Last night I spent the evening in a peanut shells on the floor kind of saloon in Montana. I was dressed in my usual manner, boots, cowboy hat, jeans, and button up shirt.

Several people in this bar kept calling me "cowboy". Now I have to admit that I just didn't know how to take that. Was it an insult? No? I just wasn't sure, but after the Nth time I was starting to get a bit annoyed by it.

I guess the bartender could tell that it was getting on my nerves and came over to me. She told me that it was not an insult but was instead a sign of respect. After all, MT is the "cowboy state" and calling someone a cowboy was a compliment, not an insult. I could live with that as she explained that was what folks called someone in a hat when they didn't know their name. No insult intended at all.

I was cool with that and looked at in in that light after that.

But ya know, you always have that one person. Always is. Asshole was from NY and it was obvious he had a problem with folks wearing a cowboy hat. He took all of about 30 seconds to get on my last nerve.

Lucky for me I wasn't the only one to lose patience with this asshat, and a couple of very large guys, in cowboy hats, escorted him out the door before I had the chance to reach the edge of civility.

Some folks just done't know how to play well with others. He went out kicking and screaming and somehow I have a feeling he got a bit of an attitude adjustment in the parking lot. I had nothing to do with it.

I am now in a small saloon in Western MT (it's a big state and takes all day to cross). There's a very nice (and cute) bartender, some friendly folks, and wifi access. Cool.

Nothing better than a friendly local saloon. I have been sitting here at the bar knitting on the sweater I've been working on and have several local cowboys and cowgirls ask about it, compliment the work, and so forth. Nice folks.

One lady did ask me if I was "gay or something" but I just responded by offering to give her a roll in the hay if she was looking for such. Actually, my exact words were "No, and I'd be happy to f-ck you right here, drop yer pants".

For some reason she felt the need to leave about then.

Sorry but I've lost patience with people who feel the need to cling to stereo types. I've alway felt they were idiots but at this point in my life I am just tired of trying to accomodate them. I'd rather just run them off and not have to talk to them at all.

Probably not exactly PC of me, but I just don't give a shit.

Tomorrow I'll ride over toward Seattle so I can deliver on Tuesday as scheduled. I have an oversized load I need to pick up there on Wednesday to haul back to WI. Nice to have the reload already set up. I know exactly what I need to do and can schedule accordingly. Good thing.

I haven't been home since December. I'm starting to feel it, but as long as the economy remains in the toilet what can I do? Hopefully things will pick up soon and I can actually afford to go spend some time at home relaxing. Right now I just can't as I hate to go home broke. My last paycheck was for two weeks as I hadn't been to the yard in that in span of time to turn in my paperwork, and it was less than half what I would normally make in that time.

Don't misunderstand, I know I write about spending time in bars and saloons, but I spend very little money in them. I nurse my beers and don't waste much money in them at all. I go to them for the music, the company, and the chance to spend some time oiut of my truck. It;s rare for me to spend more than twenty bucks in a saloon, including the tip for the barkeep. It's rare for me to actually get drunk. I just can't afford it.

I'm hoping to get to the Seattle area tomorrow early enough to get some laundry done. I stopped at a Wal Mart yesterday and bought some clean clothes {I couldn't afford). Not a good sign at all. I really need to wash some clothes. As much as I hate doing laundry  in a truck stop I need to do so. The clothing I bought will last me one more shower/change. That will be tomorrow, and that's stretching it for me.

I like to shower every day but realistically it just doesn't always happen and I have to go every other day at times. Not great but is reality in the trucking biz. Still requires a lot of laundry.

Ah well, I'm only 600 miles or so from where I need to be tomorrow to get laundry and such done. That's only a day's ride so I can get it done easily. I'm looking forward to having my favorite shirt clean and ready to wear again. And not looking forward to having to was the damn thing.