I've been part of the eBay community since 2001, and began selling about a three and a half years ago. In December, 2005, I decided to try to make a go of it on eBay full-time and quit my very stressful "day job". In February 2006, I opened my store, joliefran AKA Nhawang Lhamo, on impulse.

The store combines my user ID, joliefran, with the name given to me by my Lama and teacher, Jetsun Sakya Chimey Luding (Jetsun Kushok), when I completed the ceremonial ritual called "taking refuge", which is how a person "officially" becomes a Tibetan Buddhist. During this ceremony, the student is given a Tibetan name by their teacher, and mine is Nhawang Lhama.

I would like to emphasize here that I am supportive of all spiritual paths, and am delighted for anyone who has a religious tradition, beliefs, or even no faith at all, as long as this is what "works" for them. I was a person without! I try my best to apply the teachings of the Buddhist philosphy to both the way I live my life, and the way I conduct my business. The keyword is "compassion" and I try to treat all my buyers with kindness, and have been fortunate to receive their compassion in return when I have made errors. It is much more important to me to treat my buyers honestly and fairly than it is to make money.

It gives me joy to be able to bring Buddhist-related items to eBay and I try to keep my pricing reasonable. I also enjoy the support I am able to give, through what I choose to buy for resale, to artisans and Fair Trade programs from poorer countries like Nepal, Africa, South America and India. I have a weakness for hand-crafted masks, and they will often be found among my listings.

My listings for Apple/Mac computers would not be possible without my best friend who is a Certified Apple/Mac Tech, and a 100% feedback seller in his own right. I continue to sell Clamshells, but have recently branched out into PISMOs and G4's, as well. I stand behind these systems as much as I do my other, less costly products. I also love to offer my buyers a cheaper shipping solution, if at all possible. I don't see my shipping prices as a vehicle for profit.

My other passions in life are sea kayaking, art and gardening. I supplement my income as a working craftsperson. I live in a small house with a leaky roof on a little island off the coast of WA State. I heat with wood. It is over-run by wild-life and it is not at all uncommon for me to spot a fox, a wild turkey, many deer, seals and sea lions, Bald Eagles and other raptors, mink and multiple song-birds all in the same day, not to mention the otter that has taken to running across my deck. On occasion I am blessed by the displays of Orca whales as they move through my waters in search of feed. I paddle what is known as a "British heavy": a NDK Romany, 16' in length, 22" in width of sheer grace, beauty and power. I am a student of the BCU system. I am fortunate to live close to and with the ocean, and watch it's ever-changing moods and faces, all beautiful though sometimes fearsome.

My goal for this year is to continue to make friends on eBay and also to get my business "under control" enough that I will be able to detach myself from my computer more frequently and get outside more! I welcome questions, comment and suggestions from any eBayer and would be very unhappy if my buyers were less than satisfied with anything they purchased from me and did not let me know!

This beautiful and elegant About Me page was created, formatted and enhanced for me by *zip, a very kind and supportive HTML wizard-ess, who has great compassion for the code-disabled...

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