If you haven't seen this, you MUST!

Christian The Lion - the Full Story - The best home videos are here

Read a bit morehere Simply amazing.

A picture that is worth much more than 8 words!

This is especially dedicated to Mandy, Josie, Jamie, and Megclaw!!! Jame and Jos, you still have time to back out;-) Anyone want to share in-lawisms?

Family is family is family.

Moose Video

Oh this is so cute, and makes me smile! But of course, it also makes me sad and gets me all analytical. This video definitely definitely drives home the reason I am all for the ethical treatment of animals. This family is clearly a family. They have a clear connection to each other that is similar to any human family I have ever seen. And yet, humans all too often treat animals as if they have no feeling, no connection to others, no reason for being other than for our enjoyment, profit, nurishment, etc. Most animals when allowed to foster relationships with each other will do so with a connectedness that is similar to the connectedness we feel with each other. How can we not believe that they have an understanding of their misearble reality when they are treated inhumanely? Does a human mother not weap when her child is ripped from her arms? So to does the sow who just gave birth and has her calf ripped away from her because our priority is milk production for human consumption.

Trivia Question: How many mammals continue to drink milk AFTER nursing?

Milk Blog

Holy Tightroll Batman!

Mark my words. Tightroll will be back! 80s fashion continues to trickle back into mainstream society, and tightroll will not be left behind!

It will start with the late teen/twenty something girls saying "eff" fashion...I've got my own style! Yeah, well, your own style sucks and makes you look like a triangle from the waste down.

And don't worry, the same demographic of men will join in. All those "life is pain" angsty beat nik wanna be boys who already wear their jeans painted on....well, they will realize that the jeans can get TIGHTER at the ankle, and they WILL tightroll.

Soon enough, the fashion of only the rebelous will become the hot new fad of jr. highs and high schools all over the land. And soon we'll be ready for the early 90s again....90210 anyone??? Oh yeah, we are already there.

Side Note: I do not in anyway claim to be a fashion icon. The show What Not to Wear would have my butt in a sling if they got a hold of me. However, having lived through the era of tight roll, I feel it is my duty to speak out against this atrocity.

What if?

I mean really, what if everyone treated others as they would like to be treated? Honestly. If we could put down our skepticisim and not automatically say, "but they won't" or "what about people who want to be treated badly". I mean, let's roll with the idea that the majority of people ultimately want to be treated with kindness and respect. So, what if we started doing that today? Even to the people we hate? With the hope that maybe they will act that way too. And even if they don't, wouldn't treating them the way you'd like to be treated at least eliminate part of the problem? It's hard to have conflict with someone who refuses to participate in conflict.

Even for those we have huge disagreements with, if we just decided that was okay. We disagree, but I'm still going to be kind to you. I'm still going to treat you as I would like to be treated. I dare you to try it, for just one day. NOT holding on to anger is a really powerful feeling! Sets you free, really! Freedom to be happy!

Daily Show clip

I always hold out hope that these interviews are at least somewhat based in reality. It kills me how uncomfortable the first guy is with identifying why some Jewish people may not want to vote for Barack Obama! And the interaction between the gentleman and the "filibuster" is genius! Oh how I love thee, Daily Show.

20th Annual Cedar River Festival

July 11th was the 20th Annual Cedar River Festival. 2 years ago, Josh and I were engaged at this event! This year, although scaled down a bit due to the floods, it was a great time. The next day we did clean up in Black Hawk Park. What a mess. If I ever get pics of that, I'll be sure to post them!! Kala, Sara, and I.


Josh and Zeke chillin out. Dance party with the kiddos!!!!
Soul Fusion never fails to get my booty shakn.
Josh and Zeke again. Zeke would not rest until he was in a lap or a chair.

Shot of the crowd... Quite possibly the cutest picture ever. Ally and Zeke!
Ally and her mama, Kala!
Taylor chasn bubbles.
Matt and Danielle maxn and relaxn
Drew and Ally shakin it to the music.

Sundays.

This is what Sundays, or really any day of the week might look like at our house!

Zeke enjoys using my toes (or yours if you like) as a chew toy!

A visit from the Sun

My dearest childhood friend is back in town this week! Shana Sun was not down with my picture taking!
But I insisted that I needed to capture her insanity in full force.

Here she is with brother Sam. He is 10 years our junior, so he knows nothing of just how insane we were as kids, and is amazed when he witnesses it first hand whenever she comes back!

Dealing with ideals.

A female professor I had once told me, she purposefully ate whatever she wanted in front of young girls. Never complained about her weight, never gave them the impression that the struggle to be thin was part of her grand plan. Her hope: to help them battle the overwhelming urge to pick at their food, to strive to be perfect, to battle the bulge from the time they were socially aware. That was a number of years ago, and I have always tried to keep that with me, to incorporate that into my life, to be the good "role model" for girls.

The first time I remember going a diet was in 7th grade. That would put me at 12 or 13 years old. It was a diet I had put myself on. It was a starvation diet that was limited to wheat thins. It didn't last, as I was in love with food! I've always been in lust with the idea of being the ideal, but my undying love for food has always won out.

I hate the idea that there are 12 year olds out there right now, just like me. I hate that they see Mylie Cyrus, or Sienna Miller, or Angelina Jolie and they strive for that. But, so do I. If my adult brain completely understands and can rationally "get" that it isn't possible for me. That most of the images I see are not possible for the model themselves, than how can I expect that a 12 year old girl won't fall prey to the messages of idealized beauty. And probably thinks, upon looking at me, that I "should" care about what I eat. That I should worry about it, because who wants to be fat? My attempts to be a good role model are futile because there are too many other "perfect" role models to look up to.

I hate the idea that those 12 year olds will become 32 year olds who still obsess over their weight. Who still wish they look like 15 year olds(because what i wouldn't do to weigh what I did at 15)....or the genetically perfect 32 year olds (yes, I adore Angelina!). I'm still in awe at how we are the same age, and she gets to look like THAT! Pregnant even. I would walk around pregnant FOREVER if I got to look like that while I was.

And honestly, it won't ever be enough. At my lowest weight of 119lbs as an adult, I still wasn't happy. What if i could get to 115? Or 110 even? What then? Happiness? Doubtful. And it didn't last because what I did find was happiness. I met my husband while I was 119. He loved me for who I was and not my weight. The void I filled by working out constantly was suddenly filled with someone I cared about and I was back to my usual 135ish weight in no time. Does he still love me? You bet he does.

I guess, for the most part, my true priorties in life are to be a good person, to strive to live by the values I profess to hold dear, and to treat people in a respectful manner. When I abide by these things, I feel good about myself. But, there is always a but...or a butt:) Even when I am exactly who I want to be, I'll always wish I was a thinner version, a tighter version, a swimsuit model version of whoI want to be. Unfortunately, once the "ideal" has permeated a woman's psyche, I don't think she ever leaves.

Fellow, women...if you have successfully gotten her to leave your psyche, I'd love to hear how you gave her the boot!

Bret Miller's Art Dot Com

The man himself!

Bret Miller. Who would have guessed when I met this "kid" 14 years ago, I'd still know him today. Just a lil Manchester hoolagan with dreams of the bright lights, big city lifestyle that Cedar Falls had to offer. We started off roommates, he affectionately called and still calls me Cookie Puss (Beastie Boys reference and nothing more), we took some time off and away from each other as we matured into responsible adults, and now we run in the same circles of the wonderful world of social services!!!

But more than all this, he is a fabulous artist. I especially enjoy his social commentary art. You can find many of my faves in the stencil section of his website. He's still local, so he's easy to access if you'd like to see a piece in person before you buy, or even commission him to create a B.MIL original for ya! http://www.bretmillersart.com/ From what I hear, he's working on a very exciting new installment, so I can't wait to see what that brings! Check him out! He's gonna be famous, and who doesn't want to be able to brag about the people they knew BEFORE they got famous!

Two Legged Dog

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2322849743749379276

If you are a dog lover, this video is worth watching! Amazing and so sweet!

One day as a Lion

I don't know if a group will ever live up to the genius that was Rage against the Machine, but I have to say that I am thrilled that Zack de la Rocha is back in action with One Day as a Lion! The EP comes out July22nd!

“One Day As A Lion is both a warning delivered and a promise kept. A defiant affirmation of the possibilities that exist in the space between kick and snare. It’s a sonic reflection of the visceral tension between a picturesque fabricated cultural landscape, and the brutal socioeconomic realities it attempts to mask. One Day As A Lion is a recorded interaction between Zack de la Rocha and Jon Theodore from Los Angeles, California.”

Good Links to Issues I care about.

http://www.dianasgrove.com/dogs/index.html

Diana's Grove...a dog rescue and much more. My mom is on staff and is down there at least once a month. If you see a four legged friend you'd like to adopt, she just might be the one to unite the two of you! I'll still never know how I remained so clueless about the puppymill issue with my mom working at a place like this! Before you buy a pet, get educated about where they come from! Boycott puppy mills and the stores that purchase from puppy mills!

http://www.hansendairy.com/

Boycott Factory Farming! Buy locally! THis website bogs my computer down frequently, but they have two outlets to buy from. One is on 18th Street in Cedar Falls, and the other is on the Corner of Ridgeway and Kimball. That one is called MooRoo and they also SERVE ice cream at that store! Yum!

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming/

Boycott factory farming. Read up on the issues and decide for yourself.

http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/

Okay, sometimes even I think Peta can get a little over the top. That is because I subscribe more to a win them over with honey attitude---well, I guess honey is a bad choice of words given the issue, but you know what I mean! This is a great site to find junk food that is vegan. Many foods have meat and dairy products in them that come from factory farms. If you are thinking of boycotting factory farms, you'll have to take a really close look at the foods you buy and eat. Where does that cheddar cheese in your doritos come from???? Sad for me as it was one of my fave snacks! But this list is a great beginning to some horrible junk food that is factory farm free:) Also, see a couple posts down. My friend Kaari listed some great links for delicious vegan foods!

...sad....

I suck at a lot of things, but the one I discovered today was that buying a puppy from a pet shop is not cool:( I totally suck. I am happy we gave Zeke a good home, but I am sad I that I likely supported puppy mills and all the bad news that comes along with the pet shop puppy business. I had no idea until I stumbled upon some information on the internet. Grr. You learn something new everyday. I didn't read much about it because it started making me sick, especially after starting my new journey completely rooted in the humane treatment of animals. Quite an icky feeling.

A new favorite artist!

Megan Aroon Duncanson

WOW! Loving her stuff. Just order 4 prints that, for me, represent the four elements. Can't wait to get them all and hang them up! The cheapest AND highest quality I've found so far is from http://www.artistrising.com/! I've gotten 3 of the 4 prints so far and they are gorgeous! Much better than your typical art "poster" print. I think the same print was 39.00 at allposters.com versus 23.00 at artistrising. And seriously, I'm stunned by how beautiful the prints are. It is as if they are the real painting. Once I get my series displayed in our home, I will take a pic of my vision realized!

A vegan but not.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/24012/30-days-animal-rights

This is the link to the show that changed my life over the last threeish weeks. I fell asleep crying that night. I guess at this point nothing has drastically changed, but we are purchasing our dairy, eggs, and meat from Hansen Dairy OUtlet in Cedar FAlls, and I am in constant search of vegan pre-packaged food that will satisfy my need for junk food. Why vegan for the pre-packaged you ask? WEll, I am basically trying to boycott factory farming. If I don't know where the diary and meat came from, I try not to buy it. Unfotunately, a lot of the food I currently eat contains some type of animal by-product. I am currently eating what we have in the house now that is still non-vegan, and will replace with vegan munchies.

I am also having all my "lasts" of favorite foods. I just had OP breadsticks and ranch. I had high hopes that I would be able to make my own ranch and bring it in to the restaurant. I had researched several breadstick recipes finding them to be vegan. I was sure if I asked for no Parm on my OP breadsticks, I would be safe. Unfortunately, I have found they make their dough with eggs AND milk. DRAT! So, wednesday was my last meal of breadsticks at the OP:( Most who know me, know that is all I ever get at the OP. I even recently ate at TX Roadhouse without eating the rolls and cinn. butter. Can you believe it? ugh.

Ah well, other than eating out, all is going pretty well. I'm excited to go grocery shopping again now that I have found my accidentally vegan list of food. Google that phrase. It's pretty cool if you are a junk food junkie!