind. Is that so much to ask?

Speaking of money, I've noticed there are certain things certain people will spend money on...no matter how poor they are. You can hear someone say, "I can't afford it." But there is always that vice, always that luxury, always that little something that they'll fork over the cash for. For example, I love to eat out. I may whine about my finances or having to pay rent (which incidentally, is going up by about 60 bucks in August) but if I have the opportunity to eat out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner....I'm there. For some that I know...it's alcohol. I'm not implying that they're drunks. I'm saying I can try to convince them to go out to eat (go figure) or go to a movie. They won't budge. They won't spend the money to do it. But when Friday night comes along, money is suddenly no object when there's the prospect of hitting the bars all night and having a good time. It's sort of funny. For everyone, there is ALWAYS something to spend money on.

One last money story: I had a dream the other night that made me angry. My co-workers and I were at some kind of baseball game. Beth had a stack of lottery tickets she was scratching off. She handed me one and asked me to scratch it for her. I did. It was a winning ticket worth $135 million. I felt that because I had scratched it, I was entitled to some small piece of it. I wasn't saying anything though because I didn't want to be that kind of person. But in my dream, Beth was too caught up in the prospect of having all this money (the dream sort of went on for days) that she never offered me anything. I've never felt depressed in a dream before. Thank God it wasn't real. And I know Beth would slip me a cool million. Right?

Metro Moose

You gotta love Montana. This (not so) little guy (or girl) was on the loose in Bozeman for 2 days.

It was first spotted downtown (near our station) at 5:30 Friday morning. He crossed Main Street and disappeared for most of that day. It turned up again that night. I went out tracking it with a video camera to get it on the news. (Who knew Bozeman had so many nooks and crannies?) After wandering through thickets, dead end roads, and various trails, I finally got about 15 seconds of shaky video. Then he turned up again Saturday on a big tract of land between Home Depot and Walmart. The police and Fish & Game guys followed him around for a couple hours before finally tranquilizing it and carting it off to the mountains.

I've seen moose before but never in the middle of town. Good times.

Biting the hand that fed you

My former colleague, Steve Dent, made some headlines yesterday. Literally.

The local Bozeman newspaper did a front page profile of our old sports director. Since leaving us in March, Steve has become the voice of the Bozeman Bucks (a local baseball team). He's on the radio doing play by play for the games and apparently loving it. In the article, Steve took a few shots at his old station. (I know Steve. I like Steve. I support him 100%. I would say the paper was a little opportunistic in taking a few jabs at us). Regardless, some people weren't happy with the article.

Let me say this: Don't expect loyalty from your employees, current or former, when you don't show loyalty to them.

That said, I wouldn't have done what he did. My circumstances are different. Factor in everything and you'll find I'm overall happy at work. But not everyone feels the same way.

In other news...

I went to the other station in town yesterday to drop off some forms for my possible Blue Angels flight. Funny experience. I walked in and 6 heads turned, sized me up, did a little head tilt (like a curious puppy), and said, "wrong station." Then they all laughed. We compete with each other but it's all good natured.

Ever heard of steepandcheap.com. It's for those who love outdoor gear, clothes, etc. It's awesome. Very steep discounts. I've already bought a couple items. They post a particular item and put a new one up when it sells out. Check it out.

The second week of boot camp is complete. I'm doing well. I'm liking getting up early in the morning. (Okay I'm not liking "getting up." I am, however, happy when I've been up for a little while).

The first of three weddings in three consecutive weekends is tomorrow. Some I know are a little obsessed with me not having a date for it. My response: Mind your own business. I'm perfectly happy in my singledom. Worry about your own lives. (Said with the utmost respect and with a smile on my face).

That is all. Have a good weekend.

Take me higher....

Before you start reading...cue up the theme song to "Top Gun" in your mind. Ready? Press play. I, my friends, have a chance to fly with the Blue Angels. I'll be up front about this. It isn't a good chance. But there is A chance.

The Blue Angels are coming to Bozeman in late July for an airshow. Everywhere they go, 3 media representatives are chosen to fly with one of the pilots. While my station is a sponsor of the event, the other station in town signed on first. The station manager over there is also the guy coordinating the media flights. One for a newspaper reporter. One for a radio reporter. One for a TV reporter. My good friend Alyson (a reporter for their station) is the primary candidate. I, however, am an alternate. Somewhat disappointing...but hey, it's still possible.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Musings

I ran my first official race on Saturday. A 5K in downtown Bozeman. Certainly not a great distance, but for someone who has hated running for most of his life...I felt a sense of accomplishment.

You know what's annoying? When certain keys on your keyboard don't work that well. The space bar on my work computer is stubborn as hell. I basically have have to pound it as hard as I can when I'm typing. It makes a lot of noise...noticed by all of co-workers. The "z" key on my laptop at home is also having some issues. Luckily I don't use it that often.

My "Harry Potter" kick is starting up again. With the 5th movie and 7th book coming out next month, I've decided to re-read books 5 and 6. With that, I've dived into all things Harry. I've watched the movie trailer online several times. I'm such a dork. But I'm getting excited. I don't care what anyone says...Harry Potter is awesome.

Week 1 of boot camp is over. Week 2 starts early tomorrow. Looking forward to it. I should really go to bed.

Not too long ago, I was ready to give up on MySpace. Today, I feel like I'm defending it against Facebook. To me, there's no comparison. MySpace is far superior. That's all I'm gonna say.

I'm watching the E! True Hollywood Story on The Mickey Mouse Club. It makes you feel bad for the kids who didn't become as famous as Britney, Christina, and Justin. Sure...they've stayed out of rehab and are far more normal than the real famous ones...but still, I feel like there should be some equality there.

The exodus begins: Over the next several months, various people in the Bozeman TV world will start leaving. Chris, the ABC sports guy, is the first to leave. He's got a new job in Washington. After that, the contracts expire in a successive wave. I'm in November. But let's not think about that until August.

Gotta run.

Holy Hip Flexor

I'm in pain.

Muscles I didn't even know I had hurt like hell. There are two reasons for this.

First, I signed up for boot camp at my gym. I've been having some trouble motivating myself to train for this mountain ridge run I'm doing in August. So I decided I needed some structure. The woman who cuts my hair talked me into signing up for boot camp. She said it kicks your ass and gets you in shape. So I signed up. It's M/W/F at 6 in the morning. Monday was the first day. Not bad at all. In fact, I was disappointed. I didn't even feel challenged. But Wednesday morning was a different story. I wouldn't describe it as brutal. But I would say it's hard, exhausting, and challenging. Still, I like it. It's a good feeling. There's something strangely satisfying about physically punishing yourself early in the morning.

That's one reason why I'm sore. The other? I took the physical exam for firefighters in Montana. Every year, wannabe firefighters in the state converge on Bozeman for testing. The physical exam is a 10 minute course of various physical challenges (climbing a stairmaster with a 75 lb. vest strapped on, dragging a 185 lb. dummy across the floor, simulating the act of breaking down a wall with a sledgehammer, etc.) I went down to the testing center to do a story for the news. The guys down there were gracious enough to send me through the course. Brandon, our technical director, was there with camera in hand to film it. Again, I wouldn't say it was brutal. It was hard though. The good news? I actually passed....and literally without a second to spare. Applicants have to finish within 10 minutes 20 seconds. That was my exact time. Not bad for someone who didn't train for it at all.

So yeah, I'm sore. And there's still more boot camp on Friday, a golf tournament that same day, and I'm running a 3 mile race in downtown Bozeman on Saturday. Talk about baptism by fire when it comes to getting in shape.

In other news, congratulations to my wonderful colleague Beth Saboe. She just got engaged to her boyfriend of several years, Aaron. Good luck guys!

Back in the Saddle

For two summers I was a tour guide in Glacier National Park. My first summer was 2002...the same year that 33 historic Red Buses returned to the park. (Over the years they had deteriorated and Ford donated millions of dollars to restore them). This is what they look like.
Eventually, I moved on from being a tour guide to being a bellman, but driving the "Reds" will always be one of the best jobs I've ever had. I've missed it a lot. Luckily this weekend, I was able to get back behind the wheel. I look a little maniacal in this photo, but whatever.
These red buses have been a part of Glacier National Park since the 1930's. It was a big deal when they took them out of service for 3 years in order to restore them. When they were brought back, it was big new. Like Glacier, Yellowstone National Park had their own buses. They looked exactly the same, but they were painted a mustard yellow color. As those buses fell apart, Yellowstone simply got rid of them. Not anymore. I went down to Yellowstone on Saturday for a "homecoming" of sorts. The park paid to have 8 yellow buses returned and restored for touring use. I was covering the event for work. My old driving buddy (and now Glacier Transportation Manager) Dave, brought a red bus down for the event. It was awesome. After the party was over, we got a group of friends together and took an evening ride around the northern loop of the park. Dave was good enough to let me drive the bus for about 4o miles. It was great. We even saw 3 bears.
The picture sucks...sorry.

It was a great day. Beautiful weather, a fun media event to cover, good food, good friends, wildlife, a beautiful place, and most of all...the chance for me to get back behind the wheel. If this news thing doesn't work out I could always be a tour guide in Glacier or Yellowstone.

Creepy Crawly

This video creeps me out. The moving horde you're about to see might as well be a bunch of spiders. It's just as freaky.


Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

Um...it snowed in Bozeman this morning. We're only two days away from June...and it SNOWED!!! I'm not particularly upset. More amazed than anything. Montana continually surprises me.

People are constantly talking about The View. In reality I can only think of one thing whenever it's brought up...how much Elisabeth has disappointed me. I still can't get over the fact how she's a raging right-wing nut job. I was head over heels in love with her when she was a contestant on the second season of Survivor. I wanted her to win so bad. Now, I can't stand her. How could my crush disappoint me so badly? It hurts I tell ya....hurts real bad.

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.