Archive for November, 2009

We’ve all heard about how the financial meltdown trashed our banking system. But I have to admit that until today, I never considered how the economy was impacting our local food banks. I spent some time today at the Oregon Food Bank and was surprised to hear just how much the recession has changed the [...]


Deck the Halls

22Nov09

More than 30,000 men are injured annually from falling off ladders. More than 6,000 men die each year from falls involving ladders.
While I love the holidays, and don’t want to be a Grinch or anything, I have to admit that the thought of climbing on my roof each year terrifies me. I don’t mind the [...]


Imagine opening the door to your house and seeing a coffin in the living room. On the couch are your roommates dressed as vampires. They are passing around a glass of Hawaiian Punch to their friends, all pretending to be drinking a chalice of blood. Yep – that’s what I saw one fateful night when [...]


Every family has at least one crazy relative. You know, the one who you dread making small talk with over the holidays – but love talking about when they aren’t around. My uncle Lloyd falls into this group as he always was up to some kind of strange adventure.
Here are a few highlights:

Every St. Patrick’s [...]


There was a bit of controversy a few weeks ago when Michael Jordan’s son refused to wear Adidas shoes (per the university’s sponsorship contract with the basketball team) and instead wanted to wear his father’s Air Jordans. On one hand, you have to admire the kid’s devotion to his father. And how neat is it [...]


One of the things I enjoy most is taking my truck for a drive. When the couple who bought my futon off Craig’s List asked if I could deliver, I jumped at the chance to take my truck for a spin.
While the idea of delivering furniture might not appeal to most people, there is a [...]


This morning Starbucks gave me a beverage in a holiday cup. That can only mean one thing – It is only a matter of time before my in-laws invade the house for the holidays, take over my TV and remote, and Food Network becomes the channel of choice for the week. It isn’t that I dislike food. Don’t [...]


Back in my college days, I had this crazy business professor who had an interesting theory on the working world. He explained that you are only as important as the trash can you use. While this seemed like nonsense, there was a bit of logic behind his rant.

If you work in a factory (which I [...]


While trudging along on my 68 mile commute to work, it hit me. I need a new car. A fast car. A really cool car with an engine that makes lots of noise.
 Although 99.99 percent of the Portland, Ore. population is obsessed with energy conservation and recycling, I’m that 0.01 percent who just wants a kick [...]