Big Sky Blog

Dr. John Francis traveled the world by foot and sail and didn’t speak for 17 years. Now that he’s speaking again he has quite a bit to say and it’s interesting to hear what role the University of Montana played in his success.

Took a day trip down to Helena a few weeks ago, and it was a blast. Stopped at the Staggering Ox, the Parrot Confectionery, the Archie Bray Foundation, Toi’s Thai restaurant, and a few antique shops.

The highlight was Toi’s Thai restaurant. And since I don’t like Thai food, that might sound odd, but check this out: me, my girlfriend, and her College Buddy (visiting from out of state, but raised in Helena) stopped by Toi’s mid-day on a Saturday, not realizing that it is only open for dinner. We saw the CLOSED sign and were disappointed. But some amazing timing played in our favor: as we stood there wondering what to do next, Toi herself approached!
She and College Buddy smiled at each other, gave big hugs, and it turns out that they had worked together many years ago at a grocery store. She insisted on opening up and cooking for us, and we couldn’t refuse.

I didn’t sample the food, but my girlfriend – who absolutely loves loves loves Thai food – proclaimed it the best she’s ever had. Seriously.

And Toi couldn’t have been nicer. She told us that she had been featured in “Montana Quarterly” magazine recently, and how her customers had generously donated money to her so that she could help relatives and friends back home after the 2004 tsunami. She and College Buddy updated each other on mutual friends, family, and such. What a great experience.
So if you’re looking for what I believe to be the best Thai food in Montana, check out Toi’s Thai at 423 N. Last Chance Gulch. But call ahead (443-6656) to make sure they’re open!

And then it was off to The Parrot Confectionery for some delicious chocolates, and the a quick stop at the Archie Bray Foundation to check out some unusual and/or nifty ceramic art.
And on the way home, natch, we stopped to pick up some hams for the holidays.

Looks like Montana’s governor Brian Schweitzer did indeed make an impression on the Obama campaign with his well-received speech at the DNC convention: he’s now on the short list to become the next Secretary of the Interior:

As Sec Int goes, I suppose he would be a decent choice. He’s got experience managing natural resources and parks, deals with Native American issues, knows fish & wildlife, etc.

If he is asked by Obama and accepts, then does that mean that Lt Gov Bohlinger would automatically become Montana’s governor?

Mr. Terry Fettig is the 2008 recipient of the Jeannette Rankin Peace Award, presented by the Institute for Peace Studies at Rocky Mountain College. He joins such notable past recipients as: U.S. Senator Mike Mansfield; Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen; C.A.I. founder Greg Mortenson; U.N. Ambassador George McGovern; and more outstanding peacemakers who reside in Montana or who have significant ties to the state. For this award, the Institute recognizes dedication to peace at the individual, family, community, national and international levels.

It’s been a helluva campaign here in Montana, with candidates stopping in many Montana towns and communities. Big Sky Country has probably never had so much attention, politically. And now it’s time: who did you vote for, and who do you think will win the election?

It beginning to look like all the work and money the Obama campaign has been putting into Montana may be paying off for them.

CNN is reporting that the latest polls are showing that Montana has moved from “reliably for McCain” to a toss up between McCain and Obama.

It’s beginning to look like Sen. McCain received bad advice from the Montana Republicans “in the know” who told his campaign that Montana is reliably in the McCain camp and not to waste any time or money here.

Tuesday is looking more and more interesting all the time. Don’t forget to vote.