run with turkeys

Instead of running with bulls, how about turkeys?

Missoula is a body-conscious, athletically competitive town.  The amount of time one spends on the slopes or on the river is worn like a badge.  These rugged people are real mountain killers, seeking out another peak to check off their list.  It seems that every month there is an opportunity to run around town with others to celebrate, in the most basic form, your individual athleticism alongside others in the community. It's fabulous, really.  For the athletic. So what if you aren't athletic?

I'm not a runner.  I ran as a kid, of course.  I ran break-necking around the brick corner of my childhood home, feeling wind on my face from my own speed, to reach the Oak tree in the front yard and touch 'home base' in a game of Ghost in the Graveyard.  I can still hear the swishing of my brother's bell bottom jeans as he chased me.  It was fun and I smiled when I ran then.  I remember that sense of wild freedom with each stride that propelled me forward.  And I ran at school.  I ran a teeny bit of track and I ran the required laps when training for Varsity tennis, but by the time I reached my teens, I didn't love it.  It never felt quite right.  

I quit running when I was still a teenager after a bought with pneumonia and a diagnosis of severe allergies and asthma. Many more battles with pneumonia to follow, I never started running again and I don't really want to run now.  I enjoy a walk or a hike instead and it's plenty for me (as long as I do it).  My asthma is well managed since living in Montana and I know that I could probably take up running if I want.  I'm surrounded by runners, a truly supportive bunch of athletes, by the way, so the possibility is on my mind regularly.  

Regardless, I make a great spectator at Fun Runs.  I cheer everyone on when they take off and I am ready, camera in hand, for their return (unless I'm keeping warm in a coffee shop and miss it, oops).  Sure, I shake my head and say they must all be crazy (which I am not taking back yet).  I complain about getting up early on a Saturday or going out in the cold, but watching the camaraderie is a treat.  It's inspiring even without running, especially when they are fundraisers. 

It was flipping COLD for the the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis, so cold that I declared my presence for the event was an indication of my true love to Bruce.  Many people came out to show their support for the cause running for friends and loved ones.  I'm really impressed by the people with arthritis who run, too.  Right on!  (I learned a lot about Arthritis because of this Run.)

Runners are given bells to tie to their laces.

Others add more color and creativity to the event with silly costumes.  I always appreciate dressing up in costume!  Of course, you need some reindeer in a Jingle Bell Run.    

It's Missoula so dogs are often welcome, even at a run. (I saw four inside the Ace Hardware yesterday.) Proper doggie attire required for a Run, of course!

A man with arthritis walked his arthritic horse in this Run which I thought was pretty sweet.

Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis, Missoula, 2012

 ~ ~ ~

My favorite Run to watch in Missoula so far is the Annual Turkey Run on Thanksgiving.  It's such a day of sloth and abundance in our culture that a big run brings some balance in perspective, even if I only walk around as an observer.  It was a beautiful morning along the river for it this year with a dusting of snow.

Costumes abound in this Run, too.

And dogs, plus strollers and babies (for sure in the 3K, and I saw at least 3 strollers cross the line for the 8K, too.)

Yep, even a turkey!  This one was pretty dang fast, too.  

 

I had my eye on number 496.

 

So even though I do not run, I have decided that I like Fun Runs. The sight of Marathons freak me out.  People lurching, collapsing, and limping their way across the finish line illustrates how seriously intense a Marathon is.  A few naturals reach the end like a gazelle making it look easy, but most runners in a Marathon look like they are miserable and in pain.  Way more people are smiling in a Run. 

My take away message to date?  

A Marathon is for maniacs, but a Run really does rhyme with Fun.  

Follow this link to the Arthritis Foundation. 

Follow this link to Jingle Bell Run.

Follow this link to Run Wild Missoula.

Follow this link to see the Turkey Run results. 

Whenever you might visit Missoula, I would bet there's a Run happening.  And there is of course, the Missoula Marathon in the summer (click here for more information).

a cool little town Columbus, Indiana

We've been getting creative with how we spend time closer to my family in Indiana.  Last Spring we stayed in Columbus, Indiana about twenty minutes south of my hometown, Franklin, on US 31.  And let me tell ya, it was super faboo!

In many ways, Columbus is like a lot of Midwestern small towns.  It has a walkable downtown with long and tall brick buildings and a groovy old movie theater past its hey day (and yes, I fantasized I would move back to Indiana so I could fix up this one).

 

Because it's Indiana and the heart of Limestone country, you'll see carved limestone architectural details in much variety on residential and commercial buildings all around town, if not an entire building.  You just don't see quite as much of that out in the Rocky Mountain states where I live now.

Columbus' downtown has the buildings, vintage signs and details to keep that nostalgic Midwestern small town feel.

But beyond the classic Midwest vibe, Columbus has a bit more to distinguish it.

First, there are several downtown restaurants that are bustling with people day and night, inside and out on the patio.   I took this photo of Tre Bicchieri in the morning before they opened. 

The alleys that fan out from the main street are groomed with detail and some actually lead somewhere worth going, like the Soup Market down this one.  They only sell soup, simply and thoroughly with a selection of several kinds every day, including sides like bread and crackers.

Alive and charged with energy, the city of Columbus has dedicated considerable attention to public spaces including public art. 

Mom at War Memorial, Columbus, Indiana, photo Toni Matlock © 2012

This summer you might even have heard a segment on NPR featuring the architecture in Columbus, particularly Mid-Century Modern.  This is the cities' most obvious bragging rights.  Some of the greatest architects of the United States are represented in Columbus and quite well.  

How about an I.M. Pei library? 

I.M. Pei, Columbus public library

A large Henry Moore sculpture stands in front of it.

Across the street from the library is the First Christian Church designed by Eliel Saarinen.

 First Christian Church, Eliel Saarinen

The playground is sunken and framed by the back end of the church.  With details like these outdoor benches integrated into the structure.

I was really taken with these cement and glass windows in the tower.

 First Christian Church, Eliel Saarinen

Columbus' claim to architectural fame is mostly thanks to a truly generous and civic-minded Cummins Engine Company Executive, J. Irwin Miller. 

"Whatever you do in this world, you've got a responsibility and a privilege of doing it the very best way you can.  And whether it's architecture, cooking or drama or music, the best is none too good for any of us."  J. Irwin Miller  

Amen, brother Miller.

Cummins Headquarters downtown Columbus, Indiana

Tours of J. Irwin Miller's house, built in 1957 and designed by Eero Saarinin is open to the public by appointment.  They didn't allow photographs, so see the Indianapolis Museum of Art's site for touring the Miller house to fill in the visual blanks. 

*** Note: Two Photos of the Miller House added after the original posting, compliments of the Columbus, Indiana Tourism Bureau. ***

Some highlights for me:  
1. The Miller house was the first to have Eero Saarinen's signature modernist "conversation pit".   

First 'conversation pit' design, architect Eero Saarinen, Miller House, Photo © Indianapolis Art Museum

2. Integrated and personalized rugs, drapes and upholstery by Alexander Girard are colorful and thoughtful in how they relate physically, aesthetically and symbolically to the architectural surrounding and the family that would be living there.
3. The subtle natural light in the interiors that gently creeps down the marble interior walls. A quality not well illustrated in photos and must be experienced in person.
4. I am also interested in the problems with the design. The challenge of the skylights in a flat roof is no small one.  A great conceptual idea for the subtle natural light but is also problematic in its application since the roof leaks to this day. *
5. The bumpers and terrazzo floor in the driveway.  An excellent detail worth repeating in a space where many of us cut corners. *

*You'll have to go in person to see those last two since they aren't standard photography highlights.

Miller House, architect Eero Saarinen, Columbus, Indiana, photo © Indianapolis Art Museum

Beyond the Miller house, there are more Primo architectural specimens to be found in Columbus.  I am only touching on a few.  Definitely see the Visitor's Center for maps and tours.  I especially liked the self-guided cell phone tour that comes in a stack of post card sized descriptions of each point on the tour with a number to call for more details about the building.

It's not just the Mid-Century Modern architecture that's worth attention, either. We stayed in a sweet little Victorian that we found on VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner).  It was only a few blocks from downtown, so we walked everywhere everyday.

Living room of "The Little Pink House" in Columbus, Indiana

If you stroll the neighborhoods and are a fan of architecture, you'll find many structures, proportions, materials and details worth noticing.  

One of the more classic homes is the Italianate Irwin house built in 1864 that is now an Inn. Even though it's spendy, I would really like to stay there sometime. Here is a glimpse of it with some pictures I awkwardly took through the fence.

Photo taken through the fence of the Gardens at the Irwin Inn, Columbus, Indiana.

Holy smokes they were paying attention to detail when they built this place.  I walked by it several times and noticed something on every pass. On about the fifth round, my sister, D, noticed that each of the carved limestone faces on the ends of this window sill are different.  One has sunflowers and the other has some kind of ivy pattern.

Copper drip edges and gutters, slate shingles, wrought iron fencing, gardens, and so on and so on. The place has it's share of craftsmanship to appreciate. These curved windows in this copper-trimmed bay window are outstanding. 

It's not just the bay that is rounded. Look closely. So are the windows and the glass in them.

As I said, from the street the photo opportunities are limited.  One day I will go back and take the full tour of this place.

I'm barely touching on all the reasons why we enjoyed staying in Columbus, Indiana.  We met friends downtown almost daily for coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks.  We took my parents downtown several times and of course you can't go far in most parts of southern Indiana without someone knowing my Dad and stopping to say hello, as happened here as well.  But more than that, we wanted to be there.  The Columbus community felt welcoming and exciting with people of all ages eating, visiting and socializing. Sadly I cannot say the same for enough of the southern Indiana towns I (re)visited that hardly have any activity in their downtown anymore.  Not beyond a bar or two it seems.  Anyway, I won't pretend to know the secret but Columbus appears to be doing something right. 

So if you go to Columbus, Indiana, keep an eye out for two of the finest unofficial Ambassadors of Columbus:  One of my pals from Franklin College, Morlock, and his fiance Erin.  (Since Erin works at the Columbus Visitor's Bureau I guess that makes her official, but even if she didn't work there, I bet she would still bubble over with pride for Columbus.)

Here's Morlock in front of their mid-century modern home. He might try to wring my neck for posting this, but let's see if he ever notices.

And one more thing about visiting pretty much anywhere in the southern half of the state of Indiana.  Whenever you see local produce, get it.  From tomatoes to these pie cherries, you won't regret it.

Fresh picked pie cherries, Columbus, Indiana

Be sure to listen to the Weekend Edition NPR segment on the architecture in Columbus, Indiana (click here). 

See images of the Miller House on the IMA website (click here). 

Get information from the Columbus, Indiana Visitor's Bureau website (click here). 

Information to stay at The Inn at Irwin Gardens in Columbus (click here). 

*** Note: Two Photos of the Miller House added after the original posting, compliments of the Columbus, Indiana Tourism Bureau. ***

words with friends free

One of my twenty-something nephews hooked me on the app, Words With Friends.  At first, I made fun of him for the name of the game (not that he named it but how lame!) and he agreed, but regardless of the name, it wouldn't be long before I would be laying in bed playing a few rounds before finally tucking in. Then I roped Bruce into the game and we would be side-by-side, playing the game just before lights out.  Eventually another nephew started playing and I would have several games going.  One (or sometimes two) with Bruce at my side, another with a nephew in Alaska and yet another with a different nephew in Indiana.

Since we covered three time zones, someone would send a word while I would be in a meeting or having breakfast and I would reply with my word at lunch or after work and so on. It's like getting a little hello with play time attached.  You reply by playing your turn when you have a few minutes. It's great when maybe no on has anything big to report but you still interact.

The fanaticism wore off after a few weeks and now Bruce and I are back to British Murder Mysteries just before drifting off to sleep, but I still play a round here and there with one of my nephews. Don't get me wrong, the game isn't replacing talking to my nephews, it's just added long distance contact. There's a chat option in the app that we haven't taken much advantage of. The play is enough good scrabble-like fun, musing over the words each player chooses plus it feels like I'm still encouraging educational games and being a good Auntie.

Words with Friends Free is modeled after the game of Scrabble and like its name says, is free.  It's available for Android and iPhone. You can get an upgraded version, also named Words with Friends but without the 'free', for $2.99 which doesn't have an advertisements that pop up after your every move, literally when you finish a word and submit it to play, and is probably worth the few bucks.  The free version features the main aspects of the upgraded version. 

Features:
• The game plays as you would expect, like the board game of Scrabble
• You can simultaneously play multiple games with different friends who also have the app whether they use an iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone or even if they use a Droid instead of a Mac device.  You can play a round by taking turns passing the device back and forth. 

• Turn-based design lets you play up to 20 games simultaneously
• Play with your friends or match-make instantly with a random opponent
• It also supports in-game chat messaging if you like to trash talk
• Push notifications tell you when it’s your turn

Electronic Arts made the 'authentic' Scrabble iPhone app for Mattel Inc. which I haven't tried yet, and (at the time of this posting) it also costs $2.99.

So far, I only play with three different people and haven't sought out players through my contacts, Facebook friends and so on.  It's been a family game for me.  Saccharine as it sounds, I like the virtual check in, especially with those who are far away. Like the closing scene of the Walton's, at night I play a turn or two and they play a turn or so back.  "Goodnight John-Boy."  "Goodnight Elizabeth."

the dishes on a tightrope

Here it is: the good bones project.  A 100-year-old duplex, built as a duplex with two almost exactly mirroring two-story apartments.  

Notice the satellite dishes?  There were five, yes five, on the house when we took the project on last Fall.  Even if both apartments sign up for such service, that only means two. Apparently when you order this service they don't bother to reuse their old dishes or take them away when you end service. They don't take them away ever, in fact.  I tried calling the companies to have them removed but they are not interested. It was one of the first orders of business to take them all down.

I realized that this is what nephews are for!

 

Yes, I made him use that ridiculous narrow old ladder we found in the garage.  He balked at first, cause he teaches safety at his work, but then he finally did it.  At one point I started to follow him up it but changed my mind as I watched it sway with his every step.  The rungs are skinny with barely enough room for his boot-size. He went one foot in front of the other tight-roping his way to the top.  We went and bought a better beefier ladder after this - his pick.

The dishes are a small thing but annoyed the crap out of me visually.  I looked up and my eyes went right to them as they poked out of the house's facade. I cursed every time. Taking them down was a good way to build momentum wrangling the decades worth of miscellaneous cables, wiring and cords embedded into the sides and underbelly of this place. 

**I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my sister/s publicly for having such great sons.  This one (his nickname is Indi) lives part-time in Montana and part-time in Alaska.  When he's in town he sure is handy and he's a really good sport when I'm hell-bent on a project!    

surprise visitors

Last Thursday I got a text from someone in my family (who will remain unnamed to protect them) saying that my parents were getting on the road  Saturday to drive two thousand miles from Indiana to Montana and 'surprise' me.  I waited until Saturday and called Dick and Mabel, "Hey!  Sooo, what's up?"  They must have left Friday cause they were already on the border of Iowa and Illinois.  They giggled calculating their ETA to me.  

I had told them earlier in the spring that they shouldn't visit in July because it would conflict with other visitors and work projects.  Mom's been sick so  they missed June, I thought, and was now looking to August.  As soon as Mom was feeling better, they decided to hop in the car and get out to Montana before June ends! In three days. What goofy parents!  

I'm not really ready for them.  I had intended to shoot another interview with them for the Dick&Mabel project when they visited next, but I haven't prepped enough questions yet. I cleaned up a bit around the house - especially my studio/office -  and we'll see if I can scrap together an improvised interview.  They should be here tonight. I'm looking forward to it.

"Who've you been talking to today?" Dad dug for information over the phone.  

"Forget it, I'm not giving up my blood," I teased back. 

Thank you mysterious family member for the warning!  What if we left town to hike Glacier or something!?

fire-starter

I talk a lot about my mom on this blog, it seems. Here's a little bit on my dad.  During the days following 'surprising Mabel,' the family visited as families do.  We ate every possible meal together and sat around telling stories. Basically we hung out.  During that time, Dad, really a marvel, can make a bigger event out of almost anything.  And he often draws a crowd.  

This time, he literally just started a fire outside in the snow.  (Looking at these photos, I just realized that he must be where my nephews, siblings and I get our pyromania.  We don't talk about it, but we all have it.)

And they come in shifts...

He takes something simple and just has fun.  That's Dad.

  

surprising Mabel

With the passing of each of the last landmark birthdays, 70 years and then 75, I wanted to throw a birthday party for Mom but didn't.  This year, for her 80th, I finally got the job done.  And it was a surprise at that!

Once I decided that I absolutely had to do it this year, about six weeks before the date, I called my siblings and father to recruit their support.  Everyone enthusiastically agreed.

I'm the youngest of my mother's four children.  We are mostly an independent, quarrelsome and know-it-all bunch. Even so, we collaborated for this party; everyone came together to make it happen.  What better opportunity to prove ourselves than on behalf of our mother? 

I'm a big party thrower and proud of it, so I took the lead. My sisters and brother gladly let me and helped by coordinating different details: a guest list, addresses, party place, decorations, etc. and a key part:  setting up the surprise.  My brother told Mom that his oldest daughter would be playing her trumpet in a holiday music show at a nearby community center.  How perfect, eh?  You could count on Mom to be prompt for her granddaughter's music recital!


Dad, a lover of pulling pranks, took on the party planning with enthusiasm.  He played 007 sneaking into Mom's address book and calling me with phone numbers while she was in the next room.  He amped the drama level by complaining about the bad weather all day before the party, saying they should stay home.  (The event was less than a mile from their house.)


My mom is never the person waving in the air to get attention, but like anyone, she appreciates true gestures of love.  I thoroughly enjoyed getting the wheels in motion for this one.  

Here's how it went:

We watched these doors A LOT while anticipating Mom's arrival.

The look we were hoping for.

Mom figures it out; Dad's already crying.

Even though the snow storm made carloads of Mom's siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews turn back or stay home (which is a LOT of people), we had a wonderful turn-out and fantastic party.


Our cousin Christopher (from the east coast side of Dad's family), his wife Steff and his mother Lea flew in the night before for the occasion.  We had not seen Chris or Lea for 30 years (or even met Steff!)  Huge surprise!

Chris & his mom, Lea

Plus many friends... (I cobbled together a small selection of photos here from my brother, Steff and my own camera.)

             

  

 

See how Mom's pointing her finger? She playfully went around shaking it at everyone for conspiring.

Mom & Pam

Trouble.

Dinner was simple and elegant but of course, the fun part is when you bust open the cake!

We put together a 'card' that was a multi-page book of photos - of Mom from a baby to now but mostly of family.  People signed it at the party and we gave it to her at the end.

Dad made a sweet toast.

Mom this year.

Mom at 19

I think it's safe to say, the party was a big success.  Now what are we going to do next year?!