Saturday, July 24, 2010

Library card


I am officially living in Tacoma since I got my Library card. It is a precious commodity with a key chain format so easy to have on hand. Wherever and whenever I go I have a choice of a library to visit in this town. Just fabulous. The one in my neighborhood is about to be closed for renovation at the end of next month so I have planned to visit it often before that. So far three visits. The park just next door is very pleasant with lots of shade and trails going into the thicket. A children's playground. The staff is just a delight. I have so far checked out books on Bungalow style houses, how to find information about your historical home, house plans of the arts and crafts homes, a couple of graphic novels (Buddha by osamu tezuka, Tales of the Weird by Ralph Steadman) then of course I got few movies. I don't have access to a CD player at the time so no books on tape. That time will come. I have of course a couple of fiction but I am not sure if I will have time to spare on those. I am reading other things that I captivating my attention as well as spending time exploring my new grounds. I have set up my watercolors and paper on the terrace looking at the pretty view and just had fun making nonsensical paintings. So days are passing with a more relaxed attitude and I have let go of the stress of the past six months. It is out of my control and what I can control I am trying to make it fun and non complicated.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Tacoma Here We Come!

Here I am after 5 days driving the AlCan Hwy. My friend Bunny was once again coming to help with sharing the drive down with Gaia and I. We had fun watching the wildlife crossing our path (8 black bears, one grizzly, one fox, a herd of bison, moose, sheep, deers, black ravens galore, hawks and bald eagles). The scenery was amazing. Miles and miles of lakes, spruce and birches, mountains and starting wild flowers. The road is now paved all the way with few gravel where construction was taking place. There were little orange flag all along marking the frost eaves that plague the great north's roads. Except our first night in Watson Lake in a terrible hotel "Westmark" (blood on the ceiling in very close quarter and cigarettes smoke smell, yikes that was bad) we had pretty good luck in Fort Nelson, Prince George (there we had to addapt our electrical ingeneering resources to make the tv and the air conditionning work at the same time, it is all about being resourceful and willing to jump over electrical lines!!!!) and finally Cache Creek.
We listened to books on tapes and had nice conversations. Food wasn't really the highlight of the trip but friendship was. Thank you Bunny! We arrive safe and sound.


It was so fun to already have a visitor for my first days in Tacoma. Nancy was down for few days and I got to enjoy her company fully. We went around areas of Tacoma looking at houses, visited the Museum of Glass, had a wild 4th of July party where I am staying with a live band and tons of people. Watched the fireworks all snug outside in a sleeping bag!!!! it was pretty cold and windy up on the bluff. Those are just few things that we got to do in few days.

I had a hard time saying goodbye to Nancy...


Now it is slowing sinking in that my new life is here. Third day in a row of beautiful weather with incredible blue skies. Mount Rainier is towering over in a short distance and the sail boats are out with all sails out in the evening. It is quite a beautiful present tense. The transition is easier that way for sure.
I am going to explore the city a bit more today with a trip to the main library and the WW Saymour Conservatory at Wright's Park.