My current disappointment, and it’s not much, are the cherry blossoms of downtown Portland. I’ve been on others to get down there before they drop. What says spring better than a stroll along the Willamette River under a cherry blossom canopy? If I don’t go, it’ll be another year to wait. Do I go alone […]
LEADERSHIP TRAINING NOT FOR AMATEURS
March 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Leadership training happens every day, it just goes unnoticed. Unnoticed? Yes, unnoticed except by those who have had some training. Like me. Twenty-one hours of Leader Preparation Program time. You may call me a Fort Ord Leadership Academy graduate. This is why I’m such a fan of education for the young and old, and you […]
LOOKING BACK AT THE BEGINNING
March 23, 2025 by 2 Comments
Looking back can be dangerous, in an embarrassing way. The 80’s were a time of tight shorts in the NBA, and Crater Lake. That’s me with my girlfriend’s dog on a summer fashion shoot, a single man loose in the wild. I married that particular girlfriend. We were wedding bound after this trip.
TRAUMA BONDING RELATIONSHIPS, SO FAR
March 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Who has had a trauma bonding relationship? Anyone who played sports, broke up with the same partner a few times, you get the idea. If you’ve ever rented a place in a bad building, worked for a bad boss, or eat in a middle of the road restaurant instead of trying someplace new, you’ve had […]
WILDLIFE HELPERS FOR TUALATIN REFUGE
March 20, 2025 by 6 Comments
Wildlife helpers keep a low profile at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors get help from signs in the parking lot on how to behave. No running, no dogs, stay on the trail, and don’t upset the wildlife by being wild. It’s plain and simple: take a walk in nature and leave. Bring your […]
EXTRA TIME, OVERTIME, OR OUT OF TIME
March 19, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Extra time is a dream, otherwise it would be part of a plan. Whether it’s a travel plan, a honey-do list, or something more involved, like planning a good life with loved ones, there’s never enough time. We (my wife) cooked corned beef for dinner that started out in a slow cooker. One recipe called […]
BABY BOOMER ADVICE, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
March 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Baby boomer advice comes in all shapes and sizes, every color of the rainbow, for better and worse. You get it without asking, without needing it, but you still get it. Ever wonder why? Here’s why: In a proper timeline, numbers go from ‘0’ to infinity. (And beyond.) Boomers haven’t aged on that timeline. Who […]
COST OF VICTORY FROM HISTORY
March 14, 2025 by Leave a Comment
The cost of victory, American victory, is ongoing. And it should be. Here’s why: After finishing the assigned reading list for an American History degree I noticed repeated behavior: The losers get paid. Why, you ask? Here’s why:
LINES CROSSED? DRAW A BETTER LINE
March 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Lines crossed is a warning” “Don’t cross that line, bro.” But who listens to that? It’s just a line, isn’t it? This is called ‘learning from experience.’
PEDDLING FEAR FOR THE WIN
March 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Peddling fear is as old as the first recorded sunrise. “It’s getting hot and feeling hotter,” said early man. “If it keeps getting hot I’ll need a new wardrobe,” said early woman. “These animal furs will cook us both.”
