Nothing Compares: 2005.09

YEA!!!

MY SISTER IS GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!

Friends

Old friends have to be one of the most delightful parts of life. About a year or two ago I got reacquainted with my best friend from grade school. It was one of the best things to happen. And not to long ago, maybe a month, I got an email from one of my best friends in high school whom I hadn't really talk to in about 4 years. It was just nice to be back in touch with friends who know you through so many different times of your life. Then yesterday, I got to talk to 3 of my friends from college, now I've not really lost contact with these 3 but it had been awhile to talk to them. And they each are living in new cities and doing new things. Friends really do make life what its all about. For me here in Montana, its been weird the past month. For all the summer, the people that I really got to know, and spent time with were my room mates, and then they left and I was kinda left not knowing many people. Now, don't go and get all sad for me, there are still people around, and of course there is Josh, who I tend to spend a lot of time with. But there isn't anything that can take the place of those friends. A lot of times when I think about friends and remember how important they are, I think about how true it is, cause of many reasons, but one being cause Jesus made a big emphasis on friendship. Greater love has no man, except that he lay down his life for his friend. Jesus said that, and then did it, but that's another story. And look at how many people followed Jesus; everywhere that he went crowds followed him, yet there were the 12 that were closer than any, and even then John, Peter, and James were were closer than the other to Jesus, and then John was his best friend, and the only one around when Jesus was killed. Isn't this what life is all about anyways? To love one another? I think my life should model the live of Jesus, in many ways, but in this way especially. Love people, but there will always be those whom you connect with more, and are more intimate and close with, and hopefully there will be that one person who is the closest to you to the end.

(Thanks Ash, your email inspired me today.)

No Pics, Just Words

So I thought that I woud take some time and actually write in my blog, instead of just putting up pictures, which are good, but doesnt tell you a lot about whats going on with me at all. Well, I am still working at the ranch, although just about 2-3 days a week now, and probably less than that in the next 3 weeks. We just dont have any guests righ now. But I've been working at the photo lab a lot, so that kinda makes up for the loss of hours at the ranch. Things are starting to get cold here. There is frost in the mornings and there has been snow up on the mountain. I am not sure what I've gotten myself into. Im already starting to get cold, and its not really winter yet! But I am sure I will be fine. A lot of you all have asked me about this Josh guy that is in a lot of my pics. He lives here in Big Sky, although he grew up in Minnesota. He's great. A lot different for me in many ways, but so the same in others. I think its both that make us so great together. I have finally started to call him my boyfriend. It took awhile, but I feel comfortable with that term now. What else, what else. Things dont change much around here, so there isnt a whole lot to write about. So maybe one day I will have more profound, deeper thouhts.

Saturday I went to Helena, the state capital of Montana. Just to go somewhere. It was an ok town. Not to much to do there on a Sat/Sun, but I got outside of the town and saw some things. !st I went to this place called the "Gates of the Mountains." It's a place where when Lewis and Clark explored when they came though. I went on a boat ride through this canyon. It was really pretty. Then after I went there I decided to go to this ghost town called Elkhorn. It was out in the middle of nowhere. 1st you took this 2 lane road to a dirt road, then the dirt road to an even more dirt road for about 12 miles and there you are. It was a gold rush town back in the 1800's, but now its nothing. But there were people living there. After that I started back to Big Sky, traveling down the dirt road. Every now and then I would pass signs like this one here designating public and private lands. I found it funny that the signs said "Come Back Again." Like where it is is a highly popular, traveled place. It was fun though.

St. Helena cathedral.

Helena, from a top a hill.

Montana state capital building.

Wow, who is this great photographer?

1200 year old Native American pictographs.

The actual "Gates to the Mountains."

An old mine shaft? Maybe?

Elkhorn, from on top of the hill.

These are the two most complete bulidings left in Elkhorn.

A view from out in the middle of nowhere.

That is an osprey nest. I wish I understood how they don't blow off.

Living in the Wilderness

Ah, Montana. Where else can you see 2 bald eagles flying around? It is still so strange for me to see wildlife out and roaming free here. Like the other day as I was going to Bozeman, there were these 2 birds flying in the air and as I got closer I saw that they were bald eagles! I dont know if I had ever seen any out in the open like this, except maybe once in Yellowstone. But this one landed in the tree and I made a quick u-turn and got its picture. Beautiful isn't it? And then last week at the ranch during dinner, all the guest ran to the window, talking and pointing. So we looked out and there were 6 deer on the lawn, including the baby fawn!

I hope a car doesn't come....

Just hanging out in the yard.

Maybe they wanted a drink?

Another Great Hike

Yesterday, Josh and I went on a hike to a place called Storm Castle. If you have seen the movie, A River Runs Through It, then you have seen Storm Castle, it is in the scene at the very end of the movie. Anyways, this is by far the most beautiful hike I have done here. (Beehive has nothing on this you guys). Here are some photos from the hike. Enjoy! This one here is me at the top looking out at the magnificent view.