I started this blog on August 21, 2012, with the release of my first book, Titan Encounter. Most of those posts are now in what I call the “Early Blog.” I’m gradually updating their format and bringing them into this new journal. Back then the sole purpose of the blog was to promote my books, but gradually that changed.
That’s how it started but, over the years, I’ve mused about other things that are important to me, such as my family, my farm, rural life, and occasionally about politics and country. However, I try to limit the politics in this journal. If you want to know more about my political leaning go to The Conservative Alternative.
Dinner was the most interesting part of the first day of the conference.
When I say it that way it sounds like a bad thing, that the first day of the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference was a bust, but that isn’t so. Sometimes you meet the most interesting people around the dinner table.
Read MoreI recently met Sandy Crowell as she led a meeting of the Southwest Washington Writers.
This group of local writers is planning a one-day conference for September. She and the others in the group seemed nice so, at the end of the meeting, I volunteered to help.
Read MoreOne of my beta-readers, DeLynn, is a longtime family friend.
Life has taken her away from the area where I live; however, when she came back, to visit family and friends over the 4th of July, we visited.
Read MoreI meet with other writers from my area every week.
These writers have been meeting for nearly twenty years. I’ve only met with them for ten. The only time I don’t attend is when I’m out of state.
Read MoreI’m late posting this because I’ve been so busy, but I need to make the announcement.
I’ve retired.
No, I don’t spend the day in a hammock (well, not all of it) and I haven’t quit writing.
Read MoreKyle Pratt meets Kyle Pratt in Eek Alaska.
A week ago Loni, the Eek School secretary, said, “I just met someone with your name.”
“My first name, Kyle?”
“No your whole name, Kyle Pratt,” she replied.
Read MoreWhen you live in a rural Alaskan village the post office becomes a lifeline.
Eek is hundreds of miles off the Alaska road system. There is only one dirt road in the village. It runs from the airport through the village to an old airport on the other side. It doesn’t connect to any other road. This rough and often muddy lane is used by ATVs, snowmobiles, and as a walking path.
Read MoreOne definition of irony is an event that “seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.”
With that in mind, I submit this picture.
Read MoreI’m not sure who spoke first, but we were soon talking. She worked for the Lower Yukon School District, just north of my district, and like many others was trying to get home. She wanted to get to Seattle and then try and catch a flight east to Chicago. We talked off and on until the flight boarded and then were surprised to discover we were seated together. I was in 7C, she was in 7B.
Read MoreThe agent typed on the computer for a minute and then wrote my connecting flight information on a scrap of paper, tore it from the sheet, and handed it to me.
I stared at it for a second. “This is my ticket?” I asked holding the bit of paper.
Read MoreWe finally get to Bethel
After removing the freight from the plane loading our luggage was easy and quick.
Just before takeoff the pilot turned in his seat and gave the usual speech about seatbelts and, in case of a crash, where the emergency transponder was located, then he said, “If we get to Bethel and I start circling it’s because the visibility has gone down over the airport.”
Read MoreThe trip from Eek was like a trip across the river Styx.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement. As I’ve mentioned before, there are no roads in the region of Alaska where I work. Travel in winter is by snowmobile, bush plane, or dog team. I had chartered a plane for five teachers (including me), the principal, two children, and a dog.
Read MoreWinter has returned to western Alaska with a vengeance.
For several weeks the temperatures in and around the village of Eek have been extraordinarily mild with temperatures hovering in the mid to upper thirties.
Read MoreTraveling by bush plane is nothing like a regular airline.
As you may have guessed from the picture in part one, I did find Ferdinand and, with him driving, I rode to the airstrip sitting on the side of the ATV. Like the airfield the road to it is dirt, but with hundreds of potholes, mud, water, ice, and gravel. I’m always glad when these trips are over—my butt is sore and my pant legs are splashed with mud.
Read MoreI was supposed to report for jury duty on Tuesday of last week. I packed a bag with three days of clothes because travel at this time of year is always iffy. I might fly into Bethel and get stuck there, so it’s smart to pack extra underwear and socks.
Read MoreA man with two rifles stood just outside the door of my apartment.
No, it wasn’t a burglary or gang activity. It was Brett, the principal of Eek school. I live just across the hall from him and his wife. On this Saturday morning, he stood at the end of the hall wearing hip waders with one rifle slung over his shoulder and the other in his hand.
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