Montana Thoughts

Greetings! I had almost forgot about this blog. My life has had some wild changes lately. In the beginning of February I got laid off from my job of over 5 years. I have since relocated back to Helena, MT were most of my friends are. I have been living off my savings and unemployment. Thank GOD both my vehicles are paid for, and not many bills. My former co-worker Michele and I are trying to open our own business going the same thing we did in Great Falls, MT. We have the knowledge and experience, and now looking into the SBA and banks for money. I am hopeful. We also hope to do a lot more traveling believe we get our business going. I'm going to try and make it to Seattle, WA this year. The closest I've been in Spokane, WA. It should be a fun time. Will be posting some new pictures soon. Got tons to put up.

I know I haven't posted anything since late last year and not much has really changed. Well, Somethings have I guess. I have been laid off and moved back to Helena. After not having a vacation in over three years I'm thinking of enjoying my unemployment for a while and try to open a business with my friend. Will try and keep this updated because of the free time I'll have in the near future.

I really haven't been doing much since cabin sitting for my friend Albert. I tried to get to Glacier National Park before they closed Going to the Sun Road but missed it by a week. It wasn't a lost trip though. We decided we would take a drive up to Polebridge , and Bowman Lake. Polebridge is an awesome little town located just outside the Park. It consists of a big mercantile building, a small bar called "The Northern Lights", a Hostel, and a few other homes. The mercantile has fresh baked goods everyday and a small store for necessities . In the summer, the mercantile rents out little cabins for guests exploring the north west side of the park. The Northern Lights Bar is great too. About 5 years ago we ate dinner there on our way to Bowman Lake and it was the best food I've had. After a little stop at Polebridge we continued on toward Bowman Lake. Right after the ranger station the road branches off. One way takes to you Bowman Lake and the other goes t...

View's of Albert's Cabin I will be relaxing off the grid in the Helena National Forest the next few weekends. Our friend Albert has asked Michele and I if we would cabin sit while he visits friends in the mid west. I really, really enjoy the time I spend at Albert's place. Albert, he is a wonderful man that has had a interested life and it is great to hear the stories. I think a movie about him would be cool. Albert, Michele, & I share a lot of the same interests and views so we get along well. We decided to go up to his place last weekend to get a little training on how things run out in the woods. Albert uses batteries and a generator for his electricity, so he gave us a run down on the generator and the inverter in case the batteries go dead. There is also a spring nearby that supplies Albert's water and he gave us a quick course on the water pump and the filtration system so we have safe drinking water. Albert also has propane that fuels the stove, refriger...

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post, but things haven't been interesting until the last week. My truck developed a whine in the transmission and after getting a few different opinions a friend and I decided we would change the transmission filter and fluid. We went to a "Chain" parts store and purchased the transmission filter and pan gasket. When the counter person said that the computer recommended DEX-6, a synthetic transmission fluid we were a little sceptical, but we trusted the counter person and the computer. BOY! were we wrong. After installing the new filter, gasket, and fluid we started the truck and took it for a test drive. It seemed to work well and the whine was gone. We thought it was good until we got on the highway. The transmission started to slip and the longer we drove it, the worse it got. We drove it about 30 miles and the transmission didn't have drive, or over-drive. We limped the truck back to my friends house and thought ...

Our Fireworks A brown bear we saw on our way home Our friends cabin I spent Independence weekend with my close friends off the grid enjoying the smells and sounds of the Helena National Forest. My friend Albert, who lives above Marrysville , MT invited Michele and I up for the weekend, and we gladly accepted. We left Great Falls after work Friday night and after stopping by Michele's house in Helena so she could feed the dog, water her plants and grab a an overnight bag we made it to Albert's around 9:30PM. Zack, Albert's German short hair dog greeted us at the door just in front of Albert. After a brief greeting we made our way into the sun room and saw the coffee table armed to the teeth, and though maybe it had a beef with the end tables. after a few hours of catching up on things we called it a a night and crashed. I awoke Saturday to the fresh smell of moist pine coming it the guestroom window and Zoey , Albert's cat prancing around the bed. I crept down stairs ...

I recently got into discussion with a family member in Pennsylvania about appreciation. She is one of those people that has to volunteer everywhere in her community and has to take over certain clubs because she thinks she and her family can run them better. She complains on facebook that she never has time to do anything for her self because of it. Recently I posted on facebook that I was going to enjoy an evening ride on my motorcycle, and she commented that she like this. I responded that last I heard she wasn't even riding their bike because they just don't have time for it anymore. I said I think you should sell the bike if you're not going to appreciate it and give someone else a chance to appreciate it instead of it just sitting there not being used. She replied that the bike cannot be appreciated because it is not human. I replied that I guess people shouldn't appreciate nice homes, fine wine, art, sunsets and a bunch of other things. She then replied that she l...