Ode to Irony

My rad friend Julie is my inspiration to the world of blogs and writes often about irony. I happen to love observing ironies in this world, so this is my quick ode to irony - and to Julie.

Two pics: me at a "Most Montanan" of events, the 4th of July - Livingston Rodeo, with my two adventurous Asian friends I befriended here in Bozeman this summer. The Bozeman population is maybe 1% Asian. The first time I went to the Rodeo (old american tradition) - it was with a group of international students!

And a pic I captured with my cell phone this week.

Usually you see this question stuck to the back of a car in bumber sticker form. Instead this local just decided to write it on his car. His statement was a little stronger. Do I need to explain the irony? So many folks move to small towns from big busy places. This is our response. (Click on image to see up close version).

The Blue Wall

I call it the blue wall. It's not like Seattle where rain drizzles from the sky all the time like a dripping faucet. Here in the valley, the storm comes like a wall and washes over you. I can call my friends in town a mile away and find out that the sun is still shining over their house. Hail pounding my window and bliss over there. Then it switches. The drama captures me. I just stop what I'm doing and watch it, till I have to move on. I guess I've always done that - even in Oakland. It's just different scenery here in Montana. It's big sky country. I hope it stays that way.

Scrapbook 101

the beginning is fluid. the purpose simple.

I created Montana Canvas so I would have a way to collect my pictures of Montana. Blogs so often are about writing. Not this one. I'll write to say something and to play with words, but this is my scrapbook. Some photos will be culture shots, some nature shots, some to show the passing of time and others, just simply shots I like. I hope you like it too and can follow along this journey with me. To begin, we start with the first snow of the Fall here in town, in Bozeman, October 6, 2007. It's like a holiday in and of itself. It's certainly more meaningful than most holidays. It affects everyone on a personal and a community level. Who can ignore the preview of Winter? Who can keep from wondering what snow is left to come, what skiing adventures will be entertained - what temperatures we will dive down into and whether or not my car will survive yet another night out at 20 below.

Oh, Winter in Montana, come and hit us hard. Give us your best shot. We are waiting.