Never Been To Montana!!!! (Billings, Missoula: sales, motel, sales tax)

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Wind chill is a computation of how the wind and temp feel on bare skin. I stopped running around naked so I don't count it. It has no effect on freezing water, engine blocks, or whatever. But the biggest reason they announce it is because of pets and animals. You and I saved up our big bucks and bought a car with a heater, a house with a furnace and we're lucky enough to have a boss that does heat the building. But our pets suffer if we leave them out. So they constantly remind us of how the weather feels.

You should tell that to my dogs, who thought it was just perfectly fine to sleep ON TOP of their doghouses during a howling blizzard. I'm out there all bundled up with just my eyeballs showing, and they're playing in the snow, or slopped down with their bellies flat on the snow. Where do I get an internal furnace like that?!!

And down here, my dogs (even those I brought with me from Montana) often sprawl out on the concrete, in the sun, when it's 110 degrees out. I'm like, aren't you hot? wouldn't you rather sleep in yonder shade? and they're like, no, it's nice, why don't you join us?

I had one who thought the appropriate way to sleep when it was pouring rain was to dig a hole out in the open, stuff himself into it, and let the water run over the top of him, with just his nose and eyes above water. Never could convince him to sleep in his doghouse. (And yes, he slept outside in Bozeman blizzards too. His choice.)

Anyway, after almost 40 years as a canine professional, I've learned that they're not near as fragile as newbies think, and about half the time they won't even use that nice shelter you give them from the heat, cold, or other weather.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

Are you including wind chill?

-32 was the coldest I ever day in Montana (without wind chill). Much colder than that if you include wind chill, but I think that's cheating.

Officially, the record in the lower-48 states is 69.7F (minus 56.5C) at Rogers Pass, Montana. However, there have been some unofficial lows recorded of -72F -- KMON's weather station (in Great Falls) reported -72F on a January morning during the Great Winter of '68-'69, and that was raw air temp, NOT wind chill. I remember walking the mile to school that morning (I had early shift at East Junior High so I had to be at school by 7am) wearing my dad's Army parka and two layers of ski pants, a face mask, and multiple layers of socks and mitts. Back in that era we didn't think anything of it, we just bundled up and life went on same as any other day.

This page is interesting, it's about record low temps in northern Canada that were below -80F (with one daily high that barely reached -56F): The Weather Doctor Almanac 2002

[SmokinGun]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

I've got my wings also, and also did boot at Sand Hill in hot miserable sweaty August!

Coming from the rockies all that humidity and heat was more that I was used too... especially doing PT with all our NBC gear on! (something some might like to forget, but I never will.) I'll also never forget the "fourth" general order.

I rember Sand Hill, and the WWII Barracks...very well...MOPP 4 with PT gear is something you will never forget...

What's the fourth Geneal Order? Push-up reltated, or how your rifle is your new girlfriend?

John

[SmokinGun]

Originally Posted by MontanaLaura

The hubby was a jump instructor in (I think) 1961 and has a bunch of qualified jumps. Can't remember exactly and he's sleeping. He always talks about the Marines going thru there and having to do pushups.

What's the VA in Glendive like? Is it just a clinic with one doctor and they refer you elsewhere when more than basics need doing? If so, where do they send you? Glendive is 110 miles from Ekalaka, but all on paved roads. The hubby (3.5 yrs Army) and I (14 yrs active duty AF) used to go to Miles City until they retired the old docs and didn't replace them. Then Xray, EKG and other sections closed down. When they sent the hubby to Ft Harrison to see a neuro doc, which took 3 days/2 nights for an hour appt, we thought it was ridiculous. They could have fee based him to some of the neuro docs in Billings far cheaper! In fact, he was being driven in the DAV van from Billings to Ft H on the morning of 9/11. Imagine hearing it on the radio but not seeing it! The driver and hubby just couldn't comprehend what was happening until they saw it on TV at Ft H.

Since he is Traumatic Brain Injured from 2 work related accidents that occurred in Aug 96, I really needed to go with him (he has a headache & dizziness 24 hrs a day....7 days a week). However, I couldn't go with him on the van because I didn't have an appt and I couldn't get the M.C. doc to send me along with an appt of my own. A stupid "Catch-22". So when we got called by a local guy and told about Ft Meade in Sturgis SD, we made the move in Dec 2001 and have not looked back.

It was a good thing, cause I was having tingling in my hands and right arm constantly. I know the symptoms of carpel tunnel and knew it wasn't that, so the M.C. doc started experimenting on me. I HATE being a guinea pig! By the time we got an appt with Ft Meade a month later, the tingling went to my feet also. It didn't hurt, but it was annoying. Got a doc that wouldn't listen to me, scheduled me for a test that turned out being the carpel tunnel test. I don't do needles, so that made me mad! I asked the greeter at the front desk if I had to keep this doc and he said no, it's not like active duty. He set me up with another doc, but couldn't see him for 10 mths!! When I had some other symptoms....bending my head/neck forward, I get an electrical type shock down my spine and right arm....I asked if there was someone else could see me and my husband at the same time. So I got assigned to his nurse practitioner and the most wonderful person I've ever been treated by! She set me up for a CTScan, done there at the hospital a week later. She called me with the results and had set me up with a neuro doc another week later. All these trips were done by the DAV van out of Baker. Depending on which way they went, sometimes they came directly to my house. After seeing the neuro doc, Doctor Laurie (has a hard to pronounce last name) and telling her what was happening to me, she sent me that same day to Rapid City to the civilian MRI clinic. A week later, I drove myself so I could sell my bum (orphaned) lambs in Newell....25 miles from Ft Meade....and get my diagnosis. Well!!! At the ripe old age of 52, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis! But it's been okay. I see her every 6 mths along with the eye doc (just diagnosed with Glaucoma) and my regular doc. Once a year I get my mammogram and pap test The only thing about going to Ft Meade is it's 150miles with 24 miles of gumbo. I don't mind dirt, but it's harder on the car.

SmokinGun, you might want to consider relocating to SD near Sturgis and Ft Meade. Sturgis is 25 miles from Rapid City. It's pretty with high hills/low mountains and trees. Ft Meade is a full facility with Xray, a traveling MRI machine (serves other VA's), lab, surgery and a nice hospital floor when it's needed, a BUNCH of doctors....cardiac, neuro doc, eye, a parttime dentist ( we don't qualify for that), internist, GP docs, nurse practitioners, pharmacy, physical therapy and if you are from out of town and have to stay overnight (like for a colonoscopy ) they will put you up in a hospital bed. You do your own meds/meals but it doesn't cost anything. The only BAD thing about Sturgis is Bike Week in Aug I like motorcycles, but 100K+ is just too many for me, so I don't go there for the week before, week of and half a week after. Being close to Rapid City, your wife might find a job easier. It's a thought!

MTLaura

Hey MTLaura,

Thanks for the tips. We are really reseaching this the best we can, and trying to make a good decision. I have had enough of FLA. I will check into the information you have referenced. We just want someplace peaeceful, and quite, and to our own. Not that we are anti-social, but as we get older we are finding peace and quite, and scenery something we really want.

Regards,

John

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by SmokinGun

I rember Sand Hill, and the WWII Barracks...very well...MOPP 4 with PT gear is something you will never forget...

What's the fourth Geneal Order? Push-up reltated, or how your rifle is your new girlfriend?

John

Our "fourth" general order was "I'll guard my post from flank to flank, and take no s#%@ from any rank."
-TW-

[jimj]

Marine recruits in boot camp must memorize these General Orders. Woe be unto the unfortunate recruit who can not shout out, verbatim and without hesitation, all eleven of them. Such a recruit will incur a firestorm of wrath from his Drill Instructor. There is sound logic for this rigid training. The eleven General Orders will guide each Marine throughout his years in the Corps:

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on then alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

6. To receive, obey, and pass on the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only.

7. To talk to no one except in line of duty.

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

9. To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions.

10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

11. To be especially watchful at night and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

Horah!

[Timberwolf232]

We had it easier... There were only 3 we had to memorize. (and the unofficial "fourth")


1. I will guard everything within the limits of my post, and quit my post only when properly relieved.

2. I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner.

3. I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

We had it easier... There were only 3 we had to memorize. (and the unofficial "fourth")


1. I will guard everything within the limits of my post, and quit my post only when properly relieved.

2. I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner.

3. I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.

Was the forth the same one we had? "Walk my beat, beat my...." We'll let it go there.

[Timberwolf232]

Our "fourth" general order was "I'll guard my post from flank to flank, and take no s#%@ from any rank."

I've heard yours before as well.. heh heh, I forget who told me, but it think it came from a Coastie.

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

We had it easier... There were only 3 we had to memorize. (and the unofficial "fourth")


1. I will guard everything within the limits of my post, and quit my post only when properly relieved.

2. I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner.

3. I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.

Oh me lord, flash from my pass! I have not thought of these in a very long time but the first 3 words put me on autopilot and it all came back.