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BETTER LISTENING SKILLS FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

If practicing better listening skills isn’t a life goal, it should be.
How hard is it to pay attention?
You did it in the classroom with the encouragement of a teacher.
I still remember Mr. Kraus singing ‘Toot toot tootsie goodbye’ when he tossed little tootsie rolls to students with the right answer in algebra.
Maybe we need more of that? Instead we get more of this:

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RETURNING REVERENCE TO IT’S RIGHTFUL PLACE

There’s a scent of reverence in the air, of returning reverence after a long pause.
It started in my doctor’s office where I’d been called to sit on a panel with others.
One of the others was Roy Pittman, one of my personal heroes.
The next time I saw the doctor he told me he was surprised at the way I acted, that I showed reverence to Coach Pittman.
If I did, I didn’t know it. What I remember is feeling awe-struck. Maybe it’s the same thing?
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NBA CHAMPION CROWNED, AGAIN

Becoming an NBA champion is a lifelong goal for every basketball player in the world.
The best want to play the best, beat the best, to tell themselves they’re good enough.
It’s that along with contracts and money and fame.
All of that goes along the wayside when you stop playing in ninth grade like me, or in high school.
Do I blame the coaches that I didn’t become a star, a substitute, or even a benchwarmer?
Noooooo, but . . .
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CLEAN LIVING FOR A QUIET LIFE

Clean living is an art form, and like all art it takes practice.
Yes, we’re talking about practice.
It takes practice to talk without a particular tone, without too much edge.
Do that and you may have a productive conversation.
Go ahead and save the tone and edge for people you don’t know, who don’t know you.
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I READ THE NEWS TODAY OH BOY

The news today is all about world events.
News organizations deliver it every day with the same hype and urgency.
News hounds consume every detail and load it onto the pile they carry in case someone asks them ‘what’s up?’
That’s when you brace yourself for the headlines as if they’re coming from an anchorman. Or woman.
That’s the big news story you NEED to know.
The small news, the stories that make us step back, come out another way.
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toughen up

GET A JUMP START ON GLOBAL WARMING IN THE ARIZONA DESERT

The Arizona desert feels like the future of global warming. I’m not complaining about one hundred ten degree days, and neither is the cactus. But how much hotter would it get if global warming trends continue? Check the temps next week. The weather news calls for potential records. My home turf in Oregon gets record […]

BICYCLE DAY FOLLOWED BY 420? CALL A DOCTOR, STAT

    Call a doctor and ask about the medical qualities of acid and weed. Maybe your doc has some non-medical experience to share, but probably won’t.   If your medical provider isn’t in the loop, boomerpdx will shine some light. No, not crack the sky light from the heavens above with a big voice […]

WHAT PEOPLE NEED AND WHAT THEY DON’T SAY

What people need is a break from their trials.   An old joke goes like this: How do you catch a unique rabbit? You ‘nique up on it. How do you catch a tame rabbit? The tame way, you ‘nique up on it. It’s pretty funny if it’s the only joke of the week. More […]

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boomer years

BABY BOOMER WEDDING HISTORY

Like most history, baby boomer wedding history has at least two sides. Just the words baby boomer wedding history pops up the 1960’s classic image of the Woodstock couple standing in the mud. Or the times I best manned my brothers’ weddings in the 70’s and they co-best manned mine in the 80’s. Three decades […]

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 […]

PORTLAND HOLIDAY HURLING SEASON

Somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas you’ll find Portland Holiday Hurling Season. (Overheard at Portland Saturday Market.) I love this time of year. That’s right, as corny as it sounds, I love it. Family and friends and toasts and food. What’s not to love. Even the one time I took an early out on an evening’s […]

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buckle up

LADY DAY PLAYS BOOMERPDX BAR AND GRILL

“Most men won’t go to live theater with their wives,” was an observation my wife shared. We were walking out of Portland Center Stage at the Armory on NW 11th by Powell’s Tuesday night when she said it. I was revved up after seeing LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL. “Did I ever thank […]

OREGON BEACH: RULES TO RELAX ON THE ROCKS

    This is first hand information on the Oregon beach, any Oregon beach, and how to relax.   Rule #1: Don’t get comfortable.   If you want comfort, go to California, or Mexico, or Florida. Nothing spells comfort like sand and sun.   Looking for a comfortable Oregon beach? It won’t take long. Drag […]

PEARL TAVERN, JOEY HARRINGTON, GERDING THEATER

What makes a baby boomer date night better than the Pearl Tavern, Joey Harrington, and a play at the Gerding Theater? Not much. At least you’ll start out knowing one of the three is a good bet. All boomers love looking back and remembering the good old days. Since we already see Joey Harrington in […]

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