The Wedding in Big Sky

As I discovered in May, Montana is a beautiful place.


The Winding Road

























Canadian Flag Over Missoula Mall

























Read the Bumper Sticker Over the Bar


It says, "I'm hung like Einstein, And smart as a horse."




That's comically unfortunate.











The Bridal Party

Upcoming Travels: Seattle, Montana & NYC

Sometimes you need to pack you bags and hightail it outta town; other times, you have these things planned for sometime. Thanks to some serendipitous pull of the universe, I find myself with a lot of pre-planned travel at a time when I could really use a get the heck out of dodge vacation.

As most of you know, I am an expatriot Oregonian. So I couldn't be happier to be launching my travels next week in the Pacific Northwest. My first port of call? Seattle--although I was looking forward to the soothing rain of this city, it's supposed to get up to 105 degrees. From there I make my way to a very small town in Montana for my pal Angie's wedding. I'm looking forward to the wide open spaces, mountain backdrop and the ease of conversation of the country...

I get back to Boston on the 11th of August and leave for NYC two days later. My client PigSpigot.com is throwing a launch party on August 14th and I'd love to rally the folks from the Boston to NY Australia Day trip of 2008 for the party--@paullyoung @sarahwurrey, can it be done?


Here are the important dates:

• Seattle: July 29-31
• Montana: July 31-August 11
• Boston: August 11-13
• NYC: August 13-17

• PigSpigot Launch Party: Friday, August 14 (client)
  

After August, who knows?!? But I'd love to see you while I'm traveling!

Montana Trip: The Better Late than Never Wrap Up

Montana isn't called big sky country for nothing. It's a beautifully open land, with snow topped mountains just over yonder.  

People out there in the Inland Pacific Northwest are different; people are different out west in general.  Time moves slower, or at least the people do.  And it's not considered a bad thing, or a generalized lack of urgency.  There's no need to rush, because people do believe that the pieces will in time fit together, when they're supposed to, in time. 

I finished reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance out west.  And surrounded entirely by raw, natural beauty, I debated quality of both form and function.  I was reminded that being polite should never be confused with putting on a smiley face.  True courtesy requires kindness that can't be faked.  

Raw and honest.  Beyond School of Knowledge snobbery and well past the perfectly manicured lawns, there are still people living with their environment to get by.  

Without breaking into a rousing chorus of the Dixie Chicks song Wide Open Spaces, there are nice lessons we can bring back east.  First, not everything is a fire drill--better solutions often materialize for people who allow time for ideas to brew.  Second, true kindness is actually easier than being polite--you don't need to fake it.  Third, and final for now, beauty is everywhere, raw and honest.