It’s the day for another #BlogBattle winner interview for the theme “Rope.” Today we get to meet a newcomer! Andrew Budek-Schmeisser! Welcome Andrew. Congrats on winning with your first battle story! Now, please make yourself comfortable. We’re happy you’ve joined the battle and look forward to reading many more of your spun tales.

I’ve got just a few questions for you, and I’m excited to get started!

1) You’re an avid blogger who obviously enjoys the written word. As such, what is the best method you’ve established for keeping your writing organized? Has it saved you time?

I keep everything in my head…really. There’s no organizational plan at all. What saves me the most time is just writing, and not thinking too much about what I’m going to say. “Rope Trick” and “The Money Frog” are essentially one-draft works, edited only for grammar and spelling.

That’s impressive, Andrew! Most of the time I’d forget my name if it wasn’t written on my driver’s license. ooohh . . . I’m sure that doesn’t instill confidence in my driving skills. Uh…heh heh. Anywhoooo, it’s a great talent to be able to carry your organization with you wherever you go! I think you’ll find that almost all the BlogBattle stories are written in much the same fashion. 🙂

2) What is the most important, life-changing book you’ve ever read? Why?

There are two books that changed my life; the first is Nevil Shute’s “Round The Bend”, which gave me some insight into the transcendent, and respect for all faiths (and intolerance for intolerance!).

The second is Al Sever’s memoir of his time in Viet Nam, “Xin Loi, Viet Nam”. It’s a brutal, thoughtful work that ultimately leads to the conclusion that our presence here is all about responsibilities, and not rights. This book allowed me to see the part of myself that saw combat with new eyes, and to understand that the call to the firefight was neither unusual nor wrong; it was a change in my mental and spiritual set-point that would always be with me.

Respect and responsibility. I like it very much! You are obviously a deep thinker with a tender heart. It also sounds like you’ve seen many things in life which most of us couldn’t fathom.

3) Aliens come and aliens go, but Burton from the far off Black Eye galaxy is fed up with getting black eyes because he’s the only one without an exotic off-world pet. He’d love to adopt a few of your lovely dogs to take home. Consider it a life-saving exchange as he will in turn give you the ability to see through all lies. Would you make the trade?

No, no deal. The dogs here – and, sadly, we lost one today, to old age – have been abandoned, and in many cases abused. They’ve found a forever home, with brothers and sisters and people upon whom they depend, and they need that stability. My life is really about making them happy, and giving them the sense of peace that they had been denied.

As I write this, there are fourteen dogs sleeping in the same room with me. They feel safe to sleep, and dream, and that is more important than anything I can think of. We have no vacations, no real luxuries…but there is a sense of purpose and mission here.

Awww, my dog-loving heart just melted into a puddle. It’s not small thing to care for a pet and you’ve got your hands full! I’m sure Burton will get on. Maybe he could approach Susie from Saturn about adopting one of their rare, but feisty ring-tailed cloud cats.

Thanks, Andrew! It was so much fun getting to know you a little better! We are looking forward to keeping up with you in the #BlogBattle! Have a great day. 🙂