Sunset, Stuffed, and Super
Field Goals for the Soul
There’s this moment on an evening ride when the sun drops behind the ridgeline and the whole hillside turns gold, like somebody cranked up the saturation dial on Montana itself. Bike leaned against a power pole, tires still warm, lungs still catching up. The trail ahead curves along the slope like it knows where it’s going even if you don’t. You stop. Not because you’re tired, though you are. You stop because something about the light tells you to just... stand there. Breathe. Let the valley do its thing.
Then you come home, and the world is doing its thing too.
The podcast you count on for making your brain feel less like a puzzle with mismatched pieces, gone on hiatus. Because of the times. That phrase keeps circling. The times. You’re lying on the living room floor doing your exercises like a dutiful human, cat nearby, robot vacuum judging your form, and it all feels a little absurd. The country’s in a strange chapter, and you can feel it in the air, even in Missoula, even on the floor with your legs up the wall. Must stay strong. Must do the stretches.
But then Sunday night rolls around, and Super Bowl LX turns into something unexpected. Seattle dismantles New England 29 to 13, sure, and the game itself was lopsided from the jump. The Seahawks held the Patriots scoreless through three full quarters. But the real story was Bad Bunny performing the halftime show almost entirely in Spanish, with Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga joining him on a stage that looked like a celebration of a whole culture’s arrival. Not one word of English. On the biggest broadcast stage in America. And then the local Montana ads came on, and the contrast hit like a cold splash. A little island of sameness in a sea of change.
The Super Bowl didn’t fix anything. It won’t. But watching a hundred million people cheer for something unfamiliar, something bigger than their usual playlist, that’s worth noticing. Not as hope exactly, because hope’s a currency that’s lost some value lately. More like evidence. Evidence that the world keeps getting wider, even when some corners try to shrink it.
On This Day
February 12 has shown up 13 times since 2001. The topics bounce around like a caffeinated squirrel: mountain adventures and hosting moves... coffee shop observations and imaginary triathlons.
2001: New Energy – *AI Image added in a later editMan, that weekend almost did me in. Between work, school, and the usual life stuff, I was definitely feeling the burnout vibes. But hey, guess what? I actually managed...
2002: Listening To My Inner Self – Today is all about listening. I don’t train on the bicycle today so I will be able to listen to my body and my inner-self more today. I want to relax and get ready for this weekend and the upcoming...
2003: We Have Moved! – Yep, I’ve switched things up and moved to a new hosting service. Fingers crossed, I’ll have everything up and running in no time. Chances are, you won’t catch this update till the domain name servers...
2005: McLeod Peak This Weekend – A hike a day has continued and now I am on my 22nd day if I go today, and why wouldn’t I. Today I am planning a climb up McLeod Peak today. Once again I am getting out late but I am struggling. I am...
2005: Failed McLeod, Black Tail Peak – Hey there, folks! Bill here, and I’ve got a little update on my outdoor adventures. Change of plans, though – yesterday’s hike didn’t quite pan out as I’d hoped. I embarked on a mission to explore...
2006: Yuk! – Hey from Break Espresso! Just saw someone do the ultimate no-no: licked their spoon and put it back in the communal silverware bin. Gross! They’ve knocked down a wall here, and I gotta jet ‘cause all...
2010: TNR Night – Chillin’ at City Brew, gearing up for a chill recovery hike in the North Hills. Made an impromptu pit stop post-grocery haul. Honestly, wasn’t feeling the vibe of squatting in the chilly woods...
2012: Imaginary racing – Today I did a triathlon but the only evidence is my gps tracks which include my back country ski and snow bike followed by a skate ski. Even though I pulled out the win (last one standing) it wasn’t...
2014: Fat – “Want to try something new”, I inquired.
2016: Mile 124 – I could continue, I know I could. I have done it before. I paid the price and the rewards have been plentiful. Trophies and ribbons. Gift certificates and praises. I have a entire bookshelf full of...
2023: Cleveland Street – Sipping coffee at the window while squirles tease Mr Bear and Roombie found something.ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY:Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and explore some remarkable moments captured in blog...
2024: AI: Hype Machine or Hidden Gem? A Mountain Biker’s Perspective (with a dash of Mo’s wisdom) – Alright, folks, Bill here, your friendly neighborhood redhead and resident mountain bike nut. Now, I’m no techie, but I love tinkering with gadgets and doodads, especially when they promise to make...
2025: Did We Wake Up in Time? – I didn’t wake up all at once. I stirred. I grumbled. I hit snooze a few times. And like always, by the time I finally opened my eyes, the fire had already started. I cant express what I need to say....