Week 1 in Pinedale – Welcome to Wyoming

I’ve just finished my first week in Pinedale. First week as a full-time newspaper reporter. First week living in Wyoming.

Yesterday marked my first day on the radio. Much to my surprise, I was asked to go live on the local radio station – apparently the only one in the county – and introduce myself. That morphed into reading several pieces on the air, and before I knew it my morning had been spent on live radio. I had expected to go in with sweaty hands and a quavering voice, but much to my own surprise I loved it! Mental note to self – radio could be another direction to move into at some point.

I’m afraid I’ve jumped right into the fray here. Wrote a full compliment of pieces this week that ran in yesterday’s edition. There is something gratifying about photographing or writing a piece and having it appear in print two days later. I’m trying to start some long term projects here and diversify a bit… we’ll see what happens.

I have discovered that my political beliefs differ completely from everyone else at the paper. I’m oh-so-ready for the coming week’s elections to be over… getting into heated political discussions may not be the best way to make friends at the office. I’m finding some allies throughout town, however, and that helps matters quite a bit.

Pinedale has certainly required some adapting. I walk to work every day through downtown Pinedale. I’m living with two guys in an very, very old and somewhat decrepit parsonage. Food costs nearly double what I was paying in Bozeman.

Last Thursday I made the run down to neighboring Big Piney to cover their third annual Pumpkin Launch. This is definitely an event we need to have back home in Montana. Something about watching Carhartt and cowboy boot clad families gather together to launch things out of gigantic compressed-air powered cannons that makes me feel right at home. One cannon, much to my delight, was mounted in a tractor bucket, allowing for maximum maneuverability on the field of battle. A full-size trebuchet also made an appearance, launching the orange missiles high into the stormy skies of Wyoming.

Vastness on one side, mountains on the other.

I’m about to head out to cover three events for today. Hopefully sometime in between I’ll find time to wrap up a freelance piece, hit the gym, and do laundry.

Life is busy.

And I like it.

Tags: Pinedale