page contents Google

THE HEART OF PORTLAND

November 29, 2025 by

Repost from 2012 Urban life grows more imposing the closer you get to Burnside. The pretty lights you see from I-5, the beautiful reflection off the Willamette, disappear once you park your car. Trade wheels on the road for shoes on the sidewalk and the pace slows enough for a good look around. You still […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

YOU GOT BENCHED. THEN WHAT?

November 28, 2025 by

Your favorite fading sports star got benched. It happens sooner or later. They couldn’t play up to standards anymore. It’s worse when it happens to a promising star with everything in front of them. The pressure got to them, they got hurt, and lost their way. It happens to everyone eventually. We all get benched. […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

THANKSGIVING NOTICE 2025

November 27, 2025 by

Thanksgiving notice starts at the front door? Uh oh, that’s where my pooper scooper is. That ought to cover the first three items on the list. And the next seven. Once you add a dog to the mix it throws off all ten virtues of a Thanksgiving notice. Either keep the lights low? Or . […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE

November 26, 2025 by

My participation in the civic life of my country is pretty minimal. I do my part. That’s me and Abe doing our part together. He does his oversight from his seat, me from mine. Only one of us writes about it.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GOOD TEAMMATE? BE ONE FOR THE TEAM

November 25, 2025 by

Either you are a good teammate, you’ve been a good teammate, or get out of here. That’s me in the dark Oregon hat in back. We’re on the breach in Seaside after Hood to Coast. It felt more like a deathbed after a short illness. But I’m not complaining, didn’t complain then, don’t complain now, […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HISTORICAL ADVENTURES: REAL LIFE vs MY LIFE

November 24, 2025 by

Last night we reviewed historical adventures at my local five star with friends Some of us had a hand in it, one of us made things up. Guess who is who? Even I got confused, so much so that I have to get things straightened out. How does a baby boomer blogger do that? By […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ONE NURSE STORY

November 23, 2025 by

If there’s a typical nurse story, it sounds like this: “I like to help people, and I don’t get grossed out.” A typical nursing patient has a similar story: “I need help, and I am grossed out.” Why are we grossed out about our bodies? I’ll start:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FOR THOSE GIVING AND FOLLOWING ORDERS

November 22, 2025 by

Was it a treat to see an ocean of men and women trained in giving and following orders all in the same place? It was for me. These people are all Hall of Fame worthy, and already enshrined in my personal hall. While most of us packed our gear and went home after two, three, […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WRITING DOWN MY BONES

November 21, 2025 by

I bought the book ‘Writing Down The Bones’ a few times. There’s something about the title, but not enough for me to read it and save it, and I’m someone who still has books from my tenth birthday. When I find them all I’ll have my own Natalie Goldberg library. This is from her website:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING WITH WOLVES

November 20, 2025 by

There comes a time in high school wrestling when you get thrown to the wolves. Ok, not real wolves, just the first time you knew you were over-matched, going to get rag-dolled, and still went out there. It doesn’t always work out the way it’s expected. I was a second year wrestler slated to face […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,