The Seattle Freeze in February isn’t about the weather. It’s not about the weather in July or August, either. If it’s not freezing weather, then what is it? Attitude, a chilly attitude.
CONSTANT COMPLAINING DONE THE RIGHT WAY
December 13, 2022 by
If you hear constant complaining without end, what do you do? Tune it out? Change the channel? Or listen and learn because we all know it’s impossible to complain all the time. There’s something else going on, but what?
DRAWING LINES TO LIVE BY?
April 25, 2022 by
Who is drawing lines to live by? Picasso did. Unfortunately, you’re no Picasso, I’m no Picasso, so why bother? We bother with lines and borders for a sense of control like, “Don’t go there, girlfriend.” The big Question Of The Day: Who draws borders when they’re on the same side of the line you’re on?
HOLDING GRUDGES TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF STRENGTH
August 7, 2021 by
Holding grudges is a time honored tradition between races, religions, nations, and families. “We don’t like them.” “Why don’t we like them?” “Why would we?” This exchange gets played out between young and old, men and women, brothers and sisters. Eventually holding grudges turns into something completely different than how it started because no one […]
HOW STRONG PEOPLE PREVAIL OVER TOUGH TIMES
July 5, 2020 by
Strong people come from every corner of the globe. Based on what I call research, wandering around to flatten my learning curve, I met a bunch of strong folks between Philadelphia and Eugene, New York, and Portland. My interpretation of what strong means comes from where I was raised. It’s probably not much different than […]
SOUTH PORTLAND PEOPLE CHANNEL PROUD MARY
June 17, 2020 by
Old painting of a rower An early morning walk by the Willamette showed the sort of Portland people see before they move here. A calm scene, placid water, with sun breaking through scattered clouds for a blinking reflection. With the Ross Island Bridge on the left, and the actual Ross Island in front, dog walkers […]
PANHANDLING THE PANHANDLERS IN PHILADELPHIA
April 29, 2020 by
Panhandling is an urban characteristic that brings diverse emotions. For some, the response it, “Don’t talk to me.” Followed by, “Don’t make your problem my problem.” The reverse: “I don’t have change, but please take this ten dollar bill.” The response is different with the roles reversed.
All American Moment Of Serendipitous Patriotism
September 7, 2018 by
One fine summer day in Philadelphia I found myself walking east on Market Street in the company of friends and family toward Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell was still in residence. I remember aunts and uncles and cousins and roommates all hiking toward the July 4th, 1976 Bicentennial speech given by […]
SHUT UP AND EAT: SOUTH PHILLY VIA SE PORTLAND
July 10, 2017 by
Geno’s or Pat’s? Or Shut Up And Eat? This cheesesteak. Or that cheesesteak. My readers know the value of cheesesteak. If I hear about a place from a reliable source, I’m there. Same for an unreliable source.
GENTRIFY PORTLAND RENT
July 18, 2016 by
What else goes up with gentrify Portland rent? Your blood pressure. Once upon a time the chase for the lowest rent led to some pretty sketchy dwellings. It was a contest to find the worst place for the lowest rent. A young single man seeking low rent in college is one thing. A single man […]
