Burt Walker

My Universe

A Year of Positive Immersion

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WARNING:  This article is over 1,500 words. If you're used to absorbing information in sound-bites, this article is probably not for you, but I ask that you make an exception.I'm Outraged About OutrageIn the immortal words of Cheech and Chong, "I'm sick up and fed." About what? I'm outraged with controversy and hatred and I am going to do my small part in trying to end it. Now that most of us are embroiled in social and other forms of media, we've become addicted the outrage-of-the-day. … [Read more...] about A Year of Positive Immersion

How I Published Two Books on the Same Day

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Here's how I did it. I worked my ass off for a year and a half and I had a lot of help. That I got everything together and submitted them on the same day was a total coincidence.  So there.  The rest of this article is about those two books.  Sorry if I didn't offer any inspirational secrets. If I can't toot my own horn on my own blog, then it's not safe to do so anywhere, right?  Yesterday, I submitted two new books for publication. One is fiction, my second novel. The other is … [Read more...] about How I Published Two Books on the Same Day

My Daughter, The Dragonslayer

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We all have voices in our head. It's our subconscious talking to us. What happens when that voice gets loud and won't leave you alone? I'm not referring to the the psychotic disorder of schizoprenia. No, it's more like our conscience, but for some, it can be more like a demon.A year and a half ago, my then 24 year old daughter began a journey toward sobriety. It wasn't her first try -- she had tried and failed several times and succumbed to that voice. Today, she's standing proud, celebrating … [Read more...] about My Daughter, The Dragonslayer

Good Reasons to Lie

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I'm occasionally confronted with the conflict of when it is okay to lie.  Some suggest it is never okay. In general, I don't believe it's okay, but there are, on rare occasions when I think it's acceptable.  Here are some rare, but somewhat realistic examples that meet that criteria for me:You've just lost a loved one to an accident.  You have to call siblings, children, or parents to tell them.  Some children are more capable of dealing with such things than others in the immediate shock. … [Read more...] about Good Reasons to Lie

Vows

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I went to a wedding last weekend. I'm a stereotypical man.  I don't like weddings and I only go to make my wife happy.  This time something happened that made me reflect on my own marriage. Instead of zoning out during the ceremony, I actually listened.  When they got to the vows, which included the standard "in sickness and in health," it reminded me of the depth of those vows. I'll share why by relaying a personal anecdote.About six or seven years ago, I decided to undergo a rather … [Read more...] about Vows