TrackingMySoul.com

..About the Author

I am seventy three years old, have the same beautiful wife for 54 years, that now has Parkinson’s disease, I love to care for, but wish there was no need. We have two sons and two daughters, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

I have had a diverse career path, I have been a meat cutter for the first twelve years of my working life, I sold real estate for a couple of years, owned a continuous rain gutter installing business for thirty years, owned two small grocery stores for four years, and for the last thirty years have owned Ode Products where we manufacture and sell our own inventions related to the aluminum gutter business, to wholesale distributors throughout the United States. Many endeavors on this career path overlapped.

I am now retired and working on my second book, while our youngest son runs the business.
TrackingMySoul@comcast.net;
Phone: 206-276-2014

BOOKS THEME:

William H. Odekirk provides readers with the common sense philosophy of life he has forged over seventy years of hard work and earnest thought. Witty, wise and whimsical, his 2500 “Thoughts of the Day” and his poems will delight readers with their insight, their novelty and their truth.

BOOKS CONTENTS:

“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds events, and small minds interpret the Bible for you.” So says the author in one of the many unique aphorisms contained in his “Thoughts of the Day.” An avid fan of Eric Hoffer, Odekirk does justice to following in his common sense philosophical footsteps in this remarkable collection of original thought.

Noting that a philosopher must have three prerequisites -- an intellect, an open mind, and the common sense “not to engage a dogmatist” -- Odekirk opens readers’ eyes while entertaining them with one good chuckle after another, both in his “Thoughts of the Day” and in poems like “Out East” and “What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden.”

An ardent Christian himself, Odekirk tolerates no small minded, recalcitrant points of view on religion and makes keenly and vibrantly known the troubles the world has fallen into at the hands of narrow minded men.

He is a tenth generation American with many stories to tell, i.e. his great, great grandfather was a wheelwright, joined Joseph Smith’s Church of Christ in New York before they were know as Mormons, then joined their militia and followed them west, maintaining and preparing their wagons. Mr. Odekirk is married with four children and lives in Washington state.

POETRY SAMPLE:

What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden

It was heaven on Earth
enjoying Eden’s smorgasbord
so Adam wondered if he should
bring his troubles to the lord,
fearing being misunderstood
Adam said, “Eh...
... Lord, could I have a word?”

From on high came God’s reply,
“Adam, why the tearful eye?”

“This garden this earth you did create
how could I not but appreciate,
it’s beauty it’s abundance is a blessing,
but Lord there’s something missing.”

“What is it Adam, what can it be,
what is lacking that I can’t see?”

“Eh - forgive me Lord, - it’s only this,
and this only, you see Lord I am lonely.”

“Hmm ... ..I see... ..I see Adam,
and this too I shall solve,
from you I’ll make woman evolve.”

“What is woman Lord,
will she keep me from being bored?”

“She will be beauty supreme
surpassing anything you’ve ever seen.
She will anticipate your every desire
satisfy that inner fire,
from her there will be no strings attached,
she will be your perfect match.”

“I am humbled by your compassion Lord,
how long before she comes aboard?”
“But wait Adam, there is a price too pay
and I must have your finally OK.”

“Tell me Lord, could there be to great a price
to complement this paradise,
compared to Eden what is the pittance
you will extract,
for this wonderful loving act?”

“Adam it will cost a right arm,
right leg and I fear,
your left testicle, an eye and an ear.”

Slowly...responds Adam...sounding glib,
“- Eh - what can I get Lord for a rib?”

_____________________________________________________________

Book Information:

Genre: PHILOSOPHY-General / Publication: (2-13-'10) /.Pgs: 484

Publisher: Outskirts Press
______________________________________________________________

Ordering Information:

6 x 9 Paperback White..... / .....ISBN: 9781432748821.. / ....$25.95

Order on Line at:...................

________Amazon now has used in new condition for around $5.00___________

You are visitor number TRACKING MY SOUL.. ........by William H. Odekirk....... ,,,Click on Cover / TO SEE INSIDE See sale prices at, Both Sites: ............. (486 pages; suggested price $25.95) Metal art for sale....Click on Picture Bill's Metal Art Studio L.L.C.

Reviewers of: "Tracking My Soul" by William H. Odekirk ______________________________________________________________ Provides some interesting insights, making for a thoughtful read, May 9, 2010 By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) (Five Stars on Amazon) This review is from: .....Tracking My Soul: A Philosophical Autobiography A little bit of thought each day can do wonders to the provider and the reader. "Tracking My Soul: A Philosophical Autobiography" is a memoir from William H. Odekirk, presenting his life up to as it is now, as he presents much of his journal of the years, presenting his thoughts on the world and the politics of the world. "Tracking My Soul" provides some interesting insights, making for a thoughtful read. ______________________________________________________________ Reviewed: Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA, CISA (Five Stars on Amazon) The author, William Odekirk has an interesting family background documented from 1645-1655. An orphan boy named Jan arrived in Albany, NY. From his arrival, a very extensive lineage was delineated by the author. On 12-23-1805, 3 years prior to his great-great grandfather's birth, Joseph Smith (Mormon founder) was born in Sharon, VT. The Smith family moved to NY. In 1830, Joseph Smith organized the Church of Jesus Christ. The book depicts pictures of Isaac Odekirk and Eliza Dutcher (parents). An extensive story portrays how his father came to possess Chinese Gods or Chinese gods. A brother,Sonny dies at the early age of 5 from stomach cancer. Sonny was "the apple of my father's eye". The author shares some important philosophical musings. For instance, incarnation happens when earned via life's experiences. "Find God within, Go to Church to share God." Ideally, we should incarnate into a family with compassion, humbleness, duty, giving and a strong work ethic based on morality. The family had a documented DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) membership. A sample of the poetry is as follows: " Everything cycles on Mother Earth, What's in today was out at birth. " There is some discussion of the difficulties experienced during the Great Depression and the WPA jobs provided under President Roosevelt. Bill relates how he lost part of the right little finger ( off at the first joint) and a difficult bout with pneumonia. There are pictures of the Lake Fork River ranch house in Arcadia, Utah. Bill bought several homes, a small factory site for $650T (Kent, Washington ) and invented a better gutter hanging device. He explains a difficult bout with bladder cancer, post-operative treatments and the use of clorox to kill the toilet bacteria. Grandpa Issac's Journal is published at; http://www.seanet.com/~ode/; all 290 pages Many memorable poems are published in this volume including: ... "The Sound of One Hand Clapping" ... "Reflecting Nature" The Encyclopedia of Thoughts has some excellent musings on "Beauty". The author is critical of former President George Bush; however,we have yet to experience the day of reckoning between the Sunni and Sh'ia in the Middle East. ----------------- There are more excellent sayings ; such as, "No amount of knowledge is a remedy for a lack of common sense". I believe that students should be required to study logic early in grammar school. Then, the dynamics of common sense can be discussed in a more practical contexts. This book provides excellent general reading for a wide constituency of historians, academicians, Mormons and many others. By Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA, CISA ___________________________________________________________________ Reviewer: Teresa Konopka "Tracking My Soul: A Philosophical Autobiography" by William H. Odekirk is one behemoth of a book. At close to 500 pages, this book is a lot to get through. The first 160 pages or so is devoted to the author's autobiography. Here, he talks about his family lineage, his wife, his career, his memories, his troubles, and so on. Then, there are poems up until page 200. These cover a myriad of topics and seem to read like a journal. Lastly, there is an "encyclopedia of thoughts" that goes until the end. These range from relationships to religion to beauty and more, and they even have an index for quick look-up. These are written in short snid-bits, and they are separated by breaks in the pages. Some of the words may offend government supporters. The author also makes a lot of cuts at Christianity. He does say that he loves Jesus--just not Christians--but he does not make it explicitly clear that Jesus is the only way to salvation; he is a bit wishy-washy on that, which may put some readers off. Overall, this book is interesting in that it chronicles the life of a man and his thoughts. It may not track his soul, per se, but it comes pretty darn close. Posted by Teresa Konopka _______________________________________________________________ Reviewer: Heidi Zentz (Five Stars on Amazon) This review is from: Tracking My Soul, A Philosophical Autobiography (Kindle Edition) Loved it! April, 3, 2010 I really loved reading this book and learning about the author's life. I found his take on life refreshing and wish that more people would approach life with such ethics and love for the journey. _______________________________________________________________ Reviewer: ..Martha B Fray MA (Retired Clinical Member of American Association of Marriage & Family Therapists), Green Valley, AZ. This book reminds us that the American dream is real. In his life story, Mr. Odekirk tells us that courage, imagination, and hard work can enable a person to dream big things and make them come true. It could also be a “Handbook for Owning Your Own Business”. The poems and journal help one understand the man behind his face. He has exposed his soul for us to learn that life is hard, yet life is to be lived with grit, wit, and integrity. He has the ability to change his mind when he learns a new truth. He forgives when he is betrayed or wounded. _______________________________________________________________ Note from author: It was from this review that I added this warning, I even had it printed on the cover: "If you liked the Bush years, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Fundamental religions or Fox News, you will not like this book!" Reviewer: B. Davis (Two Stars on Amazon) City Councilwoman, from Lewiston, Idaho I wish I could give this book a better rating, but I found it dry, boring, and sometimes devoid of wisdom. It is one man's view of life, which a few may find interesting--especially, the author's family members. _______________________________________________________________		..About the Author I am seventy three years old, have the same beautiful wife for 54 years, that now has Parkinson’s disease, I love to care for, but wish there was no need. We have two sons and two daughters, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. I have had a diverse career path, I have been a meat cutter for the first twelve years of my working life, I sold real estate for a couple of years, owned a continuous rain gutter installing business for thirty years, owned two small grocery stores for four years, and for the last thirty years have owned Ode Products where we manufacture and sell our own inventions related to the aluminum gutter business, to wholesale distributors throughout the United States. Many endeavors on this career path overlapped. I am now retired and working on my second book, while our youngest son runs the business. TrackingMySoul@comcast.net; Phone: 206-276-2014 BOOKS THEME: William H. Odekirk provides readers with the common sense philosophy of life he has forged over seventy years of hard work and earnest thought. Witty, wise and whimsical, his 2500 “Thoughts of the Day” and his poems will delight readers with their insight, their novelty and their truth. BOOKS CONTENTS: “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds events, and small minds interpret the Bible for you.” So says the author in one of the many unique aphorisms contained in his “Thoughts of the Day.” An avid fan of Eric Hoffer, Odekirk does justice to following in his common sense philosophical footsteps in this remarkable collection of original thought. Noting that a philosopher must have three prerequisites -- an intellect, an open mind, and the common sense “not to engage a dogmatist” -- Odekirk opens readers’ eyes while entertaining them with one good chuckle after another, both in his “Thoughts of the Day” and in poems like “Out East” and “What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden.” An ardent Christian himself, Odekirk tolerates no small minded, recalcitrant points of view on religion and makes keenly and vibrantly known the troubles the world has fallen into at the hands of narrow minded men. He is a tenth generation American with many stories to tell, i.e. his great, great grandfather was a wheelwright, joined Joseph Smith’s Church of Christ in New York before they were know as Mormons, then joined their militia and followed them west, maintaining and preparing their wagons. Mr. Odekirk is married with four children and lives in Washington state. POETRY SAMPLE: What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden It was heaven on Earth enjoying Eden’s smorgasbord so Adam wondered if he should bring his troubles to the lord, fearing being misunderstood Adam said, “Eh... ... Lord, could I have a word?” From on high came God’s reply, “Adam, why the tearful eye?” “This garden this earth you did create how could I not but appreciate, it’s beauty it’s abundance is a blessing, but Lord there’s something missing.” “What is it Adam, what can it be, what is lacking that I can’t see?” “Eh - forgive me Lord, - it’s only this, and this only, you see Lord I am lonely.” “Hmm ... ..I see... ..I see Adam, and this too I shall solve, from you I’ll make woman evolve.” “What is woman Lord, will she keep me from being bored?” “She will be beauty supreme surpassing anything you’ve ever seen. She will anticipate your every desire satisfy that inner fire, from her there will be no strings attached, she will be your perfect match.” “I am humbled by your compassion Lord, how long before she comes aboard?” “But wait Adam, there is a price too pay and I must have your finally OK.” “Tell me Lord, could there be to great a price to complement this paradise, compared to Eden what is the pittance you will extract, for this wonderful loving act?” “Adam it will cost a right arm, right leg and I fear, your left testicle, an eye and an ear.” Slowly...responds Adam...sounding glib, “- Eh - what can I get Lord for a rib?” _____________________________________________________________ Book Information: Genre: PHILOSOPHY-General / Publication: (2-13-'10) /.Pgs: 484 Publisher: Outskirts Press ______________________________________________________________ Ordering Information: 6 x 9 Paperback White..... / .....ISBN: 9781432748821.. / ....$25.95 Order on Line at:................... ________Amazon now has used in new condition for around $5.00___________