Sheesh, amazing how quickly a week can go by. In Net-time, this blog has practically already turned to dino fossils. I have the usual excuses — bizzy bizzy bee! – but an unusual one as well: I’ve been getting ready to go to China.
It’s a long story, but basically this: The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre is going to China on a cultural exchange organized largely through the office of Senator Max Baucus and in semi-conjuction with the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing. I’ve known about this for almost two years, and all along have subtlely — perhaps too subtlely — suggested to my editors that it would be great to send a reporter (aka me) along. I’ve received various responses, from noncommittal “yeah, that would be great”-type answers to, eventually, last month, a flat-out, unequivocal “no.” This was no surprise; contrary to the grousing of anti-corporate types around town, the Missoulian isn’t sitting on a mountain of gold. It’s a stretch to send a reporter across the country for a story, let alone halfway around the world.
But then, last week, the Missoulian’s new publisher, Stacey Mueller, sent a note to my editor telling her that I should go after all.
It’s very exciting news, to be sure. But by the time it came down, it was down to the proverbial — nay, actual last minute: plane tickets were being finalized this very week. We leave in just a little over a month, meaning I need to rush around getting passport, visa, and immunization issues taken care of. My wife, DaLynn, and our baby Julian are gonna go along, and neither of them had valid passports….So I’ve been dealing with that issue along with all the others involved, such as figuring out how I can file stories from the opposite side of the globe. And of course I’ve still had a full workload of stories to write, musicians to interview, and so on.
So. That’s what’s been going on. More soon on the China trip; but in the meantime, sorry if you and the other four readers of this blog felt neglected!
4 responses so far ↓
1 Jennifer // Apr 14, 2008 at 9:15 am
Hi Joe, I’ve been off all things blog-related for a while and am now just catching up… this is so exciting! And how great that your wife and son will be coming along. Can’t wait to hear how this is — and see pictures, natch.
2 Limp arms // May 8, 2008 at 2:23 pm
[...] my arms. They hurt like hell. Yesterday, I had to get five vaccination shots in preparation for this upcoming trip to China with the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theater. After a lengthy consultation with the travel nurse at the Missoula County Health Department, I [...]
3 Louie Bond // Apr 7, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Why is it so hard to find the answer to whether or not house bill 598 passed or not? What’s the facts on this subject? All I hear is conflicting rumors. Please, somebody, print something in the paper, on the news. The truth couldn’t be hidden better if planned that way.
4 Joe Nickell // Apr 8, 2009 at 8:55 am
Hi Louie,
I’m not sure how you ended up commenting on this very old post, but in any event, as it happens I had scheduled a post to go live this morning on this subject. Synchronicity! So check the top entry on the blog for the latest info; and be aware that the link to the state that you’ll find there is permanent so you can go back every day and check it for status changes.
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