Dear friends and followers,
I have been residing in Missoula, Montana for two and a half months now. Moving to Montana in the fall/winter can be a harsh thing if you don't like being cold, but I did it anyways and it's actually been pretty damn amazing!
Reasons Missoula is awesome:
1. The city is surrounded by mountains in all directions. 'Tis a fantastic view! However, this creates an inversion that is terrible for air quality and causes the clouds to hover in our valley for days. I felt claustrophobic when I first moved here because I was used to Denver's sky, clear and sunny most of the time. Now that I'm used to this change in environment, it's a beautiful thing. The best mornings are when the fog falls on the entire city. I like to walk around drinking coffee and looking at how different everything is when there's mist and shadows everywhere.
2. The Clark Fork River runs through Missoula. Watching how the season changes is most apparent when observing the river. Ice has gradually formed around its edges and ice floes float down in hypnotic patterns that I find most calming to stare at. I spend time watching ducks bobbing on the water, grooming themselves, then tucking their heads underneath their wings when resting.
3. I spot deer on an average of once every week. Before the snow covered everything, they grazed on people's lawns and on the University of Montana's campus. They rarely bolt when they see a human, and if they run off, it is slow and graceful. I see their hoof prints in the yard and when I walk around town.
4. Missoula is small enough that I can walk anywhere without taking forever or getting too tired. It gives me time to daydream and notice my surroundings. My feet make a steady beat perfect for song composition. Grocery stores and downtown Missoula are easily accessible, and when I don't feel like walking, the bus system is easier and less sketchy than Denver's.
5. There is less to do in Missoula, not as many good restaurants or cafes, but the good ones that do exist are pretty awesome. When I want to get out of my studio, I will go to The Break or Hunter Bay Coffee because they have the best work spaces. Cafe Dolce has the best cup of coffee and food so far, but I also enjoy the Old Post for breakfast on the weekends, and for beer and conversation in the evenings. My list for good places in Denver far exceeds the list I have for Missoula, but here I appreciate what I have more, because there is less, if that makes sense. I'm appreciating things more, and I appreciate them for being what they are instead of grumbling.
Among the obvious comic book making and enjoying this small, quiet, slow city that I now live in, I've been consumed by music creation. I'm in the process of re-learning the trumpet and figuring out how to strengthen my voice. I'm also teaching myself the clarinet and banjo, thanks to a couple friends who are letting me borrow these instruments. I have been meeting with a very musically skilled friend of mine who is in the metal band
Walking Corpse Syndrome and plays the violin, guitar, and bass guitar. It has been so unbelievably refreshing to have a creative outlet that I can do for fun instead of money, but I'll delve more into that in a later post.
To improve the quality of my Tuesday evenings, I started taking an African dance class which has proved to be fun on multiple levels. My instructor is amazing, as are my fellow dancers, and letting my body move to loud drum beats does wonders for my mental state. We performed during the New Year's Eve celebration that Missoula has and I had a blast!
Though I'm enjoying myself here, it's been extremely hard being apart from all of the wonderful people in Denver. I miss my good friends, my art buddies, the fabulous ladies from KJ's Coffee Bar, and my friends who I would work beside at the various coffee shops I frequented. Give yourselves hugs for me. I look forward to seeing you...whenever that may be. I hope it's soon!
In the meantime, here are some more holiday commissions I completed last month:
