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.

Bundled up.

Going out on the town with my sister Meg.

Our Christmas Tree

Hitch-hikers, snowboarding, and law firms

Hair-bag. That was the name of the hitchhiker that we picked up last weekend. We were headed up to Bridger Bowl and saw a guy with snowboarding gear with his thumb up. Brooke said, "look at that guy, he's going to walk there," (15 miles) and I pulled over the car. Nice guy, prints t-shirts and has a powder day clause in his contract. Anytime it snows at least 6 inches at night he gets off that day. Neither of us had ever met anyone named Hair-bag before and if we wouldn't have picked him up I don't think we ever would have.

The locals are saying that this is one of the best early seasons for snow in quite some time. This is our second weekend snowboarding at Bridger Bowl and it is perfect for us. Brooke is getting significantly better every day. The snow is soft and we are taking advantage of this by falling head first, back first, front first, and just about every way one can imagine.

I'm working 8 until 5 Monday through Friday at small law firm in town. I'm the legal assistant for one of the partners named Buzz. He's a great boss since he likes to teach and makes sure I know what's going on. He's also a rock and roller, playing bass for his band The Buzztones. We haven't seen them yet, but I'm sure they rock.

We are excited to go back to Wisconsin for Christmas time. Happy Holidays!