It snowed the other day. Snow, for those who are unaware, is a meteorological event where Queen Elsa causes cold white flakes to fall from the sky, or so Sissy tells me. As the only two times I have seen snow recently have been during Elsa's movie and at Disney on Ice, so I must assume she is correct. I care little, however, as snow means I get to wear an adorable coat that turns me into a little red bear.
I was so excited to see the snow, but I was even more excited to wear this coat. Normally, I do not like wearing coats. I do my best to convince Mama that the cold does not bother me anyway, but this coat is an exception. Every time the hood fell, I insisted it be put back up, as I look best that way.
I insisted on taking my mneow mneow outside to see how good I looked in the snow, too. I am sure that she appreciated it.
The snow has since left, but it was nice for me and mneow mneow to look at. My coat, however, has not left.
After many preliminary events leading to Halloween, we were finally able to do the very activity for which Sissy and I have prepared for months: candy solicitation. Sissy, Dada, Aunt Kay-Key, and I went from one residence to another, asking for candy. Aunt Kay-Key did not dress up, which confused both Sissy and me, as we were led to believe by Mama and Dada that all were to wear costumes for this holiday. I, again, went as "Ba'Ma'!"
We did a test run at Gramma and Papa's house. I was led to believe on this experience that presents would be presented at each house, and that all those providing candy would give hugs and pose for pictures. Thankfully, this was not the case.
When we first started on the actual trick-or-treating, we were given the suggestion of trying a particular street. Dada carried me between the houses, but I was allowed to stand and ask for choc-cha on my own. Occasionally, I would even quietly mumble "tweat" and "dangkoo," but I, for the most part, allowed Sissy to do the talking for me. I did, however, always give a loud "Bye!" as I departed. I continued my previously mentioned strategy of holding out my bag when candy was proffered, but refused to go any closer to the provider than necessary. My favorite house had a mneow mneow. It was oddly shaped, however, was missing an eye, and made noises which, Dada later stated, was meant to terrify people, but to me it was a delightful mneow mneow. That house also allowed me to choose my own choc-cha. I could have stood there forever grabbing choc-cha from their bowl and putting it in my bag, but Dada eventually intervened. Most houses gave such little choc-cha that I cannot help but wonder if there are easier ways to get sweets. I am positive, however, that any other way would involve far fewer people commenting on how cute I am.
Dada, Sissy, Aunt Kay-Key, and I recently went to see Disney on Ice. It was a production of normally animated characters performing interpretive dances on a surface that never allowed them to stand still. We, of course, dressed up for the event.
While I had been to this even previously, I could not remember, and was uncertain what to expect besides cuddles. There were many cuddles, especially since Dada would not let me walk. We arrived early, and thus had to sit in our seats and listen to music. Sissy was certain that we had missed seeing Anna and Elsa, but thankfully they did arrive eventually, after she had asked many times about their whereabouts.
When the show did start, I was uncertain what was happening. People I had never before seen were dancing to music I had never before heard. Dada said this was because neither he nor Mama appreciated a song about diurnal shuffling. As I cannot shuffle without falling over, I see no purpose of doing daily. The people performing, however, were able to shuffle much better than I had ever seen before.
I saw many characters I knew from movies, including Belle. She and her prince (who had, for some reason, turned back into the Beast on this night) gave a brief reenactment of how they had fallen in love. I enjoyed the performance, even the part with the evil queen from Snow White, but I became fearful when Mickey began enchanting broomsticks.
From that moment on, I remained snuggled into Dada, even while nearly all of the princesses came out to dance with their princes. Rapunzel and Ariel danced in the sky, which did not make Dada happy. When we arrived at the intermission, Sissy's requests for popcorn could no longer be ignored. It was suggested that Dada leave me with Aunt Kay-Key, but I used tears to express my disinterest in that plan. I have nothing against Aunt Kay-Key, I was just comfortable and up past my bedtime. Dada got a drink and popcorn which, for some reason, came with an octopus hat.
After sitting through some more adventures snuggled into Dada, Anna and Elsa finally arrived. I stopped snuggling Dada and sat up for that part, so that I could pay better attention. Their performance was, of course, flawless. It was incredible to see Elsa use her powers in person.
The performance then concluded, and we went back home. It had been so warm in there, however, that the cold did not bother me anyway.
Halloween, like most holidays, has far too many parts to it. Every time I think it is finally over, there is another excuse for copious photographs and activities. The latest of these was a "Trunk-or-Treat," (or, as Sissy calls it, Trick or Trunk) which is not to be confused with Trick or Treat. We all got dressed up in our costumes, including tights, which were tight. I have been voicing distaste with tight clothes lately. The clothes are not uncomfortable, but they are tight. Apparently, tights are inherently tight. How was I supposed to know? We all went to the church but, instead of worshiping, we ate food and paraded around as people other than ourselves. I enjoyed being Ba'Ma', but did there need to be so many pictures of it?
We then went outside and walked from vehicle to vehicle, asking for candy. I held Dada's hand, dragging my bag behind me. When we came to each trunk, I relinquished Dada's hand so I could hold my bag out in front of me. I never stood too close to people, and while I never appreciated them reaching out to me, I always quietly thanked them when treats were placed in my bag. This often led to people nearly falling out of their trunks in attempts to give me treats, but perhaps they should not have been so direct. I know not why it was called Trunk or Treat, as both were involved, not one or the other. I was allowed one choc'cha that night, and a pop the next day. I enjoyed both. I will suffer through more of this seemingly eternal holiday if it means more treats.
Halloween is coming. I do not recall the meaning of Halloween, although I am told that I have celebrated it previously. Luckily, Ella and Mama have read me many books to prepare me. I will teach you what I have learned.
Halloween is a night that requires a considerable amount of preparation. Witches (which are just girls with pointy hats and plenty of sparkles) and mneow mneows throw parties on Halloween night, which requires a considerable amount of preparation and cleaning. Baby mneow mneows are not very helpful in the preparations, and their parents do not believe in punishment. Pumpkins miraculously gain faces and join up in groups of five to sit on fences and have seances. An itsy bitsy one inevitably gets lost, but finds its Mama and Dada in the end. Everyone dresses up, and siblings do their best to frighten one another. There is a considerable amount of candy to be exchanged. None of this makes any sense to chickens, no matter how many times the piggy dressed up like a chicken tries to explain it to them. Somehow, none of this happens during the daytime. It all ends when the aforementioned personified pumpkins roll out of sight.
Dada also showed me a movie about Curious George the Ah-Ah and a scarecrow without a head, but that was much to frightening to be any help in explaining what I can expect from the celebrations. I do know, however, that I will be Batgirl for Halloween. It took extensive instruction to learn the difference between Batman and Batgirl, but I am now able to say both words.
Pumpkins are everywhere. I love pumpkins because, as far as I can tell, they are brightly colored, smooth, lightweight rocks. The only thing I do not like about pumpkins is picking them out.
Dada: Do you want that one?
Ada: No.
That one?
No.
What about-
NO!
I did fine with being on the ground, but being on Dada's head out there worried me that he would either trip over the vines or step on one of my potential prized possessions. I did fine picking pumpkins once I was on the ground once more (by which I mean that I wanted all of them).
I still do not know the purpose of the pumpkins, but I certainly enjoy seeing all of them outside of my house. There is Papa Pumpkin, Mama Pumpkin, Dada Pumpkin, and Baby Pumpkins.
Daddy and I recently went on another date. All day, I would hear about how Mama and Ella were going to go on a date to see a movie. When I began exhibiting frustration that I would not be joining them, I was informed that Dada and I would be going on a date, and I was quite excited. Not too excited, however, to have a nap, but when I awoke, Dada rushed in and asked if I wanted to go on an adventure. I pointed at myself, ensuring he meant that I was the one to join him on said adventure. When he stated that I was, I began jumping excitedly. We rushed out the door to sit in the car. The long drive, however, was worth it in the end. We arrived at a type of farm, but it, much like the one that I attended previously with rides, seems very much unlike the farms about which I read or sing. There were, animals, of course, but I was unaware that bunnies and kitties were commonly roommates on these farms.
There were also goats, pigs, sheep, chickens, a rooster, and ducks. I have heard that the elderly farmer, MacDonald, also has these animals, so I was less surprised by their presence. I also found the pigs far too excitable to stand near and still feel comfortable. The rooster once flew at me, too, and despite it being in a cage, I avoided him the rest of the time at the farm. Dada and I left the barn for a while to explore the rest of the farm. We went down a dark slide with very little warning, and while I stated it was enjoyable, I was emphatic not to return. In fact, I refused to participate in many of the activities the farm had to offer, including a corn maze (I find no enjoyment in being lost), a pit of corn (I don’t like playing in corn. It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere), and rides. I, instead, stuck to things which could not, in any conceivable way, cause me harm. This reduced my activities primarily to pointing at pumpkins and taking photographs with Dada.
There were even things to put my face in so that I could become a ghost, but I was not tall enough. Luckily, I have a very willing photographer.
When I continued to refuse many of the activities, Dada assumed me to be hungry. I was, but that is not why I refused activities.
I finally found a safe of ducks to enjoy, despite their distance from me, and a goat that climbed.
I then became quite good friends with the goats, having a whole conversation with them. It only consisted of "Meh" but they seemed to understand what I was trying to relay. I quite enjoyed the goats.
I still had to check in with Dada occasionally, just to make sure I was safe.
Nothing the farm could offer, however, could match the enjoyment I found watching and conversing with baby kitties. Dada seemed confused by me stating that the bunnies were the mamas of the bunnies. This seemed obvious to me, so I do not understand his confusion. For the sake of clarification, the meowing you here in this video is my own. Oddly, the kitties never meowed back.
Mama asked me what I saw on my date. I said "Moo." I realize that I did not see a cow, but this seems odd, as all farms should have cows. Mama, for example, recently said we were going to the pharmacy and I, thinking she meant Farm-acy, excitedly said "Moo?" I was disappointed to find that there were no cows at the pharmacy, either.
