Montana Jones

Good Government

Sometimes your state government does something right. This post is a kudo to those that helped pass House Bill 531.

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/05/06/news/10cameras.txt

Gov. Brian Schweitzer Tuesday signed into a law a bill that bans the use of red-light cameras in Montana

Labels: bill, good, government, governor, House Bill 531, law, politics

Posted by: Montana Jones / 12:21 PM 1 comments

Thank You

Dear _her and _he,

This is a thank you note for the super spiffy Christmas gift. I apologize for procrastinating my gratitude like some nine-year-old that can't quite figure out the importance of thanking Aunt Edna for the gawdaful sweater. But I have a good excuse. I have been too busy enjoying my new shoes.

As _R will attest, I am fiercely picky about my footwear. When I opened the box I gave the shoes a long sideways glance of skepticism. But in the spirit of optimism and gifts gladly given I tried them on. It was a delight to discover that your choice in footgear completely and totally rocks! They are comfy, convenient, and fit like I have been wearing them my whole life.

Mere moments ago I slipped them on to traverse the snowy driveway and deliver a bag of trash to its receptacle. Without your gift that would have been a five minute ordeal of finding and lacing up some other kicks. But that's not all… I have also used these shoes to trample paths through the snow for little old ladies trying to navigate their walkers in the cold harsh outdoors. I have used these shoes as a template for a new line of fashion accessories I am designing. I have used these shoes to chock the tires of a runaway school bus, saving the lives of dozens of children. I have used these shoes as a counterweight in an extensive series of scientific experiments that chart the origin of black holes. (Turns out they have the perfect mass for offsetting the antimatter created by the Large Hadron Collider. Who knew?) I have used these shoes to trample the evil intentions of third world dictators while on secret assignment with the CIA. They even look stylish when I am on stage performing sold out shows with my rock band.

So I apologize for being a little late with the thank you note. I certainly don't want you to think the gift is unappreciated. I think the shoes are fantastic and I know I will be wearing them for years to come. I also think the two of you are fantastic for thinking of me this past Christmas. Aunt Edna, on the other hand, well, her sweater will make a great polishing rag for my awesome new shoes.

Yours in gratitude,
Montana Jones

Labels: Christmas, gift, good, gratitude, letter, note, shoes, thank you

Posted by: Montana Jones / 1:49 PM 0 comments

Montana has been good to me

Me:

Montana has been good to me.

MM:

It shows.

Me:

I am very happy with the time I have spent here.

MM:

Already today I have had a few moments of "I wish I woulda… Why didn't I?"

Me:

Well, I hope you get your chance.

MM:

Oh, I will. Just gotta do my time and work things out with the missus. I know of quite a few people that left here and regretted it.

Me:

It is a common theme, especially among the young. A lot of young people look around Montana and don't see anything. They don't see the same things they see on teevee. So they think that if they just get out life will be better, if they just go to California or New York or Florida or wherever they will get their big break. Most of them go and it turns into a learning experience for them.

MM:

Important rule of thumb. When you choose to leave paradise, when you choose to leave heaven, you must first negotiate passage for reentry.

Labels: conversation, desire, good, heaven, leaving, Montana, paradise, regret

Posted by: Montana Jones / 10:04 PM 0 comments

2007 was a good year

She:

I don't think I am going to do that on New Years anymore. The couple years I have done it have been fun and all, but the people are such grouches. I am so tired of hanging out with angry or uptight people. How can they live like that? How can they be so negative all the time? It's depressing.

Me:

I think they don't realize what they are doing or the effect they are having on others.

She:

Well, your phone message was the most cheerful part of New Years for me. I like calling you, you are always so upbeat and positive.

I have been hearing a lot of anecdotal stories from friends and blogs and news pundits about what a crappy year 2007 was. I believe it too. Every single thing that the mob mentions as a point of pain really truly is a sucky thing.

Well enough. I have had some sucky points in my year too. In 2007 I encountered a couple shit storms that will take a while before the stains get scrubbed out.

I stand by my headline. 2007 was a good year. I had a good year because I wanted to have a good year. I made it a point to smile a lot and find fun in small moments. I went about my work and my life with a sense of joy and cheer. I reveled in the richness of challenge and adversity. It worked. I had a good year because I wanted to have a good year.

Now that I know the trick, I am going to have a good year in 2008 too.

Labels: 2007, attitude, conversation, good

Posted by: Montana Jones / 3:25 PM 0 comments