Flags at Half Staff

 

When I see the flag at half staff I am immediately sadden. Sometimes I have to question why but sometimes it is obvious why it is there.  This made me realize I don't know where this tradition came from and talking to others they don't either. Here are some facts about the ritual that began in the 17th century. 

     *The term is half mast and not half mass

     *Half mast is the term describing flying a flag below the summit of the flagpole (mast). This is done in many countries as a symbol of respect and mourning.

     *Only flags on ships are flown at half mast, on land they are at half staff (interesting tid bit)

     *The US code establishes when they flag should be flown at half staff. See website       http://halfstaff.org/ for the whens and whys.

     *On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff

     *By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory

     *The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President

     *10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives

     *Federal law requires the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), unless that day is also Armed Forces Day

     *New legislation was signed into effect on June 29, 2007, by President Bush, requiring any federal facility within a region, which proclaims half-staff to honor a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who died during active duty.

     * The United States of America is not the only country to observe this tradition. Other countries include; the UK, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Russia, New Zealand and Israel, just to name a few.

Oh Christmas Tree

It's that time of year again where you either pull your tree out of a box in your garage, find a local lot or cut your own Christmas tree down.  Whether you let the kids put up all their homemade ornaments or you decorate a tree Martha Stewart would be proud of, most US homes will be going through the process of putting up the perfect tree in the next few weeks.

Here are a few local places to start if you are in need -

• The Missoula Lions annual tree sale at the Fairgrounds. Profits go towards sight conservation and related projects are heavily emphasized for needy children and adults.
• The tree lot next Jokers Wild on North Reserve is using their profits to support local youth sports.  They offer delivery and pick up - 406-241-1450
• To cut your own down you need to get a permit. Permits are $5 a piece with a limit of 3 per family. They can be attained at the Lolo National Forest Rangers office located at Fort Missoula.

Can the Cats: A win, win for all

 

The 13th annual "Can the Cat" food drive starts tomorrow, November 3rd in Missoula.  The competition between UM Grizzlies and MSU Bobcats benefits the Missoula Food Bank.  The winner will be announced during the Brawl of the Wild, November 17th, 2012.

The Cats "claim" to have won most of the food drives, but, really the needy families in the Missoula and Bozeman areas are the real winners. We could always remind the Cats we have more wins on the football field!

The competition is based on weight, so heavier items like canned goods are best.  Cash donations are accepted and rated at $1.60 = 1 lb of food.  In the past over 40,000 pounds of food has been collected and every year they like to add to the last years numbers by at least 10,000+. The most requested items are tuna fish and peanut butter.

Albertsons will again have prepacked donation bags that can be purchased at the check out.  And this year, you can text NOURISH to 20222 and a one-time donation of $10.00 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance.  How easy is that? Boy, I love technology! There are no excuses not to get involved.

We would like to encourage businesses to challenge each other to competitions to see who can collect the most.  Let's give local families food on their tables AND Can the Cats!!!

Some local donation drop offs are: Missoula Food Bank, Karl Tyler Chevrolet, all Missoula Federal Credit Union locations, Noon stores, Orange Street Food, Mansfield Library, Worden's, Grizzly Grocery and Good Food Store just to name a few. To find out more "like" Can the Cats Canned Food Drive on Facebook or visit www.missoulafoodbank.org.

So what are you waiting for? There are no excuses to not get involved and Can those Cats!

U of M by the numbers

With a new school year beginning here is some interesting info on the local college in our little college town:

Total Applicants for 2011: 6092 with a 94% acceptance rate

In State Tuition: $5,476                                       Out of State Tuition: $17,764 (yikes!)

Student Faculty Ratio: 19:1                                  Graduation Rate: 44% (yikes again!)

Programs/Majors Offered: 108                             Out of State Students: 30%

Student Population by age: 18-19: 26%  20-21: 26% 22-24: 21% 25+: 26%

Campus Housing capacity: 3,425 with 79% being freshman

Current capacity of Washington-Grizzly Stadium: 25,217 with 49 private boxes

Grizzly Football players: 97 with 13 coaches

And let's hope at least 11 wins for the 2012 season! Up with Montana boys!

12 Olympic Facts You May Not Have Known

*The five Olympic rings represent the five major regions of the world – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceana, and every national flag in the world includes one of the five colors, which are (from left to right) blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

*Three continents – Africa, South America, and Antarctica – have never hosted an Olympics.

*Up until 1994 the Olympics were held every four years. Since then, the Winter and Summer games have alternated every two years.

*The last Olympic gold medals that were made entirely out of gold were awarded in 1912.

*Badminton, table tennis, and handball are the only official sports in which the U.S. has never won a medal.

*It wasn't until 1900 that women were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games.

*The earliest Olympic athlete was 10 and the oldest 60.

*The 1936 Berlin Olympics (also known as the ‘Nazi’ Olympics) were the first Olympic games to be televised.

*The Olympic games have been cancelled three times due to war; 1916, 1940 & 1944.

* London is the first city to ever host a modern Olympics three times.

*For the London 2012 Games, each medal is approximately 3.35 inches (85 mm) in diameter, about a quarter inch (.28 inches or 7 mm) in thickness, and weighs between 375-400 grams (13.2 to 14.1 ounces). The medals will be the heaviest and largest medals in Olympic history.

*Also more than $193,250 will be used to plate the medals that will be given out in the 2012 London Olympic games.

* And one last fact that I am sure you are now aware of, Michael Phelps, is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, 18 being gold.  Did I mention he is an American? Go USA!!!!

Floating Fun But Safety First

Floating is one of the favorite past times of Missoula residents. There is nothing better on a hot, sunny day to park your butt in a tube and work on floating your cares away.  But with this carefree activity also comes some planning and safety issues.

First of all, if you are not a strong swimmer please consider wearing a life jacket. What? You don't look cool in a life jacket? Do you look cool in a casket? I didn't think so.  You just never know what the river has to offer.  Children under 12 especially should always wear a life jacket when anywhere near a river. Heck, even your dog should have one! Safety first for all God's creatures!

I've come across some rapids in the smoothest sailing areas so you just never know. Try to avoid these areas as you can flip and the current can drag you down.  Stay away from logs and logjams as you can become entangled and even the strongest swimmer can't get out of.

So besides tubes what else should you bring for a float?

*Sunscreen - always practice skin safety!
*A rope or tie that can help get the tubes to the river but also to tie you and your friends together.
*I prefer to always wear water shoes or at least my Tevas securely fastened.
*An experienced floater familiar with the river and area.
*Two vehicles as you park one at the take out and one at the put in location.
*A plan of where you are headed and make sure you let someone know that plan so they know where to look if you aren't home in a timely manner.
*If you must partake in alcoholic beverages, be smart about it. As you are sitting in the sun all day you will need to re-hydrate with plenty of water and remember any garbage you take in - take out. We only have one earth!
*And have a blast!

The Dog Days of Summer

*Did you know "Dog Days" is a Latin term meaning sultry days of summer.  The Dog Days of Summer are typically in July and August. Actually the Old Farmer's Almanac lists them from July 3 - August 11.

*The average temp in Missoula for the "Dog Days" is the mid 80's. How great is that? Warm enough but not too hot. And the evening temps range about mid 50's - perfect sleeping weather. Especially if you are sleeping in a tent or under the stars.

*Missoula in the summer is the best! Osprey baseball games, floating rivers, hikes, Big Dipper ice cream, Caras park activities including watching the kayakers at Brennan's Wave - just to list a few fun things that summer brings to Zootown.
*The hottest Missoula temperature was 105 degrees recorded in 1951 both in July and August of that year. I'm thinking they didn't have air conditioning then or even Splash Montana to cool down with. Yikes!

*Summer of 2012 temperatures in Northwest Montana are supposed to be 30% above average so grab your coolers, intertubes and I'll meet you in Bonner. Let's float this summer away!

** Also, don't forget your furry friends and  keep them cool and out of vehicles these Dog Days of summer. Or else!!!!

Who Loves Your Daddy?

Father's Day is coming up this Sunday. That one Sunday a year we let Dad lay around and we cut the grass and grill the meat.  If you happen to have some money to spend on the old man, I have some ideas for you.

* Do you have a Dad that likes to fish? The summer in Montana, on the water,  aw man, there is nothing better.  Missoula is filled with some of the best fishing shops in the country.  Stop by Grizzly Hackle (www.grizzlyhackle.com) or Blackfoot River Outfitters (http://www.blackfootriver.com/) to name a few and pick up some supplies or a gift card.

*How about a hunter? Bob Ward's (http://www.bobwards.com/) at the Southgate Mall or Sportsman's Warehouse  out Reserve can help you find Dad the newest and greatest hunting gear.

*Does Dad like to yell?  I mean, does your Dad like to yell FORE?? Missoula is the home of one of the greatest golf bag companies in the world - Sun Mountain Sports (http://www.sunmountain.com/).  You can purchase these bags at nearly every golf course here in town. While stopping at Larchmont Golf Course, the Ranch Club or Canyon River Golf Course why not grab him a punch card for some golf outings.

*Is your Dad a toolman? Montana Ace Hardware (http://www.montanaace.com/) has everything and anything Dad may desire for his tool addiction.

*How about eating? What Dad doesn't like to eat? Missoula has some new yummy places to grab some serious grub at. Has Dad tried the new Tom Dooley's Grilled Gourmet Hot Dogs (http://tomdooleyshotdogs.com/) located in the Campus Inn? They got some of the best dogs or brats on a pretzel roll.  Yum! Or what about The Burger Shack (http://www.burgershackmt.com/)in the Holiday Village Center? Massive burgers at a great price. Is dad more a pizza or sandwich kinda guy? Try Philly West (http://phillywestmissoula.com/) downtown. Some of the best food ever.  


Now that you are all full of ideas get on out there and get Dad something great. He taught you how to catch a ball, drive a car and be a stand up citizen - it's the least you can do. 

A Handful of Things You Gotta Do With Your Kids This Summer

Want to have fun with your kids this summer? Want to be considered the greatest parent ever?  To accomplish this you must do this handful of things at least once this summer. Just five measly days you gotta give them out of the next ten weeks.  You totally got this.

#1.  Splash Montana.  http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=169

You haven't spent a fun day in the Montana sun until you spent some time floating in the Lazy River.  Splash Montana is a great, inexpensive water park right in the heart of town.  There are three different water slides, a floating river, The Lake (a 50 meter pool), spray features and a mini Grizzly slide for the kiddos.  Prices are just right at $3.50 for under 11 and $5.75 for adults, there is also a Resident Discount Card to sign up for to save about 20% on each visit. Punch cards are also available.  Don't forget some extra cash to purchase some Dippin Dots - kids love them!

#2.  A Downtown Adventure.  http://www.carrousel.com/acfm/

Downtown Missoula has so much fun things to keep every one busy, doesn't matter your age.  A trip downtown with the kiddos won't be complete without a trip to the Carousel for Missoula, one of the fastest carousels in the country.  Next door you will find Dragon Hallow - a great outdoor play area.  While in the area you can easily walk to the Missoula County Public Library to get out of the heat and grab some summer reading.  They MCPL has a great summer reading program to reward and encourage everyone to read! (http://www.missoulapubliclibrary.org/)

#3.  Out To Lunch &/or Downtown Tonight.  http://www.missouladowntown.com/

Live music, food and activities for the kids - Oh My!  Out to Lunch is an event every Wednesday in the summer. Head on down to Caras park 11-2 for lunch and entertainment.  Plus for a bigger adventure you can take the Mountain Line downtown for FREE.

Downtown Tonight is every Thursday and offers all the same amenities and fun, plus beer! 

#4.  Splash Decks & Spray Pools!!!!  http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/index.aspx?nid=172

The city of Missoula revamped most of their city parks a few years back and added some great water activities for the kiddos.  Need to cool down on a hot summer evening? Grab a picnic dinner and head to one of the listed above parks and have a great time keeping cool.  Plan it right and on Wedneday evenings at Bonner Park you usually can hear the Missoula City Band bring their band music in an open air venue.

and #5. Float the Clark Fork River.   http://www.kingfisherflyshop.com/clarkfork-float-maps

There is nothing better on a hot day then to stick your bum in an intertube and float your troubles away.  This is not an activity to do with the younger kids but the older ones will love it.  Stop by Les Schwab or the Army/Navy store and rent a tube for the day or better yet purchase one for a few dollars more.  Floating around I have seen a bald eagle fly by, deer on the side of the banks and fish flying out of the water. It is so relaxing and something they won't ever forget.

I hope these ideas help you earn your Greatest Parent Badge this summer! Don't forget the sunscreen!

Selling everything but the kitchen sink

What is the old saying - "one man's junk is another man's treasure?" Perhaps you like to spend your Saturday checking out everyone elses junk and seeing if you must have it but most of us could probably honestly have a yard sale every spring/summer to clear out some unused/unwanted items just laying around. And why not? You could make a few hundred dollars. Here are some tips to get the most bang out your stuff for sale.

1) Plan. Plan. Plan. Honestly, you can't throw it together the day before. Look at your calendar now and see what weekend works for you and your family. If you do this right you can be on your way to the lake by 1:00pm at the latest, so it doesn't have to throw a wrench in your WHOLE weekend. Ask neighbors or friends if they want to get in on the action too. In the yard sale world the more is merrier!

2) Gather your bearings. You will need some extra card tables to set up so ask friends if you can borrow them in advance. I have a friend that has a clothes rack and that works super if you have some nicer clothes to showcase them. But ask ahead. That clothes rack is busy almost all summer. Stop by the dollar store and grab some price stickers and bright colored paper for signs. Make sure you have change. I usually have a few dollars in quarters and 20 $1 bills with a few fives. If you can get a few tens too. You would be amazed at the people that show up and buy something for $2 in the beginning of your sale with a $20 bill - grrrrr people!

3) Price items before hand. The most time saving idea is when you place something in a "yard sale" pile in your garage, price it then. This will save so much time but not always do-able. The Friday before your sale try to set up tables in your garage and lay items out and price them then.

4)Advertise! Make your signs. Just the basics. Make sure they at least have the address and times. Arrows help also.  Also, place an ad in the Missoulian (http://tinyurl.com/7eb6rvm)  or on Craigslist (http://missoula.craigslist.org/). In your ads I would put a little description of what you have. Obviously list bigger priced items or furniture and certain sized kids or women's clothes. In the Missoulian you pay by line so you may not want to list everything but on craigslist? List away. It's FREE!

5) The night before make sure signs are made, ads are placed, items are priced and you got a little change in your pocket. Plan where you will keep your money during the sale. If you have a little money apron wear that. And if you place an ad in the Missoulian they will give you one in your packet. I personally hang signs in the morning. I am always afraid of the weather ruining my signs or those early birds finding me too easy when I am not ready for them just yet. Try to go to bed as early as possible and set the coffee to start brewing first thing.

6) The morning of, get your things out there and sell, sell, sell. Be cheerful and be willing to bend a bit on your prices. I always have a few items that I won't "give away" and already plan to sell on Craigslist if they don't sell that day. If I advertise my sale to go till noon then around 11 am I make everything half priced except for those few exceptions. You want to get the stuff out. When all done DO NOT put the items back in your garage or worse yet your house - pack it in the car to take to a drop off center. I usually separate items at that point. Any kids clothes or items are something they love at the the Watson's Children Center (http://watsonchildrensshelter.org/ ). Especially swimsuits during the summer! I may have books that I plan on taking to The Book Exchange (http://www.booksmontana.com/). The rest of the items I drop off at Goodwill, Secret Seconds or the Salvation Army.

7) Last but not least, add up those earnings. Wasn't it worth it? And now go take down all those signs you hung up. You don't want to advertise that you don't care about the earth!

Happy Selling!

Spring Cleaning List

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/maintenance-repair/spring-cleaning-list/

Did you know MOM is WOW upside down?

Did you know Mother's Day has officially been around since 1908?  You really should appreciate your mom every day (hint, hint to my kids) but you really need to spoil her this one Sunday in May.

So what are your plans? I have joked in the past that the best Mother's Day for me really would be a day without my kids. Sound horrible? They can be enjoyable when they get along and are respectful but let's be honest - that doesn't happen often. If they can just give me this one day and be pleasant to each other and me, I'd be happy. And throw in some homemade gifts and cards? You got one happy momma. But if you can't give this to your mom and are stuck what to do in replacement of a nice happy Sunday I have a few ideas.

Flowers. Flowers may not last long but they sure are pretty and smell so good. Some of my favorite spots to grab some flowers? The Farmers Market, Bitterroot Flower Shop (http://bitterrootflowershop.com/) and I am also always impressed with Safeway's selection.

A Spa Day. With some really great day spas in Missoula why not help all of Mom's cares go away. A massage can carry all her worries away and feels so good  or what mom doesn't like pretty toes? Some of our favorite spas include Sorrella's, Cedar Creek Day Spa and Cowgirls -http://cowgirlssalonandspa.com/.

Jewelry. And I am not talking about the fancy, expensive kind. Well, unless you can purchase that and still pays your bills. More power to you. I am talking about just some fun pieces.  Apricot Lane (http://www.apricotlanemissoula.com/) in the Southgate Mall has some fun pieces mom is bound to love. Also, I personally can always find some deals and beauties at Maurice's and JC Penney's. If you feel like heading downtown  One Eleven has some fun stuff and of course Rockin Rudy's never disappoints.

Brunch. Mom needs to get her nutrients for the day. Instead of just cooking for her at home how about taking her out for some yummy food Missoula has to offer.  Jakers, the Montana Club, and even Brooks and Browns in the Holiday Inn are planning Mother's Day brunches.

So this one day a year make sure your Mom realizes how much you appreciate and adore her. Spoil her rotten. Why you ask? Because I said so. And I'm a mom!

Cruising on a Sunday Afternoon

When I was younger a Sunday drive usually meant a Sunday afternoon with my grandparents. Usually it included lunch or at least ice cream. My grandfather was the epitome of a leisurely Sunday driver. It would sometimes be embarrassing the people that would speed past us screaming obscenities or flashing fingers. I always thought, well, it is Sunday. Isn't that when officially you can drive casually? Isn't it almost expected? Well, maybe back in the olden days but now that life has gotten busier and busier this has gone by the way side. We need to take it easy. Get back those Sunday drives. So I want to encourage you all to take some time one of these spring Sundays and go for a drive. Load up the family, turn up the tunes, roll down the windows and cruise. Drive down the Bitterroot. Just driving down Highway 93 and looking at the Bitterroot mountains is a beautiful, peaceful thing. You can stop in Hamilton for some lunch possibly at Nap's Grills - http://napsgrill.com - for one of the best burgers in the Northwest or try The Signal Grill -  http://thesignalgrill.com - it looks like an amazing place! If you head east on I-90 you can stop at Ekstrom's http://ekstromstagestation.com  for a traditional ranch meal! Or you can head west on I-90 and are feeling like taking in a really, really long Sunday drive,head to Coeur d'Alene or Spokane and enjoy some Olive Garden, Chili's, P.F. Chang's or Clinkerdagger's - http://www.clinkerdagger.com - one of my favorite Spokane restaurants. If you don't want to go that far you can always make a stop in paradise. Paradise, MT. I always hear great reviews about the Paradise Whistle Stop cafe there. Of course Montana has some wonderful restaurants to check out but Big Sky Country is so much more. The landscape of our state is beautiful. An easy going drive anywhere in Montana will include scenery, wildlife and some amazing hikes. So get out of that car and trek on. Here is a site to show you all the great hikes around the state - http://visitmt.com/experiences/outdoor_activities/hiking_and_backpacking.

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Play Ball!

Usually this time of year when you hear "play ball" you are thinking baseball, but not today. It's Game Day. Griz football. I love Game Day in Missoula! Who doesn't?

This game day is a little different for a few reasons.

1)  It is a not a real game but a scrimmage.

2) It will not be a crisp fall day but a gorgeous spring day.

3) When the sun goes down we do not need to file out of Washington Grizzly and head home because we now have lights. Let there be light! And there will be.

4) Tickets are only $5!

5) And the football coach had 40 minutes to decide if he wanted the job, not even a month ago.    But, that's a whole nother blog.  http://bit.ly/IBxhe9

But, it's a Game Day nonetheless. People around town are pumped. Grocery stores are filled with shoppers getting some last minute goodies for their tailgates. Campers are being packed not for camping but to get to their tailgate spots. The UM cheerleaders and dance squad are getting ready to face paint and put tattoos on kids. The GSA tailgate is going to have tons of activities for kids of all ages. Food and beverages will be available. It's going to be an awesome day to be a Grizzly. But when isn't it?  http://bit.ly/HJClKG

Lights, Camera, (football) Action!

ESPN won't need to bring in their lights ever again. We don't need them for the next playoff games we play at Washington Grizzly Stadium. We finally got our own!

In the past week part of Campus Drive has been closed while workers hoisted up eight banks of lights with cranes.  The new lights to the stadium offer the possibility of late afternoon or evening games next season. Any north end zoners ready to freeze their butts off when the sun goes down next season? I know this season ticket holder is! I say let there be lights!

www.NBCMontana.com resports that "it takes four workers about three hours just to put one pole together and there are eight light posts that will surround the football stadium." Each of the eight light posts consists of between 18-22 lights facing the stadium, where some of the poles have some lights that face the opposite direction to help the tailgate area to get some light too.

Private dollars were raised to complete the $1 million project says Associate Athletic Director, Chuck Maes.

The lighting system is a pretty sophisticated system that actually can be managed, to a point, from a smart phone. The lights will be put on a timing system and will turn off by 10pm each evening unless the stadium is full of 25,000 screaming Griz fans. Then the lights will turn off when the game is over and all have filed out.

Next weekend, April 14th, the Grizzly athletic department’s goal is to set a Football Championship Subdivision record for attendance at the annual spring scrimmage. Come on down and you can see the "debut" of the lights in action. See you there?? Go Griz!

http://www.egriz.com/2012/03/griz-football-to-play-under-the-lights-spring-game-style/

A Trek up the "M"

When you arrive in Missoula from the west you can't help but see the big "M" on the hillside behind the University of Montana.

The "M" is an easy hike. Well, if you are in great shape. But even if you aren't is still is a trek worth taking.

It's a 3/4 mile strenuous hike up 11 switchbacks which ends up bringing you 620 feet in elevation. As you start out you can see the beautiful campus of the U of M and the mountains surrounding Missoula. As you get farther up you can see the whole valley, the Clark Fork River and right into the Washington Grizzly stadium - the home of the Montana Grizzlies football team. Go Griz!

Some interesting tidbits about the "M" and how it was formed is that it was built by the U of M forestry students in 1908. They carried stones up the zig zag path. In 1912 it was replaced with a wooden "M" which blew off in 1915. It was then replaced with a large stone "M" which was in place till 1968 when it was replaced with the concrete "M" we see still today!

Every day you can see lots of people making the trek. It is not an easy hike but what you see from the top makes it all worth it. It's not easy in the middle of winter with the switchbacks being frozen or in the dead of summer when the weather is hitting 90's. But you can't spend time in Missoula and not hike the "M". The University bookstore even sells t-shirts that claim "I Hiked the M".

So get hiking!

Check out other fun spots in Missoula as well http://gonw.about.com/od/attractionsmt/tp/missoulaattractions.htm

Making Friends as an Adult - in The Garden City

It's nice to have friends that you have had since you were young but sometimes one of you moves away and you drift apart. How to find friends as an adult? Especially if you have moved to a new city. As an adult it is a little harder to form those bonds we easily made in a sandbox as a child. 

If you have recently moved to Missoula County and have yet to bond with one of our over 100,000+ residents here are a few tips and ideas to help get those friendships flowing!

KIDS ACTIVITIES - If  you are a parent, one of the best ways to meet others is through your kids. Missoula offers so many different  activities that allow us parents to set on the sidelines or in the theater seat (http://www.mctinc.org/ - MCT, a Missoula original.) with handful of others just like us.  Take advantage of these moments. Some of the best adult friendships come from these meetings.

SPORTS - http://ci.missoula.mt.us/ is a Missoula site that offers tons of information on The Garden City. Under the Services drop down is Parks and Recreation. This is a great place to find activities for your kids but tons of Adult Activities are also offered. This is a great way to meet new friends and stay active. Soccer teams, softball teams, heck even Sand Volleyball teams are forming now.  If running is more your style Run Wild Missoula will be your choice to find those friends with the same mindset as you -http://www.runwildmissoula.org/.

VOLUNTEER - Find a cause you are passionate about and you will form a strong bond with others that share the same values and beliefs as you. http://www.americantowns.com/mt/missoula-volunteer-organizations

WORSHIP - If you are a religious or spiritual person take time to visit one of our many churches and find that perfect fit for you. http://www.makeitmissoula.com/community/churches/

And of course when in doubt, SMILE. A smile goes a long way. "Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it," writes Dale Carnegie in his best selling book "How to Win Friends and Influence People." You never know when you are meeting a new friend!

Missoula Neighborhoods

We all grew up in a neighborhood, all of our childhood memories revolve around where we grew up and the streets, parks, stores that were near to us.  Every time I work with buyers they ask about neighborhoods and I find myself reflecting on my childhood.  The only way to know a neighborhood is to ask those that live there and that is why the Missoula Organization of Realtors  created The Front Porch.  This website has videos, statistics and information about each of Missoula's unique neighborhoods.  Go to http://www.livemissoula.com/
I also always suggest to buyers to visit the neighborhood that they like during different times of the day to get a sense of the area. We sell homes and neighborhoods sell lifestyles and we need to bring them together for our clients.  We offer as many resources as we can to buyers while they are shopping for a new home.  We LOVE http://www.makeitmissoula.com/housing and http://www.livemissoula.com/ and if you have any other suggestions please let us  know!

Where Do YOU Want To Live?

When looking for that new home make sure you start doing research in advance regarding what part of town you are looking to move too.

If you have kids one of the first things you will want to start doing is researching the schools in Missoula County and figuring out what works for you and your family.

http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/portal/default.aspx

If you are active and into the outdoorsy lifestyle of Missoula you may want to live somewhere centrally located to the Rattlesnake or close to the M for those great hikes.

If you are looking to bike and walk instead of drive you may want to look at the University area.

If you are looking for something possibly a little less expensive and willing to commute you may look at the outskirts of town.

That's why we love Missoula. So many choices.

I LOVE MISSOULA IN THE SPRING

I don’t know about you but the sunshine these last few days has gotten me ready for spring to come.

I love Missoula in the spring. Even though it is only March and Punxsutawney Phil did just see his shadow, which should mean six more weeks of winter, I am still thinking about spring.  But, did you know that the groundhog is only 13% accurate? Here’s hoping Phil gets it wrong again and spring is upon us before we know it.

 It’s fun in Missoula in the spring to drive down South Hills or out in Target Range and see the explosion of houses going on the market. Do you know what I mean? You may see one new sign one week? *Boom* But then by the end of the month it seems like half the houses on your normal drive to work or school are for sale. *Boom, Boom*

But one thing I would like you to think about is that people are buying houses 365 days a year. Every day a house is being sold somewhere. Check out this article on the two best days of the year to buys home. http://homebuying.about.com/od/buyingahome/qt/BestDay2BuyHome.htm I would have never thought this.

If you are looking to buy a home this Easter, give me a call.