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Author Archives: Fran Gardner
Appalling changes at The Oregonian
Most of the 50 people let go in the latest round of layoffs at The Oregonian left the newsroom on September 30 (an exception is the columnist David Sarasohn, who gets to stay to the end of the year.) What … Continue reading
Posted in Journalism
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Roasted pumpkin seeds
Some of my clearest memories of living in Bloomington, MN, as a child are of fall produce stacked in an open cinder-block stand run by college students. In those days, I didn’t like squash—it took sweet, tender-fleshed Delicata, developed in … Continue reading
Posted in Food, Observations
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Nobility according to Gail Sher
One Continuous Mistake: Four Noble Truths for Writers, is one of the best books about writing ever.  The author is Gail Sher, a Zen Buddhist psychotherapist. Her four truths: Writers write Writing is a process You don’t know what your writing will be … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
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Morning’s minions
This morning, the newspaper (just the Times today, as The Oregonian no longer publishes on Tuesday, came accompanied by a scattering of maple leaves, yellow handprints on the red stoop. The Universe is always bringing me little gifts, reminders of all … Continue reading
Posted in Gifts
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Writing and eternity
In March 2013, I began this writing exercise with the usual parameters: write unceasingly for 20 minutes without self-editing, without taking the hands off the keyboard or pausing to find the exact phrase. In this case, I think, the phrases … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Writing
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How to cook chanterelles
Chanterelle mushrooms are an autumn treat in the Northwest. A family friend brought Robert and me about a pound of beautiful, fresh mushrooms last week. Here’s how I fixed them. No. 1 rule: Do Not Disturb! Brush off the soil … Continue reading
Posted in Food
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Pumpkin (or squash or yam or applesauce) Bran Muffins
On Sept 14, 2013, I published a long, self-congratulatory item about all the work I got done in the kitchen on one day, a day largely free of MS fatigue. One of the things I did was roast a Sugar … Continue reading
Posted in Food
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I forgot a letter
My letter to the editor of The Oregonian (see earlier post) wasn’t my first one after all. I had forgotten about an item in the September 2013 issue of O Magazine (Oprah). I answered the question of the month, which … Continue reading
Posted in MS
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The Pill: a fable
Another long post, sorry. The Universe brought me the bones of this fable in a daily writing exercise a few years ago. I fleshed it out to read at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church in Southeast Portland at the ceremony … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, MS, Writing
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First-ever letter to the editor
I worked for The Oregonian as an editor and reporter for 34 years, ending with a buyout in 2008. So I always had a platform for ideas I thought were important. That all ended with a buyout in 2008. I … Continue reading
Posted in Observations, Work
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