I am CuTRis

Yesterday I saw a coyote while I was hiking in the Black Dog Preserve. It didn’t appear to have seen me as it trotted across the trail and into the woods. I know they are around, since I see their tracks. I almost never see them though. I know coyotes are not well liked. They are smart and opportunistic. A cat or small dog would make a good meal for them. The fact is, they live almost everywhere in Minnesota; including the cities. Those few times that I have seen one, I consider myself fortunate. http://www.canismajor.com/dog/coyote.html

While I enjoy my hikes in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, I must admit that Summer is not my favorite time in the woods. A few days ago I was off-trail, trying to find my way from one trail to the other. Once committed, I kept going though I was sometimes in brush that was over my head. Wearing shorts because of the heat, I was stung so many times by stinging nettles that my legs were bleeding by the time I made it out. Of course, the flies found the blood irresistible. Yesterday, I decided to take a 6 or 7 mile loop around Long Meadow Lake. I was hoping to make it around before the coming rain started. There is an undeveloped trail that usually affords some good wildlife encounters. Last time I had been on it I was “charged” by a baby woodchuck. Eventually on this trek, I can link up to the Bluff Trail which is usually an easier hike, though there is some elevation and yesterday, I found that the recent storms had left fallen trees on the trail. When I started out, I wa...

I am often astounded at the narrow thinking of some people. I was reading the news story that said, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has mixed feelings about President George W. Bush's choice of John Roberts to replace her. O'Connor said the federal appeals court judge is "first rate," but she's disappointed that the nominee isn't a woman. Now if the idea is that hiring should be based on who is most qualified for the job, rather than what race or sex a person is, why would a female judge need to be replaced by another female; or why would a minority school superintendent need to be replaced by another minority? Isn’t this illegal and doesn’t it contradict fair hiring practices? Why is some discrimination okay while some is not? Why can’t we hire solely on qualifications? Why does society take a few steps forward, and then a few more backward again? Until things are fair for everybody, it will never be fair. KJC

While I was on my trip recently, I had the opportunity to visit the graves of Sacajawea and Chief Washakie in the Wind River Indian Reservation. The experience gained more significance after returning home. The Chief and I have a connection that I won't get into right now. I will only mention the feathers. While I was doing my project work recently, I had a turkey feather at my desk where I worked. Since it had brought me much joy, I decided to return it to the wild when the projects (and my employment) ended. I hiked into the wildlife refuge where I volunteer and found a spot to set it, in the bark of a tree. On my way back out of the woods, I found a new feather in my path. While visiting the graves in Wind River, I left a large goose feather at Sacajawea's grave and a fine turkey feather on Chief Washakie's grave. These were nice feathers, and though I have a good collection of them, they were so nice that I would like to keep them. I could think of no better thing, howe...

Ten States July 15, 2005 I’ve returned from my road-trip. I’m happy to say that I was able to follow my planned route almost exactly, and I was able to see all of the things that I had wanted to see. July 5, 2005 (Tuesday) I departed at a leisurely 9:30AM. I drove to Brandon, South Dakota, where I got gas and a snack. I arrived in Murdo, SD a little after 4:00PM CDT. I ate at the Star Restaurant and then there was a rather wicked lightening storm late in the afternoon. I watched the movie “Troy” in my room at the Sioux Motel. Then I decided to go get a beer so I went to the Lost Souls Bar, where I met Lyn. After talking to him, we walked over to his brother Mike’s bar, The Rusty Spur; where we hung out with his other brother Jessie. The brothers built the bar themselves, and they did a nice job too. During our conversation, I found out that there were cougars in the area, as Jessie said they were after his horses. 457.5 miles July 6, 2005 (Wednesday) I left just after 8:00AM CDT and fu...

I just got back from my road-trip. Details forthcoming...

I have this plan to take a road-trip. It occurred to me as I was working 50-hour weeks earlier this spring on a series of academic testing projects. I knew it would all be coming to a screeching halt and then I should travel. I'm planning to visit 10 states, in two weeks, and cover about 3,000 miles (4,900 km). I was checking over my car. I remember when cars were so basic that even I could understand them. Now, when I look under the hood, it's like a spaceship or something! Still, it is mighty impressive. I like my 2004 Grand Am. It's almost like it's a driving machine that I can use to get from place to place! The inside is as if it was designed for human comfort! There are climate controls, musical options... and the trunk seems almost as if it was designed specifically to carry cargo! I reckon I won't have time for my blog for awhile, but when I get back in a couple of weeks, I should have a story or two to tell! Kevin

I think my next book will be called, Greatness, and the Art of Being Great By Kevin J. Curtis Quote from the book... "People often ask me about being great, and if they too can achieve greatness. Then I have to tell them, 'no, most people aren't great, and you're one of them.'" That cracks me up... KJC

Differences of opinion can occur in any situation. We are taught as children to “give and take,” and negotiate our way to an agreement. If the children can’t do that, some “responsible” adult will try to mediate. What happens if the “children” who are arguing are the adults? In the case of two countries, it could mean war. In the case of the Minnesota State Government, it appears to mean “partial government shut-down.” There are no “adults” available in the government to settle things. Primitive people would have perhaps had a physical altercation, resulting in a leader who would ultimately take charge. In our “civilized” world, political leaders don’t soil their hands this way; they prefer to have others take those kinds of risks. Is it easy to negotiate a budget? I’m guessing not. After all, how much can be “trimmed” before there is nothing left? Then of course there is the Republican agenda to keep the power and money in the hands of those who already have power and money. The Democ...

While I generally like all animals, as a person who has (in the past) done significant gardening, squirrels are very low on my list of animals that I care about. I think it has to do with their innate destructive nature. It is difficult to see the logic of an animal that destroys a food source (i.e. plant) before it reaches the stage where it can even begin to produce food. That said, as I was driving this morning, I was fortunate enough to witness one of the common, gray, tree-rats involved in one of the most impressive spectacles I have ever witnessed. The speed, agility and daring of this bushy-tailed rat was (I believe) unmatched by even the most daring of extreme sport athletes. The squirrel ran into oncoming traffic and touched the tire… perhaps pushed off the tire, of the moving car in front of me. I doubt the driver of the car even realized the incredible stunt that he/she helped to create. In what seemed to be only a gray blur, the squirrel ran into the street, touched the mov...

Long ago, a baby was born to an immigrant family while they were traveling by ship from Germany to America. His name was Herman. Herman was my mother’s uncle, and he lived in a shack in his brother’s (my grandfather’s) pasture. He lived a simple life and worked odd jobs. I have had some difficulty developing a new career, and I have long considered carrying out a family tradition. You see, my brother has a pasture, and we have already discussed the location of my future shack. If I decide to build and live in a shack in my brother’s pasture, I am thinking that I should also run for President of the United States of America. I would be the first non-millionaire to be President… since perhaps Abraham Lincoln. I would run on the shack platform. The best part of all of this in my opinion, is that if I were to win the presidency, the Secret Service would have to send a guy to guard my shack, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week; while I lived at the White House. I think that this would totally ROC...

Threats June 28, 2005 When I hike into the woods, there are a variety of things that can cause me harm. The real threat and the perceived threat may be different. It is obvious to worry about things like bears and cougars, though I am more at risk from domestic dogs and raccoons; and still more at risk from woodticks, mosquitoes, deerflies, unstable ground and stinging nettles. Is this true of our situation as a country as well? Perhaps Iraq is not as big of a threat as a small group of radicals. Perhaps the reaction to the perceived threat is more dangerous than the threat itself. Would one use a shotgun to rid his kitchen of a mouse? Maybe the way the USA does things is not the best way… huh? Look at the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding eminent domain. It just reinforced what always was the case. If your city wants to give your land to a private developer, start packing. President George W. Bush recently opened up vast areas of protected land for development. Oil is still our pr...

"Cutris," is from my name "Curtis." It's kind of like when Brett Favre pronounces his name "Farve." My friend Dave gave me the name and it works good on the Internet since nobody else has that name. I am a writer, musician and volunteer ranger in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I have a band, and we have something like 160 original songs. I don't know what we're called anymore... I moved out to Providence for awhile, before returning to Minnesota. The band was called The Electric Frog Syrup Band. I work part-time doing Government Television. I'm one of the people who puts city meetings on TV. I had been doing project work involving state academic testing. Then, once the projects were over I was out of work. I used to work for the county Chemical Health Division located on Franklin and Chicago Avenues in Minneapolis. It was a good education, though I'm happy to have left that environment. In my spare time, I hike in all k...

So... I decided to make a blog. Maybe it can help sell my book! He Who Goes First By Kevin J. Curtis This is the story of a Mongol warrior who lived during Jenghiz Khan’s empire. It is a new look at a frequently misunderstood culture and history. The participants are not bound by ideals of what is good or bad. Like their ancestor the wolf, they do not act out of cruelty or mercy. They live by a natural law, which has been lost on modern society. To judge them in the midst of our politically correct, industrialized world is like trying to convince a caveman of the merits of having a personal computer. Jenghiz Khan was perhaps the most brilliant uneducated man in history. He was a master of human nature. The men who helped him create his empire, like He-Who-Goes-First, were making their lives from the “raw materials” of the times they lived in. The warrior in this story struggles with his spirituality and his role as a soldier. ISBN: 1-4137-4190-8, 165 pages, 5.5 x 8. $16.95 plus $3.00 S...