Seattle!

Hey, everyone. I'm moving to Seattle in January. Whoo-hoo!! Sushi, coffee, technology, yeah!! I'm excited. (For full disclosue--Staci--I stole this picture. But the photog's copyright and name are at the bottom, so hopefully I'm OK on this.) If anyone has any Seattle contacts they'd like to pass on, I'd be very, very grateful to have 'em!

Checks.

Why do people still use checks? I'm sure there are reasons out there, but I just can't think of them. Debit card and credit cards are so much faster! And you can see all the movement on your account on the Internet.

Last night I went to the grocery store and got in the WRONG LINE (if you know what I'm saying.) It didn't look like the lady had too much stuff, so I started unloading my groceries on the belt thingey. The cashier looked like he was in high school -- he'll probably end up a drama major. He had a comment about EVERY item she bought (not kidding.) And, of course, this slowed him down significantly. Then the lady had coupons he struggled with. Had to call a manager. Finally, a total!!! Yes! Then, the lady pulls out her checkbook and proceeds to write VERY slowly. Oh, he didn't use one of the coupons! OH NO!! The lady had already started writing 71 and she now had to change it to 68. The travesty. She wrote a new check. Finally, it was over and the cashier started to check me out. I think the look on my face gave him the idea I didn't want any commentary.

OK, OK--not too bad. But then, today at lunch, I got stuck behind another person writing a check. She had her checkbook out, so I looked to get in another line. The line next to where I was standing didn't look too busy. I checked it out. Another lady writing a check!! Jeez!!! Why? Why? Why??????

A sampling of bumper stickers...

I was out walking around today (had the day off) and decided to take some pictures of bumper stickers on cars around my neighborhood. I thought you might find some of them entertaining (and they said Montana was conservative...disclaimer, I am in Helena, home of state government, aging hippies and health food nuts.)

Proof of snow

OK, here it is. I finally went out and took a picture of the mountains south of Helena. Proof of snow. It's actually been really nice this week, so most of the snow has melted. But a couple of weeks ago it was everywhere. I have to drive back and forth between Butte this week to cover a meeting, so I really have my fingers crossed that a blizzard doesn't decide to pop up. I don't have "chains" or “studs” for my car tires yet. I'm kind of wondering if I even need them. I guess I'll need to figure that out soon.

Watching the New Orleans-Atlanta game on Monday Night football now. Somebody (hint, hint--not me) needs to do a study on this. The role of football/the Saints/Superdome in the recovery of New Orleans. Sports and society is such an interesting topic (yes, I know, I'm still talking about it even after my disastrous thesis experience.) I just keep hearing all kinds of interesting things that I think would make a good paper.

Cake.

Wow. That's the most comments I've ever had on a blog entry, I think. And it was about cake. So I'm thinking about making that the focus of my blog. Maybe I should change the name. "JByrdie's Nest o' Cakes" has a nice ring to it.

I went out and bought a cake last night. It was all about research, of course. I had to figure out how they make all those flowers. On the cake was this sticker. I put it up because it reminds me of a funny KU story. Lisa got up in front of 500 freshman and sophomores and told them one of her biggest pet peeves was the word "moist." So, of course, the kids tried to work "moist" into all of their papers during the semester. I don't really get it. Moist doesn't seem like too bad of a word to me.

Most of the snow has melted here and I was too lazy to go take a picture earlier. So sorry. But don't worry, I'm sure I'll see plenty more and will eventually get a picture up.

Here are some of my favorite cake-gazing links, for your pleasure:

Cakes by Sam
Cake diva
Mike's Amazing Cakes
Colette's Cakes

Yes, it snowed

I'll put up a picture of the snow-capped mountain peaks tomorrow. It's actually quite pretty. None of the snow stuck in the valley though. But it has been in the 50's. Kind of weird for September... I think it's supposed to snow later this week too.

I went to Missoula today. That place is awesome. So pretty. The college-town vibe reminded me of Lawrence, which was great. Had some sushi too, which was great. I haven't had sushi since I was in Chicago in June. Yum, yum.

I have a new favorite show: Ace of Cakes on the Food Network.

I love the cakes these people make. It really makes me want to go to culinary school and become a professional cake decorator. That would be AWESOME (mind you, I've never actually decorated a cake before...oh well, details.)

For more awesome cakes to look at, go here.

It snowed here today

But this isn't a picture of that. It was too cold outside to do that...
This is a picture I took coming back from Great Falls. It's a lonely looking tree, don't you think?

I kept meaning to update my blog, but I'd go to and see Rocky and think 'I don't need to update, Rocky is so cute!' Anyway, I figured the first snow fall was a reason to blog. Not much to say here, actually. I just wanted to change things up.

The Real Rocky.

I got Rocky to sit still for his portrait today. Isn't he adorable?

Whickedy Whack for the Soul

Here's a little quiz Y tagged me for:

2 moments in your life you'd like to erase:
1. Falling during the Wyoming State of the State address in front of Iraq war veterans.
2. I'm sure there are many, many more. I just try really hard to block moments like that out and now I can't remember any.

4 moments you'd like to relive:
1. MU-KU football game my first year of grad school. It was awesome.
2. Hanging out with Emily, Shannon, Ia, Cassandra and Luke at SMS.
3. Going to the White House press room.
4. Partying with friends in Kansas.

2 places you wouldn't go to/go to again:
1. The transient motel I stayed at in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Actually all of Cheyenne, Wyoming, period.
2. Lambert's in Ozark. My stomach would be upset for days.

4 places you can't wait to visit/visit again:
1. London. I've got to spend more time in the British Museum and Westminster Abbey.
2. The Louvre. Each time I went the line was too long to get in.
3. Aruba. Hopefully I won't get abducted.
4. Lawrence. Rock Chalk!!!

2 foods you can't stand:
1. This is a hard one. I basically like everything. Funnel cakes (they're so sugary they give me headaches.)
2. Dark meat chicken. Uck.

4 foods you love:
1. Strawberries.
2. Indian food. Any of it.
3. Andy's frozen custard
4. Seafood (salmon, shrimp and crab are at the top of the list)

2 songs that make you change the station:
1."Honky Tonk Badonkadonk." Yes, I'm in the country now.
2. "Shake your bon bon"

4 songs you play over and over:
1. "I Like the Way" by Bodyrockers. It makes me want to dance.
2. "Ruby Blue" by Roisin Murphy.
3. "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner. Also makes me want to dance.
4. "When the Stars go Blue" by Tim McGraw.

2 books you'd never finish/read again:
1. Most of the books I had to read for grad school. That's more than 2.
2.

4 books you have read more than once, and/or will read again:
1. Pride and Prejudice.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird.
3. Catch 22.
4. America the book. Hilarious.

I'm supposed to tag someone: Staci...now that you're done at KU I know you have the time for this!!!

PUG FEST!!!

I went to the first annual Helena Pug Fest today. Pugs are so freaking cute. And they really seem like good dogs. There were probably 50 or so pugs at the fest and I only heard a few of them bark. I think they're starting a "pug club" here. How cool is that? Even though this is a small town, they do some interesting stuff.

I've kind of been obsessing about dogs lately. I think with moving around so much I need a friend and the idea of coming home to someone always happy to see me would be awesome!!! But I'm very reluctant to get one because I don't want to be one of those bad dog owners who doesn't have time to take care of their pet. Dogs are a huge responsibility (almost like children) and I don't think I can handle that yet. But once I do decide to break down and get one, pugs will definitely be on my list now!!!

More pics!!!

Rocky.

My landlords have the most adorable bernese mountain dog named Rocky. He's HUGE!!! This isn't a picture of him -- I never seem to have my camera when he's outside -- but this gives you a good idea. He's just the sweetest, most calm, wonderful dog. And he used to be a show dog, so he's so well behaved and shiney. I want to get a dog, but I'm not sure if I can take care of one. But, oh how I love Rocky.

Heat Wave

You know what's awesome about a heat wave? Not being in it. It's in the 70's here. Just beautiful. :-)

They're/there/their

I was just reading over some of my recent posts and noticed I've been having a lot of they're/there/their problems. Yikes!!! That was one of my biggest issues in high school writing classes. I thought I had them conquered, but it appears not. How embarrassing!!

One of my favorite pics...

I took this in Australia last year. I kind of forgot about it until I was going through and deleting pics... It was such a beautiful scene.

My view!!

This is the view from my apartment. Pretty, huh? I like the mountains and want to go climb Mount Helena, which is right behind my place (can't see it in this pic, sorry.) But it has been super hot here, so I think I'll wait until things cool down a bit. Being in an upstairs apartment with no a/c during 90 degree heat is no fun :-(

This place is definitely better than the transient hotel in Cheyenne. Much better. I know you all miss hearing stories about that place though :-)

Stop Signs.

What is the deal about no stop signs in residential areas? I never really experienced that in Missouri or Kansas, but out west there everywhere. So you're traveling along and then another car is coming the other way and nobody knows what to do. I'm really impressed there haven't been more wrecks. It's very strange.

Social Capital

To all you KU-ers oout there that read the “Nest,” I know we’ve all heard up to our eyeballs about social capital. Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about the subject lately. I have good news. Social capital does still exist. Not everyone is “bowling alone” in America. For example, people in Helena know their neighbors. They come over for dinner, they chat on walks. You really can’t be mean to anyone (i.e. flip someone off who cut you off) because you might work with that person. Or maybe it’s your neighbor’s sister. Living in a small town means you have to be more civil. In large cities, it’s easy to cut someone off, push them, slam a door in his/her face. The likelihood of seeing that person you did the bad deed to is very small. Of course, what goes around comes around, as they say.

But, yes, more people are out walking dogs and talking to people here than watching television or surfing the web. Or at least that is what appears to be happening. I thought that was some good news I’d share.

More pretty house photos

Here are some more pictures of mansions. Once I find out some history on them, I'll share. Wildfires are getting pretty bad out here. There more near Billings, but still pretty scary.

Mansion District

Helena was founded as a gold rush town. So there are just some amazing old mansions around here. I actually live in the "mansion district." I took a couple pictures while out on a walk the other day, but there are many, many more. I'll go out and take some more pics soon. I think some of these houses are just beautiful.









This is the view from my apartment. You can kind of see the mountains in the background. It's actually a pretty cool view. The photo doesn't do it justice.

WHO wants some spinach artichoke dip?

This entry is a shout-out to my friend Heidi. While I was in Kansas City last month, Heidi and I went to eat at an Italian restaurant in the new mammoth shopping center by the Kansas Speedway. We ordered spinach artichoke dip and when the waiter brought it to us he held it up and said, "WHO wants some spinach-artichoke dip?" Like he wouldn't give it to us unless we said "Me! Me!" Heidi and I just kind of stared at him. Uh, we do, since we ordered it and all...

He kept doing it throughout the meal. WHO wants some ice tea? WHO wants some bread? WHO wants some Diet Coke? Heidi and I were absolutely cracking up about it. I think the dude overheard us making fun of him and gave us the evil eye. But, come on, we're not five-year-olds. Oh, it was hilarious.