Merry Christmas, Readers & Friends!

Photo taken from a Christmas Village displayed at The Seattle Center

My Ugly Christmas Sweater

This year, for one of my work Christmas parties, my boss wants to have an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. I could not find what I wanted in the area I live in, but when I went home for Thanksgiving... I found the one!   With the help of my dad, we found 3 possibilities, then narrowed it down to the one we thought was the ugliest of the three. 

Knowing how creative some of my coworkers are though, I know the ugliness of the sweater alone is not enough.  I need more embellishments!  So, off to another store we headed for bobbles and inspiration. 

I bought some tinsel.

A weird little ornament that sort of resembles a reindeer.

Some unusual bows.

Some odd-looking bells.

And finally a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer headpiece with blinking noses.

When I took all my items up to the cashier, she picked up the weird little reindeer ornament, and asked, "What is this supposed to be a little reindeer or something?"

"I don't know," I replied, "I am trying to win an ugly sweater contest."

"It makes you wonder who would actually buy a bunch of these things (indicating to the ornament).

After seeing and ringing all my items she said, "I think you are going to win."

It was particularly funny because the whole time she was ringing my items, she expressed no enthusiasm  whatsoever. I could not blame her however, the day after Thanksgiving is one of the worst days to work.  I probably sounded just as enthused as she did, but inside I thought the whole conversation and manner was pretty funny.

She wished me luck, and I thanked her.

Then I went to tell my dad what she had said, and we both laughed.

I tried on the sweater when I got home.  I felt like Bridget (played by Renee Zellweger) in Bridget Jones's Diary when she thinks to herself, "Great.  I am wearing... a carpet."  Or maybe more like what Bridget thinks of the outfit Mr. Darcy (played by the ever-so-handsome Colin Firth) is wearing.

I came home, modeled just the sweater vest to my mom and she said, "Oh cute!"  She was totally serious.

"No mom, it's NOT cute, it is supposed to be an ugly Christmas sweater!"

She showed me one of her sweaters of almost equal ugliness that was not Christmas related, and asked, "Is this ugly?"

Looking to side to side, I finally told her the truth..."Yes, it is!  But it is okay, because older ladies tend to wear those things!" (It's true, they tend to do that.)  Luckily, she was okay with that answer.

I later showed her the items I was going to put on it.   I am pretty sure she thinks the sweater will be a good contestant for the Ugly Sweater Contest now.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties are pretty popular these days.  Here is a segment from CBS This Morning I found after collecting all my items:

Even if I don't win this Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, the process of finding it and making it even more ridiculous has been fun.  Wish me luck!

At this point, I tried on the sweater, and felt a bit like Elton John from the 70s, but I wasn't finished yet.

I also decided I needed pom-poms!

The finished project!

...and the back.

Laser Light Shows

An excerpt from the Grand Coulee Laser Light Show uploaded by Gary Stebbins on YouTube

I have seen two different laser light shows here in Washington state.  One, at the Grand Coulee Dam, and the other just last night at the Seattle Center.  Both were impressive in different ways.

The Grand Coulee Dam show is always the same.  It gives a history of the dam, then ends with a light show accompanied by Neil Diamond's classic song, "America."  The graphics are very well done.  The history is interesting.  You bring a blanket and sit outside and watch the show at night.  It can get chilly, so you need to dress warm or bring layers.  It makes a great date night.  Best of all, it's free.

The Seattle Center has a choice of shows to choose from.  A coworker of mine gave me some free tickets to see the show, so I invited another friend (at last minute, because the tickets were soon to expire).

I heard that the Pink Floyd show, "The Wall" is supposed to be awesome and the longest running.  There is another Pink Floyd show with songs from Dark Side of the Moon, I kind of wanted to see that one.  However, my friend, being a huge Lady Gaga fan wanted to see that show instead.  It was an earlier show, and we were able to get there in time for it, so we went to that one instead.  I have to say, it was pretty awesome.  There was no history lesson, just music with psychedelic lights throughout the entire show.  There are chairs to sit on, but it is really best to bring pillows and lie on the floor for the best view (we brought our pillows in plastic bags, because it was raining like crazy).

The Laser Gaga show starts off with lights that make you feel like you are traveling through space, or a vortex of bright lights.  There are some abstract images throughout the show, as well as some real simplistic images.  One of my favorite parts of the show, started off with a star-like sky and some very abstract images of color like moving cloth in space.  Another favorite had what kind of looked like Lady Gaga in a Picasso-type form of Cubism.  Since I am not too familiar with Lady Gaga's music, except for the popular tunes, I could not tell you what songs those two parts were played too, but it was definitely cool.

Both my friend and I agreed that our least favorite part of the show was done to the song "Telephone."  It is a great song, but it shows the same image of a very simply drawn cell phone flying in the air over and over again.  One cool thing about it,though, is the image seems to get closer and gives you a feeling that the huge cell phone is falling on top of you.  Unfortunately, it is overdone.  There should be more graphics in the song.

I only recognized 3 songs in the entire show, but that is okay, because some of the songs I did not recognize had a better light show.  My friend was disappointed that they did not play more songs from Lady Gaga's more recent album, but I am thinking it was because the light show may have been created before it.

Overall, we had a good time.  We did both wonder if it would cause epileptic seizures, however.  Parts of the show are very intense spinning and flashing.  So if you are sensitive to those type of things, I would probably suggest you stay away.

It is kind of funny, despite the fact that the Seattle laser shows have been running for over 35 years,  my friend, who has lived in the area all her life, had never heard of the laser light shows over in Seattle until I invited her.  I have lived in the area for several years and only heard of them recently.  It must be one of Seattle's best kept secrets, we think.  On the other hand, both of us have known and have been to the Grand Coulee Dam show.

In comparison, the Grand Coulee Dam show gives you a history lesson, the picture graphics are better, I think the show is slightly longer,there are fireworks, and parking and the show are both free.  However, it is outside, so it can get cold sometimes, mosquitoes might be out, so you want to dress warm  and wear bug spray.  It also does not run year-round.  It is easier to socialize with someone as it is not totally dark.

Laser Gaga "Paparazzi" uploaded by averywjohnson on YouTube

The Laser Gaga show in Seattle has great abstract graphics, but many of the other graphics are very simplistic.  It has a great 3D-like quality to it.  It is indoors, which keeps you warm.  It is especially nice if you like the music that is playing. Some possible downsides are that the best view is on the floor (if you do not like laying down or cranking your head to see, it may not be for you).  It is incredibly dark during the show (of course the lights stand out better that way).  It could be problematic if you are prone to epileptic seizures.  The show and parking both cost money.  Unless you are lucky and have someone who gives you free tickets.  It does have a variety of shows and times to choose from, and I believe it does run year-round.

Both shows are an enjoyable night out, despite the downsides.  I am eager to see more of the shows the Seattle Center has to offer.  I definitely want to see the Pink Floyd one that plays "Dark Side of the Moon."

For more information visit these sites:

*Grand Coulee Dam Laser Show

*Laser Dome, Seattle