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GREAT NEWS FROM MT. ANGEL AND JOHN ROSSI PODCAST

The great news from Mt. Angel comes via the John Rossi Podcast visit to Lou’s Kitchen.
The Kitchen is a big winner in Best of Willamette Valley 2026 claiming the Gold Medal for best all-round restaurant.
When I opened the door the place was packed and buzzing at noon.
One grilled chicken salad and an Arnold Palmer later we retired to the podcast studio to work on stuff and thangs.

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THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE TO WRITING AN EVERYDAY BLOG

An everyday blog is just what it sounds like:
Every. Day.
Like most things worth pursuing, it takes tenacity and creativity to make something worth writing into something worth reading.
No problem, write. Right?
But, there’s more.
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BEER BELLY, BEER GUT, THEN WHAT

I’m working on a beer belly reduction plan, which means what?
Drink less beer, what else?
I was lamenting my loss after meeting a new guy who fixed broken guitar amps in his garage.
Me: I think the signs are lining up to loose my gut.
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BEING USEFUL LIKE ROBERT FULGHUM

This isn’t Robert Fulghum, it’s me being useful in my Robert Fulghum beard which has gone the way of every beard that dared show itself on my face.
He is probably a better beard steward than me. My enthusiasm for grooming an extra pet in the house lasts about six months.
The last dog lived sixteen years; the current dog is going on five.
Am I being useful for them? More than I am to a beard.
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A SECOND LOOK AT “THAT AIN’T RIGHT”

What’s a second look at this garage arrangement tell you?
What’s missing: a fitness area with a treadmill, squat rack, work bench, maybe a couple of cars stacked on a lift, and a designated music area with guitars, drums, and amps all ready to go.
Not to say this garage is lacking anything, but it looks more like a storage unit than a daily use area to build on, play in, and break a sweat.
This is a great set-up for people ready to move. Loading time in three, two, one . . .
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toughen up

BREAST CANCER: A MOTHER JONES FACEBOOK POST ASKS IF ALCOHOL IS A CAUSE. WHAT ARE OTHER CANCER CAUSES?

    From motherjones.com:   Susan Sontag once wrote that telling people about your cancer diagnosis tends to fill them with mortal dread. But when I’ve disclosed my illness to friends and told them that alcohol can cause breast cancer, I’ve never invoked enough mortal dread to deter anyone from ordering a second drink. Most women […]

MILLENNIAL SELF CARE = SELF RESPONSIBILITY

  You know it’s not pledge week when NPR rags millennials about ‘self-care.’ Instead of pledging money to them, they’ll buy an ‘experience’ instead. Cue Jimi Hendrix? Gracy Obuchowicz says it’s more than just social media that has pushed millennials to the forefront of the self-care discussion. “Our generation has seen enough,” she said. “People […]

MEMORIAL DAY AT THE VA

Memoir: How To Make A Difference On Memorial Day. In the early 80’s a man moved to Portland from New York City. An Oregon man. He moved in with the best girl he’d ever known. Up until then. She was THE ONE, if one ever existed. Up until then. Keep in mind those who think […]

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boomer years

GILLASPIE LOVESEAT TO HONOR AMERICA. IT’S FRAGILE

    Who hasn’t been accused of making last minute presents? My specialty is carving names in oak with a router.   It takes practice, at least more than a last minute panic to produce something meaningful on Christmas morning.   I’ve been the object of such accusations, and while correct, there is a bigger […]

BOOMER ARMY RACE RELATIONS, 1974

The time Army race relations got it right. In the early stages of the All-Volunteer Army, recruiters filled the ranks with whoever showed up. The draft ended, so most of the smart guys stayed out of the way of The New Army. The people who did show up had their own agendas. Some wanted college […]

FAT SHAME, FIT SHAME, SHAME SHAME

From one side of the health debate to the other there’s no shortage of shamers. A forty year old man, six feet tall, weighing 186 lbs wore a sauna belt. In a sauna. With men and women. He was after those excess three pounds that showed up the day before. Did he understand the shame […]

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buckle up

FIVE DIAMOND PRESIDENT, OR HOW TO UNDERSTAND HIGH END HABITS

    For any questions about President Trump, his behavior in office, and general lifestyle, there’s a simple answer:   He’s a Five Diamond President. If that’s not good enough, he’s also a Six Star Diamond man.   What you see in President Trump is the result of decades of pampered living.   Nothing wrong […]

SUPERIOR ARIZONA AFTER APACHE TEARS SEARCH

    One of the most impressive rocks I’ve knocked out of a rock wall? Apache tears.   Just another rock until I held it up to the sun for my own solar eclipse.   What’s going on in there? See through rocks in Superior Arizona.

BILTMORE: BIG MONEY BUILDS A BIG HOUSE

    Sneaking up on the big Biltmore House The first question is appearance. Not the house, you. What do you wear if you’re visiting the biggest privately owned house in America? This isn’t Disneyland and Sleeping Beauty Castle, so shorts and flip flops aren’t good enough? If that’s true, you’ll find dress code violations […]

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