Sugar Wafers. These are one of those snacks that everyone seems to forget about. But often when brought up, a chorus of “Oh yeah! I like those things!” can be heard from all directions. And it is true. There really is nothing like a sugar wafer. There are better snacks out there, sure, but they are one of a kind.

Throughout this blog, I talk a lot about all the successes and failures throughout my mental health journey, often with a positive tone. This is for a good reason - I am a mostly positive person. But I won’t sugarcoat it when I say I still have days where the old brain gets the best of me. Days where I get sick and tired of being happy or positive.

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Friends, it’s been a disorienting few days in the human world. And the question that’s come up in nearly every conversation I’ve had recently about Ukraine is: What do we “do”? When I ask this question my animal body instinctively switches into fight/flight. Reflexively my pulse quickens, and I’m primed to leap into action.

Welcome back! This week, we dive into an interesting early page. Book five is just getting started, Harry is bored out of his mind in Little Whinging, and he encounters Dudley on a walk home. There’s not much action, but there’s a lot to talk about — enjoy!

Can’t believe it! Daisy and Rufio are at the vet right now, getting their final international pet health certificates issued. This time next week we’ll be departing LAX on our final leg to San Jose. All kinds of emotions have come up throughout the last 10 weeks of preparation. Moments of panic and second-guessing, but those fade fast to excitement. We’…

We’re launching in just 2 days! 🚀 To help raise awareness about Chicken DAO, we’re giving away 10 chickens for free. To win a chicken, all you have to do is follow the steps below. Step 1. Retweet this tweet. This is our main promotional tweet, if we can get as many of you guys retweeting it, we’re more likely to sell out faster, meaning more liquidity fo…

It’s been difficult to focus on anything other than Ukraine this week. Is it just me? If you’re looking to help in some way, and are able to give, I’m a big believer in foregoing donations to corporate charities and instead giving money to people who have long had their boots on the ground helping their very own communities.

Here it is, my attempt to recognize some of what encouraged, comforted, challenged, lightened and enlightened me in 2019. Hope you find a few that may be gifts for you as well. Movies & TV: Jeopardy (syndication), I couldn't quit watching James Holzhauer and his run of strategy and guts, all without any hint of second guessing.

Daddy died when she was a child. A sunny afternoon, not dark and drizzly like you’d expect. Soon her momma was gone; not dead, just gone. Years she can’t remember, or doesn’t want to. Sure enough, she married young and had kids quickly. When they were off to school, she’d stare out the front window into the unrelenting nothingness. Divorce shattered her…

Corner of 76th and Tibbets The boys, their sons, My dad and his brothers Called it 76 Always white with green trim Side view looked like a barn It was “the house” in my mind Always, there, always part of our family The garage was across a walk way And there was a hidden key

reading (books)

Trying to be stealth I parked in the back and wore a mask. Maybe I should’ve gone to another store. Grabbed eggs, milk and bread; everybody needs eggs, milk and bread. Tried to think what else would look good. Dodged a neighbor with a quick corner-aisle redirection move. Dumped random stuff in the cart. Went to the checkout with the “college kid” who cou…

Until Morning On the best summer days, we’d play with friends all day and sleep outside at night. You might get to have one friend over. Maybe two. We’d wait for lights to dim and our parents to sleep. The big maple at the end of the block was our gathering place. We whispered jokes and lies in the dark. Coughs stifled laughter. We’d light and flick match…

They speak of angels, Blinding lights and Silver wings aflutter, Not quite flesh They seem to hover Protecting our offspring, And the aged we ignore, Shepherding believers As well the doubting score A dance without music Of magic and mystery A child’s dream

I’m turning 65 in a few, too short days.Another of those seeming inevitable happenings,a lesson in the passing of time,the stages of life,and, oh yes, a reminder of my begrudging lack of control. I stand at the intersection of, “I don’t want to die”and the certainty that, “I don’t want to live forever.”You know, trying to choose between my fears of paino…

Dad made it happen. June 26 every year. Don’t think he told anyone why, not even Mom. Said it was because I was born the day after Christmas. Usually my birthday felt like something of an afterthought, parental obligation. We’d go to a game, majors if possible, minors when necessary. If needed he’d take the day off and sometimes we traveled. Even made su…

My knees pin his arms. “Give up.” “Let go and I’ll kill you.” More spit than words. I land one on his cheek. “Just quit.” I’m desperate, begging. He’s focused, hateful, determined. “Never.” I’ve no fight left but fear revenge. My last, feeble swing drags across his nose. Blood trickles. More threats. I jump, run. He’s so close. I feel him grab at my shirt. …

A real kiss with a real girl. Not Mom, Grandma, or one of those Aunts I hardly know. I wanted to get it right. You only get one first kiss. I mean, a guy could become a hero, or mess up and never live it down. We were walking home together on Tuesday. My hands started sweating. Heck, everything was sweating. I wanted to run but stopped walking instead.

You've heard it all before (read, throughout 2020). "We are never going back to the ways things used to be." And, "Little by little things will get better." Then along comes 2021 and the gradual getting better runs head first into the proverbial Mack truck of reality.

James Richard Lester Schmotzer born: March 18, 1954 Portland born and raised childhood of neighborhood adventures and friends with unpredictable episodes of haunting, lingering secrets youthful awakening brought craved for hope and direction young love became young marriage with Connie in ’74

The setting On Wednesdays we gather Early, before another day’s work Some for more than fifteen years Brothers in faith and life We talk and sometimes listen Questions, news, a book or two Fears are whispered on occasion Prayers offered The first question

II After school, Mom might still be in bed; sometimes, she sat in the front room, looking out the big window. Looking, but not seeing. Eyes squinted; she’d ask me for a hug and then go back to her staring. Sometimes in the afternoon, a variety show played on the TV, but no one watched it.