I've done a bit since I last wrote here...I went out the weekend of Halloween, went to the 6th annual Festival of Wines, then Joe and I decided to NOT work on cars over the weekend and took a drive along the Pintler Scenic Route from Drummond to Butte.

     Halloween, or actually, the Saturday before, I went out to two parties.  One was a wedding reception/costume party for a good friend and ex-coworker Greg Hampton and the other was a benefit dance at the old Iron Front Hotel's ballroom.  The Iron Front is one of the historic downtown buildings here in Helena built during the gold rush heyday, and one of the lucky buildings to have survived the 1935 earthquake, numerous fires, and urban renewal of the 1960's.  The ballroom, which is located on the top floor, is two stories tall and it appears to still have its original chandaliers and pressed tin ceiling.  We (Satan Claws--aka Joe and me--aka The Jester) were taken up in an old lift-type elevator which added to the feeling of going back in time...when my mind wasn't wondering what the weight capacity was, or how recently the cables had been checked!  I had plenty of time to contemplate those questions, too, as the only beverages available were local brews (Blackfoot River Co) that I don't care for.  Luckly the Western Bar is right across Last Chance!  Many of the party goers made the trip...and we met "the Pope"(local well known UPS guy), "Jesus", a male "nun", a "Dominatrix" (Joyce, an ex-coworker), Hagar the Horrible, and an assorted mix of creatures and beings!  When the benefit was over, many of us walked up the Gulch to the Rialto Bar where I met up with my good friends Heather, Martin, Becca, Jeff, and Troy. (Sexy gunslinger, Bug, Playboy bunny, Hugh Heffner, and 1970's disco king respectively).  A very good time was had by all!  I love Halloween....

     Saturday, November 4th (one week later) was the evening of the Wine Festival Gala.  This is a benefit put on by the Helena Exchange Club with all proceeds going to the local Coats for Kids program.  It is one of the primier "dress-up" galas of the year that is open to the public.  It is a wine tasting, primarily, but most of us go to "people watch" and mingle.  The event is always held at the Colonial Inn, one of the nicest hotels in town.  They put out all kinds of food to nibble on, too.  This year there was little shrimp won-tons, beef kabobs, sesame chicken skewers, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, mini cheesecakes, bite size cream puffs, and bunches of other stuff I didn't see or try.  The wines were OK, there were only a few this year that I really liked.  I did try some sweet mead, and some huckleberry wine that were pretty good.  Heather, Julie, and Martin were volunteer pourers so after the event, we all met at the hotel bar Martini's and finished up the evening there.

     On Sunday, Joe and I decided to head out of town and chose to take the Pintler Scenic Route that starts in Drummond, goes through the near ghost town of Phillipsburg, past Georgetown Lake, through historic Anaconda and into Butte.  Then the loop is completed by hopping onto the interstate and returning to Helena.  While we were by Georgetown Lake, we revisited the mining ghost town of Southern Cross, and would liked to have gone to back to Granite, another ghost town, but the road is tretcherous on a good day and there was snow in the higher elevations so we decided to wait until another time.  On our way through Butte we stopped by a friends house, but she wasn't home.  We arrived back in Helena about six and went to the Last Chance Casino for hot wings and dinner. 

     With all this going on, I received some good news, too.  I got a job!  It will be a great opportunity for me since I am starting with a company that is growning at an incredible rate.  Action Wireless is a cellular phone repair shop and used phone sales.  They have shops in Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula...but with the boom in cellular phone use and the outragous prices of the newest phones, many people are opting to have their present phone fixed, or purchase a re-furbished phone for a fraction of the price of buying a new one.  It amazes me that there aren't more businesses like this around.  With Helena, Kalispell, and Bozeman growing I am sure it is only a matter of time before stores are opening in those cities, too.  For now, I am going to be commuting to Great Falls...at least until Krystle graduates from high school.  I don't see this as a bad thing since I love to drive, and in many areas of the country (i.e. metropolitian areas) an hour and a half drive is nothing.  At least I get to see some beautiful country!  And, oh yeah, the pay is worth it..........   :-)