Montana n: A state of the northwest United States bordering on Canada. Admitted as the 41st state in 1889. The fourth largest state in the union, it includes vast prairies and numerous majestic mountain ranges.
Syn: Treasure State, Big Sky Country, Last Best Place.
Jones n: slang. An addiction or very deep craving.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Fire and beer
- Woman:
- Hey guys, that fire is about to jump the road.
- Guy:
- Need help?
- Woman:
- Yeah. Z_ called the fire department, but we need to make sure it don't jump the road.
- Guy:
- Hey Jones, how's your fire fighting skills?
- Me:
- Never done it, but I'll come along.
When I got out of the truck I took the time to look around carefully, noting where people were and where there was smoke and flame and survey the terrain. A safety check. My friends went to consult someone they knew raking at the burning grass near the road. The consensus was that the fire would only cross the road if the wind picked up and at the moment no ones house was in danger. More importantly, did anyone bring beer? There is only the one here and it's warm.
Another pickup truck arrived with an assortment of shovels and rakes in the back. The tools were handed out but no one moved to the fire. "Good thing you brought these" someone quipped, "we didn't have anything to lean on. Did you bring any beer?"
Another pickup truck arrived. The driver leaned out the window and joked "Typical goddamn Montana fire crew. Standing in the road and bullshitting. I'm surprised you aren't drinking beer."
The next half hour went much like that. People arriving, leaning on shovels, chatting up their neighbors, occasionally glancing at the fire and complaining about the lack of beer. When the fire truck arrived and men with yellow shirts and hard hats started surveying the scene it was apparent that they had not brought beer either. The tools were returned to the pickup trucks and the gathering broke up.
- She:
- How long have you been in Montana?
- Me:
- About three years.
- She:
- Does it surprise you how obsessed with beer everyone is?
- Me:
- No. I'm not surprised. I picked up on the beer culture real quick after moving here.
Labels: Beer, conversation, culture, fire, neighbors
There is more Jones in the archives: February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 December 2009 January 2010 May 2014
