This is a Public Service AnnouncementWith guitarsKnow your rightsAll three of them

A reader suggested that I set up an automatic email notification that goes out whenever I update this site.

Since that requires "work" and "brainpower," which are both in short supply here at The Dude Abides, I wanted to gauge interest before embarking on such a project.

Just click away.

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Would you be interested in getting an email notice whenever the Dude Abides gets updated?

Yes No Piss off

We will return you to your regularly scheduled programming shortly.

So this is ChristmasAnd what have you done?Another year overAnd a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun




The near and the dear one
The old and the young



A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year



Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear



And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong



For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong



And so happy Christmas
For black and for white



For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight



A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year



Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear



And so this is Christmas
And what have we done



Another year over
And a new one just begun



And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun



The near and the dear one
The old and the young



A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year



Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear



War is over
If you want it



War is over
Now...



====
====

Today was an unbelievable day.

The mountain got four inches, and then it warmed up. Conditions were perfect; the snow was creamy like spring corn.

Nobody was there. We rode fresh tracks until 2 p.m.

I repeat: Fresh tracks until 2 p.m.

We stuck to the blacks and double blacks off the tram and really let rip on the steeps.

We rode aggressively, and both of us got a serious groove on.

Right proper-like.

More snow is forecast for the next two days.

I felt like a kid.

We had shit-eating grins on our faces all day.

Merry Christmas to You and Yours.

Today was an unbelievable day.

Peace,

The Dude

When everything feels all over, when everybody seems unkindI'll give you a four leaf clover, take all worry out of your mind

I sit in semi-darkness as the false dawn appears over the Bridgers.

Hot coffee steams in a mug that some artist made by hand. I can remember when India bought that mug at an art show.

I feel an emotional and social disconnect.

And I don't mind.

At all.

I was laying alone on the couch last night.

India was out with friends.

Well, not exactly alone. My furry friends surrounded me. As I dozed in and out through various movies, I began to wonder if I should be concerned that I have made no effort to make any new friends here in Bozeman.

I reeled it back in and asked myself, "Self, Are You Happy?"

It was with a mild shock that I realized... I Have Never Been Happier.

Every day feels like a vacation.

I live in a Paradise.

I have everything I need.

More importantly, I have nothing that I Do Not Want In My Life.

Understand the difference? Addition by subtraction... pruning... culling the herd of stressors, both self-induced and external.

The angst fades as I perform this little self-inventory. Sometimes, things do go right. Sometimes, we fail to see what is right in front of our faces. Sometimes, in the stillness of the pre-dawn, we can breathe.

And that's enough Yoda for one morning.

Time's up, kids.

I leave in exactly 2 minutes to meet one of my best friends (a brother I never had, really) to go snowboarding at Big Sky. I gotta put my socks on.