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SAM QUINONES ON IMPORTANT WRITING

October 5, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

What’s better than a writer hyping important writing, the importance of writing, and at the same time telling us about their favorite writing book from a dead writer? If that’s not writing advice, I don’t know what is. Good writing advice is hard to come by. Will it make you a better writer, you ask? […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, blogger, books, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, dead writer, education, history, important writing, learning, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, reading, social ills, story, sub stack, travel, writer, writers, writing, writing advice

CHEESECAKE FACTORY v ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL: A STUDY

October 4, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Timeless design. Classic vision. Tasteful architecture. What more could anyone want from the Cheesecake Factory? Or, St. Paul’s Cathedral?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: boomer blogger, boomerpdx, cheesecake, Cheesecake Factory, education, history, hope, learning, london, mass communication, mid term election, modern master, salvation, Social media, St.Paul's cathedral, Tigard, vote, writer, writers, writing

PORTLAND NARRATION WITH MEL BROWN AT THE JACK LONDON

October 3, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Yesterday I wrote a post about two ladies walking around Portland like they knew where they were going. They did know where they were going, but there was a hitch. They weren’t alone. The Heart of Portland followed along.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, boomerpdx, education, google, heart of portland, history, JACK LONDON review, learning, mel brown, narrative, Oregon, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, portland heart, portland narration, Portland Oregon, Social media, story, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

A PORTLAND WALK WITH THE LADIES

October 2, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

What do you miss if you skip the Portland walk? Trees planted in brick walk ways? Always fun. The street lamps like the one in the top left? Wooden models are part of the Oregon Historical Society collection, and they are beautiful.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, BOOMER, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, education, history, learning, Oregon, oregon historical society, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, portland walk, the future, travel, writer, writers, writing

MISTAKEN IDENTITY: ONE ‘MY BAD’ MOMENT

October 1, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

‘My bad’ is not anyone else’s bad, not your bad, not their bad, unless: What you did hurt others. You did it with malicious intent. You smeared your family name and showed a special kind of jack-ass on C-span.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: boomer blogger, boomerpdx, education, Hawkeye, Hawkeyes, history, hurt others, Jayhawks, leadership, learning, malicious intent, my bad, Oregon Coast, Portland Oregon, Portland State, save face, Social media, travel, writer, writers, writing

CHANGING FACES FOR CHANGING TIMES

September 28, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Peace and friendship are the right ingredients for changing times and what goes better with it than a dangerous looking beard? If you’ve never had one hanging off your face, if you’re a woman or a light shaver, a dangerous looking beard sends a message. One beard message is, “This man is too busy thinking […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: boomerpdx, changing face, changing times, education, history, learning, logical, men, Oregon, Portland, Portland Oregon, Social media, sports, travel, vote, women, writer, writers, writing

THE NORTH BEND OF COOS BAY

September 26, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Who saw this messy map and thought, “That’s where I’m going?” My parents, apparently. This is where they raised their family. I asked the old man, who had grown up in a logging company town, whose hometown was tougher, his or mine?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: boomer blogger, Coos Bay, education, history, learning, North Bend, Oregon, Portland, Portland Oregon, Simpson, simpson house, Social media, travel, vision, writer, writers, writing

GARDEN PARTY REMINISCING

September 25, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Remember your first garden party when you invited people over to the house to see what you planted, what you’ve grown? It’s a touching moment to behold after years of planning. You build a raised bed like the picture here, and buy plants you just know will grow. And they did.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: AGENT ORANGE, Baby Boomer blogger, boomerpdx, contaminated dirt, education, family, garden, garen party, history, kids, learning, neglect, next time, Portland Oregon, raised beds., responsible, travel, vegetable garden, vegetables, writer, writers, writing

NATURE SIGNS TO WATCH FOR

September 23, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

When you make a plan to see nature up close, expect nature signs. Follow the message of the signs for best results. Do that and you’ll return home with sweet memories and solid experiences with exciting pictures to share. If it’s your first time out in the wild, pay extra attention. You can thank me […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: ancestral land, Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, bears, blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, buffalo, education, elk, forest walk, forests, friendly, history, learning, mountains, nature, nature signs, outdoors, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, river walk, signs, Social media, travel, wife, writer, writing, yellow jackets

OFF GRID, NO PHONE SERVICE, BUT . . .

September 22, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: books, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, education, family, GUITAR, history, learning, look around, music, off grid, Peace, peace and quiet, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, quiet, read, Social media, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing