An Update...

An update on our current situation. We have extended our time in Washington until January 26, 2008. Just after making this decision, however, we were plunged in darkness and rain for 4 days in a row. This week has been a nice reunion with our friend, the Sun. Still pretty cold. We are glad to be extending our time, as we were starting to feel the pressure of not being able to see everything. We are also in the "negotiation phase" of planning the assignments that follow. Who knows? The spring may see us in Arizona, and even Colorado. We'll have more info in the next few weeks.

Wish you all the best Thanksgiving holiday!

Moira Smiley and Voco

On Sunday I had the opportunity to take a "Versatile Voice" class at Dusty Strings from Moira Smiley and her vocal group Voco. I had met Moira back in 1999 at Malcolm Dalglish's summer camp. Voco was here in Seattle on west coast tour. They blend Appalachian music and Balkan sounds with their own vocal improvisations. Neat stuff. Check them out.

Yoga Boot Camp

I've been wanting to try "Hot Yoga" for quite sometime. In Knoxville, I'd have to drive across the county to get to the class. Here in Kirkland I can drive two blocks. So, tonight I visited the Ashram for my first taste of "Hot Power Yoga." Since I can barely tolerate saunas at a spa, I was nervous. But I kept up pretty well and didn't faint. We'll see if I can even get out of bed in the morning!

Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center

Saturday we spent at the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center. The kids enjoyed the kayaks, cargo loader games, magnetic wall, and water play/lock system. I really enjoyed the amazing nautical art on the walls by a local artist. Her collection was entitled the "Seas of Antiquity" and had lots of ancient Greek mythology of the sea as inspiration. We had a nice lunch at Anthony's Pier 66 and watched the ferries come and go.

Seattle Japanese Garden

On Friday, November 16 the kids and I went to the Seattle Japanese Garden. We enjoyed the lovely trees, tranquil lake, and many lanterns. The university students were trimming the pine trees that day so it smelled like Christmas. Many planes passed overhead and were reflected in the pond. See if you can find one in the picture above. The other pictures at right show the other wonders of the garden. It started raining on us at the end and we scurried to the nearest place for hot chocolate: Oh Chocolate in Madison Park. We had real french hot chocolate and bought way too many truffles to take home to Daddy.

Proust was a Neuroscientist

On Tuesday, November 13 I (Karen) went to Seattle's Town Hall to hear a lecture by Jonah Lehrer. His book Proust was a Neuroscientist just came out and I'm very interested in the pattern he has found of people in the arts predicting scientific breakthroughs. Example: Walt Whitman wrote his poem " I Sing the Body Electric" just before science actually discovered that our body has electrical impulses. Anyway, for those of us in the arts who believe in our field being a way of knowing and a valid experience (even if science hasn't proven it yet) this book is for you. Check it out.

Woodland Park Zoo Redux

On Sunday, November 11 we returned to the Woodland Park Zoo, this time with Daddy. We really enjoyed the raptor show where we learned a lot about falcons. The Habitat Play area had a neat rope "spider" web and a super cool conifer you could sit in (see picture #224). The hippos were fun to see munching. We were sad to learn that Hansa, the baby elephant born to the Seattle Zoo about 7 years ago, had died this past summer. We had read a library book about her and were excited to meet her. Of special note on our visit this time was the amazing orangutan that loved to draw with colored chalk. We watched him for quite a while as he thoughtfully folded the paper, scribbled away, switched colors, etc.