Memorial Day and Snow Too!

Last Memorial Day weekend it rained all three days.  This year the forecast is for more of the same, and our plans would put us at an even higher elevation and that means we may see SNOW!


Sometimes I wonder if we are really so crazy when we decide to camp out in our yard, in the motor home, with electricity, cable tv and internet.  The pets seem not to care if we go anywhere, and once we are settled in, (in the motor home) it seems little different than going somewhere.  


I think young people over-emphasize the importance of driving a long ways to have fun.  Fun is made with the people you have around you.  It doesn't matter so much what you are doing or where you are.  My wife, our two dogs, our cat, a bowl of popcorn and a good movie.  Oh Happy Day.

Missoula Morning: 25 degrees F. But it's May 11th!

We awoke to find frozen rose bushes, frozen tree buds and frozen water dish in the dog kennel.  I never will get used to the Montana winter that just never seems to end.  One year we had heavy, wet snow on June 4th.  Hundreds of broken street trees.  By that standard, of course, a few frozen roses is really nothing but inconvenient. We will buy new ones and replant. The trees should re-bud.  And the dogs love licking the frozen water dish.

Missoula Little League Softball in Springtime

Missoula weather is often an obstacle to little league baseball and softball in the spring. 
This morning, May 2, the temperature was 31 degrees.  Yesterday it rained and the wind blew. Two days ago a 100-foot tall pine tree was blown to the ground.  

But sometimes the weather is perfect; and such days are appreciated that much more.  My granddaughter is at bat in this photo, and successfully too.  In the background we can see the snow-covered runs at the Montana Snow Bowl ski area.  Play ball in the morning and ski in the afternoon!

The Hunger Games

For the first time in my life of 65 years, I attended a movie on opening day.  In my case, a matinee of The Hunger Games on the large 3D screen at Missoula's Carmike 12.


Although I am a fan of the Hunger Games trilogy, which I have completed, I was somewhat disappointed in the movie.  I think the film will probably do well at the box office since the hype has been huge and the fan base is already well-established.  It is difficult to replicate, on film, the very personal experience we enjoyed in a novel that is written in a First Person voice. Update note: Hunger Games Box Office opening weekend was $150 Million!  Higher than the 110-115 Million industry was predicting, and one of the largest opening weekends of all time.  


I do like Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.  She is a remarkable talent with a face that demands attention.  She could stare down Mike Tyson. I swear.  

In Missoula, Spring Begins at 11:14 pm Tonight.

Spring, the vernal equinox, begins here in the Northern Hemisphere on March 19, 11:14 pm, MST.  As I write this is a little less than twelve hours away. 

What new things will spring bring?  Sprouts, and buds, worms and birds.  I love spring!  Other than nearly always catching a cold this time of year, I also remember falling in love, several times, during these months of renewal.  I love spring!


The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning “equal night.” The spring and fall equinoxes are the only dates with equal daylight and dark as the Sun crosses the celestial equator. At the equinoxes, the tilt of Earth relative to the Sun is zero, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun. 


One more thing:  I have never understood why we do not capitalize the seasons of the year.

Bronchitis Nearly Ruined San Francisco Vacation

My "crud" turned into bronchitis that has lasted about 18 days.  I am still not in the clear, breathing wise.  I am exhausted from being sick all the time.  We spent three days in San Francisco and it rained every day. Now THAT did not help my breathing!  I only get sick about once a year, but this is the worst I've felt in about five years.  At least it is not the Flu and I haven't vomited or had diarrhea. I can't wait til the weather gets warmer. It is snowing and blowing here in Montana today.