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SPEED SHOPPING. GOOD IDEA?

Speed shopping with your partner. Ever heard of it? I gave it a try in a Safeway that sits between two over-55 communities. My speed shopping there made me look like The Flash. There was only one problem: I didn’t reveal my plan to my wife. Uh oh.

SHOPPING INSPIRATIONS: THE RIGHT TIME

Shopping inspirations happen, if you’re lucky, when you have money in your pocket. My shopping inspiration: ‘Buy one bottle of gas station champagne, get the second bottle half-price.’ That did it. Along with a box of hard seltzer with a six of trial-cider. What was I shopping for? A hangover?

HEALING TIME FOR BUSY PEOPLE

Healing time isn’t something we clock. Things get messed up, then they get better. Then you have a cool scar to show. Do you ask friends to see their new scar; do you show yours? For me, that’s yes and yes.

OREGON EVOLUTION AT THE STATE FAIR

Oregon evolution means securing the human necessities of food, shelter, and clothing. Of course you know that. But have you seen the twist on necessities at the Oregon State Fair? Have you? Let’s start at the beginning.

WRITER ENCOURAGEMENT: WHY IT MATTERS

Writer encouragement works like this: “I just read a book so good I will stop writing forever.” That’s encouragement if you read between the lines. Read a book that moves you to feel something. My favorite book?

BETTER LIFE BEGINS WITH _____

A better life begins right where you are, not over there. Or there, or there, but right where you are, which might be the reason change is so hard. The funniest thing I’ve heard about making a change is, “We haven’t done anything and we’re fresh out of ideas.” But that’s not you? Let’s be […]

HAWAIIAN REVIEW WITH ONE MORE WAKE UP

This Hawaiian review includes Puff The Magic Dragon. Every baby boomer born, and those who self-identify as baby boomers, knows Puff. Puff the Magic Dragon slumbers at Hanalei Bay in the mountain profiles framing Hanalei Bay. It’s said to be only a coincidence that Peter, Paul and Mary mentioned a dragon in a land called […]

HOBBY BLOGGER EXPLAINS: WHY BOTHER WRITING?

Hobby blogger here, busy counting vanity metrics. Google analytics reports traffic from Seattle, not so much from Portland. West Coast readers show up more than any other region in the country. Call me a West Coast hobby blogger? I’ll take it, but . . .

LAST CONVERSATION UNTIL NEXT YEAR

One last conversation before Father’s Day, 2023. If you have adult kids, it helps to talk to them. Based on the inspiration from one of my favorite twitter follows, it’s important. Do your kids know you better than you know your own parents?

CREATIVE SPARK: DRUMS, GIUTARS, BASS, AND STEW

A creative spark hung in the room while two guitar players worked it out. They decided which key to play in, set the tone and tempo, while the bass player and drummer listened in. “Sorry to take so long,” one guitar player said. “Not a problem, you’ve got go pick it out,” the drummer said. […]