Well, Suspicious, I hate to disappoint you, but I’ll have you know that Miss Emerald City (aka Allison Rone) and I are just friends. Yeah, she’s a great person and all, but she’s not really my type. I’m more of a Mudrosexual, if you know what I mean. But Allison is an amazing person, and I am so lucky to have her by my side as we travel throughout the Sound to spread the word about MudUp.

Yes, Allison Rone, Harvard Law student and Miss Emerald City 2007 (and eventually Miss America and the Governor of Washington, no doubt), has stepped up with energy and enthusiasm to be the other half of a beauty-and-the-beast duo that electrifies the crowds!

Starting on May 31st, at the big official launch event of the MudUp campaign, Allison will be hitting the campaign trail alongside me, helping to raise awareness and involvement throughout the entire Puget Sound community. We’ll be out and about at all sorts of MudUp events and activities throughout the summer, connecting with people and exciting them about the MudUp cause. (Look for the little beauty queen icon to see which activities Allison will be attending!) Since I’m such a friendly Mud Monster, children always flock to me for hugs and photographs, and Allison will be a perfect complement to me—since she is so passionate about involving young people in environmental causes, she’ll be an excellent spokesperson for us both. (I may sound articulate in print, but in person I tend to stay silent, except for the occasional grunt.)

Not only will Allison be lending her intelligent, warm, articulate, enthusiastic, and graceful presence to my public appearances, but she’s also offering her voice on this website by sharing her own memories of getting muddy as a child on Puget Sound. I hope I’m not embarrassing her here, but pretty soon you'll even be able to see video of her wearing a fancy dress and rubber boots, telling her story while standing on a muddy beach. This is one woman who is not afraid of getting muddy for a good cause!