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OFF GRID, NO PHONE SERVICE, BUT . . .

I’ve had mixed results with off grid peace and quiet.
Once I stayed in a place the had no telephones in the rooms for just that purpose, peace and quiet.
Sounded very thoughtful until a road grader started grinding across the parking lot pavement the next morning.
It couldn’t have been any closer if it had come through the front door.
My wife and I both chuckle when we talk about our honeymoon. One of us does.
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TIME TRAVEL INSIDE A LUMBER BARN

It’s just a barn, a lumber barn in the middle of nowhere, but so much more.
It’s an historical record, an archive of sawdust, splinters, slivers, and work. Hard work.
The main attraction is a train engine used to move big logs out of the woods, along with other man-killing machinery.
For me the big deal was the barn itself.
What a barn:

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OLD GROWTH LOGS FOR KNOT HEADS

Old growth trees are a time capsule, capturing events in each ring of growth.
Look at any standing tree and it carries the same message of time.
The mystery in old growth shows the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Want to take a look inside? Sure, you do.
Let’s go:

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HISTORICAL CORRECTION AFTER TIME OFF

After nine days away I need to post a historical correction.
It seems like the right time since I can look at visitors and break down traffic without posts.
Turns out I get hits on boomerpdx whether I post something new, or not.
Call me disappointed. My audience is automatic, which means bots, robots, and AI.
[Read More…]

NEW NAKED GYM GUY BOUNDARIES UPDATE, 2026

gym guy

 

You have boundaries; naked gym guy needs boundaries. 
Who sets the boundaries?
Two normal people join a gym: one of them works out and goes home, the other works out and showers at the gym.
Then it breaks down further.
Two people shower at the gym: sweaty guys and those who like to shower with sweaty guys.
It’s all in the same package, (excuse the pun.)
A current trend explains why so many people, like millennials, are uncomfortable in the gym locker room.
There’s good reasons why everyone feels a little, say, exposed.
Here’s how to figure it out and relax: [Read More…]

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toughen up

AUTHORITARIAN PARENT? WHAT OTHER KIND IS THERE

    A scene from the movie Vision Quest shows Louden Swain’s buddy Kuch at home with his dad. Instead of a bonding moment of shared struggle, the dad slaps Kuch around, telling him he’ll never be nothing.   Nothing. Wrestling might make him feel like a big shot, but he’ll still be nothing.   […]

Too Expensive For Boomer Exercise? Probably Not

Breaking Down The Numbers (approximate values) What to do about rising co-pays, premiums, and fees from the insurance and medical billing? First, make an appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor for a baseline health analysis. Find an ND you like. Here’s mine. Then find a gym.

A Gift For The Baby Boomer Smoker: Gut Punch Therapy

And It’s Not A Carton Of Marlboro Red Even a smoker smells it. They may stink up a car with their smoky clothes and breath, but they’ll know if another smoker has been there. Will they complain about the bad effects of second hand smoke? Of course. Smokers come in all shapes and sizes and […]

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boomer years

THE SOUND OF CIVIC DUTY

Ask An Academic Professional About Civic Duty And Listen Hard. You won’t hear about their civic duty or your civic duty, but the shared community. Might not be your community either. Keep listening. Civic duty is more than boundaries and lines drawn on a map, they say. An academic pro, the teacher, counselor, the administrator, […]

LETTING GO. HOW HARD CAN IT BE?

It’s Easy Until You Try. Portland baby boomers, Oregon baby boomers, or what the hell ALL baby boomers, know how to let go. We’ve doing it for years. Sometimes with help we don’t ask for. Think of the era boomers grew up in. Let go of the old and embrace the new. We were young […]

BOOMER AND THE BOMB

Every August Brings The Atomic Winds Of The Bomb Howling Out Of History. History is more than binge watching the Hitler Channel with a few War In The Pacific shows tossed in for balance. If history is your passion, but you aren’t a history major with an advanced degree, your opinion still matters. Every August […]

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buckle up

LEARNING FROM WHERE YOU LIVE, PT.1: NORTH BEND

    Ask the North Bend question. In a reflective moment that soon passed, I asked my Dad which of us grew up in a rougher town. I felt certain he’d say his town, Ryderwood. Ryderwood was a logging camp town, a company town with a company store. The one thing all logging company towns […]

SHARING EARTH WITH LIVING THINGS, EVEN THE CREEPY ONES

    “Quick, where’s my camera?” he said. “What?” she said. “Birds.” “Camera? Here it is.” “These birds are huge. Look at that formation.” “What are they?” “Birds. Really big birds. What are they?” “I don’t know.” “You don’t know these birds? Since when would you even admit it?”

MEXICO TRAVEL: PUERTO VALLARTA PERFECTION, pt2

    First thing you’ll need is a new hat. Pick one, maybe two.   Once you get into the swing of things you can adjust.   Not a hat person? You are now.

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