Entry for February 27 2007National Spay Day

Please help all you can in any way you can to let people know that it is so important to get you dogs and cats spayed and neutered so that all little critters can have home, wonderful loving homes forever. How would you like to be bounced all over the place because there just wasn't any room for you. These animals depend on us like we depended on our parents when we were children. They need us. Right now there are too many of them and not enough of us. My next door neighbors adopted kitty was not fixed as a child by her other mother and she was let out, got pregnant and got feline leukemia, now she will die and when her babies are born they will be killed because they will have the disease. This could all have been stopped if the original owner had just gotten that poor baby spayed and kept her in the house. Today is a bad day for me, I saw a poor dog die at the vets this morning , her mother crying, then I look at the book on the counter there listing all the poor dogs and cats up for adoption at the shelter with reasons like, have to move, don't want him, can't handle him or her, stray cat, do you know how many stray cats I saw in that book, and animals that people just toss out like rubbish and you know if you might think that I worry too much about animals and not enough about people , do you know how many babies are tossed out like so much rubbish also, all over this country, all over this world, poor children who can't get adopted because there are too many of them also, people should be spayed and neutered. I can't adopted all the unwanted animals in the world, but believe me if I had the room I would. So please on this day please think about the difference we can all make if we just get our animals fixed and bug every one you know to do the same thing.

Thank you

Susan

Entry for February 25, 2007Movie Monday, the "Oscars"

For Movie Monday I would like to present the 79th Annual Academy Awards.....

Usually I dread watching the "Oscars" but I do none the less. They always turn out to be too long, these days too short, dumb speeches, ugly dresses, things nominated or winning that shouldn't have been there to begin with,,,,,,but this year something changed.....

diversity.....so many countries represented, so many really good independent short and full length films, technical artistic and artistic nominations that you just couldn't decide who should win because they were all deserving, all good.

The show was dedicated to the nominees and they were certainly right to do this, this year because for a change being nominated this year really was good enough.

In the end Marty Scorsese finally won best director for the Departed, which won best picture, Helen Miran for the Queen, Forrest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland. I saw all of them and I think they all deserved to win, and the other nominated ones I saw I thought they all could have won also.

What a great year this was. The global film industry should only continue to get better.

Thank you.

Susan

Entry for February 25, 2007/ Art Sunday, Dale Chihuly Glass Artist

My presentation for Art Sunday isDALE CHIHULY top glass artist of our day. I give you a few examples of his work here. To see more of his unbelieveable work click on his name and go to his web site where you will find so many wonderful works. Not just delicate sculptures but hugh fantastic installations. He has done installations all over the globe and has pieces in many public building and parks. Since he is very popular most likely you have seen something of his work, but if not I know you will be amazed.

Happy Sunday to all. Enjoy.

Entry for February 23, 2007/ Poison Alert

POISON ALERT FOR DOGS , CATS AND PEOPLE.

You probably have heard about the peanut butter regarding people already but be aware of the doggie issue and check out the alert on the cat food.

PET POISON ALERT: FDA RECALLS OF CAT FOOD & PEANUT BUTTER
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued two recalls pertaining to products contaminated with the bacteriaSalmonella—Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter carrying the code “2111” on the jar lid, and 3 1/2-ounce and one-pound packages of Wild Kitty raw all natural, frozen cat food, chicken with clam recipe. As of this writing, there have been no reports of illness pertaining to either product in pets.

As many pets—dogs in particular—enjoy an occasional peanut butter treat, we caution pet parents against feeding recalled peanut butter to pets. Affected jars should be thrown out, and extra caution should be taken to ensure that pets do not have access to trash receptacles containing the discarded peanut butter. Similar steps should be followed for the contaminated cat food.

“Most healthy adult dogs and cats are less susceptible toSalmonella infection than humans,” says ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Senior Toxicologist, Dr. Eric Dunayer. “However, it is still possible for problems to occur, so we recommend discarding any product involved in this recall.”

For more information, pleaseread the press release

Entry for February 21, 2007/Origional Kliban/Cat

But just a note these are drawings from the origional B. Kliban book "Cat". Way different from what I posted on Art Sunday. I will be popping some more in periodically. These are the drawings that made me a fan of his.

these are for J.

Entry for February 20, 2007/ Poetry Wednesday, Samual Coleridge

Samual Taylor Coleridge wrote the following poem.

Once upon a time in another life, my friends and I would quote the beginning of this poem because we loved the idea that Coleridge may have written this while under the influence of drugs, as we usually were, LSD to be percise and we wanted him to be in a mind expanded state also when he wrote "Kubla Khan"

Well I never read the poem, only quoted it. Not until just the other day when I looked it up on the net. Boy was I surprised and now I can see why it seemed he was under the influence and of course he did have a drug problem, opium, which can give you some very mind expanding experiences, but I like to think he could just wrote some really serious romantic poetry. This poem is beautiful. The images of floating down the river to a sunny pleasure dome. Fabulous. So I present this for you today to see just what you think. Enjoy.

Kubla Khan bySamuel Taylor Coleridge Or a Vision in a Dream. A Fragment In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea. So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover! A savage place! as holy and enchanted As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted By woman wailing for her demon lover! And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething, As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced: Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail: And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Through wood and dale the sacred river ran, Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war! The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw; It was an Abyssinian maid, And on her dulcimer she played, Singing of Mount Abora. Could I revive within me Her symphony and song, To such a deep delight 'twould win me, That with music loud and long, I would build that dome in air, That sunny dome! those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.
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Entry for February 18, 2007/ Art Sunday, B. Kliban

Today this is a little slap dash as I am coming in late with my presentation. But I have a wee bit of cartoon art for today from one of my all time favorite cartoonist B. Kliban. The foremost in twisted cats. So you know why I love him. Here are some examples of his wonderful cats.

Also check out his web site. Its fun.eat mousies

Entry for February 16, 2007Song Saturday

Just walking my dogs

Entry for February 16, 2007/Friday Five

I am definitely up for this one.

Gender Roles in Society:

• Should the manalways be the head of the household in a heterosexual relationship? Now this is one of those, "oh you have got to be kidding " ones for me. If there is not total sharing in a relationship, why bother. No one is telling me what to do.
• How do you feel when you see a man show emotion (i.e. cry) as opposed to a woman? are you as apt to offer comfort or edge away quietly? I am happy. I would offer comfort just as I would for any one else (woman).
• Do you believe the old adage is true that a man thinks about a relationship sexually where a woman tends to think about it romantically? Well men do tend to be lead by their glands, it is sort of hard wired into us. Woman also when the hormones are flowing, but generally speaking I think everyone wants to have an emotional relationship. You can't hold anything together on sex alone.
• We've accepted older men/younger women for years. How do you feel about the reverse? Would you be (or have you been) involved in a relationship where the woman was older by 10 - 15 years? I have been involved in just such a relationship and who cares, as long as someone gets along that is all that counts. Most of those older men , younger wives things are just about trophies any way.
• Back in the day, when a man had multiple sexual conquests he could brag about it while a woman had to hide it for fear of earning a bad reputation. Do you feel this gender inequality still exists?
• I certainly would hope not. I think things have basically evened out. Just sit in on a younger womens "girls night out" you'll hear a thing or too.

HELP THE KITTIES, PLEASE

Please check out this link to The Best Friends email I got today to help find homes for 24 kitties who are in desperate straits. It takes a minute to down load. I sure would appreciate all the help you can give, maybe in passing the link around. I tried to copy the whole email onto my blog, put as usual, thanks yahoo, it wouldn't work. If you think you are too far away don't worry about that, Best Friends has quite a delivery network out there..Please help any way you can. Thanks so much.

Your friend, Susan

In conjunction with this blog I would like to point out, again, that the 27th of this month is Spay Day, and if more people had their pets spayed and neutered there wouldn't be so many poor animals that need rescued. This poor woman who needs homes for her kitties rescued these cats to begin with and is now sick and can not take care of them any more. Everyone one needs a home. Kids, kitties, doggie, Lets keep adopting and spaying and neutering and hell that should go for people too, you know how many unwanted kids there are out there. Oh don't get me started.......

HTML Online Version

Entry for February 14, 2007/Settings

To any one who has had problems commenting on my blog try again. My setttings were screwed up.

Entry for February 14, 2007/ Poetry Wednesday

There Will Come Soft Rains bySara Teasdale (War Time) There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, And swallows circling with their shimmering sound; And frogs in the pools singing at night, And wild plum trees in tremulous white, Robins will wear their feathery fire Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire; And not one will know of the war, not one Will care at last when it is done. Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree If mankind perished utterly; And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn, Would scarcely know that we were gone. The following poem is taken from her Purlizer Prize winning book "Love Songs" Spring Night The park is filled with night and fog, The veils are drawn about the world, The drowsy lights along the paths Are dim and pearled. Gold and gleaming the empty streets, Gold and gleaming the misty lake, The mirrored lights like sunken swords, Glimmer and shake. Oh, is it not enough to be Here with this beauty over me? My throat should ache with praise, and I should kneel in joy beneath the sky. Oh, beauty are you not enough? Why am I crying after love, With youth, a singing voice and eyes To take earth's wonder with surprise? Why have I put off my pride, Why am I unsatisfied, I for whom the pensive night Binds her cloudy hair with light, I for whom all beauty burns Like incense in a million urns? Oh, beauty, are you not enough? Why amI crying after love? Hope you have enjoyed this presentation. Sussan

Entry for February 13, 2007/ THE YUKON QUEST

Since February 10th I have been following the Yukon Quest Dog Race in Alaska. Very exciting stuff. AlaskaRap has some great videos on his blog, that you should check out.

Here is the link toThe Yukon Quest Web Site where you too can follow along with who is in the lead, how the mushers take care of themselves and their dogs. I find it really interesting.

You may wonder that I as such an animal advocate love these races. The reason is because of the bond and love between the mushers and their dogs. The dogs live to run, and we all know dogs are not happy unless they have a job to do, and the mushers , well they live for their dogs.

Here are some quotes from Alaska mushers. Collected in a cute little book a friend gave me titled "Sled Dog Wisdom" by Tricia Brown.

"I've learned over the years that the dogs are smarter than humans when it comes to communicatiion. they know what your're thinking at all times" George Attla, North Pole Alaska

"You can never waste time sitting still and cuddling a puppy. That time comes back to you later in affection from the dog and its willingness to run for you" DeeDee Jonrowe, Willow Alaska\

"The dogs have taught me to sit back and enjoy the simple things in life" Dalton Fiedler, Willow , Alaska.

And you can't say any more than that.

I hope you find some thing intersting on The Yukon Quest Web site and don't forget Alaskaraps blog. I haven't asked him yet if I could put his link on here so I won't , but I am sure you all can find him. He is a popular guy.

Here is the link and he has another posted where you can go to YouTube and see more.link

Entry for February 09, 2007sSong Saturday

Just cause I like the Beatles

Entry for February 08, 2007/Good Things For Those Who Can Not Speak For Themselves.

Good things that are happening for animals

	Slaughter of Horses for Food Declared Illegal in Texas

January 21, 2007

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	Corbis

Entry for February 07, 2007Much Better

Well I got on the phone with my internet/DSL provider and found out that the problem was all the junk on my computer, temp files, cookies, history. So we cleaned it out. Seems there was some fractured cookie thingy. I know that isn't the right word but .... They told me to clean everything out at least once a week. I have windows set to do that for cookies but I guess it isn't doing it's job.

I want to thank every one, MM, J. and Klaus who helped me with advise.

Now we can get back to normal

See ya around.

Susan

Entry for February 04, 2007/Pearl

I was watching Bette Midler movies all day and one of them was "The Rose". Made me think of Pearl, may she rest in peace.

Entry for February 04, 2007/Art Sunday

Good friends brought a print of the painting below home from their last trip to Scotland, where this hangs in one of the National Museums in Edinburgh. I though it was so beautiful that I would post it for Art Sunday. Above is another of John Duncans paintings entitled " St. Columba Bidding Farewell to the White Horse".

Saint Bride

1913

According to the legend of the Irish Saint Bride she was transported miraculously to Bethlehem to attend the nativity of Christ. Here two angels carry the white robed saint across the sea. The seascape reflects Duncan's fascination with the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Iona. The birds and seal provide an effective naturalistic foil for the supernatural angels overlapping the patterned border. Scenes from the life of Christ decorate the angel's robes, and may include the artist's self-portrait as the tiny clown (a holy fool) accompanying the procession of the magi on the leading angel's gown.

This painting was done by John Duncan, A Scottish Symbolist painter (1866-1945).

Since Saint Bridgets Day( Irish Saint) just passed, I thought this might be appropriate. Saint Bride is another name for Bridget, she has a lot of spellings of her name. There is a wee bit of history at the top regarding the painting and the story behind it. Below are a few links to tell you about John Duncan and St. Bridget.

point of interest, the seal in the painting, to me , is a Selkie.Whichis a mythological creature from Scotland and Ireland being a seal that can transform into a human. Being Duncan was a Scotsman seems right to me. Link for information on Selkies below also.

I think the painting is beautiful. The colors are so striking. Hope you enjoy it also.

John Duncanart link

St. Bridgetinformation

Selkiemyth information

Don't forget to visitNicholas V our host for The Art Sunday Tour

Entry for February 02, 2007Something Serious

After my sillines yesterday, today my friend Tammy has reminded me of the seriouness of spaying and neutering of your companion animals.

Those little cuties in the picture may be pups that will probably find homes, but there are millions of unwanted dogs and cats out there who end up in shelters who have no room for them and then are killed just because there is no room. Not spaying and neutering is no joke. People with their ideas of "oh lets just let her have one litter" and men and their male dog issues and you know what I am talking about. Then all the litters that are created are homeless and soon dead.

What about people who get a companion animal and then say " I can't keep them, we will just take them to the pound, they will find another home" . No it doesn't work that way. Then they are just dead.

When you adopt it must be forever. We are all animals, we all have feelings, we all deserve love.

The Associated Humane Societies have decided that February is Prevent -A-Litter-Month and that February 27th is Spay Day USA. I think it is a good idea.

If you have a companion animal that is not spayed or neutered, Get Hot. If you think it is too expensive, most towns have some type of program that can help you. Check it out. Go to the shelter and foster a dog or kitty until they can find a good home for them. All the kitties in the video I showed yesterday had been taken and dumped in a shelter and the wacky woman who was making the video was fostering them till they got good home. Most shelters have these types of programs. If you are looking for a new companion to bring into your home FOREVER go to the pound and save a dog or cat or even a couple.

Check out Tammy bloghttp://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-leZKZ_Yleqtwzard3bXZwfl1_8txdKtS6.oogA--?cq=1&...

Also check out A Paw Up Rescuehttp://360.yahoo.com/profile-VbgskSA9crT2FPhM3cnuKx9G

Check out their profile and see how you too can help.

But first remember

SPAY AND NEUTER ALL COMPANION ANIMALS

It's a fact

Every time a person is born in America so are 15 dogs and 45 cats. Too many for the number of available homes.

You can help prevent this.

"We call them dumb animals and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words" Anna Sewell, Black Beauty 1877

SOMETHING SERIOUSLY SILLY

i have been way to serious lately. So here is something to make up for it.