List Price: $15.95
6" x 9" (15.24 x 22.86 cm)
Black & White on Cream paper
198 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1453643105
ISBN-10: 1453643109
BISAC: Biography & Autobiography / Literary
A carefully selected array of blog and journal entries that depict different events in the author's life as they happened. They are true as far as memory can be trusted to relate events accurately and interpretations are allowed. Most of the entries were written soon after the occurrence, although a few are memories dredged up from the past. Some of the stories are humorous and some are self-indulgent, but all are told openly from the one writer's perspective of looking at life through smudged and sometimes misty windows of the soul. Many of the stories are about wildlife encounters. Some are pretty straightforward while others are told from a more mystical and archetypal perspective. All are based on real life encounters however.
Samples and Photos from Slices of My Life: So Far
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| Brownsville Marina--Brownsville, WA USA |
Dedication Photo:
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| Dustin, a.k.a., "drapeful boy" in repose |
Introduction (no photos)
Life's Unexpected Moments (no photos)
Laughing Dolphins (Sample)
During a summer break from college, I worked at a restaurant in the Sea World theme park in Orlando, Florida. Although my job was mundane—serving up fish and chips with a pint of beer—my daily trek through the park to get to work was nothing short of delightful. I got to walk past all those lovely dolphins in the petting pools. That alone was worth the price of admission, and I didn't have to pay a dime for it. In fact, they paid me to do it. To work in the seafood restaurant, of course, not to play with the dolphins. Now that would have been a cool job, literally and figuratively.
On my way into work one fine summer day, I happened upon a woman who was clearly intent on petting one of the dolphins. Yet she appeared to be afraid to touch it. She'd approach, with hand extended, only to back off again without actually achieving her goal. I don't know if she thought she might get bitten or what, but she was clearly afraid to do the very thing she was itching to do. I stopped for a moment to watch her dance of progress and regress.
Finally she made her approach again. Just as she was about to touch the dolphin's head, it blew water at her through its blow hole. Then it stood up in the water and paddled backwards across the pool, laughing wholeheartedly, as only a dolphin can laugh. If you ever watched the television show, Flipper, from the sixties, then you'll have a good idea of what I'm talking about. That adorable laughter and smiling dolphin face was priceless. What was even more priceless was that my reaction of utter mirth to the dolphin's prank got the creature's attention. It looked at me and all but winked when we made eye contact. It was quite clear that the dolphin was delighted that I found its antics hysterically funny. The connection we made in that moment touched my heart and has stayed with me all these years.
Unfortunately my stint at Sea World didn't last long. It was the summer of the "energy crisis" in the late seventies, and the park had to resume winter season hours to cut back on the lack of tourist traffic that year. My hours got cut at the restaurant, gas prices rose, and it was clear that the gig was up. It was too far to drive from Winter Park to Sea World to work a just barely above minimum wage job, but I went away from that slice in time with a lifelong memory of connecting with one of the world's most enchanting and playful characters—the dolphin. Plus I learned how to pull a glass of draft beer, a skill I've never again had reason to use, but I’m certain it will show up some day in one of my novels. As will this story. Cheers! And don't forget to play a little every day. The dolphins tell me it's good for the heart.
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| Dolphin in play area of Sea World (not THE dolphin in the story) |
Zen and the Art of Watching Snow Melt:
The Edge of Night:
The Wandering Taoist Takes a Hike:
These photos are all scans of 35mm prints, thus the grainy texture of them. I apologize for the inferior quality of them, but it was in the days before digital cameras came on the market at a reasonable price. These are all shots of Mount Rainier and things I saw along the Sourdough Ridge trail where I hiked.
Close Encounters of the Wild Kind:
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| Bald eagle in landlady's tree next door. |
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| Bald eagle next door. Chairs in my yard. |
Leave it to Humans to Trash Paradise:
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| Felled trees in the yard next door. |
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| Destruction of bald eagle and owl habitat in process. |
I've included this ode to the dilapidated shack that stood next door to the cabin here, because I did include it in the Kindle edition, although it is not in the print edition, since its form is so different from the rest of the book. I also included the photo that went with it.
Ode to the Dilapidated Old Shack
Dilapidated old shack, I watched you for years, looking out through dirty windows at the canal and the Olympic Mountains, watching the bald eagles as their population dwindled then decades later began once again to grow.
Dilapidated old shack, I peeked through your dirty windows, trying to discern your ancient secrets of campouts and love trysts, of hopes of building a house there one day, hopes that perished not long before you perished too in the rush to demolish your view of the world.
Dilapidated old shack, just days before they bulldozed you, I hauled away your hidden stash of wood left there years ago by hands unknown. Your precious wood warmed me through a winter storm that left me with no heat. You may have saved my life…at least you saved my health. Thank you for that.
Dilapidated old shack, I still mourn your passing. I realize that we are so much more alike than we are different. I too stood looking out through dirty windows at the canal and the Olympic Mountains, watching the bald eagles soar, hunting for breakfast to feed their growing offspring.
Dilapidated old shack, I don’t know if you remember me, but I will always remember you. I looked out my front window and down to the path that led to your
My Life is an Open Shell (no photos)
Slow Down, Live Longer (no photos)
On the Move Again:
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Dustin encounters a deer in the front yard.
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| Dustin cautiously checking out the deer. |
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| Dustin takes a bath while deer checks him out. |
Thundersnow and Other Strange Phenomena (no photos)
Back to the Cabin:
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| View of Hood Canal from my yard |
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| View of Hood Canal from my yard |
Wild Things (no photos)
Still Tricky After All These Years:
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| Coyote at Northwest Trek |
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| Dustin claiming a comfy spot in the new house |
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| View of Bainbridge Island and Puget Sound from my new house |
A New Character Forthcoming (no photos)
I Brake for (Suicidal) Peacocks:
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| Peacock in neighbor peacock farm. |
Pacific Northwest Convergence Zones and the Pineapple Express (no photos)
Just Another Ho-hum Day in Paradise:
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| Brownsville marina in Brownsville, WA USA |
Don't Shoot! I've Got a Guitar! (no photos)
Otter Play Outside Today (no photos)
Split-Second Timing Sealed the Day (no photos)
Greet the Morning with Gladness:
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| Brownsville marina, Brownsville, WA USA |
A Pheasant Thanksgiving:
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| Village pheasant |
Pheasant Patrol (no photos)
But I Wasn't Dreaming of a White Christmas!:
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| View of Bainbridge Island and Puget Sound from my front yard |
Courier and Ives Morning:
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| Brownsville marina, Brownsville, WA USA |
Hoisting the White Flag:
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| Brownsville marina at Burke Bay, Brownsville, WA USA |
Have a Holly, Jolly Christ-MESS!:
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| Brownsville marina at Burke Bay, Brownsville, WA USA |
Out of the Time Warp and Into the New Year:
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| View of Bainbridge Island and Puget Sound from my front yard |
Eagle Eyes:
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| Bald eagle in front of my yard hunting for breakfast |
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| Bald eagle in front of my yard hunting for breakfast |
Break Out the Ark--The Pineapple Express is Back!
Silver-Lining Clouds at Sunrise:
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| Puget Sound in front of my house |
Weather Forecast: Partly Gauzy:
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| Puget Sound and Bainbridge Island emerging from the clouds |
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| Marrowstone Island |
Weather Guessing at Its Best (no photos)
The Eagle has Landed:
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| Bald eagle in neighbor's tree viewed from my living room |
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| Bald eagle in neighbor's tree viewed from my living room |
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| Bald eagle in neighbor's tree viewed from my living room |
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Duck...Duck...Still Waiting for the Goose:
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| Mallard duck in my front yard |
A Deerk by Any Other Name (no photos)
Kindred Spirit (no photos)
Kaleidoscope Twists:
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| Beginning of surprise snowfall in my front yard |
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| Brownsville marina under snow |
Perky Celtic Song Defense (no photos)
Larry the Sheep and His Brothers, Darryl and Darryl:
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| The Darryls are on the left, front and back, and Larry is to the right. |
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| One of the Darryls in the center, partial view of Larry to right |
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| The other Darryl |
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| Larry and Houdini in the rear; the Darryls in the front of the line |
Time to Hum with the Hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest:
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| Hummingbird at feeder on my front porch |
Amusing Myself (no photos)
Places I've Called Home: Brownsville, Washington:
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| Mailboxes at Brownsville, WA marina-silver box next to black one is mine |
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| Brownsville Marine and Deli |
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| Brownsville marine at Burke Bay, Brownsville, WA USA |
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| Brownsville marine at Burke Bay, Brownsville, WA USA |
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| Electric sunrise from my front yard |
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| Neon sunrise from my front yard |
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| Brownsville marina, Brownsville, WA USA |
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| Brownsville marina, Brownsville, WA USA |
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| Dramatic sunrise over Brownsville marina, Brownsville, WA |
Places I've Called Home: Poulsbo, Washington:
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| View of Bangor Subase on Hood Canal, Poulsbo, WA USA |
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| View from my front yard on Hood Canal, Poulsbo, WA USA |
Gift of the Raven
Small Things in Life (no photos)
Wishing Me a Pheasant New Year:
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| New village pheasant |
Auspicious Sign for the New Year:
Photo of the sign at Chief Sealth's grave site included with original blog resists insertion here for some reason. Please see this blog at http://slicesofmylife.net.
Sheet Sipping:
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| Autumn, a.k.a., "Llama Cass" |
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| Boaz, a.k.a. Dolly LLama |
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| Larry the Sheep |
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| Buttercup, a.k.a., "Darryl" |
Brushing Cats:
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| Dustin, my late beloved boy |
Two-Duck Escort:
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| Two neighborhood ducks |
Going Completely Bald Eagle:
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| Bald Eagle in tree below my house in park |
Fowl Play?:
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| Guineas and peacocks at peacock farm |
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| Peacock and guinea at peacock farm |
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| Peacock at peacock farm |
Peapock Power
The Winds of Change are Blowing Me Away:
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| Stepping out in faith |
Magic is Afoot: (photo of fairy C):
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| Mushrooms form a C-shape in my front yard |
Afterword (no photos)
About the Author
If you'd like to read more, you can find my titles online worldwide at many booksellers. You can also order titles from my online bookstore, Bookshop Without Borders using the links along the right side of this page. However, it's best if you drop me an email at bookshopwithoutborders@gmail.com or message me on Facebook. I can still invoice you via PayPal, but I can often offer you a better deal on shipping if you're buying multiple titles. You can still use credit cards, e-checks, or your PayPal account to pay. You can even let me know if you'd like to mail a check or money order. I'll be watching for it and will send your order as soon as I receive payment. You don't have to go high tech to get a book from me.
Here are the links to a few major online booksellers who can order or carry my books, as well as one to my favorite Indie bookstores (at the bottom):
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