the_matt79

Today's things that made me smile, and observations, or random things that were.

Yesterday I went to Billings with my folks. Billings is the biggest city in Montana, and about a 230 mile drive from where I live. Basically it is one of our options if we want to go somewhere and shop or do anything that most people would take for granted. You see I live in a town with a population somewhere between 5 and 6000 people. It's a nice place to grow up, and right now it is a good place to work and pay off a good chunk of my student loans, seeing as how it doesn't cost much to live here. I do have to start figuring out a way to leave though, or really just what I want the next leg of my journey to be, but I digress from my topic.

Last night we arrived in Billings and went to the Grand Garden, a wonderful new chinese resteraunt in Billings. We met some friends of the family there and supped on some fantastic food. I don't know what makes some of these Asian families decide to move to Eastern Montana, but God bless em for doing it. I split an order of spring rolls with mom, and had the satay chicken, a spicy concoction with peppers, waterchestnuts and mushrooms. The mushrooms were fantastic and the chicken was the most tender I have ever had. So there is smile number 1.

We proceeded to the hotel and I hunkered down with my book. The Life of Pi, I finally got around to reading this book and soon a couple hours had flown by and I had thirty pages left, but it was time for bed, so out went the lights. I slept decent, but had to get up earlier than normal since I was with the folks and they wanted to check out the farmers market and do some shopping. The farmers market was pretty cool, lots of food, a couple bands, and long lines for raspberries. I had a blackberry/white chocolate scone which was a fantastic breakfast and we continued to walk around a bit. Smile number 2.

We left the farmers market and my folks went to have their glasses adjusted, and while waiting I finsihed The Life of Pi. Smile number 3. It really was a great story of survival that does make one think about God, and things of that nature. I found myself agreeing with alot of the points within the book, and I always like something that actually makes me think.

Then it was off to the mall for a bit. I went to Scheel's to get some Under Armor Heatgear as I have a big outdoor cmaping concert venue coming up this next week, and I am sure it will be hot out, and since I don't take my shirt off like a lot of guys do, this is the next best thing. Once we were done there we shot over to Herberger's to see what mom was up to, and as she was checking out I noticed a lady in the shoes that had a black top on, nothing out of the ordinary, but when she turned around I had a question pop into my head. I suddenly wondered if she might have forgot that her shirt had a large opening in the back, because you could see her large black bra through the circle there was. Semi-smile number 4.

Then off to Barne's and Noble. I love bookstores, no matter what. Chain stores, used stores, local stores, online stores, it doesn't matter, if they have books, I want to buy them, at least some of them. Went in the 'ol B&N got a Venti Mocha and started perusing the aisles. Smile number 5. I got a couple books I wanted then went through the clearance aisle, found two hardbacks I wanted and one paperback, each one for around 6 bucks or less. Smile number 6, easily.

So then to lunch, and on to Borders. Woohoo bookstore number two, see what I mean about it being a great day. Found a couple books I wanted in the buy one get one 1/2 off section, and then a couple other ones, and wouldn't ya know it I have a 30% off coupon. Mom and I check out, because mom is the cause and inspiration for my love of bookstores, and the cashier notices the coupon didn't work, so he goes through and voids stuff off and re-does it so that we get the discount, how many cashiers would willingly do that, or even notice in the first place? Smile number 7.

Then it was off to Costco for some bulk purchases and then to church. I don't go to church as often as my folks would like, and a big reason for that is that I don't like the hypocrisy of religion. I have faith in my life, and always will, even though my studies of anthropology have shown me that I have to take portions of it with a grain of salt, but that's fine, that's part of faith. Even though I don't go to church that often, it is an understanding that if I go on a trip with the folks and they go, I go. Small price to pay for free meals and hotel room. For some reason today I really started to think about things in my life, and put some stuff in perspective. I started to remember one of the things I do like about church, or maybe it's churches in general, and that is that they have a calming effect on me. I think more while I sit there waiting for things to happen, and I really focus more then what I might otherwise. Today i really started thinking, and for once I wasn't looking around to see where the pretty girls were, but was looking more inside. Now obviously it doesn't take religion to get this way, and I would never shove religion down someones throat, but for me, today, it was the place to be. Smile number 8.

I guess there are just certain places we are supposed to be at certain times in our lives that show us, or allow us to get a grip on things we were not otherwise firm on, so to speak. And that is what St. Pius X was for me today, and I kinda liked it.

Then the trip home consisted of me devouring half a book, a collection of short stories by Dave Eggers, really good. Then when I walked in the house, there was my dog Shady, happy as hell to see me, SMILE #9!!!