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PDX WOOD A WELCOME SIGHT

Call it PDX wood, Portland wood, Oregon wood.
Or call it what it is, Douglas Fir from the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua.
And call it a nice wall.
It’s nice in a way, but unfinished looking.
Your call:

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PORTLAND TRAVEL NOTES: THE BOOKENDS

This is the flat spot in the river bank where people used to take a break.
Whether coming up from the Columbia River, or down on the Willamette, this was the original rest stop for paddlers.
Then it grew, grew some more, and for those of us who’ve traded punches on her streets, it’s all grown up.
And it has bookends on the part people think of when they hear the word ‘Portland.’

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MISTAKEN IDENTITY? MAYBE NOT

It could be a case of mistaken identity if you’re in an outfit led by a naked lady and winged horse all clad in gold.
Where’s the plan? What’s the goal? Is it safe?
No one gives a good answer.
Where’s your plan, what’s the goal, is it safe?
If the plan is to paint yourself gold and get a winged horse you might want to take another look.
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TO BE INTERESTING BE INTERESTED

It can’t be just in my individual baby boomer blogger brain, but these guys are famous in every form you see them, hear them, feel them.
I was driving around town, passed through a parking lot, and there they were on the wall looking like an Andy Warhol fever dream.
Were they trying to be interesting?

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COUNTING YEARS, ADDING TIME

Counting years, birthdays, anniversaries, is easy math even for non-math people.
One day you’re logging miles and running races and getting a new t-shirt.
The world is fresh and waiting for what you have to offer so show up and do your best.
Then the race changes, but the task is the same: show up and do your best.

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toughen up

CDC SAYS OPIOIDS SHOULDN’T BE FIRST CHOICE? THAT HURTS.

Pain relief moves from legal heroin to physical therapy, exercise, and over the counter pills? Who knew? I wrote a post about an author’s reading called BLACK TAR HEROIN, SAM QUINONES, AND DREAMLAND. Sam Quinones showed up in Powell’s City of Books and talked about pill mills supplying zombie customers with their opioid prescriptions; about […]

Connecting Boomer Exercise And Writing

Talk writing with a boomer, with anyone, and you hear a common story. “I’m going to write my novel (memoir, short story, or poem) when I retire. Or, “I’ve got it all figured out in my mind. Now all I need to do is find the time.” Or, “I’d like to write something, but all […]

TRAUMA NATION AMERICA IN 10 POINTS

Is America The Leader In The Race To The Top Of Trauma? 10 Reasons For Yes On Trauma Nation America. Recent research shows DNA passes down trauma markers from parents to kids. That means if a father suffers a traumatic event his DNA adapts and gets installed in his children. It could be a good […]

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boomer years

ROSE PARADE PORTLAND OREGON, c. 2018

    If no one wanted to go with me, I was still going. It’s a tradition since 1981. Back then I lived in Northwest Portland. The Rose Parade ended a mile away.   I’d start a run at Lincoln high school and take the parade route all the way back toward the start. Once […]

MILLENNIAL CELEBRITIES EXPLAIN AGING. WHO’S LISTENING?

The Dude Abides, Man. Boomers getting older. It’s a subject with a bright spotlight. From kids born between 1946 – 1964, from youthful fifty years olds to an ancient sixty eight, no generation said it louder, “We’re young and pretty, and you’re not.” Since their early go-to-hell days, baby boomers discovered they’re not any more […]

When The Lights Go Down In The City

The Neon Gets Better. On a cold, dark, night, a city asks for caution. Even the familiar takes on an extra foreboding. With others, or walking alone, the sound of footsteps behind you quickens your pace. Empty shadows carry secrets you don’t want to know. Some streets are just not very inviting. Even in the […]

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buckle up

SHOW UP LATE? APOLOGIZE AND PROMISE TO JUMP

      I’m sorry I’m late.  

MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S SUSHI

When a birthday dinner turns to Shakespeare and Midsummer Night’s sushi. Imagine if you will a birthday dinner, but not just a regular birthday dinner for a regular birthday. Instead, it’s a milestone birthday dinner, a biggie, so you plan and time and schedule and connect. Because it is an older birthday, one idea is […]

Travel Bans From History, Who Should Be Banned

    Travel bans tend to be specific in terms of where to go and where not to go.   Travel bans say one thing: Don’t go there, girlfriend. Stay away, pal.   Like a dress code in the NY disco dancing prime time of the late ’70’s, while punk rock was getting ready to […]

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