In case any of you missed my triumphant (And groggy) post on Face book earlier I finally finished the rough draft of my first novel. Well, not my FIRST actually, there are several others, all in various stages of completion. I've come to realize that every long piece of writing is a lot like a relationship. You are completely in love with it at first, enamored, can't think of anything else. In other words, The Honeymoon Phase. Unfortunately, in writing and in life this doesn't last nearly long enough and suddenly writing the story you were so madly in love with at first becomes routine, normal. You still progress on it, but it doesn't have the same drive, the same passion as when you started. Then you hit the rough times. Those times when you look back over your work and want to throw it all out. Scrap it as a useless waste of your time. You wonder what the hell you were ever thinking, this story was a bad idea from the beginning and its time to move on with your life, maybe write a couple of short stories, have a short literary fling, just to get some excitement back into your writing. If you're feeling particularly daring maybe play around with some poetry or even a script or two, just for thrills. Your story will still be there, it'll be waiting for you when you want to come back to it. And that's when most of my novels are still sitting. It seems like once I hit that point if I walk away I can't seem to get the same feeling for it as when I started. Most of them are parked still, sitting, waiting patiently on a hard drive or in a folder, untouched for several years while my life has moved on. Well, I finally finished one. Just the rough draft, mind you, there's still a lot of work to put into it before its ever ready for publication- but the story is done. I suspect I feel at the moment like most people do on their 50th or 60th wedding anniversary. I weathered the storm with this book. I stayed true to the writing and I finished it. There is no better feeling I can remember having other than celebrating an anniversary with my Wife. So..moral of the story- Stick with those books, People. Even though they might be tough at times in the end the result is worth it!

So- After watching election ads ad nauseum, listening to the radical left wing, the radical right wing, everyone glaring at each other, all the ridiculous amounts of anger and hate associated with the upcoming elections I have come to a realization. WOW are people getting  played like finely tuned instruments! The media..on BOTH sides... are whipping everyone into a frenzy, the election ads all seem to point out how rotten the other guy is, (I've noticed VERY little about how great either candidate is, just how bad everyone else is) Battle points are being 'conveniently' provided for people to rally around. (Does anyone find it a strange coincidence that although the gay marriage debate AND CHIK-A-FILA have both been around for literally YEARS and have likely always held the same opinions as they do now, nothing was said about it before?) The truth of the matter people is this: We have 2 choices. We all have to live in the same country or move. There it is. That's our options. Well, or we could have a bloody revolution, shoot each other for having different beliefs, allow our country to get ripped apart so its really easy for another country to walk in and take over..I SUPPOSE that's an option, even if not a good one. Seriously, everyone- Anybody who reads my random babbling- I'm going to ask you one favor. It'll only take a second and I promise it won't hurt. Think of ONE thing that you have in common with a member of the 'opposing' party. I don't even care what it is. It can be as simple as "Hey- You know..both of us have 10 fingers on our right hand!" Honestly, one thing, one person. Its a start. Maybe that liberal bastard was complaining about the same grocery prices you were when you were stuck in line with him at the store. Maybe that gun crazy pro hunting right wing bitch stopped to admire the same baby laying in a stroller that you did. It doesn't matter what it is. 1 thing in common is the start of common ground. Once we have common ground we can have dialogue. Its an amazing gift humanity has created. We can talk to each other. Not yell at each other, not accuse or bereave, but talk. Once we talk, we can compromise. once we figure that little gem out, we can move to co-exist. After we can get back to THAT,  who knows where we might go. Stop letting the media make your decisions for you. Stop letting political adds whip you into a slavering frenzy. Think for yourselves, and think toward how you COULD get along with someone who believes differently than you do, as opposed to how wrong they are and they should change because you think differently than they do. If something really and truly affects your every day pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, by all means say something about it, but make sure it REALLY affects you and isn't just something you don't disagree with in principal. Stop being a willing puppet of those people who would dearly love to have a nation full of dull eyed sheep who follow their leaders docilely in to be sheared and then slaughtered so they can be laid on the silver platters of those in control and served with a nice mint jelly. I was pondering this morning about the terms that are bandied about so freely. Right wing, Left wing... I began wondering WHY we use those terms and then a raven landed outside my window. He looked at me for a moment and flew off and I realized something. He had to use BOTH wings together to fly. In my humble (And likely deluded opinion) it seems to me that it would work the same way for a country. Aesop was correct. United we stand, divided we.. well, I think everyone knows the rest.

Ah,, Procrastination, thou art a cruel mistress, yet I cannot seem to resist you~ Why is it that every time I have a chance to write I'm not in the mood to so I find any excuse in the world not to and when I am insanely busy I come up with the most amazing idea that I can't wait to put down? I think that's the magical difference between a writer and someone that wants to be, being able to sit down and put words down no matter whether you feel like doing to or not. Maybe someday I'll master that. In the meantime I seem to have an endless fascination with conversing on line. Even though it takes time away from my writing, I find the chance to converse with someone an endlessly fascinating pastime and I don't think I'll ever get to the point that I won't put aside my work to have a chance to say hello to someone! I have progressed, though- I have reached the point where I can (After chatting for a while) say that I'm in the process of writing and I really need to get back to it. most people are amazingly understanding of this fact. Speaking of which, if you'll all excuse me, I have an idea bouncing around in my head that REALLY needs to be written down! Have a great weekend everyone.

Okay- I have to admit it. I officially don't understand people. I've been watching this whole 'Chik Fil-A' thing blow itself totally out of proportion over the last couple of weeks. Oh, its only the latest in a long series of head shakers, but I REALLY don't understand this. Near as I can tell, the owners of the chain (A single family, as I understand) has used a percentage of their profits to fund legislation against homosexual marriage and the Gay, Lesbian and transsexual community (And their supporters) have declared a mass media war against the company involving protests, media flaming, some sort of same sex 'kiss in' etc. which of course, has spawned retaliation of similar things from the chik-fil-a people so the whole thing has blown up to ludicrous proportions which I am, unfortunately, forced to follow if I choose to log into my Facebook page. Now- Here's where I start to get fuzzy. My question on this whole thing is a two-parter, so pay attention because there will be a quiz at the end. First- The GBLT community has always been the first group to preach about freedom of expression, equal rights to express themselves, etc. Now that's cool, I'm all about self expression. However- It seems to me that that is EXACTLY what they are up in arms and protesting about right now. The Chic Fill A people chose to express their dislike for the concept of homosexual marriage. (Again, I'm actually all for it. Life has a tendency to suck enough, if you can grab some happiness somewhere then go for it, more power to you. Also, having never been proposed to by a gay man I REALLY don't feel like I have a horse in that race, so to speak.) So the first part of my question is this: Why is it that people seem to feel like Freedom of speech and expression is great- unless its about something they don't agree with? Then they do their best to protest it and force it to stop? News flash, people. Freedom of speech is for EVERYONE whether you like it or not. It would seem to me that it would be far more productive for the GBLT community to simply boycott the restaurant. Well, unless they REALLY like the food they serve there. Never eaten in one, so I couldn't say one way or another about that either. The second part of the question is: I wonder what they REALLY hope to accomplish by this? Does someone out there actually sit and think "Hmmm...if we stage a protest and force our beliefs on these people who are completely convinced that our lifestyle is wrong they'll see the light and change their minds." After all, protesting someone's beliefs IS the most expedient way to come to an agreement, right? Seriously, folks- What the hell is wrong with people? It seems to me like there are a lot of people out there that haven't figured out yet, if someone doesn't like you or your beliefs you aren't likely going to change their minds by protesting the fact that they don't like you or your beliefs. It seems to me that life as a GBLT would be difficult enough to live, without inviting the inevitable backlash of protesting something voraciously that they aren't going to change anyway. If the very liberal folks are to be believed its the 1% of the population that has all the money and hates gays, etc. anyway, so wouldn't this, in effect, create a HUGE advertisement for the restaurant and actually HELP them financially? As I said before, though, I really don't understand. Perhaps I'm missing some larger point somewhere along the way. Maybe someday I'll figure it all out, but in the meantime all I see is people moving further and further apart in a world that is already far to separated. In the end it seems simple. Everyone just wants to be left alone to live their life in the way that makes them happy. Maybe we should all start working on that and stop worrying so much about judging what makes someone else happy.

Hello, everyone. (If anyone is still reading this, I know its been a while) I'm still up here, hanging in Alaska. The Silvers are in! (Silver salmon, for all of you non inducted Alaskans) Every year I head into salmon season, a sparkle in my eye, a hopeful smile on my lips, visions of all the fishing and nature shows of my youth dancing in my brain. Then I get to the fishing spot and after 2 or 3 thousand casts I remember- Oh yeah- I'm a LOUSY salmon fisherman. Seriously, they have to be the MOST confounding fish in North America, likely in the world. I know guys that have a sort of 6th sense about salmon. They could tie a frikking eye bolt onto the end of the line and huge fish would somehow have swum through the eye and gotten caught. Its most unnerving. I, however, am not one of those people. Oh, I can fish, I do well enough with Pike and Burbot, but salmon? Oh, they're my unicorn. See, the problem is, salmon don't bite because they're hungry, like any SANE fish does. Oh no. Once they hit fresh water salmon are like a teenager on prom night. All they care about is spawning. The only way to hook the little buggers is to somehow magically decide what color lure is going to be threatening to them so they will bite it to defend their spawning grounds. Apparently I haven't yet received the ability to piss a fish off at will. Oh, I'll get one or two of the really stupid, aggressive, behavior disordered fish a season, the class bully of the salmon world, but I REALLY have to work on it. So..that's what I've been doing. I heard the siren cry at the gas station the other day. The conversation (In line, with a complete stranger, by the way,) went something like this: Stranger: *Nod*  "Hows it goin?"Me: *nod of acknowledgment* "Not bad. How are you?" Stranger: *Shrug* "Eh, not bad. Fish are in, so how bad can it be?" Me:*Alarm bells begin ringing loudly in ears* cautiously doubtful (You can't trust strangers on things THIS important, it obviously requires further questioning.) "They are? You catch some?" Stranger: *Shake of the head* "Not yet, but a buddy of mine limited out on silvers down at the mouth of the Willow." Me: (Hopeful, but still not sold) "Really? Today?" Stranger: "Nah, yesterday. He said he saw more moving in as he left."  Now, after this conversation the images of the fishing shows start. The information has been freely given and received, there are places and times, so it MUST be true. Hell, he wouldn't lie about his friend catching fish, it would be dishonorable! visions of  wild, mad gleeful giggling as cast after cast results in a massive fish on the line. Scores of  recently won battles line the shore with glistening, sparkling silver monsters, the fare of a thousand fishy banquets, Sushi the Emperor would be proud to have gracing his table! (In fact, the limit on silver salmon is 2/day, but my imagination has a tendency to go overboard, probably why I'm a writer.) So, head straight home, grab Beenie and fishing gear, (Corbin is 14 and doesn't fish. He might take an interest if a fishing pole was shaped like an x-box controller, but until a major redesign happens, he's out.) and head straight to 'The Spot' Which, if anyone cares to know, is actually Caswell Creek, but 'The Spot' sounds way more cool and mysterious. Anyway- Long story short, 2 hours pass and I've gotten one pink salmon. Now, Pink salmon are what most of you non-Alaskans think salmon is. Its really not bad, it DOES taste like salmon, just in a really..pinky way. People up here are fish snobs, though. Pinks are below disdain. They are to be thrown back or fed to the dogs (Coincidently, much the same thing is felt about dog salmon- Also not bad eating for us non discerning folks who just like a good fish dinner sometimes.) So...I catch the pink which was a Humpy, or male salmon. (Yeah, I know, we have weird names for EVERY type of salmon up here, its a crazy state.)  It was actually a very nice pink, all things considered, but there was only one, so I was going to take the hook out and send him back to his hormone addled paradise so he could breed and die as God intended he do. Then Beenie spoke up. She had decided it was WAY to nice a fish to let go, it HAD to come home and go into the freezer. I sighed and whacked him on the head. There is no point arguing with a 9 year old when a fish is involved. So...we carry the pink up the hill, Beenie proudly holding the fish, me with the 2 fishing poles, tackle box, her jacket, bottle of juice, gum, my gun, and likely 10 or 12 pounds of miscellaneous rocks that ALSO had to come home courtesy of Beenie..(See reference to 9 year old and fish, just substitute rocks..same thing) As we get to the top one of the regulars is, of course, getting ready to bring his son down and fish. Now, when you're in Alaska and you run into another Alaskan getting ready to go silver fishing, and you're carrying a pink, the parade of emotions is always hilarious. First- elation as they see that you have exerted the effort to carry a fish up the hill, so it MUST be worth keeping. Second- disdain as they realize what you are actually carrying. You must be a tourist. Third- sympathy. Because you're carrying a gun you must be a resident and therefore you MUST be starving in order to bring a pink home. Fourth- Understanding as you feel the need to explain yourself and you tell them your nine year old daughter insisted on bringing it home. Fifth- Complete understanding as they look over at their OWN nine year old son running enthusiastically down the hill happy and carefree while he picks up his fishing poles, tackle box, gun, son's jacket, landing net, fish whacker etc. Ah, bonding in Alaska.

Its a dark day for the country today. Obamacare has been upheld as 'constitutional'. Apparently it is a constitutional thing for the government to fine an individual who 'chooses' not to have health care. Interesting the way that's worded. Chooses not to have health care- I wonder- Is that like choosing to be gay? or choosing to have cancer? From my perspective (And no, I don't have health care for myself, by the way, I'm unemployed at the moment and I simply can't afford personal health care. My kids are covered by the state, but I don't qualify due to a 'glitch' Since my stepson Nick lives with me and his father doesn't pay child support I don't qualify for any assistance from the state.) most anyone who can afford health care will get health care. We're not talking a minor expense, people. I've looked into the costs of 'personal' health insurance. your most basic, crap coverage will run you around 250$ a month. For me at this time that is NOT an insignificant expense. (that is with around a 5000$ deductible, by the way) I simply can't afford it, so I won't be getting it. So now its constitutional to fine me because I can't afford to spend the money on something the government says I should have. Sounds a lot like legalized theft to me. Read your history books, anyone ever heard of 'debtor's prison'? The other thing that simply boggles my mind is all the democrats that are saying how great this is. Democrats who, traditionally are supposed to be for the 'little' guy. Do they not realize how many small businesses this new 'constitutional' directive is going to drive into bankruptcy? Small businesses are in the same boat I am. a little mom and pop shop which is barely struggling by will be forced to close simply because they can't afford to buy group insurance for Maggie Sue who helps out once or twice a week in the shop. Wake the hell up, people! The only ones this new directive is going to help are the insurance companies. The other gem that happened yesterday, which most people haven't taken notice of is the fact that Obama declared a national emergency because of Russia's decision on how they process weapons grade plutonium or some such. Now, I agree that we have to keep an eye on where the world's plutonium is going, kind of an important thing to know, but why a national emergency about it? Well, here's what a lot of people don't realize. In the case of a national emergency being declared all voting for officials is suspended until the emergency is declared over. Oh, another little gem? Under national emergency martial law can be declared with no notice by the President of the United States. Heads up, people. The masks are coming off and no one is even bothering to hide the fact that our 'free' country isn't being such a great place to live anymore. Hail Amerikastan.

I don't want to say the mosquitos are bad this year, but my first waking thought this morning was that somehow I must have gone on a bender last night and fallen asleep on the Willow air strip and there were about a hundred Piper Supercubs  circling and waiting for approach. As I slowly cracked my eyes open, waiting for one of them to land on top of me I saw the cloud of mosquitos circling my face.They are literally everywhere. The only consolation is that they should be gone soon. We had a couple of days of rain and it kicked their breeding cycle into high gear. My K.I.T.H (Killed in the house) count is over 400 and still climbing.  We got a new cat yesterday. Sylvester is his name and I think he'll be a pretty cool cat, once he manages to get up the courage to leave the kitty condo and start exploring. He hasn't moved that we've seen since he got here, not that I can blame him. Coming into a house with 4 other cats, 4 dogs, a goat and 3 kids intimidates the hell out of me sometimes, too. The infamous tattoo has been once again rescheduled. I'm supposed to get it Monday now. We'll see if it happens. Perhaps the stars will align and I'll be able to get it done this time. I hope so, I'd really like it to be fully healed before I go to work as a commercial fisherman in July. That's right, I'll soon have another truly 'Alaskan' experience under my belt. Some very good friends have given me the opportunity to help them out and I'm really looking forward to it. Other than that not a lot going on. I'm going to be cramming today to catch up on my school work. I have no idea what my problem has been lately, but my study habits have been abhorrent. I really need to remove my head from my backside and get back into studying again, so this weekend will be new leaf time. It's hard to explain. It seems like I've been marking time in life for the past couple of months, waiting for something to happen. Well, enough of that. Its time to plunge forward, move onward and outward and get back to the business of making a new life for myself and the kids. After all, if I don't, no one is going to do it for me. And on that note I best go and get to work. Still plenty of homework to do and I need to get my mosquito KITH numbers higher because they are driving me crazy! Have a good day, a great weekend, and an amazing life! Later!