Monday, December 6, 2010

Words of Wisdom from Uncle Walt

“This is what you shall do: love the earth and sun, and animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence towards the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown, or to any man or number of men; go freely with the powerful uneducated persons, and with the young, and mothers, of families: read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life: re-examine all you have been told at school or church, or in any books, and dismiss whatever insults your soul.”
-Walt Whitman



Sunday, December 5, 2010

Notre Dame Goes Bowling

Ahh, things were starting to look as if Leila and I would be going to see Notre Dame in Orlando for the Champs Sports Bowl. As games were played yesterday and with wins by Washington, UConn and West Virginia, coupled with Oregon State losing (as if anyone thought they would beat Oregon), it looks as if Notre Dame will probably be going to El Paso on New Year's Eve to play in the Sun Bowl against Miami. I will be sitting on my couch watching this game, if this is indeed where the Irish end up. In a few hours, we should know exactly where the Irish will go bowling...

Thursday, December 2, 2010

World Cup Announcement Day

Today, FIFA will announce the locations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Let's go USA

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Humane Education and Resource Office (HERO) Program Manager

Yep, that's soon to be my new title and I am bloody excited about it. No More Homeless Pets Kansas City has offered me the above position and I start December 13th. More to come as the date approaches...did I mention that I am really, really bloody excited!?!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Proposition B

In November, Missouri residents have the opportunity to vote on Proposition B, also known as The Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act. If you would like to read the proposed statute in its entirety, you can view it here: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-086.asp. In essence, this act will require large scale breeding operations (more than 10 dogs) to provide each dog the following:

  1. Sufficient food and clean water
  2. Necessary veterinary care (at least one visit per year)
  3. Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements
  4. Sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, lie down and fully extend his or her limbs
  5. Regular Exercise
  6. Adequate rest between breeding cycles
This act would also limit the number of breeding dogs to no more than 50. Sounds reasonable, eh?

Having worked for the last five years in an animal shelter in Kansas City, I have seen the results of the over  3,000 puppy mills, both licensed and unlicensed, found in Missouri. I have held the dogs who are missing limbs, who have teeth rotting out of their mouths, who are so matted you don't know their sex until after they have been groomed, who are infested with fleas and ticks and intestinal parasites, who have brucellosis and mastitis, who are terrified to walk on the grass because they never have before and who need calm, caring homes because they have never known human interaction and love.

I have also held the dogs we couldn't save. The dogs I, and many others, had to euthanize. The dogs who were so far gone that no amount of medical or behavioral help could undue the years of damage inflicted upon them by the people who only viewed them as a way to make money.  These dogs all started out like the dogs lying at you feet or sleeping in your bed or giving you years of endless joy and unconditional love. We have the right, the opportunity and the duty to stand up and say no more.

In November, we have the responsibility to pass Proposition B. It is time for all of us to stand together to let the operators of puppy mills know they are no longer welcome in Missouri, that Missouri no longer wants to be known as the puppy mill capital of the world and that we will no longer stand for this abuse.

Please visit http://www.yesonpropb.com/ to find out what you can do to help!


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Kitchen Project Part II

It's been a while since I have updated anything and wanted to let you, my dear reader, see what I have done with the kitchen. There is still a little work left to be done (the floor and a couple more shelves), but things are coming together beautifully. I love the new kitchen.












Tuesday, June 29, 2010

More Garden Photos


















"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
-Marcel Proust