Video Happyfest

Remember in my election night post that I said that I couldn't recall the last time I cried for being happy? Well, I've been reminded. The last time I cried and smiled at the same time was watching this video. Even though I've seen it several times, it never ceases to make me get all weepy and joyful and convinced that the human race might not just be a bunch of jerks after all. It makes me hope without cynicism or doubt. It just makes me smile in a big sappy goofy way. Watch! (Make sure you click on the high quality button--it's a million times better)

Now THIS is just pure silly cat-rubby happy goodness. You know how cats sometimes are so giddy with affection and excited to see you that they start rubbing all over everything next to them before you can even reach them? This cat takes that and multiplies it by 11. With some stairs.

階段で遊ぶ猫

Devil Corgi Takes No Prisoners

Yesterday, approaching dusk, I took Ken the Dog for a walk. I have really missed walking around my neighborhood--I haven’t done much of that in the past 3 months because I’ve been so busy, or just out of town. I got to see all my neighbors’ lawns still proudly adorned with Obama signs--one with “HOORAY!” scrawled across the top in big Sharpie letters. I got to walk through the Carmelite Monastery’s public yard with its gorgeous sculpted rose gardens and hedges. And I got to see my favorite bumper sticker that reads, “I am Pro-Accordion and I vote!”

Best of all was the brief but fierce encounter with a wee belligerent Corgi. Ken and I were headed up the street when I noticed a woman walking two very stout little Corgis. For those of you not acquainted with the breed, they are extremely short, very stubby, tail-less little dogs with big fox ears. They can be quite cute given the proper context and level of fitness. These two were rather overweight, which just made them comical and sad. One in particular was so round and tubby that it made his abbreviated little legs look even MORE stubbular; they were just tiny furry nubbins poking out valiantly from underneath his fat tummy. Totally ridiculous.

I was just enjoying the spectacle when the particularly stubby tubby one suddenly pulled his leash from his owner's hand and came barreling straight at us. Actually, with his extra girth he couldn't run very fast at all; it was more of a highly accelerated waddle. It was hilarious, watching his floppy galumphing progress toward us. He seemed friendly enough when he reached us; he just stood there staring and seemingly waiting for something. It of course never occurred to me to be frightened of this little tub-dog. But when his owner caught up with him, the moment she took hold of his leash he instantly sprang into action, snarling and growling with his little leg-stubs splayed wide in a stance of angry Corgi intimidation. The woman began earnestly apologizing for his fierce protectiveness while yanking him away, but honestly, I was trying desperately to choke back my laughter the whole time. It was simply the most ridiculous sight ever--this pudgy little stub-dog quivering with indignation and protective rage and having no idea that he looked like a silly caricature of a dog and wasn’t scaring anybody.

Seattle Celebrates our New Leader

President Obama

I am nearly speechless with emotion right now, but not...quite. I volunteered for the No on 8 campaign tonight and barely got over to a celebration party in time to hear our President Elect's speech. What beautiful words! I was overcome several times since the news broke; I am so excited, so hopeful, so filled with joy. I have tears in my eyes while I write this. I cannot remember the last time I cried because I was happy, and I did so several times tonight. I am trying to etch these moments into my memory so I can remember this night forever as a pivotal point in my life in and American history. I was there. I helped make it happen.

Superfun Dress-Up Spookytime

Yay for costumes! I had a particularly fun Halloween this year--my costume turned out pretty nifty, all things considered (like the fact that I couldn’t keep my arm bandages up to save my life), and I got to go bowling. Bowling IN costume. What could be better? What was also great fun was the fact that several people didn’t recognize me at first. In my mind, that means that my costume was really good. I got to dress up for three occasions: bowling on the 30th with other crazed Team Stone folks, to work at the beer factory on Halloween itself, and to my friends’ party later that night. At N & B’s party, my favorite costume was Kiki’s husband, dressed as Joe the Plumber, complete with a tax lien sticking out of his jumpsuit pocket. Awesome.

For a full display of Bride of Frankenstein-y goodness and other silly outfits, check out the 2 photo albums on the Stone website. Make sure you look at the ones from Bowling Night first, and then the Halloween gallery. That way you see things in chronological order, and as far as I’m concerned, my costume was better on Halloween. Bowling was just the dress rehearsal. Be on the lookout for these other really fun pics: Tinkerbell hanging from a tree, a rapper with a super-blingin’ grill, Amy Winehouse, a barely-clothed Olympian swimmer, a giant bottle of beer, and Howard Hughes, complete with facial tissue footwear. Have fun!