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AMERICAN STORIES: MOVING ON TO NEW LAND

July 4, 2023 by

American stories in early Oregon were about pioneers, travel, and hard work. How hard? As hard as it’s ever been clearing land by hand. But first they had to get here. And they’re still coming.

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TAKE ‘THE PAUSE’ TO SHOW RESPECT

June 20, 2023 by

‘The Pause’ in this post is the moment a medical team takes after a patient dies. Whoever is in the bed deserves a moment of quiet for the life they led. I’m a fan of people understanding the idea of respect and how it’s shown. But why wait until the last moment?

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START WRITING BECAUSE ‘YOU NEVER KNOW’

June 19, 2023 by

Start writing because you have a story that needs telling. By you.

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‘THE PLOT’ THICKENS: A BOOK REVIEW

May 26, 2023 by

The Plot is the first book I’ve read that includes Facebook and twitter as important characters. No that’s not a spoiler. Neither is this: they’re cast in a dark light. Did I enjoy reading The Plot? A reviewer on Amazon said the first third drags along but that’s the part I most enjoyed.

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SAD SONGS ON SUNDAY? PERFECT

May 7, 2023 by

Sad Songs by Elton John on Sunday: If someone else is suffering enough oh to write it downWhen every single word makes senseThen it’s easier to have those songs aroundThe kick inside is in the line that finally gets to youAnd it feels so good to hurt so badAnd suffer just enough to sing the […]

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PRACTICE TIME FOR UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCY

May 5, 2023 by

Practice time doesn’t have to bore you half to death, but it should. If you have the notion to do something hard, and do it consistently, it takes practice. Do it with no practice and what do you get? Surprised if it works out, but not surprised if it doesn’t.

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THE INTIMATE PERSONAL, BUT WHY?

April 30, 2023 by

The intimate personal is the #1 Rule of memoirists, novelists, poets, playwrites, noodlers, doodlers, and bloggers. Their readers want to know things, not necessarily first hand. Something on a page, or screen, is more than enough. But, someone’s still got to get it there. Some of my favorites:

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FAMILY HISTORY FROM BOTH SIDES

April 29, 2023 by

Family history comes in two varieties: The first: We don’t talk about that side of the family. The second: We can’t say enough about that side of the family. That’s the starting place for going off the rails.

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HAWAIIAN REVIEW WITH ONE MORE WAKE UP

March 24, 2023 by

This Hawaiian review includes Puff The Magic Dragon. Every baby boomer born, and those who self-identify as baby boomers, knows Puff. Puff the Magic Dragon slumbers at Hanalei Bay in the mountain profiles framing Hanalei Bay. It’s said to be only a coincidence that Peter, Paul and Mary mentioned a dragon in a land called […]

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WRITE SOMETHING WORTH READING, DO SOMETHING WORTH WRITING ABOUT

March 12, 2023 by

‘Write something’ is the alarm clock for every writer, Daylight Savings Time or not. What that ‘something’ might be? That’s the challenge. Everyone who has taken an English class, had an English segment, or passed a love note, has done it. But not you? Here’s my favorite writing lash:

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