Whoa....How you doin?

So Shania's back. I guess she came back about a month ago at the CMA's but I hadn't heard. All I have to say is....damn, she looks good.

I never really listened to much music growing up. I did, however, go through a country phase in my teenage years that lasted until I was about 21. That is, of course, when Shania Twain burst onto the scene. I immediately became infatuated with her. Ask some of my friends about the Shania Shrine in my high school journalism class. Better yet, ask Kathryn about it. I'm sure she has a story to share.


My Shania obsession has faded quite a bit over time. Still, it's good to see her again. And for those who don't know, here's a little tidbit of information. I sang onstage with her at a concert in Salt Lake.


True story.

Doom & Gloom

It was a bad day at work.

Our general manager made the rounds and informed a handful of people that their jobs were being eliminated.

We've gone through several months of empty positions not being filled but these are the first layoffs. Now everyone is wondering if more are on the way.

It is not a good time to be in the news business.

Although I feel very secure in my position (though I know anything could happen) the trickle down effect is hard. Quality suffers. Morale suffers. We're being asked to do much more with much less. It's difficult to keep your head up.

I know I'm not alone in this. Every other business out there is suffering. But I'm starting to personally feel the effects of this economic meltdown. It's no fun.

Cliche

This is where and when I write about what I'm thankful for...right?

I'm definitely the kind of person to focus on what I don't have rather than what I do have. But there are those times when I realize I'm so much better off than the majority of people in this world. I've got my issues but when it comes down to it, none of them are life-threatening. That's important.

I could mention the myriad of things I'm thankful for. But I won't. I'll name one thing. Something that's especially timely considering the crap this country is knee-deep in right now.

I'm thankful for my job.

This has nothing to do with following my childhood dreams and becoming a news anchor. It simply has to do with getting a decent paycheck. I personally know about a dozen people who are unemployed right now and certainly don't want to be. It's scary and I feel for them. Necessity would force me to adapt but I'm still not sure what I'd do if I were in their shoes right now. I have a good job in very bad times.

I'm very thankful for that.

Bullets in My Bed

It's not the best story I've ever done. It's not very visually compelling. But it is my first, official sweeps story I've put together in Boise.


In other news, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. It doesn't feel like it. Some news buddies and I will be getting together for a gourmet meal at Marie Callender's. Jealous? I thought so.

Random Happenings

I was at dinner last night and witnessed something very telling and eye-opening. I noticed two guys having an apparent conversation. One of them was doing most of the talking. I looked at the one listening and saw the unmistakable look of boredom and disinterest on his face. He wasn't absorbing any of what the other guy was saying. I chuckled a little at how obvious it was. Then I realized how often that bored look spreads across my face. If it's so easy to spot it in him, then I'm not as good at faking interest in boring conversations and stories as I thought.

My co-anchor finally had her baby. I've been filling in on weather for a full week now.

Don't I look meteorological?

I look at this as a learning experience. That's it. I'm not that interested in weather. I certainly didn't realize how much we talk about it on the morning show. Frankly, it bores me. But I'd like to get halfway decent in presenting it. I think it will be good for me in the long run.

A couple days before Halloween, I went into a costume shop to look for some fake blood. This was one of those temporary shops that spring up every October. You know what kind I'm talking about right? They open up in some vacant building and disappear after the holiday. The employees are all temporary. Sometimes, they're not the brightest nor most well-groomed individuals. I went after work. I was wearing a shirt and tie. As I was walking around with a gallon jug of fake blood in my hand (seriously) when some woman came up to me and said, "you work here right?" I said no. She said, "Oh...you look like you work here." Then she walked away. Not 30 minutes later, I was in Walmart, wearing the same clothes, standing behind my shopping cart looking at cheese. A woman came up and said, "do you work here?" I said no. She said, "oh...you look like you work here." Lame.

Has anyone seen the History Channel show called "The States?" I guess it's a mini-series of sorts. There are 10 one hour episodes. There are five state profiles in each episode. It's fascinating....and strangely addictive. The entire series was on today. I almost watched all of it. I thought they did a good job of presenting Utah. The segment on Montana sucked. They didn't capture the spirit of the state at all. I didn't get to see Idaho. I really liked the one on Colorado too.

There are changes coming to work. My boss is leaving for a job in Omaha. I have mixed feelings about this. I won't get into it here. Let's just say there's a lot of uncertainty ahead.

The Utes won yesterday. Woohoo! I sat in a sports bar for 6 hours watching the Boise State game and then the Utah/BYU game. It was strange. Boise State fans were hoping Utah would lose so BSU would have a better chance of making it to a BCS bowl game. Every time Utah would score, me and 4 other people in the entire place were cheering like crazy. The BSU fans wanted to strangle me. But I don't care.

Is it weird that I like fog? I don't like driving in it of course, but in any other circumstance I find it intriguing. I walked home last night from downtown Boise. It's about a 20 minute walk. The fog was thick and heavy. I found it strangely refreshing. There was an eeriness to it but it was a comforting eeriness. Does that make any sense?

I'm a little obsessed with this blog. Its authors, my friends Ron & Jessie, are livin' it up "The Shining" style in Glacier National Park. They're winter caretakers...

....at the 90+ year old Many Glacier Hotel. The winter caretaker job was always a source of curiosity for me and other former Glacier employees. Now, someone I know, is actually doing it...and they're doing a damn fine job of documenting the whole thing too. It's fascinating...to me anyway. You should check it out.

Is it really almost December? Is 2008 only a month away from being over? Where did all the time go? Seriously.

A New Horizon

I added a picture to the banner at the top of this blog. I truly can't explain my deep fondness for this image. It's the background on my MySpace spage. It's my desktop image at work. Now it sits at the top of this blog...I think the most fitting place for it. It speaks to me. I can look at it and see a myriad of different meanings, each one just as profound as the others. What exactly is he doing? The answer depends on my mood. Frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way. How many times can you find a picture, an image, a passage, a quote, a proverb that speaks to you in a different way every time you take it in? I realize we all find meaning in such things. But multiple meanings? I suppose it may happen all the time and I've just been left out of such revelations until now. If that's true...I don't care much. All I care about is that I found this picture. To me, it's the most thought-provoking image I've ever come across.

Inspired

I should have written this yesterday. But I'm only now getting a break from the rigors of the news business around Election Day.

I wrote the previous post before I voted on Tuesday. I meant everything I said. But I feel like my words discredit what I witnessed Tuesday night. I fully expected Barack Obama to win the election. But I was caught off guard by the enormity of the event. When the networks called the race at 9:00, I quickly shuffled between all of them, catching glimpses of how they chose to cover it. Every outlet was focused on Grant Park in Chicago. I settled on CNN and sat there transfixed. The crowd was jubilant. People were crying. I've never seen anything like it. Then they showed what was going on across the world. Celebrations in Kenya, Australia, and parts of Europe. It was incredibly moving. "This is big," I said aloud to myself. "This is an awe-inspiring and defining moment." In an instant, I felt guilty that my initial support for this man was tinged with a hint of apathy. I was witnessing a rare event. Millions, probably billions, of people across the world were having the most meaningful group hug seen in a generation...and I was just barely walking into the party. An hour or so later, Barack Obama walked out on stage. He seemed different. He seemed presidential. I watched his victory speech with a grin across my face. Up until that point, I had never fully comprehended what an Obama victory would mean to this country given its racially charged past. Now, I suddenly understood. But that was only part of my quickly vanishing apathy. What truly blew me away was Barack Obama's ability to unite. Even McCain loyalists couldn't see what was happening and not be moved somewhat. It doesn't matter that millions of people chose not to support Obama this week. What I saw on Tuesday night was a grandiose show of unity. Not just in America...but across the world. It's good to see that again.

For a while I was paddling my own little boat alongside the big ocean liner. Sure, we were going in the same direction, but I kept a distance. That's over now. I've jumped on board. Let's not look back.

Apathy

I'm apathetic about today's election.

I will vote.

But deep down, I'm a little bummed.

You wanna know why?

Because I'd rather be voting the first female president into office.

Sorry Hillary. I really am sorry.

(sigh)

To Mr. McCain: I'm sorry for you too. I think you're a good guy. You probably would have made an okay president. I have my reservations about you but that's beside the point. I know you wanted it so bad you could taste it. Sorry buddy...your time has come and gone.

To Mr. Obama: Okay. You got what you wanted. While I'm cautiously optimistic, I know actions speak louder than words. Please, please don't disappoint us.

To everyone else: Go vote. It's your civic duty.

Halloween '08

So here's the deal. I haven't had an original costume in years. I've either been a Mormon missionary or a bear attack victim. Being a missionary would have been the easiest thing to do this year. But the novelty and humor doesn't have the same effect when you're in a place with a significant Mormon population. There weren't many church members in Montana...where I first donned the costume. There are plenty of Mormons in Idaho. Thus, I decided to go for the bear attack victim. It was my third go-around...and by far the best one. It was a lot bloodier. My back patio is covered in fake blood. It looks like I dismembered someone out there. Hopefully the rain will wash it away soon.

Halloween was fun...if underwhelming. It was cool to go out and see what people come up with in terms of their costumes. But it was still a night out on the town...bar hopping. We all know how much I love that. I went home before everyone else, washed the blood off, and went to bed. I'm lame...I know. But I still had fun.

Cat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aged 3 Years

A fine wine gets better with age.

I don't.

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

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

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

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

Merlin

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

Wow...it's short.

I got a haircut on Friday. It's short. Have a look.

Whaddya think? Be honest. I can take it. I think I'm okay with it. It may take some getting used to but my hair's been pissing me off lately and it was time for something different. I'm sure it will morph a little but I think I'm set on keeping it short. Besides, when you have thinning hair (and I've done my research on that) a short style is better. It masks it a little more.

So my computer's been running slow lately. I was going through some of my computer files over the weekend, doing a little weeding, when I came across something I'd forgotten about. It was a goodbye project from Brandon, my old technical director in Bozeman. I teased him a lot. He teased me a lot. We mercilessly mocked each other. But deep down, I know he believed in my talent and I believed in his. Although we never told each other, I think we had a lot of respect for each other. As I was getting ready to leave Bozeman, I had an idea he was working on something for me. But before long, I was gone, and I'd forgotten about it. In reality, he just didn't finish it in time. A few weeks later, I got a package in the mail with the following gem of a video. He doesn't hold back. Some might consider it mildly inappropriate but I've decided to post it anyway. There's many inside jokes but still...it's funny. The concept? Someone's watching satellite TV and they do a programming search under my name. I guess this is what they'd find. Thanks Brandon. This definitely made me laugh.

That is all. I apologize for this completely narcissistic post.

Winding Down

Ever since I worked in Glacier National Park, I see the coming of fall and winter as a form of closure. I'm pretty sure it was a late September evening in 2003 when I traveled up to Logan Pass with a few friends. Glacier had just received it's first snowfall of the season. It comes early up there. It didn't snow a lot, but the newly charred forest was noticeably dusted.

The most vivid thing I remember about that night is how quiet it was. Going-to-the-Road is a hotbed of activity in the park. There's always an endless stream of cars coming up and down the road. But on that night we seemed liked the only ones around. We sat on the edge of a rock wall and looked out over the valley. I turned to Hardy and said, "I think the mountains are letting out a huge sigh of relief." While summer belongs to the tourists, winter belongs to the park. The hotels are closed. The roads aren't plowed. The people stay away. If the mountains were people I imagined them saying to themselves, "Finally. It's over. Now it's time to rest." A time of closure, albeit temporary, for the park itself. A time to recuperate, reflect, and recharge.

I've been thinking about this as summer comes to an end. Although life doesn't stop in the next few months, I still see fall and winter as the time to wind down, settle in, and rest up. On some levels it is sad. No matter how much I might crave the snow I never like to see warm weather disappear. While the colorful leaves are nice to look at, I hate to see the tree branches turn stark and bare. A winter sunrise may seem icy, refreshing, and exhilarating but it's no fun when the sun sets in the late afternoon hours.

Good and bad. Either way, I'm ready. I distinctly remember last summer lackadaisically meandering by. I wanted it that way. I knew it was my last summer in Montana and I savored every minute of it. This summer simply flew by. I don't think there was any other way for it to go. It was a time of adjustment, growth, bewilderment, and simple observance. I had to get used to things. Each new day was a baptism by fire of sorts. Such an indoctrination is bound to happen at breakneck speed.

Now I'm settling in. I'm reflecting on what I've learned so far to make the next summertime go-around more memorable and productive. Instead of the mountains breathing a sigh of relief, it's me. The whirlwind is over. Now it's time to breathe.

Fire, the Sawtooths, & Bunny Feet

Finally...FINALLY!...I got into the Idaho backcountry this past weekend. The Sawtooth Mountains are breathtaking. I went with my co-anchor Michelle and two of her friends from San Francisco. We hiked up to Sawtooth Lake. Gorgeous...as you can see. Although I'm excited for snowboarding, this hike made me a little weepy. Summer is coming to an end quickly. I don't necessarily like that. Hopefully, I can get one more Sawtooth hike in this Fall before the snow starts to fly.
Staying in the mountains of Idaho...I've been doing a lot of zip lining lately. A while back I did a story on a new zip line tour company that opened just outside of Boise. I've become pretty good friends with the owner and thus, have been able to take a few trips. Zip Idaho has the longest zip line in Idaho...at 1800 feet. Here's a shaky video I took going down.


Work's been pretty good lately. I wrote in the previous post how I felt a little inadequate delivering some breaking news. I finally went back and watched my 9 minutes of rambling. I figured I'd give myself a few days to let it all sink in...so I wouldn't be so hard on myself. I don't think it was that bad. It definitely could have been better...but I may have over-reacted. The story I was talking about in that breaking news has dominated local headlines here for over a week now. A fire broke out at the bottom of a hillside on the southeast side of town. High winds pushed it out of control and it ended up destroying 10 homes and damaging 9 others. I went to the scene for the first time today for a story on two cops that evacuated residents. I was stunned. Here are some pictures.
And here's the story I did on it today.

There's no easy transition from devastating fire to dead bunnies...so let's just get right to it. The property around the station is infested with rabbits. I pull into the parking lot early in the morning and they scatter. No one really minds them. We even like them. But I wasn't prepared for what happened one morning last week. I was walking out to my car to go home and saw this on the ground below the driver's door.

Two little bunny feet. No body. No blood. Just feet. It was creepy and I can't explain it. Maybe a coyote got a hold of it and decided he didn't like the feet. I don't know. But there you have it. I don't know what else to say.

Inadequacy

I still have much to learn in the news business.

Today I filled 9 minutes of airtime while waiting for a live press conference to begin. Nine minutes of ad-libbing with just notes in front of me. A friend tells me I did a great job. I don't agree. It's all sort of a blur. I mumbled on and on about certain things and I'm not even sure of what I said. I just know I don't feel good about it. I wouldn't say I bombed. But I know it could have been a lot smoother. All day long I've been disappointed in myself and wondering if I'm cut out for that kind of stuff. I'm supposed to be the person who gets it. I'm supposed to be the one who's a natural when it comes to this stuff. The reality is...I have much to learn. There is no replacement for genuine experience. I guess I'll just chalk this one up to just that...a learning experience. I did learn a lot and hopefully I'll be better next time.

What Is This Crap?

I guess this is old news but I just barely found out about it. The latest "Harry Potter" movie is being pushed back to a July 2009 release. I was unpleasantly surprised when I found out. I'm a huge "Harry Potter" fan/dork. This sucks. Some fans are calling for a boycott. Sounds like a good idea in theory...but I know that once the movie actually came out, I wouldn't be able to avoid seeing it.

Merritt Mayhem

I have some battle scars but I (along with good buddy Ron) made it up my fourth 10,000 foot peak in Glacier National Park. Only two more to go. They're the two hardest mountains to get to but I won't think about that right now.

Merritt wasn't exactly easy. But let's start with the good news. My knees were fine! Ron and I, along with another friend, Andy, summited Mt. Cleveland a year ago. It was sheer hell. My knees were dying. I thought I had done some permanent damage by running the Bridger Ridge Run a few weeks earlier. On top of that...they hurt through winter, spring, and most of this summer. I wasn't too optimistic about how things would go with this climb. But they held out...and it was a grueling trek. We hiked in 13 miles and camped for the night. We were on the trail the next morning by 8:30. The actual climb seemed more tiring than other mountains I've tackled. I kept looking up and seeing more mountain. In the end it was worth it. The views from atop Merritt are said to be the best from any mountain in the park. I'd have to agree. We had gorgeous weather and a crystal clear day. It just took a lot longer than we thought. We were planning on summiting, coming down, AND hiking out by 10:00 p.m. at the latest. We didn't even get off the mountain until 8:00. People were expecting us back that night so we had no choice but to grin and bear the 13 mile hike out in the dark. It wasn't all bad. We had some spectacular moonlight to light our way. We got to the car around 1:45 in the morning. Here's a shot looking back up at the summit after we'd gotten down. I look like Hell.


My battle scars consist of numerous blisters (as usual) and a bunch of cuts and scrapes from sharp rocks and bush-whacking. It could have been much worse. Twice during the climb Ron and I saw huge boulders about the size of refrigerators fall from the upper reaches of the summit. They were close enough to make me think, "whoa." The only other scary moment was during the hike out. We heard a low, guttural growl not far off the trail at one point. We spent the next 30 minutes shining our lights behind us to make sure nothing was following. Here's another nice shot from close to the summit.

The rest of the trip was just as good. I saw plenty of old friends and had lots of good times. Danny took me kayaking on Apgar Creek. I had dinner with Amanda, Nicole, Dave, Ron, and Jessie. I had a quick cup of coffee with Audrey and Chad. I shook hands and caught up with a dozen others. It made me miss Glacier quite a bit. I thought a lot about where I'm headed in life and whether I'll end up back in Montana. But that's for another post. Besides...I'm always babbling about that.

Finally, I was driving part of the way home last night thinking about all the fun times I'd just had and I saw this road sign.

Cheesy, I know. But I couldn't resist making the connection.

Random Thoughts

The economy sucks right now. I now personally know about a dozen people who've been affected by the downturn in one seriously negative way or another. I have a feeling I'm secure but you just never know. I hope things turn around soon.

The ABC show Wipeout is...awesome. I thought it would get tired real quick but I seem to laugh out loud every time I see it.

I was genuinely saddened to hear that Wall Arch in Arches National Park had collapsed. Arches is my 2nd favorite national park. (Can you guess what's 1st?) I've spent some highly charged emotional (good & bad) moments there. Wall Arch wasn't what you'd call a "favorite" but I've stood atop it a few times. I'm sad that it's gone.

Zip Lining is damn cool.

I've developed a mini-addiction to Cappucino Blasts from Baskin Robbins. It's gotten so bad that employees at two different Boise stores now know me by name.

There's still plenty of summer left but being one of those people who can't stop thinking about the future...all I can focus on is that summer's on the seasonal downturn.

Blueberry Morning cereal from Post is tasty.

I've sort of fallen into a split sleep schedule. Wake up at 2:30. Sleep after work. Wake up in the late afternoon. Sleep again around 10 pm. Repeat cycle. Doesn't always work but it's the only consistency I've been able to find.

I'm very bad with responding to emails and Facebook or Myspace messages.

The Soup...on E....is briliant.

Gas prices are going down again. I don't think we reached the point where serious changes in how we power are cars will HAVE to be made. Perhaps next year.

I'm leaving for Glacier tomorrow. Woohoo! Be back in a week.

Six Months

It's been 6 months to the day since I arrived in Boise. Time flies. I won't get too reflective. Don't you save that kind of thing for the one year mark?

I will say things are going good. Much better, in fact, than just a couple months ago. I've really taken some aggressive steps in "getting myself out there." I'm making a concerted effort to meet people and get involved. I think it's paying off. I'm getting an appreciation for this town (and state) that I didn't have before. I was driving home from my high school reunion (more on that later) this past weekend and was a little surprised at what I felt when I saw Boise's skyline again. I was actually happy to be back. That, more than anything, tells me this city has its charms.

Work is going well too. Still adjusting. Still getting used to things. Still getting used to people. That's all I'll say about that.

Sometimes I still question if coming here was the right choice. But I notice things every day that make me think it was. For example this:

This is a picture of Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls, Idaho. I stopped by to see it on the way home last weekend. Very cool. I had no idea it was so big. I guess they call it the Niagra of the West. I recommend it.

One brief note on my high school reunion. I'm happy I went. The turnout was dismal and I didn't get to see certain people I really wanted to...but overall, it was good. There were a few choice people I got to catch up with. I had a genuinely good time. A few rum and Diet Cokes helped with that.

Homeward Bound

It's almost time. In just a couple days I get to see all my old friends from high school. Ah, who am I kidding? I didn't have many friends in high school. On top of that, most of my friends were in the grade below me. And...anyone I care to have kept in touch with, I already do. But still, it should be interesting.

Hopefully, I'll also be picking up my new phone. I must admit I've been leaning towards the
Casio G'zOne Boulder over the Blackberry Pearl. But Brandon says I should stay away from the Boulder. Any reason why Brando? I need the details.

I finally got to put together an outdoors story at work. If I could do this kind of stuff every day, I'd be a happy, happy man. Not that I'm unhappy now. I just wish I could have everything I want. Don't we all?

I gave it an environmental angle to fit the criteria I've been assigned. It's about natural hot springs in Idaho. Take a look.



And lastly, I played in my first softball game tonight. I joined a local non-professional (obviously) league made up of young professionals around the area. I didn't humiliate myself. I did well even. But we lost. We'll get 'em next time.

Upgrade

I was pleasantly surprised this week to learn I'm eligible for a phone upgrade. I didn't think I could get a new one until December or so. Therefore, I'll be getting a new one this weekend. I'm notoriously indecisive when I shop. It took me weeks to decide on the Krzr last time...and that was after I had picked up another model and took it back after a few days. Because of that, I'm going into this purchase prepared. I've decided it's between two different phones: the Blackberry Pearl or the Casio G'zOne Boulder. I have a feeling most of you know what the Pearl looks like. As for the Boulder, check it out here. My secret desire to be more organized has me leaning towards the Pearl. My romantic notion of myself as a rugged outdoorsman (true or not) has me leaning towards the Boulder. We'll see what happens.

In other news...I'm starting to realize what I like when it comes to TV broadcasting. I feel like I'm always gravitating towards feature stories. I like the cool, unusual, eclectic, heart-warming, awe-inspiring stories that spring up because of the simple fact humanity is filled with chance and variety. Unfortunately, feature reporters are going the way of the Dodo in TV news. It's all about sex offenders and car crashes these days. Therefore, it's a treat to get assigned to a good feature story. I did one yesterday on a dog named Rosie. She was lost in the Idaho wilderness for a week...and survived. I'm not sure how long that link will be up so check it out if you get a chance.

Musings

Mom & Dad came to visit this weekend. They came into the studio for part of the show and we bummed around Boise for a couple days. We also drove up to McCall for part of the day on Friday. I'd never been up there before and I wanted to see it. We also saw "The Dark Knight" on Thursday. It was my second time seeing it. Every bit as good as the first time. It was a nice visit and I'm glad they got to see my Boise digs.

I will be seeing them again in one week's time as I head back to Salt Lake for my 10 year high school reunion. Should be interesting. Just days ago, I posted a blog entry about an old friend from elementary school who basically disowned me in high school. Read it here for background. A day after I posted that, they wrote me again and apologized. They owned up to what they did. I thought that was pretty cool. I accepted the apology and consider the whole thing water under the bridge. It was high school after all. We all do stupid things in high school. I look forward to catching up with them at the reunion.

I just joined a softball team. I know, I know...you're thinking what sort of athletic prowess I could possibly have. Frankly, so am I? But I went to my first practice tonight and actually had a lot of fun. I didn't suck either. It's pretty much a non-competitive team made up of a bunch of younger people in Boise. I figure it's a good way to meet some people, get a little exercise, and have a little fun. Our first game is Thursday. I'll let you know how it goes.

Mr. Legs is gone. I wrote about him a week ago. I don't know where he went or why he decided to leave. I didn't find his carcass so I don't think he died...at least not in his web. I noticed it when I put an earwig into his web and saw nothing happen. If he did leave, I hope he found his way outside. I'm not so keen letting him live out his life in a more prominent location in my apartment. In reality, I hate spiders. But I felt okay with having him in the window sill. If I see him anywhere else...I'm killing him....with no hesitation.

I have an action-packed August ahead. I won't be home for a single weekend the whole month. I'm going to Salt Lake for the reunion next week. I'm headed to Grand Teton to see Katie the week after that. The following week, I'm headed to Glacier as part of my 6-day vacation. After that, I'm headed to one of two places...Portland or eastern Idaho to climb Borah Peak...Idaho's highest mountain. Whichever place I don't go, I'm saving for the next weekend. Should be a good time.

Work, work, work

This post is all about work. Move on if you're not interested.

Here's a couple photos I took recently:

My two TV wives, Mellisa and Michelle

The entire morning crew together. Kelsey's our overnight live reporter.

I'm slowly finding my groove at work. It'll take a while before I'm completely comfortable. One role I'm settling into is that of a franchise reporter. I do a weekly series on "going green." I didn't pick it. In fact, I pitched something else...something related to the outdoors. But I've embraced it. I've done some cool pieces so far. I've also found a few ways to sneek some outdoor related stories in there.

Take a look at a couple of them if you have time. I did a story on Zip Lining and another on a "green" toy called Uberstix.

That's all for now. Mis padres are coming to visit today. I gotta clean the apartment.

High School Hijinks

My 10 year high school reunion is less than two weeks away. Should be interesting. In the past few months, long lost acquaintances have crawled out of the woodwork. In most cases, it's been nice to reconnect. But there are some people who make you remember the bad times.

For me, high school was simply, "fine." Refer to this post of more than a year ago for some perspective. But like everyone else, there are old wounds from high school. In some cases, these are wounds you've completely forgotten about. It just takes a blast from the past to remember them.

I got a recent message from one of these people. Good friends in elementary and middle school, we drifted apart in high school. Of course, I'm more likely than not to describe it as "being shoved aside." I was certainly not "cool" in high school. In our freshman year, this person started to become cool. Once that happened, there was no room for me. I was written off as one of the degenerates who shouldn't be allowed to breathe the same air as this person. It's amazing how a little popularity can change someone. They became much too cool for me. It sucked. I was pissed and a little annoyed. But I forgot about it long ago.

Fast forward to this week. They're baaaack. What's worse, they had the nerve to wonder "why we stopped talking in high school?" I'll tell you why!!.......

Take a deep breath, Lincoln. This was more than 10 years ago. It was high school. Stupid, unexplainable things happen in high school. And just like I wrote more than a year ago...why do you even care?

In all honesty, I was happy to hear from this person. I'm sure their perspective is different than mine. Our own memories tend to get clouded over time, and I just might possibly be imagining and/or exaggerating certain parts of the story. We were very good friends at one time. I can recall some hazy memories that still make me laugh and smile. And today, I'm sure we're all much more mature. Hopefully, I'll see this person at the reunion and we can laugh about everything. I'll be okay with that.

Mr. Legs

I'm disturbed.

For the past few months I've weighed the pros and cons of getting a pet. Dog or cat? Big or small? Should I or shouldn't I? But I think I've finally reached a decision. I can't say for certain what I'll be doing several years down the road. I feel like I'm too much of a wanderer. What if I get a wild travel bug and decide to jet off to Asia or Australia in the future? What would I do with my dog...or my cat? I don't feel like I can commit yet. Right now I volunteer at the Idaho Humane Society and I think that's enough. I can go walk the dogs and play with the cats. But as for getting one of my own...I'm holding off. Until I know I can take that animal with me wherever I go...I don't think it's the right time to get one.

BUT...I've still got a pet...and that's why I'm disturbed.

Meet Mr. Legs:

That's him sucking the insides out of another spider...a spider I fed to him. I told you I was disturbed.

I'm not a fan of spiders. But I've decided to embrace them more than I ever have before. I live on the ground floor of an apartment building right next to the Boise River. It's a little buggy. Since I moved in, I've found several spiders lurking in my apartment. I've killed every single one of them. Then I noticed Mr. Legs (that name is courtesy of Heidi) sitting in my window sill. I opened the blinds determined to kill him and noticed the mansion he had built. Within that mansion were dozens of little bug carcasses...teeny things that seem to gather in the window. That's when I first thought Mr. Legs was doing me a favor. He was eating these guys for me. He was doing his small part to keep the apartment bug free. So I decided to let him stay. He stays out of the way and does his own thing. And from time to time, I'll bring in a little treat from outside for him. Today, I brought in a Daddy Long Legs. Those things have fat bodies...and by the end of the afternoon Mr. Legs had sucked that body dry.

Go ahead. Judge me.

But if I can't have a dog or cat...Mr. Legs will have to suffice.

Lessons Learned?

I've obviously taken a lackadaisical approach in updating this blog. I could say I've been busy but I'd be lying. I could say there's been nothing to write about...but (despite the boring life I lead) that's not true either. I've just been lazy. Very, very lazy. However, in scanning some of the other blogs I read, I've noticed I'm not the only one. Several people haven't updated in a while either. That makes me feel a little better.

On to other topics...

I think everyone has an image of themselves they'd love to see. A picture, in their mind, of the kind of person they'd like to be. I'm sure there are a few people out there completely satisfied with the kind of person they are. But for the rest of us...there's this image. I have one. I tend to look at it like an ordinary puzzle. There are a thousand little pieces laid out before you and you're trying to put it together with the help of the picture on the box cover. That's the perfect "you." You're using it as a guide as you assemble the puzzle piece by piece. But, as with any big puzzle, reaching completion is no easy task. I've been able to put together some pieces...here and there. But there's much left undone.

I was reminded of that when I stumbled upon an old journal yesterday. I didn't write in it often but I wrote in it regularly...if that makes sense. It covers the time between my first summer in Glacier and my winter spent in Big Sky. That's 3 and a half years. Collectively, that time was a big learning experience for me. Luckily, I wrote down much of the important stuff that occurred. I also had a little forethought. Several times during those years I put to paper questions about what I'd be like in the not-so-distant future. Would I have gotten any closer to completing that puzzle?

In some ways...yes. In most others....no. I've still got to do a lot of work on myself. I need to focus on my puzzle a little more. That realization was a little disappointing. I wish I'd been a little more proactive.

But I think there's a silver lining. Too many people reach a point in life where they think, "I wish I'd done things differently." For me, there's still plenty of time. I've now noticed that there really is no time to lose. And I've noticed it when there's still, presumably, a lot of time left. Let's not waste it anymore.

A good first step in this process: writing a little more on this blog. I'm going to. Hold my feet to the fire if I don't.

Teeth Woes

I first wrote about my ancient teeth about a year and a half ago. We all know most dental insurance sucks. And with my whopping $18,000 salary, I couldn't afford the work my dentist said he needed to do. He basically patched things up a bit and said I should get my teeth fix when I could afford it.

Fast forward to now. I finally went to the dentist after almost 5 months in Boise. I remember my Bozeman dentist's reaction when he saw my teeth. He wasn't too good at hiding the shock. So I was interested to see how this latest guy would react. It was humorous. They sent in the 20 year old (I'm not kidding) dentist who'd just been hired at the office. I'm sure he was at the top of his class and felt like he could tackle anything. Before he even looked at my teeth I told him my history and what the last guy said needed to be done. This guy kept up appearances and basically said it was all wrong. Then he looked at my teeth. He couldn't hide the shock either. He took one look and said, "Okay...I'm going to have Dr. McRae consult with you." He was way out of his league.

So I met with the "real" dentist and things went much better. He's one of the top guys in the business and really knows what he's doing. But even he couldn't put a positive spin on what I need to do.

On the surface...my teeth look fine. I smile and they seem straight and white. But inside..they are severely worn down. I've been grinding and clenching way too much over the past years. I've lost several milimeters of tooth height and much of the enamel has been eroded away. They need to be reconstructed with crowns. It's going to cost a pretty penny.

I briefly considered taking out a loan and financing the whole project right now to just get it done. But instead, I'm going to attempt to buckle down and save. If I can save up a good chunk of cash over the next little while, it will make things easier.

So that's where I am. Take care of your teeth people. You'll regret it if you don't.

The River Wild....and stupid

I neglected to recount the most memorable moment from last weekend's trip to Bozeman. It definitely deserves a mention.

Beth invited me river rafting with the wedding party last Friday. There were more than a dozen of us crammed into two rafts. It was without a doubt the best raft trip I've been on in terms of conditions. I was there right as the Gallatin River was near it's highest level of the year. But in terms of overall experience, it was one of my least favorite outdoor experiences.

Our two raft guides seemed pretty cool. They were your typical young, funny, care-free river guides. They did the things tour guides aren't supposed to do (like stopping at a local bridge so we could do backflips off it). I was having a good time with them and the rest of the group.

At one point, we were about ready to cross under a bridge. The other raft was in front of us but we were close behind. The guide in the first raft, Raleigh, decided to grab onto the bridge as they went beneath it. Keep in mind that the water was moving pretty swiftly. I literally had no time to react. I see him grab a hold of the bridge, swing out of his own raft and BAM!!!...we slam into him as he's hanging from the steel beam. His lower back knocks my head back. My helmet slammed into Aaron's (the groom that weekend) face. It's over in a second. Aaron has a bloody lip. And my eyeglasses are mangled. One lens is gone...and the rims are seriously bent.

Pissed....me.....off.

Those who know me know how blind I am. It was awful. I couldn't see for the rest of raft trip. By some miracle of God, I had an extra pair of glasses in my car.

Raleigh felt like an idiot. My raft guide was too dumbfounded to even know what to say. I was wondering what to do about my expensive glasses. I told the manager about it. He asked me how much they cost. I said $200. I think I lowballed him. But he was gracious enough to give me a check for that amount and I didn't pay for the rafting trip.

The End.

There and back again

I went back to Bozeman this past weekend for Beth's wedding. It was awesome. The weather was perfect. The setting was gorgeous. I was among good friends. Who could ask for anything more? This first picture is my absolute favorite photo from the weekend. Congratulations Beth & Aaron.

They got married in Big Sky, Montana (about 40 miles south of Bozeman) at the Soldier's Chapel. Take a look.

It's a beautiful old church that sits along Highway 191. The mountain in the back is Lone Peak...the bulk of Big Sky Ski Resort. You walk into the chapel and the view looks like this:

I've been to several weddings and this one was right near the top in terms of how beautiful it was. The reception was just down the road at Buck's T-4 Lodge. The food was good (including my 3 pieces of wedding cake) and the company was better. Suffice it to say....I had a very good time.

While Beth was preparing for her wedding, one of my other Bozeman news buddies (and Beth's co-worker) was preparing to say goodbye. Although we worked at different stations, my friend Alyson and I started in Bozeman at about the same time. Now, she's moving on. This was Friday night in the studio as her station aired a goodbye segment for her.

And this is Alyson and I dancing the night away at the wedding reception.

Good luck Alyson. I feel a little better now knowing I'm not the only one that's moved on from Bozeman.

That, of course, brings up a good point. This was first time back in Montana since I took the new job. I'm a pretty nostalgic guy. You'll often find me reflecting on the good times in life I've already experienced. It's no secret that many of those good times took place in Montana. I was a little unsure of how I'd react....in light of the skeptical nature I still have for Boise. But it was fine.

Just over two years ago, I was in the same position. I was returning to Glacier for the first time since getting my job in Bozeman. This is what I said about that experience:

"So I was a little nervous to go back. I expected something heart-wrenching. It didn't happen. I stared out over the waters of Swiftcurrent Lake and smiled. I was happy to be back. But something was different. I felt like a bit of an outsider. Normally that would dismay me. Glacier is "my park" after all. But then my intuition spoke loud and clear. "You feel like an outsider because you don't belong here. You've moved on."


I felt the exact same thing in Bozeman. It's funny how you simply have to go back to a place you once called home...to realize it's not home anymore. This is an extremely nerdy reference but does anyone remember what Frodo Baggins said at the end of "The Lord of the Rings?" In the movie, he says, "How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back."


That resonates with me quite a bit. How do you go on? I think the answer is to embrace where you've gone or where you're going. I took a big step in doing that this weekend. I decided to take the scenic route home. I drove from Bozeman west to Butte and then southwest to the Big Hole Valley. It's an extremely remote part of southwest Montana. Then I crossed into Idaho and headed towards Salmon, Challis, Stanley, Idaho City, and finally to Boise. I've got one word to describe the drive. Wow! Truth be told, the Boise area is not the prettiest part of Idaho. I realized that soon after I arrived. Unfortunately, I think I let it color my opinion of Idaho as a whole. Not anymore. There are so many parts of this state that are simply stunning. Now I just need to get out and explore.


It was a good weekend. I saw old friends and discovered new places. It was the best of both worlds.

"It's Not What You Think"

Um...I have egg on my face.

Remember this post? I talked about how incredulous I was when a drunk couple hopped on to the elliptical trainers next to me at the gym. I mean who goes to the gym drunk?

Fast forward to this past week. I was at the gym with a co-worker. We finished doing our cardio workout and I hopped off, grabbed my open backpack off the floor and walked away. As I did, a miniature bottle of The Glenlivet whiskey fell out and hit the floor. I know people saw it. I know they knew what it was. Obviously embarassed, I quickly walked back, picked it up and got the hell out of there.

The explanation: Remember when I wore a kilt for the morning show back in April? That was sponsored by The Glenlivet? When they sent me the kilt, they included the little bottle of whiskey. I remember putting it in my backpack and I just forgot about it. I swear. I'm not a drunk. But I'm sure people at the gym thought I was a lush.

Home Sweet Home

I'm committed.

Although I could probably find another nice apartment with a cheaper rent...I've decided to forego the hassle of moving. I signed a 13-month lease at my current place. It really is a nice home for me. It's right along Boise's highly touted Greenbelt. I'm close to downtown. It's the perfect starting off point for a bike ride along the Boise River. It's a good place...and I'm gonna be here for a while. For anyone who cares (mostly mom) here are some pictures.

The view from my backdoor patio

The Boise River

A squirrel in the parking lot; that's water he's licking up...not oil or anti-freeze

A week ago, the inaugural Boise Ironman Triathlon swung through my neighborhood. A large section of the race took place on the Greenbelt. I walked out my door and took a few pictures of the racers.

I had really good timing too. I walked outside just in time to catch this guy...a racer...on camera. He was competing in a prisoner costume. How metaphorical.

Overall, I'm liking Boise. And I think I'm ready to like it more now that I'm firmly planted in a decent dwelling...at least for a while.

Keep 'em coming

I pulled into a Chevron gas station this morning to fill up the tank. As I sat there pumping my $3.95 a gallon gas, I saw the gas station attendant walk outside with his price changing pole. I watched curiously as he begin to change the prices...wondering if I'd personally see $4 a gallon gas for the first time. My hopes were dashed. The prices went up four cents to $3.99.

Insane? I guess. But you know what? I hope the prices just keep going up.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a rich man. Paying for gas is just as painful for me as it is everyone else in the country. I remember when it was going for 99 cents a gallon. I think I was 19 or 20 at the time. I would love to be paying those prices again. But I think it's obvious to everyone that we need to wean ourselves from oil. And I'm not just talking about foreign oil. I'm talking about all oil.

Humans are ingenious creatures. We are perfectly capable of solving problems. Unfortunately, we don't do that in many cases unless we absolutely have to. Don't sit there and tell me the internal combustion engine is the beat all/end all of automotive power. There are people out there with good ideas about how to transform our vehicles. We just need the incentive to do so on a mass scale. I think some sky high gas prices will be the catalyst. We're going to reach a point when gas starts to seriously sink the U.S. economy...much more so than it's doing now. At that point, the lights will start clicking on. People will say, "okay...this is it. It's time for change." And then it will happen. The interim will be painful. But guess what? Serious change is always kind of painful. I think we'll come out better in the end.

I can't say whatever alternatives we come up with won't present their own set of problems and challenges. (I'm sure oil companies will monopolize new forms of automotive power so they can continue making money). But I think we have to go for it...no matter what.

I don't usually tackle "issues" on this blog. But I've been thinking about this for a while. So while I, like everyone else, will continue to wince at high gas prices (I have a 25 minute commute every day)...I'm smiling deep down inside.

Feedback

I'm all in favor of feedback. So imagine how happy I was when I looked in our station's public email folder and found this little gem.

"I have been watching channel 6 morning news for the past 12years- - -cannot watch any longer! The three commentators are the gooniest, dorkiest and most immature silly bunch on TV in Boise- - --especially Ms. Paul. Hopefully you are working to upgrade your personel. Thanks."

Some 60-year-old man sent this to us. Ah well. Don't really care. In all honesty, we've received many positive emails regarding our new morning show. So shove it dude. :)

I'm addicted to crack...

...and by crack, I mean these little guys.
I have a huge sweet tooth. Everyone knows it. But I turn into a vacuum when I get around these things. I don't know what it is about them. They're stocked in the vending machine at work and everyday I throw down a dollar (yes a dollar) and buy a package of three. Dee-licious. Scrumptious. Bad for you. I don't care. If anything makes me fat in life, it's going to be Oreo Cakesters.

I can only remember one other time when I was obsessed with a new food product. Does anyone remember Suddenly Smores? They were little, pre-packaged smore cookies that you threw in the microwave so the chocolate could melt and the marshmallow could puff up? They came out when I was a kid. I loved them. They disappeared off store shelves not long after they debuted.

Good stuff.

Comfy

My new couch arrived this past weekend. Take a look.

It's very, very comfortable. I even slept on it Saturday night. Me gusta mucho. And best of all, I destroyed that crappy $150 futon from Walmart...and threw it in the dumpster. It gave me a lot of satisfaction. So now I have a real couch. Maybe one day I'll grow up and graduate to a real bed and a real dresser. We'll see. By the way...any thoughts on the rug? I was unsure about it at first but it was cheap and thought "why the hell not?" Either way I'm done with furnishing my apartment. It's too expensive and too much of a hassle.

By the way, have you ever cut yourself with a piece of string? I was trying to tear some loose string off one of the pillows on my couch. I grabbed it, wrapped it around my finger, and pulled. That's some tough string. It sliced right into my finger. Hurt like hell.

One last thing: It was 94 degrees this weekend. I liked it. A lot.

Tough Times

When did I become such an adult?

In the past three months, I've paid more attention to my financial future than I ever have before. Let's face it. The economy sucks right now. Every day I read yet another story on the news about home foreclosures, high gas prices, the rising cost of groceries, companies going out of business, etc. It's made me think about where I am in this economic downturn. Never have I thought about that before. I was having too much fun in Glacier or New Zealand to worry about my finances. After that I was below the poverty line in Bozeman...what's the point of planning when you're making so little money? Now...things are different. I'm making a decent living but I feel unsure about my future.

I've now become a little obsessed with saving money. I finally enrolled in my company's 401(k) plan. I'm making huge payments each month to pay down my credit card debt. (not a lot...but enough to worry me given my newfound financial outlook). I'm thinking of moving to find a lower monthly rent. I've given up on the idea of having real furniture in my apartment. (Except for that couch I bought...but I'm okay with that purchase). I'm monitoring my bills and bank accounts more than I ever have. I'm taking responsibility for myself.

I'm okay with all of the above. But I'm worried about the next steps. I'm worried about what's in store. A new car is likely in my future. I'm eventually going to have to get a permanent fix for my worn down teeth. (Refer to this post for background). I need to start investing my money (once I pay down my debt and save some more) but I'm unbelievably intimidated by the prospect. Basically I need to balance saving money with spending money....and leaving some room for fun.

That's not the only thing I'm worried about though. Although my job situation is pretty secure, this is a tough time to be in the TV news business. I see co-workers around me struggling with pay raises, contract negotiations, and general work problems. It's discouraging. And it affects me. There have been industry layoffs across the country. Obviously, this is happening across the board...in all lines of work.

I'm just really thinking like an adult now. Thank God I only have myself to support and not a family. I can't even imagine that.

Polygamist

My roots are catching up with me. I'd like to introduce you to my 4th TV wife.

Now getting divorced and then re-married is nothing new. I went through two divorces in Bozeman. However, now I'm officially a polygamist. I have two TV wives...at the same time. We're a three person anchor team. I introduced the other one back in February.

So far, so good. We started our new, revamped morning show and I'm liking it. Getting lots of positive feedback too.

And best of all...it's warming up. I'm so happy summer is on its way.

Really?

There were three times today when I got annoyed and said to myself, "seriously? Is this really happening?"

The first occurred at 3:00 this morning. (That's when I leave for work...lucky me, huh?) I walked outside and saw frost on my car. It was freezing. May 1st...and it's freezing. "Yeah but it was the middle of the night," you say. I don't care. It's May and it should be warmer than that. I'm really ready for summer.

The second occurred when I logged on to CNN.com and saw this:

Notice the "Live Developing Story" banner. Really? A stuck pelican? Worthy of a such a news alert? I'm an animal lover but come on. I'm even okay with a local news station covering a stranded kitten in a tree. But this is a national news site...breathlessly announcing a....STUCK....PELICAN. Whatever.

The third happened at the gym. I hopped on the eliptical trainer for a little warm-up. A man and woman soon got on the machines next to me. BAM!!! I was almost knocked over by the overwhelming stench of liquor. The guy next to me was hammered. REALLY? Going to the gym drunk? I don't get it. He only lasted on the machine for about 2 minutes before he gave up...laughing as he dismounted. Idiot.

The world never ceases to amaze me.