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HISTORY CLASSES WITH PROFESSOR JOHNNY HORTON

Dear readers, history classes are more than remembering dates and kings and generals. I know this because college changed from that to a more comprehensive picture of time and event during my protracted historical education. The standard when I graduated in 1991 included three books: a novel of the times, one writer’s opinion in a […]

HOPEFUL CITY, URBAN DUMP, OR BOTH

What makes a ‘hopeful city?’ Take Portland for example, a place other states once yearned for in their signature city. “We love Portland; we want to be Portland,” said Asheville, North Carolina. Except there are a few problems to overcome.

PORTLAND DRIVER ON A CABINET SEARCH

What does a Portland driver do when an IKEA bathroom cabinet doesn’t match the moment? And you live in a Portland, Oregon zip code? Go on a Portland road mission for the right junk. Warning: The time and effort spent is the real object, not the end result. You know, the ‘life is journey’ stuff. […]

ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM KIDS

Answering questions starts early for parents. Before they can talk, baby asks questions. They are the same questions informed parents ask, beginning with: Are we ready?

DREAM OREGON FIRST, THEN GET TO WORK

Dream Oregon first, or you’ll be working in someone else’s dream. Will it be to your liking? If you don’t have a dream, you won’t know the difference. So let’s figure it out based on experience, my experience.

SEVEN SUMMITS OF BULL MOUNTAIN

Seven summits mean one thing to mountain climbers: They’ve gone all the way and can’t get much higher. The rest of us can only dream of what it takes to climb and climb and climb again. But what if you have a mountain near by? How about a hill?

ONE PORTLAND BABY BOOMER DECADE

My Portland baby boomer decade began in 1980. It began when I stepped off the bus after a three day ride from Manhattan. (Hey, B.) For twenty-six year old me it was a life changer. By 1990 I was heading out.

PORTLAND FREEZE WORSE THAN SEATTLE?

The Portland Freeze that didn’t happen came when I moved to NW Portland. My apartment building was a busy place to live for students and professionals. The pretty lady who sold text books always looked like she just stepped out of Vogue. She was in a class of her own. And chilly. Hey Patricia. But […]

KID PARTY REVIEW

If you have kids you’ve had a kid party. If you have kids and haven’t had a party, shame on you. They only turn ONE once. If you miss that, shoot for two, three, four, five. You get it?

DON’T CARE, OR CARE, THERE IS NO TRY

If you don’t care about something, stay off the soapbox. Save your big talk for something you care about, we’ll figure out the rest. Once you’ve been around the block a few times it gets easier to care than not care. Why, you ask?