Kaetlin Perna
November 10, 2006

Growing up, my favorite Muppet character was Gonzo; the blue eyed, hooked nose, alien creature unique from everyone else. Embracing his weirdness among all others he always had a charm like no other and a personality that exceeded even Fozzie Bear, from The Muppets Take Manhattan to A Muppet Christmas Carol (a favorite for obvious reasons by the way) wherein he played Charles Dickens. Embracing one's weirdness is difficult for anyone, and I don't know if any of you know this, but I'm kind of weird. It is difficult for me to admit that but I think I'm finally accepting it.

When I'm not a busy bee at work, I can usually be found at home filming webisodes, and pickup shots for my short form documentary, binding my zine, perusing MySpace, yelling at my cat and sitting in front of my television on my Pilates ball, thinking of what to write as per my column, my plays, the next webisode and other writing endeavors. Ah, the life of a writer! What you may not know is that during the day, when no one is in my house, I turn down my blinds, turn up my music and dance like a freaking maniac. Yes, I admit it - like a freaking maniac, like when I was nine years old, listening to Lion King's "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" dancing like a maniac. They say old habits die hard right? Well, mine didn't die at all.

I'm weird, I know this. Did you also know that I sing for sold-out crowds that slightly resemble the back of the Roosevelt building? Or that I have conversations with my personality driven, people-food begging cat? I walk barefoot as often as possible. People give me weird looks when I passionately explain my eagerness regarding the upcoming Christmas season (two weeks by the way; Wegmans is already displaying overpriced Christmas decorations). I love the Austin Powers trilogy and can quote it accurately. I've been pondering buying a house just for the extra space. During the 4th Grade standardized tests, instead of marking what I knew what the right answer, I intentionally made the bubble sheet they made you fill out go in alternating diagonals. I pretend that I'm this arty bohemian person who damns the man and likes independent things (I, for the most part, am/do by choice) but I couldn't live without brie, baguette and some damn good Bogel Vineyards' Petit Syrah (Vintage 2003), as that is how I was raised. I'm weird, I know this.

What would be my life had I not acclimated to oddness? I'd finish college because it was what was "best" for me. I'd be making 25,000 a year as a copy editor at some no name newspaper in Sacramento, California . I'd have a primped 24 year old boyfriend living together in a two bedroom apartment with our annoying Pit Bull Terrier named Pebbles. I'd peruse MySpace looking for a hot guy to give me attention while posting scantily clad photos daily to attract even more attention. Oh God the horror. Living that life thankfully will never happen.

Lastly, did you know that I like the exposure of Polaroids and the sound quality of vinyl, but I refuse to get a universal remote for my twelve inch television. What is wrong with me and why am I so contradictory? I don't fit anywhere, maybe in the "eclectic" mix, but not really. Embracing my uniqueness in a culture that is all pigs, frogs, bears, dogs and the occasional Swedish chef, where I am an alien, with a hooked nose and in love with a chicken. It's about time I stood up loud and proud, and finally admit that I, Kaetlin, not only work for the man, but am a big freaking weirdo. And that's okay.

[Editor's Note: I have never found Kaet to be weird. Wonderful, yes. But never weird.]