It’s a cold gray drizzly summer (??) day in Port Townsend. Reminds me of the quote attributed to Mark Twain (no verification yet): “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.” Tip of the week- don’t book any summer connecting flights out of San Francisco. You can thank me later.

Yesterday, I could have sunbathed (didn’t, but could have.) Today, it’s get out the parka. Welcome to the PNW. I’m hoping my little tomato & basil plants don’t just collapse- they’re nestled up against a south-facing wall, so maybe the residual heat will help.

Here are some Friday links for you:

• How animals spend a typical day This might actually be more useful than Enneagrams or Meyers-Brigg. I can hardly wait till it’s picked up by some idiot HR person.
• How to be a Ninja Takes casual Fridays to a whole new level.
• How to destroy the Ninja evidence- Mask? What mask? Japanese t-shirt folding. Also makes a good party trick. Well, it depends on the party, I guess.
• Wooly Pockets! Vertical gardening! It’s a good thing I don’t own a home.
• Guerilla Gardening vending machines?
• OK Go- This Too Shall Pass: Thanks to Nancy Shapiro, of Common Thread Coaching! (very popular video, sometimes crashes, but well worth a watch!)

Blast from the past

Those of you who’ve been privy to my end of the wedding saga were no doubt wondering how on earth I expected to host my sister, niece and mother for a couple days in what’s generally considered a large studio apartment. Yeah, I was wondering, too. And scurrying around to all the thrift stores, combing craigslist for decent bedding for them. All I had was a twin bed & a single aero bed…

Just as it was coming down to the wire, this set showed up @ the Habitat Store. Not only that, but when I called my landlord (aka guy with a big truck) he was free right then & came down & fetched it. Whew! Law of Attraction in action!

Those of you who  knew me in the 70’s are  no doubt laughing your heads off. Yes, indeed. I had a set very much like this as a teenager… back when it was cool. What I’m wondering… this makes so much more sense than a futon. Why did they stop making them? (Other than the icky fabric. But that can be changed…)

Here is some Friday fun:

• The Hacker’s Diet- An Eat Watch? I kept checking for signs of sarcasm, but am afraid this guy is all too serious.
• The Uniform Project- One dress, 365 days. A stunt blog, but one with a cause.
• Bacon facts- Get ready, National Bacon Day is 9/4
• Bang Bang Egg Cooker- because you can’t live on bacon alone
• Fairy Congress- The Fairy & Human Relations Congress is coming right up, 6/25
• Outlaw Catalog of Cagey Optimism- I like this so much better than the DSM-IV

Citation needed

So… I’m way late on TGIF. In fact, it’s Monday,  those of you who are 9-5 MF working stiffs have had to find your own laughs for the weekend.

What was I doing that was so darned important? Well, I was participating in Conversation Cafe in Pt Townsend. That involves physically sitting @ a table w/other people who are physically present and talking. Seriously! And then visiting a friend & making a real dinner, which we ate at a table with teenagers.  And people spoke. And ate with silverware.  Honest! Heck, I made a PIE. I can do that, you know.

I know, I”m so retro, it cracks me up sometimes….

Here are your belated laughs. Remember to smile- it makes them wonder what you’re up to.

• New Age Terrorists develop Homeopathic Bomb
• Unitasker- One more thing you can do without. Or can you?
• lolcat in action- you can haz cheezburger!
• Better than privacy
• Spiral Blessing spell- Blessed Bee, all you entomologists!

Wait 'til PETA finds out!

Well, I’ve got to pack up & leave Gold Beach, OR. I have to say, this has been one of my favorite stops. Just lovely beaches, driftwood… And my hotel has hot tubs overlooking the beach. Mmmmm…

So here’s for your Friday fun:

• Fun with money
• Too funny! Read Lay of the Deserted Influenza- I dare you!
• A gardening tip…
• If you don’t hear from me…
• Ham-dogs? OK….
  

Seen in Morro Bay, CA

Is it Friday already? Where the heck am I? Well, I’m camped out in a little motel in Half Moon Bay, CA. I did get to two beaches today- Aptos, CA (Seacliff) and a little one on the way from there to here.

I’m seeing lots of things that jog old memories… The way drivers will flash their lights to let you know there’s a black & white cop car waiting up ahead. The way we teased Dad about going in circles because we’d passed “Vista Point” several times. The strawberry stands along the road. And the indescribable scent of ocean/eucalyptus.

But I’m still going too fast. You’ll notice in my flickr album. All the beach shots are starting to say “Beach” instead of where. I’ll update the travelogue later.

Here are some links for your Friday:

Hearts 0′ the week. From Cinnabar Rock Road, in Cambria, CA

Way cool! I could be playing music in my car!

You mean… you didn’t read the  EULA?

Ok, these bookstores might be a little better than Bart’s in Ojai.

Coffee…

A Real Gypsy Vardo- click for more Gypsy info

A friend (Thx, CH!) sent me these lyrics by John Gorka yesterday:

You might like the gypsy life
you judge your progress by the phases of the moon
Get your compass and your sharpest knife
People love you when they know you’re leaving soon.

Which made me start thinking about the process of gypsying and being nomadic (apologies to the Rom.) And how, you can have deep affection for certain places and want to return, even if it’s not to stay.  The return path can be a spiral; you’re returning with a whole new set of experiences, that changes what you see. Hmmm… I’ll need to think further on that.

In the meantime, I’m hanging out w/my Dad & stepmom in Clovis & possibly up @ Shaver Lake, so may not post until Monday. Don’t worry- I’m in good hands

Friday links for you!

• Demeter Fragrance Library- These are totally amazing.
• A Norwegian’s Ideal Day- Too many snow references. I’ll take a Hawaiian’s Ideal Day.
• The Saddest Book Ever- OMG.
• Unified Field Theory- of cutlery
• Shiny Suds- I cannot stop laughing @ this!

Barbie as the Girl with the Pearl Earring

From the Inspiration Journal:

Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me–
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

-Shel Silverstein

Friday fun:

• Heart o’ the week
• Sakura-con- If you’re in Seattle, this is where to be!
• Museum of Bad Art
• Stuff White People Like (Darn it. I’m not revealing my score.)
• How to Use a Semicolon (This guy succeeds; every English teacher in the US has failed.)
• SHOES! (You thought I’d reformed, didn’t you? Uh… nope.)

Beautiful day in FL again. It’s a little chilly (they say) but a perfect day for wandering around downtown Venice w/my aunt, mostly window-shopping.

Tomorrow, I’m on my way to the FL panhandle, with a couple of gorgeous new bathing suits. Good incentive to keep eating seafood & salads.

Here’s some fun stuff for your wkend.

• Vegetarian Zombies
• I heart this guy, even if he’s a Texan.
• Grammar Geek comes out to play! (Of course, I don’t patronize businesses that spell their names incorrectly for the “cute” factor. No Krispy Kremes for me!)
• OK, Facebook is totally out of control
• Hey, I’m in FL. Anything could happen.

The Writers’ Conference just started today. I woke up late & went down to the hotel (by taxi) to get my packet. My first act of extreme self-care was to not finish the cup of coffee, leave the conference & come back to the casita. There is a workshop @ 2 I don’t want to miss, and then I’ll see how I feel about art studio tours, keynote & dinner. Yay, me!

• Can’t speak spanish? It must be your parents’ fault!
• Cocorico- Sure, it’s NY Fashion week. But take a look @ this designer. I heart Etsy
• Food not Lawns- Could this be the yr you retire your lawn mower?
• Permaculture for Renters – Some interesting ideas for the rest of us

I heart Hugh MacLeod. Click the picture for more!

So, after 2.5 months in San Miguel, it’s finally occurred to me that I might want to slow down. In fact, I need to, because this wkend, I have an intense 2-day workshop- Spacious Mind, Spacious Self and then next Friday, the San Miguel Writers’ Conference starts up. I’m signed up for the whole deal, from soup to nuts, so need to be in tiptop condition. Barbara Kingsolver is the keynote speaker, so yes, I’m a leeetle excited.

Today, I met some amigas after their yoga (I’ve been giving the ol’ knee a rest) for coffee, then went to the biblioteca & then to the posole place. Yes, it’s as good as advertised. I think I will just live on posole from here on out. Oh, and cafe de ollo (which means coffee cooked in a pot. Very strong & sweetened w/piloncillo, a raw sugar, and cinnamon.) Then home to the casita to relax, listening to Matt Darey at top volume.

Weekend link goodness:

• If your SUV never leaves the pavement…
• Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition! Mar 12-14 in Emeryville, CA (I’m having one of those “i wish i were triplets” moments) Check out the Traders’ Concourse !
• Quiz: Are you addicted to technology? No, I will not be sharing my score.
• I like Centsational Girl. If I had a home, or an urge to decorate it, I would like her even more.
• Because you’re unique, just like everybody else.