Chico Half and the Bozeman Symphony

It often amuses me the dichotomies that can occur when you live in a small town in Montana. Today, I spent a beautiful morning outside as the sweeper for a fun run 10k. Cold and windswept, the run was nonetheless well-attended. I started out behind everyone else and picked up the wayside markers along the way. I was slow, making sure that the couple in front of me had plenty of room. I decided to have some fun along the way. Thus, the pictures below. The couple, who were carrying a baby, turned back early and I was left about 30 minutes behind the next slowest group of people. It was a fabulous day with gorgeous vistas. I concentrated on being outside and had some fabulous moments of meditation. It's amazing how much more comfortable with silence I'm becoming.

 The second part of the day commenced when Leigh Anne and I stopped at the main building of Chico Hot Springs and changed from our running gear into skirts and other finery. We drove up to Bozeman in time for some lunch at Ted's (honestly, the best place for a pre-Wilson-performance meal). Then, the Bozeman Symphony performing "Ode to Joy." A little nature, a little culture, the perfect kind of day.

The Gardiner Fish Fry

Fish fry tonight. Went with Dad and enjoyed the meal. It was fried. And there was sugar. But it was good.

Things I get to do for Work

YA class History of Yellowstone's Winter Explorers -- Day Two

I had said that I wasn't going on the morning trip but woke up even without my tiny baby golden girl panting in my face and was rewarded with four moose. That's right. Four. Moose. Many much moosen. 
Then it was back to the Buffalo Ranch for morning classes. Found out I knew a lot more about winter explorers than I thought. A short snowshoe (~2 miles) in the afternoon made for a great day.

Yellowstone Association Snowshoeing the history of Yellowstone

View from my cabin

On a lunchtime run

Running pays off!

It was a little cold out. I was pretty much like this the whole time

Yeah. We totally saw four moose.

YA class History of Yellowstone's Winter Explorers -- Day One

Lots of interesting things to learn on the first day of Yellowstone's Winter Explorers. Jim Garry is a fantastic speaker and has such great stories, it's fun to have a class where I can learn a bit more about the park's history. I learned why Lamar is part of the winter range (less than two feet of accumulated snow so mamas and calves can still get to food.)
Also got to go for a awesome 20 minute run in Lamar Valley. The snow pole guides are perfect for sprint makers and I got to dance and sing and sprint to my heart's content with no one around to see or hear. Though having "Kokomo" playing while running with snow is a bit odd. And -- I found 60 cents! Who says running doesn't pay?
After class in the afternoon, we went out animal watching. At first, we only saw two ravens, which was pretty cool watching them hang out and start their mating dance. But then Rick McIntyre stopped by and said, "follow me" and we got to see some wolves. I saw two of them for about two seconds but they sure counted! That, along with a coyote gaming by the road made for a two dog day.
Also got to do 45 minutes of yoga and 10 minutes of meditation. Was pretty awesome. The yoga was hard to get into but I actually felt really great except for the last minute or so. Couldn't believe it!

Family Christmas

Spent the last weekend in Indiana celebrating a belated Christmas. I love my family. It's just all so much fun!