PORCH PONDERINGS

Day Ten of The Bard's Hall

Day Ten of The Bard's Hall Contest finds me in my living room after a day in the big city of Billings. I got off to an early start today and made my way down the highway to Billings. The hour's drive takes me from a high point in Roundup, through the Bull Mountains, to Billings down by the Yellowstone River. As I drove, I passed farms, ranches, wonderful wide open spaces. Lots of big sky country. I reached the top of the 'divide' and could see to the south and west the 'Crazies', the Crazy Mountains over toward Big Timber and Livingston. Snow capped already after that storm the other day. If you go a little further west you'll see the Bridger Mountains near Bozeman and the Absaroka Beartooth Mountains near Gardiner and Livingston.

In fact, as you drive west, you'll start getting into the foothills for the Rocky Mountain range. When you get near Big Timber and Livingston, you'll get into a natural wind tunnel. The wind there blows all the time. It's not unusual to have 20-30 MPH winds most of the time due to the lay of the land. The mountains lay such that the roads wind through the divides and so do the towns. Perfect funnel for the winds. Hang on to your hats and your steering wheel when you go that way. High wind warnings are not uncommon.

So I had to have my last checkup for my eye surgery. All is progressing nicely, glad to say. It is scary when your eyes are being messed with. Your sight is precious. When you use it every day, all day, like we do, to lose it would be devastating. I know they say your other senses would take over and you would adapt. But I'm at that age where I don't think I want to adapt. I don't think I have time to adapt. May I never have to.

After my doctor visit, I just shopped around. Ever try to find something you know you want, but can't find? It was one of those days. I have an idea for a floor mat for the basement. Keep the dirt in the basement by the bottom of the steps. You'd think the biggest town in Montana would have such a mat.
Evidently, I didn't go to the right out-of-the-way hole-in-the-wall store that still sells what is in my mind. But I'll find it. The gauntlet has been thrown down, the challenge is on.

I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo. It starts on July 1. I wonder if anyone else from WDC has enrolled. That would be a curious thing to know. Now I have to decide on a topic. I heard Kenneth Branagh talking on NPR radio today about his new movie, 'Artemis Fowl'. And then he talked about the Irish and how they believe in fairies and leprechauns and such. Perhaps fantasy is something calling my name. We'll see what happens.

So this wraps up the ten entries for The Bard's Hall Contest. I do hope you enjoyed the little porch chats. Please come to visit Montana again. We would love to have you visit. As the bumper sticker said, "GET LOST - in Montana" .