I like people who channel their problems constructively. They’re effective in making me feel like the whiner I’ve always taken pride in. Michael Becker channels his problems constructively, and he’s a big boost. I found him in a search of cancer memoirs. We’ve exchanged pleasant emails. Have I told him I’m scouting for my […]
AUTUMN LEAVES, AUTUMN DOGS, BEST TIME OF YEAR
November 15, 2017 by
How often do dogs change my day? Every day. And it’s not always my dog. A walk on a trail, a lady with two frisky hounds, and it’s a lively moment. Just two middle aged people on a hillside in the wilderness. Sharing the wonder of it all. Autumn […]
Theater In Portland And Tigard, How To Dress
October 15, 2017 by
At some point I’ll probably get used to going to live theater, but it hasn’t happened yet. Actors and clowns still feel a little suspicious. So do writers, but what’re you gonna do. No one dresses to write, everyone dresses for the theater, at least everyone with gray hair and I’ve got […]
Smart Boston Loves Boomerpdx Portland But It’s Not Enough
October 7, 2017 by
Smart Boston got it’s name by being smart. No news there, not when the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education list of top colleges came out Wednesday, September 27th, 2017. Do we all agree that the WSJ/THE poll helps smart Boston? With two of the top three colleges in town, there’s […]
WRITING PARTNERS PLEASE STAND UP
August 12, 2017 by
Responsible parents? Responsible parenting? Writing partners? What’s is really mean? It’s more than a roof over their head and food on the table. And when does it end? We want answers, dammit, and not the easy ones. Too easy to say, “You’re eighteen, my jobs doe. Get out.” But you could and no […]
MOUNT RAINIER CALLS JOHN MUIR, ME, AND YOU TOO
July 25, 2017 by
“The mountains are calling and I must go,” said John Muir. If go you must, then go prepared. Most important is going with the right people. Or person. It’s not a marriage, but there are some similarities with a good travel partner. Can you take it if they make fun of your driving? Make […]
LIFE CHANGE UP? SAW-WING BATTER, BATTER, BATTER
May 23, 2017 by
See a fat pitch down the middle and get hold of it. After that they all look like a fat pitch down the middle. All you need to do is stand in and swing for the fences T-ball style. That’s baseball, but how does it connect to your busy life?
WRITE YOUR STORY SOONER THAN LATER
February 14, 2017 by
You can handle your frightening truth, so write your story. Writers inspired by Inspirational Writers lean toward inspirational writing? It seems natural. Buying Gabriele Lusser Rico’s Writing the Natural Way felt just as natural. Who doesn’t need ‘A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Writing Confidence.’ I know I do. I feel more creative […]
WRITERS, WRITING CLASSES, ENGLISH DEPARTMENTS
January 14, 2017 by
Best advice from writing classes? College freshman might change their major. More than once. But over and over? Relax, it happens. And it’s not pretty. Finding yourself in college is expensive. Even if Major Changer milks it long enough they finish with a degree others call worthless, as in, “what were you thinking?” That’s […]
