The Midnight Writer's Cafe

Erik Estabrook tells about his first Booksigning

2011-03-08T22:39:00.000-08:00

My First Book Signing

Contributed by

Erik Estabrook www.erikestabrook.com

The experience of my first book signing was valuable one. I find it important to note that many poets will never get known unless you hit media outlets or spots where you can have signings, recitals, etc.

I organized my first book signing at Starbucks in Alexandria, Virginia. I was faced with allot of uncertainty in arranging it.

First the possibility of them laughing me out of the building.

Second the fact that you could undersell.

Third the fact that there could be absolutely no interest.

At my first book signing I was approached by a fellow poet who was traveling the country.She was one of the most important contact I've met to this day.She goes by the name the Midnight Writer, and writes stunning poetry. She blogged about me on her site, and we talked throughout the day.

It was at the signing that I learned valuable salesmanship tools. I found that if you ask them to read your book while drinking their coffee and relaxing you just might have a sale, and if you don't you've still met someone.

The Starbucks coffee signing trained me with sales knowledge, people skills, and in the end it just turned out to be a heck of allot of fun. All and all it is not a successful signing if you don't enjoy yourself, enjoy the atmosphere, and the people around you.

ErikEstabrook.com - Homepage

www.erikestabrook.com

Erik Estabrook's Art and Poetry: personal poetry site of published poet Erik Estabrook.

Stay Warm This Winter

2011-03-03T20:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the guest post by Esteban Vinson

Winter is my favorite season by all! I am happy to see the first snow fall and take long romantic walks with my husband. Now, my husband on the other hand is not a fan of winter. He lives for hot summer days, so keeping him warm during our walks is a top priority. We usually go for walks when the snow stops, which can sometimes be in the middle of the night. It may sound crazy, but being a photographer, I long for the rare opportunities to take unique pictures. I, of course always remember to set my home security alarm from Home-alarm-systems.com/ before leaving for one of our charming walks. A few tips for keeping warm that have worked for me; have as few as possible layers on when inside the home,so that when you layer up to go outside, you will get the best effect and instead of wearing gloves keep your hands in the pocket. I find that keeping my hands in my coat pockets tends to warm them up better then wearing gloves, they are not exposed to cold air as much. Also, remember to walk at a fairly quick pace. The slower you walk in cold weather, the harder it will be for your body to get its temperature up. The faster you go, the warmer you shall be. Hope that helps!

Julia Butterfly presents her poetry at Mendonesia Cafe

2011-01-20T14:51:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, January 22, 2011, Julia Butterfly will present her poetry in a very rare appearance at The Mendonesia Cafe in Willits, California. Julia is an activist who loves the earth and its people. Her heart is in her poetry and her writings embrace the experience that made her a heroine and a legend. Julia Butterfly received national attention when she spent 738 days living in a redwood tree. Julia made a powerful statement to encourage people to wake up to the plight of these ancient forests and the earth's environment.

Her perspective about life on this planet fills her writing. If you care about the ancient forests then come to share with Julia as she pours out her heart in words of passion: (excerpt)
"See.....
what we do to the Earth
we do to each other.
And how we treat the Earth
is reflected in how we treat
each other."

Tickets are on sale at the cafe and seating is limited so don't miss this opportunity to share an "intimate evening" with Julia Butterfly. The event runs from 6-10 pm. Get your tickets today at the going price of $20 .

Call 707-459-1001 or visit The Mendonesia Cafe on the corner of Highway 101 and Commercial street in Willits.

Call this special hotline to get your tickets: 707-354-0994

The Mendonesia Cafe was closed for about one year for reconstruction but has reopened its doors. Musicians are welcome to come play or poets to come recite. Events are in full swing, the coffee is great, the atmosphere is relaxing, the host is friendly and the food is tasty. If you need to use the internet, the Mendonesia Cafe has free wireless for its customers. Entertainment is a big part of this local cafe. Host a private party or a public event. Just call the local number for details and come be part of the small town culture that makes Willits a "must stop" place on your Highway 101 adventure!

The Midnight Writer

Unlike Wine, coffee does not get better with age

2010-12-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

I like it hot and fresh. The fresher the coffee, the better the taste. Call me particular and I won't mind. I just love my coffee. Lately, I have experimented with blends like Komodo Dragon, Italian, Starbucks Christmas blend and Espresso roast. My favorite is Komodo Dragon poured as soon as it finishes dripping but I like all coffee even more made pour over style. It just has a rich flavor that nothing surpasses, not even a French press.

Enjoying dinner at Gratzi

2010-05-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Rick Unstead

Gratzi is a wonderful Italian restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While I do not live in Ann Arbor I live just a fifteen minute drive away and rarely eat anything more substantial than quick service food in the city. Last week I finally decided that my girlfriend deserved a real treat. I looked up the menu at Gratzi and found that the food looked extremely unique. I set my new alarm I’d just picked out from some of the home security packages I’d seen online and went to pick my girlfriend up at her apartment.

We hopped onto US 23 and drove down to Ann Arbor. The valet parked my car and I tipped him a few dollars. There was no line which was great because I had not made reservations. Our waiter was extremely attentive and made sure we knew what the daily specials were. Our drink orders were relatively simple, just a glass of the house wine for the both of us. The wine arrived extremely fast and our meal order was taken. My girlfriend and I decided that we would split a mixed grill between the two of us. Twenty minutes later it came to the table and was medium rare as we had requested. We were so full after that! The bill came and was surprisingly affordable. I paid and returned my girlfriend home. Overall, I think both my girlfriend and I would enjoy going to Gratzi again.

If I moved to Los Angeles would I like the Coffee Shops?

2010-05-16T03:02:00.000-07:00

Recently, my husband Cephas and I contemplated a move to Los Angeles to further some projects and we wondered what it would be like to move to such a big city. I mean, we are coffee fanatics so would we like the coffee shops there? And the whole idea of moving is a little overwhelming but a friend suggested that we call some Los Angeles Movers to handle all the technical aspects of the physical moving. That is a great relief just to think about it.

From my understanding, professional companies like Movers Los Angeles send packers who can pack, sort and load all our belongings including the furniture. I can't imagine driving on the busy city streets of LA so I would be so happy to have professionals take the big truck to my new apartment. I'm thinking I'll just catch a train and meet everyone there. My husband can drive the van while the LA Movers drive the big truck. I'll be scoping the neighborhood for a great coffee shop while the movers unload the truck and unpack my belongings. I can relax and sip on a cup of hot java knowing that all my furniture will be in place by the time I get home. The only detail I have to worry about is finding that perfect coffee shop.

The Midnight Writer

Find Repair Shops for any Vehicle or Repair

2010-05-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Many makes and models of vehicles inundate the automobile market today so it is increasingly difficult to find auto repair shops that specialize in certain types of vehicles. With the help of a website like Repair Pal, that problem is solved because their all inclusive listings will help you find help for your vehicle at a Los Angeles auto repair or a repair shop located in Brooklyn.

If you own one of the newest model of Ford Explorer the Repair Pal site could give you all sorts of specs on its makes and models while also listing the repair shops located in your area. You could search for a mechanic and towing service then put in the information about your needed repairs to get a price estimate. Other users write reviews so you can check out what other people are saying about your Ford Explorer or other vehicles that you own. Find out about recalls and common issues with a particular make and model. Write your own review that might be helpful to other owners.

One feature on their website that I find very useful is the Auto Repair Encyclopedia. For instance, if you blew a head gasket and wanted information how to make the necessary repairs, this site gives step -by -step directions with suggested parts along with the prices you can expect to pay. The detailed descriptions will enable a novice in learning how to locate the auto part in question as well as how to assemble or take apart the area being repaired. Included are common reasons for the part failure and estimates for various models. You can even locate a tow company and a garage if you decide the repair is too big to do yourself. Give this site a review and keep it handy as a good reference tool for your vehicle.

The Midnight Writer

"Scream" martyheartsong

2010-05-11T00:09:00.000-07:00

Planning the Perfect Summer Vacation

2010-05-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

This is a guest post by Anderson Toms

This year just like every other year I was dreading sitting down for my summer vacation planning! Now that is all done I can honestly say planning may have been the best part, I had a blast looking at all the hotels online, comparing prices and trying to decide exactly where we were going to go!

I knew that we were going to visit Central America but it is a world away and looking in the yellow pages for hotels wasn't exactly going to work! I hopped online and found many different websites that allowed me to look up hotels anywhere... including Central America! However, the best thing I found was a website that allowed me to book the hotel, car rental and even flight all at the same time! Of course Central America isn't exactly small and we had no idea where we were going!

We all sat down and spent hours looking through photos and videos of hotels, travel destinations and activities in Central America before making out decision! I never knew it could be so much fun to browse through photos and videos online and it got us all very excited for the actual trip which was still a month away! It was incredibly easy and fast to load different pictures and videos because we recently got hughesnet satellite internet.

After finding where we really wanted to go and getting everything decided it was time to book the trip! One single transaction to my credit card from the travel site and I was printing tickets for the airplane, rental car reservations and the hotel reservations as well! If I knew vacation planning was so easy we might have taken one last year! After all the planning was done it was time to go enjoy the vacation!

Unique Opportunity to learn about Forex Strategies

2010-04-29T23:41:00.000-07:00

As your host to The Midnight Writer's Cafe, I am striving to provide unique versatile content. Most people visit coffee shops to share a warm or cold beverage, the news, to surf the internet and to share information on everything from burping babies to stock trading. I'll just jump to the far end of that spectrum, mix it up a little and move around the vast topic base that makes visiting a coffee shop so unique. Put on your trader's cap because you are in for a unique opportunity to learn about Forex strategies and betting tips. I'm referring to a site that wants to share his personal experience in this field. Visit HYIP and Forex daily update to learn about Free soccer betting signal.

I'm not a professional in forex trading or betting for that matter, so I have to trust the information provided by those who delve or who have become an expert. HYIP and Forex daily update is exploring this path as the blog author develops his blogging interests. His unique opportunity to bet on Twitter without using real money but utilizing his own system is having much success. You can follow his progress at @Th0rest and gain some knowledge that might turn into substantial earnings when you're ready to apply these techniques.

The Midnight Writer

Girl with a Purpose gives Healthy Eating Advice

2010-04-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon a blog that empowers girls and young women to make better life decisions, according to their subtitle. I believe the author has lived up to its precept. Gillian Campbell lives in Jamaica. Her blog is clean with a white background and lively informative posts. The reading material offers nutrition and health information for well balanced nutrition that includes suggestions for alternatives to meat for obtaining protein. If you are a vegetarian or are considering a diet change, click on over to Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog to find out what she's got cooking on this week's menu. Take a pen and tablet with you because Gillian gives some great information in multiple areas.

As a native to Jamaica, you can find out the best places to visit on your next planned trip. While you're making those vacation plans, look at some of the great photos on Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog. Easy to read news blurbs keep you informed on recent world events as you browse through the lists for buying and cooking healthier organic foods. Sharpen your vocabulary on the way down the blog with nifty sidebar widget utensils or translate the site into your own language. You can download this blog on your ipod or listen to it in audio or get the blog on your mobile phone. Take a poll or read the latest on car mat technology. The versatility continues throughout Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog.
Take a break from the mundane and visit today. Remember to follow on Twitter, Google Connect or subscribe to the rss feed. Good information is not a dime a dozen, you know.

Blog Disclosure Policy

2010-04-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

This policy is valid from 20 November 2008

For questions about this blog, contact The MidnightWriter at themidnightwriter1@gmail.com.

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

The owner(s) of this blog would like to disclose the following existing relationships. These are companies, organizations or individuals that may have a significant impact on the content of this blog. We serve on the following corporate or non profit boards: Angels of The Light Interfaith Ministry. We blog about people to whom we are related. The most interesting such people are: Our children and grand children..

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Learn to Play the Piano Better with Yoke Wong

2010-04-13T01:58:00.000-07:00

Yoke Wong is a piano instructor who teaches adults how to play better. Whether you are skilled or mediocre, her instructions are video taped and available on CD so you can follow along easily. In time and with practice, you will become a better piano player using her piano lessons and by practicing the methods that Yoke Wong teaches.

In Yoke Wong's unique rhythm course, you will get in touch with the heartbeat of the music, or the pulse, as she calls it that is present in the background of every song while you play the piano. Many people struggle with the piano rhythms because it is not as discernible as on other musical instruments. Yoke Wong had the same difficulty when she was learning so she developed this series of video piano lessons to help others who struggled like she did.

Yoke Wong spent months in trial and error studying techniques and practicing to find ways to improve her rhythm. Counting was too difficult for her so she thought she would never understand how to keep the rhythm. In Yoke's mind, if she had this problem then others must also be struggling with the same difficulty. In fact, she realized that this lack of understanding how to keep the rhythm would send many students in other directions and they would abandon the piano.

Visit her website today and watch the online video samples that Yoke Wong has posted. If you would benefit from her course then you can order it online today. Start learning her techniques and you'll be mastering the piano very quickly.

Please support my sponsor.
The Midnight Writer

Auto Repairs is a Common Topic over Coffee

2010-03-30T03:38:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time in coffee shops as my husband and I travel around the country and we have heard all kinds of conversations in all sorts of cafes. Spring fever is in full swing and I've got travel fever so I'll be visiting more coffee shops. This means extra wear and tear on my vehicle and yours, too if you travel much in the summer months.

I have more ease of mind since I found a resource that helps me find information related to auto repair shops around the country in every major city. And it's easy to use the website with all the search tools in its modern software functionality. I looked up mechanics and garages for Chicago auto repair as an example and found very detailed information about the city and its auto repair resources. To find different shops I just enter other criteria in the search bar and more available sites come up. All the information is clearly displayed and easy to read. There are even maps with directions to every location.

I wonder if the design for a Toyota Corolla has actually changed much over the years. If a part wears out it would be good to be able to interchange them from one model to the next within a reasonable number of years, say from 2001 to 2010. To find an answer to that question, I could check Repair Pals listings of Toyota Corollas and type in a mock repair. The search widget will find a shop that provides service for the part I chose and if I change the year on different searches, it should answer my question. If the part is interchangeable it will show up as a replacement part for the other model on the auto repair site I choose to do the work.

This website is so handy that I can think of dozens of ways to use the information. It's become one of my favorite resources. But I'm still wondering if the Toyota has changed much in their model designs over the years. Maybe you could join me for a cup of coffee so we can discuss it. While we're on the subject, I still haven't figured out how to replace a water pump. If you print the website instructions and bring them to the coffee shop with you, we can look them over and figure it out together.

Discuss Auto Insurance over a Cup of Java

2010-02-19T20:07:00.000-08:00

It can be a difficult task choosing car insurance because there are so many companies and many important factors to consider in making this decision. Literally, your well being depends on choosing the right coverage for your needs. I personally prefer a relaxed atmosphere like a coffee shop for making such important decisions. Take your laptop and log onto the Safety First page of American Car Quotes and read the most important feature of auto insurance policies. Safety is the first rule in driving so its no wonder it would be the first recommended consideration in choosing a policy.

Drink Italian Roast if you like a Rich, Bold Coffee

2010-02-15T16:02:00.001-08:00

My husband Cephas and I have experimented with coffee roasts and flavors as well as brands. In our experience, we learned a lot about our coffee preferences. I want to share that with you now.

Along with flavor as a pre-requisite for favoring coffee, scenery plays a vital role. In this photo, Mount Shasta is looming large in the background while Cephas enjoys the rich taste found in this cup of Starbucks coffee with espresso shots. He likes it with raw cane sugar and half n half. We have both learned that we favor this cup of coffee while traveling. But when we are camping or visiting family and friends, we buy Starbucks or organic Italian roast coffee beans and grind them to the espresso grind to release the potency of the bean’s rich taste.
There are several ways to brew the ground coffee. We have used electric automatic drip coffee makers without paper filters because this is closest to the French press taste. The French press method is preferable so the coffee oils will be preserved. From the first sip until the last, this is the essence of heaven.

Avenue of the Giants Redwood Cafes

2010-02-13T21:16:00.001-08:00

The scenery and ambience of this historic Redwood highway is both breathtaking and awe- inspiring. For coffee lovers, the trip is even more memorable because of the quaint coffee shops and coffee booths along this twenty-five mile stretch of magnificence. To truly enjoy the drive, take your time and stop at all the little towns and historic sites along the way. Take in the view, enjoy the natural settings and pause a few minutes at each of the coffee shops to experience the flavor the Avenue of the Giants has to offer.

If you’re heading north, the first stop is Phillipsville. Be sure not to blink more than a few seconds or you’ll miss this first rest stop on the tour. It is filled with small adventures that include a Mexican restaurant purported to serve cuisine extraordinaire. A country market stocks all the basic snack foods and a collection of fine local wines. Sign their guest book and grab some brochures to help guide the rest of your Redwood country tour. It stays open till 7pm daily.
The town post office is just a couple doors down from the market so you can mail all your post cards to friends and family. Keep them up to speed on the fun details of your adventure. Spend a night or two at the Madrona motel. Take your rest in a room that wafts of the cottages in the 1950’s. Soak in the atmosphere and let your cares be absorbed by the redwood tree essence and pure mountain air.

In my Travels I’ve visited lots of Coffee Shops

2010-01-18T12:34:00.000-08:00

I am a bonafide Starbucks fan! No contest. Give me a choice in coffee shops, I’ll choose it over another any time. When I select coffee in a grocery store or specialty health shop, I always look for Starbucks brand first. If there is a good organic brand available, I give it strong consideration…unless there is a Starbucks Italian roast available. In my travels with my husband Cephas, we have visiited dozens of coffee shops and cafes but I have not shared many of those adventures with my readers. It’s time to start sharing.

Meet the incredible mascot for Joe Monkey in Oregon. I love this adorable monkey. Unique identity for a coffee shop, don’t you think?
When we visited this unique coffee booth, it was relatively new and still building. The plans included an outdoor sitting area, pavilions, organic coffees, teas, smoothies and foods. These industrious local folks were planning to bring a community together by hosting events at their shop. Vendors were part of the scene for special events with Joe Monkey serving up great drinks and food.
I am contacting the owners of this shop who should be celebrating the end of their first year to find about the success of their grand opening and their first year’s business. It is my hope to get updates and an interview. I promised the owners to give them a little free press in the spirit of community so I’ll keep that promise to the best of my ability. When you’re traveling in Oregon, be sure to drive by for a great cup of Joe and tell them The Midnight Writer sent you.

Cephas Drinking in the View of Mount Shasta and a cup of Starbucks

2010-01-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

Last spring we took a tour from the coast of California into the Redwoods then over to Mount Shasta. Our trip took us through some scenic high mountains then up through Oregon into the National Forest of the Ochocos. From there, we drove up to the Dalles and followed I-84 along the Hood River. This leg of our journey was awesome filled with mountains, rivers and waterfalls. The one thing that stayed with us to all these sites was good coffee. The photo below is one taken of Cephas standing with Mount Shasta for his backdrop.

Does the view improve the taste? Of course it does! Even if it’s Starbucks. Cephas had fun posing for this photo. He likes the TV show NCIS so this is his impersonation of Gibbs drinking all the coffee on the show.

We have some favorite coffee flavors which include Italian roast ground espresso fine on the top of the list. Pike’s Place is one of our favorites but I personally prefer this with vanilla flavor and two shots espresso added. Cephas likes it the same way but often puts in raw sugar then adds lots of half and half. I add lots of cream to mine as well. This flavor is best when it’s hot. French Roast would be our second favorite on the list if we are brewing our own Starbucks. When we can’t find our favorite coffee shop, we look for a place that serves organic coffee or we buy a pound and brew our own.
Do you know my favorite place to enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of coffee in the morning? I love to sit by a campfire in the morning when we camp in the high mountains in the summer time. It’s a great way to watch the sun rise higher in the sky while smelling the essences of nature.

Visit the Blog Onederlnd and Read the Random Banters of Randy Christenhusz

2009-08-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

I have to tell you that this review is a true pleasure because I was impressed with Randy's blog onederlnd DOT com. First of all, the captioned header title caught my attention and intrigued me. It's a spin on the word "Wonderland" in my mind which spelled captivation to me. I knew that I was clicking onto a creative writer's blog. Do you know how many blog titles are just run of the mill and outright boring?

Hats off to you Randy for your creative flair. Just so you know, the title of the blog is The Blog of Randy Christenhusz - Thoughts on Everything while the header subtitle reads Random Banters of .....Stuff.

Great thinking again Randy. You played on those variable keywords to increase the reader's intrigue with your subject matter even further.

I have a confession to make. When the page opened up I was expecting another blog that I would have to politely critique in an effort to find the good qualities to write about in order to help encourage the author to make the proper changes....without offending or discouraging. It is tough to be a good critic. On ONDERLND, I did not have to make any effort. The receptive eye pleasing layout of the blog was an immediate pleasure. As I started reading, I was even more gratified to be reviewing a quality blog.

Randy is making some changes to his theme about which he notifies the reader immediately in a nice little pop up that appeared when the blog opened, where he apologizes for any mess. I did not find any thing out of place. This layout is clean and neat with a good order to the posts. Titles are clearly displayed. Ads in the sidebar are neat and properly limited. At the top right side bar you will immediately find the rss feed button, twitter and email prompts to help you follow Randy's Random Banters and his blog.

Font size was perfect for the eyes and the colors blended easily with one another. The true pleasure for me lay in the writing style - above all else. Randy writes on variable topics which shows he is a versatile writer with a broad view of the world. His content holds that personal touch with a professional prose that is refreshing. I found all the sentences to make sense with complete thoughts and actually find the content interesting enough to read down the page onto various blog posts.

Randy, you have a winning blog and it will be a pleasure to follow you on your freelance writing/blogging journey. I love your outlook on life and hope you continue to share it with the world.

The Midnight Writer

An Important Role as a Writer Means Being a Good Critic

2009-08-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

As a freelance writer, one of the most important yet most difficult tasks I find myself faced with is learning to be a good critic. I review lots of written material in my personal and professional life. I love to read! Blogs are part of my reading list because they are an innovative part of the modern world. Today, I am reading a new blog called Critics - Today.

To be fair, I need to critique this blog honestly to help the writer grow in the freelance writing world. This blog is about being a critic, so my review serves the same role that this blog serves as its function. Writing about ads, music, jewelry, advertising companies, web hosting and a wide range of topics, the writer Vishwakarma (read his full profile to learn more about him)- exercises his talent in being a critic on a daily basis.

Reviewing other people's work and being objective about it is a difficult task because most writer's who are new at this side of the work want to be sympathetic. Let's face it, writing is a skill or a talent, for some, that can be a challenge to utilize in the freelance writing market. Vishwakarma writes with an optimism that I find refreshing. His site is clean as far as layout and does not contain too many window dressings and flashy ads so I am able to view the titles and blog articles easily. The background and layout are also basic, being black lettering on white background, is very easy on the eyes.

As I stated above, I want to be a good critic so I might need to point out any flaws in this blog that I found. This is not to be critical for the sake of negatively impacting the writer's emotions in a negative way. On the contrary, I want to learn how to encourage new writers to grow and blossom so their confidence and talents will increase to help them become a success in the freelance writing industry. This is a competitive market, probably the most competitive industry today. Vishwakarma does a great job by selecting a variety of topics that are well written for a person that is not a native of America.

Here is one bit of advice I would give this author to improve blog ranking in order to compete in a good way on the American literary market. The writer's English is good enough to be acceptable. Thoughts are clear and concise, but sometimes come across a little choppy because the sentences are too short. Carry over in thought patterns using English requires a good command of the English language. Study the composition side of English written blogs, books, and listen to audio recordings to gain a better understanding of English syntax and our ever common slang terms. New ones pop up everyday.

I recommend that since you write for Smorty Vishnakarma, review blogs written by native born Americans, like mine, so you can continue to practice being the good critic you already are and you can improve your English writing skills by reading lots of English composition. Keep up the great work. I like your reviews on products and really enjoyed reading your optimistic viewpoints. I know that Critics - Today will be a successful blog in the blogging market if you keep writing as you are. And please, take my criticism from my heart to help you increase your chances of obtaining more blogging assignments under the tight constrictions placed by many advertisers who seek English speaking writers.

This blog is one to follow on culture in India. I really enjoyed the reads about the temple so take a look at Energy Entrained in Music. The photo is captivating. I've never been to this country but would love to visit sometime. Thanks for sharing with such passion.

The only other piece of advice is to write more often so your rank will increase. I would suggest a minimum of two posts per week. Most companies who hire writers for reviews require this minimum post number per week.

Readers, please visit and encourage my new friend to share more culture, reviews and music with us in the critics corner. I'll be visiting again soon.

The Midnight Writer

Let Forever Be

2009-08-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

Image by _Massimo_ via Flickr

Isn't this a fascinating photo? It's titled "Let Forever Be". That's a powerful and empowering sentiment that invokes thoughts of surrender to me. Maybe I should consider an art and prose/poetry/literary blog. I can relate to the creative profundity of such a forum.

I borrowed the photo title for this post particularly because that is what Cephas and I discovered as we spent a month stranded on a high mountain in New Mexico.

Pure surrender.

To the will of God, to all Creation...to destiny and the only moment in which we exist...the metaphorical NOW....the present instant that is so fleeting a butterfly net cannot capture it. A breath...and your total moment is gone forever into the vapors of eternity. That is what we are and how we exist in this mortal realm...flittering breaths of spirit...more elusive than a butterfly.

These thoughts remind me of a song that I often find myself humming..."In my hour of darkness, Mother Mary came to me..and whispered words of wisdom...Let It Be."

A most profound realization of truth.

The Midnight Writer

Memorial Fund for Gabriel

2009-05-30T03:03:00.000-07:00

It is with a heavy heart that I write this today because I miss a little boy named Gabriel. Watching his brother Raven and his father Woodstock, a/k/a Loren David O'Connor, suffer through the pain of their loss while trying to make arrangements for his burial, memorial and wake is really hard. Gabriel Jaden Coates was with us for a short 3 years, 2 months and 2 days, yet he has made a profound impression on the hearts of people that will last forever. He left this earth to enter the spirit world on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at about 11 am. Gabriel fell into the water of the Antelope Creek, which was fast moving and deep. His body was recovered by very compassionate rescue workers about two hours later.

Woodstock, Raven, his friends and family are sort of moving in a state of unreal shock. Things need to get done. So we are helping in whatever way we can. Funds are urgently needed to buy the casket and to buy a plot where he will be laid to rest. Please spread the word and help in whatever way you can.

Please visit the dedication site for Gabriel at http://www.angelsforgabriel.org. News and information about his memorial, burial and wake will be posted on this blog. Lots of pictures will be loaded soon that I took of the gathering site where little Gabriel drowned. We took photos of the creek and the campsite where he laughed, played and enjoyed. There is a very spiritual picture on the site now that shows what we believe is Gabriel's spirit that appeared while Woodstock and I were standing by the stream talking about Gabriel, about what happened, about his life, about what to do now. It is then that we both felt his presence and a butterfly landed on Woodstock after that moment. I took a photo in the direction of where they found Gabriel's body in the water and that is where the column of light appeared. It was an intense, sad, happy, etherical time.

We will be assisting Woodstock with transferring of funds to the Funeral home when it is placed on the paypal in the amount we need. The general manager Chris Girdner at the Girdner Funeral Chapel is giving us until Tuesday at closing time to come up with the total for the casket. This is urgent. Other arrangements are being made and other funds are needed very much. Please email angelsforgabriel@gmail.com if you have questions or if you want to help in some way.

The Forest Service, the fire department, the Siskiyou county Sheriff's department, the Fish and Game dept. personnel, and the townspeople volunteers from Tennant were very gentle, kind, compassionate during the entire ordeal. We are all grateful to them for the way they handled this situation.

I have many things to write and memorial signs and brochures to make, and a website to update, so please help us facilitate this link being spread far and wide to get the funds together. Gabriel deserves a decent casket, memorial, burial and wake. Help us give him that much, please. Woodstock should not have to concern himself with money at a time like this. Right now we are all camping in our rigs while this is all taking place, so family please plug into this compassionate service.

Much love and blessings.
Summer Breeze on behalf of Woodstock, Raven, Gabriel & Raven and
Jazzy all his friends and family.

There are Coffee Shops and Booths Springing up Everywhere

2009-05-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

As Cephas and I traveled through Oregon into California, we noticed a lot of new coffee shops and coffee booths springing up in places where we couldn’t find good coffee before. From Burns, Oregon to Sisters, Oregon we counted several new shops on the way. In Sisters, we stopped to buy a good cup of coffee from a little coffee booth hidden off Highway 20 behind the gas station just as you get ready to drive west down the mountain. It was good to give them our business. Yes, they have a little shingle out along the road.

In Burns, Oregon we discovered a new coffee booth just across the parking lot from the new booth that we noticed six months ago when we traveled through their town. The new one sits on the inside corner of the lot towards the back across from a major family restaurant along highway 20. The other newer booth sits in the lot of the gas station adjacent the other coffee booth and gas station. One fuel center is an automated one while the second one is a newly remodeled convenience store with the newly built coffee booth. Business must be good for the coffee industry to see this much growth in a recessive economy!

I should’ve taken pictures of all the shops we passed in our travels. I would have a dozen or more shops to feature on this blog. You know what they say, though, hind sight is 20/20. The lesson was learned and we started to photograph and document the specialty coffee shops, cafes, and coffee booths that we encounter. You’ll be seeing dozens of them featured here in the coming months.

Our first feature will be a little coffee shop, cafe that is a little more than a booth with a patio for seating and outdoor cafe. It’s called Joe Monkey. I won’t say any more about it yet. You have to wait for the special feature coming soon. We took photos of the shop and its owners and gathered some contact information for the owners. Cephas and I are excited to be writing coffee features. We feel like espresso reporters!

Out of Newspapers so Pull up this Blog on Web Hosting

2009-05-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

I am always in search of quality web hosting so I read through one site after another in my quest. This is one person's offer for inexpensive web hosting that I want to share with you.