Northern Noise

 One thing I love about Facebook is "Facebook Memories."  Today's memory showed Bob shoveling a crap ton (yes that's a technical measurement) of snow while the Water Wagon truck was stuck on our road. Caption mentioned 24" of fresh snow..... wow.   Today I had the front door open all day.  It was about 58 degrees, and sunny and not much wind and an absolutely beautiful day in NoGa.    I've always lived in Alaska (brief stints someplace else don't really count) and I'm still adjusting to life down here.  It's definitely different.  When I went to Oregon in January, I just felt more free to be me.  I can't really pin it down.  Maybe that I didn't feel self-conscious going out as a scrub, in flannels and even pajama bottoms and 2 day old hair? Maybe that there were more dirty cars, Carhartts and cracked windshields?  Maybe that there was a more laid back aura that didn't seem as dependent on material goods and appearances?  I certainly ad

 When I majored in English in college, I chose to focus on writing, not literature.  After my first class, I faithfully wrote for at least 15 minutes a day and I continued that practice for many, many, years. Once life happened, and I got busy with teaching, I wrote much less consistently.  I kept a journal off and on, I felt inspired to the occasional short story, essay or (bad) poetry.   So I am going on year 3 of retirement and it's time for me to start living the life I want.  It's way too easy to just let the days go by without really being productive.  So there are some things I need to put more energy and commitment into.  1.  Less mindless phone, more reading.  And not just online - although I love the Atlantic. Reading at bedtime instead of Faceback is an easy practice to embrace. I'd love to be able to talk to Bob about the things I'm reading; new ideas to bring to the table instead of same ol'. 2.  I need to start writing again.  Maybe taking a plug at th