Bookworm - Big Ideas for Busy People

The Community of Concern

This AMAZING website - The Community of Concern - was forwarded to me and my husband by a friend in Boston. His daughter's school is a member of The Community of Concern, a partnership of parents, students and schools working together to encourage the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among under-age students. I ordered their $10 booklet "A Parent's Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use" which was written by parents from the Georgetown Preparatory School and reviewed by experts in the field. It is the absolute best resource for parents who want to help their kids avoid the perils of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. The authors incorporated the latest adolescent brain research which defines the particular risk adolescents face when using illegal substances. Our 14-year old also picked it up and read it and said it was "pretty good" - a ringing endorsement from a teenager.

Brown Paper Tickets

I usually end up fuming when I order tickets through Ticketmaster. That's why I am delighted to discover Brown Paper Tickets. They follow a not-just-for-profit business model (learn more at www.notjustforprofit.org) and also give a percentage of each sale to a featured non-profit. Check them out!

Supporting Independent Booksellers

I am devoted to my local bookstore, Island Books. Although I occasionally get seduced by the ease of one-click ordering on Amazon, I buy 95% of the many books I purchase at Island Books, because I love what they bring to our community and I want them to thrive, despite ever-growing pressures from mega-booksellers. Island Books will order any book over the phone and ship it for free. Many independent booksellers have on-line ordering as well. You can check out your favorite independent bookseller (or find one, if you don't already have a favorite) at Booksense.

Curly Girl Design

My friend Kathy directed me to Curly Girl Design and although it has nothing to do with books, I simply LOVE artist Leigh Standley's work and want everyone to know about her! Leigh has agreed to let me "decorate" Bookworm with her wonderful work so look forward to regularly seeing new images! One of Leigh's canvas pieces hangs by my computer and has been a source of inspiration for 2004/05.

Costa Rica

We are in Costa Rica for winter break and I am enamored with this beautiful country. We started our trip in San Jose and then traveled to Tortuga Lodge via van followed by a three hour boat trip up a series of canals that parallel the Carribean Sea. We saw sloths, monkeys and a crocodile while enroute. This part of our trip was organized by Costa Rica Expeditions, who are wonderful - I highly recommend them. While at Tortuga Lodge we ran into four families from the Seattle area - including one from our town and elementary school. Truly a small world story! It is a marvelous place - great rooms, especially for families, wonderful food served family style, refreshing pool, very relaxed atmosphere - plus abundant opportunities to see the natural world up close. We are now on the Pacific Coast at an incredible place called  Florblanca enjoying the beach, pool, tropical drinks and great food. We are off today to see a waterfall and a funky surfer town. Adios!