And so it begins...

The time has come for me to delve into my first winter in Montana. Let me give you the bullet points.

• Saturday was 55 degrees. I went on a hike called Lava Lake. It was fabulous.

• Sunday was down to 15 degrees. The sky was gray and ominous…all. day. long.
• Monday was 7 degrees with 3 inches of snow…and light flurries throughout the day.

• Tuesday -3 degrees, 2 more inches of snow.
• Wednesday….a whopping -10 degrees in the morning, up to 7 degrees with the vibrant sun midday.
• All of these days, "no plowing necessary" say the Montanans. Rather, "we shall sprinkle DIRT on the roads, this should help create a nice slick chocolate icing-esque paste on the roads, which are sure to make driving better than packed ice, but not as good as clear roads." Please, they need to keep the adventure in their day to day commute.
• I am happy to say that next week should be a scorcher, estimated to climb into the high 30's!
• It's safe to say, that I have entered a new territory…and the hazing has begun. Let's hope I make it through. 

~Peace be da journey. -Cool Runnings

I'm OBSESSED!

Here's the dealio….
I am identifying some early trends of addictions and obsessions that I think will only continue to be exacerbated with my living in Bozeman, as well as any place in the west. As my close friends and family I am delegating you the responsibility to form an intervention when you, as a collective, feel it is appropriate and necessary. 

Today I attended what is known as the Bridger Ski Foundation Ski Swap. This happens once a year the first weekend of November. It is essentially a consignment sale for ski, snowboard,  and winter sports equipment, including all boots, bindings, poles, and clothing. People in the community bring in their used/gently used equipment they want to sell. They put a price on it, you buy it, they get the money. I walked into this not knowing exactly what to expect. As soon as I walked through those doors I was experiencing emotions of euphoria, happiness, and anxiety, as well as physiological changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature (only minimally explained by the coffee I was drinking). I saw hundreds of cross country skis of every variety, hundreds of downhill skis, hundreds of snowboards, boots, bindings, hats, gloves, jackets,…you get the drift. Clearly I was elated with all this Ski Swap offered, however was unable to purchase equipment due to my limited knowledge of outdoor equipment. Trust me, I will take full advantage next year. Regardless, I purchase a Burton winter coat for $40 and a north face wind breaker for $40…steals! Oh, I also bought some socks….these were not in the used section.

After I walked out with my new exciting winter possessions in my arms I was on a winter sports high, and obviously my only chance to satisfy this urge was to head to the mothership, REI. In case you aren't aware, REI stands for Recreation Equipment Inc., aka Julie's outdoor sports Disney World. It was in REI that I spent 2 hours, just wandering around, marveling at the equipment, feeling the softness and warmth of various fabrics, comparing the weight of hiking boots, and touching very pretty skis. I asked Laura and Mike (two of the lovely employees to help me) tons of questions regarding wet, snow, running, skiing, snow shoeing, and regular shoe needs in Bozeman. 

Now let me rewind. Back in my first semester of graduate school my classmates and I were discussing what it would be like to get our very first pay check as occupational therapists and what we would do with our money. I said that I would buy something from REI. Keep in mind, at this point in my life I had never been to an REI, yet I knew I was meant to shop in one. 

Fast forward to present day. I am not only shopping at an REI, but I am living in a place where it is practically required by law to shop at REI and hold a membership card. I wouldn't be surprised if they ask me to present my REI card as proof of Montana residence when I go to get my Montana driver's license. That is how common it is. So after my 2 hours of ogling at the equipment like a kid in a candy store, I settled on my first REI purchase. A practical over the shoulder bag to take my belongings to and from work. I was ecstatic. 

So folks, here I am, a Bozeman, Montana resident with a Subaru and an REI membership. 

I am very much enjoying this process of assimilating to the western culture. ; )

Here is a picture of my new belongings. Just think, if you moved here you would have a reason to buy cool things like this too!

Everyone has a Subaru and and Dog...

One of the main things people in this part of the country say is…"everyone has a Subaru and a dog". This is mostly true…but it isn't EVERYONE! For me example, I have a Subaru and no dog. Other people don't have Subaru's and do have a dog. In fact, I have been amazed at the amount of cars that look like they would be entirely inept in the winter climate that is about to start dumping upon us in a few short weeks. But, I'm sure these people know what they are doing far more than I.

Let's talk about the dogs here in Bozeman. Friendly but not overwhelmingly so (they will walk up to you and brush against you, but will never try for a lick or nuzzle the first time you meet. Respect!) Well-trained (they come running back to their owners whenever there name is called…and of course they are all off-leash). Beautiful (some look like they are straight out of a marble slab!) Happy (85% run around while off leash with a prized possession they just found…a STICK! It is absolutely adorable). Lastly, they don't feel the need to verbally communicate with humans (they seem to understand that we aren't intelligent enough to understand them, so they don't bother). I have been barked at by one dog, it barks at me once as I run by it's property and just stares me down the rest of the way. JUST ONE BARK! Coming from Keena that is the most incredible feat of any dog ever!

Clearly this is a magical land where dogs aren't just dogs, but best friends, family members, and protectors. One day I will have a Subaru and a dog… but that day is not quite yet on the horizon.

Bozeman before work

Hey there!

Welcome to my blog about my new life in Bozeman, MT. Sure, it will lose it's pazazz after I have lived here for awhile, but for now I feel like I am in an entirely different country and may be of some interest to those in eastern America. Hopefully you all know the story of how I made it out here, if not, here is a brief synopsis (which if you know me, it isn't brief at all).

       Once upon a time Julie graduated with her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy. She was applying for jobs (mainly in the South East) and realized she wasn't getting excited about any of the jobs or locations she was applying to. Young and energetic Julie asked herself "If I could choose anywhere to live, regardless of job, where would I want to live?" Her response, BOZEMAN, MONTANA! HAhahaha. Just kidding… her response was "somewhere with wonderful skiing and great outdoor adventures to be had." Brilliant and curious Julie began to apply in greater ratios to states such as Colorado and Utah. She then remembered that her silly, yet occasionally useful brother reported to her that Big Sky Montana was his most favorite mountain in the country. Master Julie went to trusty Google, looked at a map of where Big Sky Montana actually was located, and noticed that the closest city was the one and only Bozeman, Montana. Wise Julie then typed into Google "OT jobs in Bozeman, Montana". Up popped the job at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital with a job description far more intriguing than anything else she had come across…in went the application…then Skype interview…then plane ride to visit…then job offer accepted! And now,here we are.

This is a picture of my Dad and I at Palisades Falls. This waterfall is located in the Gallatin National Forest, which is located 10 miles south of town. It is 80 feet tall and is at an elevation of 7,200ft (which explains why we felt a little woozy).

Dad flew out to Bozeman to fulfill the duties of an amazing father and help get my life started here.  The tasks involved buying a car, getting insurance, getting an apartment, getting insurance, explaining to me what all my employee benefits actually mean, touring the town, eating beef, bison, and drinking whiskey and porters. It was splendid to have him here with me to see my new homestead and to provide me with wisdom that I am sure has taken him many years to figure out himself. I kind of feel like I am cheating the system. Anyway, it was lovely to explore my new town with him, experience the glory of the never ending mountains, and have someone to share in the very beginning of my new adventure.

Here is a picture of Betsy, my new car and currently only friend. She is a 2015 Subaru Forester complete with heated seats and giant moon/sun roof. Really I just wanted those perks for all of you guests that will be coming. : ) Picture yourself now, wind in your hair, looking up at the stars, smelling evergreens, listening to a babbling brook, all while your bum is nicely roasted. Doesn't get much better than that folks.

HAPPY TRAILS!