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This Post is Brought to You by the Letter "M"

I have to say that one thing that is so charming about Seattle is the unapologetic obsessions of the locals. When Seattlites love something, they LOVE it and embrace it wholeheartedly. Whether their hobby be biking, hiking, sailing, protesting, being a crazy street person, painting, or generally nerding it up, Seattlites put their all into it.

So the Seattle Film Festival bought the Queen Anne Uptown Cinema, a movie theatre from the 30’s where they now play first and previously run movies. Their theme this month is THE MUPPETS. This is an awesome theme, and I am very inspired by it. According to Passic Family Lore, when a German asked 3-year-old-me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered “Miss Piggy.” Gosh, I wish!

We went to see the Original Muppet Movie last night. I’ll admit it, the opening of the movie where Kermit is singing “Rainbow Connection” always makes me tear up. It reminds me of watching the taped VHS while curled up next to my Dad in our family room in Bern. All our copies of Sesame Street, The Muppets and most movies were taped by our Grandparents back in Denver and Utah, since we didn’t get much English TV in Switzerland, beyond a show in which every episode centered around a smelly alley cat who refused to take a bath. Ahhh DJ KAT, that was quality television for Cold War American children in Europe.

So I am pretty infamous with my friends and family for being an annoyingly huge fan of Christmastime. I am the type of person who would pull their decorations and tree out after Halloween if it were socially acceptable. I can tell you firsthand that it is not. I’ve already started listening to Christmas music at work on Pandora, which has caused me much deserved ribbing from my coworkers. I love planning Christmas parties, so I convinced Kai to have one at his house while I am home in December. I’m asking my awesome crew of friends from my last assingment, Pentagon City Elementary, and I absolutely cannot wait to see them, I had just too much fun with them at work and in the real world. Kai is asking his friends, so it will be a NOVA mixer. I made the invitations while watching “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, so that was a fun day. Kai hasn’t seen them yet so I hope he isn’t too horrified.

I think the Construction Paper and glitter emphasize the classiness. I think the Construction Paper and glitter emphasize the classiness.

I also put out some Christmas ornaments that I bought last weekend on top of the 14,000 foot mountain in the neighborhood. I figured they aren’t red and green, so it isn’t psycho to put them out, right?

Naw, totally normal. Naw, totally normal.

I wish I had some more Seattle photos to post, but I’ve spent most of my free time lately painting. I’m really trying to work on finishing paintings to completion, and the trick is to start small!

Some watercolors I did yesterday Some watercolors I did yesterday

Henry loves watching me cook or paint, and he’ll sit there for hours watching with near-sighted eyes as I go about my business. We keep joking that one day we’re going to walk in and he’ll have made a souffle or an oil painting. I hope he washes his paws first.

Hank Investigates Mali's portrait Hank Investigates Mali's portrait

Ok so I have to tell this story. Apparently Bart has been particularly monstrous lately, and has taken to eating every edible and non-edible thing in the house. He has been free from his cage (his house, we call it) at night, and Mom and Dad will wake up to find that he has eaten raw potatoes, bananas, bread, etc. I told a coworker about it and she said, “Aww, he is just on a cleansing vegan diet! He’s trying to be healthy.”