Cranky Monday/Stuff I Like

Maybe it is because I have been hit with a new wave of homesickness after my weekend trip to Seattle, maybe it is because that trip meant I had to spend three hours sitting in the Chicago airport yesterday, and more hours crammed into flying tin cans, or maybe it is just because it is Monday, whatever it is, I am feeling cranky today. So instead of telling you about my trip (which went really well, apart from crankiness) because I would probably just rant about fellow travelers etc, I will tell you about a few things I really like right now.

• Kickstarter:  "A new way to fund creative projects," Kickstarter is a website that allows people with creative ideas to find funding to help them realize their projects. You can find all sorts of things on there, from movies to music to public art and a calendar made entirely from keyboard keys (I am thinking about pledging for that one). If the project doesn't get at least 100% of its funding pledged, it doesn't happen. You can't lose your money. Everyone who pledges is rewarded in some way - at the lowest levels, that is often just a thank you card, but at higher levels, you often get a copy of the completed project, signed items, etc. I have pledged for a couple of movies, both documentaries, that I am really excited to see when they are finished. 
• Twitter - OK, not a new thing, and not terribly original, but I have really gotten into it lately. At first, I didn't see the point, but that was because I wasn't following anyone. Now, I use it to find new articles about topics I am interested in, and to interact with some of my favorite authors. I don't really share many of my own thoughts or whatnot on Twitter, the way I do here or (less and less often) on Facebook, but if I find a good link, I will probably throw it up there. It feels less invasive to share on Twitter than it does on Facebook, in part because I don't have to have all my personal info there to share with a wider group. And if I never tweeted myself, I would still be welcome to see what others post. 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. A really good new fantasy novel. I won a copy in a contest on, where else?, Twitter. A mix of magic, romance, mystery and a circus. Makes me want some cotton candy and cocoa.
• Jonboy Caramels: Found these at the Bellevue Farmer's Market last week, while I was home. I bought a box of the Absinthe with Black Salt. Now I must restrain myself from ordering the minimum 5 boxes...and wipe up the drool.

On my way to work today

...I saved a turtle from certain squashing and bought a bag of fresh peaches and still made it to work on time. The turtle was wandering in the middle of the road at the bottom of our hill. I stopped, jumped out of the car, and relocated it to the grassy side of the road. I don't know where it came from or where it was going, but the grass is a much better place for it than the pavement.

The peaches came from the little farmer's market that is in a church parking lot every Thursday morning. I would have bought more produce, except for the fact that I only had $5, and we are getting a bunch of stuff from our CSA tomorrow. Since it is peach season, I am going to have to go pick peaches soon, so I can can them for this coming winter. Mmm...peaches...

Conway Good Thing #1

In an attempt to remain positive about Conway (which is easier when it isn't 105 in the shade), I will try to post occasional good things I find here - sorry if it sounds too Martha-ish.

Today's good thing is the small, local, independent bookstore in town. The store was closed while the owners were on vacation when we first arrived in town, but they arrived back today, and we headed down to see what they had. Books, of course, to point out the obvious. And a cat, a friendly tortoiseshell cat - I think that every bookstore ought to have a resident cat, don't you? Local knowledge - that is one of the great things about going to a small local store in a small town - you can get first-hand knowledge, and someone who is willing to talk to you and give you advice you can trust. Also, we arrived about 10 minutes before they were supposed to close, but no-one chased us out or asked us to leave, and we stayed for about 40 minutes, talking and exploring before we finally made our purchase and headed home. You wouldn't get that at a big chain.

Tomorrow we intend to go for a hike or two at Petit Jean State Park. Julie and Jesse told us about it, and the waterfall that I hope to be able to cool off in during the afternoon, and it sounds like a good place for our first Arkansas hike. Saturday, if we aren't too tired from the Friday hiking, we want to get down to Little Rock to do some exploring. There is a farmer's market we need to find, and it is Bill Clinton's birthday, so admission to his museum/library is free. If we do make it to all these places, I will do my best to tell you about them and provide pictures