After spending the past week persuading you to shop your hearts out at my Bookstore & Gallery, I now need to cleanse my capitalist soul by reminding you that there are other ways to celebrate the holidays that don't involve adding to your loved ones' collection of "stuff." Sure, there are useful gifts that we need and … Continue reading Giving Rather Than Consuming
My Cynical Thanksgiving-Eve Greeting
In the U.S. we're about to celebrate what used to traditionally be harvest time by gathering around a previously frozen turkey that spent its short life jacked up on hormones, antibiotics, and corn (probably in that order), then filling ourselves to bursting with mounds of food drowned under a liter of gravy*. Don't get me … Continue reading My Cynical Thanksgiving-Eve Greeting
You Can Take the Scientist Out of the Lab…
If you've wandered around my bio page, you'll know that before delving into a creative career I was a scientist. I have a degree in biology and worked for nearly ten years doing chemistry kinds of things in a couple neuroscience research labs as well as spending a little over a year as a chemist at … Continue reading You Can Take the Scientist Out of the Lab…
Oh Look, Another Shooting…
Yep, yesterday here in Oregon there was another person trying to solve his issues by killing strangers with a gun. According to the Washington Post that means the U.S. has now seen more people killed or injured by gunfire in mass shootings than we have seen days this year (274 days, and 294 people wounded or killed … Continue reading Oh Look, Another Shooting…
A Little Beekeeping Rant
This week, I just couldn't take it anymore. I left yet another Facebook beekeeping group because I could no longer take people's complete idiocy (my Idiocracy tolerance is quite low). I tried to tolerate it mainly because i enjoy seeing pictures of people's hives and bees, but the stupidity just got too high....especially the questions … Continue reading A Little Beekeeping Rant
Cecil the Lion Matters, But….
Cecil the Lion’s murder was tragic and anyone who thinks it’s good ol’ fun to go out and shoot a creature only to put its head or skin on the wall or floor is beyond my comprehension or compassion. Yes, I’m outraged at the wanton destruction of such a magnificent animal, and yes, I do … Continue reading Cecil the Lion Matters, But….
When Your City Surprises You
Ask most longtime Portland residents about the Willamette River and most will say it's a decent river with some picturesque bridges, but in their heads they will be picturing something akin to a toxic waste dump that is about ready to gurgle out the Swamp Creature. That's because if you've lived in Portland for any great … Continue reading When Your City Surprises You
I’ll Never Be An Artist
This week my husband and I trekked off to the wildlands of downtown Portland to pay a visit to the Portland Art Museum and have a tasty lunch. On this journey I discovered two things: One, Elephant's Delicatessen makes to-die-for grab-and-go sandwiches, and two, I'll never be an artist. Give Me My Gods and Heroes...and … Continue reading I’ll Never Be An Artist
Back Away From the Nutella!
The week a huge blast o'blasphemy rattled across France. Was it the Pope's declaration on climate change? Was it gangs of pickpockets raiding the Eiffel Tower? Nope. It was a call to stop eating Nutella. A Little About Nutella For those of you who don't know what Nutella is, well, I pity you and wonder … Continue reading Back Away From the Nutella!
