Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Not writing
I have bronchitis. I am just good, old-fashioned sick. I don't feel like writing and I haven't for at least a week, so I'll be back soon, when I feel better.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Oh my goodness!
These little things are so good. Pies in a Jar are my new favorites! So easy, so delicious and perfect for gifts!!! My friend Kristin (Our Life Beyond the Game) highlighted the idea on her blog one day and I thought, "now that does look like something I could do!" Anyone can!
All you need are Mason or glass jars, pie crust and a pie filling.
Roll out your homemade pie crust (or you can use a refrigerated one from the grocery store), take enough to fit in the jar and tuck it in almost all the way to the top.
Fill it with your choice of pie filling (I used cherry).
Then top with more crust (I used the jar lid to cut the circle and then tiny little heart and candy cane cookie cutters to add a little embellishment) and tuck around the top.
Line your jars up on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 25-30 mins. Mine exploded just a bit, but hopefully, no one will mind.
These are so yummy and you can eat them right out of the jar...I find that comforting! Add a bow, attach a label or tag and you're set with the perfect little gift.
All you need are Mason or glass jars, pie crust and a pie filling.
Roll out your homemade pie crust (or you can use a refrigerated one from the grocery store), take enough to fit in the jar and tuck it in almost all the way to the top.
Fill it with your choice of pie filling (I used cherry).
Then top with more crust (I used the jar lid to cut the circle and then tiny little heart and candy cane cookie cutters to add a little embellishment) and tuck around the top.
Line your jars up on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 25-30 mins. Mine exploded just a bit, but hopefully, no one will mind.
These are so yummy and you can eat them right out of the jar...I find that comforting! Add a bow, attach a label or tag and you're set with the perfect little gift.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursdays of Thanks
Posting a little late because The Apprentice finale was on last night and, well, I was just too sleepy!
In any case, this week and each past week, I have thanked God every day for my health. I have been so fortunate all my life to be blessed with great health (with the exception of a few annoying problems here and there, but nothing life-threatening) and with each day that goes by, I just feel so grateful to be able to get out of bed, no pain, no medications required.
I personally know and have known many people who are going/have gone through so many health issues that just seem unbearable. Recently, a friend found out her husband has a brain tumor...they have a little baby, it's the holiday season. I just can't imagine. And, so many others are going through the same thing throughout the year.
I don't know what the future holds in store for me, but today, I am thankful to be healthy.
P.S. I'm also thankful my "work mom," Patti, got an "all-clear" on her mammogram this week after battling breast cancer!! She's a survivor!
In any case, this week and each past week, I have thanked God every day for my health. I have been so fortunate all my life to be blessed with great health (with the exception of a few annoying problems here and there, but nothing life-threatening) and with each day that goes by, I just feel so grateful to be able to get out of bed, no pain, no medications required.
I personally know and have known many people who are going/have gone through so many health issues that just seem unbearable. Recently, a friend found out her husband has a brain tumor...they have a little baby, it's the holiday season. I just can't imagine. And, so many others are going through the same thing throughout the year.
I don't know what the future holds in store for me, but today, I am thankful to be healthy.
P.S. I'm also thankful my "work mom," Patti, got an "all-clear" on her mammogram this week after battling breast cancer!! She's a survivor!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Creativity at Christmas Time
I lack it. I long for it, but it's just not there. That's why I've always hated craft stores like Michael's and Jo-Ann's because I don't even know what to do in there. I dream of handmaking gifts for everyone I know and impressing them with amazing, original pieces of work I created for them. But, alas, another Target purchase inevitably lies beneath the tissue paper.
I can not tell you how many things I try and end up on the verge of tears, telling myself I stink because I can not do them. Or, I do them and they turn out not even close to how they're supposed to (i.e., how they look in a picture or how someone else did them). I've always pretty much wanted to do things right and perfectly or not at all. I can't shake that part of my personality.
So, this time of year, I have one get-together where I HAVE to give a homemade ornament. I dread it. I feel so incompetent. Like no matter what I do or how easy it seems, it's going to be something that will hang on the back of someone's tree, if even at all, and I just want to make a quick exit to the bathroom or take an emergency call when the people open it.
Part of it is because I normally wait until the day of the event to start the project. Even though I've always wanted to do things as perfectly as possible, I am a major procrastinator, too. I work best that way most of the time. But, not when my creativity is put to the test. I mean, when you don't really have any, waiting until the last minute is not the best way to get something done that is even presentable. But, sometimes I say, "well, it's going to be pretty crappy either way, so why stress about it a week in advance??"
Let me get to my point.
I recently shrunk a sweater from a men's L to approximately a child's 2T. For some reason, I did not throw it away and guess what? I made six Christmas ornaments out of it, some ribbon and a few straight pins. Now, I know the reality is I will not be getting a call from anyone wanting me to make a special order for purchase and they probably will still be placed toward the bottom back area of peoples' trees who receive them, but I spent two hours making six ornaments and they weren't terribly hard and turned out okay. I am still certain they could be so much more perfect, but I got them done four days before the party and they're still together. So, I was moderately satisfied. I mean, at least I wasn't crying about how domestically challenged I am during the project.
Another problem is I look on Esty.com ALL the time. I am fascinated how so many people are infinitely talented and originative and I see things that make me say, "I could do stuff like that." Then I quickly find that I can't.
Anyway, I wanted some cute labels for some things I would be baking this season, so thought I'd order some inexpensive ones from Etsy. I get on there and guess what I said? "I can do this." So, I ventured in to Michael's (aghhhh!), bought paper, stamps, ink, ink pens and made some really cute labels that I am not embarrassed to attach to my gifts.
All in all, I have gotten to the point of realizing, who I am is not based on how perfectly I do things, especially things like making labels (I mean, who's going to save a label anyway?!). But, I do want people to know I care so much about what I'm giving them and what they think of it. I don't want anyone to gush over me, but to know they mean so much to me that I put extra time and (sometimes) tears into producing it, no matter how small or easy it seems. Success is so much more victorious when you've felt failure!
So, let me get on Etsy and see what else I can do!
I can not tell you how many things I try and end up on the verge of tears, telling myself I stink because I can not do them. Or, I do them and they turn out not even close to how they're supposed to (i.e., how they look in a picture or how someone else did them). I've always pretty much wanted to do things right and perfectly or not at all. I can't shake that part of my personality.
So, this time of year, I have one get-together where I HAVE to give a homemade ornament. I dread it. I feel so incompetent. Like no matter what I do or how easy it seems, it's going to be something that will hang on the back of someone's tree, if even at all, and I just want to make a quick exit to the bathroom or take an emergency call when the people open it.
Part of it is because I normally wait until the day of the event to start the project. Even though I've always wanted to do things as perfectly as possible, I am a major procrastinator, too. I work best that way most of the time. But, not when my creativity is put to the test. I mean, when you don't really have any, waiting until the last minute is not the best way to get something done that is even presentable. But, sometimes I say, "well, it's going to be pretty crappy either way, so why stress about it a week in advance??"
Let me get to my point.
I recently shrunk a sweater from a men's L to approximately a child's 2T. For some reason, I did not throw it away and guess what? I made six Christmas ornaments out of it, some ribbon and a few straight pins. Now, I know the reality is I will not be getting a call from anyone wanting me to make a special order for purchase and they probably will still be placed toward the bottom back area of peoples' trees who receive them, but I spent two hours making six ornaments and they weren't terribly hard and turned out okay. I am still certain they could be so much more perfect, but I got them done four days before the party and they're still together. So, I was moderately satisfied. I mean, at least I wasn't crying about how domestically challenged I am during the project.
Another problem is I look on Esty.com ALL the time. I am fascinated how so many people are infinitely talented and originative and I see things that make me say, "I could do stuff like that." Then I quickly find that I can't.
Anyway, I wanted some cute labels for some things I would be baking this season, so thought I'd order some inexpensive ones from Etsy. I get on there and guess what I said? "I can do this." So, I ventured in to Michael's (aghhhh!), bought paper, stamps, ink, ink pens and made some really cute labels that I am not embarrassed to attach to my gifts.
All in all, I have gotten to the point of realizing, who I am is not based on how perfectly I do things, especially things like making labels (I mean, who's going to save a label anyway?!). But, I do want people to know I care so much about what I'm giving them and what they think of it. I don't want anyone to gush over me, but to know they mean so much to me that I put extra time and (sometimes) tears into producing it, no matter how small or easy it seems. Success is so much more victorious when you've felt failure!
So, let me get on Etsy and see what else I can do!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Owners of big, messy dogs...
...I am about to write a personal recommendation on some things, so listen up (or, in this case, read on...)!
My sweet little six-month-old puppy Amos has gotten to over 70 lbs. and is growing so quickly, he's limping from growing pains (of course, it took us two vet trips and x-rays this week to figure that out). Anyway, from the time he was small, it was clear the water and food dishes on the plain floor with a little "place mat" underneath just wouldn't do. For one, he basically ate up his place mat. Secondly, he LOVES water and I don't mean drinking the water. I mean the kind of love where you drink a little, then lay your face and ears in it, then start digging your way to China in it (little insert for The Office-lovers - "why is it CHINA?") and sling water all over whatever room your water dish is in and then roll in it kind of love.
Slipping in water was not safe, having a constantly wet dog was gross and having to literally mop up water more than eight times a day was frustrating. After a couple of months we wised up and went on the search for something -- anything -- that would help dial down the water dish madness.
Then we found it - priced to leave on the shelf in an expensive boutique pet store. So, we wrote down the web site and ordered one as soon as we got home. The NEATER FEEDER. This thing is the bomb and I'm not even kidding. It's spill-proof! I never clean up water off the floor now. And, it's more "ergonomic" for Amos (if you're in to those kinds of things), so he doesn't have to bend over so far to get his food and water! Check it out...they even come in different colors so you can get one that coordinates with your decor. :-)
Secondly, in case any water does get on the floor, it will never be known with a Waterhog mat covering the floor. This we ordered from L.L. Bean and it is absolutely wonderful. It's great, too, just for rainy or snowy days because it literally contains everything to keep your floors clean. If you're using it mainly for a pet, as we are, then it's best they be potty-trained first, of course, or otherwise you don't want that soaked up in the rug! :-) It's easy to clean, too, and comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
I just wanted to share these two things that have really been time-savers, to say the least, with owning a large-breed dog! They're not the most fun, frilly things, but very practical and worth every penny!
My sweet little six-month-old puppy Amos has gotten to over 70 lbs. and is growing so quickly, he's limping from growing pains (of course, it took us two vet trips and x-rays this week to figure that out). Anyway, from the time he was small, it was clear the water and food dishes on the plain floor with a little "place mat" underneath just wouldn't do. For one, he basically ate up his place mat. Secondly, he LOVES water and I don't mean drinking the water. I mean the kind of love where you drink a little, then lay your face and ears in it, then start digging your way to China in it (little insert for The Office-lovers - "why is it CHINA?") and sling water all over whatever room your water dish is in and then roll in it kind of love.
Slipping in water was not safe, having a constantly wet dog was gross and having to literally mop up water more than eight times a day was frustrating. After a couple of months we wised up and went on the search for something -- anything -- that would help dial down the water dish madness.
Then we found it - priced to leave on the shelf in an expensive boutique pet store. So, we wrote down the web site and ordered one as soon as we got home. The NEATER FEEDER. This thing is the bomb and I'm not even kidding. It's spill-proof! I never clean up water off the floor now. And, it's more "ergonomic" for Amos (if you're in to those kinds of things), so he doesn't have to bend over so far to get his food and water! Check it out...they even come in different colors so you can get one that coordinates with your decor. :-)
Secondly, in case any water does get on the floor, it will never be known with a Waterhog mat covering the floor. This we ordered from L.L. Bean and it is absolutely wonderful. It's great, too, just for rainy or snowy days because it literally contains everything to keep your floors clean. If you're using it mainly for a pet, as we are, then it's best they be potty-trained first, of course, or otherwise you don't want that soaked up in the rug! :-) It's easy to clean, too, and comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
I just wanted to share these two things that have really been time-savers, to say the least, with owning a large-breed dog! They're not the most fun, frilly things, but very practical and worth every penny!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thursdays of Thanks
"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
Last week, as I was sitting around letting all the food settle, I thought about how I say, and hear a lot of others say, we should be thankful, not just today (Thanksgiving Day), but every day. Well, of course we should! But, around Thanksgiving is when we really concentrate on it -- we dedicate the month to lists of all the things we're thankful for and then, for me at least, it seems to fade off week by week and I say thanks to God for random things when I pray throughout the day.
So, I thought it would help me to keep up the thankfulness each week by dedicating a day to it - not just in November. So, this December, I am starting my "Thursdays of Thanks." I'm sure there are other bloggers out there doing something similar, but I haven't researched it to know. I just thought this would help me and if, by chance, it helps anyone else to focus on all they're thankful for more than just in November, then that will be an added bonus!
So, this first Thursday, I wanted to start with stating my thanks for my grandparents. I feel I am fortunate to still have three of my four grandparents still living and kickin'! (Maybe not as high as they used to, but still...!) One of my granny's in her 80s just came through tough, tough surgery and she has survived a lifetime of health issues and pain. My other granny is, for the most part, in good health and still very active and my papa, although having been slowed down by some health issues, is same ol' papa.
I was blessed to have two of them at my house Thanksgiving Day and recently saw the other and spoke on the phone that day, and came to the realization of how I am so lucky to be able to spend time with them now, really listening and understanding what they say. I spent lots of time with them when I was younger, but I haven't realized and understood until I've gotten older some of the things they've seen, gone through, etc., and it is so interesting and enlightening. I have several pictures of each of them when they were younger that I love to look at and when I see them now, it just comes to light that there is so much I don't know about them, but they are people who were once young, made mistakes, have quirks and are admirable in so many ways.
I am so thankful for, respect and admire each one of them - and for my papa who is now in Heaven.
Last week, as I was sitting around letting all the food settle, I thought about how I say, and hear a lot of others say, we should be thankful, not just today (Thanksgiving Day), but every day. Well, of course we should! But, around Thanksgiving is when we really concentrate on it -- we dedicate the month to lists of all the things we're thankful for and then, for me at least, it seems to fade off week by week and I say thanks to God for random things when I pray throughout the day.
So, I thought it would help me to keep up the thankfulness each week by dedicating a day to it - not just in November. So, this December, I am starting my "Thursdays of Thanks." I'm sure there are other bloggers out there doing something similar, but I haven't researched it to know. I just thought this would help me and if, by chance, it helps anyone else to focus on all they're thankful for more than just in November, then that will be an added bonus!
So, this first Thursday, I wanted to start with stating my thanks for my grandparents. I feel I am fortunate to still have three of my four grandparents still living and kickin'! (Maybe not as high as they used to, but still...!) One of my granny's in her 80s just came through tough, tough surgery and she has survived a lifetime of health issues and pain. My other granny is, for the most part, in good health and still very active and my papa, although having been slowed down by some health issues, is same ol' papa.
I was blessed to have two of them at my house Thanksgiving Day and recently saw the other and spoke on the phone that day, and came to the realization of how I am so lucky to be able to spend time with them now, really listening and understanding what they say. I spent lots of time with them when I was younger, but I haven't realized and understood until I've gotten older some of the things they've seen, gone through, etc., and it is so interesting and enlightening. I have several pictures of each of them when they were younger that I love to look at and when I see them now, it just comes to light that there is so much I don't know about them, but they are people who were once young, made mistakes, have quirks and are admirable in so many ways.
I am so thankful for, respect and admire each one of them - and for my papa who is now in Heaven.
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| Papa Cole at his old school in Alabama. |
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| Papa and Granny Dimsdale |
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| Granny Cole and Ethan. |
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday Blog Hop
I am not a mom to any "human" children yet, but still enjoy visiting many mom blogs because there are funny stories, great bargains, recipes and gift ideas! If you are a mom and/or enjoy finding similar things, visit my friend's page, Carrie with Children, first and then join us in the Tuesday Blog Hop - Follow Me, Chickadee! - co-hosted by The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom!, Stash Mama and The Adventures of Goober Grape and Monkey Man.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Weaning off desserts...
...after having them about six times a day is not easy. Having "just a little something sweet" after breakfast, lunch and dinner, and some times in between, too, has been my schedule since last Wednesday. See, some of my family members came in then for Thanksgiving and didn't leave until Sunday, so not only was I freely feasting on all my favorites (pecan pie, pecan pie, pecan pie) Thanksgiving Day, but also at least one day before and several days after. To add to that, I have not done any exercise since my knee has been injured, so I am eating more than usual and doing pretty much nothing to work it off, so I absolutely have to stop this gluttony. All weekend I said I would start disciplining myself again Monday.
Well, it's Monday and I haven't had anything sweet (after my Apple Jacks this morning)...but I will in about 30 minutes when my brownies come out of the oven. Baby steps.
Well, it's Monday and I haven't had anything sweet (after my Apple Jacks this morning)...but I will in about 30 minutes when my brownies come out of the oven. Baby steps.
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| I literally scraped the Karo syrup-filled inside of the pecan pie off the pie plate. |
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Change
I was in the mood for a big one yesterday. Been psyching myself up for it for a while. I have been sitting around with this bum knee feeling pretty bummy myself and getting a bit edgy. What could I do to make a moderate change but not anything too life-changing or destructive? The girls know it - change the hair!!!! Now, my hair has been growing for a while and to be honest, I KNOW I will regret cutting it short, so that really wasn't an option for me right now. So, what next...yes, color!!!
I have been blonde all my life and never colored it, so thought maybe I needed to mix it up a bit - possibly go dark to exemplify my recent edgy feelings. I researched and researched, found pictures and styles (ones including bangs due to my love/hate relationship with my giant forehead) and printed out to take in to my great hairstylist, Heather (who is this delicate, classy woman with the best hair and so sweet - I just love her).
So, I get in, sit down and said, "Heather, this blonde - I've had it all my life and to me, it's getting old and I need a change TODAY! Something funky, fresh, a bit edgy and dramatic!" I was so excited!
I opened the pictures and laid them out and Heather gasped and said, "Oh! No. No, no, no, no."
I drooped in my chair.
"I know they're celebrities...I'm not expecting you to make me look like them," I said. (But, for the record, if she could really, I'd tip her a lot more.)
"No," she said. "That is too much. You will hate it. You're hair is gorgeous and I can not -will not- do that to you."
Ugh! There was a little part of me that wanted a "shock-and-awe campaign" on my hair. I trusted her to make it look awesome, why didn't she?
But, ok. I needed to trust that she knew best that, when it came to my hair, what would go well and what would not. So, she explained some options and basically, there weren't many that would result in the drama I was hoping.
"What about bangs, Heather? Will you let me have bangs?," I said. "You know I feel like my forehead is huge and I just want some darn bangs." I felt like I was eight years old.
"I will give you bangs," she said.
When she turned me around at the end, she said, "Well, you're still blonde and I'm so happy."
And, you know what? I woke up this morning ok with the hair I saw in the mirror and I'm thankful for that instead of saying, "why, why, why did I do that?!"
I have been blonde all my life and never colored it, so thought maybe I needed to mix it up a bit - possibly go dark to exemplify my recent edgy feelings. I researched and researched, found pictures and styles (ones including bangs due to my love/hate relationship with my giant forehead) and printed out to take in to my great hairstylist, Heather (who is this delicate, classy woman with the best hair and so sweet - I just love her).
So, I get in, sit down and said, "Heather, this blonde - I've had it all my life and to me, it's getting old and I need a change TODAY! Something funky, fresh, a bit edgy and dramatic!" I was so excited!
I opened the pictures and laid them out and Heather gasped and said, "Oh! No. No, no, no, no."
I drooped in my chair.
"I know they're celebrities...I'm not expecting you to make me look like them," I said. (But, for the record, if she could really, I'd tip her a lot more.)
"No," she said. "That is too much. You will hate it. You're hair is gorgeous and I can not -will not- do that to you."
Ugh! There was a little part of me that wanted a "shock-and-awe campaign" on my hair. I trusted her to make it look awesome, why didn't she?
But, ok. I needed to trust that she knew best that, when it came to my hair, what would go well and what would not. So, she explained some options and basically, there weren't many that would result in the drama I was hoping.
"What about bangs, Heather? Will you let me have bangs?," I said. "You know I feel like my forehead is huge and I just want some darn bangs." I felt like I was eight years old.
"I will give you bangs," she said.
When she turned me around at the end, she said, "Well, you're still blonde and I'm so happy."
And, you know what? I woke up this morning ok with the hair I saw in the mirror and I'm thankful for that instead of saying, "why, why, why did I do that?!"
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| The infamous car self-portrait. |
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Who likes apples and grease? ME!!!!
When I was growing up, my mom would often make fried apple pies and they have always been one of my favorite desserts. So, recently, when fall began to present itself, I kept thinking about the pies (or tarts) and couldn't stop!
So, Halloween night, my mom and our friends Robin and Brad came over and Mama led the girls in making the pies while the guys manned the door for candy hand-outs!
Here are a few pics from the night.
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| Mama and Robin slicing apples. |
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| Boil the apples to mush! |
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| Roll out dough, fill with apples, fold and fork! |
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| Fry 'em in the grease!!! |
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| Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Oohhh, so yummy!!! |
Friday, November 5, 2010
Disappointment
This is what I have felt since yesterday...well, actually since Tuesday, but officially since yesterday. I had a silly little accident at my running class Tuesday night. As we were running in the rain, I had a little slip (but did not fall) and felt something kind of pop in my knee. I thought it was just my joint popping, until I tried to take steps to continue running and I could not put weight on it. Uh oh.
Long story short, it was swollen and continued to hurt for a few days. I finally went to the doctor yesterday and was told, "The half-marathon for which you're training? Not gonna happen any time soon." I either have a strained or torn ACL or a torn meniscus. At the least, a six to eight-week recovery.
What? From just a little slip? But, I know how bad I hurt and that something is definitely wrong.
I cried.
I am mad, upset, disappointed, defeated. I was so excited, finally felt good about where I was in my training and that I could actually complete the half-marathon. Family is coming on Thanksgiving to watch me complete my first one. And now this? Disappointment really isn't sufficient to describe what I'm feeling right now.
I know it will get better if I give it time and I am a healthy girl (thank you, Lord), so I will be able to try again. But it will be months. I will have to basically start over and that is daunting for me. I'm not a natural runner--I am slow, I have to train a lot even for just a small increase. I was doing that and now, for nothing.
But, wait, I've realized it's not for nothing. I had a revelation this week. I was depending on myself to get through the training, increase mileage, etc. I finally realized, I am not going to be able to do this without depending on God, too. I felt stupid asking Him to help me get through running a few miles...He doesn't need to waste His time on that. I felt like it was trivial. But, to Him, it's not. He hears all of our prayers no matter how trivial we think they may be. And, even in little things like this, He wants me to depend on Him, not myself.
Maybe that's my lesson. It's not solely that I complete the half-marathon on Thanksgiving Day. He was teaching me a lesson to depend on Him. And for that, I'm thankful. So, I'll try another race in 2011!!
"I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me."
Long story short, it was swollen and continued to hurt for a few days. I finally went to the doctor yesterday and was told, "The half-marathon for which you're training? Not gonna happen any time soon." I either have a strained or torn ACL or a torn meniscus. At the least, a six to eight-week recovery.
What? From just a little slip? But, I know how bad I hurt and that something is definitely wrong.
I cried.
I am mad, upset, disappointed, defeated. I was so excited, finally felt good about where I was in my training and that I could actually complete the half-marathon. Family is coming on Thanksgiving to watch me complete my first one. And now this? Disappointment really isn't sufficient to describe what I'm feeling right now.
I know it will get better if I give it time and I am a healthy girl (thank you, Lord), so I will be able to try again. But it will be months. I will have to basically start over and that is daunting for me. I'm not a natural runner--I am slow, I have to train a lot even for just a small increase. I was doing that and now, for nothing.
But, wait, I've realized it's not for nothing. I had a revelation this week. I was depending on myself to get through the training, increase mileage, etc. I finally realized, I am not going to be able to do this without depending on God, too. I felt stupid asking Him to help me get through running a few miles...He doesn't need to waste His time on that. I felt like it was trivial. But, to Him, it's not. He hears all of our prayers no matter how trivial we think they may be. And, even in little things like this, He wants me to depend on Him, not myself.
Maybe that's my lesson. It's not solely that I complete the half-marathon on Thanksgiving Day. He was teaching me a lesson to depend on Him. And for that, I'm thankful. So, I'll try another race in 2011!!
"I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me."
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Cake Schmake
I am behind in cake-decorating class updates and I'm sure I have just left all of you hanging out on a limb wondering how things have been going, so here is a brief update. We graduated. I think mine specifically was a sympathy graduation, but nevertheless, I got my certificate.
The last two classes were interesting. The next-to-last class, I was suffering from a two-week-long head cold and did not feel well, so therefore, did not prepare well. I re-used icing, didn't have the icing colored, didn't have the right supplies, kept borrowing from friend-Robin and instructor-Robin. I was a mess and therefore, so were my cupcakes.
Week four (last class), I felt nicely prepared after spending practically all day baking and mixing, and friend-Robin and I pranced in with our lovely cakes, five different homemade, brightly colored icings and all supplies (minus a stupid glue stick which we both refused to bring because we needed it once or twice only).
Boy, was I knocked off my high-horse when I lifted my cake cover and instructor-Robin said, "What happened to your cake? You didn't level it...didn't you buy a leveler?" Uhh, no I didn't spend money on a leveler and as I said after week one or two, cutting off the top of the cake is a WASTE to me. Plus, my cake was pretty darn flat for my taste, so I thought it was looking all smooth and instructor-Robin wouldn't notice. But she did. At this point, I knew friend-Robin also had not leveled her cake, so I waited for instructor-Robin to give hers the once-over and reprimand her, too, but it didn't happen. I think she is partial to her because they have the same name.
After my face turned back to its normal pinkish-white color and I cooled off from embarrassment, we proceeded icing our lumpy cakes, making icing flowers, etc. We were having a good old time until I started trying to write on my cake and again I hear instructor-Robin say, "Did you put (something - now I don't even remember what it's called) in that?" I said, "No, I don't have any." Then I thought, I am not the only one going down here, so I threw my wonderful friend Robin under the bus by saying, "Robin, did YOU put that in YOUR icing?" Of course she hadn't, but instructor-Robin didn't care. At that point, I will just admit I reverted to my five-year-old self and when instructor-Robin turned her back I stuck my tongue out at her.
Isn't that just like a student? I knew she was the teacher, the "expert," if you will, and that is why we were taking a class from her. But, friend-Robin and I were taking this for fun and were completely satisfied with our cakes. We did not want to feel like we were failures because we didn't pay $70 for a rotating cake stand or $20 for a leveler (when you can just use a knife or, better yet, leave that little lump on there so someone can get a yummy piece of cake), or $10 for some extra gel stuff. Even if no one would pay money for our creations, we didn't care! I will give instructor-Robin props, though. She knows what she's doing and just wanted to hold the class to a high standard.
I asked her at the end if she'd miss us -- miss our singing and laughing during class, our need to borrow her supplies because we weren't prepared with our own, us asking her to take pictures of us. She said she would and for some reason, I believed her.
The last two classes were interesting. The next-to-last class, I was suffering from a two-week-long head cold and did not feel well, so therefore, did not prepare well. I re-used icing, didn't have the icing colored, didn't have the right supplies, kept borrowing from friend-Robin and instructor-Robin. I was a mess and therefore, so were my cupcakes.
Week four (last class), I felt nicely prepared after spending practically all day baking and mixing, and friend-Robin and I pranced in with our lovely cakes, five different homemade, brightly colored icings and all supplies (minus a stupid glue stick which we both refused to bring because we needed it once or twice only).
Boy, was I knocked off my high-horse when I lifted my cake cover and instructor-Robin said, "What happened to your cake? You didn't level it...didn't you buy a leveler?" Uhh, no I didn't spend money on a leveler and as I said after week one or two, cutting off the top of the cake is a WASTE to me. Plus, my cake was pretty darn flat for my taste, so I thought it was looking all smooth and instructor-Robin wouldn't notice. But she did. At this point, I knew friend-Robin also had not leveled her cake, so I waited for instructor-Robin to give hers the once-over and reprimand her, too, but it didn't happen. I think she is partial to her because they have the same name.
After my face turned back to its normal pinkish-white color and I cooled off from embarrassment, we proceeded icing our lumpy cakes, making icing flowers, etc. We were having a good old time until I started trying to write on my cake and again I hear instructor-Robin say, "Did you put (something - now I don't even remember what it's called) in that?" I said, "No, I don't have any." Then I thought, I am not the only one going down here, so I threw my wonderful friend Robin under the bus by saying, "Robin, did YOU put that in YOUR icing?" Of course she hadn't, but instructor-Robin didn't care. At that point, I will just admit I reverted to my five-year-old self and when instructor-Robin turned her back I stuck my tongue out at her.
Isn't that just like a student? I knew she was the teacher, the "expert," if you will, and that is why we were taking a class from her. But, friend-Robin and I were taking this for fun and were completely satisfied with our cakes. We did not want to feel like we were failures because we didn't pay $70 for a rotating cake stand or $20 for a leveler (when you can just use a knife or, better yet, leave that little lump on there so someone can get a yummy piece of cake), or $10 for some extra gel stuff. Even if no one would pay money for our creations, we didn't care! I will give instructor-Robin props, though. She knows what she's doing and just wanted to hold the class to a high standard.
I asked her at the end if she'd miss us -- miss our singing and laughing during class, our need to borrow her supplies because we weren't prepared with our own, us asking her to take pictures of us. She said she would and for some reason, I believed her.
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| Instructor-Robin and me. |
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| Me and Robin with our final cakes. |
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| It was FL/GA weekend...I had to. And my writing isn't good because I was missing that one gel... |
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Discovery Cove
A few weekends ago, we took my dad to Discovery Cove to celebrate his birthday. I haven't ever really heard him say he'd LOVE to do too many things other than swim with dolphins, so when wracking my brain to think of something meaningful and fun to get him, this came to mind. Of course, I had heard it was expensive, so I went on my best search to find a deal and boy did I! So, with tickets in will-call, we headed down to Orlando and spent a day well worth the money.
First off, I was told the park only lets 1,000 people in per day which cuts down on overcrowding and if that really is the case, well, it works. It was so pleasant not having to wait in line for anything, but still being at an "attraction" in Orlando. And, I am not really a "bathroom snob," because when I need to use one, I will go at the first available place, but I have to say my first impression were that the bathrooms in the lobby at Discovery Cove were nice. Crabtree & Evelyn soaps and hand towels to dry...wow, where were we?? It only got better from there.
You didn't need anything - the park provided wet suits, towels, snorkel gear, sunscreen, etc., as well as super locker rooms/bathrooms with full showers with Crabtree & Evelyn shower gel, shampoo and lotion, more towels, hair dryers, bags for wet clothes and more.
With the purchase of a ticket, you also receive breakfast, lunch, snacks throughout the day and admission to Sea World through the end of the year (as many times as you want to go). I thought the breakfast and lunch may be your general hot dogs, hamburgers, etc., but again, this place is nice! Lunch was a pretty great selection of food, from pastas to salads to fish, and then several dessert choices to top it off. Snacks were good, too, and always available. We felt as if we were at an all-inclusive resort!
On top of that, the experiences in the water are great, too. Swim with sting rays (without their "stingers"), snorkel amongst beautiful fish, reefs and more rays, lay out on the "beach" and spend time in the water with dolphins (by far the BEST)! Up-close-and-personal in a small group with a dolphin is the neatest thing...they are so smart and aim to please their trainer (for a fish or two). At the end of the dolphin experience, getting to actually hold on to its fin and let it pull me through the water was amazing and I wanted to do it over and over!
All in all, it was definitely a great trip and a full day. Making it worth it was seeing my dad laugh and get in to the entire experience throughout the day and at the end saying, "...this may have been one of the best birthdays I've had."
First off, I was told the park only lets 1,000 people in per day which cuts down on overcrowding and if that really is the case, well, it works. It was so pleasant not having to wait in line for anything, but still being at an "attraction" in Orlando. And, I am not really a "bathroom snob," because when I need to use one, I will go at the first available place, but I have to say my first impression were that the bathrooms in the lobby at Discovery Cove were nice. Crabtree & Evelyn soaps and hand towels to dry...wow, where were we?? It only got better from there.
You didn't need anything - the park provided wet suits, towels, snorkel gear, sunscreen, etc., as well as super locker rooms/bathrooms with full showers with Crabtree & Evelyn shower gel, shampoo and lotion, more towels, hair dryers, bags for wet clothes and more.
With the purchase of a ticket, you also receive breakfast, lunch, snacks throughout the day and admission to Sea World through the end of the year (as many times as you want to go). I thought the breakfast and lunch may be your general hot dogs, hamburgers, etc., but again, this place is nice! Lunch was a pretty great selection of food, from pastas to salads to fish, and then several dessert choices to top it off. Snacks were good, too, and always available. We felt as if we were at an all-inclusive resort!
On top of that, the experiences in the water are great, too. Swim with sting rays (without their "stingers"), snorkel amongst beautiful fish, reefs and more rays, lay out on the "beach" and spend time in the water with dolphins (by far the BEST)! Up-close-and-personal in a small group with a dolphin is the neatest thing...they are so smart and aim to please their trainer (for a fish or two). At the end of the dolphin experience, getting to actually hold on to its fin and let it pull me through the water was amazing and I wanted to do it over and over!
All in all, it was definitely a great trip and a full day. Making it worth it was seeing my dad laugh and get in to the entire experience throughout the day and at the end saying, "...this may have been one of the best birthdays I've had."
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
A Day in the Life
I was going to post about our trip to Discovery Cove this past weekend and while doing laundry this morning, I was trying to think ahead about what I could post in the next few days. A random thought about a pictorial chronicle of the day in the life of a dog (or two) came to mind, but I wasn't certain about it. Even so, I kept the camera out and began snapping a few shots throughout the morning of what Amos and Sophie were up to.
It was pretty boring, actually, so I figured it was not the best idea and I laid the camera aside. In the meantime, I was putting sheets on the guest bed when I heard the baby gate in the laundry room area crash. That sound indicates an escape of some sort, so I knew I'd better check the situation in a hurry. This is what I found...
After finding this, a bit more chaos ensued, as Amos immediately realized he was in trouble and proceeded to run (but really, slide) all over the laundry room to try to get back outside. He ran and ran and got even muddier in a hole I didn't even know was there...well, it wasn't until he dug it. Anyway, the only option was to fill up the baby pool and put him in it to try and clean him off. That presented another chaotic moment when he continued to jump in and out...and in and out...and in and out, each time running around the back yard, through the bushes and back in to the pool.
I finally gave up and just sat on the ground waiting on him to stop until he ran straight in to me, knocked me over and then I had mud all over me...and what??!! Blood??!! Where did that come from? Now there was blood all over my arms and in Amos' fur.
After a few frantic minutes, I realized one of Amos' teeth had fallen out and he was bleeding from his mouth. Ick.What a messy situation!!!
Ultimately, Amos calmed down and got completely washed, blow-dried AND CRATED, the laundry room got mopped from top to bottom and I got showered!
Needless to say, no more pictures have gotten taken today. I've made sure the rest of the day has been pretty boring in the dogs' lives.
"Ignorance...is a painless evil; so, I should think, is dirt, considering the merry faces that go with it." George Eliot
It was pretty boring, actually, so I figured it was not the best idea and I laid the camera aside. In the meantime, I was putting sheets on the guest bed when I heard the baby gate in the laundry room area crash. That sound indicates an escape of some sort, so I knew I'd better check the situation in a hurry. This is what I found...
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| Notice the paws and floor. |
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| Mud everywhere and he's wild! |
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| Muddy mess! |
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| He seems happy... |
After finding this, a bit more chaos ensued, as Amos immediately realized he was in trouble and proceeded to run (but really, slide) all over the laundry room to try to get back outside. He ran and ran and got even muddier in a hole I didn't even know was there...well, it wasn't until he dug it. Anyway, the only option was to fill up the baby pool and put him in it to try and clean him off. That presented another chaotic moment when he continued to jump in and out...and in and out...and in and out, each time running around the back yard, through the bushes and back in to the pool.
I finally gave up and just sat on the ground waiting on him to stop until he ran straight in to me, knocked me over and then I had mud all over me...and what??!! Blood??!! Where did that come from? Now there was blood all over my arms and in Amos' fur.
After a few frantic minutes, I realized one of Amos' teeth had fallen out and he was bleeding from his mouth. Ick.What a messy situation!!!
Ultimately, Amos calmed down and got completely washed, blow-dried AND CRATED, the laundry room got mopped from top to bottom and I got showered!
Needless to say, no more pictures have gotten taken today. I've made sure the rest of the day has been pretty boring in the dogs' lives.
"Ignorance...is a painless evil; so, I should think, is dirt, considering the merry faces that go with it." George Eliot
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Cake Decorating Part Deux
So, friend-Robin and I embarked on our second cake decorating class this past Wednesday. We both agreed we had no idea there would be so much work and required items to actually take part! We thought we could just show up every week and learn something and not have any homework. What were we thinking?! But, with our homemade cakes, two homemade lard-laden icings (one medium consistency, one thin consistency) and two full bags each loaded on our shoulders, there we went again!
Our other classmate was missing, so we got one-on-two attention from instructor-Robin. I think she officially thinks we're crazy and not at all serious about our cake decorating skills. We really are, but want to have fun, too. What adds to it is the wonderfully 70s and 80s-themed music Michael's has playing throughout the two hours and we just really can't help but sing out loud, so that's what you get when friend-Robin and I are in a closed room trying to decorate cakes.
We learned a lot this week and finally got to decorate our own cakes, color icing and ended up coming out with some pretty cute little cakes with cupcake designs on top and rasberry filling (after we learned how to "torte" our cakes). Now, I have to say, I now know it is proper to "level" your cake, but that is a lot of wasted cake in my book. So, I couldn't just leave my cake top sitting over to the side to be thrown away without a care. As we made our icing, I broke off chunks and friend-Robin and I dipped them (to test the icing, of course). I felt better not wasting the entire top of my lovingly baked cake.
I ended up with brown icing underneath my fingernails (so you can imagine what that looked like) and friend-Robin had icing on her face at one point. We had so much fun we actually started feeling like our aprons are just part of our outfits and started leaving the store with them on. Luckily, friend-Robin noticed and we ridded ourselves of them before we looked too silly.
Still ridding ourselves of cake right now! On to cupcakes with filling next week. Can't wait!!
Our other classmate was missing, so we got one-on-two attention from instructor-Robin. I think she officially thinks we're crazy and not at all serious about our cake decorating skills. We really are, but want to have fun, too. What adds to it is the wonderfully 70s and 80s-themed music Michael's has playing throughout the two hours and we just really can't help but sing out loud, so that's what you get when friend-Robin and I are in a closed room trying to decorate cakes.
We learned a lot this week and finally got to decorate our own cakes, color icing and ended up coming out with some pretty cute little cakes with cupcake designs on top and rasberry filling (after we learned how to "torte" our cakes). Now, I have to say, I now know it is proper to "level" your cake, but that is a lot of wasted cake in my book. So, I couldn't just leave my cake top sitting over to the side to be thrown away without a care. As we made our icing, I broke off chunks and friend-Robin and I dipped them (to test the icing, of course). I felt better not wasting the entire top of my lovingly baked cake.
I ended up with brown icing underneath my fingernails (so you can imagine what that looked like) and friend-Robin had icing on her face at one point. We had so much fun we actually started feeling like our aprons are just part of our outfits and started leaving the store with them on. Luckily, friend-Robin noticed and we ridded ourselves of them before we looked too silly.
Still ridding ourselves of cake right now! On to cupcakes with filling next week. Can't wait!!
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| Practicing |
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| Instructor-Robin demonstrating...friend-Robin looking SOOO interested :-) |
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| Finished! |
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Graduation Day
You wouldn't know it by looking at the eight spots of missing drywall in the mudroom and laundry room, the number of chewed-up flip-flops in the back yard and the way his (already) 50-lb. body pulls me down the street on a walk, but Amos passed and graduated his first puppy obedience class! After hours of sit, down, stay, wait, gentle, etc., he pleased his instructor enough to be granted a passing grade and will be moving on to the intermediate class in late October. His instructor, Jane, said he was a star student and we had done a wonderful job with him (ohh, blush) -- and that he has many great years of obedience and good behavior ahead of him if we can overlook the chewing for a little while longer.
She is encouraging him (me) to complete his CGC (Canine Good Citizen certification) so he will truly be a "beneficial member of society," saying he would make a wonderful therapy or reading dog in the future. I see this as great potential and a gift I would love to share with individuals who can benefit from the love and companionship of a dog...and also as A LOT more work on our end. What's the verse..."Train up a child in the way he should go..." Does that apply to dogs, too? :-)
Way to go, Amos!
She is encouraging him (me) to complete his CGC (Canine Good Citizen certification) so he will truly be a "beneficial member of society," saying he would make a wonderful therapy or reading dog in the future. I see this as great potential and a gift I would love to share with individuals who can benefit from the love and companionship of a dog...and also as A LOT more work on our end. What's the verse..."Train up a child in the way he should go..." Does that apply to dogs, too? :-)
Way to go, Amos!
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Friday, October 8, 2010
Stars
With our newly purchased kits, icing, plain, undecorated cookies and aprons in-hand, friend-Robin and I entered the room ready to learn....along with our instructor (also Robin, who I will refer to as instructor-Robin) and one other lady who already owns a bakery (why is she in there?!).
The first little while, we went through the book, listened to our veteran cake decorator-instructor-Robin talk about her experience and watched her demonstrations. At one point, I leaned over to friend-Robin and said "cha-ching, cha-ching!!," because every time instructor-Robin did something to her cake it was with a different tool - a saw of some sort to level the cake, new tips, flat spatula, curved spatula, a brush to get off extra crumbs (I thought you just iced over those!), paint brushes, an icing bag holder, a rotating platform, some twisty ties (to which I said to friend-Robin, "Can't you just use a rubber band?!"). This is serious stuff! Of course instructor-Robin said, "What was that?," so I had to explain how all the tools look so much fun I just want every one of them...slinking in my chair.
After an hour, we finally got to practice and get our pure white icing the right consistency (I was told I got mine too thin), slide it in to the icing bags with the new tips and away we go on our first creations - stars. We were starring fools. First, on our practice boards, encouraging each other along the way - Robin: "OH yours are great, Peyton." Me: "Oh, not really, my icing's too thin. YOURS are great!" Then....on to something edible -- COOKIES!!! We designed eight cookies with various white stars designs - swirlies, initials, flowers made from stars. How proud we were. Then our cookies went in to a plastic container where all our work was immediately smushed.
Next week is huge. We have to bake a cake before going to class and have about 20 supplies from home we have to bring (I currently only have about five of the needed supplies). I know I'm doing this just for fun and to get some basics, but I want my creations to look close to perfect, so I am going to, undoubtedly, get in to this!
Note: I didn't get any in-action photos this first night because of the concentration required to perfect my stars. I will take time to snap a few at the next class!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
No Kill Declaration
This is a well-written declaration, if you're so inclined to be part, please do. Samson was rescued from a shelter and having no-kill shelters and supporting them is close to my heart. There are several in our area (http://www.kampkritter.com/, http://www.jaxhumane.org/, http://www.fcnmhp.org/), but they can be transformed throughout the U.S. with our help!
This year, over four million dogs and cats will be killed in shelters.The vast majority can and should be placed into loving homes or should never enter shelters in the first place. But there is hope.
No Kill sheltering models, based on innovative, non-lethal programs and services, have already saved the lives of tens of thousands of animals. But instead of embracing No Kill, many shelters — and their national agency allies — cling to their failed models of the past, models that result in the killing of millions of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters every year.
No Kill is a revolution. And behind every revolution is a declaration — a statement of grievances, and a listing of rights and principles that underscore our great hope for the future. We assert that a No Kill nation is within our reach — that the killing can and should be brought to an end. Join us in endorsing The Declaration of the No Kill Movement in the United States.
It is open to every individual, every group, and every agency that wants to bring about an end to the killing by implementing the programs and services that will establish a No Kill nation. Programs like ensuring public access to affordable spay/neuter services, allowing rescue groups to save animals on death row, and communitywide Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for feral cats. These are not radical concepts, but in the current sheltering world, one can be ostracized for daring to proclaim the simple truths that population control killing is not an act of kindness and that feral cats have a right to live.
Join us in speaking for those who can't. In the length of time it will take you to read the Declaration, nearly one hundred dogs and cats will be needlessly killed.
I. Preamble
One hundred and fifty years ago, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and other humane organizations were founded to establish standards for humane treatment of animals, to promote their rights, and to protect them from harm. This marked the formal beginning of the humane movement in the United States.
The scope and influence of these early humane organizations were testament to the public's concern for animals. It did not take long for them to set their sights on the abuse of homeless animals and cruel methods of killing by public pounds. It was common practice at the time for city and town dogcatchers to beat, drown, or shoot homeless animals.
Many humane agencies responded by entering into animal control contracts with towns and cities to ensure that the killing was done more humanely. But in taking on municipal animal control duties, these agencies abandoned their lifesaving and life-enhancing platforms when those beliefs conflicted with their contractual responsibilities. In the current era, where laws require killing by even more “humane” methods, these contradictions have become starker.
Increasingly, the practices of both humane societies and municipal animal control agencies are out of step with public sentiment. Today, most Americans hold the humane treatment of animals as a personal value, which is reflected in our laws, cultural practices, the proliferation of organizations founded for animal protection, increased per capita spending on animal care, and great advancements in veterinary medicine. But the agencies that the public expects to protect animals are instead killing more than five million animals annually.
Lifesaving alternatives to the mass killing of animals in shelters have existed for decades. These lifesaving methods are based on innovative, humane, nonlethal programs and services that have proven that the killing can be brought to an end. Too many of these agencies, however, remain mired in the kill philosophies of the past, unwilling to or hampered from exploring and adopting methods that save lives. This is a breach of their public trust, a gross deviation from their responsibility to protect animals, and a point of view that we, as caring people and a humane community, can no longer accept or tolerate.
We assert that a No Kill nation is within our reach — that the killing can and must be brought to an end. It is up to each of us working individually and together to implement sheltering models that have already saved tens of thousands of animals in progressive communities. If we work together — with certainty of purpose, assured of our own success, with the commitment that "what must be done, will be done" — the attainment of our goals will not be far off.
II. No Kill Resolution
Whereas, the right to live is every animal’s most basic and fundamental right;
Whereas, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and other humane organizations were founded to establish standards for humane treatment of animals, to promote their rights, and to protect them from harm;
Whereas, traditional sheltering practices allow the mass killing of sheltered animals;
Whereas, every year shelters in the United States are killing millions of healthy and treatable animals who could be placed in homes, and are also killing millions of feral cats who do not belong in shelters;
Whereas, life always takes precedence over expediency;
Whereas, the No Kill movement in the United States has successfully implemented new and innovative programs that provide alternatives to mass killing;
Whereas, lifesaving change will come about only if No Kill programs are embraced and further developed;
Whereas, failure to implement No Kill programs constitutes a breach of the public’s trust in the sheltering community;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that No Kill policies and procedures are the only legitimate foundation for animal sheltering; and,
It is incumbent upon all shelters and animal groups to embrace the philosophy of No Kill, to immediately begin implementing programs and services that will end the mass killing of sheltered animals, and to reject the failed kill-oriented practices of the past.
III. Statement of Rights
We acknowledge the following:Sheltered animals have a right to live;
Feral cats have a right to their lives and their habitats;
Animals, rescuers and the public have a right to expect animal protection organizations and animal shelters to do everything in their power to promote, protect and advocate for the lives of animals;
Animal protection groups, rescue groups and No Kill shelters have a right to take into their custody animals who would otherwise be killed by animal shelters;
Taxpayers and community members have a right to have their government spend tax monies on programs and services whose purpose is to save and enhance the lives of all animals;
Taxpayers and community members have a right to full and complete disclosure about how animal shelters operate.
IV. Guiding Principles
No Kill is achieved only by guaranteeing the following:
Life to all healthy animals, and to all sick, injured, or vicious animals where medical or behavioral intervention would alter a poor or grave prognosis;
The right of feral cats to live in their habitats.
These conditions can be achieved only through adherence to the following:
Shelters and humane groups end the killing of healthy and treatable animals, including feral cats;
Every animal in a shelter receives individual consideration, regardless of how many animals a shelter takes in, or whether such animals are healthy, underaged, elderly, sick, injured, traumatized or feral;
Shelters and humane organizations discontinue the use of language that misleads the public and glosses over the nature of their actions, such as "euthanasia," "unadoptable," "fractious," "putting them to sleep," and other euphemisms that downplay the gravity of ending life and make the task of killing easier;
Shelters are open to the public during hours that permit working people to reclaim or adopt animals during nonworking hours;
Shelters and other government agencies promote spay/neuter programs and mandate that animals be spayed or neutered before adoption;
Public shelters work with humane animal adoption organizations to the fullest extent to promote the adoption of animals and to reduce the rate of killing;
Shelters provide care and treatment for all animals in shelters to the extent necessary, including prompt veterinary care, adequate nutrition, shelter, exercise and socialization;
Shelters are held accountable for and make information publicly available about all the animals in their care.
V. No Kill Standards
The implementation of these lifesaving procedures, policies and programs must be the immediate goal of every shelter, and animal control and animal welfare agency:
Formal, active commitment by shelter directors, management and staff to lifesaving programs and policies, and dedication to promptly ending mass killing of shelter animals;
Immediate implementation of the following programs by all publicly funded or subsidized animal shelters:
High-volume, low- and no-cost spay/neuter services;
A foster care network for underaged, traumatized, sick, injured or other animals needing refuge before any sheltered animal is killed, unless the prognosis for rehabilitation of that individual animal is poor or grave;
Comprehensive adoption programs that operate during weekend and evening hours and include offsite adoption venues;
Medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs;
Pet retention programs to solve medical, environmental or behavioral problems and keep animals with their caring and responsible caregivers;
Trap-Neuter-Return or Release (TNR) programs;
Rescue group access to shelter animals;
Volunteer programs to socialize animals, promote adoptions and help in the operations of the shelter;
Documentation before any animal is killed that all efforts to save the animal have been considered, including medical and behavioral rehabilitation, foster care, rescue groups, neuter-and-release, and adoption.
An end to the policy of accepting trapped feral cats to be destroyed as unadoptable, and implementation of TNR as the accepted method of feral cat control by educating the public about TNR and offering TNR program services;
An end to the use of temperament testing that results in killing animals who are not truly vicious (e.g., shy/timid cats and frightened dogs) but who can be placed in homes, or are feral cats who can be returned or released;
Abolishment of trapping, lending traps to the public to capture animals, and support of trapping by shelters, governments, and pest control companies for the purposes of removing animals to be killed;
An end to owner-requested killing of animals unless the shelter has made an independent determination that the animal is irremediably suffering or cannot be rehabilitated;
The repeal of unenforceable and counter-productive animal control ordinances such as cat licensing and leash laws, pet limit laws, bans on feeding stray animals and bans on specific breeds.
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Join over 30,000 animal lovers, animal advocates, and animal groups in the U.S. who have signed the No Kill Declaration. Sign it by filling out the online form:
Sign the Declaration HERE: http://www.nokilldeclaration.org/
To download or print a copy of the U.S. No Kill Declaration (PDF), click here.
To learn how to end the killing of animals in your community shelters, click here.
To visit the No Kill Advocacy Center, click here.
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| Sophie and Samson, both rescued! |
No Kill sheltering models, based on innovative, non-lethal programs and services, have already saved the lives of tens of thousands of animals. But instead of embracing No Kill, many shelters — and their national agency allies — cling to their failed models of the past, models that result in the killing of millions of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters every year.
No Kill is a revolution. And behind every revolution is a declaration — a statement of grievances, and a listing of rights and principles that underscore our great hope for the future. We assert that a No Kill nation is within our reach — that the killing can and should be brought to an end. Join us in endorsing The Declaration of the No Kill Movement in the United States.
It is open to every individual, every group, and every agency that wants to bring about an end to the killing by implementing the programs and services that will establish a No Kill nation. Programs like ensuring public access to affordable spay/neuter services, allowing rescue groups to save animals on death row, and communitywide Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for feral cats. These are not radical concepts, but in the current sheltering world, one can be ostracized for daring to proclaim the simple truths that population control killing is not an act of kindness and that feral cats have a right to live.
Join us in speaking for those who can't. In the length of time it will take you to read the Declaration, nearly one hundred dogs and cats will be needlessly killed.
I. Preamble
One hundred and fifty years ago, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and other humane organizations were founded to establish standards for humane treatment of animals, to promote their rights, and to protect them from harm. This marked the formal beginning of the humane movement in the United States.
The scope and influence of these early humane organizations were testament to the public's concern for animals. It did not take long for them to set their sights on the abuse of homeless animals and cruel methods of killing by public pounds. It was common practice at the time for city and town dogcatchers to beat, drown, or shoot homeless animals.
Many humane agencies responded by entering into animal control contracts with towns and cities to ensure that the killing was done more humanely. But in taking on municipal animal control duties, these agencies abandoned their lifesaving and life-enhancing platforms when those beliefs conflicted with their contractual responsibilities. In the current era, where laws require killing by even more “humane” methods, these contradictions have become starker.
Increasingly, the practices of both humane societies and municipal animal control agencies are out of step with public sentiment. Today, most Americans hold the humane treatment of animals as a personal value, which is reflected in our laws, cultural practices, the proliferation of organizations founded for animal protection, increased per capita spending on animal care, and great advancements in veterinary medicine. But the agencies that the public expects to protect animals are instead killing more than five million animals annually.
Lifesaving alternatives to the mass killing of animals in shelters have existed for decades. These lifesaving methods are based on innovative, humane, nonlethal programs and services that have proven that the killing can be brought to an end. Too many of these agencies, however, remain mired in the kill philosophies of the past, unwilling to or hampered from exploring and adopting methods that save lives. This is a breach of their public trust, a gross deviation from their responsibility to protect animals, and a point of view that we, as caring people and a humane community, can no longer accept or tolerate.
We assert that a No Kill nation is within our reach — that the killing can and must be brought to an end. It is up to each of us working individually and together to implement sheltering models that have already saved tens of thousands of animals in progressive communities. If we work together — with certainty of purpose, assured of our own success, with the commitment that "what must be done, will be done" — the attainment of our goals will not be far off.
II. No Kill Resolution
Whereas, the right to live is every animal’s most basic and fundamental right;
Whereas, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and other humane organizations were founded to establish standards for humane treatment of animals, to promote their rights, and to protect them from harm;
Whereas, traditional sheltering practices allow the mass killing of sheltered animals;
Whereas, every year shelters in the United States are killing millions of healthy and treatable animals who could be placed in homes, and are also killing millions of feral cats who do not belong in shelters;
Whereas, life always takes precedence over expediency;
Whereas, the No Kill movement in the United States has successfully implemented new and innovative programs that provide alternatives to mass killing;
Whereas, lifesaving change will come about only if No Kill programs are embraced and further developed;
Whereas, failure to implement No Kill programs constitutes a breach of the public’s trust in the sheltering community;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that No Kill policies and procedures are the only legitimate foundation for animal sheltering; and,
It is incumbent upon all shelters and animal groups to embrace the philosophy of No Kill, to immediately begin implementing programs and services that will end the mass killing of sheltered animals, and to reject the failed kill-oriented practices of the past.
III. Statement of Rights
We acknowledge the following:Sheltered animals have a right to live;
Feral cats have a right to their lives and their habitats;
Animals, rescuers and the public have a right to expect animal protection organizations and animal shelters to do everything in their power to promote, protect and advocate for the lives of animals;
Animal protection groups, rescue groups and No Kill shelters have a right to take into their custody animals who would otherwise be killed by animal shelters;
Taxpayers and community members have a right to have their government spend tax monies on programs and services whose purpose is to save and enhance the lives of all animals;
Taxpayers and community members have a right to full and complete disclosure about how animal shelters operate.
IV. Guiding Principles
No Kill is achieved only by guaranteeing the following:
Life to all healthy animals, and to all sick, injured, or vicious animals where medical or behavioral intervention would alter a poor or grave prognosis;
The right of feral cats to live in their habitats.
These conditions can be achieved only through adherence to the following:
Shelters and humane groups end the killing of healthy and treatable animals, including feral cats;
Every animal in a shelter receives individual consideration, regardless of how many animals a shelter takes in, or whether such animals are healthy, underaged, elderly, sick, injured, traumatized or feral;
Shelters and humane organizations discontinue the use of language that misleads the public and glosses over the nature of their actions, such as "euthanasia," "unadoptable," "fractious," "putting them to sleep," and other euphemisms that downplay the gravity of ending life and make the task of killing easier;
Shelters are open to the public during hours that permit working people to reclaim or adopt animals during nonworking hours;
Shelters and other government agencies promote spay/neuter programs and mandate that animals be spayed or neutered before adoption;
Public shelters work with humane animal adoption organizations to the fullest extent to promote the adoption of animals and to reduce the rate of killing;
Shelters provide care and treatment for all animals in shelters to the extent necessary, including prompt veterinary care, adequate nutrition, shelter, exercise and socialization;
Shelters are held accountable for and make information publicly available about all the animals in their care.
V. No Kill Standards
The implementation of these lifesaving procedures, policies and programs must be the immediate goal of every shelter, and animal control and animal welfare agency:
Formal, active commitment by shelter directors, management and staff to lifesaving programs and policies, and dedication to promptly ending mass killing of shelter animals;
Immediate implementation of the following programs by all publicly funded or subsidized animal shelters:
High-volume, low- and no-cost spay/neuter services;
A foster care network for underaged, traumatized, sick, injured or other animals needing refuge before any sheltered animal is killed, unless the prognosis for rehabilitation of that individual animal is poor or grave;
Comprehensive adoption programs that operate during weekend and evening hours and include offsite adoption venues;
Medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs;
Pet retention programs to solve medical, environmental or behavioral problems and keep animals with their caring and responsible caregivers;
Trap-Neuter-Return or Release (TNR) programs;
Rescue group access to shelter animals;
Volunteer programs to socialize animals, promote adoptions and help in the operations of the shelter;
Documentation before any animal is killed that all efforts to save the animal have been considered, including medical and behavioral rehabilitation, foster care, rescue groups, neuter-and-release, and adoption.
An end to the policy of accepting trapped feral cats to be destroyed as unadoptable, and implementation of TNR as the accepted method of feral cat control by educating the public about TNR and offering TNR program services;
An end to the use of temperament testing that results in killing animals who are not truly vicious (e.g., shy/timid cats and frightened dogs) but who can be placed in homes, or are feral cats who can be returned or released;
Abolishment of trapping, lending traps to the public to capture animals, and support of trapping by shelters, governments, and pest control companies for the purposes of removing animals to be killed;
An end to owner-requested killing of animals unless the shelter has made an independent determination that the animal is irremediably suffering or cannot be rehabilitated;
The repeal of unenforceable and counter-productive animal control ordinances such as cat licensing and leash laws, pet limit laws, bans on feeding stray animals and bans on specific breeds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join over 30,000 animal lovers, animal advocates, and animal groups in the U.S. who have signed the No Kill Declaration. Sign it by filling out the online form:
Sign the Declaration HERE: http://www.nokilldeclaration.org/
To download or print a copy of the U.S. No Kill Declaration (PDF), click here.
To learn how to end the killing of animals in your community shelters, click here.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Moving Along
This week, things are moving along in the sense of my previously mentioned undertaking, all of which I'm hoping to "unveil" to my short list of followers in the coming weeks! :-)
Anyway, I'm so excited because my talented and good friend has shown me some mock-ups of logos she designed for me (all of which were amazing) and with a few tweaks, I will have a few examples which I will then show my "advisory board" and seek their input.
Seeing the logos on paper has given me a boost. It's an illustration of something that started as a jumbled mess in my head. It has made it so real...tangible...reachable! So, I am cautiously and optimistically moving down the path. A few pictures from my morning.
Moving along nicely so far! Tomorrow...undertaking a cake decorating class with my friend Robin! Can't wait for the adventure and will report on the results of the first week.
"Happiness is homemade!"
Anyway, I'm so excited because my talented and good friend has shown me some mock-ups of logos she designed for me (all of which were amazing) and with a few tweaks, I will have a few examples which I will then show my "advisory board" and seek their input.
Seeing the logos on paper has given me a boost. It's an illustration of something that started as a jumbled mess in my head. It has made it so real...tangible...reachable! So, I am cautiously and optimistically moving down the path. A few pictures from my morning.
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| Some little beefy bites. |
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| Sophie checking out her new snack. She loved them! But, she only got one, of course...not the whole plate! |
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| Oatmeal Bars |
"Happiness is homemade!"
Friday, October 1, 2010
Fall Friday
Fall is here! At least, I think it is. The temperatures are in the 80s and there is barely any humidity! That's fall to southerners, specifically Floridians, right? Well, all I know is it's official football season, there are pumpkin "patches" out at the churches (even though people are wearing shorts and drinking ICEEs when they're selecting them), I can't supply myself with enough candy corns to last a week, pumpkin spice-scented candles are burning constantly and I want to make as many different soups and chowders as I can---so, fall is here in my book!
Fall fever really rushed over me last weekend when I got to spend some time with family up above Atlanta. It was rainy, cool and we were in the mountains--it was just perfect. There were REAL pumpkin patches and apple orchards complete with fresh apple cider, fried apple tarts (I ate TWO massive ones), hay rides and corn mazes. Frankly, it made me want to pick up and move to the mountains immediately.
Then, I returned home and realized I really do like not having to wear a jacket and still being able to wear flip flops. I just don't want to sweat or feel like I have to take a shower every time I get anywhere near the outdoors. I am anxiously awaiting the day that it's low 60s at night, mid 70s during the day. That is a perfect almost-fall day to me.
Now, when I get the fall fever, I can't look enough at Halloween decorations (okay, okay - and the candy). Some people hate the black and orange combination of Halloween, and although black and orange together are not seen in my home any other time of year, I just love Halloween decor. But, the stores are once again making me mad when Halloween is not even here and all the cute items are being shoved aside for Christmas items to go on display. I think it would be so much more exciting to display Christmas items the day after Thanksgiving. Isn't that when so many people love to go out and shop and then, Halloween is forgotten, you're stuffed from Thanksgiving and all you can think about are the joys of the Christmas season? Can't we wait until then? I don't know about you, but I definitely could. I like to savor each one without being rushed to think about the next. We rush through life more and more every day. Give us some time to enjoy each holiday, dang it.
I digress.
Anyway, I am almost completely decorated for Halloween. I like to have at least a little something in every room, so I stress "almost."
Before Michael's started moving the Halloween stuff over to the side, I found these great mirror cling-ons by Martha Stewart that some may find tacky, but I have gotten a kick out of them. Little bats on the entryway mirror and in the family room! Ha! And, they're re-usable!
Fall fever really rushed over me last weekend when I got to spend some time with family up above Atlanta. It was rainy, cool and we were in the mountains--it was just perfect. There were REAL pumpkin patches and apple orchards complete with fresh apple cider, fried apple tarts (I ate TWO massive ones), hay rides and corn mazes. Frankly, it made me want to pick up and move to the mountains immediately.
Then, I returned home and realized I really do like not having to wear a jacket and still being able to wear flip flops. I just don't want to sweat or feel like I have to take a shower every time I get anywhere near the outdoors. I am anxiously awaiting the day that it's low 60s at night, mid 70s during the day. That is a perfect almost-fall day to me.
Now, when I get the fall fever, I can't look enough at Halloween decorations (okay, okay - and the candy). Some people hate the black and orange combination of Halloween, and although black and orange together are not seen in my home any other time of year, I just love Halloween decor. But, the stores are once again making me mad when Halloween is not even here and all the cute items are being shoved aside for Christmas items to go on display. I think it would be so much more exciting to display Christmas items the day after Thanksgiving. Isn't that when so many people love to go out and shop and then, Halloween is forgotten, you're stuffed from Thanksgiving and all you can think about are the joys of the Christmas season? Can't we wait until then? I don't know about you, but I definitely could. I like to savor each one without being rushed to think about the next. We rush through life more and more every day. Give us some time to enjoy each holiday, dang it.
I digress.
Anyway, I am almost completely decorated for Halloween. I like to have at least a little something in every room, so I stress "almost."
Before Michael's started moving the Halloween stuff over to the side, I found these great mirror cling-ons by Martha Stewart that some may find tacky, but I have gotten a kick out of them. Little bats on the entryway mirror and in the family room! Ha! And, they're re-usable!
A few of my other favorite items around the house...
Does anyone love Halloween, Thanksgiving or the time around it as much as I do? I'm enjoying these days and excited about what this fall season will bring!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sweet Tea
It's one of my favorite drinks, but that's not what this is about! In a little store in Dahlonega this weekend, I found these shirts I thought were so cute!
The brand is SweeTea and if you have grandmothers, moms or if even you yourself say any "classic" Southern sayings ("Lord, Have Mercy!"), I think you will like these. Started by two women from the northern U.S. who married southern men, and thus, relocated to the South, they've hit the nail on the head with these!
I bought one that says, "Ah'm bout to burn up!" because I say that all the time when I'm hot. My friend got one that says "Bless yer heart." I really like them and can find one that's perfect for almost everyone in my family!
All Wicked Out in Jacksonville, Twisted Sister in Fernandina Beach or Additions in Tifton, Ga. all sell the shirts or you can order them on-line!
Well, I have nevah!
The brand is SweeTea and if you have grandmothers, moms or if even you yourself say any "classic" Southern sayings ("Lord, Have Mercy!"), I think you will like these. Started by two women from the northern U.S. who married southern men, and thus, relocated to the South, they've hit the nail on the head with these!
I bought one that says, "Ah'm bout to burn up!" because I say that all the time when I'm hot. My friend got one that says "Bless yer heart." I really like them and can find one that's perfect for almost everyone in my family!
All Wicked Out in Jacksonville, Twisted Sister in Fernandina Beach or Additions in Tifton, Ga. all sell the shirts or you can order them on-line!
Well, I have nevah!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Life at 32
Well, yesterday was my 32nd birthday. As of 9:35 p.m. last night (23rd), I was officially 32 years of age (I refuse to say "years old."). I am so thankful for my life and thought I would share a few (well, 32, actually) memories, realizations and other random thoughts after the day.
In my 32nd year of life:
1. I am thankful to live a life knowing that God loves me and has given me His grace and mercy. I need it every day and would be hopeless and lacking direction without it.
2. I am thankful for my family...my immediate family of my mom and dad, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...and my amazing husband who shows me love and appreciation, not only on my birthday, but every day.
3. I am happy, happy about my new adorable, sleek, PINK (shocker) iPod nano. I swear it will help me train and finish the half-marathon. So, now that that is the case I made as to why I needed one, I MUST finish.
4. I love having the joy of owning two fun and unconditionally loving dogs, Amos and Sophie. And, for having had Samson - the most amazing dog in the world, loving him like a child and through that, learning more about loving and losing and what matters in life. Yes, even though it is a dog and not a person, the love is the same.
5. I am learning more how to embrace happy, positive, encouraging things/people and not fixate on negative and unhappy things/people and their effect on my life. Life brings all of them and I know I ultimately have no control or say in what happens. However, God gives me direction, discernment and an open heart, and the things He gives me the power and fortitude to change to make me a better person, I will change.
6. I love the smile that I get when my papa remembers and tells me about the "chip off the old block" wood frame he has with my picture in it that sat in his mechanic shop for 25 years and he still has.
7. I love my granny helping me remember my childhood - the Band-Aids I always needed before I left her house (even if I had no injuries) - and other fun things I don't remember about myself.
8. I love getting birthday cards in the mail. When I was young, it was all about getting some money (as bad as that sounds) and feeling the card to see if "it's puffy" - a sure sign of dollar bills or checks! But, now, I just love receiving a tangible card from the people who really care about me. A symbol of their thoughts of me on the day I was born - they took a moment ahead of time to buy and write a sweet note to me of all people. Almost every one of them make me cry just thinking about the fact that people did that.
9. I really love the simple things in life like brushing my teeth and clean sheets.
10. I don't have hundreds of friends, they are few and far between. But the ones I have are THE BEST. They care about me and I care about them. They go to lunch with me, they call me, they keep up with me, they care about what I'm doing and what I want to do, they don't betray me, they trust me, they encourage me, they don't care what I'm wearing...and I feel the exact same way about them.
11. I need very little to be content. I have a lot, have worked hard and been extremely blessed, but know it could all be taken away in a second. Even though I said my iPod made me happy (and it did!), I know being truly happy does not come from things.
12. I have been able to travel and see some amazing places in the world - places I never dreamed I would ever go - and have realized that there is so much more than my little world around me. I am comfortable and happy in my world, but traveling to a variety of places has given me a more expanded view of the world and life and has, without question, made me even more grateful for living in the U.S.A. and for every single thing I have. I want to keep going!
13. I want to do more for more people. I want to be a positive change/influence in someone's life. Even just one person - but I hope for more.
14. I cry a lot. As I'm getting older, my heart is turning to mush. I don't think that's a bad thing, but whatever.
15. I want to own my own business and I am determined to do what I have to do to try it and see where it goes. No matter what happens, I can say I tried and you can never regret trying, only NOT doing something you wished you had done.
16. I love music and would much rather listen to music than watch TV.
17. I love high heels, but will admit they kill my feet. While I'm not working out of the house, comfy slippers will do.
18. I am not very much fun to be around without air conditioning or when I'm really hungry.
19. I like junk food and have come to terms with that. I try to balance it out, but I am now 32 years old and just know I enjoy hamburgers, french fries, cookies and candy. It's a rare night when I go to bed without a stomach ache from slice-and-bake chocolate chip cookies.
20. I do not like exercising, but because of #19, I know I have to get on a routine, hence the trying to do some jogging.
21. I walk around at the Town Center, not to shop, but as a release. People do a variety of things as stress relievers and mine just happens to be walking around at the Town Center because I can be by myself and it's not weird, I can look at tons of things and people and I can be outside.
22. I will never forget my aunt giving me a pair of shoes one holiday that were not THE ONES I wanted...not the brand, the right style, etc. I acted out, was a complete brat and my parents TORE ME UP. I don't remember the "tearing up" so much as I remember how that must've hurt my aunt and what an ungrateful little snot I was. Since I wised up a few years after that incident, I realized that what someone gives me is what they can give and guess what? They didn't have to get my sorry butt anything at all.
23. I am just not a "green" person. I have fallen in love with my SUV, so I pretty much think I always will drive one. You can not tell me that my SUV puts as much crap in the air as a city bus.
24. I do not like live Christmas trees. One, have you ever lugged one up three flights of stairs? OK, if you did, did you enjoy it? Well, I didn't. Not to mention the sap everywhere, needles up all three flights of stairs and all in the apartment/house...and that's before having to set it up. Having to bolt one to the wall because it fell over; having one mold carpet because of a water leak. People, the smell is not worth the hassle. Get a candle.
25. I love Summer until August. I love Fall until Thanksgiving. I really never like Winter unless I'm on vacation at a beautiful cabin with a fire going and watching the snow fall outside and never having to get out in it (sounds realistic, huh?!). I LOVE SPRING.
26. I am a grammar freak. I HATE when people spell "y'all," which means "you all," - "ya'll." I hate when people should use "too" and they use "to." Or "their" and "they're"..."your" and "you're." I won't go any further because there are many more, these are just the basics. How can Americans learn other languages if they can't even properly spell their own?!
27. Pepsi/Diet Pepsi is nothing like Coke/Diet Coke. When I am having headaches from Diet Coke withdrawals, Diet Pepsi does nothing. One exception: Diet Dr. Pepper is one of THE best diet drinks ever.
28. One current problem that has come to fruition in my 30s is that some believe I have undiagnosed narcolepsy. Several friends can attest to this as I have fallen asleep sitting up while they've been at my house or I've been at theirs. Now, I attribute this to just sitting still and being comfortable after a long day, not because of boring conversation or some medical problem. I can wake up within 20-30 minutes and join in the conversation like I've never dozed. Maybe I'll ask a doctor just to confirm.
29. I have fond memories of sitting in the back of my papa's old Ford truck in Georgia eating fresh peanuts from his farm. There were also always literally hundreds of pieces of paper inside his truck and I don't know why I remember that, but I do.
30. I look at green, grassy expanses some times and dream of jumping out of the car and turning cartwheels all through them.
31. Hearing people chew food disgusts me. I have been known to talk louder or turn up the television or radio (if in the car) so as to NOT hear the juices churning. Surprisingly, the sound of my own chewing doesn't bother me at all.
32. Each birthday, and each day really, I am thankful to live to and celebrate. I have been so fortunate - happy, healthy, blessed - but I do not know what tomorrow will bring, so my desire is to live each day like it is my last.
Celebrate life!
pt
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."
In my 32nd year of life:
1. I am thankful to live a life knowing that God loves me and has given me His grace and mercy. I need it every day and would be hopeless and lacking direction without it.
2. I am thankful for my family...my immediate family of my mom and dad, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...and my amazing husband who shows me love and appreciation, not only on my birthday, but every day.
3. I am happy, happy about my new adorable, sleek, PINK (shocker) iPod nano. I swear it will help me train and finish the half-marathon. So, now that that is the case I made as to why I needed one, I MUST finish.
4. I love having the joy of owning two fun and unconditionally loving dogs, Amos and Sophie. And, for having had Samson - the most amazing dog in the world, loving him like a child and through that, learning more about loving and losing and what matters in life. Yes, even though it is a dog and not a person, the love is the same.
5. I am learning more how to embrace happy, positive, encouraging things/people and not fixate on negative and unhappy things/people and their effect on my life. Life brings all of them and I know I ultimately have no control or say in what happens. However, God gives me direction, discernment and an open heart, and the things He gives me the power and fortitude to change to make me a better person, I will change.
6. I love the smile that I get when my papa remembers and tells me about the "chip off the old block" wood frame he has with my picture in it that sat in his mechanic shop for 25 years and he still has.
7. I love my granny helping me remember my childhood - the Band-Aids I always needed before I left her house (even if I had no injuries) - and other fun things I don't remember about myself.
8. I love getting birthday cards in the mail. When I was young, it was all about getting some money (as bad as that sounds) and feeling the card to see if "it's puffy" - a sure sign of dollar bills or checks! But, now, I just love receiving a tangible card from the people who really care about me. A symbol of their thoughts of me on the day I was born - they took a moment ahead of time to buy and write a sweet note to me of all people. Almost every one of them make me cry just thinking about the fact that people did that.
9. I really love the simple things in life like brushing my teeth and clean sheets.
10. I don't have hundreds of friends, they are few and far between. But the ones I have are THE BEST. They care about me and I care about them. They go to lunch with me, they call me, they keep up with me, they care about what I'm doing and what I want to do, they don't betray me, they trust me, they encourage me, they don't care what I'm wearing...and I feel the exact same way about them.
11. I need very little to be content. I have a lot, have worked hard and been extremely blessed, but know it could all be taken away in a second. Even though I said my iPod made me happy (and it did!), I know being truly happy does not come from things.
12. I have been able to travel and see some amazing places in the world - places I never dreamed I would ever go - and have realized that there is so much more than my little world around me. I am comfortable and happy in my world, but traveling to a variety of places has given me a more expanded view of the world and life and has, without question, made me even more grateful for living in the U.S.A. and for every single thing I have. I want to keep going!
13. I want to do more for more people. I want to be a positive change/influence in someone's life. Even just one person - but I hope for more.
14. I cry a lot. As I'm getting older, my heart is turning to mush. I don't think that's a bad thing, but whatever.
15. I want to own my own business and I am determined to do what I have to do to try it and see where it goes. No matter what happens, I can say I tried and you can never regret trying, only NOT doing something you wished you had done.
16. I love music and would much rather listen to music than watch TV.
17. I love high heels, but will admit they kill my feet. While I'm not working out of the house, comfy slippers will do.
18. I am not very much fun to be around without air conditioning or when I'm really hungry.
19. I like junk food and have come to terms with that. I try to balance it out, but I am now 32 years old and just know I enjoy hamburgers, french fries, cookies and candy. It's a rare night when I go to bed without a stomach ache from slice-and-bake chocolate chip cookies.
20. I do not like exercising, but because of #19, I know I have to get on a routine, hence the trying to do some jogging.
21. I walk around at the Town Center, not to shop, but as a release. People do a variety of things as stress relievers and mine just happens to be walking around at the Town Center because I can be by myself and it's not weird, I can look at tons of things and people and I can be outside.
22. I will never forget my aunt giving me a pair of shoes one holiday that were not THE ONES I wanted...not the brand, the right style, etc. I acted out, was a complete brat and my parents TORE ME UP. I don't remember the "tearing up" so much as I remember how that must've hurt my aunt and what an ungrateful little snot I was. Since I wised up a few years after that incident, I realized that what someone gives me is what they can give and guess what? They didn't have to get my sorry butt anything at all.
23. I am just not a "green" person. I have fallen in love with my SUV, so I pretty much think I always will drive one. You can not tell me that my SUV puts as much crap in the air as a city bus.
24. I do not like live Christmas trees. One, have you ever lugged one up three flights of stairs? OK, if you did, did you enjoy it? Well, I didn't. Not to mention the sap everywhere, needles up all three flights of stairs and all in the apartment/house...and that's before having to set it up. Having to bolt one to the wall because it fell over; having one mold carpet because of a water leak. People, the smell is not worth the hassle. Get a candle.
25. I love Summer until August. I love Fall until Thanksgiving. I really never like Winter unless I'm on vacation at a beautiful cabin with a fire going and watching the snow fall outside and never having to get out in it (sounds realistic, huh?!). I LOVE SPRING.
26. I am a grammar freak. I HATE when people spell "y'all," which means "you all," - "ya'll." I hate when people should use "too" and they use "to." Or "their" and "they're"..."your" and "you're." I won't go any further because there are many more, these are just the basics. How can Americans learn other languages if they can't even properly spell their own?!
27. Pepsi/Diet Pepsi is nothing like Coke/Diet Coke. When I am having headaches from Diet Coke withdrawals, Diet Pepsi does nothing. One exception: Diet Dr. Pepper is one of THE best diet drinks ever.
28. One current problem that has come to fruition in my 30s is that some believe I have undiagnosed narcolepsy. Several friends can attest to this as I have fallen asleep sitting up while they've been at my house or I've been at theirs. Now, I attribute this to just sitting still and being comfortable after a long day, not because of boring conversation or some medical problem. I can wake up within 20-30 minutes and join in the conversation like I've never dozed. Maybe I'll ask a doctor just to confirm.
29. I have fond memories of sitting in the back of my papa's old Ford truck in Georgia eating fresh peanuts from his farm. There were also always literally hundreds of pieces of paper inside his truck and I don't know why I remember that, but I do.
30. I look at green, grassy expanses some times and dream of jumping out of the car and turning cartwheels all through them.
31. Hearing people chew food disgusts me. I have been known to talk louder or turn up the television or radio (if in the car) so as to NOT hear the juices churning. Surprisingly, the sound of my own chewing doesn't bother me at all.
32. Each birthday, and each day really, I am thankful to live to and celebrate. I have been so fortunate - happy, healthy, blessed - but I do not know what tomorrow will bring, so my desire is to live each day like it is my last.
Celebrate life!
pt
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."
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