True Companions
Lately I have been reflecting on the relationships that are shared between people and their pets. Our fur babies have major personalities, which is quite evident to anyone who spends any length of time with them. I have always been confused by people who say things along the lines of animals all being the same as each other and that there is no real personality.
Differences make up our personalities as humans, and the same can be said for our pets. Maggie gets excited over a game of fetch anytime of the day, while River will catch a ball if you throw it his way, and Cooper couldn’t care less about a ball thrown for him, and lacks the skill to really catch anything, even a treat. With the cats, Erza enjoys puzzle toys, especially if there are treats involved. Gobi is food motivated but has issues when it is any harder to get to than placed right in front of him. Pho doesn’t appreciate anyone messing with her food, and is particular about the kinds of treats she will eat.
Qualities that we have in common create connections between us and other people. Animals create bonds the same way. As I am writing this, my Mom is entertaining all three dogs by bouncing between their stuffed bears. Each one has a specific colored bear, and they can often be found playing with each other’s. With the cats, they all obviously enjoy a good snooze, usually on their person’s bed. While the toy in question may differ slightly, they all will play in similar fashion, throwing the toys around and giving chase like the little hunters that they are.
The connections that we form with these animals are just as real as with other people. They are parts of our families. They enrich our lives every day, and provide us with plenty of laughter. I will forever be thankful to have grown up in a family that values these little souls in the way that they do.
Strange Strategies
I have a genuine question for everyone. Have you noticed that recent commercials are just plain strange the majority of the time? Brands like Red Bull, Native, and Doritos are just the first ones to come to mind that I have seen in the past few days.
The whole goal of these adds is to get the consumer to buy their products, I am aware of that. However, I have been watching tv with my parents and one of those strange commercials comes on, and we are just left confused and speechless sometimes. If we want to argue that they have gone the route of strange because they are trying to get their product to be remembered, then I would say that they have achieved that goal. But at what cost?
If I am completely honest, I am less likely to try a new brand of something just because they had a very strange add. I find it off putting, and it gives me a negative impression of the brand as a whole for going with the add to begin with. This reaction may not be considered fair, but it is how I have found myself feeling.
Last night a commercial for a toilet paper brand played while my parents and I were watching a show. I can’t recall the specific name of the brand, but I know it was meant to show their “new” rolls that feature 1000 sheets, or at least something to that effect. The add featured a man who was unrolling one of these new rolls on to the floor and it proceeded to roll away onto the street. While this was happening, that man held the oo vowel sound of the word long the entire time it was rolling. So due to the idea that these are extra long rolls, it was a significant time for this sound to be playing. All this managed to do is straight up annoy me, and consider muting the tv the next time it played. I highly doubt a very effective marketing strategy is to annoy the consumer. It gave me a pretty negative reaction to the product and the brand.
Overall, I am just plain confused as to the new-ish trend of commercials that just don’t make real sense. It doesn’t feel like these companies are trying to put their best foot forward with their products. Not everything in life has to be played up for this grand spectacle that the entertainment world has become these days. I am starting to sound like a cranky old man, telling little kids about how things were back in my day, but that doesn’t make the point any less important.
I appreciate the companies that try to do right by their consumers and their employees. We need a little more of that in the world these days.
Sleepless Nights
As someone who has chronic pain, I am pretty used to it waking me up in the middle of the night and poking at my nerves enough that there is no use in going back to sleep at that point. So I have had the “pleasure” of seeing what the world is like when the majority of the people around me are sleeping.
Obviously I have the mornings where I am annoyed by the fact that I am awake, we all do even if we wake up at a much more reasonable time. However, I do enjoy the quiet. There is no one around to bother me, other than the cats, while I write or draw. My ADHD feels quieter when there is no one else around to create the distractions that have become so easily available.
I try my best to not make too much noise myself. Since there are other people in my household and they are still trying to sleep, I don’t want my circumstances to affect them in any manner. So while almost silent activities are my only form of entertainment, the modern technology of my incredible headphones certainly come in handy. Most mornings though, I don’t use them.
Like I previously stated, I tend to work on my writing while the world around me sleeps. There is something about the stillness of the morning that makes the words come easier. I do have writer’s block occasionally, but while the outside noise is muted, I have less in the way of the ideas that end up creating things. Several passages in my book, Elementals: Spark, were at least inspired by, if not directly written during, the time when I am awake all by myself.
Later today, I will take a nap, and cross my fingers that I can get some of the missing energy back. For now though, I sit in the living room, waiting for the world to wake up and say good morning.
626 Day
Today is June 26th, also known as 626 day. Stitch, also known as Experiment 626, is celebrated today. The whole idea of this strange alien creature could find a family and a home is very heart warming. Stitch is just one of my favorite characters. Growing up I was very much a Disney child. I watched those movies over and over, and even into my adult years, I still had to see the Disney original movies.
The varied stories that unfolded before my eyes, mesmerized me. Mulan learning to fight in the army to protect her father and family. Hercules fighting for the path in life he wanted, and being willing to throw it all away to save the woman he loved. Pocahontas fighting for a Romeo and Juliet kind of love because she wasn’t afraid to dive into the deep end of another culture. These ideals are the ones that I held on to.
I obviously watched the princess movies as well, and they do hold a special place in my heart. Thankfully though, I have incredible women role models in my life that have taught me to be strong for myself and not depend on a love interest for validation. The songs from The Little Mermaid will forever be part of my playlists. As will several of the other soundtracks. I also will hold the princess movies close because of the memories that are attached to them.
Stitch and all the other Disney character are special to quite a few of us and the fact that we have days like 626 Day to come together and celebrate them and the impact that they have had on our lives is really special in my opinion. These characters reached across cultures, continents, and language barriers to create a community. That is pretty magical if you ask me.
A Rose By Any Other Name
Growing up with a unique name was certainly an adventure. It used to annoy me when people would mispronounce or misspell my name. My name is spelt phonetically, and because of that fact, I didn’t understand why so many people have such an issue with pronouncing or spelling my name. Now I realize that because people are not used to my name, they over think it and that is why they have such an issue. While I now understand why people struggle with my name, it still boggles my mind when people look at my name and call me names like Kassidy. There is no A or D in my name, so why try and add letters?
The story behind my name is that my Mom was college roommates with a wonderful woman named Kesinee. My Mom fell in love with the name, and when she had me, her first daughter, she gave me the name. The original Kesinee is now my God Mother as well.
I always get a good giggle out of visiting my God Mother at her day care that she runs out of her home. When I introduce myself to the kids, they always laugh and say that I can’t be named Kesinee. I have to get my God Mother to confirm for them that I share her name. It probably is because they are either not used to two people with the same name, or they are really not used to two people sharing such a unique name.
In school, I could always tell when the teacher would get to my name on the roster or during roll call. Because it was alphabetical by last name, I was always at the end of the list. There would be a giant pause, and the teacher would usually make some sort of face that showed how unsure they were about the pronunciation of the name they were reading. Most would try and take a stab at it, and the majority who tried would get close. A few would read off my last name and ask me how to say my first name. One that made me smile was when they said that they were not going to even attempt to say my name because they knew they would get it wrong and just said my last name. At least they tried?
While I may complain about my name because of the issues so many have with the pronunciation and spelling, I would never change it. I never had to deal with multiple people in my classroom with the same name, or with getting confused when someone would call out my name. I always knew that they meant to be talking to me. (Obviously this changes slightly when I am around my God Mother.)
My name is special to me. I will always be thankful that I was blessed with a unique name. But if I had a nickel for every time someone mispronounced or misspelled my name, I would have been able to pay for college.
Spark of Something New
Publishing a novel is no easy feat. Many have started to go the route of self publishing. Most of the time though, this costs a pretty penny. I managed to find a way to make it happen for my book.
Elementals: Spark is not the first manuscript that I have ever written, but it is the first one since I graduated college with my Bachelors in Creative Writing. I used my new skills to try and improve a story that I have always had roaming around in my head.
Summary:
Rhea Morgan is just finishing high school and trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, when she is off to her final year of training as an Elemental, an ancient line of druids that control the six elements of the world and protect the balance. A group of people with these same abilities, The Banished, are starting to attack the strongholds of the Elementals in search of something.
With her twin sister Robin, and four other Elementals who are also graduating high school, Rhea must fight The Banished, and protect life as we know it, while also trying to figure out her future, and love.
Many things go into creating a novel beyond just the words. I created the cover for my book. Copyright is no joke, so I used a photo that I had taken back in the summer, and placed the text over it. The simplicity of the cover I created suits the story, at least I think it does.
This process, publishing and writing a book, took some time, but as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Good things take time, and I sincerely hope that many people find my novel to be a good thing. If you would like to support me, please take them time to purchase my book off Amazon.
Comfort Shows
Growing up I would watch certain tv shows whenever I caught them playing on the regular channels. Reruns were something I hunted for. Shows like The Last Airbender and Charmed were something I would seek out when I was home sick or needed something familiar playing in the background while I was working on something else.
Before streaming came along, my mom got me and my sister DVD sets of the first three seasons of Charmed. We would watch them over and over. I would imagine I was a powerful witch with magical powers. I could escape into the world created in the show. Because I had watched each episode so many times, I knew exactly what would happen and didn’t find the need to focus on the tv and I could work on a project, or homework without missing important events in the story of the show.
Since streaming, I have kept track of which service has had the original Charmed series available. (Which by the way is Peacock) Periodically, I would come back to it and rewatch the majority of the series. With the power of being able to pick and choose, I often would skip over episodes that I wasn’t a fan of.
Something that I have treasured and found comfort in since I was a child continues to bring me a joy. I want to hold on to things that connect me to the person I once was. Maybe if I hold on to some of those core loves, those core values, then I won’t change so much that I can’t recognize who I am. I am keeping things with me to hold close. I am keeping my comfort shows.
Cursive: A Right of Passage
In case you didn’t know, I teach my cousin as an English touter. (Turns out to be a perk of having a degree in writing that I didn’t know about.) ;) Recently I was chatting with my younger cousin and found out that due to when he was going through school, he only had one lesson on writing in cursive. According to him, they barely taught him how to write his name and then never talked about it again.
This idea kind of boggled my mind. When I was in 3rd grade I spent countless hours learning how to make each letter stroke for stroke. Writing my name became an art project. I was amazed at how fancy my name looked. Then afterwards, I saw changes in my printing penmanship as well. Letters that used to be nothing but sticks changes and morphed into these round curly shapes. Thankfully it made my hand writing easier to read, and I think that it has maintained a decent pretty quality to this day.
What really made me sad about the phasing out of cursive in school, is that another of my cousins couldn’t read the hand written well wishes written to her and her fiancé on cards at their baby shower. These beautiful messages had to be translated for them as if they were written in a different language.
I am grateful that I learned and can read cursive. That means I get to keep the notes from my elders and reread them whenever I feel the need. I love that I have a box with cards that mark special moments in my life, and that I get to hold those moments closer because of this skill.
Thankfully I am able to teach my cousins enough that they should be able to learn to read those heartfelt messages and be able to treasurer them as well.
Back to School and the Basics
As we start to send the youngest amongst us back to the classrooms, I have been thinking about my time in the k-12 grades. I grew up during a very interesting time to be in school. Tech was taking off, computers becoming something we could fit in our pockets and use every day.
Going to the computer lab was something that everyone looked forward to when I was in elementary school. We would play games to learn basic skills like typing and math. My favorite though had to be the Oregon Trail games. Not sure if I ever got my little group of people to the end of the trail though. If I remember correctly, I managed to kill off my entire group one way or another every time.
Then there were the days were a teacher would wheel in that giant tv on a cart. We all would get so excited because that meant that we would be watching something, more than likely instead of an actual lesson. The lights would be turned off and the teacher would have us move our chairs to make sure we could all see the screen. Due to the size, we would sometimes have to move the desks out of the way to get closer to the screen. Even if we were given a worksheet to fill out while watching, it was the preferred method of learning compared to the books.
By the time I made it to middle school, most classrooms had projectors that attached to the teacher’s computers. They could play videos or show power points much easier. Books were still relied on though. It was still the easiest way to get the required information into our hands and allowed us to have something to work from at home. Computers at home were still the family computer. I would ask my parents for permission to use their computers to do homework or play games on.
Things like the overhead projector, where the teacher would use these transparent plastic sheets to show on a larger scale what they were talking about, were starting to be phased out. It was easier and more cost effective, to just use the classroom computer to provide visuals. Some teachers would even print out their power point slides to make notes easier for students. All we had to do was annotate the provided information.
High school was a fast paced change. Computer classes, on the basics of their functions and their programs like the Microsoft office set, were required to graduate. They were starting to push for us to be ready to work in the 21st century. I even got to use tech for my art classes. Between reference images, printing my written story drafts for a collage, and a beginner graphic design class, I was exploring how to apply computers to every facet of my learning.
My senior year is when they did the trial of giving laptops/Chromebooks to the freshman class. The following year they expected to provide them to all students in the high school. Since I was a senior, that wasn’t going to happen for me. I still had plenty of access to computers at home, plus my own smart phone, so I certainly wasn’t disconnected from the world and unable to complete my assignments. By that point, I was even starting to turn in some work just online to certain teachers. Most still preferred a paper copy though.
College was a major step forward. It is pretty much a requirement to have a personal laptop/computer these days even outside the classroom. Inside the classroom though, it is very needed. All teachers have online connections to their students. Email has become both helpful and a bother. Students can ask questions outside of office hours, but some might even think that teachers are required to answer them in the space of a few minutes even in the dead of night. (The student is up at three am working on homework for your class. Why aren’t you awake to answer any questions they might have about it right then?)
I carried my own laptop with me too and from classes. When I had the time, I would find a table or comfy chair, possibly just a spot on the floor out of the way, and take out my laptop to work on homework or surf the internet. As a writer, I would even take spare time and work on whatever story had been bouncing around in my head that day. Pretty much wherever you looked on campus, several students would have their laptop out and headphones on. On campus computer labs still saw plenty of use as well because they would have programs that our personal devices didn’t. That way we wouldn’t have to purchase them on our own.
Laptops became one of the go to ways to take notes in classes as well. Many students could type much faster than they could write by hand so they chose to keep word documents that served as their notes from each class. Maybe it says something about me that I preferred to use my notebook and colorful pens, other than loving the fact that I had an excuse to buy the large set of colored pens that held so many colors, but I only ended up using my laptop to really take notes in one class. I chose and Anthropology class as one of my gen eds and made several friends in that class. Together we created a word document on Google Docs, and took notes as a group. That way each of us could ask questions and make sure everything was understood.
Through my years in school, I obviously learned a lot. I do count myself lucky to have grown up with these changes in tech though. Having the changes happen as I went through school, made it easier to learn and adapt to having more and more of the world at my finger tips. I still remember a time were leaving school, or work meant that no one could contact you about it and you received some peace and quiet. Being allowed time to turn off the devices and just be unreachable is healthy for the soul.
Chalkfest: 2023
Today I went to see all the incredible artists at Chalkfest with my friend B. For those of you who have never heard of this festival, let me explain. The local college, that I also graduated from, University of Wisconsin: Eau Claire hosts a day long event that invites local artists to come and decorate a square of the sidewalk along the central area of the academic buildings on campus. Each artist pays a small fee and they get several hours to create these incredible works of art. They use art chalks to cover the pavement in vibrant hues that quite a bit of the community comes to see.
Chalkfest has become a family event, with area set aside for the kids under twelve to also get involved in sharing their creative spirits. Food stands were also up and running, several local favorites setting up booths. A crowd favorite was the cotton candy booth that was spinning the sugar fresh for each order. Of course the BluGolds (UWEC Mascot/Student name) had to get in on the action and set up several stands to serve up grilled food and fresh coffee. (Although the heat of the day made the coffee stand a lonely place to be.)
B. and I did two laps of the art while it was in the process of being created. On the second one I broke out my camera and took several photos of my favorite works. The detail and vibrant colors that the artist were able to create blew my mind and I was so glad I remembered to bring my DSLR so I could capture even just a bit of their beauty. (Hopefully I can get those photos up on my portfolio soon! Please check back) Also on the second lap B. was enjoying a small cupcake sized cheesecake from one of the food vendors. She said that the raspberry lemon flavor was very refreshing and helped cool her down.
Back when I would return to campus each fall, I would make guesses in my head about which square would last the longest. The colors are so rich that many of the works of art will only slightly fade with each rain instead of washing completely away like the sidewalk hopscotch we used to draw as kids. Since this was my first time seeing the art the day it was created, I welcomed the different perspective on something that I hold fond memories of from back in college.
B. and I finished out our adventure with a stop at Culver’s for lunch and a nice long chat. I am still thrilled that she decided to move back to the area after getting her advanced degree in Minnesota. My day was filled with warm sun, laughter, good music, and great food. The best part of going to see such incredible art, was sharing it with B. and getting her take on each one. Discussing art has always been fun form me, so I am happy to have another person to share it with. Thank you B. for a lovely day!
Barbie: The Woman, The Myth, The Legend
Friday, July 21st, I joined my Aunt (mom’s sister) and her family for a birthday trip to the movie theater. We saw the Barbie Movie. As someone who grew up playing with various Barbie dolls, I really enjoyed the movie. There was more depth than I thought there would be. Also the storyline resonated with me. Now, I refuse to provide too many spoilers, so please watch it yourself if you really are interested.
Like I previously stated, I grew up playing with Barbies. I only had my older brother around at family functions until my little sister was born five years after me. Until she was born I didn’t really play that many girly games, but I was all for it by the time she arrived. Thus started my Barbie phase.
Back in the early 2000s, there were not many options to get extra clothes for these dolls, so often we would be playing with very naked toys. My sister created clothes for them out of various colors of duct tape. Honestly it was a decent solution, the dresses never got lost because you could never undress the dolls again. She definitely deserves points for creativity and getting the job done. (Side note: my grandma hated that we had naked dolls, so we would hide them when she came to visit.)
As we would play, our dolls would take damage in the conventional way, but they also would be broken other ways. My family owned a large black lab, named Bella, who developed a keen sense for doll plastics. It became her favorite thing to chew on. So several of our Barbies became amputees and we would play with them even after they began missing limbs. This created another “game” of sorts. Hide the dolls after you were done playing with them so Bella wouldn’t find them and eat a limb off. Finding spots that our Barbies could live in between play sessions that were both safe from Bella, and hidden from my grandma, was a difficult task all on its own. Not sure if this was typical play with other children, but I would throw my dolls down the stairs because they could fly in my imaginary world. My dad is a big superhero fan, so I guess I get it from him.
These dolls went through the wringer at my hands. Barbies were subjected to the same wear and tear that my other childhood toys dealt with. Hair was cut off and such to make them truly a child’s toy. Looking back now, I can’t help but smile at the memories that Barbie helped me create. I didn’t care about the beauty standards she has become the beacon for. I just wanted a person shaped doll, so I could live out my imaginary stories through them. Maybe Barbie helped me on my path to be a writer and story teller.
Phone Culture
This last week I got a new phone. My old one started to close out of apps that I was using and the battery life was pretty bad. Thankfully I had the option of getting one of the latest models, one of the Pixel 7 line. Obviously the new phone had updated features and a improved camera, which were big pluses for me when picking out which one to go with. But this whole process has brought a few things to mind that I didn’t think of before.
Since my phone was ordered online, and was being shipped to my house, I had to wait for it to arrive in the mail. I took the time to search Amazon for a new case that was both decent protection and still fun to look at. I ended up with a blue case that has some fun colors on the back. The drawback I found here is that my case wasn’t scheduled to arrive until Friday, the phone was projected to be in my hands by Thursday. That meant I would have some time where my phone wasn’t covered in a case, while it was in my hands.
I am a fairly clumsy person. This fact has always made me giggle due to the fact that I danced for color guard in high school, which required grace. Normally the two don’t match up. Anyways, this is the reason I have always tried my best to find a case that would really protect my phone. Lucky for me, I haven’t broken a phone yet, it is always “old age” that takes them out.
But the search for a case, and that time spent without, had gotten me thinking. Why would anyone choose to go without a case on their device? My mom always said, you pay quite a bit for that phone so it is worth your investment to pay for a decent case to protect it. So why, when you have the option of paying a little more to protect your phone, would you willing take the risk of making it easier to break?
Another thought that came to mind, is the amount of apps I have on my phone. When you have to transfer all your information and these days that incudes the apps, everything gets logged out or reset most of the time. So I have ended up deleting several apps that moved over and I realized that I hadn’t opened them in several months. So I got curious if that process is the same for everyone. Do you remove apps your not using periodically? Maybe I should start trying to implement that practice with my phone? Please let me know what you think.
One thing I will forever be thankful for though is that I am able to have a phone. That device allows me to stay in contact with my three best friends, and my friends from high school. I use it often to text my friend who lives in Virginia, sending her pictures just to make her smile when she has had a rough day. Because of my phone, I was able to send another friend a pride filled text when she graduated with her doctorate in veterinary medicine. Almost every day I get sent cute photos of my honorary niece and nephew and all their cute faces, thanks to their loving mommy, who is also my friend.
What comes to mind when you think of how cell phones are handled now, vs what they were when they first became a thing? Please let me know in the comments. I would love to hear from you.
Childhood Values
I was hanging out with one of my best friends the other day and we were watching her eldest child running through the sprinkler and playing in his little pool. The warm weather made it the perfect day to give him the little squirt guns that I had found recently. I became the cool adult because I engaged in a water fight with him. My shirt was soaked and my glasses speckled with droplets by the time he moved on to running through the sprinkler as it watered the grass.
These events got me thinking about my childhood and how we would entertain ourselves while on summer break. I am a 90s baby, so things like smart phones and iPads didn’t exist yet. Warm summer days were spent playing outside with the neighborhood kids, or on play dates with friends from school. Sprinklers and little kiddie pools were special treats used to try and beat the heat. If you happened to live in an area with street lights, as soon as they turned on, you were expected to be heading home for the night.
Looking back on these memories, I started thinking about how I wanted to approach raising my possible future children. I don’t want them to become attached to screens. Occasional time spent watching tv or playing on a smart device will be allowed. I treasured watching Saturday morning cartoons with my dad, while still in our pjs, eating a bowl of cereal. Also long car rides might be made a bit easier on my sanity if screen time was given.
Overall though, I think I would like them to have a childhood similar to mine. Playing outside and exploring the world while curiosity still runs deep in their bones. Learning about how the natural world works by getting their hands in the dirt. Using their imagination to create fantastical worlds that entertain the mind for hours. Making use of the warmer weather in the summer to get some vitamin D and learning to swim.
A child shouldn’t become jaded by the world until they are old enough to understand how we got to where we are, in my opinion. I want to try my best to preserve the innocent nature that they start with, for as long as I can. Fingers crossed that I can actually achieve this ideal.
The Family Pet
I always was surrounded by animals growing up. Several dogs at once, and a few cats that would lounge around the house like royalty. My current lot is three dogs, (River, Cooper, and Maggie), and three cats (Erza, Pho, and Gobi). Something I have learned being with these animals through my life, is there is a very deep connection that forms between an owner and the pet. Even if the animal did not choose you as their human, you become attached to the creature, and your memories have this happy glow to them.
My pets have always been furry, and that would be because I am not a huge fan of the other varieties. I am glad that other people find space in their hearts for these animals, because I certainly wouldn’t be able to properly take care of them due to my aversion. If you own a creature of the scaly persuasion, then I am truly happy for you. Those animals deserve to have the best life that can be given to them.
Cats in particular seem to really enjoy being around me. Since I was ten years old I have been a proud cat mom. Now for those who are against using the parent terms with our fur babies, please note that I have thought it through and found it appropriate. You take care of every need these animals have. You buy them toys and food, take them to the doctor when they are under the weather. There is a responsibility that you take on when you adopt an animal. I don’t have kids, so I can’t compare completely, but too many people their pets are their babies.
As a cat mom, I have had a partner in crime, a best friend, and a furry soulmate all wrapped into one. Smokey was my first cat. My dad brought home two kittens when I was ten years old. They had been barn cats and he only meant to adopt one, but couldn’t separate them because they were playing together and having the best time. So Smokey and her brother Riley became part of our family. Riley chose my younger sister as his person, and he completely understood what she needed out of that relationship. Smokey chose me and I was completely honored to be her person.
It wasn’t very obvious at first, but turned out that Smokey was born blind. There was no physical problem with her eyes, which we a crystal blue that I just adored, so we assumed that the connection along her optic nerve or in her brain wasn’t quite working. This fact never changed anything for me and our relationship though. Even though she couldn’t see like an average cat, she never knew what she was missing. I would pick out toys that made noise, or had reflective surfaces because it seemed like she could pick out some lights and shadows. Smell was a big thing for her, and it seemed to drive how she found her way around the world.
At age 24, I unfortunately lost her due to the original brain condition that she was born with. The vet told me to be very proud of how long she had lived because most cats with brain issues don’t live to be 14. Two weeks later, I adopted Erza. Some may say that is too fast to adopt another, but I had all this love to give and without my cat to give it to, I was lost. Erza helped heal me. She gave me plenty of reasons to smile again and to feel safe loving another cat like I had with Smokey.
Each animal has their own personality. Smokey was fairly calm, and took her time figuring out her next move. Erza loves to play with my pens, and throws her whole self into every adventure she possibly can have. (Obviously this will sometimes get her into trouble.) These differences made me feel my grief in the beginning, when I so desperately wanted Smokey back. However as time has gone by, I realized that I love that Erza is not a carbon copy of my first kitty. I enjoy watching her eyes and how they explore her surroundings, mostly because Smokey’s eyes never reacted to her world. Erza chases after toys that I throw, and I really enjoy that I am finding a new way to interact with my cat.
Our pets have love to give, and I am completely certain that they understand us in their own way. They come give us cuddles when we are sad. They know when to back off and give us a moment to ourselves. Specific words make more sense to them, like your word for their favorite toys, or what you call their meals/food. Overall though, I know that Erza understands me when I explain something to her, and the other animals in my house show the same intelligence spark in their eyes. (Don’t get me wrong there are some animals that are not the brightest crayon in the box, but the same goes for people.)
That bond that forms between us and our pets is incredibly strong and I know that I never want to go for very long in my life without having some form of it. To know the love of an animal, is to know truly unconditional love. They don’t know the concept of hate, or prejudice. It certainly makes me laugh when I see them thinking that a stranger is just a friend they haven’t met yet. They never dislike someone without getting to know who they really are.
I will forever be thankful for the time I got with Smokey, and all my other pets who have passed on. I am also so grateful for the bonds that I have now. The possibility of even more bonds out there that I have yet to make excites me. Hopefully some of you readers feel the same way.
Colored Hair: More Than You See
Today I put some cardinal red streaks back in my hair. I use these extensions that have keratin glue at the tops so I can glue them into my hair at the roots. They are also small enough to blend in most of the time, but then provide a pop of color when someone is paying attention. This kind of color in my hair is just perfect for me. I don’t damage my hair with dye, and they are a bit fun and funky without drawing too many eyes my way.
My sister on the other hand has put purple streaks in her hair. She enjoys having more of the color and being more outgoing with her hair. The tone of purple she picked this time is very cool toned, so it hits differently depending on the light that is around. In the sun, the purple is on full display, but if she steps into the shade, the purple blends well with her natural hair color and makes it look like she just has darker brown hair.
These are only two of the many ways that people put color in their hair that are deemed “unnatural” because genetics don’t allow us humans to grow hair in those colors. (On a more personal note, I kind of hate when employers have rules against these hair colors. They have their reasons, but I think it infringes on a person’s right to their own style.) No matter how you choose to put the color in your hair, I tend to love that people made that choice for themselves. They chose to embrace their unique style and add some fun to their every day life.
Opinions vary about the people who choose to put extra color in their hair. I have found them to be fun people who enjoy the tiny joys of life. Others say that because it is an unnatural color that it shouldn’t go on your hair. The idea that just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. I completely disagree with that sentiment. Hair is as unique to each person as their genetic code. What length they choose to cut it, how thick it grows, and the texture that makes itself known after every shower. These factures make our hair our own. They can be embraced or manipulated in various ways to compliment our style. Color is just another choice to make.
If you have the patience to put the color in your hair, and then maintain that color, then more power to you. Let people truly rock their own style and don’t try and force them to conform to what you think people should look like. No two people are exactly the same, even identical twins. As we grow, life shapes us and leaves scars that change more than just our skin. Choosing to add funky hair to the mix is just that, a choice. Allow hair to just be hair, an expression of style and personality.
Power to the funky hair people!
Springs To Mind
Even as a kid, I preferred spring weather to those of any other season. I have never been a fan of the deep freeze that comes with winter and the extreme heat that summer brings. The colors of fall are pretty incredible, but spring has always had my heart.
The world comes back to life in the spring. Rain storms provide quiet cozy days spent indoors or splashing in puddles. My family’s garden sprouts new seedlings that will soon become beautiful blooms. Daffodils, my favorite flowers, are one of the first to show off their buds of bright yellow. While I was in college they were the first real sign that spring had started to come to campus and that I wouldn’t have to deal with trudging through the slush and snow much longer.
Every year, for as long as I can remember, I would wish for the snow to be all melted by my birthday in the last few days of March. A couple of times I have gotten close, but never have I gotten it to be completely gone. One year it even snowed as late as May. I was certainly not thrilled with Mother Nature then. The sooner all the snow is melted and gone, the better in my opinion.
This year I am looking forward to those late night thunderstorms that have such deep rumbles that you can feel them in your chest. Rain has always been a calming sound to me and I will often play it as a white noise while I am sleeping or trying to meditate. The pitter patter against the window pane, and the far off grumble of thunder has gotten me to fall asleep more times than I can count.
I am sure Erza is looking forward to the warmer weather as well. The first time it is warm enough for me to open my windows and let the air flow through, she is instantly sitting in the window sill and taking deep breaths of the fresh air and basking in the sunshine. Erza is also harness trained, so she looks for every opportunity to go outside and do some exploring, and maybe even some hunting. Sadly due to our home location, during the winter I have to tell her that it is too cold for her to be outside. “Too cold for kitty toes,” I say. She pouts and yowls her dismay that I am denying her any form of adventure or mental stimulation. Be rest assured though, them moment I deem it warm enough, and reach for her harness, she is instantly purring and helping the best she can to get the buckles clipped in and ready to go.
Spring has always been a sign of hope and renewal for many people. This idea is at the root of my fondness for the season. It stands as a very real sign that things get better, you just have to look for the signs and wait.
Gamer Girl
There is a stigma that comes with being a female gamer. Many people say that girls only show interest in video games because they want male attention. Obviously I can’t speak for all women that are showing interest in games, but most of us genuinely enjoy the challenge and stories that come from playing video games.
The thing that draws me in to games most is the story. As a writer, I have always been a reader. Video games are like books that I can become a character in. With some I can even influence the outcome and get to know the back stories of the Non Playable Characters (better known as NPCs).
Video games also serve as a way to connect with my friends and family. Not only do we spend time discussing games and the various choices or aspects that make each game unique, but those games that allow multiplayer allow for time to be spent together enjoying the challenge and stories.
One thing that does irk me about many games though, is the armor/protection that female characters are subjected to wear. Often taking the shape of skimpy swim wear, these garments would hardly provide any form of actual protection if worn in a real life situation. Plus, when the male characters wear the same item, they are fully covered and look like they are ready for anything a battle can throw at them.
Recent releases have gotten much better about equality when it comes to appearance. The female characters are more covered, so they actually look protected, and they are also designed to look more like real humans with the body of a woman. The better graphics also lend themselves to making everything about the environment and characters better.
I am a proud Geek, and I just shake my head at those who try and use my love for something I consider a form of art to try and shame me. Video games for all!