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WHEN ‘OLDEN DAYS’ GET OLDER

January 27, 2023 by

My olden days started in 5th grade. It was a nice day in North Bend, Oregon. A little chilly, not that foggy, and just windy enough to spread your jacket out like wings and lean in to it. I skipped half the lunch recess outside and ducked into the grade school library. The door was […]

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SPECIAL BIRTHDAY? FIND SUSHI KUNI IN WEST LINN

January 26, 2023 by

Was the special birthday at Shushi Kuni my choice for a celebration feast? It was the inspired choice of a West Linn birthday girl who knows things, lots of things. Which includes having the inside track on sushi. Now you will, too.

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CALM SURRENDER LIFESTYLE, AND DOG TRAINING

January 25, 2023 by

The first I’d heard of ‘calm surrender’ came from a chemo clinic nurse. I asked her what someone like me was supposed to do during cancer treatment. She said surrender calmly. I told her Gillaspie isn’t a French name. Nurse Michel was not amused, but she was right.

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DIALECT STORIES TOLD IN TONGUES

January 24, 2023 by

Based on a particular vocabulary, all stories are dialect stories. From Mark Twain to Forrest Gump, and every stop in between. But what happens when language jumps off the page with directions, or recipes, or, wait for it: Feelings?

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WRITING SUCCESS THAT DOESN’T SUCK EVERY DAY

January 23, 2023 by

Asking anyone about their writing success is like asking if they won anything on their trip to Las Vegas. Everyone’s a winner when they get back home. “Best trip ever. Paid for itself.” Along with other various and assorted bulls!t. Writing success is easier to track, easier to explain, yet still a gamble.

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COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN MORE THAN A BURGER

January 22, 2023 by

A communication breakdown is a problem. It’s also a burger, which isn’t a problem. The problem comes when a ‘failure to communicate’ gets your ticket punched like Cool Hand Luke. But, instead of food and prison execution, let’s talk about online communication breakdown. For example, take this blog. Please.

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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH TOO CLOSE TO HOME?

January 21, 2023 by

A neighborhood watch group creates a bond. People looking out for the best interest of others? That’s the glue holding communities together. But things get a little sticky when they turn on you. It started with walking the dog.

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ANOTHER TRAIN LEAVES THE STATION

January 20, 2023 by

The train leaves the station to waving crowds. Or it leaves quietly. Either way, it’s your train and you’re on it. It’s all good as long as you realize everyone else rides their own train too, on their own schedule. Not your schedule, not mine.

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ATTENTION ECONOMY SPENDING CAP

January 19, 2023 by

Google’s response to ‘Attention Economy’ is “About 569,000,000 results (0.47 seconds).” I didn’t read them all, but the first few referred to the ‘so-called’ attention economy. ‘So-called’ because no one wants to be shamed for thinking there’s such a thing as an attention economy? Look at that top picture. What’s it say? More than you want […]

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FAT SHAMING HALL OF FAME

January 18, 2023 by

Fat shaming, while not new, took a new turn. A concerned partner wrote for advice on a relationship with someone gaining weight. Have you written for relationship advice? Ever? And expected a response? Me neither, but this is amazing:

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