I'm learning to look forward to Fall more and more.


The nights are getting cooler and this morning when Midget and I went for a run it was almost cold.

I'm ready for summer to be over. I'm ready for crisp leaves as I walk to work and sleeping with the windows open and no fan and for things to slow down a bit.

It's not often that a person hears they are gorgeous - especially by a complete stranger. I'm not kidding. I couldn't make this up if I tried.

As I'm walking down the street to Walgreens yesterday (for some very gorgeous allergy medicine) this is how the brief conversation went:

He: Wow, you are gorgeous (as he comes around the corner at me)

Me: You scared the hell out of me

He: Sorry but someone has to tell you that you're beautiful

Me: Uh, thanks

He: I'm Gary, and you are?

Me: Going to be late

He: Going to work?

Me: No, to get allergy medicine

He: Do you live around here?

Me: Sorry, you are the last kind of guy I need to meet but thanks for the compliment and have a nice day

He: Can I take you to dinner sometime?

Me: (over my shoulder) I think you need to have your eyes checked.

Apparently he has just moved here from Florida and is making new friends by walking around downtown and introducing himself to strange women. Who knows, it might work. He might just get lucky.

Outside the General Store at Lake McDonald Lodge

pssst....new photos on Flickr ;)

Me: Does everyone around here just get fried by the end of the summer?

She: ~sigh~ Yep!

A word of advice

If you're out early in the morning, say running with your dog, be sure to cover your mouth if you yawn.



I swallowed a bug.

More from the local police blotter...

3:22 a.m. A mountain lion was seen near Rhodes Draw in Kalispell.

12:44 p.m. A man who was disrespecting his grandmother was taken to jail.

1:53 p.m. A man in Hungry Horse can’t seem to find the words to communicate with his neighbor. He has replaced the standard wave with his middle finger.

3:12 p.m. A soon-to-be divorced couple had a verbal dispute over living arrangements: She wants him out and he wants to stay. One of the two had also removed all the doorknobs in the home.

4:30 p.m. A man in Coram called in to report that his neighbors keep giving him “the bird.”

5:34 p.m. An ex-girlfriend of a man in Hungry Horse keeps driving by his house and honking.

8:56 p.m. A concerned citizen called in to report a couple on a bench engaging in some heavy petting.

Having fun!

I've received a couple of questions about this great new job I have and where it is and what I do etc.

When I moved to Kalispell a couple of months ago I took a fabulous job with the Glacier Institute. It keeps me extremely busy (I'm not ignoring you, I promise) which I love and it allows me to get out into Glacier National Park which you KNOW I love.

The Glacier Institute is the educational center for Glacier National Park. The Institute provides adults and children with hands-on, science based educational opportunities in and around Glacier National Park. Courses such as snorkeling in McDonald Creek and Glacier's Grizzlies.

I really am having a ball. I'm tired and working hard (yeah, I know one or two of you who are working harder than I am) but I'm having so much fun.

If you find yourself in the area, come up and take a course or two. (Moose, you should definitely come to Glacier before your move and come take a course or two with the Institute).

Comparing mosquito bites


He: "There's one here, here, here and here."

Me: "And I've got one here and here and here. Oooh, you've got three there."

He: (proudly) "Yep!"

Daily Commute

When I moved to Kalispell I was lucky to find a cute apartment about 3 blocks from the office. Once again I am able to walk to work every day - rain or shine.

You start to develop a routine of sorts when you do something every day. You meet the same people. If I need to pick up breakfast or lunch I'll stop at Sykes where Jane greets me every morning. Then it's off to the post office where I see Fred who polishes the floor every day. We smile and say hi to each other. As I head to the corner I always see the girl who drives the baby blue 1960 Chevy Corvair and at the bank I see Glacier Bank Bob. He holds the door open for all the employees. He and I have a "bit"....

GBB - "we've got to stop meeting like this."

Me - "people are gonna talk."

I've only been here two months and I love it. Perhaps the novelty hasn't worn off yet but I am developing a sense of belonging. I would rather think that part of why I love it is because it already feels like home.