Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Grandpa's funeral was today. Here's the obituary.

Big changes are coming to Sandland. Stay tuned.

Now, to Calgary with 10,000 lbs. of live tilapia.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Here's a poem Grandpa wrote:

Wolf Creek, 1929

I knew a place that never had
Electricity or plumbing
Or paint or pretty curtains
Just two homestead shacks nailed together
Banked with tarpaper and fragrant manure

It was home to three boys and a man
Unchurched but reverent of God
Pride was there, pride in honesty,
A day’s work, a well-cleaned corral,
A well-topped haystack, a good-broke horse
A perfect school attendance record,
The winning of a spelling bee.

It lacked a woman and mourned this lack
Sometimes with quiet tears on quiet and lonely nights.
The eldest boy said to the youngest,
“It’s not a mark of manhood to feel sorry for oneself”

And thus it was resolved and
Toughness woven with the fabric cut to Man’s measure.
Those long, cruel Depression years,
Empty and sterile to some, but not to us!

--Bob Sand

Friday, June 25, 2010

My grandfather, Bob Sand, died today at age 91.

The funeral looks to be Monday or Tuesday. I'll write more soon.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Roll Out, Cowboy showed in Sacramento this weekend. A promotional article was written up featuring an insightful interview of the film's director, Elizabeth Lawrence, and me: www.moviesonabigscreen.com.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Roll Out, Cowboy just won Best Documentary Award at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival (STIFF). Go TEAM R.O.C.!!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Just back from 96 hours on the road: Killdeer, ND, to Philip, SD, to load tilapia fingerlings. Philip to Renville, MN, to unload fry and re-load with adult tilapia. Renville to Toronto to unload our fish, and then a straight-shot home. Driving through Minneapolis this morning was sketchy--sharp detours and heavy construction. White knuckles to match a white Kenworth tractor and white tanks.

Now back in Dunn Center, "Heart of Dunn County."

Home is where I hang my hat and where I hug Hana. I wear my home on my sleeve.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Happy 91st birthday, Sandy Bob!
You're a good grandpa.

Painted by Hana Kasm.

Saturday, June 05, 2010

I read the news last night, oh boy . . . oil, punditry, despair, blood, blame. When I try to write about stuff like that, I feel like a duck in the mud. No voice, no wings.

Around 7:00 this morning neighbor Ed Danks knocked, rousing Hana and me from Dreamland. We'd set the alarm for 5:40, but had gone back to dozing. Ed gave us some venison sausage for our breakfast and asked if we would help him plant a few rows of potatoes in the community garden. We were pleased to get the invite. After ginger tea and sausage, we put our work clothes on and joined Ed in the field.

Good friends and dark earth make all the difference in how a day turns out.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

On the road again. Truckin' to Toronto Town with Tilapia. Back Saturday!

Speaking of Saturday, Roll Out, Cowboy, will be screening its Washington premier at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival on June 5th at 7:20 p.m. at the Northwest Film Forum. You can buy tickets here: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Venues/Stiff?film=3978435