Where The Summer Went / Happenings In The Outhouse 08-Aug-2025

Where in the world did the summer go?

Well, it's not done yet.  But, a few weeks ago, when county fairs were going in full swing in our surrounding area, I knew one thing was for certain: summer was gearing down.  School would be starting soon.

For us folks here in northwestern Minnesota, it also means a change in the season is approaching.  In the words of Ned Stark, from George R. R. Martin's great novel Game of Thrones, "Winter is coming."

But not yet . . . 

On a side note: I meant to post this last week, but something came up and I had to write last week's post first.  Check that one out.

Reliance On Power / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-Feb-2025

The other morning, I woke up in the middle of the night to a deafening silence.  There was no hum of life.  No whirl of the fan in our room--or in any other room.

The only sound was the low ringing of silence . . . 

I sat up in bed and discovered that the power was out.  It was three in the morning, and although the streetlights were on, our electricity was out.

This happened late July last year, and the height of summer, in the sweltering heat, and most of the town was celebrating their annual festival.

It's interesting how much we rely on electricity.  Without it, there is no internet.  No computers (well, we can still work on our laptops, but if we rely on going to the internet or cloud for anything, we're screwed).

Growing up, we used to spend a lot of time at my grandparents' cabin in northwestern Minnesota.  It was so close to Canada, we could walk to the border.  There was no electricity, no running water.  If you needed to use the bathroom, for us males it was either pee in the woods or drop your drawers in the outhouse.  I loved it out there.

Imagine what your life would be like, even for a few minutes or hours, or even days, without electricity.

Another Great Moment / Happenings In The Outhouse 06-Dec-2024

As if 2024 couldn't be more awesome and incredible!

The year started with my wife and I getting married in January.  Then, the long process of me adopting her youngest daughter Madison was finalized on Monday.

What a great year 2024 has turned out to be!

Be Thankful, Always / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-Nov-2024

With yesterday being Thanksgiving here in the United States, it's always a time to reflect on what we're thankful for.

But let's take it one step further.  Let's always be thankful.  Be thankful for what we have, what we have been given, for the opportunities.  Even the steps backward we can be thankful for, if something doesn't go right.

What are you thankful for today, tomorrow, yesterday . . . ?

Another One Bites The Dust / Happenings In The Outhouse 01-Nov-2024

Last week, I read a blog post from an author I follow and . . . well, I'm not going to name this author nor even imply if it's a he or her.  Anyway, this author went on a raging post of blatant BS about why they are voting for a particular candidate and, once again, is completely blind to the one they're advocating for.  This author's spouse is also an author, and is quite a bit more vocal about it.

To put it mildly, I am blacklisting this author from my reading list.  What's disheartening is that I have learned a lot from them from Kickstarter campaigns and other writing courses--oops, did I say too much?  Maybe it will narrow down who it is?

I don't care.

Much like other authors that I have written off for their blatant ignorant political views, I am adding another one to that list (I already unfollowed and written off the spouse, who is a LOT more focal).  I deleted the RSS feed for the blog, will scrub them off of my social media feed, and will not have anything more to do with them.

Period.

Am I being dramatic?

Again, I don't care.  Politics and the entertainment field do not mix.  No matter what side of the aisle you are on, they do . . . not . . . mix.  Period.

Rant over . . .

12,000 Books And Counting / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Aug-2024

I have well over 12,000 books on my Kindle.

Will I get a chance to read them all?  Not a chance.

I recently went through all of them, downloaded the ones that I want to read, and then categorized them given their topic.  I have whittled that list down to roughly 1,500 to read.  Yes, that is still quite a "to read" pile.

Now is the task of going through each book that interests me, and reading it.

Sometimes, tasks that seem daunting at first can be looked at from a different perspective.  The task may still be daunting, but not quite as much.

Proud Dad Moment Number Three #prouddad / Happenings In The Outhouse 24-May-2024

Today is yet another #prouddad moment.  My youngest daughter (not including a stepdaughter that is finishing up 7th grade) is graduating from high school today.  Mykayla has certainly grown into an exceptional young lady these past number of years.  A few weeks ago, she took home several awards and scholarships (much like her older sister Mariah), and by the end of the summer will be heading off to North Dakota State University with, so far, an undeclared major.

She has a very creative, determined mind, and is very talented when it comes to creative activities.  This past year for speech competition, she not only wrote on speech from scratch, for rewrote it in its entirety twice, and tweaked it here and there for the next few weeks thereafter.  She has blossomed in her theatrical skills too, and was a valued member of the drama team.

Her career interests are vast, and with an undeclared major the field is wide open for what she can accomplish.  Her other interests are also as vast as myself, from superheroes and Star Wars to Doctor Who and board games.  She is one of the kindest and appreciative young people I know, and is always quick to say "Thank you!"

Mykayla has been a type 1 diabetic since she was three, and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the subject.  Not only has she helped her older sister navigate this new world of diabetes since September 2023, she has given advice to her older brother who was a little younger when he got diabetes.

Her life will be interesting to watch as she will soon find her place in this world.

Cleaning House / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-May-2024

For the past month and a half, my wife and I have been cleaning out the basement.  Getting rid of old stuff that should've been thrown out long ago and organizing the rest for a more comfortable living space.

One of these areas is an office room.  I used to do the majority of my writing in that room, until circumstances with my late wife made it so I had to do it upstairs.

I have still been writing.  Right now, I'm in the beginning of a new tale, one that I have had the bones of in the back of my mind.  I'm at a point where I don't know where to go, but that's okay.  I'll brainstorm my way of out it, like I do all my other stories that I have gotten stuck in.

Big News / Happenings In The Outhouse 19-Jan-2024

Keeping this one short today.

I have a big announcement coming up tomorrow.  It's a personal announcement, not a writing one.

Stay tuned . . .

Holiday Happenings / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Dec-2023

This week, I finished a short story.  I'm submitting it as part of a Kickstarter campaign I helped to fund.  It was originally going to be part of another short story submission, but this one fit better.

As we get closer and closer to Christmas, my family and I have been watching a long line-up of Christmas-themed movies.  From Christmas with the Kranks and Deck the Halls to A Christmas Story and Elf and everything else in between.

Making memories.

What do you think of when you think of the holidays?  From your childhood?

Merry Christmas!!!

Concert Etiquette / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Aug-2023

Okay, I'm going to rant a bit.

Over this past year, I've been going to quite a number of concerts and as well as a sports event, and I've noticed a trend that is a bit disturbing.

Much of this may seem petty to some, and frankly I don't care how it comes across.  If you feel it does, then move along.  This post isn't for you.

Still with me so far?  Here we go . . .

First, these concerts or games, even in the cheaper sections, cost a bit to get into.  Depending on your situation, you may have to book a hotel or Airbnb.  You may have to pay for parking or an Uber/Lyft driver.  You may even have to pay for drinks/food once you're there.  Here's my issue: did you go there to enjoy the event or go there just to socialize and pay absolutely no attention to the event/concert at hand?  For some, this may be the only event they're able to go to this year.  It's special.  Quite possibly a once-in-a lifetime event.

My issue is the many who seem to ruin it all by their rudeness, drunkenness, and downright disregard for public decency.

Think of others for a change.  If you find yourself getting up from your seat every few minutes to grab a drink or something to eat and not even pay attention to what's going on, then why did you even go?  You are simply ruining it for others who DID go to see what's going on.

There.  Rant over.  Who knows, I may expand on this later.

Peace out.  Enjoy life.

My First MLB Game - Twins Vs. White Sox / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-July-2023

Last week, I attended my first Major League Baseball game.  The Minnesota Twins vs. the Chicago White Sox.  We went as it was Donate Life Day with the Minnesota Twins, as a way of celebrating kidney organ donors and their families and to raise awareness for kidney disease.

I have to say, it was the most fun I have had in a long, long time.  Even not being much of a sports fan at all, it was a lot of fun to be there.  We were seated right off of the third base line, and there were so many home runs, it was hard to keep track of them all.

The Twins defeated the White Sox 9 to 4.  There were 4 home runs for the Twins, and 2 for the Sox.  One standout was Byron Buxton, who hit two of the four homers.

Another standout was one of the stadium ushers.  You see, my mother needed a wheelchair, and this gentleman not only escorted her to the right section (on the other side of the stadium), he picked her up after the fireworks (which were amazing!) and escorted her back to the main entrance.  He got to know all of us, where we were from.  I only wish I caught his name.  You could tell that he absolutely loved his job.

In my recent book Pop Flies And Grounders, the main characters go to a Twins game.  Granted, it was in the mid-80's when Kirby Puckett was the most known player, but it was interesting how close I got some of the details.  Keep note, I did say some.  I did take into account a wide array of creative license with the book.

The cost of the tickets, food, and merchandise was fairly reasonable too.  So if you are in the Twin Cities, check out a Twin game.  It is something we'll do again.

Thoughts Behind Certain Rules / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-May-2023

A few weeks ago, my girlfriend and I went to a Kenny Chesney concert at a nearby town.  It was a great time.

One thing I noticed prior to walking into the arena were the rules regarding prohibited items.  There were the usual things that made sense.  No weapons or outside beverages/snacks or explosives.  No animals (excluding service animals, of course) or illegal drugs, etc.

One stuck out: no video cameras or recording devices.

Huh?  Nearly every person in the building has a video camera/recording device.  It's called . . . a cell phone.

The very first concert I went to was Motley Crue in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  In order to get inside, everyone was patted down.  I had a retainer case (I had recently gotten my braces off) in my front pocket and the security guard pointed at it and demanded to know what that was.  So I showed him.  Nothing nefarious at all.  There were similar signs regarding recording equipment.  Not long later, I did obtain a bootleg copy of the same Crue concert that happened a few nights before.  I don't know the story behind it, but it was interesting that it was still recorded.

A few nights after the Kenny concert, we went to another concert at a local casino.  I noticed the same signs about recording equipment.  I pointed it out to my girlfriend.  We chuckled, and commented that everyone in the place has one of those in their pocket.

Some rules are fine.

Others . . . for the love of God, eliminate them.

New Story and Vacation / Happenings In The Outhouse 15-July-2022

During the last week of June, as Sweet Dreams was making its way out into the publication world, my intentions was to crank out a short story for the upcoming Writers of the Future contest.

Well, life got a little chaotic (but in a good way) and I decided to hold off and work on it for the next round.  I have a few thousand words into it, and I want to do it right.

Last week, I was in Whitefish, Montana on vacation with two of my kids, the new love of my life, and her youngest kid.  It was a fantastic time.  A much-needed vacation.

Blog Post 1000! / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-March-2022

What started in June 2010, with hopes and aspirations of being a published author (although the idea of what that entails has changed greatly since then), has now grown to a regular weekly blog where I write about my current work-in-progress, thoughts of the creative process, the writing process, or even life in general.

Most blogs are written the same week they're posted, and in some instances the day before I have no idea what to write, but then something pops in and I toss it down on the virtual page.

Regular readers of my blog have witnessed my late wife's sudden illness with acute myeloid leukemia in early 2011, then to her passing in January 2020.

They have also witnessed the publication of my novels, short stories, and novellas/novelettes.

This is blog post number 1000!

Hard to believe I have written so many posts, that so much has changed.

Now, onward to the next 1000 blog posts!

Being Thankful / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-Nov-2021

Today, and everyday, I am thankful.

Thankful that I am alive.

Thankful for my health.

Thankful that I have been presented with opportunities, and I have been given the insight to pursue a number of those opportunities.

Thankful for my loving family, my extended family, and even the new family that God has brought us together.

It is easy to go through life looking at the negative side of everything.  I could say, oh sure I'm alive but my first wife died and many people I have known are no longer with us.  I could say, my health isn't the best as it could be and no matter what I do it doesn't seem to get better.  I could also say that I have a job with a steady paycheck, and I have published several stories of varying length, but I'm not rich and famous like I want to be.

I am thankful for what the Lord has given me.

Look to the positive side of life.  There is too much going on to focus on the negative.

Be thankful for what you have.  Even if you struggle with finding a single thing, it's there.

Proud moments #prouddad / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-May-2021

Today is a truly #prouddad moment.  My beautiful daughter, Mariah, known by many as Mo, the ginja ninja, our little ginger, and oh so many more, graduates from high school today.

To say she has accomplished much in eighteen short years is an understatement.  Not only has she maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her entire school career, she went on to the state competition this year for speech and won 8th in the creative expression category (she probably would've gone on to state last year if it wasn't for a certain virus and the speech season was cut short), she has maintained successful employment at the local bank and is known by many who frequent it with her infectious smile and sense of humor, she has helped many of her classmates with homework over the years, is an avid golfer, is an accomplished vocalist in the high school choir, competed successfully in knowledge bowl, is on the church board as one of the youth advocates, teaches Sunday school, is an extremely talented actress in drama, and the list goes on and on and on . . .

She works hard at what she does, and has reaped the rewards of it.  This was especially shown at this year's senior awards ceremony as she took home 19 separate awards and/or scholarships.

Most of all, she has been like a rock to me and a voice of reason, especially throughout the past few years with the failing of her mother's health, eventual passing, and dealing with the daily grind of being a single dad and widow.  She will be sorely missed as she attends the University of Minnesota in the fall, majoring in biomedical engineering.

Love you, Mariah!  You have truly made me a #prouddad.

What it takes to be better / Happenings In The Outhouse 03-July-2020

Last week, I went on a bit of a rant about being better.

Now it's time for everyone to put it into practice.  It's simple, really.  But at the same time it's not.  Because we're all human, and there has only been One who has walked this planet who has been perfect.  But is that an excuse to not even try?

Nope.

Let's start by being thankful for what we have: life.  Because it could end tomorrow.

Then let's quit being so angry.  At everything!  Seriously, people, if we would just take the time to love your neighbor, many of the problems in our society would go away.

Along with anger is jealousy.  This also needs to go.  I could care less if Jeff Bezos has tons of money and either supports or doesn't support your causes.  Instead, find out what he did, get out and stay out of debt, and create wealth for yourself.  No one on this planet is more privileged than the human being.  We were all created in the image of God, every single one of us.  So what if your environment makes it difficult to achieve success.  The only difficulty is within your own mind.

For now, let's work on these.  It'll still be a battle.  But if we work to better ourselves each day, the world will be better.

Be Better / Happenings In The Outhouse 26-June-2020

My heart hurts.

A few weeks ago, I stayed off of social media completely for an entire day.  It felt so good to do so.  All I see are negativity and to completely stay away from it was heavenly.

Of course everyone seems to view their opinion as correct and not hateful.  It's always the other side.  Let me speak to them for a moment.  Please take a step back and be honest with yourself.  What do you hate?

I have lived through many Presidencies in the United States, and I have NEVER in my life seen such hatred toward our current President.  Yet these same people who HATE him preach that we shouldn't hate people who are different than them.

Hypocrites.

And, of course, these hateful people are the ones who seem to dominate social media and the news outlets.

Wipe the slate clean.  Learn to be better.  Toward everyone.

Yes.  I said it.  Be better.

A Legacy Of Hats

We celebrated my grandfather's 96th birthday this past Easter weekend.

My sister, her husband, and her two boys were there.  Also, all of my aunts and uncles were in attendance, along with several cousins, their spouses and kids.  It was a joyous event, to say the least.  There were only five cousins and their families who were not able to come, but of those who did, we had a lot of laughs and heartfelt reminiscence.

As usual, my grandfather loves (yes, loves, I can't emphasize that enough) black licorice.  We gave him an assortment of black licorice from a small candy store in town.

The weekend was also bittersweet as my grandfather has recently moved into an assisted living home and is in the process of cleaning out the house so it can be sold.  For me, there were four-plus decades worth of memories in this home.  There were items from the home my grandfather put people's names on, from his own children, their spouses, and then the grandchildren.  I was given a piano, which had been a centerpiece for many Christmases when I was young as my grandmother (she passed away over 15 years ago) played it with skillful finesse.  There were also many items one could just take.  My grandfather had such an assortment of tools, they filled many tables in the basement and garage.

There were also bigger items for purchase.  Another centerpiece was the dining room table.  One of my cousins purchased it as he has a larger dining room and the table he owned was rather small.  Many memories were spent there, and it will be the centerpiece for many more in its new home.

In the den was a writing desk.  The price was reasonable--honestly, everything with prices were reasonable and none of us thought about the money as it was going to help with my grandfather's living expenses.  I kept going back and back to the writing desk.  It spoke to me, in a way.  I put my name on it.

In a few weeks, it will be moved down (along with the piano and a corner couch) to my home.

One highlight of the day was what I'll call the legacy of hats.  My grandfather and grandmother had quite an assortment of hats.  Everyone picked through them and put one on.  We had so much fun putting these on.  One of my cousin's husband and myself each chose a fur-lined Cossack hat.

The legacy of hats filtered down to virtually everyone in attendance.  My uncle Rod told me that my wife needed one.  He chose one that he thought would work, then sifted through what was left, over and over again, always coming back to his original choice.  It was fun to watch him choose just the right one for my wife.  He truly looked like a kid in a candy store.  He ended up with the original.  It fit her well.