No Eclipse Viewing Up The Boulder

Clouds and rain obscured any view we might have had of the moon—but as we were driving up the Boulder about 7pm, the clouds treated us to an awesome, colorful sky.

As you all know, Montanans think nothing of jumping in their cars and driving 100 miles “just for the day,” or to go to Costco, Wal Mart, etc.  Yesterday we jumped in the car and drove 160 miles “just for the day.”  Actually, we had a more important reason—to see friends Jane and Rich.  When I worked in Powell, WY as Director of Nursing for the hospital, Jane and Rich were my best-est of friends—their children Jonathan and Elizabeth were a joy.  I was a transplanted southern girl far from home—Jane and Rich welcomed me into their family with open arms.  Life over the years dealt them a nasty blow taking their talented, wonderful son and now Rich is very ill.  We met them in Cody for lunch then headed out to their home halfway between Cody and Powell.  Saying our goodbyes yesterday afternoon we made plans to have them join us in Arizona this winter. 

Michael spent the day digging trenches and helping a friend/neighbor install a pump and water lines.  I attempted an organized trip to town with plenty of time to do errands before meeting Jill for a leisurely lunch then off to a massage appointment.  Organization went out the window when due to the rudeness/ineptness of the MT state highway department it took me over ONE HOUR to even get part of the way to town. 

There were two trucks, one re-painting the center stripe/outside stripe of the highway with a caution truck following—big lights, big sign—“WET PAINT, STAY OFF THE PAINT.”  OK, I will stay off the paint but after 10 cars pile up behind you on a two lane road, I expect you to pull off the road in one of the numerous places to do so and let us pass.  Nope, they just kept on painting.  Then it became dangerous when people behind me just started crossing the paint stripes and roaring around the trucks when double yellow lines were in place.  Nope, they just kept on painting.  I was not a happy camper—Jill and I gobbled our lunch in about 30 minutes and I headed off for my now even more needed massage!

Back home Ms. Emmi let me know how unhappy she was being left alone all that time but a little ball playing and she was happy again.