Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Shopping: Purple people, purple store


Some people are drawn to the color purple, the color of spirituality, royalty, and healing. When purple people shop, they shop at The Purple Store, an online emporium dreamed up by a Seattle entrepreneur.

Admit it: You want a seven-and-a-half-foot tall, pre-lit, purple Christmas tree.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Low-fat Thanksgiving dinner

As heard on KUOW-FM's "Weekday" show this morning:
And, on the same topic, but not on the radio: A creamy pumpkin pudding tip.
Bon appetit!
—Karen

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Take a tasty bite out of the Pike Place Market

One of my favorite ways to take an in-city vacation is to spend a day at the Pike Place Market.

Now my friend JanMarie Johnson is offering guided tours of the market, combining historical tidbits with delectable "bites" at a dozen of the shops. Check it out at Seattle Bites Food Tours.

Known locally as the creator of the famous Mount Si Chili Cook-off, JanMarie has a true passion for food. She's made some great connections with Pike Place Market vendors. I've got to know where she found the "truffle-butter adorned popcorn!"

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

On reading

At my annual checkup today, my doctor asked me if I watched TV. I said my TV isn't even hooked up to broadcast sources -- I only use it to watch DVDs when friends come over to visit.

He laughed, admitted that he doesn't watch broadcast TV, either, and commented that he sees a direct correlation between lots of of TV watching and poor health among his patients, particularly the elderly. He said the problem isn't just sitting and watching TV instead of exercising; it's letting the mind slip into passivity instead of engaging with games, discussions, puzzles, writing, and reading.

I love reading, but recently have been spending what used to be my reading time writing instead. And instead of reading new books, I've been working my way through science fiction classics (such as Cordwainer Smith's Norstrilia) to get a better understanding of that genre.

Thus, I have yet to read any of the books on Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year list. But, seeing the list made me realize how much I want to get to some of these, particularly Michael Connelly's latest, The Brass Verdict, Donald Ray's Knockemstiff, and Greg Bear's City at the End of Time.

(cross-posted on Writer Way)