Fun Resources - Library Thing & Paintings I Love

I found a fun resource - Library Thing. This site lets you enter your personal library online. It's free for up to 200 entries. It is very easy to sign up so I did. It will take a while to add all my books. They link with Amazon or Library of Congress so you don't even have to and enter all the info. You can keep it private or public, do reviews, and use other features. I see there was even a giveaway option. Very nice for a bibiophile.

I have been sorting through things including books so I can release them to new homes. There is pleasure in letting go, and knowing things you once loved will have a chance to be loved by someone else.

I came across another site where artists can post work for free, Paintings I Love. I haven't had much of a chance to explore, but it made a good first impression. Gotta like the name.

Another peaceful, easy day ending with good music from Streamliner at Third Place Books.

May you be well

Community Plug – Third Place Books

From their website:

The Story of Third Place Books

Sociologist Ray Oldenberg's book The Great Good Place suggests that to lead a rewarding life, each of us needs three places. First is the home. Second is the workplace or school. Beyond lies the place where people from all walks of life and all social levels interact, experiencing and celebrating their commonality as well as their diversity. It is a third place.

Welcome to Third Place Books--the deliberate and intentional creation of a community of booklovers, a fun, comfortable and safe place to browse, linger, lounge, relax, read, eat, laugh, play, talk, listen and just watch the world go by.
We invite you to make Third Place Books your third place.


It is a wonderful community gathering place in Lake Forest Park, WA, Third Place Books, with five restaurants. My current favorite is Honey Bear Bakery cause I love their Bacon Lettuce Tomato & Avocado sandwich with aioli dressing. Good quality food.

They offer lectures & book signing by visiting authors. They have hosted such people as Deepak Chopra, Paul McCartney, Alan Alda, Judy Collins, Larry Dossey, Dr. Phil as well as many local authors.

Friday & Saturday nights they have free live music. There is a dance floor. They bring a diverse array of bands from folk, jazz, rock, swing. If you want to feel things are right in the world, Friday nights at Third Place Books is a good place to be. There are some awesome local dancers to watch as well as listen to the bands.

Everyday for kids and those of us artistically inclined, there is large roll of brown "butcher" place ready to have a piece torn off, and large tub of crayons to go with us. There is, also, a large chessboard with pieces two foot or so high.

And then there is the free wireless

Thank you, Third Place Books, you have created a comfortable and comforting community.

Since it's Friday, you'll mostly like find me there tonight enjoying the music and celebratory feeling.

Tofino Wolves

Grateful

With the switch over to digital TV, I now listen to radio more than I used to since I have randomly pixelated TV reception.

I was delighted to wake up to a show on National Public Radio with someone talking about Tofino, British Columbia. I missed who the speaker was but was thrilled to listen to him describe Tofino as the most laid back place in British Columbia. It brought for wonderful memories and a great sense of enjoyment.

I next listened to The Witer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor. I heard a poem I thoroughly enjoyed by David Budbill from his book Judevine, "Ben". The whole poem is on NPR's site and the link to purchase the book is there, also. I just want to share a portion and encourage to use the links for more. This is from middle of the poem:

Ben is a cynic in the Greek and philosophic sense,
one who gives his life to simplicity
seeking only the necessities
so he can spend his days
in the presence of his dreams.

I loved this as well as other parts and the poem as a whole. I feel blessed to have heard it, and it spoke to me.

With such a good beginning, decided to cook a favorite easy breakfast for myself: poached eggs with Trader Joe's Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese, garlic, butter over Dave's Killer Bread Good Seed Spelt. I decided it sounds like I must work for a health food company. I don't now, but I did spend 5 years as a manager of health food, vitamin, and metaphysical bookstore. And, the new thought I had today if I get more entertaining, have a more glamorous site with higher traffic and decided to have ads on my page maybe they'll be for health foods. That would be cool, if I did it.

I went to look for a picture of Tofino wolves that used to hang on my wall so I could put it up again. The photographer is Jacqueline Windh. She has a two books out now, and a blog for Tofino.

As I remember many good things, I know it is time to carry some things off for recycling to the thrift shop, I either have a clearer or be ready to move.

Think For Yourself?

"Believe nothing,
no matter where you read it
or who has said it,
not even if i have said it.
unless it agrees with your own reason
and your own common sense."

- Buddha

I handed this quote to one of the co-workers, Sara. She read it, wisely handed it back to me and said even this.

Just a quick post, more in a little while

I AM BLESSED

I was feeling very stressed this morning as the novelty of having less hours to work translates to a major loss of income. The word shattered keeps popping into my head. My plans to move thwarted as now I won't qualify income wise for either the apartments I was looking at nor the bigger more precarious plan of buying a condo. Then I have to think if my plans are shattered that easily how solid were they to begin with. If I really want to move, I probably qualify for low income housing. And I am missing seeing a friend who is taking some well deserved time for self-nourishment and replenishment.

With the temperature in my apartment at 80 degrees, and the NW standard of no air conditioner, it was a great time to go out for body and soul. As I am still far from the frugal person I may become, I had a wonderful lunch at one of my favorite places, PCC Natural Food Market, and took a jaunt down to Marine Park in Edmonds.

There was a satisfying, cool breeze blowing in from the south. However, I was not the only one with the idea of enjoying such a prime location. The shady places were all inhabited. After luxuriating with ample breeze, gorgeous sound views on a wonderfully supportive bench, I could feel the beginning of the sun burning my skin. I turned tail back to the car, and on to the next exciting hunt for cool.

An easy pick. Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA is just the place. Again, I'm not alone here. It is an intended community gathering place, large roomy, wooden tables, free wireless internet, books new and used, and a food court. Could I want for more? Well, maybe a couch & TV.

Still a little dejected, checking Twitter. To my utter delight and amazement, the number 1 trending topic at the moment #Iamblessed. It is so exciting to see this instant messaging system used this way. What a mood shifter, and opportunity to remember and here the truth about what's right in the world. I left the site only now as the server timed out (I imagine from the larger response). I will go back to participate in being thankful as I am blessed, very blessed.

New Connections - 13 Indigenous Grandmothers

On my journey through the Blog Catalog tonight, link through widget at left on my page, I discovered the My Compassionate Action Network.

It looks interesting. I saw some had posted at You Tube video for the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers Council. I was excited because I wanted to post information as these wise elders will having a gathering in Lincoln City, Oregon next week. The details are posted at there site. I will be going for one or two days. I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity.

Here is a quote directly from their site from one of the grandmothers:

Margaret Behan — Red Spider Woman

If we want to see changes first of all we need to be in peace inside ourselves, and then we need to be patient with the ones that have not yet arrived in that place of peace.

I hope you will take a look at their site, thinking about supporting their mission and how blessed we are doing this work, and/or come out to see them in Lincoln City next week.

Blessed are the peacemakers