page contents Google

DO WHAT MATTERS BECAUSE YOU MATTER

April 16, 2026 by

When you find yourself asking ‘what really matters anymore’ the correct answer is ‘You matter,’ which isn’t a problem until you start doing weird shit to prove it. Like what? Look around, get the news, and some days it seems like there’s an effort being made to make you feel like you don’t matter. How […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GIVING BACK TO PORTLAND STARTS WITH A TOUR GUIDE

April 14, 2026 by

Giving back sounds like something you do just before dying. It’s either the death of the giver, or the death of the receiver. Now I know what you might be thinking: give back, or give up? Neither one fits the bill of the giving back I’m doing, which is?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PICK A SIDE AND STAY THERE, OR NOT

April 13, 2026 by

What’s the problem when you pick a side? You’re stuck. You talked the talk, walked the walk, then something changed. But you’re stuck. Either stay on the bus as it goes off the bridge, or hit your eject button.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SPORT HEROES FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME

April 11, 2026 by

Sport heroes take root from the year you were born. The key is catching up once you learn how to read. Being born in the mid-50’s was a stroke of luck. The Yankees were in the World Series eight out of ten years, winning six. They had Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, but I was […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ONE PFC’S INTERNATIONAL OPINION: NATO

April 6, 2026 by

As an Army veteran from the mid-1970’s I’ve had time to work up an international opinion on NATO. Reading history is one thing; reading history after wearing the uniform is a whole nother level. Racing up the promotional ranks to the heights of private first class brings it home. The low ranks are the gravel […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BIGGER PICTURE, FUZZY FOCUS

April 4, 2026 by

Looking hard at the bigger picture takes attention away from the small stuff. Everyone complains about hair loss, overweight, under motivated, but forget their sense of freedom to itch, eat, and flop around. The solution comes to everyone and it’s never the same. Do this for that, but not too much, not too often, and […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MADE IN FOR THE WIN

April 1, 2026 by

Made In cookware made it to my house in a roundabout way. When I called customer service there was nothing roundabout about it. I was left wishing every exchange could be so welcoming. Here’s how it went:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

RETIREMENT TIME OPENS DOOR FOR THINGS AND STUFF

March 29, 2026 by

Everyone’s’ retirement time is unique, no one matches any other. For some it’s a big party at work with a grand send-off, followed by more parties to celebrate that new freedom. There’s that giant card where everyone you worked over the decades signs with the glee of a high school year book. Or maybe you […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BUSY LIFE IN THE FAST LANE, PASSING LANE, OR . . .

March 28, 2026 by

A busy life means making a difference to someone, to something, to somewhere. Take your pick. Pick more than one. What you can’t pick is anyone else’s priorities for their busy life. You can try, but why?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BORING, TRIVIAL, POINTLESS LIFE? GOOD JOB

March 17, 2026 by

Doing a good job means what? Following orders and delivering a finished product according to the highest standards of the industry? Let’s not get carried away. How about finishing on time with something that works the way it’s supposed to work? You can do that and your masterpiece at the same time. If you don’t […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,