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. 

WORLD STORYTELLING EVENT

Fireside Story League of Tacoma is hosting a World Storytelling Event. It will be from 6-9 at Antique Sandwich in Ruston, Wa.
I will be the MC for the evening.

I've told many tales from storytelling manuals at Toastmasters for the last four years. I had enough to fill one book. Shortly after publishing it, I created an instruction edition. Toasties Teacher has over two dozen hints on writing and publishing.

I finally published four manuscripts that have been collecting dust. They're now on Amazon.

It's been a great year for  Toastmasters achievements. 

#1 President of Puyallup Valley Voices and we were Presidential Distinguished. 

#2 Area 44 Director and my five clubs attained Select Area Distinguished.

#3 Charted Sumner Lifelong Learners and our Division became Presidential Distinguished. 

$4 Formed NW Comedy Club and received a Triple Crown award. 

#5 The biggest award is a culmination of all: I received the highest award in Toastmasters.

        DTM (Distinguished Toastmasters)

GOLD SPEAKER'S AWARD

7 MANUALS

50 SPEECHES

6 INSTRUCTION MODULES

7-PART PRESENTATION

DEER HARBOR MARINA

KAYAKING IN SAN JUAN ISLANDS

NEW KAYAK HAULER AT ROSARIO RESORT

Storytelling in the mansion's library at Lakewold Gardens.

BLARNEY STONE

Kissing the Blarney stone may give the kisser the gift of eloquent speaking. However, it isn't east. The kisser has to lay down and lean over backwards. Notice the people 130 feet below the tower?

BLARNEY CASTLE

Blarney Castle

STORYTELLING

Storytelling at the Puyallup RV show. They created a picnic area with fire ring. It was called S'mores Center. Kids could roast marshmallows and listen to tall tales. 

TOASTMASTERS SPEECH CONTEST WINNER

TOASTMASTERS CONTEST WINNER

Toastmasters speech contests are a great way to hone your public speaking. Two years ago I never would have gotten in front of a group to speak. Toastmasters has taught me a lot.