Derek Munson's Blog

Literacy lesson learned. I spent 10 months of my life sleeping outside, all because I didn’t read a book.

If you read my last few posts, I made a pledge to sleep outside until I finished writing my first novel. The story was about a 12 year old boy who got stranded on an island off the coast of British Columbia. Without any survival experience, he had to rely solely on his imagination to survive from summer to spring.

I started sleeping outside- in June was it? or July? I forget. I thought...

So much has happened since my last tent adventure update. The last time I checked in I was livin’ large in a cozy sleeping bag on an air mattress with a headboard. Then two weeks ago, I was livin’ a little less large, in a sleeping bag inside of another sleeping bag, on a roll mat on the tent floor. Tonight I’m sleeping on a concrete slab.

The wind was crazy last night. The zip-ties that held the tent in place on the deck- all except 2 of them- snapped. Then the tent poles were almost bending...

So much has happened since my last tent adventure update.�� The last time I checked in I was livin’ large in a cozy sleeping bag on an air mattress with a headboard. Then two weeks ago, I was livin’ a little less large, in a sleeping bag inside of another sleeping bag, on a roll mat on the tent floor. And tonight? I’d say I’m livin’ medium-ish.

The wind was crazy last night. The zip-ties that held the tent in place on the deck- all except 2 of them- snapped. Then the tent poles were almost ben...

This morning at the coffee drive through window, this was the question of the day:

“What is the most common decoration on a Christmas Tree?”

I guessed lights. It was angels. Wouldn’t have guessed that. I’m not an angel kind of guy.

Anyway… later in the afternoon, I went on a walk in the woods.

Check it!

Today on my walk I found a bird’s nest in the middle of the trail. So cool! So I built a human-sized nest of my own. I built it where three cedar trees come together, and took a surprisingly comfy nap until a squirrel started barking at me. It had a nice dry home in the roots below, and wasn’t going to give up his space without a fight. Good on ya, li’l guy! Clearly it’ll be awhile before I’m initiated into the fraternal order of forest animals.

As it turns out, it’s not so bad to be completely incompetent at all things handy. I used to think it was a curse. I’m no Bob the Builder. I am Wreck-it Ralph. But sometimes it’s good to know nothing, to be blind of conventional wisdom. There’s a massive amount of freedom in that!

The main character in the novel I am writing is a 12 year old boy, shipwrecked on a Pacific Northwest island with his older brother. Everything they’ve learned in their private school upbringing has been rendered use...

As it turns out, it’s not so bad to be completely incompetent at all things handy. I used to think it was a curse. I’m no Bob the Builder. I am Wreck-it Ralph. But sometimes it’s good to know nothing, to be blind of conventional wisdom. There’s a massive amount of freedom in that!

The main character in the novel I am writing is a 12 year old boy, shipwrecked on a Pacific Northwest island with his older brother. Everything they’ve learned in their private school upbringing has been rendered use...

Rough start! Suz wondered if I was practicing for Survivor, or practicing being homeless.

I haven’t slept inside my house for over two months. I pledged on Facebook that I’m sleeping on the deck until I finish the novel I am writing. I’m hoping it’s before Christmas.

Why outside? The main character is a 12 year old boy, trying to survive in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. I want to get to know him better. So I spend a couple hours a day in the forest, and I spend my nights on the deck. That...

Rough start! Suz wondered if I was practicing for Survivor, or practicing being homeless.

I haven’t slept inside my house for over two months. I pledged on Facebook that I’m sleeping on the deck until I finish the novel I am writing. I’m hoping it’s before Christmas.

Why outside? The main character is a 12 year old boy, trying to survive in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. I want to get to know him better. So I spend a couple hours a day in the forest, and I spend my nights on the deck. That...

Silver?! I didn’t know they made these in silver. I took this picture 2 days ago, and it’s been bugging me ever since. Why have I never seen these? I have so far come up with 4 possibilities:

1. Maybe there are lots of silver sewer covers and I just never paid attention.

2. Maybe they all start silver, and I’ve just never seen a new one.

3. Maybe the sewer people were all “screw bronze! let’s go for silver!”

4. Hey! Magical sewer!

I sent an email to the public works department, and they’ll be gett...