Bozeman Burning

A massive explosion in downtown Bozeman. One woman likely dead. Half a dozen businesses destroyed. Historic buildings gone. It's sad from every angle. I just want to say that up front.

But I must admit I'm looking at this from a very different perspective. I want to be there covering it as a journalist so very badly. I have a special attachment to Bozeman. I started my TV career there. On top of that, I love the town. I know its residents. I know its leaders. I know its quirks. I know the businesses that are now gone. I've been in every single one of them at one time or another. Not being there is killing me.

I'm still a sucker for breaking news. I get excited every time it happens. But it's different when a big breaking story develops in a small town. It takes on more meaning. It has more of an effect. In terms of news value, you've got more bang for the buck. (no pun intended).

I was checking in with my old colleagues in Bozeman all day yesterday. I made sure to watch their coverage. Kudos to my friends at KTVM, KECI, and KBZK for rocking it. They all did a very good job. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm so, so, so very jealous of what they were a part of. I wish it would have happened when I was there...as an employee....or as a visitor who passed through town just a week earlier. That might be a little sick and twisted...but from a journalist's perspective it only makes sense.

Time & Place

You've likely heard the expression "there's a time and a place for everything." Probably true. But how about "there's a time for every place?" Think of the hallways in your elementary school. I'm sure that's a place you were well acquainted with...but only for a time. Think of the slopes on a ski hill. You can have a lot of fun at a place like that...but only at the right time of the year. Think of the old house or apartment you used to live in. There's no place like home but at a different time...when you don't live there any longer...it feels strange being there.

Despite all that, heading to an old place at a new time isn't a bad thing. It is, however, different. Often, it's different in some very good ways.

So it goes with Glacier National Park. For most people, the time to visit such a place is summer. I spent four summers there. But in winter...things are different. Winter has a way of saying, "back off." But if you don't back off...if you dive in head first and are prepared for anything, you just might be rewarded.

The photo at the top of this post best exemplifies what I'm trying to say. Shelly Jones is standing on the Many Glacier road on a cold, windy, late February afternoon. I promise there's a road there. Seven miles ahead is this place:

It's the Many Glacier Hotel...the old stomping grounds of everyone you'll hear about in this post. Also ahead...a tiny little chalet, warmed by a wood stove (and electrical heat), to call home for a couple days. Looks quaint, doesn't it?

We just had to get there. That was the hard part. More on that in a moment. First, some backstory.

Ron & Jessie are winter caretakers at the Many Glacier Hotel. Here's Ron:

And here's Jessie as she updates the wildly popular blog she shares with Ron.

Ron & Jessie, also known as Sipner, are old Glacier friends. So are Jason and Shelly, also known as Shelson. Here's that dynamic duo.

It was decided early on that we should all visit Ron & Jessie sometime this winter. The weather had been pretty nice and biking in on the Many Glacier road (closed for 7 miles during winter) seemed like the best option. Old Man Winter had different plans. He dumped 2.5 feet of snow on the ground right before our arrival. Snowshoeing was the only option. Here's Jason and Dave, another old Glacier friend, as we get ready to begin the journey.

We got started late...around 5:00 in the afternoon. Not only that we were dragging a sled full of beer behind us. It was hard. It was really hard. I pride myself on being a fast hiker. But it took us 6.5 hours to snowshoe seven miles. Obviously it was dark for nearly all of it. Unfortunately, Dave decided to turn around early on and head back home. We eventually made it to the chalet at 11:30 that night. Exhausted, we went to bed. But as soon as I woke up the next morning I could see it was all worth it. We were greeted with a sunny, windless day at Many Glacier...a rare treat in any season. After a breakfast of Blueberry Pancakes, we were ready for a day of exploring the mighty hotel and her grounds.

Half the fun of our trip was just hanging out in the chalet with old friends. We reminisced, we made fun of each other, we laughed, we ate, we drank, we also played the Wii and Wii Fit. Here I am doing a little ski jumping.

The next day brought more exploring. This is the Upper Dorm, my old residence. I loved my dorm room. The window on the top left was mine. Ron once referred to it as Chateau Linco.

I had so much fun. Glacier is a special place...and winter is a special time. I used to think there was only one time to visit this place. Now I know better. Access is easier in the summer. There's more to do in the summer. Frankly, the park is easier to enjoy in the summer. But winter is special too. Winter in Glacier is about stillness. It's about dormancy. It's about mystery. It's about rarely seen beauty. It's about the park's time to rest...to be free of the crowds and the hikers and the forest fires and the cars. There is a time for every place. For me, and most people, summer is the time for a place like Glacier. But for the park, and forgive me for personifying here....her time is winter. 

There's something eerie about seeing a familiar place in unfamiliar conditions. For reasons I can't explain, I keep thinking about the Many Glacier road. Seven miles of snow-covered foreignness on the way in. A 10-minute drive turned into a nearly 7 hour slog. Old Man Winter did not make it easy for us. But we made it and he gave us a break on the way out...by clearing large sections. Here's Sipner and Shelson acting like hard asses. A fitting end to a very good trip.

Glory & Splendor

I'm in Glacier National Park...the Many Glacier region to be more specific. That's the Many Glacier Hotel just below the middle of the picture...the frozen expanse of Swiftcurrent Lake beyond it...Grinnell Point, Swiftcurrent Mountain, and Mt. Wilbur (left to right) towering above it all. It's a vacation paradise for hordes of people in the summer. It is generally a place to avoid when Old Man Winter gets a hold of it. Friends of mine have chosen to co-exist with the grumpy bastard for six ice-clad months. Some other friends, and I, chose to venture inside for a visit. It's been interesting. I leave tomorrow. I'm hoping the journey out will be easier than the journey in. I hope Old Man Winter will go easy on me. I hope he'll recognize the crap I went through to get in and think, "Fine...I'll give the guy a break."

I've got stories. I've got pictures. I'll share them when I'm back in Boise.

Happy March.

Lincoln's Wheels: An Automotive Retrospective

Every car has a story. 

That statement can mean a few different things. For me, it means there's one particular event or one memorable moment I always think of when I remember a certain car I've had. 

This blue 1985 Dodge Ram Pickup was my first vehicle. We bought it when I was a little kid. I still remember waiting at the dealership while they cleaned it before we took it home. When I turned 16, I claimed it as my own. My dad would probably remember it differently. I certainly never paid a dime for it. This truck's story: I was driving down the freeway at 65 miles per hour, Erin by my side when...BOOM!!!...there was a loud bang, the truck slowed down, and it puttered to a stop in a parking lot off the freeway. As it turns out, engines need oil to function properly. There wasn't a drop of oil in it. I suppose I should have checked the oil but in my defense, an oil light never came on. 

My next vehicle was a red 1997 Ford F-150. It was the first car (and one of only 2) I ever actually purchased. I picked it out. I made payments on it. I liked it for the most part. I took it with me my first summer in Glacier National Park. This truck's story: Glacier is where it died. Sadly, the above picture is the only photographic record I have of this truck. It was taken at a car dealership in Cut Bank, Montana. It was towed there after my friend wrecked it in a not-s0-uncommon August Glacier snowstorm. Totaled. I got enough insurance money to pay it off...with a little extra.

That happened in the middle of my first summer. Mom & Dad were good enough to deliver the above Ford Explorer to me personally. I used it for the rest of that summer. I went to Winter Park, Colorado without a car for the winter. I came home early and used the Explorer for the next few months. Out of all my cars this is the only one that I never felt belonged to me. Thus, there isn't a particular story that goes along with it. The thing I remember most about it is driving up and down Parleys Canyon every day when I worked for a few months in Park City.

For some reason I got a little adventurous with my next mode of transportation. One day I thought, "I should buy a motorcycle." So I did. I found this 1991 Honda Nighthawk on ebay. It would be my "car" for my 2nd summer in Glacier. That's Audrey and Mark sitting on it in the above picture. It was a weak little machine. My friends called it "The Piglet." I think the engine was only 25o cc's. But I loved it. Mom was terrified of me driving this thing 700 miles to Glacier. I thought it would be no big deal. That's where this bike's story comes in: 700 miles is an awful long way to go for someone who's never been on a motorcycle before. I was unprepared. I didn't have the right clothes. I was freezing the entire way. I pulled into Missoula one afternoon hypothermic. I'm serious too. I was actually suffering from hypothermia. But I made it and let me tell you...there is nothing quite like driving a motorcycle across Going-to-the-Sun Road. That made it all worth it.

I came home from Glacier and promptly sold The Piglet. I needed the money for my next adventure in New Zealand. I decided early on that I wanted to buy a car while I was down there. Ease of mobility is important to me. So after saving money from a few paychecks at the hotel where I worked, I rode a bus into Christchurch on a wing and a prayer. I banked on the fact I would find a cheap car at a car auction. I bought the above Nissan Bluebird (same thing as a Sentra) for NZ$1,300. It had the ugliest purplish/brown interior but it treated me well and it allowed me to explore the country. (It has the added distinction of being the only "right side drive" car I've ever, or probably will ever, own). The only problem I ever had was with one tire. I had to have it replaced. This car's story: Selling it was painful. I waited until my very last day in the country to go to a car auction and try to sell it. I wanted NZ$1,300 for it. But I was selling at a time when thousands of other travelers were leaving the country too. The market was flooded. For three hours I kept scratching out the price on the window and lowering it until someone would actually stop and look at it. The final selling price...NZ$600. Not what I had wanted.

When I got home from New Zealand, I was broke. But I was headed up to Glacier for a 3rd summer and I needed a car. By some miracle a guy who works with my parents was giving one away...for free. It was (I believe) a 1988 Toyota Corolla. He wasn't sure it would make it to Montana but what choice did I have but to try driving it there. Sadly, I have no photographic record of this car. It was pretty beat up. You could take the key out of the ignition while it was still running. That was a neat party trick. But I guess it's true what they say...Toyotas run forever. This little car did me well. It's story: I lost the key to it. I tried to sneak into an outdoor concert just outside Babb, Montana. While climbing over a fence my keys somehow disappeared. It was really baffling. I searched for hours. (My dad even traveled up to Glacier with a metal detector to see if we could find them). They were never located. I had to have the car towed back to Many Glacier Hotel and my parents mailed me an extra key. 

I came home from my 3rd summer in Glacier and the above car was waiting for me. My mom's 1996 Toyota Camry. She had just gotten a new Camry and I inherited this one. I was happy about it too. It seemed like a reliable, decent car that could last me a while. It did. It was with me for my winter in Big Sky. It was with me for my 4th and final summer in Glacier. It was with me for my two years in Bozeman. It was with me for my first year in Boise. I think of two stories that go along with this car. First, I drove it to the bar one night in Glacier and was a little too drunk to drive it home. My friend Katie (such a reliable DD) drove instead. On the way home I drunkenly said to her, "Do you know how to drive a Camry? Because this is a very special car." We still laugh about that. But the biggest story here: my trusty little Camry loved to burn oil. I first noticed a blue smoke cloud emerge from the exhaust in the early winter of 2005. From that moment on I had to keep a careful eye on the oil. I had learned my mistake with my blue pickup. I kept adding oil to it over the next 4 years. I added a lot of oil. My friend Beth said to me once, "You're the only person I know who buys oil in bulk." It made me laugh.

I had planned to run that Camry into the ground. Why spend money on a new car if the old one works? I got it registered in Idaho in December. Then I learned it had to pass an emissions test in February. I was nervous but I took it in anyway for the test. That poor little car studied as hard as she could...but in the end she failed. Months earlier a mechanic had told me, "I don't recommend you put any more money into this car." So I didn't. The last time I saw her was when I took the above photo. She treated me well (not to mention my mom) but it was time to move on. 

And move on I did. I'm nearly 29 years old and I've finally purchased my own brand new vehicle...a Jeep Liberty Sport.

 
Pretty isn't it? I got a screamin' deal too. 

Love

I'm single. I don't mind it. Nor do I mind a holiday like Valentine's Day. All it makes me do is think of love....and love's pretty awesome. I may not be "in" it right now, but I've been in love before. It was hard when it ended but, in hindsight, I see it was supposed to. I can be happy with where I am now and still look back fondly at a good dose of love. That's what I did this year. 

One other thing about love. They say it "makes you do crazy things." It's true. At one point, it inexplicably threw me into the world of poetry. I'm not a good writer, let alone poet. Yet for one brief moment in life I was quite prolific in poetry. Most of it wasn't good. But there was one poem I wrote that I still remember. At the risk of scorn and ridicule, I'll post it here. Laugh if you will. But I still really like it.

October Fear

Orange

Yellow

Red all around 

Some clinging

Some falling 

Some resting on the ground

Amidst all the colors

Adorned in white

A radiant bride

Her heart in flight

I look and she smiles

So beautifully happy

My heart rises in song

She truly loves me

But quickly it's broken

His head blocks her glow

Then I remember

I wear no tuxedo

No, it's not a happy poem. But when I read or remember it now, I simply smile. It was born out of love. That's why I like it. 

Happy Valentine's Day.

Old Soul

You know that song "New Soul" by Yael Naim? That was my mantra when I moved to Boise...which happens to be one year ago today. My point? I'm not sure I have one. But since I've been here for a year I don't think I qualify as a "new soul" anymore.

Normally I'm big on anniversaries like this. I like to reflect on where I've been and what I've learned. But when I realized the significance of today I was like, "eh."

So here's my apathetic take on the past year:
Boise is decent. Not great. Not bad. Just decent.
Learned a lot.
Became a part time zip liner.
Met some cool people. (need to meet more)
Learned how to play the role of weatherman.
Opened up a little more.
Adopted Merlin. (he's gotten big)

The past year flew by. FLEW. I see the next year (until March 2010) as a time for development...personally and professionally.

I'll leave it at that.

"Front please!"

Is that a wad of ones in your pocket...or are you just happy to see me?

Just moments ago I found myself in the position of trading a $20 bill for twenty $1 bills. I needed a dollar so I could get a cinnamon roll out of the vending machine at work. Lucky for me, the vending machine guy was there and gave me all the singles I needed. He handed me the money and I started counting it.

It felt good. It felt really good. It made me think of the times in my life when the cash (and I'm talking actual cash) flowed freely. I made good tips as a bellman...and I had eight different bellman jobs. In Big Sky, it wasn't unusual to walk away with $150 to $200 bucks a day in cash tips. The best part of my day was when I got home, pulled out a giant wad of money from my pocket, and started counting it. That's what I was reminded of while counting this measly 20 bucks.

But it also made me think of working as a bellman. There were bad days. It wasn't easy to deal with rich, annoying, egotistical guests. But it was also fun. Really fun. It's hard to explain why. I don't want to quit my job and go be a bellman for the rest of my life. But in some ways, a bellman's existence is simplistically superior to anything else.

Go figure.

Connectivity

I can't decide whether Facebook is the greatest thing since sliced bread or the death knell for interpersonal communication.

To be fair, I'm not only talking about Facebook. I'm talking about MySpace, Twitter, instant messaging, and text messages. I'm talking about every other fancy new communication medium out there. They all connect us in ways most of us never would have imagined. On top of that, the connections are growing at a rapid fire pace as more and more folks jump on the bandwagon. I think I've added close to two dozen new Facebook friends in the past month. I'm not the only one. Everyone else is right there with me. But are we better off because of it?

I know I'm not the first to suggest personal relationships are taking a back seat to electronic ones. But I've only recently started seeing the evidence of that theory firsthand. I have "friended" and talked to people on Facebook and MySpace only to suffer through awkward interactions when I see them in person. I have gotten annoyed when seemingly normal people try to have ENTIRE conversations with me via text message...rather than dialing my number. I've written on a friend or co-worker's wall rather than walk the 25 feet necessary to talk to them personally. I think it's safe to say people are more comfortable communicating in a passive way. To me, there's nothing more passive than the technologies that supposedly make us more connected.

It's not all bad. I know that. I've reconnected with old friends. There are a few people I probably wouldn't communicate with all that much if it weren't for Facebook. There's also a comedy aspect to all of it. It's fun and humorous to joke about each other's photos, status updates, and wall posts in such a public setting. But I do think there are hidden and unforeseen consequences to all of it.

That all said, I won't be jumping off the bandwagon anytime soon.

P-Town

I'm a little late in posting this but better late than never. I headed to Portland last weekend. It was a somewhat spur of the moment trip to see some friends. I've been informed by some that the "cool kids" refer to it as PDX. I'm sticking with P-town. It's a nice city. Depending on what I decide I want out of the news business, Portland looks to be an ideal spot for me. It would be hard to get there but it's a decent possibility.

The drive was annoying (especially the 9 hour, snow-laden trip back) but I had an awesome time. Stupidly, I didn't take any pictures. But I dug through all my old photos to come up with a reconstructed narrative. Enjoy.

My main motive for going was to see Katie.
We met more than 5 years ago in Glacier National Park. Here we are in 2003 at Charlie's in Babb, Montana. Katie has come to visit me many times in Bozeman and Boise so I thought it was time to return the favor. Despite a disasterous trip up to Mt. Hood...it was a good time.

Two more Glacier buddies also live in Portland.

This is Jason and Shelly, also known as Shelson (and occasionally referred to by their lesser known portmanteau Jelly). They met in Glacier, fell in love, and got married. Cute isn't it? We had dinner and drinks and reminisced the night away. However, we're all getting on in years and most of us were in bed by midnight. Still...good times.

Also living Portland...my good friend Chris.

I met Chris in 2004 when I worked at Big Sky Resort. Here he is getting a workout in Monument Valley. Chris works for the National Park Service in Denali National Park. He's basically stationed on Mt. McKinley all summer long. He's hard core. I met his lovely girlfriend Amanda too. They're a disgustingly cute couple.

I expected to see one more person.

This would be Josh. He's Chris' good friend and also worked in Big Sky. Unfortunately, Josh got called into work (he works with an outdoor wilderness school for troubled youth) and couldn't hang out for the weekend. Maybe next time.

There's a certain moment in life that I cherish. It feels the same every time it happens yet it never gets old. I'm in the midst of a group of people I love (whether it be friends or family) and I take stock for a brief second. It's almost like I'm watching the scene out of a movie. The scene where everyone is laughing and talking and smiling. Conversations of all sorts fly by and sometimes mix with each other. I watch this and I simply smile. I'm part of this group of happy, fun-loving individuals and we are having a good time. It's hard not to revel in such simplistic joy. I had one of those moments this past weekend.

Thanks Portland.

Blah

For the past several nights I've sat down to write something...anything...on this blog. I've got writer's block. I have nothing meaningful to say.

I'm leaving for Portland. I'll be back Sunday. Perhaps I'll have something to say then.

Have a good weekend.

Underrated

Allow me to talk news for a moment.

I just have to say that I don't understand why Katie Couric gets so much disrespect. While I've always been an NBC News loyalist, I find myself watching her CBS Evening News more and more these days. She's good. She's really good. She made me laugh on The Today Show. But she impresses me with journalistic chops in her current gig. What is it about her that some people don't like? Or is it that they simply like Brian Williams and Charles Gibson more? I have no idea. I just know that I've slowly come to realize that she is at the helm of a solid newscast. I think she deserves more credit.

On a somewhat related note, I still regret not saying something to Ms. Couric when I saw her on Main Street in Bozeman. I don't think I ever told that story on this blog. That's probably because I feel stupid for the missed opportunity. I walked out of a store with my friend Whitney. We looked to the left and as I made the recognition, Whitney grabbed my arm and said, "It's Katie Couric, it's Katie Couric, it's Katie Couric." I simply watched her walk by. There I was, a news anchor at an NBC affiliate and I didn't say anything to one of the biggest names on NBC News. (She was still there back then). I don't know why. I'm lame like that I guess. But I regret it and I'm not going to make the same mistake if a similar situation presents itself in the future.

And to finish with this newsy post, I've got to mention another favorite of mine. World News Now is the overnight newscast on ABC. It airs in the wee hours of the morning. It's long been a cult favorite for news junkies. It's irreverent, unusual, fun, and entertaining....and since I'm up every morning at around 2:30...I get to watch it regularly. Anchors come and go on a regular basis (Jeremy Hubbard and Vinita Nair man the desk now) but they always seem to find a team that works well together. I wouldn't mind getting to that desk in my career. If you're ever up late one night, check it out.

Walkin' in a.......

It's always funny when someone who has never been snowshoeing asks how to do it? My usual response is, "You know how to walk, right?"

It has been a long time since I went snowshoeing. This latest trip was particularly awesome. A group of 14 of us headed out into the central Idaho backcountry for an overnight trip. It wasn't exactly hard core. Our yurt was only about a mile and a half off the main road. Still, it was a good time. Katie was good enough to fly in from Portland to join me.

I've complained about winter before. But truth be told, I love it. I don't know how anyone could hate winter. Whether you are skiing, snowboarding, sledding or snowshoeing...you just have to find a way to enjoy it. It's better than whining your way through a few months a year.

Antarctic Mormons in Chewed Up Cat Boxes

This here post is a rambler.

Okay. Which one of my Mormon friends did it? Who sent the visiting teachers to my apartment? It had to be someone. The Church isn't THAT good...is it? I haven't been trying to evade them or anything. But after ZERO contact over four years in Glacier, two years in Bozeman, nearly a year in Boise, and close to a dozen address changes...how is it that they were able to track me down...and knock on my door? I'm not upset. I was greeted by two very nice elderly guys. I told them the truth and said I was about to go to bed but that they could come back another time. I'm sure they will. My relationship with Mormonism is complex and I suppose I'll be honest and tell them that. But seriously...how did they find me?

I think I sent my first online instant message in...let me think...1997 perhaps? I'm not completely sure. The point is that instant communication via computers has been around for a while. Despite that, I still had a moment of disbelief tonight as I chatted online with an old friend from Glacier. She's in Antarctica right now. That's pretty damn cool.

I went to the dentist today. It's always fun when a new dental office employee takes a look at my teeth. I sit there in anticipation as the horror of my condition becomes evident to them. If you have no idea what I'm talking about follow the thread of posts about my teeth here. The woman giving me my cleaning was awe-struck. I'm glad I could provide her with entertainment. The good news is that my teeth haven't changed all that much in the last six months. I can wait a while before I absolutely NEED a set of crowns. More time to save up some money.

And finally, I've bought a few cat toys for Merlin. He likes them well enough. But nothing can compete with a good old cardboard box. It's like heaven on earth for him. No more cat toys. I'm sticking with boxes and paper grocery bags.

Low Tide

I had about a dozen people tell me Utah was going to be slaughtered by Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Most of those people were bitter Boise State fans...upset by the Broncos' Poinsettia Bowl loss and the fact it was Utah's higher ranking that kept BSU out of a BCS bowl game. (Note: I consider myself a Bronco fan. I live in Boise and I'd like to see them do well. But I'm a Utah grad and that loyalty comes first). Whenever I heard the naysayers, I just smiled and nodded.

Victory is sweet...pun intended.

That is all I'll say about Utah's win. What I really need to talk about is a serious transgression on my part. In my euphoria over the outcome of Friday's game, I violated one of my own cardinal rules. It's still eating me up inside.

I sent out a mass text message proclaiming my excitement.

I strongly dislike mass text messages. It's the holiday ones that really irritate me.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

I'd say it's the thought that counts but let's be real here people...very little thought goes into it. And don't think I'm falling for the text that says "Happy Holidays! Your friendship means a lot to me!" I know every other friend on your contact list got the exact same thing.

I can't explain why these little greetings bother me so much. Some of them are even okay. Got a birth announcement to make? Go ahead...send out a mass text. Letting everyone know of a new phone number? Mass texting is cool with me. Just engaged and want to share the news? Fine...let everyone know at once. But don't pass off a generic "Happy Fill-in-the-Blank" greeting as something with a personal touch.

Sorry for the little rant. I hope it doesn't stop a few friends out there from communicating with me.

Old Lang Sign

Yeah, I know it's Auld Lang Syne. But when I was little, that's how I thought the words were spelled. I still have no idea what the song means.

For many, many people...2008 sucked. I'm sorry for that. I truly am. But speaking personally, I don't know how to classify this year. I guess I'll call it the Year of Boise. Although I moved here in February, I knew I'd be relocating in the beginning of January. From that moment on...Boise (and everything about my life here) has been the center of my world.

As for how it went....eh. It's been okay. Nothing earth-shattering. Nothing spectacular. Nothing maddening. Nothing ridiculous. Nothing heart-breaking. Nothing euphoric.

I've learned a lot. That's always good.

As for 2009...well...maybe I'll write about that tomorrow.

Since I'll be asleep when the new year rolls in...Happy New Year everyone.

Options

A few questions for you to ponder.

Would you rather be beaten to death with Tinker Toys or killed in an avalanche of dice?

Would you rather live in a world where it it rained bouncy balls or where people had Mr. Potato Head-style facial features that could be removed and exchanged?

Would you rather lie down naked on a Benihana table or have your mouth stretched around the part of a lawnmower where the grass spits out while it mows high grass?

Would you rather be able to fight and kill masterfully with Yo-Yo's or with Frisbees?

Would you rather be machine gunned to death with Lite-Brite pegs or assassinated by cabbage patch dolls?

Would rather have your cell phone ring function set to airhorn or Taser?

We are Also Family

Here we are...15 (I'm behind the camera again) members of the McKee clan on Christmas Day. This is mom's side of the family, and for the most part, we're all here. My brother, his wife, and their kids were not...but that's an entirely different story. It's a dysfunctional family but we love each other.

Although I was only home for about 30 hours, it was a good trip home. Perhaps it was the perfect amount of time. Enough hours to catch up...but not enough time to get annoyed with everyone. I jest, I jest....sort of.

One highlight of this Christmas: a LONG-overdue present.

Yeah, that's a Teddy Ruxpin. Remember him? I do. I wanted him when I was 5 years old. I really wanted him...a lot. But for some reason, Santa decided I didn't deserve him. I'm not sure why. I got everything else I wanted. What was the big problem with Teddy Ruxpin? Over the next 20 or so years I never let my parents...uh...I mean Santa...forget the fact that I never got a Teddy Ruxpin. Well, at the age of 28, the issue has been rectified. I opened up a Teddy Ruxpin on Christmas morning.

The entire trip would have been great had a storm not blown into Salt Lake the night I was supposed to leave. As soon as I got to the airport, the snow started to fly. The plane that I was supposed to ride on back to Boise wasn't allowed to land in the blizzard and was diverted to, of all places, Boise. I didn't get home until 1 am. But compared to other travel delays across the country this past week, I'm sure I got off easy.

Merry Christmas (by the way...I'm sick of people saying Happy Christmas. When did that get started? It's Merry Christmas people)

Bits & Pieces

I apparently spoke too soon when I wrote this post about Boise not getting much snow in the winter months. While it's true I haven't seen much snow outside my apartment door, other parts of the Treasure Valley have gotten slammed. More snow is on the way too. Besides the freeway and some major main roads, I've been driving on snowpacked roads for the past week or so. All I need to do now is make it up to the slopes.

There are people who call the station and ask to talk to the weather guy. When someone calls, one of two things will happen. They will either criticize you for the inaccurate forecast you gave that day. Or they're calling for a personalized forecast. Believe it or not, it's the latter that I find most annoying. Instead of listening during the news, they want you to tell them personally what the weather is going to do. I'm sorry people. I'm not your personal butler. On top of that, I'm not even a trained meteorologist. I just play one on TV.

When I was in middle school we had the opportunity to fly the friendly skies for free. Our school had a partnership with a now defunct airline in which free tickets were given to hundreds of students a year. The point was to give them the opportunity to ride in an airplane. A few of those flights were all-day trips. I went on one to Seattle. We left early in the morning...toured the city for the day...then flew back that night. But most of the trips were "turnaround flights." We'd fly to the airport...wait a little bit...and then fly back. They were short and pointless...but kind of fun. I only bring this up because I'm about to take a very quick trip back home to SLC. I'm flying out tomorrow and flying back Christmas day. Good story huh?

I was in Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago saw a book display set up titled "World Affairs." EVERY SINGLE book was about Barack Obama. I'm happy he won but there has be more going on in the world than his election.

Merlin has gotten quite big since I got him this fall. He really is a damn cool cat. The best word to describe him: Chill.

Finally, I stumbled upon a Christmas song that is apparently a classic. I heard it on the radio today and thought it might be some sort of a joke. Then I looked online and learned "Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey" has been around for decades. Have a listen...if you haven't heard it already.


Merry Christmas

We are Family

Here we are...31 (I'm taking the picture) members of the Graves clan. Frankly, this was a dismal showing at our annual family Christmas party. There were quite a few who didn't even show up. Some had good reasons for not being there. Others did not. Either way, it was good to see everyone. Still, being with the family reminded me of how much things have changed. My young cousins, the ones I used to chase around the house at family get-togethers, are now in their teens. I was floored when I heard that one of my cousins was "with her boyfriend." Boyfriend? Isn't she too young for that? Actually, no...she's not. I can see their faces changing...as they get get older. They look like adults now. I'm sure people saw those same changes in me as I grew up. It's strange to see them myself. I was also reminded of how this big family has never really been the same since its matriarch died. Grandma Rosie was the glue. She'd be 86 if she were alive today. But it's been 15 years since she's been gone. I was 13 when she died. Her little, non-descript, blue house on Salt Lake City's west side was the epicenter of our family. I have so many memories from that house...not the least of which surround holiday family gatherings. Things have definitely changed since she's been gone. We've all pulled back a little. There's not as much closeness as there once was. It's sad. It's also inevitable in many ways. As a big family grows larger, more and more members move to the periphery. It certainly doesn't help when some people move away (myself obviously included).

But we're all still smiling in the picture above. I think we're all genuinely happy to see each other. It's not like we hate each other (most of the time). Things have just changed a little. That's okay though. We all know we're family and there is genuine warmth in the hugs we give each other.

The moral of the story: savor all your family time. Things will change before you know it.

Goodbye Utah, Adios Montana

I got pulled over this week for not making a complete stop at a red light while exiting the freeway. An ISP trooper just happened to be in the right spot to catch me. It happened on the way to work. I guess a car speeding off the freeway at 3 in the morning arouses suspicion. Whatever.

I wasn't worried about getting a ticket for it. I was worried at what the trooper would say to the facts that I didn't have an Idaho driver's license and my registration was expired. Overall, she was pretty cool. She gave me a ticket for the registration because it was the cheapest. She let the other two things slide...as long as I promised to make a complete stop next time, and get a new license.

That's what I did today. I surrendered my Montana license and my Utah plates are no more. It's kind of sad. I was attached to my Montana license and I liked the simplicity of the Ski Utah plates. Now I have plates that say "Famous Potatoes." Kind of lame. In fact...I found some guy's random blog entry which makes the case for a new Idaho plate.

Incidentally, Idaho makes you take the written driver's exam if you're coming in from out of state. I was a little nervous but I passed. I passed the motorcycle test as well so I could keep my motorcycle endorsement. On top of all that, I still have a CDL. I'm all set if I need to head back to Glacier and drive the Reds.

Substitute

I was all set to sit down and blog about my trip home. I wanted to analyze the strange behavior of the Graves family which I saw at our annual family Christmas party. Alas, I left my camera at work and I feel any recollection would be subpar without a couple photos I took. So I'll leave that post for later.

For now...how about some of my favorite entertainment courtesy of YouTube.

This made me cry...seriously.


I think this is the stupidest, most ridiculous thing anyone could ever buy. And frankly, it creeps me out a little.


This is by far one of the best news bloopers I've ever come across on the internet.


The Soup is an obsession of mine. This is one of the better clips of late.


And finally...this is pure magic. These are the lyrics some English-speaking dude hears when he sees this Indian music video. This crap belongs on MTV.

Snowbound No Longer

Winter 02/03 - Winter Park, Colorado and The Canyons, Park City, Utah
Winter 04/05 - Big Sky, Montana
Winter 05/06 - Bozeman, Montana
Winter 06/07 - Bozeman, Montana
Winter 07/08 - Bozeman, Montana

A winter storm is scheduled to move through my neck of the woods this weekend. In my opinion, it's long overdue. For the past 5 out of 6 winters, I have been blissfully snowbound. (The winter of 03/04 doesn't count because I was in the southern hemisphere. Summer ruled the day). I've been in a place where the snow flies all the time...and it sticks around well into the spring. I've complained about winter several times on this blog. But I truly am a 4 season kind of guy and I need my fill of wintry weather. Boise just doesn't deliver in that regard. It's very much like Salt Lake. Sometimes it snows in the valley. I remember some big snowstorms when I was little. But when it does snow, it doesn't stick around for very long.

Then I left Salt Lake and experienced winter in cooler climates. I got used to it. But now I'm back in a Salt Lake-like climate. The snow sometimes flies in the Treasure Valley. But when it does, it doesn't stick around for long. I so miss Bozeman in that respect. By springtime, the snow is irritating. But in the dead of winter there, you expect the snow. You like the snow. You embrace the snow.

Here I am ready to embrace it again. But I don't think it's coming.

I'm still fortunate. I can head into the mountains for my wintry fix. I guess that's better than nothing.

On a sidenote, check out this beautiful description of winter by Dainon. It strikes a chord.

99

I don't typically participate in these. But this was a good one. I borrowed from Amanda.

The ones I've done are in red.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - only if I count my disasterous A'cappella audition
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Italy
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - does an infield home run count?
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

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.