You Know You're In Montana ...

When you need the heat on

in the morning,

and

the air in the afternoon.


Summer's over.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I remember, I remember Mama.

No, wait, old movie title.

I remember, I remember when sirens in the night meant someone else had to get up.

2. Dear Kiddo, I want you to know I'm proud of you.

But remember, once you get to Europe, never offer an Irishman a ride, unless he is really cute and will marry you first.

3. Is that my pen!!???

Give it back.

4. I'm trying to resist the temptation of Godiva.

But what fun is that?

5. I'm saving a kiss just for you!

6. If I made a birthday list a trip to the ocean would definitely be on it!!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to errand day being over, tomorrow my plans include being the only medical person on duty for the community, and Sunday, I want to relax!

Searching

Every so often, I check my site stats to see the searches that disgorge the innocent at my cyberspace doorstep.

Google Searches that landed souls here:

disney movies spool grandma underground monsters

I wonder what they were looking for -- and my blog was #1 in the search return list.

tá gaeilge mór agam

Still looking for someone to speak Gaelic and COYOTE UNDERGROUND is #3 on the list.

it's not polite to point

Yes, I am Miss Manners, and that search reaped this picture.

filmfantasy paint

What the hell is that? And why am I #6 on the list?

Looking for me?

coyoteunderground

Someone actually looking for me? Here I am.

coyote

8th on the list if you just want a coyote.

black velvet pencil

Alas. #2 on the list for the poor souls still looking for Black Velvet Pencils which are the best pencils ever made that you can't get anymore.

potius sero quam nunquam.

6th on the list for Latin quotes. Am I moving up in the world? From a Gaelic translation for Give me a Guinness to Latin for Better late than never. Moving into more elegant territory.

And then this notice --

McAfee tested the sight and didn't find any significant problems.

Apparently, I'm safe, relatively.

To Blog or Not

Number 1 Fan asks, "Why aren't you writing on your blog anymore?

oy.

REASONS FOR NOT BLOGGING.

1. It's summer.

Such as it is. In Montana. Which means yesterday morning, August 17th, at 8:30 AM, the temperature was 35 degrees.

Counting ourselves lucky, it wasn't 35 below here boss.

2. Other projects.

I've been on four hikes into burned wilderness for a grant-sponsored photography show, and besides being depressing, this takes time.

See pix above from the latest foray.

Actually, the show is almost finished, and I've learned getting a new camera and the newest version of Photoshop at the same time one takes a paying gig, might not be the best of planning.

3. Nothing to say.

Well, you know better than that.

I wish they'd stop calling that child, Blanket.

Could they please stop obsessing about what Michelle Obama wears. I don't care what she looks like in shorts or bare arms. Although I'm grateful to her for bringing cardigans back in style.

Isn't it scary to see what some of our neighbor citizens think and will say in public.

4. Blogging is so over.

Could be.

I've noticed a few of my favorites sporting long times between posts.

But, the Internet, being what it is, undoubted thousands shall rise to take the place of those too lazy, busy, bored, mute, or evolved to blog.

Until next time.

Not Everybody Gets A Meteor Shower

So, it was my birthday, yesterday.

Bought enough cake to share with the fire department 'cuz we were having training last night, then decided, those firemen don't need any cake and kept the whole thing for myself.

Happy Birthday to me.

They will thank me later.

Every year on my birthday, earth gets a meteor shower.

You're welcome.

I remember when the phrase -- I'm almost [FILL IN THE BLANK] years old -- meant, I'm about to get to do something I didn't used to get to do.

Occurred to me in bed yesterday morning -- I am almost [expletive deleted] years old. And my next thought was, CRAP. Am I still alive?

I remember when you couldn't trust anyone over 30.

Now, anyone under 30 looks suspiciously immature.

Hugh Romney is 73.

Nobody's perfect.

An Ri Ra

Took in the An Ri Ra Festival in Butte. It was nice, albeit over-priced.

Since it is August, I took a sweater, raincoat and hat. Although rain, the night before, pounded one of the concerts, the weather Saturday was perfect.

Since I began my Irish Studies, I've developed an affection for Butte.

It's like a rowdy cousin who makes every outing more fun, but you wouldn't want to live with him.

The power of imagination makes us infinite.

John Muir

Sad and Shocking News

Blake Snyder, writer of SAVE THE CAT, died August 4th of cardiac arrest.

Tributes here, here and here.

I wrote about my experience with his screenwriting method here, here and here.

His method changed my script writing for the better.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Fairy Pictures

Look, I got a picture of Tinkerbell whilst shooting through the trees.

Can you see her now?

Forest Fatal

Went on the third and fourth hike into the burn for my grant-sponsored photography show.

I'm starting to get a handle on what I want/need to do -- after panicking when I realized that burned trees are like fence posts -- all the same.

Still depressing, walking through miles of forest-no-more. Any patch of color catches the eye.

And this little doll, on the side of the road that didn't burn.