Autumn

I have issues with Autumn.

Mother Nature choreographs Spring and Summer.  It's the perennially celebrated, and much-anticipated, Broadway production of "Earth Tilting". 

Spring shyly pirouettes.  Summer always has a look in her eye - that is almost naughty - as she sambas across the months.  Spring bursting, Summer exulting.

Then comes September, October, November....and as much as we may want otherwise, Summer must fade.  It's as though Mother Nature has tired, after months of work on this years' production, she decides she is through.  

Or as it's often put - "considering all her other exciting opportunities."

The production closes as it must.  

Mother Nature goes home and pulls on a Snuggie, opens a bag of Cheetos and loads the DVD player with last season's run of "The Closer"....  

She's not to be seen again until March.

All of our lovely world starts to hunker down for the long winters' sleep, the sumacs, the maples, all eventually pulling a blanket of snow over shoulders...and we have to slog through.

I would much rather always be wearing a floppy dress that only touched me at the shoulders, and be on the verge of a sweat.

Seen in Seattle

I love my adopted hometown.  It's beautiful, progressive-minded and offers all stripe of excellent cuisine.

The only two things I don't like is the weather (lame) and the City Council (more lame).

We are big on the local mom n pop shop.  Small businesses are strongly supported, although if you get too big for your britches (Microsoft) or you sell out (Redhook), the typical Uptight Seattlelite is dismayed.

We aren't angry with you, just...disappointed.

Here's a sampling of local places and taglines to give you an idea of the Emerald City:

Hustler Apparel:  Clothes for Stepping Out...of Your Clothes

The LunchBox Laboratory - Home of the "Kick Ass Hour" Cause "Happy Hour" is for Pussies

Men in Kilts Gutter Cleaning

Fremont Veterinary Clinic, Specializing in Animal Chiropractic and Acupuncture Therapy

Blue Moon Burgers: Helping People Feel Good About Bad Choices.  IT'S WHAT WE DO.

Calamity Jane's (a restaurant in the Georgetown neighborhood): Soul Food Without the Pig's Feet!

West5 - Ripping Off Unsuspecting Tourists Since 1929

The 5-Point Lounge:  The Liver Is Evil and Must Be Punished!

Naked City Brewery and Taphouse: We Sell Beer - and It's Cold, Too!

9 Million in Unmarked Bills (a pub in the Fremont neighborhood):  Alcoholics Serving Alcoholics for Over...A Long Time

The Neptune - If You Don't Party Here You Suck

Yep, it's a good town.