Wilderness Blues- Ramblings from the Great Land

I'm well aware of the fact that I haven't posted anything on this blog for the past several months, but there is a good reason for that. I've been down in Hoonah working on the boat and fishing and wishing that I was fishing instead of working on the boat and wishing I was home instead of in Hoonah working on the boat and well... I wish I could troll here in Wasilla. Anyway, I don't have the internet in Hoonah. I've been staying on the boat and it's less than ideal living conditions. In fact people living in dryer boxes on the street might be considered living high on the hog by comparison. Well, perhaps I'm exaggerating just a tad, but not much. I had already planned to be here in Wasilla during this time span. It was somewhat fortunate I guess that the transmission on the boat decided to give up the ghost during this time. I'm hopeful that by the time I get back to Hoonah it will have been fixed and will have only cost me my left arm. As it is, I just ...

   One of the problems of getting old, aside from everything hurting and having to get up multiple times in the night to pee, is the fact that my memory is going. I'm not full blown dementia or anything- yet, but I have a time remembering when things happen. I think I went to Seward with my daughter Autumn and my wife Jan last Saturday or maybe it was the Saturday before. I can't remember. I know I went there though, and I have the pictures to prove it. We started our time at the Sea Life Center outside in the parking lot. Someone had a Basset hound. Who can resist petting such a delightful creature?  The guy told us his name, the dog's, not his. I really didn't care about the man's name, but again I can't remember what it was. I just asked Jan and fortunately she remembered it. His name was Rutherford. As his owner said-"long dog, long name." It was a good way to start our trip. Once inside we walked around to all the various sites. Of course they had...

  I was doing my exercises this morning. I haven't done them for about a week because we had some guests visiting, some long time friends, and it's hard to maintain a schedule. Anyway, I was listening to my Ipod while I pedaled my flabby body. I've got almost a thousand songs on it, so I don't have to listen to the same tune for days if I don't want to. I was bee-bopping to  Crosby, Stills and Nash and Cat Stevens and Lily Kershaw, just totally enjoying myself, as much as I could while gasping for air, when a song I've written about not too long ago came on. It's called The Blessing, by Kari Jobe. I so wish that everyone would just listen to it, at least once. Right now there are a lot of people hurting. Some folks have lost loved ones to sickness, some to suicide because of the foolish restrictions that were put in place; a lot of people have lost their jobs and livelihoods. Many folks are wondering what to expect next. May I suggest that you just listen to...

Although I 've only been on the writing web site, Fan Story for a few weeks, I'm already feeling inspired. I was walking my daughter's dog last week when I noticed that just like in Hoonah, people here don't always clean up after their dogs. Perhaps they think the snow will cover it up. What they fail to realize is that the snow eventually melts, and all that crap is in the streets where people are trying to walk. It's really quite gross, and so I thought I would attempt to write a poem about it. Here it is.                                             I'm out in my yard, reading verse from the bard,                                             When I see that you're walking your dog            ...

Another Day Closer by Mrs. K T                                               morning skies bring more grey clouds and spitting rain-                       filthy windows Her kitchen counter is covered with friends' good  intentions: covered casseroles and sugar-laden desserts. No more room for anything. Refrigerator is full, and so is the freezer. No desire to eat. Someone chipped one of her favorite rooster dishes. Perhaps  tomorrow she will walk to the post office and mail thank-you notes. Even sweep the front porch. Maybe fill the birdfeeders. But today, she remains inside, listening for echoes of his laughter. She picks at a  slice of cold lasagna. Needs more sauce. Her eyes are heavy, but no sleep comes. She wanders throughout empty rooms, clutching a cup of stale coffee she has...

   Recently I've had reason to search back through my digital pictures. I've been writing some stories for a writing web site and sometimes find myself looking for a picture that would enhance the story I'm doing. With few exceptions, each picture brings back a pleasant memory. I've got a few in the digital library of things like the back of the computer or the wiring of the boat that have no sentimental value. They're so that when I take it all apart I won't be relying on my faulty memory to get it back together correctly. I've got pictures of fishing trips and crew hands, of family gatherings and friends who have moved away. I took photos of places that were a part of my every day life like the store where we shopped. There are deer pictures and fish pictures and pictures of eagles. I see one of a car we used to own and the house we lived in for over thirty years, both before and after we remodeled it. While you're in the process of living life, you do...

           This past Wednesday was March 17, Saint Patricks Day. It just so happens to be the day that my dad passed away fourteen years ago as well. When Jan told me how long ago it had been I was reminded of how quickly  time passes, whether you're having fun or not.       My daughter Autumn happens to work at Sophia's Cafe'  here in Wasilla. It's a Greek restaurant and she is the manager as well as the baker. She decided to make some cupcakes for St. Paddy's. Even though it's not a Greek holiday. The top picture isn't very accurate. For some unknown reason  the icing looks pink, but it wasn't. Pink is for Valentines Day or some such thing or a little girl's birthday or whatever. Actually the top cupcakes were the same color as the bottom one, a kind of creamy light white/yellow color with the green sprinkles and florets or whatever you call them.  The cupcakes themselves were a most delicious chocolate and the icin...