A little juice

Was on the road today. Went to Billings and back. 300 miles. I know most of you can't follow that but in Montana it's just a day. Two hours there, two hours back

Hanging with The Prodigy

So last week I went to Sheridan for the annual watching of the Masters with TP. This week he and his lovely bride LB came to Bozeman for the Montana Beer Festival.  I attended with them tonight though I'm not a beer guy. TP has his own brewery. I'm not saying this because he is just a good friend, I'm saying this as a non-beer drinker. His beer is fabulous.  His partner is a multiple award winner at beer fests all over the northwest and they have won awards in every competition they have entered. Well I think they have. He can verify that if HE even reads this anymore.

Buzz, you need to make a vacation plan and come to Montana. See Yellowstone and then drive to Sheridan, it's only four soft hours. You and TP will be immediate friends even without dropping my name ( which you should do to get the MRM discount). I say this to you because I think you have mentioned that you like good beer. I'll buy you and your family dinner. They can have anything they like as long as it fits through a straw.

LB, TP's wife, is more fun than stepping on baby ducks. She just tells it like it is with sarcasm and a great smile on her face. She would read that comment and say "what does that even mean?" and then just laugh.

Keep up the faith kids. It's a long row to hoe.

If you think I'm a poor blogger now, just wait

Life has been good.  The position with the new company has born much fruit for me. My job was very uncomplicated.  I had my own deal.  My own list of equipment to sell, making good bank.  I really didn't have a boss.  I was the "go to" guy for a lot of salesmen in the company.  Developing a great reputation.  People liked me. They said good things. All was well.

Then a position of responsibility opened up.  I was asked to apply. So I did.

Just getting by

Life is pretty good. I had a great talk with my mother. She is happy.

Work is good though there is still a challenge with the transition. Some people are still in the mold of the old company and I hope they get past that.

My sister bought a house and has moved out. I'm ecstatic for her and me. What was supposed to be a few month deal turned into two years. No bad words or ill feelings. I'll never do that. She found a nice deal. I'm happy for her. And me.

Golf season is just around the corner. Leaving Wednesday for St. George, Utah. A golf haven. Haven't swung a club since October but will hit some balls this weekend and be ready.

My youngest brother Pat turned 35 today. Hard to grasp. He has three great kids and my sis-in-law is the bomb. Happy for them.

I want to let you all know that I am ready you weekly. Though I might not comment, don't let that be a reflection. You are all putting out great posts.

Cheers.

Don't bug me when I'm eating

It’s a tough world.  The challenges of the new job are formidable but I’m still liking it very much.  Having worked for one man for 17 years and having free reign on almost everything I did, it’s a challenge to have, well, rules.  I don’t mind the rules it’s just that there are a lot of them and no real manual.  Still the cooperation I’m getting when I need it is good and helping me to succeed. 

I drive to Williston, ND every other week.  475 miles one way and I only cross one state line. The crew here is in the same boat as I am. They are all new Titan employees as this location only opened in January.  The entire staff is great and they give my all the help I ask for.  There is also a former ABC employee here so that is a tremendous help as well.  All in all, good things.

Some things for the record

Honestly, I've been busy. I miss blogging every day. Not only am I not posting, even worse I'm not reading anyone else.  This weekend marks the first weekend in four weeks that I will be in Bozeman. So there's one reason.

Another reason is that the shithole motel I stay at in Williston doesn't have wifi.

Another reason is that I haven't figured out the "vpn" thing so I can post and not get relieved from duty.

Another reason is that since April 7th, I've driven over NINE THOUSAND MILES FOR WORK!!!!  NINE FUCKING THOUSAND MILES IN TWO MONTHS!!  That's almost as much as I did all of last year.  Well, that's between us kids. I told Uncle Sam it was a little more than that.  But here's the deal with that.  9000 miles in 60 days is 150 miles a day.  Hey, I can live with that.  Here's my driving schedule. I leave Bozeman. Go to Powell, Wyoming (a really nice little town) meet a customer. Go to Cody, Wyoming (where I think I may retire) meet another customer, and then back to Bozeman.  Total miles that day over 500 inone day. I love XM.

I'm busier than a one legged man at an ass kicking contest.  I'll be around this Friday with a glass of Canada's finest to get caught up with all of you. 

God bless this merry band of malcontents.

Blah, blah, blah.

MRM

Please note: the Diane Lane references have been temporarily put on hold until further notice.  This does not mean that MRM has even begun to quit burning candles in his window for her. It just means he couldn't think of a way to weave her into this post unitl now.  Need to edit the "labels" thing to include her. 

I guess I'm a Friday poster now

Hello followers of the drivel (yes Karl, the drivel. Thank you for thinking its more than that by the way).

Let me try to get you all caught up on things here in the Gallatin Valley.  Last Sunday I left for Williston, ND.  Spent the night in Miles City.  Every creek (we prounounce that word "crick" for the record) was out of it's banks. Every little stream that flowed water was swelled.  Bismark, ND is flooding as we speak. So is the town of Roundup, MT. My heart breaks for those people.  I've driven through Roundup more times than I can count. The Musselshell is a soft slow moving river, much like the Milk River.  To see this small town get hit this hard, is honestly breaking my heart.  Joplin, MO has me down as well.  I've often wondered why tornadoes have never hit towns of any sigficant size and when they have, have been so brief in reality compared to what Joplin suffered.  Still over 1200 people missing.  So sad.  Montana has never in my lifetime had the flooding we are enduring now.  It brings things into perspective.  We here in Montana have watched many, many times as other places have been hit with this disaster but have been fortunate to not have to feel the pain.  We do now.

Far be it from me to criticize

Where the hell is everyone?  What, I get a new job and everyone quits posting?  No one is keeping up with MCW?  What the hell?

I find it hard to believe that this absolute blather was the cornerstone of our blogging community.  Wait. It wasn't. 

In other news, the job is great.  Not only do I like the new company but the people at the other locations have been spectacular.  They have all been recently acquired so we are all going through the same growning pains and everyone in Montana wants to work together.  North Dakota, well, we'll just have to bring them around to our way of thinking.  Lots of good guys there as well, they just think wrong differently.

I've played 90 holes of golf since the second week of April.  Most of them good but some have been very forgetable or however it's spelled.

Not a lot else. Going to see The Prodigy this weekend.  Have something special for him that he will absolutely flip for.  Can't say what it is as he does sometimes reads.  Hardly ever posts for whatever weak reasons he gives to me, but I'm telling you he'll go nuts and if he doesn't post after this weekend, he's banished.  He will ride out of the blogosphere backwords on a horse with his hands tied behind his back and a bucket on his head.  Do you hear me Frodo?

I've lost my readership

I've been busy.  Working harder than a one-legged man at an ass kicking contest on ice.  Still I thought there'd be more love, more foregiveness.  Followers are asking for information.  "Whats the new job like?" "How is it going?"  "POST PICTURES! WE WANT PICTURES!"  I post great pics and an awesome video and what do I get. One comment for the Big  Sky Fly Guy who seldom if ever says anything. Though his comment was great, what the hell?  Did I lose you Boxer? Moi? Chickory (who by the way has been the most adament of you for pics)? Buzz? 

Holy shit people, did I forsake you?

Enough.  I thought I put up great photos and expected more by now. I know you are all busy as well.  Who am I to throw stones.  Haven't posted a comment on anyone's blog for a week. 

Hang on a tic.  It's Friday. I'm home. Have a glass of Canada's finest. Maybe I'll make some rounds. Throw some stuff out there. Yeah. That's what I'll do.

I guess I could have slept in my truck.

It's not Heather's fault.  She did what she could on short notice.  After the buyout (it's easier to spell than acquisition) my boss told me to have Heather get me a room in Williston.  Williston is in the heart of the Bakken Formation and it's where things are really happening. When you're in Williston you're "Rockin the Bakken" and yes they rhyme. Heather booked me in a hotel called The Vegas.  It was new and fancy before any of us were born, except for maybe Buzz or certainly Karl.  Hey, it was a place to stay.

Meeting the crew in Williston was great. Heather decided to call me "Munk".  As in "Chip"munk.  She should really be calling me "Monk" as that is the life I've been living if you know what I mean.

Where ya been? Whatcha doin?

"Hectic" would be an understatement. "Swamped" not quite, but close.  The transition for me so far has been quite easy. Still selling construction equipment and having a blast turning a lot of old gear loose.  As far as the rest of the old ABC crew goes they are adjusting pretty well. Still some humps but then it's only been 20 days.  Between work, getting ready for travelling and trying to keep my house in some semblance of order, my waking hours are completely filled.

I still don't have a real job description but plenty of tasks to complete and loving the challenge.  Titan bought me a new Dodge Ram and it's mine to drive five days a week.  A completely different expense account, which is great and some big goals to try to hit. With their resources I'm not at all worried.  I have the entire state of Montana and western North Dakota as my territory so driving many miles is a big part. For those of you in the eastern part of the U.S. let me tell you how big the states are out here, just to put it in perspective.  Bozeman to Fargo (or as I like to call it "Corporate Headquarters" it sounds so much more glamorous than "Fargo") is 750 miles. I cross ONE state line. One.  It's big country. Montana is the fourth largest state in the union and we only have a million people. 

There will be many miles of driving but the cool thing is this, I have family and friends in every big town in the state and many friends at virtually every town of significant size otherwise.  This job will give me the opportunity to see them as well a great chance to prosper beyond what I was doing.  This isn't to say I wasn't doing well with my former employer.  Everything I have is because of him.  No, this just gives me a chance to improve on what I've learned and use my experience to go forward.

I do need to get back in the gym.  I'm to wound up at the end of the day and need to have something to take that off.  Did have dinner with a woman in Sheridan when I saw The Prodigy.  It went well I think.  She was prettier in real life than her photos, which were really good, so I might have been a little nervous.

It reminds me of a conversation I had years ago.  I was in charge of advertising and a sales lady from one of the local radio stations was calling on me.  She pitched her package and I told her I would look it over and get back to her.  She was a lady about ten years older than me and very attractive.  We get done talking and she said to me "Chip, are you intimidated by me?"  I looked her right in the eye and said "Kay, I'm only intimidated by women I'm sleeping with."  Good times.

Hope all is well.

Safe journeys and Happy Easter.

Chip

Back for a bit.

Fargo was awesome.  Great training, like the company.  Things look positive.  Just have enough time to say hello to you all.  I am happy and the future looks very bright.  I'll have more to say when I have more time but just be rest assured that I am alive and doing well.  I hope to come around and check everyone out this week before I leave for NoDak again next week. I am more busy than I have been for quite a while and am thankful for that.  Don't expect a lot from me for the next couple of weeks. Lots of travel but I will try to get something up here a little more consistent. I know you all have been wondering how I've landed but it has been solid so no worries there. And the rest of the crew is good as well.

Still swamped

Lot's going on with the new gig.  Too much to even say but it's fun, challenging and good.  It will be a week or two before I'm back in full force. Until then I'll try to make a brief comment on the world's events, throw up a video or link to keep your appetites dripping. Until then, I hope to at least  read the great things you post and hopefully can comment.  Leave for a week on Friday for Sheridan with TP then to Fargo for training.  I'm sure there will be more drinking than posting but will do what I can.

Quick one

Things are good so far. I'm liking the challenge. I'm am so frickin busy and I love it.  I love the challenge so far, we'll see if it pays off. Regardless of that, I've met some great people and I do like to be busy. I'm a shitty employee when it is as slow as it has been. Unfortunately, it makes me a shitty blogger as well.  It's a trade off deal.  I hope to make the rounds the next couple of nights to see what's going on with you all. I head to Sheridan WY to see The Prodigy's new joint and then to Fargo from there for some training.

Hope it's better than this. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarmy training sir!

What is sleep?

It's late.  Too late for me to tell you how late it is.  I can't remember a longer week in many, many years. We shot pool at 10PM in our city league tournament. More on that later.

The Titan Machinery transition team has been in Bozeman all week and on Friday we switched colors.  It seems to be a great company and the people who were out here this week were more than exceptional.  I was confident that I would remain employed but was worried in what facet.   I was also worried about some overlapping positions and whether anyone would be let go from ABC Rental.  Everyone was hired and that made me extremely happy.

I have a new position and what appears to be a huge opportunity. I have a title "Strategic Accounts Manager" but no real job description. We will see where it goes but I am happy.

 The guys at work seem happy. I'm sure over time some will go. Not happy with the change and all of that.  I really don't think things will change for the guys on the rental end. Their jobs will just flow into what Titan does.  My job is the change. It will be totally different from what I've done the last 12 years.  The thing is this, I've been wanting a change in my life. I haven't wanted to drift from being in the equipment business, just wanting something new and different.  This sale brings that.

I am a little sad though. To be wearing different team colors. I started with ABC in 1992.  Everything I have is because of the opportunities it gave me. The relationship I had with my now former boss was more than I could hope for. A generous man. I've spent many Thanksgivings at his house and if he even caught wind of any employee who was going to be alone at Thanksgiving or Christmas, he had them at his house for dinner. He would rather miss a house payment or a banknote before he would miss a payroll.  And in lean times would take a mortgage out to make sure his business stayed alive before he would ever, EVER let an employee go. He knew how much the people who worked for him relied on him and would never let them down.

With all that has transpired, I know you that have all figured out why I've been such a pisspoor blogger the last few months.  I'm not saying that I'm going to be a better one for a few weeks.  I haven't even looked at this week's MCW posts and probably won't.

As I said. I am welcoming the change and the challenge.  I'll see what I can do with it.

On a side note. My pool league team won it's division and tonight in the city tournament we won our first match.  I didn't lose  a game and was the guy who closed our match out. And yes, I am absolutely bragging. I shot great pool tonight.  Willie Masconi? Meet MRM.

Safe journeys,

Chip

Attempting a comeback

Between a major personal life change a couple of weeks ago and company the last 10 days, I haven't been much of a blogger.  I do have some things in the works (no, it's not poems Shoey) and hope to get back in the swing  this week.  Thanks for hanging in there. Hopefully the batteries are recharged and I can put some crap up that's actually worth reading and do a better job of keeping up with the rest of the merry band. Fortunately my breakfast of coffee and Girl Scouts thin mints has my energy level up and maybe it can carry over this week.

Lots of potential business out there.  Boss had the reins pulled for a bit but is turning me loose again. More travel in the greater Bozeman area and maybe a trip or two to Williston *fist pumps while choking back puke.

Supposed to be in the 40's and 50's this week and maybe some golf but I'd like to ride one more time before that season starts.  We sit in first place in pool league with three weeks to go and play the second place team tomorrow night on their home felt.  Should be a great match.  Good shooters and good guys.  Looking forward to it.  Last week we played the #3 team last week and they are still in intensive care from the beating we gave them.  Oh, that sounded boastful.  My apologies.  I hope we can keep it going.

Have a good week all.  See you on MCW if not before.

MRM

No Gary Morris, but it was worth it.

So I posted yesterday that I was going to see Gary Morris tonight but I went to Emigrant to meet a couple of guys who work for money men. The first guy works for the owner of Cummins Diesel huge property with a lot of things to come. The second was for a golf course that Arthur Blank is building. Blank is the owner of the Atlanta Falcons.  My good friend Tommy G is in with both of the decision makers and these guys love Tom.  Both meetings went better than I imagined and the amount of equipment I think I will rent will make my check signer very happy ( though I'm on the account and can sign my own paychecks, it still isn't my money).  Got back to late to see Gary but business and work comes first in these times.  That's just how it goes.  I'm not unhappy about it at all.  Would have been nice to do both but the feeling I left both meetings with is that I am in and they liked me.  Mostly because they like Tom a lot.  One of those, if Tom likes this guy he must be good. So, hooray!

LBOH 22 the clock is ticking

So 21 years ago my lifelongs and me decided to have a weekend where (or is it wear or ware, Moi help me out I  have an English minor for shits sake) anywhoo we have this weekend where we all get together. No wifes ( or is it wives, again Moi a little help) now this is getting confusing. So, we have this weekend. It's called the LBOH (Lonely Bachelors Oppressed Husbands) weekend.

Every Saturday night, the last nigt of reveling, Skeets, Ghoulies and me ( or is it I, God how I'm glad I'm not teaching) sing this song. Tomorrow Gary Morris will be in Bozeman singing at the eloquent Ellen Theatre. If he doesn't sing THIS song, I'm storming the stage, taking my Old Timer pocket knife out and puting it to his throat and making him sing. Three years in Deer Lodge be damned!

Ralph, I'm sorry you can't be there with me and hope I don't get misty.  It will probaly be the dust if I do.

 Great song especially given where I am at this state.

The Grizwagon "Dash Cam"

Well here's a little slice of life from southwest Montana.  We had a pretty nice storm blow in yesterday afternoon so I took four videos with my old Kodak.  Two of a couple of legs of my journey home last night and then two of my trip in this morning. I just set the camera on the dash and let it do the work.  I even have some commentary along the way.  Proof positive that I have a voice for blogging. This first video is right after I turned onto Love Lane.  It really looks like I'm going fast than I am.  Travel speed on the first two videos is 30-35 mph.

How hard is to get a journalism degree?

I hate the media.  Make no mistakes about it.  If Katie Couric was on a plane with Keith Olberman and it went down, let's just say I'm not volunteering to join the search and rescue party. They tow the liberal line lock, stock and barrel and you need to look no further than the current "tax cut" bill as proof.

When this bill was passed over 8 years ago, it was, and has been since, protrayed as a tax cut "for the rich". Even though it was across the board.  I knew this.  Anyone with an IQ bigger than my average golf score knew this but in the press it was always a tax cut for the rich.  Fast forward to six months ago.  The tax policy passed by GWB with biparitisan support is set to change at years end and guess what?  We find out that EVERYONE'S taxes are going up and not by a little bit. Really? 

Here's more great journalism.  President Teleprompter campaigned on repealing this law.  I've heard over a dozen soundbites from the campaign trail about "repealing the Bush tax cuts."  Now, after the ass kicking the libtards took in November he is singing a different tune.  The exact opposite in fact.  We need to extend this program for "middle America". The press is not taking him to task for it.  They act like it never happened.