big sky

Remember how I've been writing a novel for, like, the past seven years?* Well, now I'm writing a new one. And I wanted it to be set in Montana. In my mother's hometown of Melstone. Full of all the great stories and characters I've heard she and my grandma churn over for ages. And since the last time I'd been there was when I was nine, I obviously needed to take a research trip.

You know that discontented married rich lady in Breakfast at Tiffanys who acts as that writer's benefactor and funds his lack of traditional employment until he throws her off for Audrey Hepburn? I too have just such a benefactor. It's Dave. Except he's not a discontented rich lady. And I have no plans to throw him off. Especially because he thinks trips like this are a good idea. Which is why I love him dearly.

So last week, I met my mom (my guide) in Billings and we drove the two hours to her old stomping grounds.

Melstone! (population: 100ish)

We stayed with my Great Aunt Virginia at her ranch house.
As you can guess, there are no hotels in town.

The Musselshell River

Me, posed like a freakshow near some hay.
Yes I have seen hay bales before, but I thought it would make a good photo op. And then I didn't know how to stand. And this is the unfortunately awkward result.

Colored glass in the Mussleshell Catholic Church window

Sunset.
And then later that night (not pictured), I realized just how many stars I'd never seen before.

stark, stark rural-ness. It was great.

More hay.
(I'm sure people though I was some chick from L.A. who'd never seen a cow before or something. But really, I wasn't there to gawk. Just to soak up the flavor of the place).

I took along little Lucy (Peeps stayed with her other grandma).
She was a great traveling companion!

We stopped by my grandparent's old "river ranch" for a bit of nostalgia and learned that the place is for sale. For 2 million dollars. So, as soon as I come up with that cash, we'll have a lovely summer-reunion-vacation spot!

My Aunt Virginia asked me on our last night if I'd gotten enough material. Yes, yes, yes. And thank you! Most especially to Penee, who was really the highlight of my trip. What can I say? I heart my mom.

*What about that first novel, you ask? Well, I'm just sort of done with it. It's done and not done. Needs some more work, but I'd rather give it a rest, take what I learned from writing it, and start something fresh. I'm not abandoning the thing, you understand, just letting it simmer. Perhaps indefinitely.

bummer, dude

Got home from an internet-less trip to Montana with my mother (to be posted about in detail later) to the following in my inbox:

EVENT CANCELLED: We are sorry to inform you that we will not be able to hold the Monumental Challenge 2009 marathon, half marathon, relay, 5K, or kids run this year.

That's it. No explanation to go along with said cancellation, which they at least had the decency to inform us of less than a month in advance and after I'd booked the rental car, hotel, and flight on Hotwire, of all places, which means I've got no hope of a refund. Thanks, guys!

So, we're just going to take the trip anyway. I've been wanting to get back to Rapid City for ages so it's not a total loss. Just completely disappointing. But I'm determined not to let my training be a total loss, either. I think there's a half marathon in Marana in November. Not as cool a place as Mt. Rushmore, but a hopefully more reliable one...so I'll set my sights on that.

good karma abounds

Earlier this week, I put my Netflix mailer on the roof of the car as I loaded the girls up. I forgot about it, of course (why do we never learn that the roof of cars = a black hole??), and drove off. I thought I'd certainly have to pay for the film (Angels in the Dust, by the way, a really touching/tragic documentary about orphans in Africa) when miracle of miracles, today I was advised by e-mail that Netflix had received it! Thank you, good Samaritan who dropped it in the mail for me, wherever you are.

Then, at the farmer's market, they randomly had this book on sale for five bucks! It's been on my "to read" list for like two years.

Happy, happy day.

a three minute video that took me three hours to make:

swimming lessons from Lacy Mayberry on Vimeo.

a little something for the teeny boppers

You know that texting-while-driving video that's been circulating on the internet (that really graphic one that's popped up all over facebook and in your inbox a dozen times in the last few weeks)? Today on the radio I learned that it was initially intended as a Welsh public service announcement to teen drivers.

And then it made me remember how one day during high school drivers' ed, the class was hauled down to the local train track to watch the drama kids reinact a train wreck, complete with makeup-enhanced abrasions and bloodied McBeth dresses (well, okay, maybe they weren't exactly in costume, but this is just how the drama kids always appear in my memory), wailing things like: "Oh my Gosh! Sean isn't breathing! I think he's DEAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDD!"

Don't get me wrong, train wrecks aren't funny. They're not. But really, really, this was.

Which is why I'm glad for technological advances such as YouTube and videocameras that can step things up a bit. Make the kids pay attention. Because reckless teen driving is no laughing matter. Unless you attended MVHS in the late nineties.

repentant

I've developed this nasty little habit of stealing the New York Times Magazine from the gut of NY Times Sunday paper every week when I go to the library. It's just that I can't possibly justify using my time in that blessed establishment reading. I'm busy soaking up silence, trying to write, and doing other productive things...like blogging. So I have to take it home. Like leftovers. Save it for later.

Anyway, last week, the magazine featured women. Specifically "Why Women's Rights are the Issue of Our Time." I loved this article so much that I wanted to share. But how could I, in good conscience, ask my readers to go out and steal from their local library? I mean, I'm pretty sure there are like 30 of you. Such a kleptowave certainly wouldn't go unnoticed.

Solution: I googled the article. Turns out, NY Times Magazine is online. All of it. So I've been sullying my soul for no good reason. Anyway, all of that for this. Here's the link. Go and read it.

(I know, I know. Solution #2. Subscribe to Sunday's paper my/yourself. But come on, we're in a recession! (or just about to be out of it, or just about to really get into it...or something)).