Out For Africa

Are we really going to be the generation that lets elephants go extinct?

http://www.outforafrica.com/Out_For_Africa/The_Facts.html

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/08/elephants-201108

http://shop.cadsawan.com/collections/out-for-africa

Every piece of ivory comes from a dead elephant. Ivory is beautiful, but when you consider that this is what had to happen to get it on your coffee table, is it really worth it?

Ebates

As a good citizen of the World Wide Web, I feel the need to share Ebates with anyone who does any online shopping. Sign up through the link below and start getting a percentage of your purchase back on purchases through most online stores. Once signed up, remember to log into Ebates before starting your shipping trip, search for and choose the store where you will be shopping, check out through the new window that will be opened by Ebates, and that's it! You'll get a check, deposit to your Paypal account, or can choose to get your reward in the form of an Amazon gift card (with a couple of bucks added for choosing that payment method!) at the end of every quarter. It's seriously that easy! Ebates even offers cash back at sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, features "Daily Double" stores each day for double cash back, offers weekly deals, and you get your choice of $5 gift card just for signing up (of course I chose Target). I know I sound like a commercial but as of today, I've already made $159.95 back just from buying stuff I was going to buy anyway. Who doesn't like free money?

Plus, if you sign up with my referral code (below) and make a $25 purchase through Ebates by September 30, I get a $25 referral bonus and entered to win $20,000 cash or a Hawaiian Getaway. Once signed up, you can also Tell-A-Friend for referral bonuses and be entered to win as well.

So to overview- super easy process, earn money back for things you were going to buy even without the incentive of free money, get a $5 gift card for signing up, get referral bonuses for inviting friends, and be entered to win $20,000 or a trip to Hawaii.

What are you waiting for? Sign up now!

I'm a Single Mother*

I HAVE A FOSTER DOG!

His name is Casper and I just love him.

I'll start with the back story on how I ended up being a single momma.  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control picked up this little nugget wandering around with a collar, no tags, and two shoestrings tied to the collar (what a way to tether a dog, huh?).  By the time CMACC caught up to him, he had swallowed the shoestrings that were STILL ATTACHED TO THE COLLAR so I have to imagine he wasn't having the easiest time breathing/eating/drinking.  Truth be told, it hurts my heart to think of his life before me- defenseless, wandering the streets, starving, shoestrings stuck in his throat, and probably terrified.  I try not to think about it since there are currently thousands of animals- if not millions- across the country in similar conditions.  My Cas is one of the lucky ones.  Anyways, the fact that he is a black pit mix was working against him in a huge way at CMACC (not sure if you're aware, but black dogs are the least likely to be adopted and most likely to be euthanized.  For whatever reason, people are less inclined to fall in love with black dogs).  Since CMACC does not adopt out pit bulls, he should have been euthanized within 24 hours of arriving at the shelter.  Luckily, an angel of an animal control officer thought he just had too much going for him to let his life end so soon, so she was taking him home with her every night so that he would have an extra day.  I volunteer with the American Pit Bull Foundation, and since we have no shelter, we can only rescue as many dogs as we have foster homes in place for.  When the foster coordinator contacted me about Mac (what he was being called at the time), I thought about it and decided I wanted to help.  I mean who could say no to this little face?

 Yes, that picture was taken in the animal control officer's house.  Look how vicious pit bulls are with children and other animals.

When I picked him up from CMACC on January 20, he was estimated to be around 5 months old and weighed 24.8 lbs.  When he went to lose his manhood on March 20, he weighed 49 lbs, and I would guess hes somewhere between 55-60 lbs today (HOSS!).  He has the most agreeable personality, and is so calm for his age.  

Things I love about him:

-He is so photogenic.

-He gets episodes of "zoomies"- normally around bedtime- but stays calm for the most part.  

-He is so eager to please.

-He actually watches TV.  He loves cartoons and Bravo's "It's a Brad, Brad World."  I find Brad oober annoying, but I leave it on for him if he starts watching it.

-He was crate trained, and nearly completely leash and house trained when I got him.  

-He has now perfected bell training for when he wants to go potty.  Though I'm positive the ringing bell every time the door is opened/closed annoys my roommates, it certainly helps prevent accidents in the house. 

-He will not get onto my bed unless I drag him up there, but man he gets comfortable once he's up there. 

-He loves to cuddle on the couch.

-He lays with his frog legs ALL THE TIME ( I LOVE when dogs lay like that!)

Things I've struggled with:

-His grain allergy! Took weeks to figure out what was making his nose run and him chew on his paws, but we finally discovered he is allergic to food that isn't grain-free/holistic. AKA the high-end, expensive stuff.

-His affinity for chewing.  Now I know this is a puppy thing.  And being a pit, he is a power chewer.  Toys never stay in tact very long (I'm talking a couple of hours- if I'm lucky!- before I have to take the squeaker and stuffing out of the hole he's created so he doesn't swallow it), and he has also managed to gnaw his way through a laptop power cord, an Aveda paddle brush, a Bobbie Brown makeup palette, and a Havianas sandal.  You have to give it to the boy, he has a taste for the finer things. 

-What I affectionately consider his "handshake."  He just wants to have your hand in his mouth when you walk in and he gets really excited.  He doesn't put any pressure on your hand, just wants your hand in his mouth.  We're working every day on breaking this for good so that maybe hopefully he can take therapy dog training in the future.
-He likes to push his toys under the furniture, then whines and/or barks until someone gets it out from under there for him. Seems like getting toys that don't fit under the furniture would be the easy fix, but any toys that don't fit under the sofa also don't fit in his mouth so if anyone knows how to break this, please let me know.

Kermit Gosnell Found Guilty

"After 10 days of deliberations, a Philadelphia, Pa., jury convicted abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell on Monday of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of three infants born alive at his medical clinic. He was also pronounced guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old refugee from Bhutan who died after having an abortion at his clinic.

Gosnell was also pronounced guilty of 16 counts of violating the state's informed consent requirements, and guilty of 21 counts of performing abortions after 24 weeks of gestation, the legal limit in Pennsylvania.
Gosnell, 72, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder for allegedly cutting the spinal cords of third-term babies he delivered alive. He also faced one count of third-degree murder in the death of Mongar, and more than 200 other charges related to racketeering, performing illegal late-term abortions, and failing to comply with Pennsylvania's 24-hour waiting period requirement for abortions.

Abortion rights advocates applauded the verdict and said the Gosnell case highlights the need for access to safe, high quality, and legal abortion. Gosnell ran a medical clinic in West Philadelphia that catered mostly to poor, minority women. The clinic was shuttered after authorities raided it and discovered what the prosecution in the case characterized as a 'house of horrors'


'Justice was served to Kermit Gosnell today, and he will pay the price for the atrocities he committed,' said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. 'We hope that the lessons of the trial do not fade with the verdict. Anti-choice politicians, and their unrelenting efforts to deny women access to safe and legal abortion care, will only drive more women to back-alley butchers like Kermit Gosnell. From the lack of funding available for low-income women to access abortion services, to the sharp decline of reputable providers in Pennsylvania, to the gross negligence of authorities to enforce the law after complaints were filed against Gosnell, each aspect of this case must be a teachable moment for lawmakers: Until we reject the politicization of women's medical care and leave these decisions where they belong -- between a woman and her family and her doctor -- women will never be safe.'"

via The Huffington Post 

An Open Letter to Animal Surrenderers From an Employee of NYACC

Dear Former Family, Your Dog Was Killed

Dear Former Family,

On this day in ____, Your Dog was killed by an employee of New York Animal (Care and) Control.

You dumped Your Dog because:
1. you suddenly realized that had no time for him/her anymore,
2. you had just had a new baby,
3. your landlord didn't like him/her,
4. you were moving to a new apartment/house the landlord of which didn't allow dogs,
5. Your Dog was too old/sick, and you couldn't afford the vet bills or to have him/her humanely euthanized,
6. some other random reason for which you claimed Your Dog had become an inconvenience for you.

You dumped Your Dog at a filthy, noisy, overcrowded pound, filled out the paperwork, turned around and walked out, never looking back, and continued to live your life like nothing unusual had ever happened that day.

Your Dog stayed behind. He received a new, computer-generated name, and an ID number, by which he/she was going to be known.
Your Dog was first seen by a vet - a quick visit that didn't take more than a few minutes.
Your Dog's temperament was later evaluated; if he/she didn't like being poked or having his/her food taken away by a plastic hand, he/she was deemed dangerous.
Your Dog was shoved in a metal cage on a wall of metal cages, surrounded by the smell and continuous barking of dogs he/she had never met.

Your Dog spent a few days there. If he/she was lucky, one of the volunteers took him/her out for a walk one evening. Your Dog really enjoyed finally being able to relieve himself/herself, being able to move around a little bit, feeling like he/she mattered.
Your Dog maybe thought that he/she was taken out because you were coming back to pick him/her up.
That, as we know, never happened.
Your Dog's face most likely never haunted you in your dreams. You kept going to work, tending to your new baby, decorating your house, having dinner parties with your friends.
You had probably thrown away Your Dog's leash and collar, doggie bowl and doggie bed, pretending that he/she never even existed.

A few days after you had dumped Your Dog, an A(C)C employee came to his/her cage.
Your Dog thought he/she was being taken on another, long-awaited walk.
But Your Dog was led down a corridor, into a small room.
Your Dog then instinctively knew that it wasn't going to be a happy walk.
Your Dog was held down on a cold table.
Your Dog probably tried to fight.
Your Dog was not sedated, there was no one there who would cry for him/her.
When Your Dog felt the needle strike, and the burning fluid quickly travel up his/her vein, he/she was wondering what he/she had done wrong.
If Your Dog was lucky, he/she died of a the man-created heart attack quite fast. If not, he/she suffered for several minutes.

When it was all over, Your Dog's body was shoved into a black plastic bag, and thrown into a freezer with several other dead bodies.
No one ever requested to have his/her ashes returned.
By then, no one even knew what his/her real name was.

Your Dog was killed because you failed. You failed as a compassionate human being.

I hope you are enjoying your new baby, your new home, your newly found freedom.
This letter is a reminder that while you think life goes on after you throw Your Dog away like an old t-shirt you got tired of wearing, Your Dog never forgot you. Until the very last minute, he/she thought you would come back for him/her.

But you never did. And for that, somehow, some way, Karma will get you.

Sincerely,
A Dog Person

 Cassie (A907995) - Manhattan A(C)C - 1 year-old German Shepherd Mix

Owner surrender; reason stated: New Baby

Intake date: August 18, 2011

Day of death: August 30, 2011

*One of my great wishes in life is to be able to obtain the names and addresses of owners who leave their dogs at kill-shelters, and then to send them a reminder each year, on the anniversary of their dog's death. I am very strict in my belief that there is no excuse, ever, for one to dump their pooch at a kill-pound. An annual reminder, something like the one above, would be my way of trying to ensure that they never, ever forget the evil they did.

via http://adayinthelifeofadogperson.blogspot.com/2011/09/dear-former-family-your-dog-was-killed.html

Lotus & The American Pit Bull Foundation

YOU GUYS! This is the best!! Lotus and her awesome foster parents were invited on air with Kiss 95.1 this morning to raise awareness for the American Pit Bull Foundation and the many dogs we rescue! I am so excited Kiss 95.1 brought exposure to not only the abuse of the breed, but to this organization that is truly committed to it.

Lotus is the sweet 5 month old puppy who was saved from a man trying to drown her. Not only did she suffer the confusion and terror of someone attempting to drown her in a frigid pond, but she has been severely and repeatedly abused in her short life. Medical exams revealed she has a recently broken pelvis and smashed leg, as well as past abuse that resulted in a fractured skull from being hit HARD- possibly with a shovel, and broken vertebrae in her spine. Of course with these injuries intentionally given to her, no medical attention was ever sought. Her body attempted to heal these atrocious injuries on its own- albeit incorrectly- and though she can live with the way some of her injuries have healed, her pelvis will require surgery to set it correctly and her front leg will unfortunately likely require amputation.

I love Lotus flowers. They grow in the mud at the bottom of lakes then rise to the top of the water to blossom and reveal their beauty despite where their growth started. When I suggested we name her Lotus, it was in a pretty literal sense- I mean she was essentially saved from the bottom of a pond. But once you experience the resilience, forgiveness, optimism, and love she inexplicably possesses after what seems like repeated attempts to kill her, there's no denying that naming her Lotus was just as much a testament to her triumphant spirit as it was literal. (Check out her cuteness in this in-studio video: http://youtu.be/nJjys2jrkoU)

Please consider donating to the APBF to not only help with the costly surgical procedures and rehabilitation Lotus will require, but to also assist with the continued support provided to the other dogs in APBF. I know everyone's financial situation is different and money is tight for a lot of people, but if 100 people see this and donate just $10, that's already $1000 from this post alone. Skip your Dunkin run two days, put that pedicure off for a week, take the change in your car to CoinStar- any little bit helps and is sincerely appreciated.

Posted below are a few links about Lotus, an upcoming fundraiser, the APBF, and ways you can help:

Lotus:
Kiss 95.1: http://kiss951.cbslocal.com/2013/03/29/drex-maney-bringing-lotus-from-abused-pit-to-happy-pup/
Charlotte Observer: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/25/3937523/police-search-for-man-who-threw.html

APBF: http://www.americanpitbullfoundation.com/ The American Pit Bull Foundation is an amazing organization that I am proud to be involved with. APBF's purpose is to promote responsible breed ownership through providing: owner and public education, positive alternatives to pit fighting, programs to endorse and recognize responsible breed ownership, providing medical and financial assistance for dogs with responsible owners, and aiding in adoption of Pit Bulls to responsible individuals and families. Based on the incredible network of volunteers, fosters, donors, and other advocates, APBF provides medical attention, monthly flea and heart worm preventatives, food, training, and other necessities to each dog while they are in foster homes with the organization. On the website you can find links to donate, view our Adopt-a-Bulls, contact information for becoming a foster home* or volunteer, the adoption procedures and application, as well as other information about the breed and organization. (*Foster homes are always needed. Since the APBF doesn't yet have a shelter, we can only rescue as many dogs as we have foster homes available for.)

Fund Raiser: Pawbrokers Party to Support Lotus and Other Pitties with Medical Needs Pawbrokers is hosting a fundraiser at The Comedy Zone in the Music Factory Wednesday, April 3 from 5:00-9:00 where you can purchase jewelry and drinks, with a portion of the proceeds going to APBF to help with the cost of Lotus's surgeries and support the other dogs in our care. Of course outright donations can also be made either at the event or on the ABPF website. Donations of pet food will also be accepted for donation to the Humane Society of York County. More information can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/446421495433390/

Authorities are still searching for the depraved individual who abused and attempted to drown her. He is described as a skinny black male between 6' 2"-6' 5", weighing no more than 170 pounds. He has thin dreadlocks and was wearing a black hat at the time. He had no facial hair. The suspect was driving a light-colored/sky blue, four-door BMW or Mercedes from the mid-90's with no plates but a paper dealership tag with a red circular emblem in the center. This happened near Nevin Rd in the Mallard Creek/77 area of Northeast Charlotte. Please contact the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 if you have any information that can assist in the investigation. You don't even have to give your name.

Please feel free to share this with as many people as you would like. The more exposure, the better!

Children Need Love Too

I feel compelled to share this with everyone in hopes that one person will do something nice for someone else today:

I work in a low-income, high-crime area of Charlotte. I have my concealed carry permit, but no gun (soon to be changing) and pepper spray. By training, I constantly scan people with my eyes to see if they're carrying a weapon, or where they could be concealing one. And if I get out of my car to go in anywhere in the area around my work, I carry in my pepper spray. Yesterday, I stopped in a convenience store on my way back from lunch and witnessed a little girl- no older than maybe eight- two people ahead of me in line being barraged by the man she was with about "how much f**king money she costs him...what a selfish little b**ch she is" and how lucky she was they were in public because he was going to "teach her about the value of sh*t when they got home."

May I repeat that a grown man, whoever he was to her, loudly called an elementary-aged child a "selfish little b**ch" then threatened her in the crowded line at a convenience store?! To be clear, I am pro-spanking as discipline and I got many a "I'm gonna count to three before I embarrass you in this grocery store/restaurant/birthday party/school/church function, etc." as a child and I knew I’d better straighten up quick or my bottom was going to sting when we got home. But you could tell by the tone in his voice and the contempt he had in his eyes that this wasn't just going to be a spanking, and it wasn't for the purpose of discipline. To make matters worse, not one of the seven or eight other adults standing in the store or behind the counter even batted an eye- like this was just business as usual! I was appalled that not one person in that store was going to stand up for this little girl, or at least pretend to look uncomfortable!

While the man was fumbling with the contents of his pockets that he’d emptied onto the counter, I caught the little girl’s eyes. In an attempt to keep her from the tears she was on the verge of, I smiled, squatted down to her level, asked her how she was and (without thinking) said, “it’s okay honey, sometimes adults get mad and say things they don’t mean but…” The belligerent man cut me off, grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her around to face the counter, telling her not to listen to people who need to mind their own business. This was completely unnecessary since she was too afraid to even look up from the ground or speak to me once I tried to engage her.

I stood up, turned my attention to the "man" who was starting to put his belongings back in his pockets and in the sweetest, most polite, non-confrontational voice I could muster said, "Sir, there's no reason to talk to a pretty little girl that way, is there? Besides, you’re in public and there are other children and women around who could be offended by your loud cursing." Everyone in the store went silent. Obviously shocked to be challenged, he turned his whole body to face me and said (so angrily that he was spitting, and the patrons standing between us stepped back- thanks guys) that I should keep my "white, b**ch mouth closed if I knew what was good for me." He was so close to me I could have reached my arm out and put my hand almost completely flat against his chest. Again, not one person witnessing this even flinched. Despite how terrified I was, I put on the most resolute face I could and in the biggest white girl move ever held the pepper spray- that I was clutching from the moment I walked in the door- in between my face and his. Almost predictably, he laughed...laughed! He goes from berating this poor child to getting in my face, cursing me, and doubting my intention of protecting myself. Um, no, momma don't play that.

[This part of the story won't go down in history as one of the classier times in my life, and I refer to this type of explosion of raw, impassioned fury as "the Robeson County coming out of me," but I blanked. It rarely happens but when it does, I think I am invincible for some reason, only to realize later that is not the case...not the case at all. I'm working on it.]

I took a step half-step toward him, closing the distance between us, and with every drop of the sweet, polite, Southernness gone from my voice, I looked over the pepper spray and into his eyes and said something to the effect of, "You can take yourself a step back or get to experience what it feels like to have an entire can of mace emptied on your punk ass in front of that little girl you've been disrespecting. You might feel like a tough guy because you can intimidate someone who hasn't even taken the EOG's, but you don't scare me." I was scared. My life potentially depended on how he reacted to the ultimatum I’d just spewed at him. Time. Stopped. The Robeson County in me was gone and I was back to being essentially unarmed, in a convenience store I know is in one of the most dangerous parts of the city, threatening a man who clearly has a propensity for violence, while surrounded by a group of people who up until this point had shown nothing but apathy. I’ve never even had to pull my pepper spray on anyone before. What the hell was I thinking?

He took a step back and tried to provoke me into following through on my threat with the words "try me." The only thing that could leave my lips was, “you stepped back didn’t you?” Being the crime-heavy place it is, law enforcement is ever-present. By sheer destiny, I saw a police car pull into the parking lot and the man followed my eyes with his. He grabbed the rest of his things, the little girl by the wrist, and drug her behind him out the door. I suddenly realized that he was surely going to take all of his anger towards me out on her. I couldn’t let them just walk away knowing that I had likely single-handedly put that little girl in even more danger by trying to help, so I went out the door after them/for the police and was met at the door by the officer. He asked me if everything was okay and I pointed to the man and said- through the tears that were welling in my own eyes, “you may need to have a discussion with that man about how he treats women and children.” The officer stopped the man and the little girl as another police car pulled into the parking lot. The new officer and his partner separated the man and child while I explained what had transpired.

After gathering information and statements from the spineless bunch inside, the officer informed me that this whole hateful outburst began when the girl put a snack on the counter that his EBT card wouldn’t cover. I declined the officer’s offer to file a report, but repeatedly begged him not to let the girl leave with him. I was told that I could leave since I didn’t want to file a report, but that they would continue to interview the little girl and if they found evidence of abuse, she wouldn’t be released to him until Child Protective Services reviewed the case. Anxious for the girl, I got in my car and left.

I couldn’t comprehend that THAT was what all of this was over. HIS inability to find enough change to cover the $1.29 difference was what made him react in such a volatile manner. I would have happily covered the difference for him had I known that would have been all it took to protect this girl for at least a few minutes. I guess, subconsciously, it was why I instinctively said something without thinking about the potential consequences. In no way did I want to go toe to toe with this angry man, but better me than a little girl who hasn't even hit puberty yet. Surely people aren't so indifferent that one of the men- or even women- in the store would have stepped in had things gotten physical, right? Maybe I was the first person who ever told him that speaking to a child that way is inexcusable and he’ll work on it. Maybe I'm the first person any of those people had ever seen stand up for a stranger and it showed them that it's okay for people to care about other people even if they don't know them. Maybe she'll remember this in ten years when a boy tries to put her down and she'll know that she is completely justified in telling him to go screw himself, that she deserves better. Maybe he beat the hell out of her when they got home and it was my fault. I hope it wasn't the latter and I'll probably lose sleep worrying about that girl, but I want to believe that something good came from what I did.

I don't know where the disconnect is with people, but children are a product of their environment. No wonder kids use language that is too mature for their age and grow up to be disrespectful, angry, self-harming, irresponsible, violent people, or think they are undeserving of success or love or respect. If someone they see as important treats them like trash when they’re most impressionable, they’re going to believe they’re trash. They think they're astronauts, bus drivers, princesses, rock stars, vets, or whatever; but as a society we have to remember that there's more to children than vivid imaginations. They're sensitive, fragile sponges who see and hear more than we give them credit for, and they have feelings that are easily hurt. They need people in their lives to look up to, people who speak to them like they're important, who care about their betterment and making them feel special and loved. This little girl looked broken and defeated. No one should be made to feel broken or defeated; not an eight year old, not you, not me, not anyone you care about, not even a stranger. I'm far from perfect and I say ugly things more often than I'd like to admit, but I think if every person on this planet woke up every morning and decided to live their life by The Golden Rule, the world would be a lot nicer place to be.

Mom, thank you for raising me to be a person who understands right from wrong, for instilling in me the courage to be willing to speak for those who can't speak for themselves, and for never making me feel broken. And most importantly, everything is fine so DON’T FREAK OUT.

Jerry Richards and the Charlotte City Council Have Lost Their Damn Minds with the Proposed Upgrades to the Panther's Stadium

"Carolina Panthers president Danny Morrison said the team plans to begin renovations on its 16-year-old stadium immediately after the 2013 NFL season and estimates the project could take two years to complete. The master plan calls for between $261 million and $297 million in upgrades, according to Morrison. Charlotte's City Council is backing a proposal to give the Panthers nearly $144 million from a food and beverage tax increase to pay for stadium upgrades and the team is seeking more than $60 million in state funds." http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8941095/carolina-panthers-begin-stadium-renovation-2013-season

"The team's top four priorities are installing new escalators to carry fans to the upper level ($28 million), video and ribbon boards and sound system ($59 million), technology upgrades ($25 million) and improving the stadium's infrastructure, including new seats ($62 million). Team officials also want to expand entry gates and ticket offices to make it easier for fans to enter ($16 million), improve concourses ($35 million) and club and suite level ($29 million), and possibly add an indoor practice facility ($30 million)." http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/11/2672875/panthers-break-down-stadium-improvement.html

There are homeless people living on the streets, shelters are at capacity, unemployed parents are struggling to provide necessities for their families, animal shelters need funding for expansion and education due to all of the irresponsible pet owners, college costs are so astronomical they're preventing people from acquiring higher education, entire parts of the city are in various levels of deterioration or dilapidation, the mental healthcare system needs a complete overhaul, 17% of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina’s service area lives in poverty- including almost 209,000 children and seniors, the education system is a joke...I could go on forever. All of this is prevalent not only in Charlotte, but the whole state and country. I went to one Panther's game this past season and let me tell you, the lackluster experience I had then had absolutely nothing to do with the lack of escalators or my experience with the entrance gates or sound system, and more to do with the fact the team is garbage and like all stadiums, everything sold inside its walls is overpriced. I have a sense of loyalty for the team since they represent the Carolinas, but take them somewhere else if this stadium is just too subpar to go on- oh, the humanity! The audacity of the city to raise taxes (that could potentially hurt business at local bars and restaurants) so they can give $144 million to a stadium for an unnecessary face-lift instead of funneling the money to benefit the citizens and improve the city beyond one structure is absolutely atrocious, vile, disgusting, reprehensible, irresponsible, completely lacking in common sense, and should- quite frankly- be illegal. THEN for Richards to ask for an additional $62.5 million from the state is absurdity. He may say he'll never move the Panthers from Charlotte, but he's only obligated to stay here for the 15 years agreed upon in this preposterous deal. If the Panther's can't make the "necessary" changes with the $96 million they plan to contribute, maybe they can take a little from the players' salaries or wait until they sell enough $9 lukewarm draft beers to cover the rest. Even better, Bruton Smith has offered to buy the whole operation for the right price and even went so far as to say, “I would commit to the city – and I would not ask for money.” I think Richards has a bright future as a politician seeing as how he has a complete misunderstanding of real issues deserving funding.

"If this coward could have done this with this much hate, imagine what we can do with this much love. If you are putting your dreams on hold, you stop that right now. You chase those dreams. You don't know how long you have here." 
-Jordan Ghawi, brother of 24 year old Jessica Ghawi killed in the Aurora massacre

Noah's Puzzle is Complete

Several months ago Kristin Timmerman from Project: Babies shared a link about a family adopting a little girl named Rose.  The idea was simple, and quite creative.  The family needed $5,000 more dollars in their adoption fund, so they bought a 1,000 piece puzzle and put a price tag of $5 on each piece.  Giving up two minutes and $5 earned you a spot on a piece of the puzzle, and in this little girl and new family's life. 

Through a series of events, the family has actually ended up adopting a little boy named Noah.  Though this wasn't the original plan, the puzzle is complete and I know that my name is on the back of it somewhere.  I know that I helped a family bring home a part of their heart.  I know that I helped a child find a home full of love, and helped bring him to a life of happiness.

I also bought a piece in memory of Matt.  He loved children and he loved the idea of starting a family of his own.  I hope to be able to support many families in his memory- even though it unfortunately isn't an option for him, others can have a family in his name.  And his love will be intertwined with every.single.one.

I mean really. How amazing is that? 1,000 names!

Gas Chambers: Demand Change

Let me preface this by saying it brings me no joy to read/view/post/have to think about the idea of animals being euthanized- especially in a gas chamber (even the words have such a cruel connotation), but this is an unfortunate reality that I hope to help change...

"Yes, I Gas Dogs and Cats for a Living. I'm an Animal Control officer in a very small town in central North Carolina. I'm in my mid thirties, and have been working for the town in different positions since high school. There is not much work here, and working for the county provides good pay and benefits for a person like me without a higher education. I'm the person you all write about how horrible I am. I'm the one that gasses the dogs and cats and makes them suffer. I'm the one that pulls their dead corpses out smelling of Carbon Monoxide and throws them into green plastic bags. But I'm also the one that hates my job and hates what I have to do.

First off, all you people out there that judge me, don't. God is judging me, and I know I'm going to Hell. Yes, I'm going to hell. I wont lie, it's despicable, cold, cruel and I feel like a serial killer. I'm not all to blame, if the law would mandate spay and neuter, lots of these dogs and cats wouldn't be here for me to gas. I'm the devil, I know it, but I want you people to see that there is another side to me the devil Gas Chamber man.

The shelter usually gasses on Friday morning. Friday's are the day that most people look forward to, this is the day that I hate, and wish that time will stand still on Thursday night. Thursday night, late, after nobody's around, my friend and I go through a fast food line, and buy 50 dollars worth of cheeseburgers and fries, and chicken. I'm not allowed to feed the dogs on Thursday, for I'm told that they will make a mess in the gas chamber, and why waste the food.

So, Thursday night, with the lights still closed, I go into the saddest room that anyone can every imagine, and let all the doomed dogs out out their cages. I have never been bit, and in all my years doing this, the dogs have never fought over the food. My buddy and I, open each wrapper of cheeseburger and chicken sandwich, and feed them to the skinny, starving dogs.

They swallow the food so fast, that I don't believe they even taste it. There tails are wagging, and some don't even go for the food, they roll on their backs wanting a scratch on their bellys. They start running, jumping and kissing me and my buddy. They go back to their food, and come back to us. All their eyes are on us with such trust and hope, and their tails wag so fast, that I have come out with black and blues on my thighs.. They devour the food, then it's time for them to devour some love and peace. My buddy and I sit down on the dirty, pee stained concrete floor, and we let the dogs jump on us. They lick us, they put their butts in the air to play, and they play with each other. Some lick each other, but most are glued on me and my buddy.

I look into the eyes of each dog. I give each dog a name.

They will not die without a name.

I give each dog 5 minutes of unconditional love and touch.

I talk to them, and tell them that I'm so sorry that tomorrow they will die a gruesome, long, torturous death at the hands of me in the gas chamber.

Some tilt their heads to try to understand.

I tell them, that they will be in a better place, and I beg them not to hate me.

I tell them that I know I'm going to hell, but they will all be playing with all the dogs and cats in heaven.

After about 30 minutes, I take each dog individually, into their feces filled concrete jail cell, and pet them and scratch them under their chins. Some give me their paw, and I just want to die. I just want to die. I close the jail cell on each dog, and ask them to forgive me. As my buddy and I are walking out, we watch as every dog is smiling at us and them don't even move their heads. They will sleep, with a full belly, and a false sense of security.

As we walk out of the doomed dog room, my buddy and I go to the cat room.

We take our box, and put the very friendly kittens and pregnant cats in our box.

The shelter doesn't keep tabs on the cats, like they do the dogs.

As I hand pick which cats are going to make it out, I feel like I'm playing God, deciding whose going to live and die.

We take the cats into my truck, and put them on blankets in the back.

Usually, as soon as we start to drive away, there are purring cats sitting on our necks or rubbing against us.

My buddy and I take our one way two hour trip to a county that is very

wealthy and they use injection to kill animals.

We go to exclusive neighborhoods, and let one or two cats out at a time.

They don't want to run, they want to stay with us. We shoo them away, which makes me feel sad.

I tell them that these rich people will adopt them, and if worse comes to worse and they do get put down, they will be put down with a painless needle being cradled by a loving veterinarian. After the last cat is free, we drive back to our town.

It's about 5 in the morning now, about two hours until I have to gas my best friends.

I go home, take a shower, take my 4 anti-anxiety pills and drive to work.. I don't eat, I can't eat. It's now time, to put these animals in the gas chamber. I put my ear plugs in, and when I go to the collect the dogs, the dogs are so excited to see me, that they jump up to kiss me and think they are going to play.

I put them in the rolling cage and take them to the gas chamber. They know. They just know. They can smell the death.. They can smell the fear. They start whimpering, the second I put them in the box. The boss tells me to squeeze in as many as I can to save on gas. He watches. He knows I hate him, he knows I hate my job. I do as I'm told. He watches until all the dogs, and cats (thrown in together) are fighting and screaming. The sounds is very muffled to me because of my ear plugs. He walks out, I turn the gas on, and walk out.

I walk out as fast as I can. I walk into the bathroom, and I take a pin and draw blood from my hand. Why? The pain and blood takes my brain off of what I just did.

In 40 minutes, I have to go back and unload the dead animals. I pray that none survived, which happens when I overstuff the chamber. I pull them out with thick gloves, and the smell of carbon monoxide makes me sick. So does the vomit and blood, and all the bowel movements. I pull them out, put them in plastic bags.

They are in heaven now, I tell myself. I then start cleaning up the mess, the mess, that YOU PEOPLE are creating by not spay or neutering your animals. The mess that YOU PEOPLE are creating by not demanding that a vet come in and do this humanely. You ARE THE TAXPAYERS, DEMAND that this practice STOP!

So, don't call me the monster, the devil, the gasser, call the politicians, the shelter directors, and the county people the devil. Heck, call the governor, tell him to make it stop.
As usual, I will take sleeping pills tonight to drown out the screams I heard in the past, before I discovered the ear plugs. I will jump and twitch in my sleep, and I believe I'm starting to hallucinate.

This is my life. Don't judge me. Believe me, I judge myself enough."

Anonymous in North Carolina"

 
This is one of those sad letters written by an "anonymous worker."  I put in quotes because who's to say whether it's from an anonymous worker or an anonymous activist that just wants to be heard.  What I can say is that regardless of who wrote it, this is still happening...in a civilized country.  We're the people who are responsible for this.  Oh no, not you?  Don't you think our tax dollars are used to fund these inhumane, torturous deaths?  We have to change this.  We have to stand up against this cruel act.  We have to contact our legislatures and governors and policy makers and demand our tax money be put to better use.  We have to demand there be punishment for people who habitually surrender animals, who don't spay and neuter, who abandon their animals, or turn them loose when they don't want them anymore.  We have to insist that North Carolina nor America is going to be a place where animals are thrown into a gas chamber to die slowly, in pain, scared, and confused.  Make a difference.

Nate

Another day, another farewell. Nate started his journey to LA today and boy am I going to miss him. We lived in the same dorm Freshman year and met through his roommate- who I went to high school with- and have been friends ever since. I wish him only the best with his new job, city, the drive there, everything. Two thousand some-odd miles apart, but always in my heart. Everyone needs to stop leaving come back.

Right in the middle of two of my favorite people in the world, who have both moved away in the past month.
Look at what wittle babies we all look like.

Almost five years later...

Happy Monday

 

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

-Roald Dahl

Rob

Rob has left.  Another sad departure of one of the boys. Like Bryce, he moved to start an awesome company, except Rob is based in Philly.  Best of luck Rob!

Vote AGAINST Amendment One

I have always been proud to be from NC, but this is a pathetic, malicious attack on LGBT dignity and humanity. In addition to being an unnecessary Amendment directed at oppressing the gay community (which is already forbidden to marry in this state), this will also affect unmarried straight couples- custody agreements and visitations; domestic violence protections; invalidate trusts, wills, and end-of-life directives; threaten their ability to determine the disposition of their deceased partner’s remains; to make medical decisions if their partner is incapacitated; and to allow second-parent adoptions in order to ensure that both partners have a legal tie to, and financial responsibilities for, the children they are raising. 

This amendment is an unnecessary means to belittle and oppress an entire group of people and deny them constitutional rights. Apparently this is the 1800s and not 2012? Bless the poor people's hearts who still have these archaic, closed-minded, bigoted views.

Don't just post on facebook and express opposition at the dinner table; go out and make your voice heard. Not voting against this is equivalent to voting for it. If you can't make it out to a polling location on May 8, vote early! There are polling locations open until 7:00 tonight, and will be open for parts of the day tomorrow.


Your life is not affected by gay people, stop trying to affect theirs with your straightness.
Educate yourself and join me in voting AGAINST Amendment 1 on or before May 8.

50 Shades Trilogy

50 Shades of Grey:  "When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires. Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever."
50 Shades Darker: "Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.
While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life."
50 Shades Freed: "When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees. Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.
Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality."

As someone who loves to read, I take every opportunity to recommend a good book/trilogy/series to anyone who will listen.  LISTEN UP!  Read.These.Books.  I don't recommend reading them to the residents at an old folks home, or joining a 50 Shades book club with your mom (unless you have a Lindsay/Dina Lohan kind of relationship...and if that's the case, you may want to consider seeking therapy), but if you've been looking for a new diversion from reality, this is the real deal.  There is a lot- and I mean A LOT- of sex (of all different varieties), but it also has suspense, and an easy-to-follow story line.  It's an erotic journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, trust, and love.  Don't get me wrong, these books are not going down in history as the most well-written, nor for not having countless literary redundancies throughout, but it is good for adding a few words to your vocabulary and helping you briefly escape your monotonous (sex) life.

This is a rundown of how reading The 50 Shades Trilogy went for me:
Last Tuesday: started 50 Shades of Grey after work
Tuesday night: ordered 50 Shades Darker and 50 Shades Freed on Half.com
Thursday night: my package somehow hadn't made it here in 48 hours so I picked up 50 Shades Darker from Target because I couldn't wait.
Friday night: read at work, when I got home from work, and while getting ready to go out
Saturday: read for somewhere around 4 hours before falling asleep on the couch with the book in my hand.
Saturday night: finished Darker while drying my hair
Sunday: still waiting for the package containing the final books. Resisted the urge to head to Target. Was beside myself and felt lost all day.
Monday: still no package when I left for work. I found a place where I can read it online and dove right in.
Monday afternoon: package arrived. I. Was. Pumped. I read all night.
Tuesday: precisely one week after beginning the first book, I finished the third.

I have now been forced to return to the real world where a man such as Christian Grey, and the lifestyle that goes along with him, does not exist.  I have to say, my life suddenly isn't as exciting as I thought it was before the books.  I wish I could have read them at a slower rate so that I could potentially still be savoring every aspect, but once I get into a book, I become obsessed.  Clearly.

Happy Reading!

Bryce

My Brycie left me in the wee hours of this morning so he could move back to Boston and run an awesome company. What a lame excuse. I met Bryce in Target the day I moved into college- whatever day in August '07 that was- and we've been friends ever since.  I'm sort of going to miss his abrasive charm, but definitely all the adorable pictures we take together.

Cirque du Soleil

A beautiful photo of Totem site by gifted performer and photographer Yann C. Arnaud

Bad Ass Woman Bringing Women's Month to a Close

“Kathrine Switzer is the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry. She entered and completed the race in 1967, five years before women were officially allowed to compete in it. At twenty years old, she registered under the gender-neutral ‘K. V. Switzer’. Race official Jock Semple attempted to remove her from the race, and is noted to have shouted, ‘Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers.’ However, Switzer’s boyfriend, who was running with her, shoved Semple aside and sent him flying. Her boyfriend then, along with other male runners, formed a protective barrier for Switzer for the remainder of the race. The photographs taken of the incident made world headlines.”

How stinkin' awesome, right?

Cirque du Soleil Totem

It's no secret; I miss Totem. Like, a lot. A lot, a lot.

Which is why this makes my heart smile and want to break down and cry all at the same time.

I love those frogs. I love every single person in the show and behind the scenes that I got the opportunity to work and play and build a relationship with. I have some of the most amazing memories from my time with Totem. I learned and saw and experienced so much. I wouldn't trade my time with them for anything and I can't believe they've been gone from my life for a year.

Wahhhhhh!! [Imagine me pouting with a frown and pretending to cry]