March in Montana

It has been a long time since the last written post. I apologize. Mostly this is because Brooke and I got ourselves into a weekly schedule and writing blog entries wasn't a integral part of that schedule. I have been checking my brother's blog, www.downunderben.blogspot.com, daily and I understand that even a week without a post can seem like a long time. (You can't tell me that someone in Australia doesn't have enough going on to write at least every other day) I will now redirect my focus to our lives.

Brooke has been getting steady work as a substitute teacher. The nasty flu that has been going around Bozeman is bad for most people, but positive for substitute teachers(that avoid sickness). I wasn't as fortunate as Brooke in avoiding sickness. I caught the flu and was out for most of a week. I'm almost recovered fully from that boute of over three weeks ago. Brooke is getting more and more familiar with the Bozeman School Distict and is looking at getting a full time job in the district for next school year. I'm crossing my fingers that she will get the softball assistant coach position that she applied for this spring.

I joined the masters swim team that meets Tuesday and Thursday night. Brooke signed up for a guitar class that met at the same time as my swim practice on Tuesday nights. Once a month Brooke meets a bunch of young women for a book club. It seems like a great chance to meet a lot of people and occasionally talk about books.

For the most part we have been up to Bridger Bowl every weekend. It is a great little mountain and Brooke and I are getting to know it quite well. Brooke is getting good enough that occasionly I catch her gazing up at the hike-to unpatrolled expert only terrain. Maybe next season if we purchase the avalanche beacon, shovel and probes required to access the hike we'll be up on the ridge.

I recently accepted a position at Camp Manito-wish for this summer. I will be the Outpost Director. The Outpost program sends canoeing, backpacking and sea kayaking trips throughout Canada, Montana, Wyoming and Minnesota for anywhere from 9-34 days. I'll be in charge of all the logistics for the trips, training the staff and supervision throughout the summer. It's not the perfect position in that Brooke will not be with me, but I'll be flying back in May to visit for a weekend and Brooke will visit me at the end of July and hopefully in August.

Brooke arrived safely in Wisconsin today. She is home for the spring break. She will be wedding dress shopping, looking at details for the wedding, probably running errands with her Mom and hanging out with her family. I already miss her.