Back to Big Sky Country... it's cold!

My first day back in Montana from my business trip to Seattle and San Francisco (where it was so warm... in the 80s), I dragged myself out to my car to head on over to work. Ans I realized a) it was absolutely freezing and b) my car was completly frozen. My drive to work was delayed until I was able to scrape the ice off my car. Fortunately, my winter clothes shipment from North Face was waiting for me at work. I now have a down jacket!

I have spoken to my local Honda representative about getting myself snow tires and a block heater (so I can plug my car in). I was told that instead of snow tires, I should invest in a couple 50 pound sandbags to put in the back of my car. Because maybe I'll strain my back so much trying to lift 50 pound sandbags into the back of my car that I won't be able to drive in the snow, thereby making the purchase of snow tires rather silly. As for the block heater, I was told to wait it out and see if my car has trouble starting once the temperature drops some more. I'm crossing my fingers that Ryder (my car) keeps on keeping on this winter sans block heater, because I don't have a place to plug my car in anyway.

My carsicle (or trucksickle).


The morning sky at my apartment building.


Waiting for my car to warm up.

Taking the Show on the Road

Bela and I left the comfy confines of Billings for a business trip to Seattle. We definitely weren't in Montana anymore. In Seattle, the buildings are tall, the streets are busy, not all the people are white... you get the picture. I ate my fill of Asian food and seafood. Shopped at the North Face store, where I didn't have to pay sales tax because they shipped my new winter clothes back to the land of no sales tax (a.k.a. Montana). Had fun hanging out with Joe.

But, this was a business trip, which meant that I got to sample coffee from every coffee shop along the 4 block walk from my hotel to work. And that's a lot of coffee. (I was in Seattle, after all.)

Oh, yeah, and I worked some too.


Here's me hard at work in the Emerald City.


Bela's nose to the well-garnished grindstone.


Me and my companion goldfish, Ema, at my room at the Hotel Monaco.

Signs You're In Montana

How about that rural hospitality?

Thursday night's alright for amateur fighting.

Another Sign You're In Montana... and lucky for you, it's in time for PolkaFest!

The Farmer's Market

a view of the farmer's market

politically incorrect gourds at the farmer's market


Bunnies are everywhere in this state.

Bela at the farmer's market

Justin and Bela check out the magazine selection at a ranch outfitters store.

The magazine is "Cowboys and Indians" with W., Laura, and Barney Bush. Click on the picture to get a better look.

I don't worry about no parking tickets.

Apparently, in Billings, the first parking ticket you receive is a freebie... and I'm talking the first parking ticket you get per month. Your second parking ticket in a month will cost you a whopping $5. And it keeps going up in increments of $5. I'm going to be parking on the sidewalk from now on.

So you don't have to spend 37 cents mailing the check to pay your $5 parking ticket.