Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Dear Lexis,
I fought with my sister and now we’re not talking. I know that I should apologize for some of the things I said but I’m finding it hard to let go of my own hurt. I …
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By Alexis Rae Baker
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9/5/22
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What an odd year it’s been. First there was the long, cold, wet spring that lasted well into June. Then came an unusually dry and sunny summer, with the repeated but brief heat waves, though …
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There was a time, before 2000, when Thurston County was the winter vacation wonderland for all sorts of gulls. Each winter, more than 10,000 gulls would visit our county. Their lives then were …
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By George Walter
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9/1/22
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Do you watch commercials? Or do you, like my son-in-law, fast forward through them?
I watch them. I enjoy some of them and several of them make me laugh out loud. Furthermore, more than one …
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By Kathleen Anderson
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8/31/22
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When I started this column almost a year ago, I had a couple of intentions.
First, I hoped to help readers understand what nonprofits are, appreciate the sector, and to understand the dynamics of …
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By Mary Beth Harrington, CVA
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8/30/22
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Just about every video game, young adult novel and buzz-worthy streaming series agrees that we need to prepare for a post-apocalyptic world. Up ahead, around a sharp curve or off a cliff, it is …
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The Weyerhaeuser Company is doing great these days. With net earnings of $2.6 billion last year, the company proclaimed, “Our 2021 financial performance was the strongest on …
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Dear Lexis,
I feel like my life is spiraling out of control. Nothing seems to be going right and there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do about it. Health issues, car issues, and money …
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By Alexis Rae Baker
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8/29/22
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In today’s context, “late bloomers” is not a reference to 40-year-old virgins, or to writers who publish their first novel at the age of 75.
Gardeners are more literal. When …
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During my 40+ years of bird watching, I have seen several amazing recoveries in populations of prominent bird species that were in danger of extinction. For the most part, this recovery is the result …
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Exercise. Not my favorite word…and certainly not my favorite activity. With the exception of dancing, which I rarely get to do anymore, my favorite activity is reading, followed by …
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I know many people have a love/hate relationship with Amazon, but here is one way to use your purchases to help others.
Recently, I received the following notification from …
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By Mary Beth Harrington, CVA
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8/23/22
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Dear Reader,
There are moments when we all struggle with depression, and I wanted to take today to let you know that you matter. Your life is important, and you have the strength to get …
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We’re on the downhill slope of summer.
We may still have some hot weather, but the signs of the coming change of season are everywhere: Unwatered grass has turned from green to gold. School …
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One thing I always emphasize: You don’t have to be able to name birds’ species to enjoy watching them. They are delightful, interesting neighbors.
Given this, I wonder why many …
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By George Walter
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8/18/22
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Jill Severn, The JOLT’s Friday gardening columnist, is normally my ‘go-to person’ for gardening advice. She definitely saved my tomatoes this year when I was ready to plop them in …
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One of my fondest memories of summer is attending Shakespeare in the Park. These shows in Dallas usually started at 8 p.m. and by the end of the 2-hour show it had cooled down to 90 degrees! The …
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By Mary Beth Harrington, CVA
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8/16/22
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Dear Lexis,
It feels like things haven’t been going my way for quite a while now. I’ve done what I can to remain positive, but the hits just keep coming. It feels like it’s just …
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By Alexis Rae Baker
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8/15/22
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There are many reasons not to garden:
Your hands will get dirty and your fingernails will be a mess. It will make you sweaty and tired.
Gardening requires tools, and practice using them. You …
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Spring’s dawn chorus has gone quiet. The birds’ eggs have hatched, and most of the young have fledged and are on their own. The season has changed, from breeding to migration.
Some of …
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