Thanksgiving

Another year has come and it is time to dive into the delicious meal!  Of course, I am talking about that wonderful time of Thanksgiving!  Time spent with friends and family.

There were many times that we went to my grandparents for this day.  It was not until walking through the door and smelling that hypnotic aroma that reminded me of how special this day was.  Unfortunately, those times are gone.  My grandparents have gone to another place, where hopefully they enjoy the peace and love every single minute.

This year marks the fifth year Forrest and I are celebrating together.  There is one difference this year though; he is cooking!  A day off!  For some reason, he keeps drilling into my head that I am to stay out of his kitchen.  I have no idea what he is referring to (sarcasm).  :)

So in short, be safe, love, fill your stomach to no return, and enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Elephant Poaching: Spreading the Word

I watched a show recently on Animal Planet about elephant poaching in Africa.  I have always known it was out of control, but what I saw and heard was more than I could handle.  The picture became even more clear, that it was too shocking to believe.  However, it was on television...I mean it was literally on the television.  I am sure they cut most out, but they did show some stuff that would not necessarily be shown; unless to get a point across.  Well, they succeeded.  They showed carcasses of elephants that poachers attacked.  This particular elephant they showed was brutally mutilated for the tusks.  The African said that the poachers see a herd of elephants, and shoot blindly into the group.  They do not actually aim.  I mean, it is bad enough to aim at a defenseless animal in general (or hurt one in any way), but to purposely fire randomly into a whole group, knowing that they are not going to catch every single one is horrible.  Again, yes, it is horrible to shoot one, or even think of shooting or harming another being (animal or human).  It is scary that humans feel they are so above everything else that they have the right to take whatever they want.  In the process, humans are taking away the privileges we have on this Earth: LIFE.  Life is no longer valued.  Life is no longer treasured.  It is viewed as a disposal.  With this kind of thinking, Humans are the weaker species.  There are multiple animal and plant species on the endangered list because humans have put them on it.  Humans continue to kill even though they know the consequences.  In the episode I watched, the African man said that humans have killed about 4.5 Million (yes that is correct) elephants have been killed in the past 60 years.  The show made an important point: It is not the poachers alone, it is the customers too (the ones who purchase ivory).  I refuse to buy any ivory.  I refuse to buy anything that threatens an animal to extinction.  (I say this last part because I will continue to eat turkey, chicken, cows, etc).  I collect (or used to until I got too much to keep track of) elephant figurines, pictures, statues etc.  HOWEVER, none of them contain any ivory, or harmed any animal.  In fact, a few of them took a portion (or full proceeds) to help elephants.  I do not know what else I can do, except what Yao Ming was trying to do with his show on Animal Planet Saving Africa's Giants (2014):  Spread the word.  I love elephants and always have.  I want them (and all other animals) to be around for our children and their children.

Note:  Animal Planet does has a place on its website to sign to pledge not to buy ivory.  www.animalplanet.com

Grade and a tiny bit more

First, I received a 97.6% (A) in Children's Literature in a Pluralistic Society!  I was more than pleased to see that!  The hard work is definitely paying off.  (I had my grade for a couple days, but I have been busy).

Second, this is not a great day for me .  I really do not want to go into it, but I want to say that not everything is beneficial to one certain person.  Some things cannot be controlled.  Some things take priority.  I am not risking my apartment, home life, or the dog's life!  That is final!  My dog, KB, just went through another surgery on October 20th (second surgery this year).  Again, it was stage 2 cancer (there is only 3 stages for dogs).  The vet has mentioned kemo, but after my partner and I talked it over, we are not going to have her go through all that, especially since there is no certainty that the cancer will not return after.  Not to mention other financial situations that have recently occurred.

So, with all that, I have made a certain decision.  Because of that decision, my heart, honesty, and trust has been questioned by this one person.  The one person I would never think would even consider that.  Needless to say, my heart is heavy, stressed, and yes angry!  For someone with HIV, this is not a good combination.  I am trying my best to push through it, but it is not going to be a evenly paved road.

While typing this, I have made a decision that is most important to me: to focus on my studies no matter what!  Spanish class is difficult enough, I do not need to add to that stress.

To this one person (if reading):  If I hurt you with this decision, I am sorry.  I am not sorry for the decision itself.