A First-Timer’s Guide To the Portland Macy’s Holiday Parade

In the past five years of having one or more of my daughters in marching band, I’ve watched or wished them well from the comfort of home as they’ve marched in local parades....

Oh, Glory Day!

I told someone that today’s weather in the Houston Metro area reminds me so much of home.  And look – no wonder why!  Houston and Portland are practically weather twins...

Putting Up a Front

Have you ever seen where something dramatic is happening in a movie, and the camera zooms in on a weather vane spinning this way and that (to symbolize an unexpected and willy-nilly change...

Our Year in Texas

It was one year ago today that we marched five kids, 9 pieces of luggage, 5 carry-ons, and a cat through the Portland, Oregon airport.  I was so excited for our move to this suburb of...

Switcheroo

Al Roker told me, so I guess it must be true! Portland, Oregon will be hotter today than Houston, Texas.  Whoah, Nellie! To all my friends back in Oregon, trust me when I say I FEEL YOUR...

How a "Yee-Haw!" Saved the Day

I have been swinging on a WIDE pendulum of love/hate when it comes to living in Texas. I have decided I enjoy: Springlike temps in Winter.  True, it drove me nuts to have it be 80...

Texas is My Elephant

There is an old fable about five blind men inspecting an elephant.  As they each touch different areas of the elephant (the tusk, the tail, the sides), they are convinced that the entire...

Look! Look! Look! It's Oregon!

That was me, screaming like a maniac, when they showed the girl from Selma, Oregon on American Idol last night.  She was the pretty blonde in the flowy white and pink off-the-shoulder...