page contents Google

CUTTING WOOD WITH A CREW

Like most kids growing up on the Oregon coast, like most people with a fireplace, I’ve spent time cutting wood. My brother and I hauled and chopped rounds my dad sawed from the logs washed up on the causeway connecting Hwy101 to the sand dunes. The old man was the boss. He said we could […]

OLD MAN ADVICE FOR YOUTHS

I saw an old man on a video giving advice, old man advice. How old? Too old to climb a redwood. He was giving advice to those younger than him, which is about everyone. He wasn’t a baby boomer, and if he was he had lots of wear and tear. The advice?

HISTORY MAJORS DECLINING? SO WHAT

History majors in decline is the story. ‘So what,’ is the response. Is there a historical reason for this? There’s always a historical reason for everything. Here’s the ‘so what’ part for you:

TIME TOGETHER IS NEVER ENOUGH, SO MAKE PORK BUTT PLANS

Our time together is limited, we can all agree on that, but limited by what? Together or not, our time is always shorter than expected. We get sick and die; we have an accident and die; we do nothing and still die. So why not make plans in the meantime?

AMERICAN WAY, MY VERSION

The American way of my Dad was different than mine. For him it was finish high school, wait a year for his brother, then go to junior college to play baseball together. Instead of waiting it out, he got with his buddies and they all joined the Marine Corps. Everyone went in, except one, and […]

BIG DISAPPOINTMENTS, BECAUSE THERE’S MORE THAN ONE

My big disappointments are what come up first in a life review. “Dang, that could have worked out better.” Following that track doesn’t lead to a very good review. This post will explain how to work it out better for both baby boomers and the new biggest generation of Millennials. Go big, or go home, […]

BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE WHEN IT’S YOUR FAULT: WEIGHT GAIN

Blaming someone the right way takes special care. It takes practice. Conversely, accepting blame also takes practice. One is easier than the other. Take the top pic for example.

BLUE PORTLAND IN STAGES

Blue Portland is like a blues band. You don’t start at the main stage in the Waterfront Blues Festival. You don’t always have a limousine ready to jump into after playing your set. That’s Portland carrying its guitar in a gunnysack, headed on down to the railroad tracks.

AIRPORT SECURITY LINE MANNERS

Airport security lines have rules we follow, or we don’t make the plane. No jokes, no references, no greeting to your buddy Jack with, “Hi, Jack.” If you don’t know the rules and decide to f around and find out, you not only won’t make the plane, you might find yourself on ‘the list.’ The […]

PLACING BLAME IN THE RIGHT PLACE

What’s the best way of placing blame? Pointing a finger? Yelling? Or checking to make sure there’s anyone or anything to blame? What about the blameless among us who’ve never done anything wrong?