Category Writing

Amazon’s 1st Bookstore Opens

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imageAmazon opened its first bookstore last November 2015 in the Seattle area. For those of you who might not know this, Amazon’s headquarters is in Seattle. I am excited about this, because it means that bookstores will hopefully be making a “come back.”

Right now, this is their first bookstore, but from what I read in the Wall Street Journal they have plans to open more stores soon. Of couse, the employees at the Amazon Bookstore were saying this is the only store they have planned at this time.

The bookstore had a good selection of books, a nice layout for viewing the books and a great magazine collection. Oh, and I was pleasantly surprised to see they had a very large children’s section too.

They cleverly had some Kindles displayed on the book racks. As I don’t know much about the Kindle I gave it a try. I have mixed emotions on reading books “only” online. I miss the feel of a hardcover printed book, seeing the cover, turning the pages, etc. I know online reading is certainly great for traveling and at some point I will be a Kindle owner; but, for now, I am still holding out and reading the old fashioned way.

Judging from the amount of people in the bookstore they feel the same way. There were people of all ages in this store. It is very close to the University of Washington. I read so many other things online that having a “real printed book” feels like I have escaped from technology — I like that feeling!

Printed books still have their place in the world!  Hallelujah!

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To my Asian friends…

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imageTo my Asian friends, I’d like to say, “Happy Chinese New Year!” I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2016!  I hope you receive a special red envelope too. Last year I had a friend who gave me a red envelope with a $1 inside and I do think it brought me luck. I smiled, because it was a gift I did not expect, so I felt included in the New Year’s celebration, which was wonderful! This year, at the suggestion of one of our Asian employees, our company went to a Chinese brunch to celebrate together. It was very nice — about 25 of us. A girlfriend of mine was invited for dumplings by her Asian yoga teacher.  So, thank you for including us in your celebration!

Here’s to a special 2016 for all of us!

Chinese Red Envelope

Chinese Red Envelope

 

Travel – 10.5 lb Backpack

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imageIf you are taking a trip around the world, can you travel with only a 10.5 lb backpack? Tynan can and in his Blog “The 2016 Gear Post,” he shares how he does it.

I still don’t know exactly who he is; however, I have learned that he loves to travel around the world, he likes cruises, enjoys tea, has published some books, bought an Island with some friends, is trying to date, and has gotten his backpack for world travel down to 10.5 lbs. YES, he has done it.

Another interesting fact, for the past seven years to simply his life, he has gotten his clothing down to one t-shirt, one dress shirt, one pair of pants, two pair of underwear, one pair of shorts and a few pairs of socks. Now that is simplifying life.

In addition to sharing a clothing review, he shares a technology review on some interesting products I had not heard about, i.e. computer, phone, chargers, etc. Sounds like companies give him products to use and then he reviews them.

If you look at his post and see the photo of everything in his backpack it is hard to believe it is only 10.5 lbs. He’s got some good quality stuff there. I like his ideas.

Well, I agree with Tynan, the lighter the better. It’s easier on the back and shoulders and now with carry on space getting smaller on planes and checked in bags at 50 lbs and often the checked baggage gets lost, life is a lot easier if you just have it ALL in your backpack. However, I am not sure that I can get to 10.5 lbs yet, but as Rick Steve, TV travel host states in many of his books and shows, “If you need something you can always buy it at your destination.”

So, who is up for the 2016 Challenge of traveling on a 10-14 day trip, somewhere in the world, with a 10.5 lb backpack and sharing if it worked.

You will have to be rugged! Tynan says he brings his clothes in the shower, so he can clean them and ladies there will be no extra room for fancy shoes, hair spray, fashion accessories, etc. Time to be a tomboy!

I can already see my Italian mother with her accent saying, “What has happened to you, why are you dressed like that? Where is your scarf, earrings and lipstick? Go home and change…” THAT was a famous line of hers, “Go home and change.”

Mom – It’s 2016!

Thank you, 60 Minutes!

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Sarah Porter founded Miss Porter’s School.

I learned at a young age how the universe can change the course of our life in an instant.

For me, 60 Minutes changed my life. One minute I was attending High School in Indiana and the next minute I was at Miss Porter’s School (boarding school) in Connecticut.

Years ago, my parents were watching 60 Minutes when a segment on girl’s boarding schools came on. My father called to me to come watch the show. When it was over, he asked if I would like to go to boarding school. My answer was an excited, “YES.”

My parents did not attend College. They really valued education. They were self taught devouring books and watching all sorts of educational shows. Opera and classical music were big in our house. They wanted to offer their children the education they did not receive.

Attending Miss Porter’s School changed my life. Our claim to fame was that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis graduated from MPS, but more than that, the school instilled in us the powerful feeling that “girls” are here “to make a difference” in the world “no matter what we do!”

Last week the Universe was at work AGAIN. I am new to Seattle and trying to make friends. You can imagine my surprise when I saw an email from an Ancient of MPS asking if fellow Washington Ancients would be interested in getting together.

Wow – what a pleasant surprise! Suddenly, we were exchanging emails, hoping we weren’t the most Ancient in the group, i.e. Class of ’67, ’04, ’85, ’72, etc. It was fun!

So, all I can say is “believe” in change, “believe” in miracles, keep your eyes and ears open and be ready to take advantage of special “unexpected” opportunities that come to you. They say, “LUCK is when OPPORTUNITY meets PREPARATION!” Which means we create our own luck in life.

For me, I say, “Thank you, 60 Minutes” for opening the doors for me to study out East.