Enjoy Every Sandwich

Posting from: Philipsburg, MT
Listening to: TED Talks

Posting from: Philipsburg, MT
Listening to: Indigo Girls, Airplane

Five years ago, I was at the bitter end of the break-up of an eight-year relationship/five-year marriage. I was feeling angry, stressed, hurt, guilty, and desperate. We were separating belongings, we were putting the house in my name, he was moving out, and I was changing jobs. I was crying several times a day and not exactly in the mood to be away from home or my dog.

But five years ago today, history was going to happen. This was to be the date of the first private, manned spaceflight. For someone who both loves space and the free market, this was a huge moment in history. I told myself I would regret it forever if I missed this historic event, so I went.

I was so right. Now five years later, I am so glad that I went to see the first spaceflight of SpaceShipOne. And I’m glad that I wrote down what it was like and took some pictures so that every year on this date I can refresh my memory and share them around a bit. Click here for my little write-up and more pictures.

Posting from: Philipsburg, MT
Listening to: Tom Petty, Damaged By Love

I have been a bit busy lately being that it is finally warm in Montana and I have some projects and work I can now make progress on. However, I did recently find time to take a mini-photo walk on Higgins Avenue in Missoula just south of the bridge for some no-flash night photography experimentation. That is really a gorgeous street after dark. I only got to stroll about a block of it, but I finished with ice cream so I’m calling it a success.

Shakespeare and Co. Booksellers isn’t technically on Higgins but it’s visible from there if you are driving south. I tried to get a second neon sign they had in the store into the picture but none of those turned out decently.

Bathing Beauties Beads is on the corner. I liked the glowing heads in the window.

Here’s where I am fuzzy on the order of the shops. I think the Selvedge Studio is next. I need to get in there when they are open, look around, and sign up for a class.

Somewhere along the line is the Jeanette Rankin Peace Center. Not the greatest looking building at night due to lack of lighting. Yes, I’m sure that’s all very green, organic, chlorine-free, and fair-tradey of them but it makes it easy to pass by at night. Yet the glowing green peace sign reminds me of the nuclear plant on The Simpsons.

If I’m not mistaken, that is next door to the Crystal Theatre which was very hard to get shots of while standing on a thin median strip in the middle of the street. I discovered that there is a restaurant called The Silk Road in the first floor of the theater.

And now for my two favorite things to photograph that night. First is Betty’s Divine which I’ve never been in because I don’t imagine they have a lot of clothes for big girls and which I do imagine is somewhat pricey. (I could be wrong on those; I’ve never actually checked.) However, I adore their window and their motto. (Note to whoever is in charge of the light on the sign: it could maybe be pointed a little more outward for better coverage.)

And finally, one of the reasons I don’t think I probably fit into Betty’s Divine clothes is Big Dipper Ice Cream. This is the home of the world’s finest ice cream in the most brilliant flavors. I have a quart of their Maple Bacon ice cream in my freezer right now. I’m trying to save it until the end of August, but it is in constant peril.

Listening to: Tracy Bonham, Eyes
Posting from: Philipsburg, MT

Yep, no posting lately. I have been quite busy living. However, it is getting to be time to do some mental defragging and archiving to free up space on my neural hard drive.

One thing I have been thinking of lately is the recently formed Oathkeepers organization which lists as orders its members will not obey:

1. We will NOT obey any order to disarm the American people…

2. We will NOT obey any order to conduct warrantless searches of the American people, their homes, vehicles, papers, or effects - such as warrantless house-to house searches for weapons or persons…

3. We will NOT obey any order to detain American citizens as “unlawful enemy combatants” or to subject them to trial by military tribunal…

4. We will NOT obey orders to impose martial law or a “state of emergency” on a state, or to enter with force into a state, without the express consent and invitation of that state’s legislature and governor…

5. We will NOT obey orders to invade and subjugate any state that asserts its sovereignty and declares the national government to be in violation of the compact by which that state entered the Union…

6. We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps…

7. We will NOT obey any order to force American citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext…

8. We will NOT obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign troops on U.S. soil against the American people to “keep the peace” or to “maintain control” during any emergency, or under any other pretext. We will consider such use of foreign troops against our people to be an invasion and an act of war…

9. We will NOT obey any orders to confiscate the property of the American people, including food and other essential supplies, under any emergency pretext whatsoever…

10. We will NOT obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances.

While much of this is admirable rhetoric, I notice that there are some things missing and other things that seem to be soft-pedaled.

Most notably missing, because it is arguably the category encompassing the most widespread and most expensive domestic Constitutional violations, is the statement that “We will NOT enforce any federal anti-drug laws.” And most notably soft-pedaled is the statement on not disarming the American people. It is rather vague with lots of wiggle room. Why not something straightforward instead like, “We will NOT enforce any arms regulations.”?

So far I have seen a lot of talk from various jack-booted thugs who affiliate with this organization about how they will uphold their oaths. However, I have yet to see an example- let alone multiple examples- of anyone actually refusing any unconstitutional order. And this doesn’t even address those orders which are arguably constitutional yet still unethical violations of human rights. Will those still be engaged in with confidence since they don’t violate the oath?

Why is so much being made of loyalty to an oath rather than loyalty to reason and ethics? I think if that were the standard being held up, it would be obvious that most of these folks would have to quit forcibly-funded government jobs and give up state-sanctioned coercive power over other human beings. I doubt that would be nearly as popular among a constituency of self-styled hero types.

Posting from: Missoula, MT

I am in love with the Good Food Store in Missoula. Hugely. It has both upscale, ritzy wines, cheeses, pastries, etc. and basic staples at affordable prices. And those basic staples are natural, organic, healthy items. In several cases, I have found its products actually meet or beat regular chain store prices for similar items. Also, it is a non-profit store which contributes a lot of money to the community, hosts events of interest to its customers, and…

…well, there’s too much to post here so I decided to start a blog about it called Good Food. There you can read my sycophantic fangirl raving about the store, my recipes, product reviews and sales highlights, my suggestions for stuff the Good Food Store should do, and all other things I have to say about the Good Food Store.

Posting from: Philispburg, MT
Listening to: Gael Mead, Into the Mystic

Missoula, I love you. You know I do. But we need to talk.

That intersection where Brooks turns into Higgins? You know the one. When you’re turning left from Brooks onto Higgins at Hellgate High School, you have that faded dashed line guiding the left turners directly into a lane of oncoming traffic. Haha! You are so funny! NOT!

And when you’re unsuspectingly driving out of the parking lot of Big Dipper Ice Cream onto the unmarked one way street? Also not funny.

But most importantly, what is with your chiles rellenos? I have been to Fiesta en Jalisco and El Cazador. Both of these restaurants serve “omelette style” chiles rellenos. What is up with that? Where do you hide the real batter-dipped, deep-fried chiles rellenos? It’s okay. You can tell me. I’m from Arizona.

Posting from: Philipsburg, MT

I found a cool map today that lets you map all the states you’ve visited. Here’s mine:

visited 26 states (52%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or Like this? try: Triposo Travelhacks

As an afficianado of the Great American Roadtrip, I have been to every single one of these states in a car- all but five of them in my current beloved vehicle, Penny, my Honda Element. I love her. She has helped me see some awesome sights and have some incredible experiences including:
-Niagara Falls
-Mount Saint Helens
-Hungry Horse Dam
-putting my feet in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans plus one of the Great Lakes
-visting lighthouses, lighthouses, lighthouses
-Snoqualmie Falls
-a giant Jolly Green Giant statue
-sharing space with tiny creatures in tidepools in California
-the biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota
-the Troll in Seattle
-the Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park, complete with Matt Nathanson and Tom Petty
-meeting Matt Nathanson at the House of Blues in Chicago
-the Art Institute of Chicago
-meeting literally dozens of new people around the country who I knew only from the internet

I think buying Penny was quite possibly the smartest purchase I have ever made.

It seems quite possible that I own the Honda Element with the most miles on it in the entire world. I purchased her new (16 miles on the odometer) in late 2003, and I have 241K+ miles on her. Anyone have more?

Posting from: Philipsburg, MT

Let’s assume I’m a sinner
you’re ice cream before dinner

-Chris Trapper, Dinner and a Dream

Posting from: Philipsburg, MT
Listening to: The Vapors, Turning Japanese

1. Finish taxes.

2. Write 350-500 word Point article in support of Resolved: Cookie Monster Would Be Good At Oral Sex for publication with my sister’s Counterpoint. Note to self: Kick ass.

3. Shop this week’s grocery sales before they end at midnight.

Posting from Philipsburg, MT
Listening to: Martin Sexton, Black Sheep

Last night I went to the historic Wilma Theatre in Missoula for a Martin Sexton concert. Actually, I mainly went for the opener, Chris Trapper, and to scope the place out for my ongoing plan to get Matt Nathanson to add at least one Montana stop to his next headlining tour. The Wilma would be perfect for Matt. I know this because it was perfect last night for both Chris Trapper and Martin Sexton.

To start, I got rock star parking! The public lot behind The Wilma seems to be free after 5 pm on weekdays and also on weekends. Doors were supposed to open at 7 pm so I was well beyond the pay parking period. I drove around the lot and parked here:

When I was in Chicago in November, I had to park on the street because my sister’s apartment building does not have any guest parking. The first night I had to park a fair walk away, but after that I managed to come and go at the right times such that I always got to park right in front of her building. My sister brilliantly dubbed that “Rock Star Parking.” This wasn’t right in front of the theater, but given that I am parked next to an SUV hauling a trailer, and the license plates are from Massachusetts, and both of the artists of the evening hail from Massachusetts, I think it is a pretty safe bet that I am parked next to the “tour bus” for Martin Sexton or Chris Trapper or possibly both if they are carpooling. If that’s not Rock Star Parking, I don’t know what is.

Anyway, it was just a short walk from there up the stairs to street level and the doors to The Wilma. It was a lovely 65 degrees or so outside with no precipitation which made for an okay time standing in line even though the doors opened somewhat after 7 pm. Here is the lovely and historic Wilma herself.

A couple of folks wanting to see a movie sorted themselves out of the concert line and went indoors. Some folks in front of me walked down the street and got what appeared to be burritos to go from the Mexican place a few doors down. I wondered how they were going to finish them before we got inside. Then the line started moving.

One of the great surprises about the evening was that The Wilma treats concertgoers as customers and not as criminals. I gave one friendly person my ticket and got my hand stamped by another. That was all. No evil eye from pissed-off security people. No searching my purse or clothing. No molesting my person. I just went inside.

There I found a beautiful old theater albeit a bit in need of repair. It reminded me a bit of the Fox in Tucson except not as freshly fixed-up. (Perhaps this is what the Fox will look like a few years from now as I hear from my friend A. in Tucson that it has gone broke.) There are rows and rows of movie theater style seats with a reasonably large empty dance space up front. There is also a balcony in the back overhanging the last few rows that looked like it was also open, but I didn’t go up to check. There were two bars and a snack stand (they also show movies there), and I also saw the folks with their unfinished burritos eating them openly so I’m thinking maybe it’s okay to bring outside food in. That would be cool. I was wishing I had brought a bottle of water.

I took the aisle seat in the third row on the right side of the left section behind a woman sitting by herself. She turned around and struck up a conversation with me which kept going as her friends congregated in our section. She was a Martin Sexton fan and told me what a great time I was going to have since it was my first time hearing him at all, let alone live. Her “partner” (I assume this is gay code for spouse wherever gay marriage is not legally sanctioned) was also a Chris Trapper fan which is who I was there to see so we also chatted about that.

I have to give Martin Sexton credit for having very nice fans. In addition to being really nice before the show (I heard many other “Is this your first Martin Sexton show? You’re going to love it!” conversations around the hall), they were all really wonderful during Chris Trapper’s opening set. People were not talking and ignoring the show. They were very respectful and responsive to his audience banter and music. Except for his set being too short and not getting to hear my favorite Chris Trapper tune, Jukebox Lights, it was just about perfect. The song Starlight By Her Side pretty much made up for that one missing link. I don’t have any video from the show, but here’s another performance of it.
Chris Trapper, Starlight by Her Side

Here’s another of my favorites. It’s the official video since I can’t find a decent quality live recording. He expressed his utter hatred of his high school experience and his delight in penning this number and performing it when he was invited to play at his high school reunion. He claimed that every word in it is true. I don’t doubt him.
Chris Trapper, Wish I Was Cool

After Chris Trapper was a bit of intermission before Martin Sexton went on. Shortly before he came out, they flashed the lights and my now full little neighborhood emptied out as people filled the dance area in front of the stage. The place was not sold out, but it was reasonably full and the entire dance area was full with the overflow piling up in the aisles a little bit. Meanwhile, lots of folks in the back were enjoying the show from their seats.

I stayed where I was even though I couldn’t see much. I mean, it’s a concert so I’m really there for the music and I already got to see who I came for. In fact, I saw half of Chris Trapper’s set sitting on the floor a few feet away from him along with two other girls who had moved forward before me. I was glad I stayed where I was for Martin Sexton because the people-watching was great. For example, I have never before seen a couple dry-humping to This Little Light of Mine.

The music was also excellent. Instead of a concert, it was almost a really, really long medley. He didn’t seem to stop very often, and even when he spoke to the audience he often was singing when he did so. Even though he was just one guy with a guitar, his vocal abilities were so incredible that he often sounded like a multi-instrument combo. His yodeling sort of thing is incredible. Again, I have no recordings from this show, but here are a few of my favorite numbers.

Martin Sexton, Can’t Stop Thinking About You

Martin Sexton, Thank You, Failure

As I listened to this last night, I thought nobody should ever sing the national anthem again except this man.
Martin Sexton, Star Spangled Banner/Freedom of the Road

The description in the notes of this one on YouTube is eerily in sync with how I felt last night. It was almost like going to church without the trappings of religion. Very sacramental. And we didn’t even have Amazing Grace last night.
Martin Sexton, Black Sheep/Amazing Grace

I went a little overboard with the Sexton videos, I know. But he deserves it. I will probably post more in the near future because there is something I heard multiple times last night that none of these videos quite illustrates.