Second Annual Seattle Convention

Our 2nd annual sibling convention was a big success. The theme this year was "Lifetime Goals." Annie, our keynote speaker, offered brilliant advice on balancing happiness and career goals. Jeff especially felt that Annie's personal speaking style (tête-à-tête in the bar) was effective in getting her message across.

The several breakout sessions were all enthusiastically attended. One of my personal favorites was "Dumpster Diving: Theory and Practice." We analyzed different dumpster genres and then assessed our findings according to certain criteria: freshness, spoilability, packaging integrity, and appeal.

An added bonus to that session was Anneliese's performance art piece entitled "Navigating Seattle's Industrial District," which actively involved the rest of us in attendance. Anneliese specializes in spontaneous, participatory street art that makes use of Seattle's empty late-night streets.

Jeff also offered an improvisational performance, "A Beatle at Green Lake." His piece involved walking slowly backwards in the park while dressed like John Lennon, with a convincing Beatle-esque hairdo.

Another popular breakout session was "The Art and Craft of Vegetarian Mexican Cuisine." Everyone got some hands-on experience with the authentic tortilla press after an introductory lecture and demonstration. Chefs Rory and Tara led the group in many skill-building exercises such as salsa-making, Spanish rice stirring, and spicy homemade bean preparation.




"The Urban Henhouse" was a very informative look at keeping chickens in an urban environment. Egg production, hen safety and health, and gardening with chickens were topics covered.




Mini workshops were held throughout the conference. I only attended a few, but they were all great. "Boba Tea at Home" was a super delicious and educational workshop, and I learned how to make my own bubble tea! Rose and blackberry sage were the featured flavors.


Let's see, what else? There was just so much going on, I can't even remember it all. The conference attendees gathered for a tour, and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny spring day while learning more about the multi-racial history of Seattle's International District.


I came away totally energized and inspired. I can hardly wait until next year's convention!