Christmas 2018 was a wonderful family time. Lots of food, games and conversation. I'm proud of my children and significant others.

CHRISTMAS STORYTELLING EVENT

I formed a team and we put on a Christmas storytelling event. The stories were very touching. What a great group of tellers.

Elfis helped me sing Silent Night.

RAINFOREST WALK

Today I got away from all the hubbub and took a walk in the rainforest. It's only a 30 min drive from our house with no stoplights or traffic. 

(Click on images to enlarge)

UGLY SWEATERS

Parteee Time. Lots of Christmas parties in December. Getting good use of our ugly sweaters.

POETRY READING

Black Gold Coffee in Black Diamond hosted a poetry reading. I sang a Sasquatch song. 

Published Books

The primary purpose for the blog is about my writing. I've published 18 books so far and am working on more. In addition to writing, I've expanded into storytelling and public speaking. My artistic and photographic skills have also increased with self-publishing

Yuletide Music

Now that Thanksgiving and Black Friday are over, we can turn on the Christmas music and play along. BTW, the elf has come out of hiding.

Thankful on Thanksgiving

Great Thanksgiving table spread. I'm very thankful for opportunities in the United States. 

Chinook Pass

I drove to Chinook Pass for a change of scenery and wasn't disappointed. There's about 4 inches of snow at the summit. It won't be long until they close it for the winter. A couple ravens begged for a handout. Awesome birds.

(Click on images for full screen)

HOUSE PROJECTS

My fall project: redoing a bedroom. Stripping wallpaper, texturing, painting and adding new carpet. Wow! What a lot of work! In exchange for the bedroom I got the full loft for my art studio. It also got new carpet.

Christmas Storytelling Party

Fireside storytellers will have a Christmas party on Dec 10. I'm using the event to achieve a goal in Pathways. I've created a team to organize and carry out the function.

https://www.firesidestoryleagueoftacoma.org/

PLATEAU AREA WRITERS ASSOCIATION

As a Public Relations officer for PAWA, I contacted Carol Stanley to put on a presentation for our quarterly meeting. She's an inspirational speaker and voice coach.

TELLEBRATION

Mt Tahoma Storytellers hosted a storytelling event called Tellebration. I told an Irish folktale; The Salmon of Knowledge. It was a delightful evening with eight storytellers.

Upcoming Events:

Christmas Program-December 10

Irish Program-February 11

World Storytelling-March 22

RAINIER HILLS PHOTO CLUB

This month's photo club assignment is 'sports'. Since I don't shoot team sports, this is all I have. This was taken at the Roy Rodeo last year. I had the setting on burst mode and caught this calf roper in action. (Click on images for full screen)

September theme was farm animals. The first was a technical winner and second a great alternate image.

http://www.rainierhillsphoto.com/gallery/

PHOTO WORKSHOP

Rainier Hills Photo Club hosted a workshop on children's photography. My neighbor has a photo studio with hundreds of props. Parents brought over a dozen children. I came away with about 3 dozen keepers. What a great workshop.

(Click images to enlarge)

FIFE ARTS COMMISSION

Fife Arts Commission started a guest speaker series. I gave my Strategic Storytelling presentation. I sold several books which is a plus.

STORY SLAM

Forrest Storytelling Festival hosted a story slam in which I signed up. I told my signature story, Horny Old Goat in front of 200 people. A little nervous at first but I did it.

IMPROV SHOW

I organized an improv presentation for NW Comedy Club. It was a super success. Charles Ames performed Sharon Dana and Ben Krack. We played a variety of games. This one is word freeze.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1119678628081028/

NW COMEDY CLUB HALLOWEEN PARTY

Our Toastmasters club, NW Comedy Club had a great Halloween party, complete with costumes and scary speeches. We meet the first Friday of every month at Denny's South Hill Puyallup at 6:30.

WRITING BUDDY

I am president of Bonney Lake Writers and we had a special guest, a talking skeleton. He offered several comments for a critique but none of them made sense. Check out my website at:

https://www.larrykrackle.com/

GHOST WRITER RELEASE

My latest book, a collection of ghost stories was released just before Halloween. So far, it's been a great seller. It's on Amazon if you want a copy. Ghost Writer book (Click on link) You may also get an autographed book from me for $12. Mail a check to

22907 107th St E  Buckley Wa 98321

Other books published on Amazon

Buzzed Bear

Bear Bytes

Captain Capsizer

Cowboy Bob

Dirty Birds

Evil Fish

Farmer Fritz

Hillbilly Harv

Hiker Heaven

Hyper Hiker

Singing Sasquatch

Toasties Tall Tales

DISTINGUISHED TOASTMASTER

July 2018 I completed all the requirements for my 2nd DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster). It was presented by my mentor Sherrie Kenyon at a Toastmasters club, Puyallup Valley Voices.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/180563815308071/

List of achievements to attain DTM

Communication Track

Competent Communicator (10 Beginner speeches)

Advanced Leadership Bronze 

Humorous manual (5 speeches)

Storytelling manual (5 speeches)

Advanced Leadership Silver

Entertaining manual (5 speeches)

Interpretive Reading (5 speeches)

Successful Club Series (2 speeches)

Advanced Leadership Gold

Specialty Occasion (5 speeches)

Professional Speaker (5 speeches)

Success Communication Presentation

(Thinking Power-Mental Flexibility)

Leadership Track

Competent Leadership (10 Projects, 30 roles)

Advanced Leadership Bronze

Club officer for one year

Attend Leadership Training

Form a Club Success Plan

2 Leadership Excellence speeches

Advanced Leadership Silver

District Leader for one year

Sponsor or mentor a club

High Performance Leadership

Several awesome public speakers at Toastmasters club, Puyallup Valley Voices. We have a certified coach and a non-profit president.

HISTORIC ABERDEEN

Not much left of the wharf and warehouses that once lined the Wishkaw River. Example of Billy Gohl's Union Hall.

Lumber Mill on the waterfront

Sailing ship navigating Grays Harbor.

Today's fishing boats in the marina.

How we rock under the docks.

(Looking for Billy Gohl's victims)

PUGET SOUND

Puget Sound is a large inland waterway stretching from Olympia to Vancouver BC. It's teeming with wildlife, waterfowl, and fish. It's an important shipping lane to major NW ports. Mt. Baker in the distance.

I have kayaked over 400 miles in inlets, bays and harbors. The Puget sound is a wonderful water sports area.

SALISH MOTIF

Salish art is rich in culture. Each motif portrays a spiritual being. Many legends are passed down from generation to generation. This is the life-giving Salmon Spirit.

Carved cedar masks inside longhouse.

NW SALISH CULTURE

Before the settlers arrived in the Northwest, Native Americans lived in longhouses. They hunted, fished and gathered shellfish from the abundant Puget Sound. Tillicum Village is a dinner theatre that portrays cuisine, customs, dance and art.