Praying nowTo something that has never shown him anythingFeelingUnderstands the weather of the winter's on its way...

And so it begins...

We have another winter storm advisory, and they expect 12 inches above 6000 feet. Now, most of you reading this are probably thinking, "That sucks."

But not me. No, not me. I am so excited I think I just peed a little.

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There was an incredible vista just now, as the sun was setting, right out in the back 40.

I am going to leave this picture a little bigger than normal, so you can get the effect.

The Bridgers:





Know what, though?

The pictures really never do it justice.

Children are innocentA teenager's fucked up in the headAdults are even more fucked upAnd elderlies are like children

The other day, when we were driving back from the hot springs, we stopped at a gas station in Three Forks, just off Interstate 90.

I started the gas and went in to get a bottle of water. First of all, the gas station was smokier than a Wisconsin bar at midnight, mainly due to the "casinos" that proliferate throughout Montana. They aren't real casinos, at least by my definition, because they are only slots and video poker... which, ironically, litter every Wisconsin bar, just for entertainment, wink wink. Just like printing the spreads for the games in the Sports section. For entertainment purposes only.

These casinos are everywhere. I would bet there are twenty in Bozeman. It doesn't really bother me, because, hey, whatever floats your boat. If you wanna get your gamble on, go for it. Who am I to judge? I pretty much feel that way about all the "legislated morality" issues- drugs, alcohol, prostitution, gambling, etc... If you wanna participate any of those things, fine. If you take it to the point that you ruin your life, well, you only have yourself to blame.

And, news flash: Prohibition didn't work. Making drugs illegal sure as hell hasn't prevented anyone from using them. All it did was create an incredibly lucrative, tax-free black market.

Of course, if your usage/gambling infringes on other people, then legislate away. (eg. drunk driving, stealing to feed your gambling/drug habit). Thankfully, the bars and restaurants in Bozeman are all smoke-free, which is a nice example of legislating to avoid an infringement on someone else's life (or oxygen supply).

Since I moved here in June, I hadn't been subjected to the choking cloud of secondhand smoke that is prevalent in every Wisconsin bar. It sucks. You come home and your clothes, your hair, your skin smells like an ashtray.

So, when I walked into this gas station, I was kind of surprised. But then I realized that it was a "casino," and everyone knows that video poker and marlboros are the Siamese Twins of Vice. They go hand-in-hand. I have no idea why. Maybe someoone should do a study, or just make a slot machine that spits out smokes instead of quarters.

I grabbed my bottle of water, went to the counter and paid. (No sales tax here... thank you legalized and taxed gambling, for making this possible.)

As I was paying, this very young girl walked up to the register next to me an set down a six pack of budweiser cans. I looked over at her just as she said, "And a box of Marlboro Reds, please." She looked like she was 19, but she must have been of age, because the clerk carded her.

She was also probably seven months pregnant.

This threw me for a little loop, because I was obviously staring at her stomach. She gave me a look that said, "What the fuck you looking at, asshole? Get your North Face coat and bottled water back to Bozeman, bitch."

I just shrugged and left.

I am sure she'll make a wonderful mother, and the little bundle of joy will grow up and discover the cure for the common cold.