Heavy Music: War Requiem, Feb 10th, $25, the classic that juxtaposes parts of the Catholic mass for the dead with verses by World War I poet Wilfred Owen.  *  Also, Organ Recital Series, starting Feb 8th, $6.  The organ builders come back to the symbiotic relationship with the instrument they built to play a couple of their favorite ditties.  *  Also, Russian National Orchestra, Feb 17th, $30+, gather your comrades and hear such favorites as Isle of the Dead.

Lectures: Spillover Effect of Uninsurance, Feb 10th, donations accepted.  Everything responds to cause and effect.  Those without health insurance affect other parts of the insurance and heath care systems, such as using emergency rooms for routine care.  Learn about the scope of the problem, and possible solutions.  *  Also, A Perfect Scent, Feb 6th, $35, describes a year inside the perfume industry.  The perfume industry is like Hollywood films, where there are a zillion wanna-bes, it costs millions of dollars to market a launch, and it's only the rare mega-hits that really make any bucks.  *  Also, Where the Water Goes in Puget Sound, Feb 7th, $8, discussing the mysteries of Puget Sound's circulatory system.

Valentine's Activities: Mame, starting Feb 9th, $24+, for a good night out.  Take the story of Ms. Party Girl who has her life flipped upside down by becoming a guardian to a relative.  Then, set the story in the 1920's, and feature Luly Wang gowns.  *  Also, no surprise, Babeland has a line-up of classes this month, cost varies, including Love Letter Writing, The Big O: Unlocking Your Orgasm, and Exploring Erotic Touch.  This is proof that a smart mind is sexy.  *  Likewise, those purveyors of eroticism over at the Little Red Studio have their lineup this month, cost varies, including Sensual Repast and The Red Show. 

Cancer Related: Singles Mixer for Cancer Survivors, Feb 8th, free.  Understandably, meeting other people when you have cancer can be a challenge.  For those whose lives have blessedly not been touched by cancer, it can be difficult to understand chemotherapy routines, or the significance of breast/prostrate cancer.  So, this is chance to meet other people who share your experience.

Camping: Camp Fair, Feb 9th, free.  If you don't want your screaming kids home all day during the summer, then you gotta think ahead.  Over 70 summer camp representatives gather to showcase a plethora of camps, such as teens, wilderness adventure, sports, drama, art, science, music, and language.   Enjoy your own summer, shove that kid on the bus, and don't look back.

Nature: Camp Long Activities, various February dates, cost varies.  These are great for kids and adults wanting to learn more.  Activities include Owl Hoot, Nighttime Low Tide at the Beach, Tot Walks, Salamander Love Night, and Winter Woodland Walks.  These are all low cost and highly educational, so dollar-for-dollar, it's a great value.

Bereavement: Providence Hospice of Seattle hosts a drop-in support group on Feb 9th for those who've lost a loved one in the last three months or so.  Go gather with others who understand your pain.  The pain doesn't change, but you do learn to cope better.

Business: The First 6 Months: Psychological Challenges of a Startup, Feb 8th, $40, on the mind-trip of leaving the security of a regular paycheck to making your mortgage payment based upon your own product and sales.  *  Also, CEO Lunch Series, Feb 12th, $35, the co-CEO of California Pizza discusses how he gave up his law career to make and sell pizzas - go figure.  *  Also, Commercial Real Estate Deals of the Year & Market Forecast, Feb 5th, $60, of who made the right bets last year, and what this year likely has in store for us.

Volunteering: City Year Open House, Feb 6th, free.  These folks ask for one year of your effort, and in return, help you volunteer smartly, so your efforts have the type of positive impact you intend.

Less is More.
If you don't have the resources you'd like, then here's how to convert to a lemonade-from-lemons scenario.

Less Money.  When you don't have enough money, then you really start to appreciate the few bucks that you do have.  The few bucks are spent with great efficiency, so when the money does start to roll in later, it's not wasted.  Think of those millionaire-next-door types that live an unassuming life, drive an eight-year- old Honda Accord, and retire before age 50.

Less Space.  There seems to be a law of equilibrium, that peoples's crap tends to fill up the available space.  Anybody who's packed for travel with limited suitcase space learns the value of prioritizing.  When you have too much space, then slop creeps in.

Less Time.  Everybody needs more time, yet we all obey the same clock. When you have less time, at least it motivates action and prevents procrastination.  Then, there's that entire creativity-under-deadlines that's stirred.

Less Control.  This means finding other ways of expression under the current rule set.  Think of that famous Seinfeld episode about onanism where they couldn't mention the m-word.  Hence, "queen of your castle" and "master of your domain" are phrases still active in current lexicon.

Cool Video: Teatro ZinZanni in their new home.

 If you're having problems with viewing the video, click here.