Doug's Missoula Montana Lifestyle

Lazy Man's Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:33:00 +0000

Ski, Beer, Grammys or all three?

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:31:00 +0000

I wonder how many "Brewfest" revelers tried to hit the fresh powder at Snow Bowl this morning. Good skiing for those who can remain upright. Three inches of fresh at the top; 29 degrees at the base as of noon, Sunday, Feb 12. Happy Birthday Abe. Grammy's tonight with Ladies Love Cool James (LL COOL J).

Brewfest In Missoula Feb 11, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:16:00 +0000

The old Safeway Grocery Store on West Broadway just adjacent to St. Patricks's Hospital, (how handy) will be the scene of malt debauchery and music Saturday, Feb 11, 2-8 pm, in Missoula.

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Missoula Montana

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Now in its 9th year, The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has become the largest cinema event in Montana and the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. In 2010, the festival drew an audience of 12,000 and received nearly 1000 film entries from every corner of the globe. A unique setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and for audiences to see innovative new films and also classics in the genre, the festival presents an average of 125 non-fiction films annually at the historic Wilma Theater in downtown Missoula, hosting over fifty visiting artists.

The 2012 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival runs from February 17th to 26th in Missoula.
Here is a LINK to the Viewing Schedule.

Discovery Map of Missoula Montana

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:57:00 +0000

This is a terrific map of Missoula. You can zoom in and pan around and examine a variety of restaurants and other attractions. Physically, the map is featured on the website DiscoveryMap.com
It may take ten seconds or so to load. You can zoom by rolling your mouse wheel. Place cursor on a featured site for details.

Granddaughters Brighten My Day

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:06:00 +0000

Here are brand new photos of two of the six granddaughters on my side of the family. (My spouse has four on her side.) Of course we consider ALL of them to be our granddaughters, that almost goes without saying.

January Feels Like it Has About 60 days

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:56:00 +0000

Doesn't it feel like this is the Longest January in history!? And we still have a week to go. Huge snowfall amounts, heavy snow shoveling, sore back, lack of sunlight, and the bank account just keeps shrinking. About the only good thing about January is that the days are getting longer. Groundhog Day is coming up on February 2. That marks the half-way mark of the winter months. Half way to spring.

Missoula Schools Take Second Consecutive Snow Day

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +0000

Heavy snow loads on the streets has led to a second consecutive "snow day" for Missoula school kids. I'm sure they don't mind.

Personally, I am struggling with the snow load on the driveway. After putting nearly a foot of snow cover on Thursday, Mother Nature dumped two more inches this morning, and then the County snow plow sprayed about four inches onto my driveway approach (again).

I am tiring more quickly each time I have to go out and shovel more. Arms and shoulders are sore but it is my Lower Back that is really taking a beating. Could it be because I am not 24 years old anymore but 64? And just three weeks away from my 65th birthday. Medicare coverage begins on February 1st, and thankfully it will cover some chiropractic adjustments which I have been paying for 100 percent out-of-pocket.

I am looking forward to spring. At least I can "ride" the lawn mower!

Snow Day for Kids but Just Another Shoveling Day for Me

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Click photo to view full-sized

After shoveling 12 inches of snow off the driveway, the county snow plow came by and threw about six inches of it back onto the approach. I re-shoveled and then set out the garbage cans. The morning newspaper wasn't delivered until nearly 10 a.m. Now we are told it will snow more today...and tomorrow...and the next day. How many days until spring?
Missoula public schools first said they would delay opening for two hours but then just cancelled classes for the day. Kids LOVE a Snow Day! But what if the kids aren't old enough to stay home alone? Then working parents have to decide who stays home with them.

Frost Fever Frozen Frolic 5K Missoula January 28, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:12:00 +0000

I can't truthfully say I enjoy running when it is really cold, but so far, January 2012 has been pretty nice, with daytime highs in the 40s. We can hope for the best when we run the 14th Annual Frost Fever Frozen Frolic 5K on Saturday January 28, 2012. Race begins at 10:00 am at McCormick Park.

You can register HERE at active.com
Race fee is $18 through Jan 22, and $23 through race day morning. Long-sleeved T-shirt to all participants. Prize drawing galore following the race. There are no age categories for the Walk, but eight separate age groupings for men and women in the Run.

Packet pick up is at Currents Aquatics Center at McCormick Park, 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Friday, Jan 27, and then race day morning on Saturday, Jan 28, between 8:30 and 9:30.

My spouse and I registered for the 5K run last year and we finished near the end, but would have been FIRST if we had registered for the 5K WALK! Care to guess which we will be doing this year?

Patsy Smith, Hair Stylist, Missoula, MT

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0000

You can find Patsy Smith at 715 Kensington, Suite 5B, at Shirlee's Hair Designs. Patsy's phone number for appointments is 218-9651, (which I keep on speed dial, cause a guy never knows when he might have an emergency).

Patsy Smith has been cutting my hair since 1994. In fact, she has been the only hair stylist I have allowed to cut my hair in all those years. She also does perms and the color treatments that women like, but I just stick to the standard hair cut. She knows how I want it and I don't have to explain. That allows us to just chat away like the old friends that we are!

Patsy recently moved her business to a new salon location and she also has a new telephone number. I am writing this to help her get the word out.

Patsy will also accommodate her clients who can't make it to afternoon appointments by scheduling after normal working hours. But you need to check with her on the best times and days.

When you call Patsy, tell her you saw her new location and phone number on Doug's Missoula Blog. Perhaps I can hit her up for a free cut if I get her a few referrals. (Okay, I AM kidding.)

New Year's Resolution Exercise Get Fit Lose Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:37:00 +0000

Every single year. I do the same thing. Resolve to become a healthier person, to lose weight, to exercise more and eat less. We begin 2012 with a new exercising incentive: spend money on an elliptical and feel guilty if we don't use it. We purchased this machine at Costco for $599 which seems like a pretty good price. The machine is solid and has a lot of bells and whistles to provide incentive. (There is that word again: incentive.)

I found out that technicians charge over $100 to assemble one of these elliptical machines in your home, so I did it myself in about three hours (or four). I tend to be really careful about following directions to avoid mistakes and that adds time. Now that I am finished I think I could assemble the same model in about an hour and a half.

My spouse is happy. She will make the most use of it. I will do the most thinking about using it.

2012 New Year New Beginning New Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

I am all in favor of starting over each year with a clean slate. Get rid of old prejudices, old gripes, old grudges. Everything can be new, great, grand, and groovy. Happy New Year!

First Night Missoula 2012 New Year's Eve

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:38:00 +0000

I am SO ready for 2012! There was not much to be pumped up about in 2011, but 2012 promises to be so much better...even the economy.

Here in Missoula we close out 2011 on the last night of the year with our biggest celebration of the year...First Night, with hundreds of performers in nearly 30 venues.

Events begin at noon on Dec 31, 2011 and run until midnight. The big finales feature the Ed Norton Big Band at the University Center Ballroom, and the Drum Brothers in the University Center Copper Commons. This is a LINK to the complete schedule

There are special Bus Routes running throughout the evening. This is a LINK to the Map featuring the Venues and Bus Routes (bus routes are in Orange.) Click on the numbered venues for a list of all performers at that location.

For me it is time to begin anew, to think positively, to set new goals, improve my diet, my exercise regimen and my attitude toward winter. I begin to enjoy the earlier morning sunrises and the later sunsets. I start to make "to-do" lists that include projects that need to be done before spring and things that must wait until warmer weather.

And lastly, I qualify for Medicare beginning on the first of February. Whether or not this is cause for joy I don't know, but it does mark another milestone, and I am still alive.

Merry Christmas Peace on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:31:00 +0000

I wish that there was peace in the World; that there were no hungry children; and no homeless people, and that everyone had a warm place to sleep.

The World is really a pretty nasty place, and those of us who are fortunate enough to not suffer really have no idea why we get to live a life so different than the vast majority of people in the World.

It seems like there should be enough of everything for all people to share. This could be a World of Abundance; but we fight over who is in charge, who gets to be first in line, who gets to be educated, who gets to sign multi-million-dollar contracts to play basketball so he can "put food on the table." We spend billions on war-making, billions more on orbiting the Earth, billions more on keeping banks afloat, and on and on and on....

Missoula Winter Arrives

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:36:00 +0000

UM Main Hall and Griz

Outside, it is SEVEN degrees at 10 am. Most of Montana is cold today. Winter has arrived in the north country.

Many of the ski areas and resorts report up to a foot of new snow in the past 48 hours, something that they have been waiting for, but now it is too cold to ski. The snomobilers, of course, the "couch athletes" of winter, will be happy to find their favorite wilderness ready for some noise.

Today I feel justified in wearing my "fleece-lined" jeans, which I think are a major improvement over the old "flannel-lined" jeans of decades past. I only have one pair of fleece-lined jeans, as they are pricey, but only get worn a few days of the year. This is one of those days, as I doubt if the temperature will reach 20 degrees.

Missoula Winter Day

We expect warmer temperatures for the Christmas weekend, beginning on Friday, 12/23, even forecast to reach 30 during mid-day on Saturday and Sunday. Now that would be good ski and snowboard weather. Let's hope.

So, for today, instead of getting out and fly fishing, just tie some flies for next spring.

Instead of skiing, just have a cup of hot chocolate in the house and pretend you are in the warming hut.

Montana Grizzlies Lose to Sam Houston BearKats

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

The Montana Grizzlies lost to the Sam Houston State University BearKats 31-28, under Friday night lights in Huntsville, Texas, Dec 16, 2011, in an FCS semifinal playoff game. Montana managed to come back from a 21-0 First Quarter deficit. The Grizzly rally fell short in the Fourth Quarter when the BearKats were able to control the ball on the ground during the final five minutes until the clock expired.

Yes, we are proud of our team. They never quit. They went on the road to play the undefeated Number One seed and they lost by a field goal. At the end, every player appeared to be spent. They left everything on the field, as it should be, when two champions meet in a showdown.

Sam Houston State University will now play the winner of the other semifinal, Georgia Southern vs North Dakota State, which will be decided on Saturday, 12/17/2011.

SHSU QB Brian Bell runs for TD (AP/Houston Chronicle Brett Coomer photo)

This is a LINK to the Houston Chronicle Sports Page

The FCS Championship game will be played on January 7, 2012, in Frisco, Texas, just a couple hundred miles from SHSU's campus.

UM Grizzlies to Face Sam Houston State in FCS Semi-Final

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:07:00 +0000

Game time is 6:00 pm, Friday, December 16. Yes. Today. Here is the YouTube video of the Grizzly Fight Song, marching band instrumental with lyrics superimposed.

Ten things that seem to take longer than necessary

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I know there must be dozens of things that we get tired of "waiting for it to END!" Here are ten that I thought of in about five minutes.

Traffic Signals
Television Commercial Breaks
Store Check-out lines
Toll booth lines
Water to boil
Rush Limbaugh to get to the point
Sunday Sermons
The last TWO minutes of a basketball game
Election Campaigns
Christmas Season

Bonus Item: Winter!

Montana Grizzlies Take Down UNI Panthers 48-10 in FCS Quarterfinal

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:36:00 +0000

The Montana Grizzlies played one of their best games of the season under the Friday Night ESPN lights, beating the University of Northern Iowa Panthers 48-10 in the FCS quarterfinals.

The Grizzlies will meet either Sam Houston State or Montana State in the Semifinals on December 17. That game will be played in Texas if SHS wins today's match up with Montana State. If the MSU Bobcats win, they will travel to Missoula to take on the Grizzlies.

Montana and Northern Iowa played evenly in the first quarter, matching touchdowns for a 7-7 score as they entered the second period. But Montana took over from there, completely dominating both lines of scrimmage. Grizzly Quarterback Jordan Johnson was the star of the game,so far as I was concerned, but kicker Brody McKnight also contributed with a couple of punts that kept the Panthers back near their own goal line.

Game time temperature was about 20 degrees and it fell from there, with 14 degrees on the field by the end of the game. The crowd was rowdy as 25,000 plus fans rocked Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Christmas Again Already

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

When I reached my Forties I began to notice how fast the years were passing by. I just don't want the years to pass ME by. I and my wife do keep up with the times, use the latest technology (mostly), watch the latest reality shows (some of them) and wear the latest fashions (okay, that's not true for me).

We decorate, up to a point, and we can take it all down in under an hour. This year we bought an artificial tree that already has the lights installed (400 of them). This was a real time saver. Well, I do have a lot of time, but it was a LABOR saver.

Thought I would post a couple of photos to prove that we grandparents still exist.

Montana Winter Cold Brings Some Relief

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:28:00 +0000

Cold-weather Doug

Snow and Cold greeted me this morning! Three inches on the ground and TWO degrees above zero on the thermometer!

I am NOT a winter sports enthusiast. I live here for many reasons, but winter snow and ice are reasons that could eventually cause me to leave. I like the changing of the seasons...spring...summer...autumn. That's it.

Oh, but I guess there is ONE thing good the coldness of winter brings: DEAD BUGs. No mosquitos, no yellowjackets, no spiders and no ants.

Montana Grizzlies Beat Central Arkansas 41-14 in FCS Second Round

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Montana Running Back Dan Moore

The University of Montana took charge early and bested the Bears of Central Arkansas 41-14 in an FCS Second Round football game played at the Grizzly home field in Missoula on Saturday, Dec 3, 2011. The game was played in 23 degree temperatures, but there was no wind, so pretty comfortable for the home town fans.

Montana led 31-0 at halftime. Central Arkansas scored a touchdown in the 3rd quarter and again in the 4th, playing against the Montana reserves.

The Grizzlies (10-2) will play host to the University of Northern Iowa Panthers (10-2) on Friday, December 9, playing under the lights with kickoff at 6 pm.

Northern Iowa beat Wofford 28-21 to advance to the quarterfinals.

End AIDS by 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Every Spoon and Spatula; Every Pot and Plate

noreply@blogger.com (Doug Kueffler) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:15:00 +0000

Plates and cups and glasses, spoons, spatulas, pots and pans. I washed them all. Thanksgiving Day meals use up all of our dishes and utensils. THEN, we use all of our storage containers to put leftovers into the refrigerator and/or send them home with kids and grandkids.

Most of the work was Grandma's on Thanksgiving Day, and most of the work on the day after was Grandpa's. What a job! We had a great time!

Now...December 25 is approaching. Begin the process all over again.