montanapalooza 2002

“Martyb,
You can get your fishing license and a hard copy of the current regs at the True Value Hardware in Red Lodge.”

“Looks like the limit on Brookies is 20. I don't think you'll starve to death at least. Just throw the Cuts back.”

“Thanks for the reg. link, aero, and the license location, gearj. I do actually read the regulations when I go up there. My dad has a tendency to just assume he knows the rules and doesn't read them. He's always been right so far, but it doesn't hurt to check. The reality of the situation, though, is that we probably won't be keeping more than 2 or 3 because we're only eating fish for one meal. Any others we catch will be catch and release. On a side note, I was approached by a warden when fishing (not catching!) in Alaska. I'm sure he thought he had some sucker not knowing what he was doing. Alas, I had read the rules and was following them - sorry, pal, check the next guy....”

“From the National Weather Service:

"SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BILLINGS MT
330 PM MDT TUE AUG 13 2002

...MUCH COLDER WEATHER TO AFFECT THE AREA ON SATURDAY...

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS ANTICIPATED TO MARCH ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF AND BEHIND THE SYSTEM AS IT PASSES. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON SATURDAY WILL REACH THE 50S TO LOWER 60S OVER THE WEST...AND INTO THE 60S TO AROUND 70 EAST...BUT THESE READINGS WILL OCCUR LATER IN THE MORNING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON...WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING AFTER THE FRONT PASSES. AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 7000 FEET...THE PRECIPITATION MAY CHANGE OVER TO SNOW SHOWERS DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL ALSO BE QUITE GUSTY ESPECIALLY BEHIND THE FRONT.

PEOPLE CONSIDERING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DURING SATURDAY SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY."

Well, at least there's another week before we get started - hopefully things will improve!!”

“Hmmmm, my Montanapalooza albums are at about 200+ hits each, except Part 5, which has over 500 hits.”

“Jer"bare" must have a following.”

“Martyb, Malinda is out searching for Alaskan Amber Summer Ale as we speak. Any other requests?

Good Morning Aero

Snow Nymph and SnowDude, photos are beyond description.

I still haven't had an opportunity to label and download the Bridger-Teton pack bridge photos. Yard work today, but hoping to get a start on them soon.”

“Martyb, no luck finding Alaskan Summer Ale. However, I'm test driving an Alaskan Pale as I write this. Ah, life can be soooooooooo rewarding. Checking with the distributor to see if we can get the Summer Ale.

Malinda is off both the 23rd and the 29th. Perhaps we can BBQ one of those days if you're not tied up.

OK, back to the six pack . . . I mean back to the yard work.”

“I'm onto you, Geezr. Lure us up there with beer, then bring in a cold front (see above), forcing us into cannabalism before freezing to death in the wilderness. Must think I'm some kinda dummy....

No special requests, actually, as long as hops, fermentation, and carbonation are involved. BBQ sounds possible, although you know how mothers are, wanting to cook for their sons when they come to visit (afternoon deck and TOPO! demo time may be our only option). I emailed aero our schedule (it was a long, convoluted email - he's probably only about halfway through by now), so I'll talk to my mom & dad this weekend, put everyone's schedule into Excel, hit F9, then call and let you know when we can get together. You have my phone #s (you too, aero), so you can call me sooner if you get the urge.

Will be putting clothing together tonight - assembled some of the food last night. Question: how can Snow Nymph and Dude do this every weekend, when it takes me about 3 months to get my stuff together for a silly little 3-nighter?!

Where are those Bridger-Teton photos?!”

“Three months???????? You did it in ONLY three months???????

They're coming, they're coming!

Nag, Nag, Nag”

“Yard work? . . . right Geezr, put down that beer and post those pics!”

“gforce & marty, photos and brief description are posted. See thread for Pacific Creek Pack Bridge Project.

Apologize for the photos being out of order. I entered them in sequence but Webshots downloaded them differently . . . looks like maybe alphabetically.”

“ok, you can go back to that beer now! Job well done!!!!”

“You had better hurry Martyb, Gforce has sent me on a mission!”

“>Question: how can Snow Nymph and Dude do this every weekend, when it takes me about 3 months to get my stuff together for a silly little 3-nighter?!

For me getting ready for a trip is like like brushing my teeth and getting ready for work in the morning. When you do it all the time, its easy to get it together.

When my son was young and living at home, I had to juggle my schedule so I could do the most with my time, and still take care of him. I think that helps me now.

SnowDude still has to take a weekend or two off every few weeks. He just told me he's not ready to go this weekend, feels like we just got home.

My stuff is laying in the garage, I just have to throw it in the pack. The Bearikade is in the kitchen, with a pile of food ready to go. Clothes were thrown in the washer when I got home before I went upstairs, and dried before I went to bed. It was folded and put next to the pack by Monday. I'm ready to go NOW!”

“Great fire pic's!!! I was looking for more of those. thanks again.

You're a machine SN!!! Where do you find the drive?”

“Starbucks Grande Mocha????”

“Hope you were able to get back to more important stuff last night Geezr ;-) . If you download the free webshots software they suggest (i.e., not the paid upgrade), you can easily move the photos around by clicking and dragging. Took me a while to get around to downloading and installing it, but it's pretty slick.

Yeah, Snow, I figured you probably went out so often you just had a system you've gotten used to for getting ready. Maybe my goal should be to go often enough that it's not such an ordeal to get ready each time!! BTW, your palooza pics were definitely up to your high standards. Son and I have been studying them (and everyone else's) in advance of our trip. Gee, I feel like I know the area so well now, I don't even need to go. Heh heh, j/k.

Got most of our food together last night. Tonight is clothing assembly (the weekend is pretty full, so I'm packing bit by bit....).”

“Martyb, SUCCESS! I finally figured out how to click and drag the photos. I have the same Webshots software as you, but was trying to do it from the wrong location. Anyway, I just finished editing them so hopefully they make more sense now.

I just checked the 15 day forecast and weather for your trip looks pretty good.

Chores around here are finally complete and I have two days before I begin a 9 day stretch at work to do whatever I want. Today I'm going to jump on the road bike and pretend I'm Lance.”

“You get to spend 9 days at work doing whatever you want???(sorry, I couldn't resist).

How's the yellow jersey fit, Geezr?

I still miss Montana. Will it ever pass?”

“pepperDog, first I get criticized over sentence structure and THEN I lose the yellow jersey. However, tomorrow is a mountain stage and I'm confident I can win it back.

I wish I had a cure for what is ailing you. Montana tends to do that to mere mortals. I did see a nice place for sale while riding this morning. Should I check on the price? ;-)”

“Theres a Condo for sale at the Chateau Rouge in Red Lodge. It's like a one room kitchenette, only $37,500.”

“I could probably get $37,500 for my REI 3-person dome tent in my backyard. Not because it's especially nice, just because it's in CA!!

True story: When my folks retired and decided to move back to my mom's hometown in MT (about 15 years ago), they expected to sell their house in about 3 months. So they put it on the market 3 months before my dad's retirement date. It sold in 3 days, so they had to live in their newly purchased motor home until my dad actually retired and they could move. The other "funny" part was that the couldn't find a home in Billings that was selling for the amount they got for their home here (actually not that much - the Billings economy was totally in the tank at the time), so they had to take a huge tax hit from the capital gain. I suggested to my dad that he get a realtor to agree to a higher selling price and throw in a condo in Red Lodge for "free". Heh heh. Didn't work :-( .”

“If yall go to arros hous, plees get my watter bole that I left ther and take it to my hous. You can put it on my porch if I am not home. If I am ther takin a nap it will be ok to wake me up cuz I will not bite you.

Yall are verry welcom.”

“I know a gal who has a lot for sale on the golf course in Red Lodge too. Any takers? I'll she what she wants for it.”

“Hey, Pepperdog, maybe we should goi in halvsies on the condo and then we can both use it whenever we want?

Sounds like a plan - course, I'd have to withdraw money from my 401k, but then, I'd already have my retirement place picked out 10 years early!!!

Whattaya say Woman??

Tex”

“And, they rent tit out for you when you're not there. They told the wife that the one room condo nets about $5000 a year.

We stayed in the 2 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath, 2 story last weekend. Had a kitchen, 1/2 bath, living, fireplace in the bottom, and two twins in one room and a queen in the other and a full bath upstairs.

Only cost $100 a night.”

“chief....what about jus some land? montana...upper wyoming....
montanapalooza2002 folks could incorporate and start a commune there....and have rendevous' like those mtn man things.......

heh.....you can see i am having trouble getting over it too pepperdog...”

“Actually...pepperdog got a name and address of a lady that lives near her that owns some lots in the Crandall area, near Cooke City. We were considering calling her and making an offer on one of her lots. Just happens to be right on Squaw Creek where it flows into the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone.


Sweeeeet!”

“Well, I like Om's idea for sure. I bet she would even make Gordon an honorary Commune member in good standing...LOL”

“chief, when you say "lots" ..what does that mean? like a subdivision?”

“I think Gordon DID live in a commune for a while...at least I have another friend who did here in Cody.

I've got to get Gordon on the internet. He's really interested in seeing the pic of him tying jerbear up with the rope handcuffs.

That and he wants to see this om gal.

He did ask how much money om had too. LMAO”

“Not really. It would be like lots on a lake. You know, side by side, not very big, but definitely nice. You can't see them from the road at least. They are on the other side of the river from the road. Bunches of trees between the road and the river.”

“Uh, Chief, they rent "tit?" LOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

How old were all you guys when you bought your first homes? I feel like that day will probably never, ever come to me.”

“Never rented a 'tit' actually. I saw that after, sorry.

It was 1988, so we were 27. Oldest was almost two. It was so funny to watch her run back and forth in the big empty house (read no furniture yet).”

“Well, I guess I have a 4 yrs. to go by that standard. Having a child really makes you want to buy a house. Before I had Newergirl, I honestly felt like renting my whole life would be just fine.”

“Bought a condo in Chicago at the age of 44. Pretty sad, but then I've been a student most of my life. Also, it was much more expensive than that chalet!”

“I think I might have to go by your standard there, Stump. It gives me plenty 'o time not to wig out, because I can't afford to buy a home.”

“"'ve got to get Gordon on the internet. He's really
interested in seeing the pic of him tying jerbear up with
the rope handcuffs." Chief

hmmm........that was a cool pic of the cowboy....
but yikes!...he's into handcuffs?.....

tell him i aint got no money.......:)”

“Set yer own standard Newgirl. Something to think about though - if you're not paying for your own mortgage every month you're paying for someone else's.

We bought our first house when I was 27.

A girl that I work with just bought her 3rd house. She fixs them up and sells um. She turned 24 today.

My sister is 41 and has never owned a home.

That condo deal in Red Lodge sounds sweet.”

“I had a post all typed in for Chief's rent-a-tit post, but thought it was in poor taste. Of course, I forgot this is TT (no pun intended). Well, live and learn....

(Special note: while searching my maps for "Squaw Creek," which Chief mentioned, I came across this colorful spot in MT.)

We bought our home when I was 33, and my wife 34.”

“It's actually in WY. There are a 'set' of mountains near Cody called Squaw Teets. You can see them coming from the Powell Hwy into Cody, huh newgirl?”

“om, I'm still waiting for that e-mail with your address! Come on girl, you have to stop dreaming about cowboys and get back in touch with reality.

Martyb, can I live in your backyard if I bring my own tent? I'm soooooo tired of winter and it ain't too far off.”

“Martyb, let me see if I understand this; you bought your home when you were 33 and you bought your wife when you were 34???????

pepperDog made me ask!”

“Gee Tx - I think my budget is about to head south, if you know what I mean. Other than that it sounds like a great idea!!

Geezer - don't blame me because you felt compelled to point out someone's grammar error just because you got caught out. The real danger of doing that is that you can never make a mistake again without getting jumped all over.

I guess I was about 35 when I bought my first house.”

“pDog, we could turn our homes into time shares. You can use mine when in Montana and I'll utilize yours when in California.

Let me know soon, as I mentioned to Martyb, winter is just around the corner. ;-)”

“just helpin”

“as the smoke clears picture this

100+ acres or so nestled up against some N.F. land split some 30-40+ ways couldn't be all that hard to do! Think of the possiblities,,,,,like a 10 acre lake or stream frontage/footage, meadows and stands of trees pack with monster mulies and wapiti and phat birds on the wing, COW FREE, acres of barley and hops for OUR own brew, call it 'Granite Mountain Ale'. A long house .......

You work or/and invest for your share of it.

Its a pipe dream, but wouldn't it be kinda neat to try and do. Not necessarily a commune but close to it! Get some 'press' and maybe support!

Saw a 5 room roadside motel w/apt.'s in Troy, MT. for @ 75k.”

“2800, woo hoo.”