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RECOMMENDED READING: T.C. BOYLE’S ‘GOING DOWN’

October 29, 2022 by

Recommended reading for writers? Common advice is to read everything, whatever that means. Do I read everything? Everything in a bookstore, or library? No, I read for inspiration, I read for cause, and my cause is writing.

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KID PROMISES MADE, KID PROMISES KEPT

August 24, 2022 by

Kid promises are what expecting parents make, what new parents make. Then baby shows up and everyone makes new promises. If you are a parent, what kind of promises did you make to yourself. Were they the same ones you told your parenting partner?

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BOOK HOARDING ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS

July 12, 2022 by

Book hoarding is not a disease. If that makes you feel better, you might be a librarian. Not a librarian, but still have loads of books? Still not a disease, and here’s why:

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NO FRIENDS? SOUNDS LIKE A SAFE LIFE

March 27, 2022 by

During ‘my research’ I came across this gem: “If you have no friends you’ll probably never get Covid19.” This isn’t the sort of research that leads to cockeyed ideas on how to treat Covid once you get it. My research is different than people who say they’re ‘doing research’ but who don’t understand what research […]

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WRITER LIFE CHRISTMAS WHEN IT’S NOT ABOUT WRITING OR LIFE

December 24, 2021 by

Does ‘writer life’ mean writing about life, or the experience of someone who writes? Answer silently while you write about a life of writing. Writer’s Life? Mine began as a small child at my Grandma’s house. She handed me a book.

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SPORTS LITERACY FOR BOOMERS: KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

November 19, 2021 by

Sports literacy runs through all sports, not just your favorite team, or my favorite team, though that would make things so much easier. It’s more than the Yankees, the Cowboys, or the Celtics; more than the Mariners, Seahawks, and your Portland Trail Blazers. On Friday nights it’s more than the high school football playoffs, more […]

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TRAVEL OREGON STARTS WITH TWO BOOKS

October 26, 2021 by

Travel Oregon the right way? If you live here you know the drill: Fill up the gas tank, or unplug the battery, and head for the big north to south roads. Take in the coast on Hwy 101. Head out on I-5 for the Willamette Valley sights. Or aim your ride over the the mountains […]

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ROAD TRIP AMERICA WITH LEWIS AND CLARK AND BOOKS

June 13, 2021 by

The road trip for the original Corps of Discovery hit this beach in 1805. The modern Corps of Discovery pulled up in a tour bus yesterday and marched to the spot above the beach. That’s one way of doing it. There are other ways, but they all have things in common with Lewis and Clark. […]

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LEARNING CURVE? FIND TREASURES AND READ

June 12, 2021 by

A learning curve is not an excuse. I’ll repeat it, a learning curve doesn’t mean you’re stupid. There’s room in class for another learner. If it’s something new, you may feel a little stupid working it out, but that’s just navigating the curve. Give it a few minutes and you’ll be an expert. How? Read […]

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DORK LIFE? GO AHEAD AND LIVE IT UP

May 14, 2021 by

I met my eventual mother in law before I was in the ‘potential partner’ picture. Her daughter was on my radar, just not the other way around. It was familiar territory. Since I had time to play the long game of love, I kept the heat turned down. To an objective outsider I was just […]

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