Archive for the ‘Blogs’ Category

Poker Night: Book Club For Men?

By BOB WIRE -Every Tuesday night for 7 years, I gathered with my good friends for a poker game. We survived 2 DUI’s, 1 divorce, “career changes,” and 4 births, including a couple of surprise offspring.... more

Former Missoula Resident, Kent Shaffer, Honored in Cut Bank

By JIM O'DAY - Former Missoula resident, Kent Shaffer ("Sarge"), was recently honored in Cut Bank by having the timing shack at the Cut Bank Track and Field Complex named after him. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 12

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- Jordan Tripp, a third generation Grizzly, played his entire amateur football career in Zootown following in the steps of his grandfather Gene and dad, Bryan Tripp.... more

Safe, Easy and Inexpensive Toilet Cleaner

By ERIN TURNER- Missoula's hard water has left deposits, lime scale and the occasional mineral/rust stains in my toilets. Here's a safe, easy, and frugal way to clean your toilets:... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of May 12

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional fundraiser. ... more

Apple Trees from Seed

By PAUL WHEATON -There is this story going around that if you try and grow apples from seed, then there is only a 1 in 20,000 chance that you’ll have an edible apple. ... more

Artsy Fartsy Captions

By BOB WIRE -A recent family trip to the Seattle Art Museum provided some spectacular images of mind-bending approaches to modern art. Check out these photos:... more

The Search for Mentors

By LIZ MARCHI - As I look back on my career journey, I look at the role mentors played in guiding my choices in life and work. What’s a mentor? For me, it was someone whom I admired and wanted to emulate. ... more

My Deal of the Week: Chick Days

By ERIN TURNER-I always like to look back over my week and determine my best deal. This week, hands down, it had to be Chick Days at the local feed store--60% off ducks and 2-for-1 geese. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 5

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- This week for the first time ever the University of Montana Men's tennis team will compete in the NCAA tournament. The Griz will head to Norman Oklahoma to face the No. 2 ranked Sooners... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of May 5

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional fundraiser. ... more

REALLY Saving Energy

By PAUL WHEATON -Recently, I was invited to give a TED Talk. I chose to speak about the fact that pollution and war are icky and both are rooted in energy. Here's what I said:... more

High Water Fishing Options in Western Montana

By TONY REINHARDT -Got the fishing bug? Wonder where can you scratch the itch in the middle of run-off season? The key to success this time of year lies more in your computer or smart phone than in your fly bo... more

Dessert for Breakfast: Dutch Babies

By ERIN TURNER- Tonight I made this recipe for Dutch Babies, nope not as “breakfast for dinner” but I made it for dessert. Yup, it is that good and that versatile. Here's how:... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 28

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- If MSU Bobcat basketball fans are looking for a quick turnaround under new coach Brian Fish they may want to look back at Bobcat history. Over the last 40 only one first year head coach... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 28

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional fundraiser. ... more

Is American Idol Really That Bad?

By BOB WIRE -Is American really such a bad thing? Normally I would say the show is a cultural black hole. But it’s kind of fun when I watch it with my wife and daughter.... more

My Favorite List of Frugal Spring Cleaning Methods

By ERIN TURNER- It's spring cleaning time. Here is a list of some of my favorite ways to clean and refresh the house without breaking the bank this spring: ... more

On The Grill: Poblano and Cheddar Elk Burgers

By PAUL SIDORIAK- Recently, my friend Jeremy made this poblano and cheddar elk burger with a flavorful twist and I thought it looked fantastic. Here's my recipe:... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 21

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional fundraiser. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 21

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- It is considered by many as the quintessential quote from a football coach, "Winning Isn’t Everything It’s the only Thing” and is credited to legendary coach, Vince Lombardi. ... more

Do You Know What’s Under There?

By BOB WIRE -The day I pulled on my first pair of boxer shorts is the day I became a Man. I was probably 12 or so when I graduated from tighty whities.... more

Entirely Genetic Bliss

By ROB BREEDING - Rainbow trout don’t belong here. Still, I just can’t seem to quit them. Rainbows may be the most popular gamefish in the Rocky Mountain region, but this is westslope and Yellowstone cutthr... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 14

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- Twenty Years ago this week one of Missoula’s more unique sporting traditions came to an end amid some controversy and hard feelings. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 14

In addition to the Wildlife Festival happening this week, check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional fundraiser. ... more

Ten Things I Dig About Missoula

By BOB WIRE - I thought I'd make a list of things I dig about Missoula. To spice things up a bit, I've also collected a few opinions from Regular Joes asking: "What do you love about Missoula?"... more

How to Remove Pilling and Make Sweaters New Again

By ERIN TURNER- Here's an easy, do-it-yourself way of removing pilling from sweaters and fleece coats. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of April 7

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional fundraiser. It's all happening this week in Missoula, MT... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 7

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- In 1980 among the summer movies along with “Caddyshack” and “Airplane” was a movie called “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh” starring pro basketball star Julius Erving.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 31

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- Over the past 5 years the Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz have combined for 5 trips to the NCAA tournaments and 206 wins--by far the best among Big Sky Conference schools.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 31

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional fundraiser. It's all happening this week in Missoula, MT... more

Budget Friendly Overnight Oatmeal

By ERIN TURNER- I am always searching for fun, healthy and frugal breakfast foods so when a friend mentioned a no-cook oatmeal made with various fruits, nuts and seeds I had to try it!... more

20 Surefire Signs You’re Married to a Guitar Player

By BOB WIRE - We guitar players...we’re weird. We know it. If your partner is a guitarist, well, you have my sympathies. Here are twenty ways a guitar freak keeps your life interesting. ... more

Future and Past

By LIZ MARCHI - How do Buddhist and Baptist compare and contrast? The poverty in the deep south of my childhood was not unlike what I saw in recent trip to Myanmar. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 24

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN -For only the third time in the last 31 years the Montana State Men's basketball program is looking for a new head coach. For 35 of the last 40 seasons the MSU men’s coach had been a B... more

406 Mom: Mommy and Me Book Club

By KIM S. - Prior to having kids I used to read a book every now and again. I was even in a book club. This winter I decided to restart the club but as a mommy and me book club. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 24

From Lady Griz action Monday night against San Diego in the NWIT, to live music all over town. Check out everything that's happening this week!... more

Where is Flight 370? These Guys Have No Idea

By BOB WIRE-At last count, 26 countries were involved in the massive search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. Was it hijacked? Sucked up into the heavens? Check out these transcripts of radio communications.... more

Skwala Season Has Arrived in Western Montana

By TONY REINHARDT -Skwalamania has arrived in full force in western Montana. This much anticipated event of the fishing season was delayed by record snow and cold in February, but it is finally upon us. ... more

Disconnecting to Reconnect

By BRIAN MARSH - i'm buying an alarm clock. why? because right now, i use my smartphone to wake me up in the morning. which means that i remain interconnected to the internet even when i sleep. ... more

On The Grill: St. Patrick’s Day Egg Roll

By PAUL SIDORIAK- I enjoy celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a cylindrical spin on the corned beef classic - the Corned Beef and Cabbage Egg Roll. Here's how I do it on the Grill:... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 17

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN -The Sentinel Spartans girl’s basketball team became only the third AA girls team to record a “threepeat”, Joining Great Falls High in the early 1980’s and Billings West a decade... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 17

Check out the St. Patrick's Day parties, the live music scene as well as theater and fundraisers in various venues all over town.... more

Frugal Living: Using Amazon to Save Money

By ERIN TURNER- Want to save money and living frugally, but not necessarily a fan of coupons? Here are some tips on saving money using Amazon.com... more

Highway 93 Haiku

By BOB WIRE-Highway 93 is my favorite Western Montana stretch of road. Few road experiences make your heart soar like it does the moment you set eyes on the Mission Mountains or Flathead Lake.... more

406 Mom: My Kids’ Obsession with FROZEN

By KIM S.- I might be the only parent out there who was sort of dreading the release of Disney’s Frozen on DVD. Now, my 4 and 5 year old's obsession has gone into overdrive.... more

40 Days of Decluttering

By ERIN TURNER- This new challenge tackles all the “stuff” that seems to accumulate around the house. Clutter gets in the way emotionally and spiritually and binds us to those "things".... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 10

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN -For the first time since 2003 both the Montana Grizzly and Lady Griz basketball teams are playing in the Conference tournament quarterfinals.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 10

Check out the Live Music Scene as well as theater and fundraisers in various venues all over town.... more

Are Missoula Drivers the Worst?

By BOB WIRE-I grew up in a military family so we moved around a lot. All the towns I've lived in boast that they have the worst drivers in the world--Missoula is no exception.... more