camp camp camp

This summer started out nice and slow. School ended on May 2nd and I got some time to relax, a chance to go home to Riverside to see my new niece and best friend who is getting married, Mikel and I got some time to hang out and I was able to go into the office whenever I wanted to.

With June has come a lot more volleyball. First, I went and worked a volleyball camp at St. Labre Indian School in Eastern Montana. I have never been six hours east in Montana and I had no idea there were places where I could get a call on my phone but not voicemails, text messages, or internet. Well, the internet thing didn't surprise me but the voicemails definitely did. It turns out the camp was definitely worth it and better than I thought it was going to be so the first camp of the year was a success!

After St. Labre, I came straight home and my whole team from Montana Western was here for the weekend. We had three days of practice, weight lifting sessions, team conditioning, and team meals. They were tired by the time it was over but it was a great opportunity to see how they work together and what our team will look like in the fall. I am so excited for our new players and how hard the returners are working. I think we'll be much better than last year and I can't wait to get started!

After my team was in town for the weekend, I headed to Idaho Falls to work another camp. This was another three days and I spent time both in Pocatello and in Idaho Falls. After camp was over I got myself a massage in Idaho Falls before the drive home. This was best idea ever!

Now, I have a week of work in the office before I head home next week for Jenny's wedding.

This has been all about me but it seems like Mikel has been the busy one. He is working almost every day at the golf course and golfing any other chance he gets. He usually goes early to work so he can golf before his shift for the day and sometimes goes with friends on his days off. Mikel also plays in the men's league at the par-3 golf course in town and got second this week!

Old Works

On Friday, Mikel got the chance to play Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda, MT with some friends. Anaconda is a little over an hour north of Dillon and it used to be a booming town because of the copper smelter that you can see in the back of this first picture. 

Anaconda does not mine copper anymore and so the town has kind died down because of it but they do have one of the only publicly owned courses in the US designed by Jack Nicklaus. The other unique thing about the course is that the sand bunkers is slag from the the copper mines and is all black.

view of the course with the old smelter in the back

you can see the foundations of old buildings in the back

Ben in the sand

Mikel had a great time and played really well. That's about all I know about golf but he had a great time and was really happy when he got home! Win-win!

victory

This past weekend Mikel was able to compete in a golf tournament for the first time instead of always having to work. Of course, he did have to go in early and work before it started but he had fun playing nonetheless. 

It was a fundraiser for the United Way and Mikel's team won the net best ball and got second in the overall tournament! Good times were had by all and Mikel got to come home early because there were thunderstorms in the afternoon!

golfing

Yesterday afternoon Mikel didn't have to work and I was done for the day so I went out to the golf course to drive the cart while Mikel played. Why bother with the silly clubs when you can just drive around in the cart and play with the flags??

big clouds over the golf course

my favorite golfer

Mikel has been working a lot at the golf course and playing a lot of golf before work and on his days off. He hasn't been fishing much at all since he started work but when he can play 36 holes of golf for free, who's complaining?