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!