Published in The Haven·Oct 12, 2022Member-onlyBe Emotionally Intelligenter at WorkThroughout my career I’ve been privileged to learn from so many smart and unsmart colleagues. You’ll find plenty of mentors in your area of expertise, but it takes years to grasp the nuances of working harmoniously with other people regardless of your profession, especially if you’re in IT or software…Humor4 min readHumor4 min read
Published in The Haven·Jan 8, 2021Member-only2020 — The Year of the Dead RatA few months before the COVID-19 pandemic came to town, Charlie moved in next door. He’s a handsome guy with curly golden hair and a big grin who doesn’t say much but lets you know he’s happy to see you from his side of the fence. Along with American democracy…Humor5 min readHumor5 min read
Dec 27, 2019Member-onlyThe Last Rodeo — Memories of MamaBrain cancer killed Mama after two long years of treatment. It wasn’t her first rodeo — she beat ovarian cancer nine years earlier. Mama and I joked that she never got colds or the flu, only aggressive cancers. Even as…Nonfiction14 min readNonfiction14 min read
Published in The Haven·May 3, 2019Member-onlyHairesy and Do-oversHairstyle as an indicator of identity satisfaction — In September 2018 I was boarding a flight from Portland to Denver when I saw a woman with a mohawk mullet walking down the jetway. I felt lightheaded and mesmerized like a kid hearing rock & roll for the first time. …Hair5 min readHair5 min read
Published in The Haven·Feb 15, 2019Member-onlyTruth and the Art of Resume EnhancementThere’s endless information floating around the internet about writing snappy cover letters, crafting impressive resumes, and interviewing like a champ. …Humor5 min readHumor5 min read
Jul 27, 2018Member-onlyPostcards from PortlandAccidental encounters with authenticity — When I moved to Portland, Oregon, skinheads and the spotted owl were on the decline, and Californiacation was in its infancy. Irony was acceptable and nut allergies were uncommon. In today’s era of “photos or it didn’t happen”, a selfie is a badge of authenticity achieved (#vanlife). …Authenticity4 min readAuthenticity4 min read
Jan 19, 2018Parallel (universe) parkingA kid, a dog, and a car do not equal happiness — The Chilean neighbor across the street married a Russian lady he met on a “marry a Russian lady because American ladies think you’re too weird even though you have a good job” website. He’s a true eccentric (cotton balls in the ears, unpopped pimples, cycling shorts with black socks and…Portland2 min readPortland2 min read
Dec 29, 20172017 in review, personallyA lot of weirdness happened in the world this year and some of it had nothing to do with world politics. The sharing economy My Somalian Lyft driver proudly tells me he memorized the Koran when he was seven years old. In the background, a lady in the radio is talking about how…20175 min read20175 min read
Dec 7, 2017Member-onlyLet’s smash old walls loudlyTime to establish uncompromising standards of intolerance for sexual abuse — The outing of Harvey Weinstein as a long-term methodical abuser of women has empowered people to speak about their experiences with men who leverage their power to take sexual advantage of others under their control. Thanks to feminism and a diminished tolerance of abusive behavior, we assume that potential victims…Sexual Assault3 min readSexual Assault3 min read
Sep 10, 2017Street of DreamsWasterville in Utopia — On a hot August afternoon in Portland, Oregon, a Latin American couple wheels a blue cooler down the street, hawking homemade tamales, six for five dollars. A handsome blond guy with filthy feet is panhandling on the corner of SE Hawthorne and 36th. He stops them and demands “I need…Homeless3 min readHomeless3 min read
