For this week's Half-Nekkid Thursday we were to post our favorite photo of 2006.

I like this photo for what it suggests and not for what it reveals. I like how soft the candle light makes everything appear. I like the combination of angles and soft glow. I like that the people who really know me can pick out things in the photo that are so subtle.

For all that this photo is - and isn't, this is my favorite of 2006.

My friends

He: You can't hear those snowballs hitting your window or me yelling?

Me: No

He: Ok, hold on. I'm going to hang up and do it again

Racheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Me: LOL, you are psychotic

My weekend

Every once in a while you need a change of scenery; brush the dust off a little. I headed north toward Glacier. I took my time on the drive home and grabbed my camera to bring some of it with me.

Flathead, southwest of Glacier ParkSwan Lake

I love it here!


(Please don't remind me that I turned down a job here.)

Cabin fever

I got to get movin'
and find a cure for the cabin fever
got to break out of here
get myself out of town

The weekend...

was full of surprises. Making home-made Bailey's at a friends house, followed by the drinking of said beverage on Friday.

Fast forward to the Christmas party on Saturday night. I arrived fashionably late and scanned the room for familiar faces. I got to visit with his parents again who welcomed me with open arms and ran into one of his ex's who I get along with. She and I sat at the table making conversation, laughing about previous nights when we've all hung out and the wild stories that followed.

Then I heard my name called, followed by "there's someone I want you to meet." Uh oh, the hook-up.

"C_, this is my good friend Rachel. Rachel, this is my good friend C_." Hello's and "I've heard so much about you"s were exchanged. He had heard more about me than I him. As he sat at the table with us and conversation resumed I remembered that he was the tequila pusher.

He asked about my work since the host and I work together. I asked about grad school since that's where they met. Soon stories were being told and laughter and drinks were being shared. I thought to myself that he had a nice smile and a great sense of humor.

The party-goers started to dwindle and plans were made amongst the few of us remaining to take the party elsewhere. We ended up at Miller's, having drinks and dancing to the music. Eventually there were no pairs on the dance floor, just bodies and arms and legs and laughter.

I haven't bothered to close a bar in a while but that night it was fun to hang out with old and new friends. One of those nights that you don't want to end. We all ended up back at my apartment. Again the laughter was ever present, stories were exchanged, flirtatious smiles were given and received, new discoveries unfolded, confessions were made and friendships set.

With morning rapidly approaching we said our goodbyes with hugs and kisses and then all was quiet.

My phone rang later that morning, waking me up. "Rachie, last night was a blast." I agreed that I had a very good time. "C_ thought you were awesome, he hasn't had that much fun in a long time and really liked you." I agreed that the night was great, C_ was awesome and we would definitely have to do it again soon.

It's official

My winter will not be spent in Glacier Park. I turned down the job with the Park Service yesterday.

While the location is an absolute dream the position wasn't one that I really wanted. Plus, new developments have made it very difficult to leave. I decided a month ago to stay in Helena and made it final yesterday when called.

I am sad that I won't be moving to West Glacier with the park as my backyard but am content here.

At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Conversations you can only have with a friend....

He: you are having one of those moments aren't you?

Me: what moment?

He: those moments where you over analyze little things and then take them personally and then get confused and possibly upset

LOL, yeah, maybe so

Conversations while chatting...

T_: lol, you changed your status to "fuck you"? Gee thanks

Me: LOL, well, stop being a dick to me then

T_: but you are so much fun to tease

Me: yeah, yeah, must be the same perverse pleasure I get in saying "fuck you" when you give me a hard time ;)

A friend recently pointed out that my Messenger status is always invisible, making it hard for people to contact me if they wanted to do so. I'm not entirely sure what the point was since this person never contacts me anyway but there it was, the fact that I am never "online".

Chat has never been a big thing with me. Oh sure, I experimented with it when I was younger but I've mostly kept Messenger on my laptop for one or two people. However, I made myself visible and people came out of the woodwork. I was surprised to find that they remember who I am. Some I wish had forgotten me (hence the reason I usually log into Messenger as invisible), but there were a few that stopped by my little corner to poke their heads in. It was nice.

It's interesting how some people drift in and back out while others linger for a while. Some we wish would stay longer than others.

Conversations while drinking...

Me: Ok, let me get this straight. You meet this girl, she's cute and smart and fun. You hang out, she likes your friends and Bob, is good in bed and likes having sex with you. She's not bugging you about a commitment, all you have to do is hang and maybe call once in a while?

Damn, why do men find that so hard?

He: Yeah, pretty much.

Me: You like her right? I mean she isn't just a lay, she is actually fun to be around and hang with? Because the only reason to not hang with her would be because you don't actually like her at all. If you don't like her, it really is ok to tell her, we girls are not as fragile as we seem ya know?

He: Oh yeah, yeah, I mean things are cool, we have fun.

Me: And you can't get your shit together enough to do even that much?

He: Yeah, pretty much.

Me: Fuck, you're a dumb ass!

Ah, she likes to travel around
She'll love you but she'll put you down
Now people let me put you wise
Sue goooooooes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
Keep away from-a Runaround Sue

No autographs please

I've been working in this new gig called PhotoShop and the paparazzi have been hounding me ever since it started so for giggles I decided to let them in for a photo op.

Have a cool Half-Nekkid Thursday kids and remember to smile, your adoring fans are counting on it.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Ok, so as most of you have probably guessed I've had nothing. Nothing of any interest to write about lately. I could tell you all about my great weekend but you wouldn't be interested. I am however going to rant a little.

You ready? Rant coming....

I found a note under my door when I got home from work last night. A note from the neighbors who inform me that after I've left for work in the morning Midget has been barking and waking them up.

WTF!?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME WITH THIS SHIT!?!

After I've been woken up and had to listen to every door slam and every word, and I mean EVERY WORD, of every shouting match these two young lovers have had, it seems they have the nerve to complain about being woken up by my 5 pound dog in the morning.

Maybe if the two of them went to bed at a reasonable hour instead of staying up until 2 and 3 in the morning fighting then they could get up at a reasonable hour, say when ADULTS go to work. Then they wouldn't get woken up by my dog after 8:00.

So.....

after the two love birds got home last night I went over and knocked on the door. I've offered to take Midget to work with me in the mornings until 10:00 but informed them that I've been woken up by them repeatedly slamming doors and shouting at each other. And, after pointing out to them that I've heard EVERY SINGLE DAMN WORD they've uttered in said arguements that I think we all just need to learn to get along and deal with noises coming from each others apartments.

And yes, that includes any moaning and utterances of "fuck me" that any of the above mentioned parties may hear coming from the other apartment.

Here endeth the rant.

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach, so you get what we had here last week which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. And I don't like it any more than you..."

People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

Vote!

Either change the situation or change your reaction

My three year old niece...

Me: You are a goof ball

She: Nuh uh, I don't have balls!


I love little kids. They are so much fun to play with when you don't have to keep them.

The same could be said for men.
;)

Rage

She didn't know where the rage had come from. She had never seen it this bad before although it wasn't the first indication that there was a lot she didn't know about the man who was still her husband.

He stood outside on the patio, hands and face pressed to the glass doors. Occasionally she could hear him scream but she didn't wait for him to break the glass and get inside the house - she ran.

She knew she would never make it outside. Running had made her fast when she wanted to be but he could still out pace her and would catch her quickly if she left the safety of the walls surrounding her. Instead she ran for the stairs that led up to the bedroom, thinking of a defensible space.

Locking the door behind her she knew it wouldn't take long before his rage engulfed him and glass would shatter allowing him access into the home they once shared.

She could hear that the pounding on the patio doors had begun. He was no longer satisfied with intimidating her with phone calls and stalking. He had progressed to violence and she was certain it would only escalate.

She thought of the attic and began the climb to the highest part of the house. She knew that from there she could keep him at bay until help arrived.

Her climb took her to the last part of the house to escape to - and also the only part of the house unable to escape from.

First snowfall...

We got our first snow of the season last night. Just enough to add a little frosting to everything.


I took this on the walking mall outside my apartment this morning. I am not a winter person but who doesn't like a little white icing to decorate the place a bit. Soon the Christmas lights will be lit on the walking mall making the entire street glow. I love it here in Montana. :)

Conversations while hiking

Me: My mom would like my dad so much more if she just got stoned.

He: That's one way to get through the holidays.

Me: It would be the only way to get through the holidays with my family.

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He: Yeah, I'm going out with her again tonight. I don't really like her but she wouldn't leave me alone.

Me: You never do a second date if you don't like her, I don't care how good the sex was.

He: I know. I don't want to go but I'm stuck now. This is definitely the second and last date.

Me: Because we only go out on first dates with guys we're interested in, even a little bit, and if you've committed to a second date then in her mind it means you are interested in her, even a little bit.

He: That's what thinking with my dick gets me.

Me: That's why men name their penis, they don't want a stranger making 90% of their decisions for them.

****************************************************************************************
Me: Women all like to think they're Samantha but deep down we all are a little Carrie and Charlotte too.

He: Maybe you think you want to be like Samantha but it just doesn't fit. Men are just excited to meet a woman who's horny.

Me: And horny is fine and great and fun but does that have to be everything it's about? Women can be all for horny and fun but we don't like feeling like a whore you don't have to pay.