The Hybridrive will only run programs already installed on it, and bigger than life, better than good, Brandon from Acomdata called me and walked me through what was going on and why the backup hadn’t worked. Can you imagine? Someone at tech support that really does get back to you? WOW! As I went to this place and that (upon his recommendation) deleting this and that, he explained that they are bringing out a newer drive that will run about 20 programs on it plus have zillions of gigs of storage. And yippee skippy, all of my files are back and all of my family reunion pictures are alive and well. Screaming, fricking, wonderful happy thoughts over this. I certainly didn’t want to lose the picture of Riot peeing in the park instead of heading for the bathrooms, nor did I want to lose this picture:

It’s a strange abstract out of the whole picture. About 40 miles North of Missoula, as one comes around the bend, the bridge in the background is in full view with an uprooted tree, completely stripped of bark, laying beached on rocks way above the water line. On the last two year’s trips, each time I saw the river, the bridge, and the tree, I promised I would stop for a picture of it. This year I was almost too late. I hit the brakes – coach and all – nothing behind me, and pulled off the road way past the place where I could take the picture. The air was filled with smoke and a grass fire was burning out of control at 9 Mile.

I was determined. Dan waited in the truck for me. I jogged most of the way back and wondered why I was such a fucking insane bitch that I had to have that picture anyway.

It was hot, the air was ugly and it was very difficult to breathe because of the smoke. That sent my thoughts into a tailspin about domesticated and wild animals that have no choice when there’s any type of fire that fills the air with smoke.

On I went. I turned to see if I could get a clear view of the bridge and saw the dead tree, with its tenants, and it literally smacked me in the face. This was a must have.

I had to go further down the road to get a clear shot of the bridge. The downside is that the smoke was so thick, the picture isn’t as glorious as it should be…the bridge picture that is. This picture is exactly as it should be.