I heart this Slate op on Good Grief: Why I love the melancholy Peanuts holiday specials. Because I do love them. I really, really do. Almost nothing sounds better to me than cozying up on the couch in my soft PJs, with a warm blanket, to watch a Charlie Brown with some hot cider and a treat (preferably chocolate). I'm immediately into it. Bring on the childhood nostalgia. The slow pace is soothing. The lines are poignant and hilarious, with humor that also has grown-ups in mind, making me both laugh and cry. I like the catchy music and the "wah-wah" of the teacher speak. I adore the characters, and I find something comforting in their voices. Like Lucy, I'm the kind of girl who isn't shy about giving advice, and I probably would pull the football away at the last second to see Charlie B. fly up in the air and fall, because everyone knows I enjoy witnessing a good trip. (Enjoy = laugh hysterically) The animation and colors, the music, the stories, all of it is absolutely perfect. I tend to miss them on TV nowadays, though, so I'll probably have to buy the deluxe holiday collection.

Seattle's The End's Deck the Hall Ball has an awesome line-up this year. My friends and I are talking about it, and I'm tempted to go. The Killers! Cold War Kids! Aqueduct! Death Cab! Another one that's hard to resist. I think Em and I are going to go see Goodness at the Tractor in a couple of weeks as well. Goodness is a band whose music I totally associate with being 18 and newly out in the world on my own, sharing my first apartment with my friend Chris.

My ticket for my trip to Paris this spring is now purchased, and I am overwhelmingly excited to go! Yay!!! I'm about getting my hands on all things Paris to read right now. I just cannot wait to go and spend endless hours in cafes and museums and just enjoy being in this fabulous city. We're going to stay at the Hotel Sevigne, so I need to learn more about the neighborhood!

Election night was truly fantastic. Thanks to my lovely friends for hanging out and celebrating with me. I'm so happy and proud of America today! I can't get over feeling so good about how things turned out. It's like a huge weight has been lifted.

Here's to hope and change!

I'm very !!!! I should probably cut back on all my exclamations in case I'm coming across as too peppy. Peppy can be annoying.