The second half of February was very full. Tuff continued to speak at schools and programs. We also tried to visit as many family and friends as possible. Tuff has a HUGE family so this is a challenge sometimes.

Tuff and the Hardin junior high boys basketball team pose goofy for a photo.


Lodge Grass Diabetes/Drug and Alcohol Awareness group


Tuff's grade school friends Lonny and Mike. These Lodge Grass Indians go way back.


Tuff's Great Uncle Gus and family in Lame Deer


A gathering for pizza in Hardin with friends and lots of family


February 21st we left for our old college town, Missoula. We still have dear friends there and had a chance to visit with most of them.


One of our favorite date nights in college was to go to the University Center and play ping pong and billiards. For old times sake we met up with some college friends to reminisce. I used to beat Tuff consistently at ping pong but this year he had time to sharpen his skills. The Steelers facility has a ping pong table and Tuff plays almost everyday after work.


While Tuff and the boys played billiards, Johanna and I (two former Lady Griz) hiked the 'M'. The 'M' is a mile long switchback trail along the front of Mount Sentinel which leads to a giant cement 'M' for Montana on the face of the mountain. Its located at the base of campus so many people hike it daily.


Below we are with friends eating at Hu Hot, one of my favorite places. The two people on the end, Gordan and Joyce Cummings, are like family to us. They hosted us for Thanksgiving meals while we were in college.

On February 24th we flew from Missoula to Dallas, Texas for a conference called PAO (professional athlete outreach). The picture below is from the airplane shortly after takeoff.


The conference was really rewarding and full of challenging information and revelation. We had a chance to see many old teammates and friends from all over the NFL. Below, Casey and Tuff are being their usual goofy selves. Casey and Tuff were teammates last year in Tennessee.


Some more Tennessee friends and old teammates that we miss


Tuff and his former Miami teammate Samkon


A large group shot of mostly Steelers players and their wives


The Steeler men


We flew back to Missoula and headed to Bozeman to stay a day with a Griz rival, Travis Lulay of the Montana State Bobcats and his wife. Tuff and Travis became friends while trying out for the New Orleans Saints in the summer of 2008.

Now we are slowly making our way back east to Pittsburgh. Hopefully the weather is a little more cooperative than it was coming west.