Petey puppy was born 9/19/21, and came to live with us in November. He arrived with a flight nanny who brought our pup from the East Coast to Portland. Needless to say, this little guy has become a beloved member of the family.

The gray cloud layer is releasing the first rain of Fall 2023. I can hear the faint metallic tapping of droplets as they hit the eaves. It's a peaceful sound, a soothing Amen to the activities that have defined another summer. Last Monday, I pulled into the driveway on my Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro … Continue reading Swing into Fall … of life →

Procrastination and a foggy memory do not for a consistent blog make. I promised myself an entry on the trips that Janet and I have taken since I retired at the end of June 2021. Before this gets completely away from me, I'm going to get some of this information recorded. Our motto for the … Continue reading Retirement Travel Log →

Memory ain't what it used to be. At least mine isn't, but I haven't worked on maintaining it much lately either. It's a muscle that can be strengthened, but it's also a bodily function that starts going downhill on its own. Regardless, I'm now a bit more than a year into retirement, and, if the … Continue reading Memory … →

I turn 62 in a couple of weeks. I am officially retiring from my career at the University of Oregon Libraries this Thursday, July 1st. There are lots of thoughts and feelings to unpack, but I found myself thinking of my dad. Milt also retired at 62, and I am pleased to share that in … Continue reading Retiring at 62 … →

Say something ... yes! There are times when we should hold our tongues. There are times when we should speak up. There are times when not saying something is disastrous. This weekend, Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah--a major holiday that marks the beginning of a new year and kicks off the ten days of awe leading … Continue reading Say Something … →

Can I just say I'm tired of this? I've spent the past four years spilling my outrage into Twitter, Facebook and random conversations. I've actually tried to hold back, knowing that venting spleen disturbs the social harmony and punctures the veneer of the "happy life" that we can create in the online vignettes that we … Continue reading Whither Trump? →

The e-mail notice that my WordPress subscription was about to automatically renew got my attention. That's right I thought ... I used to blog. Spurred on by a curiosity that felt like a green shoot poking its head through the crevice in the concrete, I found the bookmark to Beacons on the Journey that had … Continue reading Where did the year go? →

Sturgis is a small town in western South Dakota with a year round population of around 7,000 people.  It sits on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest where you can find the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, Devil’s Tower (of Close Encounters fame), Custer State Park and assorted frontier towns like Deadwood where you … Continue reading The Sturgis Diary →

Since starting my new job as Interim Dean, time for blogging has been scarce to non-existent. Here are a couple of items from the pile of random stuff piling up in my brain. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: My good friend and motorcycle amigo, John, and I are headed out this Friday, 8/2, to check an item … Continue reading Miscellaneous stuff →