This is the end, my friends, the end

The time with my Montana family was short, but sweet. I spent my time out here riding, roping, conversing, Scrabbling and, of course, eating. And snacking.

I'm about to board an airplane home to Seattle, so this will be the end of the travel blog. Thanks for following, dear readers. From now on, if you want to know what I'm up to, you'll have to call or email. I will even accept snailmail, once I have an address. Anyone who wants to visit me in Seattle is welcome. I can't guarantee a fancy guest room or anything, but if I have a roof over my head and food in my belly, you will, too.

It bears repeating...

Don't waste your time. We don't get that much. Make heaven here on earth. Grab life by the balls and wrench every last ounce of worth out of it that you can, whatever that may mean to you. Don't wait around for anyone else's permission or approval when you find something you want to do. (But, of course, DBAD.)

I'm still here

Wyoming and my family here are the best.  It's been a mellow time of hanging out, talking, reading, drinking beer, playing fetch with the relentless dog, cooking, playing scrabble... There's even been a bit of jacuzzi time, hiking, wakeboarding and hanging around a backyard fire.  I also got to drive two forklifts, one large and one small.

Tomorrow I'm going to my aunt's house in southern Montana, where, if my past experience is any indicator of future occurrences, I will have even worse cell reception than I have here.  Thanks, AT&T!

I'm planning to come home on the 26th, and am starting to stress a bit.  I've never before been in the situation where I haven't had a job or a place to live in a year and a half, so I'm a little worried about the logistics (and the reality!) of re-entering real life.  I really need to quit thinking about, you know, stuff...

I gotta get a bracelet

DBAD

Adorable puppy upstages sixteen performers

I went out on my last evening in Nashville. There were four bands playing, who were supposed to be pretty good, but I have no idea, since they were all trumped by the adorable cuddly puppy that some train-hopping, hitchhiking travelling kids had brought to the club. I ended up sitting outside all night, puppy-sitting while they watched the show. I couldn't help myself.

I'm now on my way to Sheridan, WY to visit my uncle. It's my first step toward home. I should be back before the weather turns nasty...

More nothing.

On Friday night, I had the urge to go out, so I went down to the club to see what was going on.  It was a sadly dead Friday night-- I think there was a lot of competition around town that night.  I ended up finding myself in the uncomfortable position of really liking all of the musicians who played that night as people, but not really being into any of them as artists.  Kinda weird.

I watched a fascinating documentary last week called "Iron City Blues," about this crazy town in southern Tennessee where there is no law.  None.  There used to be a single police officer, but after he quit, they never found a replacement.  A Nashville blues singer went down there to make this documentary and write a blues song about the town, which is, of course, included in the film.  If you have 53 spare minutes, this is a decent way to spend them.