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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

WORLD CANCER DAY DIFFERENCE FOR EVERY CANCER TREATMENT

Everyone is different. How different is the question. And the answer?   World Cancer Day is one of the differences. Some embrace it, some ignore it, while still others share.   Call this a share.  

CANCER VIEW: WEED FROM THE OTHER SIDE

My cancer view had more weed hope later than sooner with DAG approved brownies. It started with a look for an alternate route for a cure instead of chemo road.   What I found was a log of death in men who’d gone the alternate route instead of chemo, then switched to the hard stuff […]

PORTLAND STORY THEATER TELLS THE TALE AT WILLAMETTE WRITERS

  Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy ran the first Willamette Writers meeting of 2018. For all the wishes for a Happy New Year still echoing, their presentation confirmed the idea.   I came in right as they started and found a seat in the back, the last seat open. I start every meeting with high […]

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boomer years

WHY BATMAN MATTERS MORE TO BOOMERS

Why Ben Affleck Matters More To Batman. Baby boomers met Batman up close and personal. He wasn’t the first super hero, but he seemed the most like us. His powers didn’t come from space, or a science accident, but from his own devices. Bruce Wayne had more than a little Iron Man, though Batman’s birthday […]

BRUCE: THE BOOMER BOSS @ 65

I was twenty years old 1n 1975 and living in South Philadelphia just over the border from New Jersey. A neighborhood woman named Mary Ann said she’s going to a Bruce Show, that I ought to go along. It wasn’t a date idea as much as it was a right of passage. A Jersey comet […]

HOW TO un-GAY A 60’s TEEN BOOMER

Who Thinks You Can un-Gay Anyone? Parents? My uncle grew from an awkward teen boomer to become an inspirational gay man. I could say inspirational man, but he’s more proud of being a gay inspiration. He’s lived life his way on no uncertain terms: Accept gay or go away. But that’s not how it started […]

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buckle up

SPACE NEEDLE BECOMES LAMP POST IF SEATTLE GROWS THE WRONG DIRECTION

    Reading right to left the image of Seattle changes from working port town Seattle to big league sports town Seattle to gorgeous big-city-over-water skyline Seattle, the equal to any world center. And then the forgotten Space Needle. There it is all by itself on the left. Alone. Can we finally agree? Seattle 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 […]

NW Boomer Cruise

Finding Fun In Your Backyard River The next time you bike or walk, drive or fly, keep an eye out for bridges. They show local rivers to paddle. If you lived in the same town a while and never been on the water, the time is ripe. This is baby boomer nirvana.

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