Dog day afternoon

Isis in a bed of ivy with her tennis ball. It's kind of a leisurely day for a change.

Social Media Seattle event

After calling in patriotic and taking the day off to fully revel in all the inauguration grandeur, I went to a Social Media Seattle networking event to meet some other locals using social media tools.

Nice bunch, good food, chatted with several folks about what they do and how social media fits in. Some are just getting their feet wet after hearing the buzz. Others were clearly early adopters.

It also gave me an opportunity to spread the word about the work my boss is doing with social media to engage more residents in government. Well worth the time and money spent.

Black Iraqis make Obama a model to follow

I saw this and at first thought, "There are Black Iraqis?!" Then realized that of course there are, because the African diaspora was worldwide. Not surprisingly, although the outcome was different for Blacks who ended up in Iraq vs. the U.S. or Europe, the stories are similar: brought in as slaves to build the city (draining marshes and building Basra in southern Iraq, doing the same across the U.S., including construction of the White House), their descendants faced discrimination and second class citizenship and exclusion from civic participation. Now Pres. Elect Obama's election has given them new hope. Fascinating read.

Black Iraqis make Obama a model to follow - CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/19/obama.black.iraqis/index.html?eref=rss_latest

Fine dining, it ain't

Aquarium visit

At Seattle Aquarium for 1st time w/daughter. Most of the things in here can be described as "tastes good w/butter." 

Running around in the big domed underwater room.

One of those weirdly cool fish balls of salmon overhead. There was a giant sturgeon ball in the Columbia River last summer.

The Aquarium had lots of kid-friendly displays set up at their eye level and with touchable elements, which were major draws for all the toddlers and parents throughout the facility. The open starfish tank even invited you to touch - one finger only though.

This was one of several octopus displays. Ava was a little freaked out when it slinked along the glass right in front of her.  Not surprising considering it was larger than her. And has tentacles.

The Seattle Aquarium has undergone a major overhaul in recent years and the changes are great. I overhead another visitor saying she's been to aquariums all over (Hawaii, Vancouver, California) and she thinks Seattle's is the best because it has displays that are good for both kids and adults, which is why she comes regularly even though she doesn't have kids. I would agree with her assessment.

It had been years since I'd been to the Seattle Aquarium but the new, inviting displays, clear signage, neat factoids posted about the various species on display, and even the circuitous path through the facility that makes it seem like a journey all combined to make it well worth the $16 fee (free for kids). Next time I'll bring snacks, as I saw other families doing, so we can pause for a mini-picnic and spend more time in the facility without fear of snack attack.  I'm adding it to future my family outings list and expect to go back more often. All in all, a good mom and daughter day out. Next time, we're bringing J.