The Unthinkable Has Happened

As always when a fire consuming thousands and thousands of acres explodes, the risks escalate. Such was the case when three wild land firefighters were overrun in Twisp, WA and expired. Their memorial service was held this past week with many in attendance, including my son.

There are no words to express our condolences to the families. Please be safe out there!

Gary

It's Getting Ugly In The Forests Of The West

There is truly one kind of fire that commands awe. I had the experience one time in '94 in Leavenworth, WA. Don't get me wrong. There were plenty of structure fires and other things that were impressive, but a forest fire was truly awesome. Now several western states are up to their yellow Nomex shirts trying to get a handle on the many fire complexes that are taking out all manner of homes, outbuildings.

Everything is tinder dry with no rain forecast for the foreseeable future. In Idaho some of my old stomping grounds like Kamiah are under constant threat. Part of the area I wrote about in "Buffalo Hump" not far from Lapwai has several fires burning.

These folks are going to need help getting back on their feet. Please send cash to the American Red Cross and note what you would like the money to go for, and don't forget to send up a few extra prayers for the firefighters and communities affected.

Gary

By George, I Think We're Rolling Now!

I'm still dealing with some side affects of getting my gourd baked, but as long as I keep up the fluid intake, the world has returned to normal...at least my version of it. I have concluded that frequent naps are good for me, so why fight the urges? For now I'll just have to plug along and deal with the new normal.

On a brighter note. "Sheep Eater" was released on August 3rd by Champagne Book Group. Add a DOT com and you can go directly to their site. "Sheep Eater" is under fiction and is available on all major e-reader formats. I think you're going to like this story!

Now download it, get a nice libation, and begin your new adventure!

Gary

Summer Has Hit With A Vengeance

It's officially semi-official! "Sheep Eater" will be released in the next couple of weeks, further glitches notwithstanding. Meanwhile, the summer has been full of toil and travel, including an Alaska cruise and a family trip to Idaho where my brain got cooked!

I've never had a doctor tell me my vacation days are over for the rest of the summer before. It seems that heat exhaustion isn't for wimps like me. I always knew there was a good reason not to mow the lawn and I've found it.

It's a good thing my dad and I did the cruise first. The weather temp was a perfect 50-some-odd degrees and cloudy. We saw a lot of wildlife and more eagles than seagulls sitting all over the place. Even saw some humpback whales as we cruised. That wouldn't have been possible had the heat exhaustion struck first.

Now it's just me and my Gatorade holed up in the castle. What a summer so far!

Gary

There's Plodding and then There's Plodding

It's been an awfully long time since my last blog post. As a matter of fact, I think someone unplugged my blog generator for several weeks now. I did manage to complete most of my editing assignments on this adventure, though. It has made a stouter man out of me...weaker, but stouter.

We're back on track for an early July release of The Sheep Eater after shaving off about two thousand words of text. The next manuscript may only consist two paragraphs!

Here's hoping for a fun read in the sunshine this summer.

Gary

It's Been A While!

I started off the month with good intentions...then good excuses...then absent-mindedness. Did ya miss me? I missed me!

I can only say that my brain was elsewhere with all the family events that occurred in the  past month. It doesn't seem to hold as much information as it used to. My steel trap is corroding, I think.

I have since worked my way through two edits of my newest novel and found that my writing skills are in need of re-training, too. I can remember why English was not my favorite in school. It was fine when I could make  up stories, but fitting it into a grammatically correct formula after the fact was dreary and painful.

The next thing you know is that they'll be clear-cutting timber out behind my house in the green belt...oh wait!

Gary

What Was I Saying?

Oh yes, it was about the family. Well I survived the past two weeks and learned a couple of new lessons along the way. A quote from the Duke sums much of it up. "Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid."

It reminds me of an idea I once had; a personalized license plate: RU2PID. This brainchild hatched after noting all the crazy drivers bopping about trying to destroy my inner peace. Did I mention that road rage helps the focus of your sorrows be realigned? Especially in Silverdale?

I think it can be likened to obliterating a mental image of some fool on a heavy punching bag. It may not do anything to change the situation but it sure feels good when you're done!

Yes, I survived the past two weeks in pretty good shape otherwise. Many things happened that I am proud of for my kids. I refuse to allow the actions of one or two distract from their accomplishments...now where are my meds?

Gary

Kids Do The Darndest Things

Just about the time you begin to get lost in your grief, the reality of life and family rises to provide continuity in the business of living. There are two recent examples that forced us all to remember those that came before us and among us and imparted their gifts upon all of us in one way or another.

The first is my twin granddaughters' first birthday party last Tuesday. They were totally enthralled with all of the hubbub, wolfing down their steamed rice and tofu, laughing and liking the reflections off of their shiny Mylar balloons.

Great Grandpa was beaming from ear to ear and Grandpa enjoyed showing of Kaelee's birthday hat, watching her look like "Who's the guy with the beard wearing my hat?" Then came the obliteration of the birthday cupcakes...classic. It was the girls' first feast of sugar and, if their faces were an indicator, loved it. It was a great party!

Next on the list was Daughter #2 being chosen as the 2015 Young Alumna of the Year for Seattle Pacific University. She and another senior alumna are being honored at a luncheon during the Homecoming Festivities on Feb. 7th. Her Grandpa and I will be among the honored guests at her table (I didn't know that until today).

Now I have to bone up on which fork to stab the salad and the chicken with. I doubt that it would be permissible to pull out my Buck knife to cut the meat, but those flimsy little knives they roll up in your napkin makes diggin' into your meal harder. I guess jeans are out of the question, too. It would be in poor taste to mortify the daughter among all the high-podunks. I think the Father and son will have a good time. At least I can harass my son-in-law and show him how his new family really acts in public!

Count on the kids to lift your spirits...and they don't even realize it!

Gary

Starting Over

Here we sit; a new year staring us in the face with everyone holding a secret desire hoping for better things to come, even if last year was good for them. Everyone stands around the roulette table of life looking for the big win. No one is 100% satisfied with their current circumstances...a little more would always be acceptable, whatever that "more" is.

The interesting thing to me is that in the whole scheme of life, a cycle of the earth around the sun has little to do with much of anything, yet we start a new year with hope and celebration for better times to come. For some waking up and breathing is considered a blessing. For others it is a curse. Still others are released to their Creator and don't have to worry about any of this whoopdedoo at all anymore and the newborns get to pick up the torch and try to make it through more New Years to come.

Whatever your lot is in life, I hope you have the opportunity to make others' better in the coming years while you're with us before it's your turn to hand off the baton.

Gary