Joel Barker
@joelbyronbarker.bsky.social
Chair of the Jefferson County of Oregon Democrats.
Writer at https://joelbyronbarker.com and https://oldtruckgoodcoffee.com about urban rural interchanges. Fly fishing. Empathy. Some running. Lots of dogs. A new novel published.
Writer at https://joelbyronbarker.com and https://oldtruckgoodcoffee.com about urban rural interchanges. Fly fishing. Empathy. Some running. Lots of dogs. A new novel published.
This solsitice, I lean on these ideas that arise within people seeking to live well. I can raise up my own love with those ideas. I can see how people areound me express love. I can discover the world — wild and cultured — as it starts to again grow bright.
December 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
This solsitice, I lean on these ideas that arise within people seeking to live well. I can raise up my own love with those ideas. I can see how people areound me express love. I can discover the world — wild and cultured — as it starts to again grow bright.
Phil Collins was right about a lot of things, but he got one thing wrong.
December 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Phil Collins was right about a lot of things, but he got one thing wrong.
If you can't hang with the library rules, spend your life making your own library.
Leo Marcel Schuman in Old Truck Good Coffee substack.com/home/post/p-...
Leo Marcel Schuman in Old Truck Good Coffee substack.com/home/post/p-...
December 16, 2025 at 7:01 PM
If you can't hang with the library rules, spend your life making your own library.
Leo Marcel Schuman in Old Truck Good Coffee substack.com/home/post/p-...
Leo Marcel Schuman in Old Truck Good Coffee substack.com/home/post/p-...
I have no words.
December 16, 2025 at 5:35 AM
I have no words.
Oh sweet everything it is 60 degrees on a December day in Central Oregon and MY BOOK IS ARRIVING TODAY.
December 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Oh sweet everything it is 60 degrees on a December day in Central Oregon and MY BOOK IS ARRIVING TODAY.
Not really a shard, but some directions I heard this morning that held true as useful.
December 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Not really a shard, but some directions I heard this morning that held true as useful.
Also not exactly a shard, but a thought that came to me while thinking about how to have something to say on social media and why I think of things to say on social media.
December 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Also not exactly a shard, but a thought that came to me while thinking about how to have something to say on social media and why I think of things to say on social media.
Returning home to a dog is the experience of the world telling you that you belong.
December 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Returning home to a dog is the experience of the world telling you that you belong.
The book proof — proof of its physical existence — is wending its way to me. I am in a strange haze as I await proof that my imagination has been turned to actuality.
December 9, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The book proof — proof of its physical existence — is wending its way to me. I am in a strange haze as I await proof that my imagination has been turned to actuality.
Not sure how far this piece will go.
December 8, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Not sure how far this piece will go.
"I was just such a rider for many years. I loved my gear and was pleased with the grit. Particularly when that first real winter rain that would come down, signaling the end of the easy season."
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
December 8, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"I was just such a rider for many years. I loved my gear and was pleased with the grit. Particularly when that first real winter rain that would come down, signaling the end of the easy season."
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
Dogs on a frosty dawn. Me, lucky enough to witness.
December 7, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Dogs on a frosty dawn. Me, lucky enough to witness.
The hour as long as the cup takes to drink.
December 5, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The hour as long as the cup takes to drink.
"When will it be over?"
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
December 5, 2025 at 1:49 AM
"When will it be over?"
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
“When we regain a sense of what poems are for, we will renew the art (the technical means) of writing them. And so we will renew their ability to tell the truth.”
— Wendell Berry
— Wendell Berry
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
“When we regain a sense of what poems are for, we will renew the art (the technical means) of writing them. And so we will renew their ability to tell the truth.”
— Wendell Berry
— Wendell Berry
I have developed practices that keep social media from distracting me during writing sessions. Unfortunately I have no resistance to this face. #letsplay #writingdistraction #dogs
December 3, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I have developed practices that keep social media from distracting me during writing sessions. Unfortunately I have no resistance to this face. #letsplay #writingdistraction #dogs
It is very nearly here for you. Very nearly.
December 2, 2025 at 11:30 PM
It is very nearly here for you. Very nearly.
Local Ants Achieve Multi-generational Dream, Building Scale Model of Snowy Volcano.
December 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Local Ants Achieve Multi-generational Dream, Building Scale Model of Snowy Volcano.
Sent my novel off to print! What self publishing can be for the author today.
November 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Sent my novel off to print! What self publishing can be for the author today.
Update on the book production. And have you gotten a sticker yet? Send me your address and I will get you one.
Should I share the book cover in advance of the release or make it a surprise?
Should I share the book cover in advance of the release or make it a surprise?
November 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Update on the book production. And have you gotten a sticker yet? Send me your address and I will get you one.
Should I share the book cover in advance of the release or make it a surprise?
Should I share the book cover in advance of the release or make it a surprise?