Life ain't fair

This past Monday my cousin's son suffered a horrible accident and they had to amputate his right arm. I don't know why the universe lets horrible things like this happen, but if you could send good thoughts for his recovery it would be appreciated.

Thanksgiving 2005 - I meet Bennie for the first time

Little Bennie's surgeries have gone well and they plan to bring him out of sedation tomorrow. He's a trooper like his dad, so even though life is going to be a little different for him I'm hopeful that he'll be just fine.

Thanks for lending an ear and sending your healing vibes.

I don’t think I like you very much anymore…

Hey look, I actually have something to say today! This situation just irritates the hell outta me so I had to share. You might have heard about the Ellen Degeneres dog debacle in the news. Ellen delivered a sobbing diatribe in place of her usual monologue to open her show on Tuesday, all because she was feeling so sorry for herself and the dog that she adopted and failed to keep. Basically, she and Portia adopted a terrier mix puppy named Iggy from a rescue called Mutts and Mom and decided to re-home the dog with Ellen’s hairdresser after a couple weeks when things didn’t work out with the cats they already had. Like many animal rescues Mutts and Mom has a strict return policy that states in their contract (which Ellen signed) that if you can’t keep the pet for any reason you must return it to the organization so they can place the animal in another pre-screened home. So they violate the contract, and after the rescue finds out about it they re-claim the dog, which is well within their rights. So Ellen proceeded to go on TV sobbing about the little girls who miss their puppy and blah blah blah. Mutts and Mom has been forced to pull their listings from petfinder and I imagine is pretty much shut down for the time being due to the public anger and even death threats directed at them. This whole thing pisses me off. Ellen messed up, and instead of owning up to it like an adult and accepting the consequences she used emotional manipulation and her celebrity status to try and get her way.

If Ellen really loved animals she would take those girls to a shelter and show them the many other dogs who would desperately love to come home with them. She is doing so much harm by portraying rescues this way in a very public and emotionally charged manner. Some of her viewers may go out and buy a puppy mill dog from a pet store or from a backyard breeder instead of considering a rescue because they don’t want those crazy people coming back to steal their puppy.

Other things that bother me about this story:

She said she took the puppy home immediately (no holding period) and got him neutered. Why did the rescue allow a dog to leave their care without a home visit to ensure a proper environment (other pets included) and why did they let the dog go anywhere before it was neutered? Ellen also found it necessary to mention that she spent $3,000 on the dog during his brief 2 week stay with her. How is that relevant?

She also claims that she has adopted/rescued many animals over the years. Where are those other animals? As far as I’m aware she has just a couple cats. Rumor has it she has a history of adopting animals and getting rid of them because they don’t “work out”.

Also, if she loves animals so much, why does she eat them? Perhaps only cute animals that she personally knows are deserving of humane treatment and compassion, not to mention her tears and angst. Please, give me a break.

/rant.

What say you?

Random

Holy crap, bet you thought you'd never see me 'round these parts again. I'm popping in to do a little meme fun posting thanks to Kiki. I should promise to catch-up and start posting again regularly, but we all know how those promises end, yes in heartbreak. Well, maybe another photo montage is in order. Even if I don’t write I seem to have managed to keep taking pictures. Let’s see what’s new? My good friends B & T got married, I ran another 5k (the Zoo Run Run, fun to say fun to do), I’m still planning a wedding (it’s so much fun. I mean that…sort of), we went back east for our engagement party last Saturday and it was lovely, work is busy, it’s getting cold, Badgers broke our hearts last Saturday, and I joined the YMCA.

OK, on to 8 random things you may or may not have known… but first, da rulz:

1. Post these rules before you give the facts.

2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. (I kind of have a blanket policy about not tagging because I don’t like undue pressure, so if you want in say so in the comments. Also, do 8 people still read this?)

5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog. (See addendum to rule 4. Though I do hope to visit and comment on your blog soon!)

Random Thing # 1
I can fit my entire fist in my mouth.

I think that pretty much speaks for itself.

Random Thing # 2
I like to analyze and judge people by what they have in their grocery carts.

And not just, “must be single/a bachelor”/ “must have 8 kids”, etc. To be honest, in the running commentary in my head I become a total judgmental bitch. “Ew! Doritos, Mountain Dew, bacon, a gallon of milk, a carton of 18 eggs! They are so going to die of cancer if a heart attack doesn’t get them first.” I know it’s not nice, especially since my eating habits were not always so stellar and like, drinking a bottle of wine or a 6-pack is so healthy. But hey, it’s not like I say anything to them, it’s just check-out line entertainment.

Random Thing # 3
I used to be on my high school swim team.

And I used to be so happy every season when it ended so I didn’t have to spend 3 hours in the pool every day. Yes, I’ve always been lazy.

Random Thing # 4
I used to play the clarinet in band

'Cause I'm cool like that, yo.

Random Thing # 5
I went to a Catholic School K-8. (that’s 9 long years)

Still one of the worst experiences of my life.

Random Thing # 6
It takes me forever to finish books these days because I go to bed with the intention of staying up to read, them I fall asleep 2 pages later.

Random Thing # 7
I always wanted to be an awesome dancer.

When I was little it was ballet, but now I want to do ballroom. Or hip hop (which is weird cause I don’t like hip hop music. I just want to get down with the booty shakin!)

Random Thing # 8
I’m a total night owl.

In college I would miss 11am classes pretty often because I couldn’t drag myself out of bed. Maybe because I was up till 4 most nights. These days I get up at 5 or 6, depending on if I’m going for a run that morning. The universe should operate on my schedule, it would really just be better that way.

OK, so if that wasn’t totally riveting I know what is. See you 'round the blogosphere. :)