Kudos to Ralph Nichols for another great article. This time reporting on the Governor’s proposal to cut annexation sales tax credit (read that story here). It provides all readers with an insight into the real workings and financing of an annexation. It also elicits further questions.

For example, Ralph writes, “this credit allows cities… to retain 0.2 percent of the state’s sales tax generated in the city…” This seems to differ from the Berk Report which states that the basis for the credit is the “city” sales tax collected not the state’s sales tax. This is important only in the sense that the City of Burien paid for the Berk report (or at least I am presuming it did) and there is a serious question about the Report’s findings.

A short while later, quoting City Manager Martin Ralph writes, “for the first North Highline annexation the city has received a total of $584,000 to date …” The obvious question then becomes ‘well what about the $5 million?’ To date generally means from beginning (April 1, 2010) to now (date). So, if for more than a year, the city has received $584,000 where are all the discussions about $5million per year coming from? What is the factual basis for that hope of $5 million per year? Remember, both the first annexation area and the proposed annexation area are over the 10,000 population mark needed to attach to the credit.

Another question has to do with a quote (Nichols, Sept 20, 2011) from the City Finance Director Kim Krause in which she said that the “south” north Highline “has paid for itself”. If that is accurate then how does Burien qualify for the $584,000 it received from the tax credit? It is my understanding that the credit is only available if the costs of servicing the area annexed are greater than the revenues generated from the area. State law provides, “The revenues from the tax … may not exceed that which the city deems necessary to generate revenue equal to the difference between the city’s cost to provide, maintain … services.” RCW 82.14.415(7). I sense a bit of a contradiction or confusion about this. This needs to be clarified by someone in power.

So I guess what I am asking is, when are the real financial facts about annexation going to be forth coming and what will the city council do to acquire these facts?

Again a great job by Ralph in getting out some of these inconsistencies.

- Chuck Rangel

[Have something you'd like to share with our Readers? Please send us your Letter to the Editor via email. Include your full name, and, pending our review, we'll most likely publish it.]

Our friends at Burien Little Theatre sure are busy lately, ramping up for their new production and now, putting a call out for script for the 2010 Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, which will be staged April 8 – May 1, 2011.

So if you’re a Writer, or aspiring Writer, here’s your chance to get your work seen and staged.

Deadline is Sept. 30, 2010.

Here’s the full notice:

The play’s the thing…

Works from Washington State playwrights sought for 2011 Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival

Deadline September 30, 2010.

Winning scripts to be staged April 8-May 1, 2011.

Burien Little Theatre is seeking submissions of unproduced, unpublished plays by Washington State Playwrights for the 2011 Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival.

Winning scripts will be staged April 8 through May 1, 2011, as part of the company’s 2010-2011 season. In addition to being produced, winning plays will also receive monetary prizes. Additional scripts of merit may receive readings.

The submission deadline for all scripts is September 30, 2010. To qualify for the Festival all submissions must follow Playwrights Submission Guidelines detailed below. The guidelines and entry form can also be found at www.burienlittletheatre.org.

About the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival:
The mission of the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival is to encourage, promote and showcase previously unproduced theater works written by Washington state residents.

The Festival was named to honor Bill and Peggy Hunt’s dedicated service to theater and their devoted involvement with Burien Little Theatre. Peggy Hunt joined Burien’s theater scene in 1960 with a leading role in the play Harvey. Over the next 35 years, both Bill and Peggy Hunt appeared in and directed plays, designed and built sets, served on the Board of Directors, and were involved in some aspect of every theater project.

Originally from Canada, the Hunts were familiar with Canadian play competitions and were instrumental in igniting this idea locally. The first staged competitions were theatrical, aimed more at fostering play production instead of writing, with entries from the greater Seattle area. In the early 1970s, these competitions were held as part of Burien’s Arts Festival.

Later, Peggy Hunt suggested establishing a playwriting competition with winning shows to be produced by Burien Little Theatre. The company has been producing this unique festival every two to three years since 1999.

Playwrights Submission Guidelines:

• Open to any person residing in the State of Washington.
• Previously produced plays are not eligible. Staged readings and workshops are not considered productions.
• The Festival provides a workshop environment for basic production, so excessive production requirements may result in disqualification. Legal clearance of materials not in the public domain is the full responsibility of the playwright.
• Submit two copies of the script via snail (regular) mail. No electronic copies accepted. Bind entries securely. Include title page, synopsis (no more than one-half page in length), character list (including gender, age range and features such as skin or hair color necessary to script), setting (time and place), and number of scenes. Entries must be postmarked by September 30, 2010.
• Judging will be blind. Do not show your name, address, or any identifying information on any page or on the cover of your script. Instead, download entry form from www.burienlittletheatre.org or request one by contacting info@burienlittletheatre.org or 206-242-5180. Complete and sign the entry form and attach with paper clip to play submitted.
• All submissions must be in a standard professional play format. Format guidelines can be obtained from Samuel French or found at http://www.vcu.edu/artweb/playwriting/format.html. Failure to comply will result in rejection from competition.
• If your play is a musical or requires music, the music must be sent in on CD.
• Submissions should be sent snail (regular) mail to:
  • Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival
    Burien Little Theatre
    P.O. Box 48121
    Burien, WA 98148
• The Festival is designed to be a collaborative process involving the playwrights, directors, and performers—facilitating a transition of each work from page to stage. As such, playwrights are encouraged to be involved in the production and rehearsal of their scripts. Playwrights will be encouraged to attend a production meeting with the director and producer, at least one rehearsal and all performances.
• Playwrights are asked to participate in discussions with the audience following each performance.
• Submissions will not be returned. Burien Little Theatre will not be responsible for any loss or damage to entries.
• Winners will be announced December 30, 2010. Plays will be staged April 8-May 1, 2011.

Questions? Contact info@burienlittletheatre.org or 206-242-5180.

About Burien Little Theatre:
Exciting live theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, Burien Little Theatre (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas.

Burien Little Theatre is committed to being an entertainment leader by producing intriguing professional-quality shows. The company’s mission is to treat audiences to productions of the highest artistic integrity that excite, engage and involve both the local and expanding theatrical communities in the Puget Sound region.

BLT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations, grants, sponsorships and volunteers.

Local author Shawn Underwood, known for her humor columns on The B-Town Blog, and also known as “Burien’s Erma Bombeck,” will be holding a book signing party for her first book, “Mommy, Are We French Yet?” at the Tin Room Bar on Thursday, June 24th, from 4pm – 5:30pm.

The book, available for purchase for just $14.95 (if you can’t wait, you can buy one online right now here), is a humorous and oftentimes touching fish-out-of-water story of “an American family who decide to spend a year in the south of France.” Based on her own experiences spending a year in the south of France, Shawn tells true stories of language barriers, haircuts, buying food, children, and all sorts of other hilarious-but-true stories that only a wacky Burienite trying to live in France could pull off.

She also claims that this book signing will be “fabulous,” as well as “better than Dugoni’s (ha ha).”

Shawn will sign books, tell you all about her misadventures, as well as show off her public speaking skills to all who attend this free event, where you’ll also be able to purchase books and support this local Writer.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Shawn Underwood’s “Mommy Are We French Yet?” Book Signing Party.

WHEN: Thursday, June 24th from 4pm – 5:30pm.

WHERE: Tin Room Bar, located at 923 SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

INFO: Shawn will be signing books, which will also be available for sale at the Tin Room as well as Poggi Bonsi.

If you haven’t bought Shawn’s book yet, here’s an excerpt:

The French Ride Bikes—Don’t they?

The bike ride didn’t go according to plan.

Today, we toured the nearby French hospital in Grasse, and I tried to speak at length to some very nice French doctors and six gendarmes (policemen.) Actually, I garbled my caveman French with the doctors, and in my distress waved my hands about with the policeman.  It all started innocently enough.

Enthusiastic to ride our new bikes, Craig planned our ride on the back roads; naturally we wanted to avoid traffic on our first bike ride. At first, we cycle by scenic pastures and old men smoking cigarillos as they stroll along the country roads. The passing cars give us plenty of room, the bikers have complete right of way here. No one honks at bikers; they’re treated with respect in this country. This is the home of the Tour du France.

We approached a roundabout, the very sensible French equivalent of an American stoplight. It takes a bit of nerve to sprint into the roundabout circle as the cars literally race around the loop like some miniature version of the Grand Prix. I feel a bit vulnerable merging with the cars but there are no bike paths, and bikes follow the same rules as the cars. Naturally, I insist that Craig dart out into the traffic circle first.

The next thing I see is Craig’s body flying through the air, arms and legs akimbo. An elderly French driver crossed lanes right in front of him, because she wanted to exit from the roundabout. Craig lands on his butt, his back, and then his head. I scream, “Il est ~moi, il est moi,” which means, “It is me, It is me,” I meant to yell “Aidez- moi, aidez- moi.” The latter translates to “Help me! Help me!”  Under duress, my French comes out completely muddled and none of the good French Samaritans who have stopped to help understand a word I’m saying. A British ex-pat stops to help me; she translates for the police officers and the ambulance personnel who arrive rapidly to the scene of the accident.

For some reason, the police officer draws a chalk mark around my prostrate husband before putting him in the ambulance. I silently wonder (Would they think I’m a raving lunatic if I asked in my one- syllable language?) if they plan to use the scene of the accident for some type of reality show. Either way, the finality of the chalk mark isn’t good for me. Why don’t they pick my poor spouse up and carry him to the ambulance? Determined to help my husband (who of course says he is fine), I firmly speak my caveman lingo and throw in a few hand signals for good effect, but the officers just shake their heads sadly.

The woman who hit my husband is visibly distraught. As Craig slowly rises from his chalk marked position, the first thing he does is comfort the old gal. My still-reeling spouse gently puts an arm around the shaking women, trying to show her that he isn’t seriously injured. She draws away with no eye contact. According to French custom, it’s a national disgrace to run over a bicyclist. She walks with her head down toward the beckoning gendarme.

As the policeman valiantly tries to explain to me (in English) what needs to be done before leaving the scene, Craig is climbing into the ambulance. “Shawn, you stay here and find someplace safe to store the bikes.” So, not only do I have to find a safe place for the bikes, but then I must find my way to the hospital instead of riding in the ambulance as any good spouse would do.

Since I see that Craig doesn’t seem to be seriously injured, I get mad at the whole situation. What am I supposed to do with the bikes? How am I supposed to dictate a police report when I can barely speak the language? How do I get to the hospital? The policemen take pity on me and hand me a business card. We’re supposed to report to the police station tomorrow or as soon as possible, to complete the police report. I heave a sigh of relief and then contemplate where I’m going to store the bikes. As the policemen wait, I run across the street to the poulet roti (roasted chicken) shack. The owner witnessed the accident and thoughtfully agrees to take care of the bikes.

The mostly silent ride to the hospital only takes about 10 minutes; I carefully noted the location of the hospital in case of further disasters. Luckily, the woman at the front desk says “can I help you?” in English and we quickly locate Craig holding court in a private room. Craig immediately asks; “Did you find a place for the bikes?” Men . . . I would have liked to talk about my obvious distress at watching him ride away in the ambulance or ME dealing with the policemen.

The French have National Health Care regardless of citizenship status. Craig received a thorough exam, his cracked helmet being enough proof of a possible head injury. After a clear MRI, the doctor thoughtfully, yet sternly, explained to Craig that he must learn the French language while living here in France. For some reason, this makes me absurdly happy, as he had dismissed my ideas of studying the language before we arrived in France, not that my previous studying helped me this morning in my efforts to communicate my distress.

The hospital receptionist called a cab for us, a huge relief because I had no idea how to use the phone booth and we didn’t have a cell phone. The phone booth needed some sort of card to operate it and I didn’t know where to get a card. Mundane tasks that require no thought in the United States take on immense proportions overseas. On the way home I showed Craig the location of the bikes at poulet roti, relief is evident on his face. The darn bikes are worth a fortune. Luckily, Craig’s bike received only a few dings, proof of his manly escape from the speeding car.

For more information on Shawn and her writing, check out her website here.

Click below to buy her book online:

We’ve featured numerous local authors lately (read previous coverage of the Three Tree Point history book, Shawn Underwood and Robert Dugoni), and now comes another one – Burien author George Matthew Cole’s new novel “Colt O’Brien Sees the Light,” which follows the trials and tribulations of a Highline High School senior.

The book is based on a certification program that Mr. Cole participated in, that taught students about computer networking.

Cole, a Burien resident, spent over 30 years in the computing field, with experience on mainframe computers as well as PCs and servers. “Flashmath for Windows 95″ is a flash card program that Cole wrote many years ago which is still in use today.

The idea for “Colt O’brien Sees the Light” came from personal experience working with high school students over a two-year period.

Cole lives in Burien with his wife and dog, and this is his first novel.

Here’s Cole’s description of the book:

Colt O’brien doesn’t think that he has to prove anything. He is the most savvy computer technician at Highline High in Burien, Washington. When a PC needs fixing, Colt is called in to save the day. The short, energetic senior, with his bright, colorful attire and cocky attitude, knows that he is the best. He expects the respect that is showered upon him by peers and teachers. School will soon be over and freedom beckons. No more girl friend to tell him what to do. No more schoolwork to bore him to death. Colt is cruising through senior year, but his life is about to be turned upside down. Two freshman nerds start a computer class that will put Highline High on the map and challenge Colt’s credibility. Three women will show him the meaning of love. One will show him the meaning of hate. And, his hidden psychic powers will emerge when he least expects them to. Hang on Colt.

Here’s an excerpt:

Sent: Sun 10/16/1994

_________________________

Yo

pcs r great am getting how they work.

we can start fixing them and make bucks

am done with sprts man Dude I stoppd growng@%$#%$#%^t$#^

later

Puddles of brown water pockmarked the soccer field reflecting the bright midday sun. The recently ended downpour had cleansed the air and the earth, leaving everything smelling fresh and pure. A large pond, about six inches deep, covered much of the center of the field. Parents, brothers, sisters and friends yelled encouragement as two teams of thirteen-year-old boys slogged up, down and across the swampy play area. All of the observers still wore ponchos, coats and other rain gear, even though the skies were clear. In the Northwest, a sunny sky did not guarantee that rain would stay away for long. The crimson and green, once shiny, uniforms of the respective teams were soaked and muddied. The players had difficulty handling the round, white and black ball in the sloppy conditions. Flying mud and water slowed the players as each tried to gain an advantage. Neither team was able to control the ball for a substantial length time. Mud holes, or the dreaded pond, created formidable barriers to forward progress. Goalies at each end of the field gazed off into the distance waiting for something to happen. It was near half-time and not one shot on goal had been attempted.

Once again, the elusive soccer ball was floating in the middle of the pond, daring any player to slap, splash, kick or cajole it into play. A tall lanky boy on the green team splashed through the water toward the soaked, leather globe, and kicked it out of the pond toward the sideline. Water splashed up, swirling around, as the saturated ball floated toward solid ground. A teammate received the pass and held the ball under his foot.

Here are some Amazon Reviews:

4.0 out of 5 stars New Author – Great Read!, April 5, 2010

By Lori Ann

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The Author does a great job of keeping the reader interested as the material flows smoothly throughout each chapter. Having worked in the IT industry for many years, I can relate to the day-to-day experiences the main character takes us through – especially the dreaded IT exams that many of us have experienced in our career. It is a great mix of fact and fiction as many of the places listed are those I have visited in the Northwest. The main character captures our heart as he struggles to fit in with the “nerds” and make a name for himself, and most of all his desire to make his father proud.

I’m ready for the sequel!

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Colt O’Brien, April 13, 2010

By word junkie (Seattle, WA USA)

“Colt O’Brien Sees the Light” is a clever mix of information technology, teen sexuality, and the paranormal. While some content is geared toward a more mature audience, the main character’s journey from insecurity to self-awareness is a timeless theme that will resonate with teenaged readers.

You can buy the book online by clicking here.

For more information on George Matthew Cole: http://www.georgemcole.com.

by Scott Schaefer

You may know her as a friend, acquaintance, or perhaps as that wacky lady at the Normandy Park Starbucks who’s always smiling or laughing while working on her laptop.

You may also know her as a featured Humor Columnist for “B-Town Undercover” right here on The B-Town Blog.

But did you know that Burien’s own Shawn Underwood is now a published AUTHOR ?

That’s right, her first book, called “Mommy, Are We French Yet?” has been released, and is available for purchase as of today for just $14.95 (if you can’t wait you can buy one online right now here). The book is a humorous and oftentimes touching fish-out-of-water story of “an American family who decide to spend a year in the south of France.” Based on her own experiences spending a year in the south of France, Shawn tells true stories of language barriers, haircuts, buying food, children, and all sorts of other hilarious-but-true stories that only a wacky Burienite trying to live in France could pull off.

Shawn will be holding a book launch party on Saturday, June 5th from 4 – 7pm at Poggi Bonsi’s at The Landing in Renton (info here), so mark your calendars now:

I had a chance to sit down with Shawn recently at The Tin Room. Perhaps for her own safety, she brought along Lexi, her 16-year old daughter, who lived the events in this book in real life. I asked Lexi what was it like to have her Mom write a book.

“Mommy got taken away,” Lexi laughed. “Actually, toward the end when she was writing really hard she realized that it’d probably be best to have her own office, so she’d leave home and go to Starbucks.”

“I changed my office!” Shawn interrupted. “Now I go to Burien Press. And the library.”

The banter between Mother-Daughter was lively and humorous. It’s obvious that, despite Shawn’s focus and drive to become a published Author – she created her own Publishing Company to print this book (“5-Star Misadventures”) – she and her kids have a light, humorous chemistry.

Here’s my Q & A with her, with me as BTB and her as SU:

BTB: So, are you going to write a sequel?

SU: Well, I suppose if I move somewhere else I can certainly write a sequel.

BTB: Are you interested in selling this as a screenplay?

SU: Oh yes! (“Really?” interrupted Lexi).

BTB: Are you pursuing selling it as a screenplay?

SU: No, um…

BTB: Are you going to?

SU: I’m waiting…but don’t you think it’d be funny?

BTB: Yes!

SU: But you haven’t even read it yet!

BTB: But it feels, and smells funny (flipping pages and smelling the book)!

SU: Oh God!

BTB: Okay then, in the movie version – who would you see as playing you?

SU: I’ve already got it figured out…

BTB: Meg Ryan?

SU: Exactly!

BTB: I knew it! Okay, so who else would you cast? How about as Craig, your husband?

SU: I’ve only figured out myself really, since it’s all about me you know…

BTB: Of course. So Shawn, is this book the beginning of your career as an Author? Or was this just a whim, and now that you’ve got it our of your system…

SU: Well I suppose what I’m setting myself up is to become a travel writer.

BTB: How did you manage to get this book published?

SU: Well, what I did was call Bob Dugoni (read our coverage of Bob here)…my attorney happened to know his wife…so I called Bob, told him I had all this material that I didn’t know what to do…this was about a year-and-a-half ago…so he said to call Jennifer McCord, who’s a Publishing Consultant. And so I called her and she said ‘Send me the first 100 pages,’ and I did. She said ‘of course I think it needs work but I think it’s funny, so let’s meet.’ So then she said ‘here’s exactly what I can do for you’ (and this is what she did for Bob): ‘I can get you an agent, and the agent will help you find a Publisher…you can do Lulu (an online self-publishing service), or you can create your own publishing company. It took me about one second to decide – I didn’t want to wait for an agent, and I also did not want a boss. So I created my own company. And everything you see in the book, aside from the writing, is part of that – there’s an Interior Design person, there’s a Formatting person, there’s Layout, there’s an Illustrator – there were lots of things involved in doing it that I had no idea. And then of course there are contracts with all these people…

BTB: So it was a big project. Did it cost you a lot of money?

SU: Absolutely!

BTB: Are you going to tell us how much?

SU: No. But I have to sell 2,000 books to break even.

At this point, Lexi (LU) had to leave. I asked her:

BTB: What do you think of your Mom’s writing?

LU: Um…I haven’t read it yet.

BTB: You haven’t read it yet??? You’re in the book! You’re her daughter! Is she a funny Writer?

LU: I don’t know. The book isn’t out yet. Plus, she sent you something and you didn’t read it.

SU: Yeah Lexi!

BTB: But I’ve been busy…

At this point, Lexi and Mom fist-bump each other.

BTB: So did anyone else in your family read it? Did Craig?

SU: Not until it was all done and edited. And even then, he found a typo! And it was already being printed! I couldn’t believe it!

BTB: So there’s a hidden typo somewhere, huh? Has anyone else in your family ever published a book?

SU: No. But they could all do it.

BTB: Are you planning on publishing any other books through your new company?

SU: I don’t know. I’ll publish my sister’s – I’m making her do one, because she’s moving to Italy next year.

BTB: She’s doing a similar book? Is her’s going to be called “Mommy, Are We Italian Yet”?

SU: Probably!

BTB: You should do a whole series, for different countries, sort of like those “For Dummies” books.

SU: I should! I was really trying to convince Craig that we could move there next year, but, he said ‘Shawn, this is her junior year, this isn’t all about you!’ ‘But it’s perfect timing for me!’

BTB: So what’s your marketing plan?

SU: That’s up to my Publicist.

BTB: Are you going to do a book tour?

SU: I don’t know. He’s after print, radio, television (which I think is ridiculous).

BTB: Any other talent in your immediate family?

SU: Actually, my son Conner, who’s really funny. He’s going to Gonzaga, and he says that this book is going to launch his career. He doesn’t know how or what…

BTB: HIS career?

SU: Yes! HIS career!

BTB: Mom’s book is going to launch his career?

SU: Yeah!

At this point I forced Shawn to get her picture taken on the Tin Room’s back deck; despite much protest, she relented:

Shawn was gracious enough to let us post the following excerpt from her book, which will give you a taste of what to expect from Burien’s own Erma Bombeck:

Le Coupe de Cheveaux—The Haircut

I do admit the language barrier is becoming an increasing problem . . . for Craig. I, on the other hand, am getting along famously, when the French speaker talks SLOWLY. Today, for instance, and after much debate, the kids and I all agreed to brave the hair salon. Unfortunately, the head beautician in the male/female salon is a “fast talker,” my pleas of “lentemont s’il vous plait,” (slowly please) falls on deaf ears and disaster looms on the horizon.

Before driving to the hairdresser for the kid’s haircuts, I make a quick phone call to my sister, Shannon, who professes to have mastered the French language. I asked her for the appropriate phrases to use with the hairdresser. “I don’t know the word for hedgehog in French,” says Shannon. Too bad, the word, hedgehog is a perfect description of Conner’s spiky current haircut.

The kids fight on the way to the haircutter about who gets their hair cut first. They’re all nervous, I’m not sure if this is about the upcoming trimmings or their lack of faith in my language skills.

We mutually decided that Leslie is first, because her hair is difficult to destroy. I manage to convey my ideas to the beautician, and things go smoothly with Leslie. In the men’s section of the salon next door, Austin is about to get his new cut. I’m terribly worried about Austin’s hair because he attends his first “teen” party tonight and must look as cool as he believes he is. I greet the barber with a friendly “bonjour,” and attempt to give him ideas about Austin’s hair. With a combination of pantomime and cobbled together French/English language, I conveyed Austin’s hair must be “bref” (short or brief) with points on top. When I yanked and pulled on Austin’s hair so  it stood straight up, the barber nodded that he understood. Of course, Austin is nearly uprooted from his chair, but no matter, I apparently get my point across because Austin’s hair looked “tres bon” (very good) when the barber finished. Conner doesn’t have any problems with his hair either. Amazingly, all of the kids are pleased with their haircuts.

I breathe a sigh of relief and attempted to explain to my cranberry-haired beautician my preferred hairstyle. Thinking myself extremely clever, I showed her some likely pictures in a magazine. She ripped the magazine out of my hand and shouted at me in a near hysterical screech; “Je suis artiste,” (I’m an artist,) and things go from bad to worse. She’s an “artiste” all right, but not with the scissors!  She takes a large hunk of my hair (I have a lot of hair) and pulls it towards her, and opens the scissors in the manner as if she is curling a ribbon. She drags the scissors along my hair while pulling my hair straight out from my head. Yank, pull, drag, chop, it seems to go on forever.

I emerged from the salon looking like a Beatle from the sixty’s. I bear a striking resemblance to Paul on the cover of the Meet the Beatles record album. The haircut looks good on Paul, me—not so much. The boys exclaim at my ugliness when we leave the hair salon, I kindly let them know that mommy isn’t worried because her hair grows very quickly. Secretly, I regret my impulsive decision to go ahead with the “artiste/chopper” because my parents arrive tomorrow from the United States. I’m sure they’ll be so glad to see us, that my shearing will escape their notice. In hindsight, I should have overruled the hair butcher and her blathering about her prowess as an “artiste,” thusly avoiding the porcupine look-alike contest.

After the shearing, we arrive home in the usual haphazard manner, the kids are thrown hither and yon in the backseat as I dodge various potholes and chickens in the road. When we arrive home unscathed, (my children screaming with fear in the backseat), my supportive spouse greets me with hysterical laughter. He says he will “capture the moment for future reference.” I can only imagine what he’s up to; I put my foot down, (one picture only) thanking my lucky stars that my impulsive behavior doesn’t include, cranberry hair -color also.

Shawn grew up in Bellevue, and she holds a B.A. in Speech and a Graduate Degree in Audiology from Washington State University.  As our Readers know, Shawn is also a humor columnist for The B-Town Blog where she poses as “Underwood: Undercover.” She also contributes to www.nightsandweekends.com, a website that reviews films, books and music. Her short stories are featured in the “Instant Gratification” humor column. Shawn also writes for the travel website, www.intheknowtravel.com.

For more information on Shawn and her writing, check out her website here.

Click below to buy her book online:

Winning scripts will be staged in May 2009 as part of the 2008-2009 Burien Little Theatre season. In addition to being produced, winning plays will also receive monetary prizes.

The submission deadline for all scripts is December 31, 2008. To qualify for the Festival all submissions must follow Playwrights Submission Guidelines detailed below and on the Burien Little Theatre website:

www.burienlittletheatre.com

ABOUT THE BILL AND PEGGY HUNT PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
The mission of the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival is to encourage, promote and showcase previously unproduced theatre works written by Washington state residents, and stage the winning plays at Burien Little Theatre.

The Festival was named to honor Bill and Peggy Hunt’s dedicated service to community-based theater and their devotion to and involvement with Burien Little Theatre. Peggy Hunt joined Burien’s community theater organization in 1960 with a leading role in the play Harvey. Over the next 35 years both Bill and Peggy appeared in and directed plays, designed and built sets, served on the Board of Directors, and were involved in some aspect of every theater project.

Originally from Canada, Bill and Peggy were familiar with Canadian play competitions and were instrumental in igniting this idea locally. The first staged competitions were theatrical, for play production, not writing, with entries from the greater Seattle area; this competition was held as part of Burien’s Arts Festival in the early 1970s. Later, Peggy suggested establishing a playwriting competition with the winning shows to be produced by Burien Little Theatre. Since officially launching in 1999, Burien Little Theatre has successfully been sponsoring the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, celebrating and producing the works of Washington state playwrights.

PLAYWRIGHTS SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

1. Open to any person residing in the state of Washington.
2. Previously produced plays are not eligible. Staged readings are not considered productions.
3. The Festival provides a workshop environment for basic production, so excessive production requirements may result in disqualification. Legal clearance of materials not in the public domain is the full responsibility of the playwright.
4. Submit two copies of the script. Bind entries securely, and include character list, time, setting, and number of scenes. Entries must be post-marked by December 31, 2008.
5. Judging will be blind. Do not show your name, address, or any identifying information on any page or on the cover of your script. A completed, signed copy of the entry form must be attached with a paper clip to each play submitted. Contact info@burienlittletheatre.com or call 206-242-5180 for an entry form.
6. All submissions must be in a standard professional play format. Format guidelines can be obtained from Samuel French or found at http://www.vcu.edu/artweb/playwriting/format.html. Failure to comply will result in rejection from competition.
7. The Festival is designed to be a collaborative process involving the playwright, directors, and performers—facilitating a transition of each work from page to stage. As such, playwrights are encouraged to be involved in the production and rehearsal of their scripts. Selected playwrights will be encouraged to attend a production meeting with the director and producer, at least one rehearsal and all performances.
8. Playwrights are invited to participate in discussions with the audience, following each performance.
9. Submissions will not be returned.
10. Burien Little Theatre will not be responsible for any loss or damage to entries.
11. Winners will be announced February 15, 2009. Plays will be staged in May 2009.

ABOUT BURIEN LITTLE THEATRE
Community-based theater has been a tradition in Burien since 1955. Incorporated in 1980, Burien Little Theatre (BLT) has been a leading producer of quality live theater, serving residents of the Seattle and south Puget Sound areas. Burien Little Theatre’s Mission is to make every audience member’s experience at BLT a welcoming, lively and fun escape from the everyday world, beginning the moment they walk in the door, by providing high-quality, accessible and exciting theater. 
BLT is a non-profit 501c3 entity and operates on revenue from ticket sales, donations and volunteers.

“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” is currently playing at Burien Little Theatre through Dec. 21st, and you can purchase tickets directly online here.

To read a behind-the-scenes story (complete with videos) from one of the cast members, click here.

The post contrasts what the property owners espouse about the apartments in marketingspeak versus what an actual tenant thinks.

It is truly hilarious, and here’s an excerpt:

Surrounded by broken down cars on blocks and stunning views of the overflowing dumpsters, you are enticed inside by a tree-lined drive and welcomed into a charming neighborhood of cramped, military-style apartment homes…

If you’d like to LOL, go read the entire entry NOW.