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GIFT GIVING? HOLD MY BEER SIGN

Gift giving is such a mixed bag of emotions. From the funny: “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, this is just what I wanted.” To the sad: “I didn’t know what to give you, so…” For reference, no one wants a beer sign after college, at least that’s the common adult thing. Beer sign […]

ELECTED OFFICIALS TAKE OFFICE AFTER ELECTIONS AND VOTE COUNT? HOLD MY BEER

Elected officials come to office by many paths. Some feel strongly about making a difference and run a political campaign as a difference maker. Others fill a seat by appointment. And still others cheat and steal their way in then whine and accuse if they lose. However they get there, the job isn’t done after […]

SCOREBOARD ANSWERS CONFUSING HARD LIFE QUESTIONS

Scoreboard shows winners and losers in a particular moment. Then the contest is over. The winners celebrate, the losers walk away. At least that’s what is supposed to happen.

CAREFUL LISTENING FOR THE NEW YEAR: CAN YOU HEAR ME YET

Careful listening to difficult conversations is key to better understanding. But you know this. You might not practice it, but you know it by a certain age. Think of being fifteen and listening to Mom and Dad explain how to drive a car after you got your learners permit. Careful listening then meant you might […]

2021 REVIEW: MOST READ POSTS ON BOOMERPDX

The 2021 review shows 14,941 readers visited here for 19,549 ‘views.’ It’s the second highest number of visitors after a decade of writing on BoomerPDX. While big-time bloggers see these numbers as a good afternoon of traffic instead of a year, I’m still tickled to reach anyone anywhere. The only disappointment in the 2021 review […]

BROKEN MAN ON 1, 2, 3

Hemingway said every man is a broken man, that’s how the light gets in. His inexact quote is a little different with, “We are all broken. That’s how the light gets in,” but the same idea. I’m just not as inclusive as the big guy. ‘We’ are not all broken, not yet, at least not […]

WRITER LIFE CHRISTMAS WHEN IT’S NOT ABOUT WRITING OR LIFE

Does ‘writer life’ mean writing about life, or the experience of someone who writes? Answer silently while you write about a life of writing. Writer’s Life? Mine began as a small child at my Grandma’s house. She handed me a book.

BROADWAY MURAL AT JEFFERSON IS FINE. HERE’S WHY:

The Broadway Mural is in the rearview mirror of every car heading south. If you saw this in the rearview mirror heading south on Broadway, what would you do? Make a right turn on Jefferson, buddy, and park the car. If you’re an out-of-towner in Portland and cruising up Broadway on the way out, this […]

PORTLAND CROSSROADS: SW 3rd AND ALDER

The Portland crossroads are the same at every intersection. North, East, South, and West. It’s the same where you live if you don’t live in Portland. Pick a side and proceed with caution. Why SW 3rd and Alder? Why not. What’s your favorite? Burnside and Broadway? Too easy. Burnside and the Willamette? Here’s the deal: […]

FRIDA KAHLO PAINTS PORTLAND IN DARK RAIN

Frida Kahlo came to Portland disguised as Vanessa Severo. Or was it the other way around? Either way, I met them when they both showed up at Portland Center Stage At The Armory and crowded the stage with characters.