Need a place to stay in Browning (live, pine)

[happiness is]

I'm enjoying your updates.

[Reziac]

Hey, glad the "being there" gave you the right guidance for what the story needs to stay "real"!

Just don't be runnin' your hero into any stands of poison ivy, mind

[ScottyDM]

Originally Posted by Reziac

timeshare

I'd never thought of it that way. That's brill!

Originally Posted by Reziac

You might want to check out Absolute Write, it's a writerly critique hangout. A lot of the blind leading the halt and the lame, but still a good place to get fresh eyes on your work (and get any bad habits slapped out of it). It's set up so the "share your work" section isn't visible to search engines, so you don't lose first rights by posting there.

I'd seen that site before. They seem to be a place for writers to talk about writing, but I didn't see much in the way of critiques. I remember looking at it a couple of years ago and I seem to remember stories that were visible to any net random.

CritiqueCircle is the absolute best place for online critiques. I've seen systems with e-mail distribution, posting chapters into a forum, etc, but all those require altruistic behavior on the part of members. CritiqueCircle uses a points system and I've seldom gotten less than a half-dozen critiques for a chapter or short story. The site uses custom code that is geared toward critiquing and they offer a variety of critique styles, including attaching comments to individual paragraphs. Everything is behind a password/login system. CC also has a forum where folks discuss agents, publishing, etc.

In addition to CritiqueCircle I'm an active member of a local writing group organized through Meetup.

S~

[Reziac]

At present you can't see AW's "Share your work" forums without registering and getting a password. They're variously active, from a dribble to a flood. I also hang out on Hatrack, where discussions are off in a different direction and tone from AW.

I've tried tit-for-tat type critique systems but that proved not what I wanted -- at this point I don't really need that level of critique (so I don't really care about reciprocity, and do critiques on AW wherever the mood strikes); what's useful to me is a wise reader who will whine about WTFs, which is what inspires me.

Anyway, I too have been enjoying your updates.

[ScottyDM]

One thing I was looking for in Browning was a sit down restaurant that served hamburgers. I have a scene that launches a major sub-plot, which takes place in a casual dining atmosphere. I'd written the scene with the characters dining on hamburgers.

Well, I found the almost ideal restaurant in the Junction Drive-In Cafe (but I don't know why they call it a drive-in). Excellent burger at $10 including drink and tip. In my notes I'd written: "Peeled log and wood paneled ambiance." The problem is that it's much too close to Glacier Peaks Casino. The mother Marilee Gordon and a young man I've named Henry Crazy-Guns, both work at the casino. One day after work Henry wants to speak to Marilee about a personal matter, and so he takes her to dinner. The Junction Cafe just feels too close. It also started to fill up right about 5:00 pm. I know Henry wants to avoid curious crowds.

A few days later I ate at Tres Hermanas. Now somewhere I'd read a less than glowing comment about a Mexican restaurant in Browning. The commenter said they served microwaved burritos. I was a little apprehensive, but it was for research, right? I was the only customer there, but later someone else came. The food didn't suck, but I'd had better, and I'd also had worse--in another Mexican restaurant even. Anyway, ground beef and somewhat mild spiciness, but no microwave. On the bright side Tres Hermanas was the perfect location for the scene. It's a half-dozen blocks from Glacier Peaks Casino, and it's private.

So I've rewritten my scene with tacos rather than burgers, and the owner rather than a waitress.

I didn't try Nation's Burgers. The place seemed to be strictly a drive through and the food was to-go only.

Henry Crazy-Guns is 21, has a great job, and is thinking with his head and not his heart. He feels it's high time he moved out of Mom and Dad's place, got a little place in town, and got a wife. And so he starts talking with Marilee about marrying Little Red Feather--not an arranged marriage exactly, but sorta. Emotionally Marilee gets her wires crossed and she wants Henry for herself. Anyway, date #1 Henry takes LRF and Marilee to Cut Bank for a movie (no movie theater in Browning). Date #2 Henry takes LRF and Marilee to East Glacier Park Lodge for dinner, but the real scene takes place in the lobby after dinner--they discuss Henry's plans for the future. Date #3 is Henry and LRF only, no Mom. As a bow to her love of the outdoors Henry takes her golfing at the Lodge. The golf pro was greatly amused by my questions and comments, but said my golf scene should work just fine. LRF breaks up with Henry on the golf course.

Two weeks later I have another dinner set between Henry and Marilee at the Lodge. Actually it's the pull of reservations and hunger that acts as a catalyst for a scene.

Anyway, I simply had to eat at the fancy restaurant in East Glacier Park Lodge, strictly for research. Prices were reasonable and being early in the season few patrons were there. I had roast chicken with huckleberry sauce and it was awesome. Huckleberries seemed to be all the rage the week I was on the reservation, several restaurants advertised huckleberry this or huckleberry that. The waitress said that reservations weren't required, but they couldn't hurt.

Well, that's about it for restaurants and how they figure into the novel. I don't set any scenes in Taco John's, although I ate there the day I arrived and the day I left. Both days water pressure for Browning was down and TJ's soda machine was off line.

I also ate at Whistle Stop near Brownies in East Glacier Park Village. I had a buffalo burger that was quite good ($12 including drink and tip). I noticed Whistle Stop's BBQ ribs were about the same price as the BBQ ribs at the Lodge ($20 +/-). Brownies was my base of operations and several days I got a sandwich to-go to eat later at lunchtime. Brownies also had this awesome massive super chocolatey brownie with a giant scoop of ice cream (chocolate if you're insane) and hot fudge sauce. It was $5 and one was my limit.


Brownies is a hostel as well as a bakery. Reasonably comfortable and only $28.50 per night for a private room. Common bathrooms (his and hers), kitchen, and lounge area. WiFi is included. The walls are super thin, only 3/4" vertical planks, so light and sound leaks from room to room. They had a crew of very good looking young people running the place and staying in the rooms (dorm style is cheaper). One gal was from Lithuania.

The first two nights there I stayed at Lodgepole Gallery and Tipi Village. Interesting, and the owner is quite the historian. I wish I had more time to talk with him. $60 per night. Awesome family-style dinner and breakfast is optional.

S~

[ScottyDM]

That last post was kinda boring.

And now for something completely different. I have a scene where my heroine witnesses a wedding during North American Indian Days (the big public powwow in Browning). I asked a couple of Indians and they don't remember it ever being done at NAID, but no one knew of a reason why it wasn't possible. The wedding is a blend of 19th century practices with 21st century Montana law.

In the 19th century (and earlier) there was no such thing as a wedding, per se. There was marriage. The critical thing, what made marriage legal in the eyes of early Blackfeet, was payment of a bride price. Everything else was just window dressing, and what or how much varied greatly. In the 21st century the critical thing is the marriage license, that the couple say some vows (or at least agree to them) before a state-recognized officiant and a witness, and that officiant and witness sign the license.


On Thursday during NAID I met a fascinating man by the name of Ron R* C*. He appeared to be about 60, was quite the linguist, and knew a ton of history. He was also a deacon in the Catholic church. We talked on and off a few days, and on Sunday I asked if he would read my powwow wedding scene.

He thought it was pretty good, corrected the spelling of a couple of my native words, and then offered some comments.

Ron said that traditionally most marriages happened in the morning. That is the father would lead his daughter to her new husband, put her hand into her groom's, and then say, "She's your wife now," to the groom. Ron also said that the new couple set their lodge (tipi) up a hundred yards or so west of the main group, "So they wouldn't disturb the others, but just until they got used to each other." Ron had quite the twinkle in his eye when he said that.

Then we talked about the traditional practice of the bride taking food to her groom in the days or weeks before the marriage. I was under the impression that not all couples did that, but guessed it was a sort of test for the bride--what the groom didn't eat he gave to his mother.


Ron told me the story of his own courtship.

When he was a young man there was this girl Ron liked, and they'd been dating for some time. One day Ron told the girl, "I think it's time we got married." She agreed.

"But there's something you need to do for me first," Ron said. When she asked what, Ron told her to make him some food.

The girl set about making a hamburger for Ron. She formed a generous patty and grilled it. Buttered then toasted the bun. Layered it all together with slices of tomato and onion, lettuce, pickles, and ketchup. Ron said that she really made a beautiful burger. Ron ate part of it then took the rest home.

When he got home he looked for his mother, but she was out. So he gave the half hamburger to his grandmother. She ate a few bites but said nothing. Instead she gave the rest to Ron's grandfather. The old man ate it up then sat there saying nothing. Ron said he felt so nervous.

Finally the old man said, "I need my smokes." So Ron ran and got his cigarettes. The grandfather lit one, took a few puffs, and sat there. Finally the grandfather said, "That was the best meat I've ever eaten. She'll make a fine wife." Ron said those words made him so happy.


Sometimes it's the little things.

S~

[Reziac]

LOL! Wonderful story. Now how do we get Ron's wife to invite us for dinner?

[jasper12]

Wow, almost makes me want to visit Browning...unless you have actually been there....

[bethylane]

Originally Posted by ScottyDM

Hey, after my informal study of Blackfeet history, the name "Going to the Sun Road" has a special significance. There's a lot of talk about the native Americans' Great Spirit and all, but I think that's largely a crock.

I don't think you should show your face in Browning!

I'm sorry to be a troll here, but I worked on the Rez at St Mary all summer, and not enough people respect their history/culture. It was saddening to read your post belittling that.

[ScottyDM]

Bethy;

I did not mean the traditional Blackfeet (19th century and earlier) were not a spiritual people. What I meant was that the European view of the Great Spirit does not fit with the reality of that time. We of European descent seem to want to see monotheism in traditional native American religion, but it rarely exists. So the modern idea of the Great Spirit and how he fitted into traditional native American spiritual life, is a crock.

Napi was a key figure in their traditional religion, as was the Sun, Moon, and Morning Star, who were personalities and not just objects. Napi was the creator of all things and a trickster character, but they worshiped the Sun as the supreme deity. Additionally there were spirits everywhere and spiritual experience was a personal one. But it wasn't polytheism, or animism either. Back in the late 19th century some members of the tribe thought Catholicism was the closest religion to their own in beliefs, and so they invited a Catholic missionary to come live with them.

Anyway, Going to the Sun Road isn't just a road that heads west, winding higher and higher toward the continental divide. Its literal meaning might be: ascending to the throne room of God. The lodge where the Sun lived was in the west.

I went back again last year and this fellow working at the Museum of the Plains Indian (don't have my notes in front of me, and I forget his name) said that lying to outsiders was something of a game, and that I couldn't rely on anything I heard or read, modern or historic. He disputed whether the story "The Seven Brothers" (a.k.a. "Bear Woman") was of Blackfeet origin. But another local historian I asked said it was. To add to the fun, the Blackfeet preference for oral tradition means the old stories and histories shift from generation to generation.


My understanding is imperfect for I am an outsider.