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.

Discovery Park and Chowdah

On Saturday, November 10 we explored Seattle's Discovery Park. It's an old fort and military base that is mostly used now as a public park/nature center. First we visited the Daybreak Star Center run by the Indian Tribes of all National Foundation for their monthly art sale. We got to see a few totem poles, carved canoes, painted drums, button blankets, jewelry, leatherwork, etc. Then we stopped by the park's visitors center to explore their exhibits. As you can see from the pictures, the kids loved the puppet show area. Then we got a pass to go through the military area and out to the lighthouse and beach. Be sure to look carefully at picture #188 as it is a view of Mt. Rainer from the lighthouse beach at sunset. Then we had dinner at Fisherman's Terminal - fish and chips/salmon and chips/New Jersey Chowder. What is NJ Clam Chowdah you ask? I had never tried it but really liked it. It is the Manhattan and Boston Chowders combined. (Kinda like getting the "two in a bowl" soup at California Pizza Kitchen) Before this I had tried three other restaurants versions of "Northwest" Chowdah, which seems to me to be Boston Chowder with lots of Bacon. Yum! Maybe I'll top my Chowder escapades of 1999 when I was in Boston for 6 days and had 10 different kinds of chowder!

seattle aquarium

Friday, Nov 9 I took the kids to the Seattle Aquarium. We enjoyed the many exhibits-especially the wave tank, tidal pool touch tank, jellyfish, and underwater dome. We got to see some salmon schooling, otters playing, fur seals vocalizing, and the brand new octopus come out of his cave! The kids also enjoyed getting their pictures taken as if they were a jellyfish or diver. Oliver got to dress up like his favorite - a killer whale. We enjoyed a nice lunch at their new cafe which over looks the piers to the south. We got to see the Washington State Ferries coming and going while we ate.

Guide to "More Seattle" photos

A few of the photos at right may need an explanation. Under "More Seattle" you see 5 pics of N and O at the Pacific Science Center touching the creatures in the tidal pool and sitting in the big chairs. Then there are two pictures of us tasting flavored honeys at the Pike Place market. Then CD got a few neat shots of Mt. Rainer. The first is looking our of our Pike Place parking garage and across Quwest Field/Safeco field toward the south. The next two were taken from the Drumheller fountain (which was turned off) on the campus of UW. Then there are several pictures from our sunset trip to Gas Works park. The kids enjoyed log rolling down the hills toward the lake. Natalie just lost her first tooth Sunday afternoon when we were out and about. She felt sad about giving it to the tooth fairy so she made us take a picture of it Ultimately, she kept the tooth and instead drew a picture and wrote a note to the tooth fairy in lieu of forfeiting her tooth. The tooth fairy found her sweet note/picture and gave her a "Sacagawea" coin anyway. The remaining pictures are of the amazing UW Arboretum. Check out that Birch Bark Cherry (#142). It feels and looks like burgundy satin ribbons. Natalie enjoyed filling out the "Arbor Kids" workbook and I was excited to finally meet a Larch tree (#146) while Oliver loved to run up to the pond and wait for the ducks to come near him.

Update from Karen

Alas, our computer is finally here with its new motherboard installed and ready to connect us to the outside world. To catch up a little from my perspective, here I the things I've enjoyed so far about living in the Seattle area for the past 16 days:
1. We can walk to a playground, several restaurants and many stores from our apt.
2. I took Natalie to a performance of Dracula by the Int'l Ballet Theater here. It was awesome.
3. Shopping at Trader Joe's rocks. It's bizarre and wonderful to spend less money on your bottle of wine than on your pack of lunch meat!
4. We rented a keyboard from a local music shop and are excited about messing with all the bells and whistles.
5. Worshiping at St. Mark's Cathedral this past Sunday was an amazing experience. This church's spirit reminded me of the wonderful and warm little Episcopal church we got married in. I got to hear great choral music (Russian, English - Byrd and Bainton) as well as Taize music. Diana Butler Bass was in town and gave the homily and three infants were baptized. The service lasted 1 hours and 40 minutes! It was All Saints Day, so I got to belt out "For All the Saints" hymn while the amazing organ filled the cavernous space. Also of note, the Keiskamma altarpiece from South Africa is touring the world to raise money for AIDS outreach and it resides at St. Marks right now. It is beyond words. Check it out.

Highlights of the Week

It has been a fun and crazy week. Sorry I haven't had more time to post.

Just learned some good news. Our home computer is back online! Also we have located the missing box of cold weather items we had mailed to ourselves. We should be reunited later today.

We have had many adventures over the last week, I'll just try to hit some of the really memorable points.

Tues, 10/30 - Karen and the kids went to the Woodlands Zoo and then we met near UW to visit one of our favorite author/poets Jack Prelutzky at a bookstore. Here's a picture with Jack. The bookstore has had a lot of famous guests we recognized who drew on their walls.




Wed, 10/31 - We had a great time trick-or-treating in our neighborhood! Nice and spooky weather for it. Also had a fun dress up party at my work where I went as El Diablo Doctor.

Thurs, 11/1 - The kids and I had our first sushi conveyer belt experience at Sushiland, near my office. These type of restaurants are relatively common here. What a blast to watch all the marching sushi and pick and choose what loots good!

Fri, 11/2 - In the meantime, K and the kids are taking in the sights. They have been hitting all the libraries, several museums, and parks. This day they saw a giant squid exhibit at the Burke Museum on the UW campus.

Sat, 11/3 - After a walk to our local Supercut for Oliver and to our local Safeway to replenish supplies, we went to Bellevue's Crossroads Mall. Here we ate Russian food at my vote for "Best Food Court in the World" award.

Sun, 11/4 - K dropped us off at the Pacific Science Center this morning (She attended a pretty amazing service at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral). We finished our tour there and then hit various points around town; Pike Place Market, UW campus, Gasworks Park (for sunset), and Ivar's Salmon House for supper. What an awesome Seattle day!