Hello Spring!

 This week we woke up to this

...and yesterday the prairie dogs were sitting on top of the snow saying things like, "What's all this white stuff?"  "I think it's the apocalypse."

bald eagles

 and these bad boys were just chillin'.

Why February is an awesome month......(Updated)

I love taking the back roads to campus because they follow the river. These ladies were crossing in front of me....

*For some reason, this picture didn't load on my iPad. Here it is....

Okay, Jack you brought it, but guess what.....

.....many of us wore SKIRTS with leggings yesterday. Take that Jack Frost!

And so we woke up to this.....

Actually, my phone said -30 when I woke up. Let this day begin!!

As this phenomena of a pseudo-ice age is affecting us, funny things happen and are said:

As I was wrapping my son's face in a new, black fleece scarf, he tells me,
      "I'm a ninja!"
and
       "A guy threw a class of cold water and a glass of hot water in the air and the hot froze first!"
and
       "When I go outside and my nose-hairs freeze, that's when it's the best!"
and I respond, "I love the way the cold air feels in my lungs while I'm getting over a cold. I feel like I can breathe."
and dropping off my other son at school
      "Doesn't your heater work?"
                               I reply, "Um, well not until I get to campus - or we replace the water pump....."

Okay, so I get to class and here's what I hear:

"The temperature is -30 with a -47 wind chill"

     "My hair turned white from my breath freezing on it."

          "I live in a place where the air hurts my face!"

               "Half of my ear has frostbite - there's a line where my hat wasn't covering it"

And as I'm getting into the car for my mid-day break.......

I have to defrost the ice from my lenses. I pretty much have to choose from covering my face with a scarf and fogging up my glasses, or go without one or the other.

(Oh, and I just have to share that there's a guy sitting across the library from me with earphones plugged into his laptop and he's busting a gut laughing!!!!!! Man, I love this library!)

And my son calls me at work to see when I'm coming home. He wants to show me a trick. (I'm thinking - great, he's going to make me stand out here all night while he does donuts on the dirt bike in the snow)

.....Instead, he comes running out in shorts to throw a cup of hot water in the air for me!  It was amazing!! It came down as really heavy snow.

I love this place. 

sources: college students at MSU
source

Bring it on Jack Frost!

I love the way the light goes
through the panes.

So, it's a little "nippy" this week. Who would have thought it would make the city even more beautiful?





Just look at the sculpture walk at the library.......breathtaking!

 Speaking of breathtaking -.................

For some reason, the cool, crisp air makes everyone a little hyper. What do all those Bozemanites do on days like today?

I kid you not, they are out walking their dogs, wearing shorts to campus, and taking their kids and senior citizens to the library.

                   

Proof!

Ultimate chill-spot

     

And now that I have good traction with my new tires, it's a      

great day to chill in Bozeman.    

                                   

What does this mean?

Bozeman is like the Berkley, CA of Montana. There are medical professionals, outfitters and college-folk.   People wear sandals rain or snow. Dreadlocks and tie-dye are somewhat popular. Eco-anything rules.When you pull up to the Co-Op there are huge signs asking, "Did you remember to bring your bags?".  Even the local Town and Country grocery will even put your groceries in a box instead of - "gasp!", a PLASTIC bag. I live in a suburb of Bozeman, so within a few miles of our home things are more "corporate" when it comes to shopping. Still, I find these to be endearing qualities of the most amazing city and do my best to roll with it.

Bozeman is also a pedestrian town. Bike, hike, walk, longboard, anything with wheels and no gas is king. I've even seen this a few times...

So, now you have an idea what the locals are like - can anyone tell me just what THIS is supposed to mean? It's right by the college.....

To make it more confusing - across the street (lower right of the pict) the arrows are placed 10 feet prior to the intersection. I'm thinking, "Does this mean if you plan to get hit by a car - by all means do it where the paramedics won't get smucked too?"  Any guesses??