I guess it's about time I update everyone... I haven't been writing, because there has been nothing to write about. Choteau has once again become a sleepy little town. Pat has been off in central Montana fighting wildfires, and I have been home sending out application after application....
Finally after about 6 months of response drought, I have two interviews this week!!!! I just finished with one for the Choteau Acantha, the local weekly paper. It is to be their typesetter, dabble in page design, and other front office type duties... Not close to anything I have experience with, and could be a disaster knowing my spelling talents... but who knows... It would be a 16 + hour week, leaving me plenty of time to play with my photography...
The other interview is tomorrow with the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks... This job would be working in both Bozeman and around Great Falls on MFWP's Avian Flu Surveillance team. Meaning I would be collecting live & dead migrant bird samples.... plus a few fecals here and there... That is where my true talents lie.... I am a pro fecal collector... I really should have that on my resume....
I don't think I could have two more opposite job interviews than these two... One is driving all over the state collecting dead birds and their poop.... The other is a half block commute to sit in an office and play on a computer... Hmmm, whichever will I chose.... That is if I am actually offered even one of them...
Anyway... That's it, that's my exciting life right now... Pat will be home tonight, have tomorrow at home, and then he's off to the Bridger Tetons (hopefully) to a Fire Use fire outside of Pinedale. If we're lucky he'll get more than one day off and we can get ourselves down to the State Fair and bet on some ponies..... They have races the entire week of the State Fair in Great Falls... $2 bets... Can't wait....
26 July 2006
13 July 2006
I'm not sure if this is a sign of change... but I now have two of my photos up in a local restaurant for sale... (the two on the far left of my display for the Art on the Green). It's a steak and seafood place that was only interested in my traditional work of Montana scenery. Next step is to decide whether I want to set up a web page, be it with E-Bay or on it's own.
Just So people know... I have not yet given up on my wildlife career, it just seems like it has given up on me.. I still have apps. out all over Montana and the West... I even applied for a job in Florida... sticky, buggy, hot Florida-- but I couldn't pass up a chance at a job researching Florida Panthers...
To fill you all in on Pat... He and his crew have been sent out to central Montana on a few small fires that have been popping up all week.. The fact that they are still around is amazing, usually he has been on at least on 14 day fire hitch by now. I last talked to him on Tuesday, and as far as I know they will be back for the weekend... Here's hoping he'll be home in time to go check out Bluegrass on the Bay with me in Great Falls.
Just So people know... I have not yet given up on my wildlife career, it just seems like it has given up on me.. I still have apps. out all over Montana and the West... I even applied for a job in Florida... sticky, buggy, hot Florida-- but I couldn't pass up a chance at a job researching Florida Panthers...
To fill you all in on Pat... He and his crew have been sent out to central Montana on a few small fires that have been popping up all week.. The fact that they are still around is amazing, usually he has been on at least on 14 day fire hitch by now. I last talked to him on Tuesday, and as far as I know they will be back for the weekend... Here's hoping he'll be home in time to go check out Bluegrass on the Bay with me in Great Falls.
05 July 2006
4th of July Montana Style
Wow am I glad this last weekend is over... I'm exhausted... It all stared Friday night. We headed out to view Tanner & Faith's new goats out on Meadows Ranch... You might all be wondering how interesting is it to watch goats.... Well, to answer that question.. Very... All of the mamma's have at least 2 if not 3 kids, and boy are they a blast to watch play... bouncing around, head-butting, and bailing off the creek edge cliff... it really was quite entertaining. After sunset we headed down to one of the local bars to check out some live music...
On Sat. I had my Art on the Green show... The reception of my work was great, I received an invitation to hang a few photos on commission at a local restaurant, but I only sold a few prints to friends. You have to start somewhere and I'm glad I have friends who are willing to support my hobby...
Thankfully Pat went to get our umbrella to save me from melting in the Montana sun. Sat. night we went to listen to the band yet again.... plus make an appearance at the other bar in town.
Sunday night was the first annual Choteau Boxing Smoker... I've never been a big fan of boxing... I just didn't get how it was fun to watch two people fight... But this event was so much fun... There were true boxers from Great Falls and the surround area, plus a few grunge matches between locals. One of Pat's Forest Service fire friends, Lacy "Native Sweetheart" also fought. She fights regularly with a club in Great Falls in the off season. So we had to go and cheer her on, booster sign and all.. I'll add my photos of the night as soon as I get them developed...
Monday started with a good competition of Keg hockey. That is a game where 3 person teams use fire hoses to try and get a keg past the other team's goal line... Very entertaining sport... We didn't enter ourselves, but if we are here next year, it's on..... Then the night began with a good old fashion pig roast... I know, I don't like pork, but this was for a good cause, so why not par-take.... Then we got treated to an awesome free concert... Provided by an anonymous donor (Letterman, I presume....) For those of you who don't know... David Letterman has his ranch retreat outside our small town, and is a very nice supporter of local events.. The opening band was Shane Clouse and Stomping Ground, of Missoula. http://www.shaneclouse.com/ They were a great country, bluegrass band... Very entertaining... The Main Headliner was Tom Russell http://www.tomrussell.com/index_flash.html Who was incredible... He has a voice like Neil Diamond, plus sings & writes like Lyle Lovett. Pat and I will soon be investing in at least one of his many CD's... I recommend having a good listen for yourself, if you like Americana, you'll Love his stuff. That night was the Choteau Street dance.. It was pretty hard going from such great music to a not so good local band, but we still all had a good time..
Tuesday was the final day of activities, thank goodness.... Starting with the 4th Parade... Nothing too out of the ordinary. Although we have a hunch that Letterman was dressed up as Uncle Sam riding in a convertible... The Rodeo was next... It is sanctioned by the Northern Rodeo Association. Most of the riders were from Montana, and had not yet entered into the PRCA. Even though it's smaller than the Augusta rodeo, it's still fun. By the end of the day, you might have had a cowboy fall in your lap plus you're covered with arena dust & dirt. The night concluded with the community fireworks. Pat's AFMO ( assistant fire manager) lives right below the hill they set them off from. It makes for a great place to sit and enjoy the show... This year there were no exploding watermelon, and lessons were learned from last years attempts at blowing up the house... {one of the bought fireworks tipped over spinning wildly and sending missiles at everyone (including through the legs of my Dad into their garage)}.
Now I can finally relax and recover... I'm not sure Pat is as lucky... His crew will be sent off on their first fire any day now and then it's off to the races for them...
On Sat. I had my Art on the Green show... The reception of my work was great, I received an invitation to hang a few photos on commission at a local restaurant, but I only sold a few prints to friends. You have to start somewhere and I'm glad I have friends who are willing to support my hobby...
Thankfully Pat went to get our umbrella to save me from melting in the Montana sun. Sat. night we went to listen to the band yet again.... plus make an appearance at the other bar in town.Sunday night was the first annual Choteau Boxing Smoker... I've never been a big fan of boxing... I just didn't get how it was fun to watch two people fight... But this event was so much fun... There were true boxers from Great Falls and the surround area, plus a few grunge matches between locals. One of Pat's Forest Service fire friends, Lacy "Native Sweetheart" also fought. She fights regularly with a club in Great Falls in the off season. So we had to go and cheer her on, booster sign and all.. I'll add my photos of the night as soon as I get them developed...
Monday started with a good competition of Keg hockey. That is a game where 3 person teams use fire hoses to try and get a keg past the other team's goal line... Very entertaining sport... We didn't enter ourselves, but if we are here next year, it's on..... Then the night began with a good old fashion pig roast... I know, I don't like pork, but this was for a good cause, so why not par-take.... Then we got treated to an awesome free concert... Provided by an anonymous donor (Letterman, I presume....) For those of you who don't know... David Letterman has his ranch retreat outside our small town, and is a very nice supporter of local events.. The opening band was Shane Clouse and Stomping Ground, of Missoula. http://www.shaneclouse.com/ They were a great country, bluegrass band... Very entertaining... The Main Headliner was Tom Russell http://www.tomrussell.com/index_flash.html Who was incredible... He has a voice like Neil Diamond, plus sings & writes like Lyle Lovett. Pat and I will soon be investing in at least one of his many CD's... I recommend having a good listen for yourself, if you like Americana, you'll Love his stuff. That night was the Choteau Street dance.. It was pretty hard going from such great music to a not so good local band, but we still all had a good time..
Tuesday was the final day of activities, thank goodness.... Starting with the 4th Parade... Nothing too out of the ordinary. Although we have a hunch that Letterman was dressed up as Uncle Sam riding in a convertible... The Rodeo was next... It is sanctioned by the Northern Rodeo Association. Most of the riders were from Montana, and had not yet entered into the PRCA. Even though it's smaller than the Augusta rodeo, it's still fun. By the end of the day, you might have had a cowboy fall in your lap plus you're covered with arena dust & dirt. The night concluded with the community fireworks. Pat's AFMO ( assistant fire manager) lives right below the hill they set them off from. It makes for a great place to sit and enjoy the show... This year there were no exploding watermelon, and lessons were learned from last years attempts at blowing up the house... {one of the bought fireworks tipped over spinning wildly and sending missiles at everyone (including through the legs of my Dad into their garage)}.
Now I can finally relax and recover... I'm not sure Pat is as lucky... His crew will be sent off on their first fire any day now and then it's off to the races for them...
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