Well, This is it. My friends, relatives and other interested parties down in the lower 48 have been bugging me to start a blog so they can get a peek into what daily life is like in Willow, Alaska. I finally decided to start this after I began going to Full Sail University on line as a Creative Writing major and they recommend writing as much as possible. Since scripts, novels and magazine articles (All of which I'm working on, only one of which has actually been published so far, but I'm hoping!) sometimes get boring to write I decided to start this blog and open the window into my crazy life. First of all, a little about me: (I know everyone who knows me already knows this, but sometime some poor sap might stumble on this page and it would be rude to not at least introduce myself!) I really do live in a cabin in Willow, Alaska. It's not entirely removed from the world, it's about 5 miles off the only highway that runs through the Denali range (Mt. McKinley to most people that down't live here.) It's not as primitive as some places around, I have electricity and running water, but I do heat the place entirely with a wood stove. I live with my Stepson, Nick, My son, Corbin, and my daughter Aiobheann (It's pronounced Eveen before anyone even asks.) Up until last August I was an IT professional. In case anyone doesn't know that's the guy that either answers the phone when your computer is broken and you call the help desk because you want to yell at someone or, alternately, who interrupts you in the middle of a really important phone call because you left a message your Yahoo stock ticker quit working and you need it fixed ASAP.
Anyway, I was one of THOSE guys. It had been my career for the last 15 years and was actually the reason I ended up in Alaska. (No, I'm not going into that now, it's a long story better left for some other time. This is just the intro!) Anyway, that life came to a grinding halt for me. Last March my wife of 13 years, Glenda, was killed in a freak snow machine accident. I suddenly found my life turned completely upside down, left alone with three kids and about 3000 miles from where I started. I tried to continue my job, but after a few months realized that with an 8 year old daughter that isn't allowed to get off the bus without someone to meet her, kids getting sick, etc. the 80 mile drive one way to work and the 12 hour days just couldn't continue to happen. I decided to exit my job gracefully, start school and pretend to be an Author so I could work from home. I say pretend to be an Author because I don't consider myself one yet. Maybe someday, if I get paid for my writing or achieve high honors or something.I don't really know when someone is supposed to consider themselves an author. if anyone has any ideas feel free to tell me! As of this moment I'm a writer. nothing more or less. I write because I enjoy it and because it keeps me from going completely insane. Let's face it, you can only carry on conversations with moose for so long before either A. they get bored and walk away, or B. the nice men in the white trucks come and take you someplace where all your worries disappear. so..I write. I'll probably write about anything that comes to mind, although a lot of the content will be about life up here. Alaska is a different world that the rest of the  United States. I'm sure there is no place like it anywhere else. If you've never been up here I highly recommend a visit, even if it's one of the cruise packages. It's something you will never forget. When I first came up here one of the first guys I met was a tough old Alaskan named Chuck. He got elected to show me around the hospital I worked at and we immediately became friends. We walked outside and he stopped, looked at me for a minute, clearly sizing me up. Finally he said, "Dan, I'm going to tell you something. You aren't going to believe me now, but you'll understand in time. Make up your mind now if you want to stay here, because give it a month and you'll be a different person. Alaska changes people..it gets into their soul and no matter where you may go it will always be there. It'll never go away." I have to say, I nodded and smiled and changed the subject. I thought he was just a slightly touched old dude with a highly developed sense of drama. Wow, was I wrong! I have to say he was absolutely right that day. I've been here almost 7 years now and this place has touched me in ways I never thought possible. So long, Chuck, You're very missed, old friend. Sometimes I swear I can hear you and Glenda up there laughing at me when I do something stupid. Anyway- I'm guessing by now anyone reading this will realize I have a tendency to ramble on a bit. What can I say, it's an online journal! As I sit writing this it's a balmy 17 degrees, the wind is winding away and we're expecting more snow tonight. Maybe tomorrow I'll discuss the joys of wood cutting at -22. Yeah, that sounds good. Interesting story, that..Have a good night everyone, Hug everyone you love because you never know when that chance will be gone.