The cottonwood leaves, like teenagers, can’t sleep. They rattle nervously and drop to the ground or simply hang in the breeze waiting for someone to blow through and lift them away.
Welcoming Autumn
I’m waiting for the bobcat. She’s all the rage on our street. Neighbors call those with small dogs wondering if they’re inside, as the she was seen strolling towards the Rims with something largish in its mouth (turns out it was a squirrel). A dozen or so sightings this month has my hopes up that she’ll come traipsing past my office window soon.
A Personal Geography: Ouray, Colorado
In 1976, we took a summer camping trip to Ouray/Silverton Colorado area. As he drove our family station wagon, I sat in the back seat piling wads of gum into my jaw like it was chewing tobacco. The sound of his harmonica floated back…
Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation?
Now, finding my daughter hula-hooping or wearing wigs (even a man-wig) isn’t surprising. She scours thrift and costume stores for groovy wigs and is building a nice collection. She’s got a Liz Taylor wig, two Amelia Earhart wigs, a Paula Dean wig. Her Roger Daltrey wig is her only man-wig. It’s the combination of the wig and The Who and what those things meant to me in my own identity-formation that took me back a bit, equally as much as hearing my guileless pre-teen daughter belt out “we’re all wasted.”

In Celebration of Spring (and weekends…and public lands)
One of the best times of the year to be in Montana. The heat and crowds haven’t descended. The world is green. The mountains are starting to give up their captive snows. Just goofing off with my camera (and the girls) on a hike in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
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Police Room 619, September 12 September 12, 2009
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African Sausage August 10, 2009
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Ten Most Influential Books March 30, 2010
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Sioux Charley Trail, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness (Winter Count #1) March 7, 2009
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Sheep Shearing Video April 8, 2009
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Welcome to Montanamo Bay: Hardin Montana continues its campaign to become Gitmo North May 14, 2009
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Magic City Hen video & Expo this Saturday September 16, 2011
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Some Dreamers Along the Golden Line September 15, 2011
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The Mind Eraser March 3, 2011
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Bright Edges of the Earth December 21, 2010
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Acceptable Blasphemies: Reflections on Opening Day October 27, 2010
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Welcoming Autumn September 23, 2010
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Brad Johnson: Annabel. well, I wouldn't say either sara or i ar...
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annabel: Sorry, meant Sara....
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annabel: I thought I might be getting a photo display of Bu...
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Seth Gilcreast: Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog...
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Sundance: So true. Honesty and evryehitng recognized....
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Lera Beile: wonderful post...
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About This Site
140 miles east of cool is both a place and a space.
As a place, 140 miles east of cool is where I live–exactly 140 miles east of Bozeman, Montana in the “Magic City” of Billings, MT.
As a space, 140 miles east of cool lies at the margins of the metaphorical epicenters of the amenity west: places like Bozeman, Aspen, and Boulder.











