No, I'm Not Dead

That's right, I'm fine.

Don't have time to write anything other than "I'll try to update as soon as I can".

Having been in Glacier for the past week and getting back on a weekend, my internet time is on the DL. Might stay through Monday if I need to, for internet and talking to people over at the University of Montana.

TTFN

Pic Post 2

Pictures from Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD.

A falcon (can't remember which type). They had a lure, but it flew away. "Don't worry, we have a tracker tag on it! We'll find her!"

Methuselah, their oldest tortoise. I touched this.

Maniac. Enough said. (that's his name, btw)

Did you catch that? 15 FEET 5 INCHES!! FRENCH THE LLAMA THAT'S HUGE!!

Pic Post 1

NOTE: pictures will be posted with some text explaining it or whatever.

They WILL be posted randomly and out of order. To limit the load of processing, only a few will be put per post.

I'm with Hank Green!!!!

Devils Tower National Monument, WY. Yes, there is no apostrophe. It got dropped at some point in the past (accidentally) and has never been corrected.

My first hardware love.

This just cracked me up. It's a kid's painting in the stairwell at the library in Albert Lea, MN.

More from Missoula

Sick of hearing about this city yet? No? Good. Because I'm not tired of talking about it.

After my 3 hour parking stint at the library was up (the time between the computer and the car- about 45 minutes- was spent upstairs trying to find Naruto. This library is big, and nice, and has a LOT of stuff. The manga section is 5 times bigger than Corydon's. Sorry Mother Dearest and Mrs. Burch) I went to find a spot back in one of the public lots.

Full.

Went to the lot I was in last night.

Also full.

And right next to an explosion of color.

Apparently from June-August Missoula has a lunchtime food and music festival EVERY WEDNESDAY from about 11-2, with food booths from local businesses and live bands.

The band that was playing did the best rendition of 'Epic' by Faith No More, a song found on Rock Band 1, that I have ever heard. I don't normally like that song, but I sang along. I think I

was the only one.

It was busy, but not crowded. Lots of families and young people (high school to college age). Oh and the University of Montana is just across the river from downtown. I'm going to check out their grad program online sometime.

Because I LOVE MISSOULA.

Back to parking.

Since that lot was full, I found my way back to the library lot and snagged the last spot left. For another 3 hours. Score.

Explored the lunch festival, and got food from the MacKenzie River Pizza Co., a place I wanted to check out from the brochure I got of downtown stuff yesterday.

2 small yet filling slices of pizza and 1 vanilla cream soda later, I am very full and content.

Seriously. The BEST cream soda EVER.

Sodas consumed: 4

Compared to Papalino's in Louisville, the slices were a third the area and 4 times as thick- not as thick as Wick's though. The dough, sauce, and toppings made a very hearty eat.

Yep, can't figure out Brian's blogging magic. Oh well.

If I can upload pictures here I definitely will.

I really like it here. Although ped x-ing is something else.

Apparently, as I found out a little while ago from conversing with a polite bike cop (name badge "Swanson"), pedestrians have right of way.

Always. FOREVER.

As in, you're driving down the street. There's a crosswalk, but no stop sign or light. Someone is standing at the corner. You are expected and supposed to stop to let them cross. By law.

Definitely culture shock compared to Indiana, and pretty much anywhere else. As Officer Swanson confessed, not even eastern Montana, where he's from, does that. There's also, according to him, some kind of city bike rental system. Sounds good to me. I won't be able to utilize that now, but maybe..... *scheme scheme scheme*

I love the downtown area. I haven't seen much of the residential area, and the business area is crazy. With signs, traffic markings and road parameters, it's actually a very confusing and sometimes hard city to get around by car. Some areas are much better for walking/biking. There are dedicated biking lines even out around the city.

I like it. You also get a sense of breathing, with a snow-capped mountain or two in the distance.

That's all for now. With the Old Time-y Nyan Cat melodically ruling my ears, I will now endeavor to try to post pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDaayQj-vq8

Oh! One more thing. ALL the computers at the library here have names. I'm on Edith now, I was on Cheech earlier, and Buttons yesterday. Hint hint library ladies.

Hank Green VS Harry and The Potters

Dude.

It was.... MAGICAL

I've listened to a few of Hank Green's songs on Youtube, but I think he sounds much better live. He got really nervous and messed up some (some songs more than others- he couldn't play Phineas Gage), but none of us cared. It made him more human, less Internet Legend- just a guy doing something he loved.

Did I mention the concert was free? In the Missoula Public Library Parking Lot. About 60 feet from this computer through 2 walls.

I got a picture with Hank, his autograph, and hugged him and his wife Katherine (I don't know if it's a C or K).

Harry and the Potters were phenomenal. I've never heard any of their music before, but 10 seconds in I was an instant fan. I bought 4 cds of theirs ($5 each!) and a t-shirt for me and one for Leigh- to be paid back in cash or bagels and determined at a later date.

I didn't know the words, but the choruses were catchy and repetitive, so it was easy to join in.

Also apparently the two guys ("Harry Potter" and "Harry Potter") are brothers.
I got their autographs as well.

My journal has a page of awesome.

Did I mention there were like 50-60 people there? And most were there because it was a Harry Potter event sponsored by the library for the teen program?

I was there an hour early for sound check with Pita Pit for dinner (1 block away) and fell in with 3 Harry Potter nerds/ Nerdfighter girls. When they asked where I was from, "Indiana,", they said:

"Where is that?"

.
.
.

What?

"We don't know where that is- we're from Canada."

What?

Yep. 3 Canadian girls from Calgary. They were awesome concert-mates. I made sure to get a picture of them and their names. Facebook friends? I think so.
Meghan, Tatyaana, and Olivia.
Remember that page of awesome? Their names are on the back of it. #epicwinning
After the show the 4 of us talked with Hank about the differences between Canada and the US. I had to help them with a vending machine and US coins. Apparently Meghan ended up with some German coin or something "Gustav VI Adolf" ? Idk. I've never had to do that before #newexperience

Also they gave me a "looney" or a Canadian 1 dollar coin, so called because it has a loon on it. It's a waterfowl, for those of you non-outdoorsy types.

Also western Canada also doesn't have maple trees, something I thought odd.

I now have 4 more CDs to listen to and then get tired of in the car, which is actually a lot of music. It'll take me a bit to learn all the words.

After lunch, I'm going to go back to Wally World and do grocery shopping. Then I'll probably go swimming again.

Did I mention the KOA campground has a pool? And hot tubs? #freakingsweet

The campsite I got was a "more private one" according to the nice old lady yesterday.

Bull.

When I drove up to my spot, 2 kids from the site next door (separated by 3 feet and a small wooden "fence") were laying on MY picnic table.
And as soon as I opened the door of the car their dog started going ballistic. Not, Hey there's a person HI HI HI HI HI but INTRUDER ALERT INTRUDER ALERT RESTRICTIONS OFF KILL ON SIGHT

The pool was mildly crowded, but since I was the only person in the 5ft section over 4 feet tall, it was nice. The swim felt SO good. I can't wait for the Pacific.

After the concert and such, I walked the girls back to their hotel... which was literally around the corner. As soon as we said good night, good luck, and DFTBA (they had to drive 8 hours back this morning for Tatyaana's sister's graduation tonight), I walked LITERALLY 4 steps and was stopped by a random girl that needed a pen. BADLY. The one I dug out of my bag (I was prepared for autographs and such) went dry. I had another. Though she was writing as fast as she could, she still took a little bit to get whatever it was down. I didn't look, but it seemed less like a phone number and more like a if-I-ever-see-you-again love letter. She said I was a live-saver and ran off. Good deed for the night? I guess so.

I got back to my car, which was in a public lot off downtown (downtown Missoula is SO COOL). The public lots charge a 25-50-75 cent weird rate, so that from 7-5 is $8.50. I had gotten there at 4:05 or so, paid 50 cents for until 5, and stopped at the visitor information center to ask where I could move it after 5. I was told that after 5 it becomes free to park there. Sweet. I didn't have to move it because I wouldn't get a ticket.

Well, I got back to my car well after 10 and there were like 5 other cars in the lot. One RIGHT NEXT to mine. It would have been not so creepy except that car was full of ... stuff. Blankets, bags, newspapers- all sorts of stuff. Like even the front windshield was full of stuff. What made it worse was that there was a creepy crazy-cat/bag lady standing there. Just standing there. Between what I assumed was her car and mine. She had a hand in her pocket and I was seriously afraid I was about to get robbed or something. She didn't, and the crisis was averted. However, apparently just up the street there was some show at a theater and she asked me if I had been there. I hadn't, so she wandered away.

CREEPY.

I drove back to my campsite, only to try to go to sleep to the sound of the bratty little snot kid from the site on the OTHER side of mine, similarly separated. As in, the three tents were less than 20 feet away from each other. What. The. F.

All the way to 11:30 this kid was screaming and crying. Like bratty 7-9 year old, not a baby.

He started again at 6:30 this morning. SERIOUSLY?!
What kind of family lets their 8 year old get stay up until almost midnight, and who then gets up before dawn? On VACATION?!

I eventually got up at 7:30-:45ish, tired of the crying and whining. SOMEthing was hurting this kid, and he didn't want to do SOMEthing. I don't know.

KOA buffet is actually, like, breakfast. Real scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc. It was pretty good. I also drank a small cup of coffee. First one in months #letsseehowthisgoes

Oh right the soda meter:

Sodas consumed: 3

I had one of the Old Faithful Rootbeers I bought up at Tower Falls. It was more like Birch Beer, which I don't like near as much, and I realized why. It tastes like licorice. Licorice is gross.

I also found the Wally World on the way here and picked up a cheap pair of headphones for library use. #best10dollarsever

Did I mention that Montana apparently doesn't have sales tax? Like, a $10 pair of headphones costs.... $10. Either that or the tax is factored in. I don't know but I don't care #winningeitherway

The hashtags are fun #soaddictedatthemoment

The library also has 3 hour parking, so my car is safe for another hour.

WAIT I FORGOT THE CREEPY GUY

There was this creepy, thin, oldish guy that wandered up to the concert. The audience is almost entirely 17-20 year olds (minus me), library teens and sometimes their parents. There were a few little kids running around, being adorable... and this guy.

The kind of guy who may or may not be homeless but looks like it- clean at least.

He got really into the music. REALLY. Into it.

He walked around for 2 hours air-drumming along and telling everyone who would listen (and many who would not) about how this was great and he was a great drummer with at least 4 different bands (seriously, the name changed constantly). He seemed really overwhelmed by the atmosphere. He struck me as not all there, but honestly emotional about the experience. Also we could barely understand anything he said. I kind of felt bad for him.

He was also waving around a denim jacket covered in Sharpie autograph scrawls that he said was worth millions of dollars. If I get more time later today I'll try to post pics. I got one of him and the jacket, just in case. No idea what his name was.

Sorry this was so long, I've been writing this and on Youtube for the past 2 hours and I have 5 minutes left, with no renewal time after. Maybe I can get a later session.

Strike that 30 seconds THUNDERCATS ARE GO

DFTBA

Creeds to Live By

DFTBA: Don't Forget to Be Awesome [And decrease world-suck!]
-Nerdfighteria / Vlogbrothers


Be smart, be safe, have fun.
-Andrew Lasky ["Boss"]


....

Poo.

I forgot the third one. I talked to myself a lot on the hikes (it's what I do when I'm alone) and came up with the 3 creeds I like to live by the most (and I think are the most worth-while to live by!). Well, maybe not talk to myself so much as think out loud.

I'll be updating this when [if!] I remember.

Wed. edit: AAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHH I remembered it last night but then I forgot it again!!!!

MONTANANANANANANANANA

I'm in Missoula, MT!!!!

I'm super excited because I get to see Hank Green AND Harry and the Potters in concert. Tonight. For FREE. [Not that I've really listened to much of either's music but =P mulaaaaaa]

The KOA here in Missoula (where I'm staying tonight and tomorrow to get ready grocery shopping and such for Glacier) (tomorrow) is HUGE. It's like its own miniature city or country. And the nice old lady at the desk gave me a COLOR map of Missoula, so now I know my way around.

I SAW A BEAR THIS MORNING!!! THREE BEARS!!!!1!!1!

At ~7:57 am MST, traffic slowed to a stop on a plain northbound to the North Exit of Yellowstone. Because there was a mother grizzly and her two cubs!!!! SO COOL.

Then I saw elk after entering Montana on Hwy....90? Not sure. The one to Livingston from Yellowstone. 3 Elk!!!! AH AH AH.

Yellowstone was...phenomenal.
Legend- wait for it and I hope you're not lactose intolerant- DARY!!!

So big. So many trees. MOUNTAINS, GANDALF, MOUNTAINS.

Saw/heard plenty of 'foreigners' (says the kid halfway across the country)- Asians (Japanese? Korean? Who knows? I don't), French, German, and I think Scandinavian of some type.

IT GOT COLD. No rain, but ~35-39 degrees F at night. HEY BRO THANKS FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR AWESOME COLD WEATHER SLEEPING BAG XD
From what I've heard from Boss, it's going to be below freezing in Glacier. Ho Hum.

The tent's been holding up just fine. The tarp's been wet every single f-n morning and I haven't had a chance to let it dry. Maybe tomorrow. Because of the wet, it picked up dirt from the past 2 nights' sites, and has made my trunk a mess. Cap M. Car wash vacuum time (tomorrow).

There's a Pita Pit down the street. Might stop there for dinner, or just wander around downtown. Although I only have <2 hours before the concert!!

Leigh asked me to get a shirt for her and she'll pay me back. She's a nerdfighter too- who knew? We're both recent converts to the church of AWESOME. DFTBA.


I am SO getting Hank Green's autograph in my journal (which I haven't been using except to tally costs and what license plates I see- reminds me hold on a sec I got Maine and British Columbia today).


......


Up to 36 states and 5 Canadian provinces. Maybe I'll get all the states but Hawaii when I'm done (I've already got Alaska!)

Speaking of not using the journal- I've never had a journal before. I'm finding it very hard to jot down thoughts into paper because I can type so much faster than I can write. It's also more engaging. My thoughts tend to flow around like a water park so typing just helps me collect and write better, I think. It helped me write papers in college, at least. Because now I can say "back when I was in college". Teehee.

Back to Yellowstone.
I saw mountains, forests (lodgepole pine and Douglas fir, mainly. The latter in the northern reaches and the former EVERYWHERE), wildlife (YELLOW BELLIED MARMOTS SO CUTE. I was walking a ridge trail and one just ran out in front of me and perched on a rock over a cliff, looking at me almost to say "I'll do it! I'll jump! SO HELP ME!!!" I didn't get pictures of either marmot because I'd forgotten my camera on that hike. I did it again a few hours later, but no wildlife on that one), rivers, geysers, a waterfall, and lakes (some small and one HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE).

I don't want to stop and take pictures of everything or write down everything that happens because .... well, it's personal. To me the point of this trip isn't pictures to remember- it's to live and experience it to remember. And if I don't remember it- oh well. I won't be missing out because I won't remember how awesome the thing I forgot was. Although, I expect to remember everything sometime. You know how sometimes you'll see or think something that makes you go- "Huh. I didn't remember that before just now. I'd forgotten about that."? That's what I'm expecting will happen to those things I 'forget'.
When you're out here alone (and I mean alone- several times out was miles from anywhere and anyone and it was GLORIOUS), it can be a special kind of something. I'll eventually print pictures or put them online or whatever.

But everyone has secrets. Some that no one else knows.

Come out here and do what I've done, be where I've gone, seen what I've seen- and you'll know some of mine.


I really appreciate the support from all you guys reading this. Someone knows I'm having a blast writing it.

As Bob Dylan said of Tangled Up in Blue, it took him "10 years to live and 2 years to write."