Friday, October 26, 2012

Russell Means  (1939-2012)
Two mornings ago as I rolled through Watertown, South Dakota, I noticed the flag at half-mast.  I'm assuming that was for the controversial George McGovern (from Mitchell, SD, who died Sunday) and not for the also controversial Russell Means (born in Pine Ridge, SD, who died a day later).  I salute them both.

Another Dakotan I've come to admire--this one alive and well--is a rancher named Ryan Taylor who's running for Governor of North Dakota this year.  He's a fan of mine, too, I've heard; he likes my music.  Good luck, Ryan!

Tomorrow I head back home to Hana and the baby in Missoula.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Hilltop Heritage Foundation held their 24th Annual Steak Fry & Auction last night at Buckskin Dance Hall in Killdeer.  Larry Schnell did a great job of auctioneering.

After supper the auction began.  I bid on, and won, an "Obama Basket," which amounted to several blue-themed items stuffed in a hand-decorated box: Blue Nun Wine, Winterfresh gum, Berry Blue Jell-O, Gourmet Blueberry Licorice, Smucker's Blueberry Syrup, and a four-piece box of Donkey Truffles.  

In a crowd of 300--and only one other bidder for this item--raising the bid was my small effort to stand up for the President.  I ended up winning it for $35.  I'm pretty sure the red-themed "Nobama Basket" did better.  

I hit the road trucking today to Toronto and then back to Calgary.  I haven't seen Hana and Stevie for almost seven weeks.

Also: Happy 67th birthday today, Ma!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

I've had the last week off from driving truck, so I've been working with Dad to get his and Mom's house insulated.

Last night I took a break and drove to Dunn Center to meet friends at the Ilo Bar for beer and pizza.  One of them was my buddy Max Haendler from Brooklyn, who is out here doing construction for a rancher from Marshall.  I hadn't been to the Ilo Bar since the "shrimp reception party" documented in Elizabeth Lawrence's Roll Out Cowboy, so I was glad to see that Sadie is still running the bar.  She has been since 1979, when I was a youth.

Instead of driving back to Killdeer Mountain last night, I stayed over at Grandma Edna's place in Killdeer.  In a few minutes we'll be heading to church.
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The new pastors.
Post-church update:  Grandma has been raving about the new pastors at St. John's Lutheran Church--John and Rachel Simonson--and now I see why.  Normally my experience at St. John's is one of trying hard to stay awake, but today I stayed alert.  Reverend Rachel held the service; she and her husband John take turns.  In her sermon she explored Matthew 19:24, which is where Jesus tells a rich young fellow to sell everything he owns and give it to the poor.  When the astonished man refuses, Jesus warns him that, ". . . it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 

I'm pretty sure the congregation has tripled since the last year.  More young people, too.

Afterwards there was coffee, cookies, and talk of the warm weather.

Friday, October 12, 2012

I've been away from Hana and Stevie for the past month, so this video that my friend Amy Greene took of Stevie crawling yesterday truly warms my heart.
When I left Stevie could only slide backwards, which left her feeling frustrated. Now she looks ready to take on the world!

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Much has changed since my last journal entry of ten days ago.  Instead of reuniting with my sweet family this week, Hana and I decided that I keep trucking with Goodall until the end of the month.  Alas, the wheat must be threshed.  The fish must be netted.  The diesel must be burned.

I'm currently in Minneapolis at a Ramada Inn, taking advantage of downtime between hauls to Toronto.  Today I caught the new Clint Eastwood flick, Trouble with the Curve, at Mall of America.  Arnold Schwarzenegger also happened to be at the Mall, signing books.  It was the second time I've accidentally run into Mr. Universe.  The first time was in 1997 at a stoplight in Venice Beach.  He was smoking a cigar and driving a convertible Mercedes Benz.

Last night I borrowed a guitar and played a spontaneous house show in St. Paul.  Thanks everybody who attended that, and thanks to Eric for the auspicious invite!

At 4 a.m.--two hours from now--the alarm goes off.  Then it's down to Renville to pick up tilapia and back to Toronto to deliver 'em.