Home. We only lost three hours due to icy roads this last run.

Driving a Kenworth tractor-trailer is what I do now. I'm still a troubadour, though. I won't forget.

Sandman the Truckin' Troubadour.

It's more real than "Sandman the Rappin' Cowboy." But I'm no real trucker, either.

What am I then?

A little wave on the Big Sea.
Hungry for God.

. . . from the road (somewheres near George, Wa.).

Shawn and I head out tomorrow morning, our trek having been postponed because of snow. That's cool, I like "down time." I wrote a Valentine to Grandma Herak, watched a couple Alicia Keys videos on YouTube, plunked around on an out-of-tune banjo, ate Mom's cranberry brownies, went to the post office, sent three CDs to Idaho, bought and installed a new car battery, and, last but not least, read Barack Obama's Call to Renewal speech on his Senate website. He's a good egg, I say.

Yes, Obama's a good egg. Hillary's a shiny apple. McCain's a tough nut. Huckabee's a southern ham. And Edwards & Romney are burnt toast (wheat & white, respectively).

POLITICS 2008: It's What's for Breakfast.

A couple days ago I bought two hi-tech gadgets in Dickinson: a Broadband Access modem for my computer and a cell phone signal amplifier kit. I also upgraded my Verizon calling plan to make it Broadband Access capable. Now my computer has Internet access wherever there are cell phone towers. This means I can take my laptop on the road with me and use it to check weather reports or emails or whatever. Also, my phone now gets good reception in Dunn County. Sweet.

Received an email today from a high school student in Bismarck:

i was crashing at a friend's house and she had a really big box of cds that she was gonna take to the pawn shop. i stayed up all night and listened through them, and your stuff was really good so i bought it from her, i had no idea it was local, i figured you were some long dead indie legend or something.

I like the "indie legend" part, but not so much the "long dead" part.

By the way, if anyone wants to sell me back any of my first three CDs or nine tapes, let me know. I'll pay way better than a pawn shop.

Performed three songs tonight at the Prairie Rose Annual Show in Dickinson: "Sarina," "Friendster Testimonial," and "Ballad of a Salad"--all love tunes off Good to Be Awake. Other acts included the Dickinson High School Choir, Silver Sage (pictured), Lance Rustand & Lacey Perhus, and the Prairie Rose Chorus. Sold seven CDs.

I was thanked at end of show by a gal who called me "The Rockin' Cowboy." Made me chuckle.

The word "chuckle" always makes me chortle.

****

The temperature is -9 F. Shawn "Raging Hormones" Goodall just called to say that all three Washington mountain passes are closed, due to snow. Our Monday trip might be delayed.

"Raging Hormones," you ask? That's Shawn's CB radio handle, or at least it used to be. I've only heard Shawn use the CB once. Truckers mostly use cell phones now, keeping the other handy for backup.

My CB moniker is "Hollywood," compliments of Shawn. I have yet to actually use the CB, however.

"Don't get mad at some'un who knows more'n you. It ain't their fault."
-Anonymous

Welcome to the Year of the Rat! Goodbye, Year of the Pig.

Two days ago, Shawn and I unloaded another 9,000 pounds of live tilapia at our usual seafood warehouse in Vancouver, B.C. Our customer's spirits were higher than usual, probably because it was the eve of Chinese New Year.

Getting a dose of Chinese-Canadian culture is a job perk. Plus, I love the smell of fresh crab and carp and rain once a week, if only for 45 minutes.

Another bonus of my nomadic occupation is the weekly supper at Toro Viejo in Post Falls, ID. I always order tacos del pescado, and Bossman always picks up the tab. Friends, I guarantee you that there's no Mexican restaurant in North Dakota or even South Dakota that can compete.

The most concentrated dose of culture I get each week is trucker culture. I'll talk about that soon.

Super Bowl XLII was boring until the last half of the last quarter, when the Giants pulled ahead for good. It's sad that the Patriots lost their bid to be undefeated this year, but in the big picture who cares?

I'm a Chargers fan.

I watched it at McFadden's, with lots of little ones on my lap throughout.

In Dunn County, ND, deaths are at least three times more common than births. And it might be a lot more than that.

I attended my friend Dorothea Pelton's funeral this morning. Dot would've turned 100 next year. She was a rancher who, up until a couple years ago, lived with her dogs and horses in a remote cabin along the Little Missouri River in the badlands north of Killdeer. Many years ago, she and her husband, Les (d. 1993), became overnight millionaires when oil was discovered beneath their clay and buckbrush ranch. Instead of keeping the money, they donated much of it to the Dunn County Historical Society (DCHS) to build a state-of-the-art historical museum.

I owe plenty of thanks to Dot and Les for giving me the opportunity to curate the Dunn County Historical Museum from 2004-2007. Even though I was employed by and answered to DCHS, it was really Dorothea I served. Her generosity of spirit was a rare and inspiring thing.

Big Pearl had two flat tires and a broken leveling valve on our last run. Snoqualmie Pass was closed for three straight days because of avalanches. We lost 15 hours waiting to get over Stevens Pass, also due to ice and snow.

Shawn said this was one of the more rugged runs he's made. Trucks were spun out everywhere.

A guy gets grungy after 85 hours in an 18-wheeler. This particular double-clutcher needs an immediate shower and shave. My cavities could use a good brushing, too.

It's cold enough to make a polar bear hunt for cover (-50 wind chill), the roads are ugly, and the winds are wilder'n a turpentined raccoon. We head out in a few hours.

I ain't afear'd, tho'!

I got snake blood in my veins. I got more guts than yuh could hang on a fence.

More grit than the Sahara Desert.

Free House!

Yet another reason why I love western ND.

But to have it moved to Dunn Center, plus basement and remodeling, would cost at least $25,000.

It might be worth it, though. I'd call it the Barn and raise me a family of nine or so kids and grow a garden out back with lots of carrots, corn, dill, and raspberries. Maybe some spuds and watermelon and tomatoes and green leafy salad fixings. Pumpkins, too, and, of course, onions. I wonder how portobella mushrooms would do?

Lake Ilo's only a mile away. We could eat fish and raise a few chickens. Eggs are nice . . .

Have you heard my song Ballad of a Salad? That's Jen Grady on harmonies.

In the News:

1. Heath Ledger is dead. Crikey sad! Another awesome Australian bites the dust.

2. My friend Diana Arens, from Olympia, had her last "Free Things Are Cool" radio show on KAOS three days ago. Here's an article about her, with photo. I was briefly interviewed for it, so you can read my thoughts about her there. (FYI, Diana produced my second CD, Love's Hangover Sale, and co-produced my third, Until the End of Time.)

3. Another pal of mine, Vanessa Renwick, had her seven-minute movie, Red Stallion's Revenge, accepted into the International Film Festival Rotterdam (2008). Trisha Lovgren and I co-wrote the score for it, which can be heard on my last CD, Good to Be Awake. The song is called "Death of a Red Mare."

4. A spacious 90-year-old, three-story house in Killdeer is being given away to the first person who will move it and renovate it. It's very tempting to put it on the large empty lot next to my current house. I could fix it up, as time permits, in preparation for a future family. My current nido is barely big enough for two.

If you want to see a creepy five-minute movie called "The Sandman," click here.

Synopsis: Evil Dr. Sandman creates a mechanical girlfriend & names her Olympia.

Happy Birthday! You are still missed.

Here's a song I wrote.

Grandpa bought an old banjo. He wants me to learn how to chord it so we can perform for the elders at Hill Top Home of Comfort. He'd play harmonica. I'm not so sure I'm up to the task, but I'll try.

My brain has really been spinning this weekend. Next summer could be a fruitful one, literally. I plan to pick several dozen gallons of buffalo berries, juneberries, chokecherries, and wild plums, and make jam to give as gifts and sell on tour. I'll even make a fancy label.

When to tour again is the question, though. If Shawn can find a driver, perhaps a week in March, a few weeks in July, and a couple months next winter. That'd be ideal.

Time is on my side.

Yesterday was the official kick-off to Dunn County's 100th Anniversary. I went to two events, one in Killdeer and one in Dodge. There was food, music, comedy, and a speaker. Many more Centennial-related events will be held throughout the next few months.

Our motto is: "A Century Dunn & Just Begun!"

Should be an animated year. The Museum will be hoppin', too, which reminds me . . . it's time to go meet the new curator and find out how he's faring in his new position. He probably has a few questions for me, too.

This is Natalie.

She is sassy.

I love her.

Off to Vancouver, B.C., in a few hours. Shawn's been driving all weekend, so he'll need a rest. I never get tired of seeing the sun rise over the Dakota badlands or the moon float over the Montana Rockies.

On a somber note, two of my best lady friends, Lacy (Shawn's girlfriend) and Natalie (my girlfriend-if-I-lived-in-Olympia), both lost their beloved grandmothers last week. I attended Lacy's grandma's funeral on Saturday. Her name was Martha Dahl Fischer. Shawn says Martha was a "sweet, gentle woman who made the best cookies and lemonade." According to Lacy, "Grandma got kinda feisty in old age, after Grandpa Dutch died." Maybe that's where Lacy gets it!

The glamorous picture to the left is of Natalie's grandmother, Joy, holding one of her children sometime in the early '50s. Natalie says that Joy "kept her sexy legs her whole 79 years."

Rest in peace, Mrs. Fischer and Grandma Joy.

I whupped G & G at Pinochle tonight.

Tour Report, January 2008 :

Show 1: Orcas Island, WA - New Year's Eve show at Doe Bay Resort (see Jan. 2nd entry).

Show 2: Olympia, WA - Tiffany organized a super house-party show. Froseph played, followed by me and then Bryce Panic. Bryce's full-out rap set was revelatory. Froseph put it best: "Bryce is my new, most favorite superhero!"

Show 3: Spokane, WA - Benefit show for A.S.A.P. (I never did learn what that stood for). This was an anarchist house show filled with lots of youthful artists, dumpster divers, bike mechanics, and anti-imperialist tacticians. I played first, then had to split for my downtown show. Froseph reported that the night went swimmingly and he made many friends.

Show 4: Spokane, WA - Benefit show for my gas tank, at Prago Cafe. Prior to the show, the space had been rented by a flock of skydiving enthusiasts who were watching life-sized video projections of themselves leaping from planes, to the music of high-octane hardcore. Isamu Jordan, music columnist for The Spokesman-Review, was there and did a 20-minute interview after my performance. I sold at least 15 hats between sets. Turns out trucker hats are a worthwhile investment, unlike old cowboy boots! All hats were gone by show's end.

Show 5: Missoula, MT - Froseph and I were worried about this show, because I hadn't promoted it very well and because it was scheduled for 3 a.m. in a vintage clothing store. Fortunately, my new good friend Jeff Medley did everything required to make the show a grand success. He made excellent flyers, helped get us a great review--with photo--in the Missoula Independent, and chose the perfect venue: Hausfrau. Johna, the owner of Hausfrau, arranged a sharp opening band (a girl/guy saw-and-banjo duo).

A side-note about Johna: she lived directly across from me in an apartment building in Missoula back in 1989. I had a crush on her, and have wondered what became of her.

After the Missoula fun (thanks again, Jeff & Anne!), Froseph and I, fighting off tiredness, barreled four hours east to Earl and Susan's. The next morning Earl joined us for soak at Boiling River in Yellowstone Park. We discussed philosophy like angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo.*

The next day Froseph & I, like Cassady & Kerouac, drove back to NoDak, where Frojak caught Amtrak home to his Winona shack. Farewell, amigo! Thanks for the great comradery and for recording my songs for the new CD.

*Ginsberg

Different political strategies . . .
(Satire from The Onion)

Just returned home from an epic and excellent music adventure. I'll take a two-hour cat nap, then head back to the coast with Shawn Goodall and a tanker full of bottom feeders. Tomorrow at midnight I'll be in Seattle again.

On Saturday I'll recount the last few shows.

Just rocked out five shows in three days. Froseph and I are now at Earl's in Livingston, about to head down to Boiling River Hot Springs in Yellowstone Park.

Note to Ladies Lawrence & Vine:

I'm still regularly using the Sand Cam!

Today was jam-packed: Radio 8 Ball in Seattle, Olympia show w/ Bryce Panic, everything.

Too tired to write, basically.

Spokane tomorrow!

Just finished recording around 15 new songs in the last 15 hours. Froseph's the producer. Some of the new songs include: "Artesian Lover," "Crazy Animals," "Wedding Song Man," "Natty Joy," "End of America," "The Hermit," & "Shelly the Sea Turtle."

I should mention that the view from the Doe Bay studio is world class. We look out upon Otter Cove and, in fact, can view otter families playing betwixt the salty waves.

One word: Paradiso.
--------------------------------------------

Tiffany.


Froseph & Casandra.

The New Year's show was fun. I played an indoor set 'til about midnight and then a bonfire set 'til about 3 a.m. Sold a lot of trucker hats and antique souvenir soaps!

I'm still here on the island at Doe Bay Resort with Tiffany, Casandra, & Froseph. We've commandeered two large buildings, one for living in and the other for recording in. Froseph and I recorded a couple songs yesterday and hope to capture a dozen more by tonight.

2008! Things are gonna get weird, I have a feeling . . .