Livingston, MT

Swimming instructor Dani Hendrickson smiles as she is hugged by Charlie Leonard, left, and Isaak Schuerr after playing a game of sneak at the Livingston city pool on Friday, Aug. 19, which was the final day for swim lessons.

While some parents on the sidelines were thinking about their children’s future safety in pools and rivers, the kids were living in the water-soaked moment.

“Whoa! I floated!” a boy yelled during a recent swim lesson at the City of Livingston Pool.

“I know how to motorboat!” shouted another boy.

Young swimmers fluttered about in frothy circles or chased fellow pupils when not directly engaged by their teachers. Instructors gently tempered their enthusiasm and directed attention back to the lessons.

But as any swim teacher knows, high excitement is a given. And that means rolling with the abilities — and attention spans — of each group.

Instructors change tactics frequently, particularly with younger students, alternating between playing games in the water to more focused work on technique.

“No T. rex arms,” teacher Dani Hendrickson said as students swapped short, dog paddle-style movements for long, powerful strokes. “Ballerina, ballerina, big arms!”

“You gotta do different things every minute, and you’re going for 35 minutes,” laughed Sam Ross, an instructor and the pool’s manager.

Throughout the summer, the city offers swim lessons in two-week sessions that run for 35 minutes, five days a week.

“It’s just fun to see how much they grow in two weeks,” Ross said.

Parents said they and their kids miss the occasional lesson but try to make it to each day.

For 9-year-old Jasper Schuerr, even injury couldn’t keep him away. Despite a broken arm, he powered his way through his lesson without missing a stroke.

“Thank goodness for waterproof casts,” his mother Lynelle Schuerr said.

As kids emerged from the pool, they ran to their parents, some of whom watched with coffee cups in hand during the earlier morning sessions while others knitted or talked with fellow adults.

“For safety and confidence, I think it’s good for both,” Dale Dominick said of enrolling daughters Nora, 3, and Perry, 7, in lessons.

Other parents agreed they appreciate having classes available in Livingston so their children learn to swim, equipping them with the skills to be safe whether in a pool or on natural bodies of water.

The children also benefit by becoming more comfortable in the water and feeling accomplishment with completing each level of class, Ross said.

“We learned how to swim and how to put our faces in the water,” Charlie Leonard, 4, said as her parents, JoAnna and John “Buzz” Leonard, waited for her.

But the best part of the lesson? Jumping into the pool, Charlie said.

“And this time, I didn’t even have any help!” she said.

Mark's In And Out Drive In Livingston, MT

Travel is a wonderful thing.

You get to experience new places and people.

You can return to the special places you discovered before.

Or you return to places where you came from...like Montana.

Of course, places change over time, and Montana is no exception.

Except for my home town of Livingston. It seems to be stuck in a time warp from say, the 1800's? Well, maybe not THAT bad, but much of remains like it did when I left back in the early 80's.

My trips home are usually pretty quiet. I spend a good deal of time at Mom's kitchen table, right here on the Internet, working on blogs, getting a signed contract (yeah!) and almost being bored at the much slower pace of life here out West!

But today, I had a plesant surprise while we were running some morning errands.

Mark's In and Out Drive In. A welcome step back in time....indeed.

Mark's In and Out IS an original 50's drive in located on Park Street in Livingston. They use local beef and make milk shakes from Livingston's own Wilcoxson's ice cream. (If you've had Blue Bell, I think you have NOT tasted ice cream yet....) They are open from March-October.

We decided to stop here for a quick bite of lunch. And it was drive-in food...done GOOD!

My Bacon Mushroom Swiss Burger was not huge ( I opted for the single burger version) but along with the extra crunchy Tater Tots and a sample of Mom's awesome Onion Rings, it was more than enough for a lunch time meal.

If your travel plans (especially driving) bring you to Montana, say for a visit to Yellowstone National Park (the North Entrance is located 50 miles South of Livingston) be sure to make a roadside stop to Mark's In and Out Drive In. It's easy to get to off of I-90 and you'll be glad you took this step back in time.

For those of you that follow me on Facebook, you'll know I'm currently in Montana visiting my family.

February is NOT my travel month of choice to Montana. It's 5 BELOW ZERO tonight and suppose to go to -11!

But my sister called and wanted to organize a surprise party for my Mom's 75th Birthday. Yikes, I said. At the time that I am busier than I have ever been......UGH! And when I found out the plane ticket was just shy of 4 digits!!!!

(Thank you Montana, Delta and ski season....)

But away I came, and boy, was she surprised!! I don't have any of the pictures yet when she first arrived, but my niece is photographer, so later in the evening we did a number of poses.

Look, it's free advertising for Active Rain!

The couple I was sitting next to on the plane asked me if I was in real estate, and puzzled, I said yes, how did you know? He said, "the shirt." Turns out he sells real estate in Monroe, LA. "It's a small world afterall....."

Geez Bob...what do I score for this one!! LOL!

Having a great time, trying to keep up with blogging, and staying warm. I'll be back in Atlanta next week...where it's 70 degrees.

Livingston, MT to See New Catering Service, Eatery

Downtown Livingston, MT

A Livingston, MT gift shop that was known for advertising on billboards across the US has changed ownership and will be offering baked goods in place of the souvenir trinkets that once retailed here.

Local business owner, Brian Menges, added Gil's Gift shop to his real estate portfolio which includes other Livingston businesses, most notably the 2nd Street Bistro and the Murray Bar. In an interview with the Livingston Enterprise, Menges stated that he intends to renovate the building housing the business that was originally constructed in 1890 as well as to alter the name of the company slightly from Gil's Gifts to Gil's Goods. Menges also added that the new store front would serve breakfast, lunch and late-night food on location and that the business could be opening its doors as early as this summer.

If you are in Yellowstone Country, stop into Livingston. The town is a wonderful mix of an authentic western cattle town and artistic community. With its numerous art galleries and boutique shops, world renown fishing, rafting, hunting, hiking, biking and winter activities, Livingston and Paradise Valley have something for the entire family.

Remember The Faithful For They Are Our Friends

Probably one of the best phrases ever said was about a dog...."Man's Best Friend."

This week while I've been in Montana, you see dogs in a different perspective. See, here in the "country" dogs are still as much a part of ones life as, say back in Atlanta, but you don't see people with dogs in the back of their truck. They take them everywhere, and the just sit in the back of the truck, paitently waiting for their master to return.

There are leash laws, so most of the time, you see them on one. But not always.

Now that I have my camera close by, I just wanted to share these two images.....

Remember The Faithful For They Are Our Friends