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TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
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spacruzr's comments:
on Northwest Passages: Willy Vlautin
Willy, as you progress and mature in your writing practice, do you feel that writing as practice is shifting in how it supports your inner world vs. serving as a vehicle for creating evocative stories?
As an off/on writer, I have seen writing shift from a means for processing tough emotions to a more creative outlet for storytelling - a practice to explore creative expression.
Thanks Willy for all your thoughtful and heartfelt words!
posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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on The Big One
I have worked with a Portland company (Earthquake Tech) that specializes in home seismic retrofitting in Portland for the last several years. Many people here in Oregon still don't get the very real earthquake threat--even though geologists confirm this area is due for a big one. This best way to protect a home from earthquake (or any seismic, earth shaking activity) is to get it retrofitted. Homes in San Francisco and the Bay Area that are retrofitted, for example, have a much better success rate of withstanding seismic activity. Getting home earthquake insurance normally requires earthquake retrofitting. To avoid massive damage that can occur (and has in other parts of the world), I hope more Oregonians take the precaution of preparing their houses with retrofitting!
posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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on Surviving the Quarter-Life Crisis
I'm beyond my quarter life by about 14 yrs. but I can relate well. Unfortunately, wheter or not you settle in to a prescriptive lifestyle, like having a family, getting a high-profile job - these existential ruminations never really go away. Even if you do what's expected, the angst is always there to some degree. The secret to happiness seems to be, finding new ways to define meaning. It's not about surface identity and extending the potential of college success. For me, it's about soul searching, finding joy in small things, traveling, stretching my limits, connecting with friends and strangers, being in the "now," constantly learning and growing, and seeing things as my teacher (jobs, relationships, experiences). Life is a journey, and it's not always rose petals. But that doesn't make it unpleasant - the thorns, our catharsis, are sometimes the most rewarding. Cultivating joy, love, awareness, integrity and authenticity - and exploring your own creative passion and finding ways to server others, in big or small ways - these are the ingredients of deeper meaning for me.
posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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