Jeffrey

     What a week! My friend Jeff, whom I used to work w/ @ the Pet Palace back in Ohio, came out for a little visit to Missoula this week. After dragging him across the country at New Years I was pretty sure I had scared him away from going on any more of my "adventures." But alas, he proved to be tougher than I first thought him to be and he came back for round two.
     And round two it was. He flew into the airport here in Missoula during a horrible snowstorm that almost re-routed his plane to Spokane, WA at the last minute. His first impressions of Montana were pretty typical to Montana. Negative temperatures, white out snow, and all of us crazy locals out loving it. I made him go to Big Dipper for ice cream his first night here when it was -9 out.

      Only two days into his trip I left him to fend for himself as I was flown down to Atlanta, GA for a last minute interview w/ Delta. [To catch everyone up to speed on that, I'd been interviewing for a flight attendant position w/ Delta airlines since early December. Over 120,000 people applied for the position. I was one of 4,000 chosen to fly to ATL for in person interviews at the corporate office. I received word on Saturday that I was (sadly) not chosen for the position. Bittersweet.] He was still alive by the time I made it back from my blitz trip to the deep south. I promised to make up for his boredom (I don't own a tv, something not heard of on the east coast). Jeff was nice enough to let me sleep pretty much all day Friday by hitting up our local ski resort, Snow Bowl. He got to ski the powder of the Rockies while I got to catch up on some much needed sleep from my 24 hour blitz trip to Atlanta.

     Saturday we rented some snowshoes and headed up to Lolo Pass. We've had a bit of a warm spell this week so conditions weren't ideal for shoeing, but they most certainly were for building snowmen! When we got to the top of the mountain we stopped to rest and build Snow Holly & Snow Jeff. Can you see the resemblances?

     Sunday was a slightly more relaxing day. We hung around town for most of the day before venturing to Jerry Johnson hot springs as the sun was setting. I was excited to take Jeff to these as I'd been talking his ear off about them on our x-country trip. We had a quiet little hike to the first pool where we (in usual fashion) me a group of hippies already hanging out in them. Some tea lights were lit inside one of the caves creating a soft glow over the pool. The moon was shining so brightly and the stars were out in full force. It was one of my favorite trips to the springs.

Happy Valentine's Day

So... I know I don't celebrate Valentine's Day (not b/c I'm single, I haven't celebrated it since I was in elementary school) but I thought I would send out a little cyber love since my wonderful friend Bare sent me these beautiful flowers today. Thanks Bare!

Ice Road Doggies

     So now that I'm back in Missoula for the time being Kristin & I are back into our usual Thursday hiking ritual. We've been hitting up a few of the roads/trails in her area to get the pups (and ourselves!) out in the woods as far as we can go. The weather hasn't been the most beautiful lately, but here are a few pictures of the pack to enjoy anyways.

A Place All My Own

     I've spent the last week and a half  moving in to my new place. It's a little nice 2 bedroom condo at the base of the South Hills. The condo belongs to a friend of mine & I'm only here temporarily while the place is being fixed up to go on the market. Regardless of how long I am actually here for, I have fallen in love w/ this place (and so have the pups). It's our little slice of heaven in heaven.
     I'll post a video tour once this phase of the renovation is complete and the dust has settled (and been cleaned)

Pups Reunion

Bosco & Skyler had the opportunity to meet up w/ their (forever) brother Schuck so we jumped on the chance to get them all together to romp in the snow like old times. They even stopped to let me take a few pictures of them, despite the protests.

I & Love & You (13,500 Miles)

Where have the last 5 months gone? I guess the better question could be "where in the cuss has my life just taken me?!"

I quietly rolled into Missoula yesterday morning around 4am. The pups started whining as soon as we took the Van Buren street exit. They knew where we were. A good friend was waiting for us in the biting cold, his arms already outstretched for a hug. While Bosco & Skyler turned back into puppies in the fresh powder on the ground, I squeezed the crap out of Andrew as he welcomed me back home to Missoula.

Rewind my life a week & I was standing in New York City ringing in the year 2011 w/ millions as we watched the ball drop in Times Square. It was time to say goodbye to 2010 & I was ready...

Five months previous I was wondering where could my life possibly go at that point? The only thing I really knew was that at that moment in life, I had hit rock bottom and the only way to go was up. Little did I know where the adventures of the next five months would take me. I knew that somehow I would find my way back to Missoula, I just didn't know the wild ride that I would go on before returning here.

This adventure, this journey, as I have often referred to it has brought so many amazing things into my life. The places, the memories, the bonds, the life lessons, but most importantly, the people. The details of this journey shall remain quiet, for personal conversations if you are curious.

So now I sit here in Liquid Planet on Higgins staring out the window at the people passing by. Missoula was the first place I've ever truly called home. I've been interviewing w/ a company that might take me away from here. A thought that once seemed unbearable to me until recently. Yet another conversation w/ a good friend helped me to realize the feeling I thought only Missoula could bring me is really something I carry inside myself. Plus, no matter what takes me away from her, she'll always be waiting for me when I return.



Load the car and write the note
grab your bag and grab your coat
tell ones that need to know
we are headed WEST


all one foot in and one foot back
but its okay, to live like that
so i cut the ties and i jumped the tracks
for never to return


brooklyn brooklyn take me in
are you aware the shape im in
my hands they shake my head it spins
brooklyn brooklyn take me in


when at first i learned to speak
i used all my words to fight
with him and her and you and me
oh its just a waste of time
its such a waste of time


that women shes got eyes that shine
like a pair of stolen polished dimes
she asked to dance i said its fine
ill see you in the morning time


brooklyn brooklyn take me in
are you aware the shape im in
my hands they shake my head it spins
brooklyn brooklyn take me in


three words that became hard to say
i and love and you
what you were then i am today
look at the things i do


brooklyn brooklyn take me in
are you aware the shape im in
my hands they shake my head it spins
brooklyn brooklyn take me in


dumbed down and numbed my time and age
you dreams to catch this world the cage
the highway sets the travelers stage
all exits look the same
three words that became hard to say
i and love and you
i and love and you
i and love and you