2008

I'm registering for class in two weeks

I'm learning Japanese

I bought myself a Christmas present of
new water color painting equipment

I am really looking forward to 2008!

Well it only took an hour for that to officially become the worst Christmas I can remember in like....forever.

It just isn't a holiday until the fists start flying and the police are called. Combine that with some other stuff and the holiday was a disaster.

Yeeeeep, that was fun!

~sigh~

If you like what you do there are few things more rewarding than having clients and the people you work for acknowledge and appreciate the job you do. Clients of mine sent me a special Christmas gift today to thank me for all of my hard work. The whole thing just has a warm, satisfying feeling to it - knowing the people I work with and for appreciate the work I do.

As nice as it is to receive, I get more pleasure from giving. I managed to find some really great gifts for family and friends this year and it has been such a true pleasure in giving them. I've had the opportunity to see the expression on some of their faces or to hear them on the phone as they opened presents and it has been so much fun for me. To all those who shared that experience with me, thank you! The gifts were given with love and friendship and it was as much a pleasure for me to give them as it was for you to receive.

A wonderful and happy holiday to all of you. May you be blessed with love, happiness and good fortune in the coming new year!! To all of my friends near and far, you are a blessing in my life and I am grateful for each and every one of you. I hope that I am the kind of friend to you that truly enriches your lives.

Akkk...get that thing away from me!

I have some great friends. Friends who are kind and generous and have my best interest at heart.

Because of such great friends I've had to up my gym time considerably this time of year. When I got home yesterday my dear friend Kimme had left me a plate of peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate sitting on the kitchen table.

When I got to work this morning Matt stopped by my office waving a plate of peanut butter and chocolate drop cookies.

My friends know that I LOVE peanut butter and chocolate. They know that when it comes to peanut butter and chocolate I have no will power.

So I started this morning with a 5:30 spin class at the gym. Boot camp will be tomorrow followed by Buttz and Gutz on Wednesday and more boot camp on Thursday.

Fortunately I also have friends who will get outside with me in all kinds of weather to go snowshoeing or hiking or running or stair laps or circuit. I also have friends who will call me at 5:30 in the morning and tell me to get my butt out of bed and to the gym.

I LOVE my friends...

almost as much as peanut butter and chocolate!

I was outside at 4:30 this morning and saw four shooting stars!!

That has to be good luck or something, right?

I'm dreaming...

~sigh~

you can't go to school, the mall or church anymore.

what are we doing to each other?

Where the Wild Things Are

He said, she said

Him: If there was one thing you could change about your life what would it be?

Me: I'd win the lottery and be able to live and travel where ever I wanted.

Him: Ok, realistically what would it be?

Me: I don't know, I can't really think of anything. I've got a pretty good life.

Him: Would you want to live with someone again?

Me: Not so much. I mean I won't rule it out completely but it's not something I'm looking for.

Him: Hmmm....

Me: Same question.

Him: Oh, I'd definitely be living with someone again. This is the first time I've lived alone and I don't like it.

Me: Hmmm....

Oh yay!!

Color me red, black and happy.

;)

What fun Christmas was as a kid...

*cough*

*sniffle*

*cough, cough*

"brrrrrrrr"

This and that...

Hehe, God sure has a sense of humor and life can be funny sometimes

I think my boot camp instructor is trying to kill us

I just ordered the cutest red and black outfit ;)

It's official, I'm going back to school in the spring - yay me!

Pity party

Me: So how is S___ doing?

Her: Well, he's remarried, living in Billings and they are expecting a baby

Me: Wow! Well....

that's great.

My ex is remarried and they are about to have a baby. Yeah, I'm feeling kind of sad. Normally I would talk to Kim about this kind of thing but she hates my ex (for good reason) and would tell me to "get over it" or how lucky I am to be single (and I am in a lot of ways, I know this and appreciate my independence - most of the time).

It still pisses me off that he got everything he wanted and I got to pay for it.

I don't really want to get married again. Hell, I don't even necessarily want to live with someone again but it would be nice to have someone that cared about me.

I'm afraid I'm going to die alone and the only way anyone will know is because I won't have answered Kim's emails for 3 days.

~sigh~

Ownership

"Things got a lot less complicated when I stopped complicating them."

It snowed, it snowed, it snowed! Weeeee!

The houses and trees in my neighborhood look like they've been dusted with powdered sugar.

There is just something exciting about the first snow fall and I admit that I don't normally get excited about snow, being a warm weather girl and all. But everything looks so clean and beautiful and snow means snowshoeing.

Of course, we didn't get very much snow and it will all be melted by tonight but it was fun to wake up early this morning to a frosted world outside.

Ha ha!!

A chicken and an egg are lying in bed.

The chicken is smoking a cigarette with a satisfied smile on it's face and the egg is frowning and looking a bit angry.

The egg mutters, to no one in particular, "Well, I guess we answered THAT question..."

Working out

Damn it's cold at 5:30 in the morning!

Fortunately the instructors have us running our asses off in boot camp so we can warm up. Can't wait till there is snow on the ground as well. I've got the yaktrax ready to go.

The new class at the gym is so much harder than boot camp. It's an "I've ran and squatted and lunged and lifted so much I have to puke" kind of a class. Somehow I manage to make it through without actually hurling. It's a miracle I'm tellin' ya. Moose you should come with me while you're here.

Thank you!

For all you do and all that you leave behind

Thanksgiving

I know exactly how it's going to go down.

My niece is wanting to have Thanksgiving dinner at her house in Butte. ~sigh~

My dad will insist that I ride with him and mom since "...we live in the same town and going to the same destination. What, ya don't like us?"
~don't do it Rachel, don't do it~

There is absolutely nothing for the kids to do outside at my niece's house so they'll be inside running up and down the stairs playing

fighting

making noise

getting into trouble ~sigh~

Since it isn't his house there will be no where for my dad to escape to watch football.

He'll get antsy from the noise and the kids and the fighting and the no football and start to get tense. Then he'll start making snide little comments that he wants everyone to think he means in jest when he really is serious.

This will eventually piss my sister off. ~sigh~

We'll have dinner. But we won't all sit together because there isn't any place for a table big enough for the whole clan. At my niece's house.

We'll clean up. What seems like endless plates and forks and knives and pots and pans.

By this time my dad will be tired and grouchy(ier) and we'll make the nice, quiet hour long ride home. Right!

He'll bitch about the whole thing and how noisy the kids were with the noise and the kids and the fighting. ~sigh~

But not this year!

Ahhhh....~sigh~

;)

Those of you who know me know that I love my dog. Moose can testify to that. Although I do think she was a little more worried than I was.

I also know that my dog loves me. How can I tell? I just can.

It's that pure, unashamed, unconditional kind of love.

I'm thinking it is about the closest thing to God we have here.

That's just cool!

God, Dog, Dog, God. Coincidence? I don't think so!

;)

I watch this video over and over again...

I will be doing my day to day thing and all of a sudden get a flashback of the skydive or get that jump in my heart from the rush. I find myself daydreaming about skydiving and wanting to know how they do all the flips and spins and acrobatics. This is so going to break my savings. I absolutely can't wait to go again!

I hate blind dates!


I know the guy, or know who he is so maybe its not really a blind date but a fix up?

We've spoken a couple of times at the gym.

I'm putting off calling him back.


I hate blind dates and fix ups!

Okay, that was weird....

I use my phone as my alarm clock when I have to get up. It's usually set for 5:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for boot camp and 3:45 on Fridays for work.

This morning I woke up around 2:30 to what sounded like someone calling my name. I actually got up to look out the window (yes, I have some friends who will stand outside and shout, don't ask me why, I don't get it).

Not seeing anyone I climbed back into bed and thought to check the time.

My phone had turned off during the night. If I hadn't been awakened at 2:30 by the sound of someone calling me I never would have gotten up on time this morning.

It had to have been a dream....

Happy Halloween

I am so excited for tonight. No big plans but I'm looking forward to having trick or treaters for the first time in a really long time. I've decorated with pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns and spider webs and I have candy galore...


Let's hope the little goblins show up or I'm going to be stuck with a LOT of sugary goodness.

Have good days kids, play hard!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

That was me, squealing like a school girl (with pig tails and knee socks and that short little plaid skirt...hehe, anyway).

I've got a new toy!!


No, not that kind of toy, this kind of toy!


Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom:
8.0-megapixel CCD
Ultra-powerful 12x optical zoom
High-resolution 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD
DIGIC III Image Processor with improved Face Detection Technology and red-eye correction

I am absolutely loving it but there is so much to learn about this camera. I'm still reading the manual but Os stopped by last night and gave it his official seal of approval. Plan on seeing a lot more photos for a while kids.

YES!

I have to admit that I feel bad for the Rockies. They had a good season and not only did they get swept but they felt the double sting of having it happen at home. You have to feel a little sad for them about that. Just making it to the Series is an accomplishment in and of itself! Well done guys!

It's just a little bit sweeter because they did it at Coors Field.


Uh oh, did I just screw up my Karma?

"A good friend of mine used to say, 'This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.' Think about that for a while."

Isn't life grand?

Dancin' with myself

Did you see that game?

Ok, who forgot to tell Cleveland they had a game last night?

"...And once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you long to return..."

What a RUSH!

The day was absolutely perfect, blue skies, warm sunshine, incredible scenery and some of the greatest people I've had the chance to meet. Everyone immediately made me feel welcome and were so encouraging. We had to wait a bit for other jumpers but then it was time to go through the jump and then board the plane. My tandem master gave me instructions; scoot to the door, hang feet out, ready, set, go and then arch, arms out, eyes open etc. He taught me how to fly the canopy and then we were loaded into the plane. When the plane started to taxi down the run way I remember thinking "no turning back now."

Then we were in the air, climbing to 9000 feet. It was a calm ride and I wasn't nervous at all. Then my tandem master said it was time to move to the door. That's when the nerves kicked in. We moved to the door and he told me to swing my feet out. It was at this point that I realized I was no longer sitting on the edge of the plane but actually hanging out of it. That was a little unnerving. Then it was "ready, set, go!" and we were out.

The initial fall was a little scary but the feeling didn't last long. Soon we were free falling and the view was incredible (I managed to open my eyes). The free fall lasted for 30 seconds and then I felt the tug from the canopy opening and suddenly we were just floating 5000 feet above the ground. I got to steer the canopy and fly around for about 5 minutes.
The view was incredible and it was such a blast being up there. The landing was a little rough with a slight injury and a huge cloud of dust but I made it through. Everyone told me that I would never look at the sky the same way again and they were right. I now find myself checking the clouds and the clear sky thinking about jumping days. I think I'm hooked!

My first jump! I can't wait to do it again!

I watched him strap on his harness and helmet, climb into the cockpit and, minutes later, a black dot falls off the wing two thousand feet above our field. At almost the same instant, a while streak behind him flowered out into the delicate wavering muslin of a parachute — a few gossamer yards grasping onto air and suspending below them, with invisible threads, a human life, and man who by stitches, cloth, and cord, had made himself a god of the sky for those immortal moments.

A day or two later, when I decided that I too must pass through the experience of a parachute jump, life rose to a higher level, to a sort of exhilarated calmness. The thought of crawling out onto the struts and wires hundreds of feet above the earth, and then giving up even that tenuous hold of safety and of substance, left me a feeling of anticipation mixed with dread, of confidence restrained by caution, of courage salted through with fear. How tightly should one hold onto life? How loosely give it rein? What gain was there for such a risk? I would have to pay in money for hurling my body into space. There would be no crowd to watch and applaud my landing. Nor was there any scientific objective to be gained. No, there was deeper reason for wanting to jump, a desire I could not explain.

It was that quality that led me into aviation in the first place — it was a love of the air and sky and flying, the lure of adventure, the appreciation of beauty. It lay beyond the descriptive words of man — where immortality is touched through danger, where life meets death on equal plane; where man is more than man, and existence both supreme and valueless at the same instant.

— Charles A. Lindbergh, contemplating his first parachute jump, 'The Spirit of St Louis,' 1953

Ever get one of those comments that makes your skin crawl?


~shudder~

Waiting...

I've been waiting. Along with other friends near and far. Waiting for what we all prepared for. Waiting for what she prepared for. Can you ever really prepare? I've never been in the situation of waiting for a loved one to pass away. I know we've all been trying to be supportive and helpful but there is only so much we can do. She knows we love her, she knows we care.

I found myself praying that it doesn't happen today. If it couldn't have been yesterday at least make it tomorrow or Tuesday, not today, not on her birthday. I know what that feels like. I know it hasn't been the birthday celebration she was looking forward to and that makes me sad as well.

We'll continue to wait, friends from afar. Waiting and praying and hoping to provide some comfort when we can. Waiting for news that we know is coming. We just don't know when.

Oh my God that was an amazing walk off homer!!!


2 down!

Traveling for work

"So Rachie, where are you today?"

"Well let's see, flat, no mountains. LOL, I'd say I'm about ten minutes from if I lived here I'd blow my brains out."

;)

A gloomy day

When I woke up this morning there was snow on Mt. Helena. It has been raining at the house all morning and the sky is gray as far as the eye can see.

I've got my errands done and now I'm going to stay in, bundle up, make brownies, clean a little house and watch Knocked Up. I'm thinking it's not a bad way to spend a Saturday. Wanna join me?

RUNNING HILLS SUCKS!





I'm just sayin'...

The Hunt for Red October

Ever have one of those thoughts that makes you laugh your ass off but instantly you also know that you just screwed up your karma?



LOL, but hell that was funny!

New Boot Campers Part Deux

Newbie 1:
Oh gawd this cold morning shit sucks!

Me:
Amen

Newbie 2:
I'm getting my ass out of bed on a cold morning to do what? to run?

Newbie 1:
Yeah if I'm getting my butt out of bed at 5:30 on a cold morning there had better be pancakes involved.

Me:
LMAO!

"Cheeseburger..."

The Cheeseburger bird is back and I found out that his "official" name is a Black-Capped Chickadee. Apparently he's a smart bird too:

The Black-Capped Chickadee hides seeds and other food items for later recovery. Each item is placed in a different spot and a bird can remember thousands of hiding places.

He's been hanging around my house so of course he's a smart bird. Hmm, I may have to get a bird feeder for this little guy.

It turns out that he's cute too so I don't mind him stalking me too much. As long as he doesn't start too early in the morning with his song we'll be on good terms.

New boot campers...

Instructor:
"Come on, let's go, up the hill, lift those legs higher"

Newbie 1:
"She's kidding, right?"

Me:
"Afraid not"

Newbie 2:
"Is she trying to kill us?"

Me:
"Naw, it just feels that way at first, you'll get used to that dying feeling"

Newbie 1:
"oh goody"


Hehe, rookies!

"My Boys" will be boys

The guys are all sitting around watching the game when the batter gets hit in the head with a 90 mph fast ball. They immediately start talking about who could take it and how he was a "pussy", after all "he had a helmet on!"

This, of course, leads to the batting cages. LMAO!

The guys decided to see who could actually "take it." It started out at 45 mph, each guy taking a turn and upping the ante with each round. LOL! By the time D__ took an "85er" to the head and was knocked out cold I was practically rolling on the floor....

York Fest

A beautiful Saturday spent out at York Fest, a benefit for local fire fighters. The weather couldn't have been more cooperative and a fun time was had by all between the Best Bike contest, the games, vendors, live music and auctions - it was a lot of fun with a diverse group of people (young, old, bikers, cowboys, fire fighters, etc. it was testosterone city!).

D__'s bike - so much fun to ride!!

All of the fun followed by Bloody Mary's and burgers at York Bar (remind me to take you there). If you know anything about the area then you know that York Bar burgers are the best in southwest Montana. A great way to spend a Saturday!

Conversations with the cat....

"Ouch CT, that's my leg"

"Meow"

"Damn! Stop digging your claws into my ass"

"Meeeeeeeeeeeowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww"

Hi honey, I'm "home"!

Home is a relative term I guess since every time I'm in Glacier I feel at home but - I'm home.

It was a long, tiring, amazing, wonderful, fabulous trip. On Saturday morning I got a late start on the trail because of the shuttle schedule so I didn't start hiking until 11:00 but the trail to Gunsight Campground was an easy one and since I didn't have a schedule I took my time.

When I got to the first suspension bridge I felt like a kid again. I ran to it and immediately started bouncing up and down. Hehe, that was fun!

With views like this why would you hurry?

My first side trip was to Florence Falls. Unfortunately the photos I took just don't do it justice. It's taller and more beautiful than I was able to capture but it was sure fun playing in the water. It was somewhere around here that I lost my iPod - oh well, I wasn't going back for it. A couple of hours later I arrived at Gunsight Lake where I camped for the first night. Like all of Glacier that I've seen it is beautiful. Oh, and see that saddle in the middle of the mountains (the gunsight)? See that peak to the left? That's my first stop the next day.


I managed to get an early start the next morning (the potential bear patrolling the campground going "whuw, whuw, whuw" may have helped prompt my early start) and I made it over Gunsight Pass.

As I was coming down the pass to Lake Ellen Wilson me and Mr. Bear met up for a brief chat.


I said "hey bear" over and over again and he looked up as if to say "yeah, what do you want?" (if you click it you can see him looking at me and yeah the photo is slightly out of focus - my hand was shaking).

So I backed up and gave him some space (it's rude to crowd the bears in Glacier Park - and dangerous). I watched him for about 10 minutes, all the time just letting him know that I was there but that I wasn't a threat and wasn't going to push (it feels weird to be lower on the food chain than something else) but eventually managed to get a few feet closer for another photo as he went back to digging roots.
Believe me, this was as close as I was going to get. And when I say a few feet closer I literally mean a few feet. There is no way I was taking the chance of crowding a grizzly bear. That is foolish and stupid hiking. It would have taken him all of about five seconds to cover the distance between us if he wanted to.

It was such a privilege to see this guy and I enjoyed just standing there watching him. He eventually wandered down the hill and as I came down Gunsight Pass I was able to watch him swim across Lake Ellen Wilson and climb out on the shore below. That was sooooo cool!

I finished that day by crossing Lincoln Pass. Boy, the Sperry Chalet roof was a beautiful and welcome sight.
I have a lot of great photos of Sperry Chalet but am including just the one. If you want to see more then you have to make the hike ;) It is so worth it. The people who operate, manage and work at Sperry Chalet do an incredible job of making everyone feel welcome and comfortable and I dare you to stay there and not have it become a part of you. I am already planning my trip for next year.

When I took this photo I was missing it already. My last night was spent lounging and remembering all the great things about this trip. A few bug bites, a few blisters, some sore shoulders and knees but I can't wait to go back.

I am outta here....

I'm off to Glacier kids; back country here I come.

Have a good weekend and I'll see you soon!

Drop a quarter in the slot...

I'm lying in bed the other night, minding my own business (no, really) when suddenly the bed started to shake.

For the first few seconds it felt a little like the earthquake we had a few years ago - bed shaking slightly for no obvious reason.

I sat upright and tried to determine if my bed was actually shaking or if my imagination was playing tricks on me. Maybe my equilibrium was off or something. Maybe I'd picked up the super charged batteries. Maybe, just maybe we were having an earthquake. Oh yeah, the bed was most definitely shaking.

It was then that I heard my neighbors washing machine slip into a new cycle. Ah ha! Sort of like shifting from reverse cowgirl to downward dog.

Hehe, all the fun of a vibrating bed without the quarters.

"Got kind of a lead foot there missy"

"Damn it!"

I saw him just a little too late, the familiar black car with the yellow highway patrol emblem on the side.

He immediately flipped his lights on and I slowed to about 80.

I watched him in the rear view mirror as he continued in the opposite direction, probably looking for a place to turn around. Yep, sure enough. "I'm busted," I thought as I watched him in the distance get his patrol car turned around and come south in my direction.

Suddenly, my possible salvation. The road sign said "Boulder - 1 mile." If I could beat him to the exit he wouldn't catch me. As soon as I saw that sign it was no longer about the $45 ticket (or whatever it is). It was a race to see if I could get away.

I brought the car up to 85 and continued towards the exit. I could see his lights flashing about a mile back and figured if he caught up to me before that exit I'd have to pull over but otherwise I was going to keep going.

I slid off the interstate and onto the exit, came to a rolling stop at the sign and made a left turn. I pulled into the parking lot of the gas station just off the exit and figured that was as good a time as any to get something to drink.

I grabbed a diet coke, paid at the counter and as I walked back out to my car I saw the highway patrolman drive by.

Today was my day. Maybe next time it will be his.

Odds & Ends, This & Thats

Is it just me or does fall feel to be right around the corner? I'm noticing a distinct chill in the air at night and the mornings have been just a little cooler. That's ok. I'm a warm weather girl but I think I'm ready for fall.

I so need a vacation. Good thing I'm taking one in a week. Just a wee one but I can deal with five days out of the office.

Speaking of the office, a new opportunity may be rising. Not sure yet but it would most definitely get me out of the office. We shall see.

Everything is laid out, waiting to be put in and picked up.





....mmmmm, fall.


Have good days kids!

Tops or bottoms?

For more HNT fun go see the great and powerful Os!

I know how you feel...

yawn!

How cute is this?

Picked this up the other night at a girls get-together. It's flavored body powder with its own little feather duster.

Very cute don't you think? And it could be fun! ;)

Two weeks, two weeks, two weeks!

"Oh fuck!"

The words were out of my mouth before I even thought.

"Fuck! Get it off."

*jump*

I'd been outside cleaning cobwebs from near the front door and window and before I knew it the spider was on my shoulder.

*jump* Ah! Ah!

I am totally freaked out by spiders just in my general vicinity but to have one actually on me had me jumping around like a Mexican jumping bean. Once it started to crawl down my back the spaz was on!!

*jump*

"Ah, ah, get this fucking thing off me!"

My partner in grime began beating me like I was on fire. Both of us dancing around the front yard, all arms and legs.





Whew! Spider's gone.


No one was injured...


except the spider.

Whoa buddy, put your pants on

It's 4:45 in the morning and I'm walking out my back door for the gym. As usual the neighbors living room light is on.

As I'm pulling out of the carport who appears at the door, showing everything God gave him? My neighbor. Just standing out his back door, uhm.....lifting the goods to enjoy a little summer breeze. Airing things out I guess.




I so didn't need to see that.

I had this fantasy...

you were there.

The trail was quiet, nothing but the sound of wind and water. After a hot day it felt great to cool off in that isolated lake.

The grazing of fingers started slowly, almost timidly. Kisses were cautious and shy.

It became difficult to breath. Hands began moving more aggressively. The skin that was so cool just a moment ago felt warm to the touch as we moved to shore.

"I want you now," I whispered in your ear and pulled you to me. All shyness gone as I slid down your body, my hands and tongue seeking, tasting, touching...

Happy camper

I love it here!

Nothing can go wrong with my day when I'm in Glacier.

(thanks Moose for the photo)

Are you trying to turn me into a girl?

Her:
Well he's back and aching so I'm playing nurse maid. Or at least being more agreeable than usual, getting water, soda, watching wresting et al...

We HAVE TO FIND a mani/pedi in this town that doesn't cost a zillion dollars......do you know if they do them at Dillard's or Penny's? And they have to have two chairs so we can do it together.

Me:
Are you trying to turn me into a girl? ;)

Huckleberry Crisp

Last weekend while Moose and I were camping in Glacier we stopped and bought cherries and I picked up some huckleberries. I just found this yummy and so simple recipe for Huckleberry Crisp. Remind me to make it for you sometime (yeah, I cook occasionally).

Filling ~
3 cups huckleberries (fresh or frozen)
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup sugar

Topping~
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oatmeal
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)

Directions~
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place huckleberries in large bowl
In separate bowl mix 3 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 cup sugar. Pour mixture over the huckleberries and toss gently to coat. Pour fruit mixture into greased 7 x 11 baking dish.
In separate bowl mix topping ingredients until crumbly and sprinkle over fruit mixture.
Bake for 50 - 55 minutes.
Serve warm or cooled - with ice cream or whipped cream if you really want to make it decadent.

I didn't get nearly enough huckleberries for all the things I want to try. Hopefully when I get back to the Glacier area I will still be able to buy some.

Have good days!

Me:
I am so PJ, it sucks! All my friends are guys, with the exception of two. I'm way into sports, more so than most of my guy friends.

Her:
I know what you mean.

Me:
It sucks, I get tired of being one of the guys.

Her:
And when you do act like a girl they say "you're being so girly" and not in a good way.

Me:
Yeah, my girliness NEVER seems to come out in a good way...

damnit! ;)

We're baaaaaack....

What a great couple of days in Glacier. We dropped the boy off Sunday and then headed towards Glacier. We ran into a lot of smoke on the way due to the Marias Pass fire just south of the park but it cleared up as we headed down from Logan Pass.

When we made camp at Avalanche campground we ended up next to about 5 or 6 musicians. What a nice way to spend the evening, listening to live music in Glacier. We slept to the sound of them playing next door, it was nice.

Monday we took the new shuttle to Logan Pass and hiked 1.5 miles to the Hidden Lake Overlook and then the additional 1.5 miles down to Hidden Lake. It was absolutely beautiful. We both ended up falling asleep on the shore for an hour or so but it felt fabulous just sleeping in the warm sun with our feet in the cool water and a nice breeze.

The shuttle system in Glacier is great and they have it down to a science. Plus we got to talk to other park visitors while riding. I heard some great things said about the back country chalets and the park in general.

Tuesday was spent packing up camp, grabbing some breakfast, taking photos at Avalanche Gorge and doing a little shopping. And then of course we had to stop for huckleberry ice cream on the way out of the park.

Another great trip to Glacier - thanks Moose!

And we're off....

The wedding was beautiful, the day was wonderful (so happy for Heather) and now Moose and I are running off to play.

We'll take the boy to Great Falls to catch his flight and then continue our drive north to Glacier for a couple of days of hiking, camping, relaxing and chilling out in one of the best outdoor playgrounds I know of.

Breakfast this morning with friends and then we'll be loading the cooler and the tote and the tent and sleeping bags and running shoes etc. etc. into the car and we're off like a herd of turtles, like a stampede of snails even. Don't you wish you were going too? We'll be at Avalanche Campground, meet us there. ;)

Sailing

A good mechanic is hard to find...

but once you do it's like the sky just opened up and spilled sunshine.

A week ago I received a gift certificate in the mail for a free oil change at a local garage. I thought "what the hell, the oil is about due to be changed in my car" so I made an appointment.

After having my car on the rack for an hour the mechanic told me that I basically needed to rebuild the front suspension on my car. The most important repair being new inner and outer tie rods (don't you just love it when I talk car?) at a cost of $500, for just the tie rods and labor! When all was said and done I ended up with a laundry list of recommended repairs.

Feeling completely frustrated about the entire experience I decided to get a second opinion. I took the car to my parents mechanic. I explained what I wanted him to check and mentioned that I wasn't paying $500 for a $300 job (after having done some research on the cost of parts, the "pickle fork" needed to remove the tie rods and how long the job should take).

He called today and it turns out that all I need are the outer tie rod ends and he recommended changing the serpentine belt. All of this will cost me less than half of what the original "mechanic" (and crook is probably a better word) was planning to charge me.

Side note: my parent's just got their car back from this mechanic after having the AC redone and it was $200 less than they expected it to be.

I'm definitely going to give this guy a chance and if he proves as trustworthy as has been reported so far (by several different people) then I've found myself a new mechanic. Better than gold sometimes.

P.S. I recommended that Moose call him regarding the radiator on her car. We'll see what happens.

There's a Moose on the loose

Moose is here! Yep, she made it in one piece with only one traffic stop (not bad for her).

The week is jam packed with activities: burgers and beer at York Bar (if I haven't taken you there, remind me to do so), wedding "things" (not mine, someone else's *whew*), her "boy" is flying in and then flying back out again, and then finally on Sunday we leave for Glacier Park (I know, I don't get there nearly enough).

It should be a fun week and I'm so glad she's here. I don't see her often enough so having almost two weeks to hang is great! Glad to have you home girl.

Motorcycles, redheads and Reckless Kelly - some of my favorite things too....

Said Red Molly to James that's a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like
Said James to Red Molly, well my hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Box Hill they did ride

They will be in Missoula August 5th, wanna go?

A sure fire way to beat the heat

Hop on the back of a motorcycle and ride to the top of McDonald Pass!

"Rachie, you feel like blowing off some steam?"

I was down for blowing off a little steam, things had been stressful lately and it was time to let loose a little.

The four of us decided to hit Teasers (the local strip club). The night started off innocently enough. Sitting around a table having a few beers and a Long Island Ice Tea, not really paying much attention to what was going on and not on the receiving end of attention either.

Then I was informed that it was time to hit the rail. Do you know what that is? I didn't but as C__ dropped a dollar bill down in front of me I soon found out. The stripper with the long brown hair slid up in front of me and I got my first girl on girl action. She was uhm....very friendly.

I was under the impression that we weren't allowed to touch the girls but apparently women are actually encouraged to do so. Next it was K__'s turn as the girl moved over in front of her.

We were trying to get the girls to pay attention to the men but it didn't matter how many dollar bills we dropped in front of them. The guys only got a little lovin' before the girls moved on.

After hanging out at Teasers for a while we bailed and ended up at the river. A little alcohol, a little hot weather, a lot of darkness all blends together nicely for skinny dipping don't you agree?

I'd say steam has definitely been blown.

Mmmmm....you have to try this:

• Really good ciabatta bread


• Roma or Beefsteak tomatoes


• Fresh leaf Basil


• Fresh Mozzarella cheese (packed in water)


• Butter


• Sea Salt (very important - if you don't use sea salt already it makes everything taste so much better)


• Pepper

1. Butter the bread first - it keeps the bread from getting mushy

2. Lay fresh Basil leaves on either side of the bread - be generous

3. Lay sliced Mozzarella on one side of the bread, sprinkle lightly with sea salt

4. Lay sliced tomatoes on Mozzarella, sprinkle lightly with sea salt and pepper

5. Cover with the top slice of bread

VIOLA!

If you use fresh ingredients this is soooo good and so easy. Finished off with a Blackberry Cabernet sorbet (from Ciao Bella, yummy) - perfect for hot summer days!
(Moose, I have to make these for you while you're here)