tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post6843506771865188419..comments2024-03-27T12:58:00.592-07:00Comments on Snowbrush: News and ViewsSnowbrushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-24432960684648622502017-01-11T13:13:09.770-08:002017-01-11T13:13:09.770-08:00...but not so much drawn to books that are as much...<i><b> ...but not so much drawn to books that are as much—or more—about the author’s life as about the author’s cat.</b></i><br /><br />I understand. I enjoy reading both types. I will look into the Cleveland Amory books. The fact that he is a noted friend to animals is a big draw card for me.<br /><br /><i><b>Have you even encountered anything like this for a dog?</b></i><br /><br />No, I haven't — sounds quite interesting. <br /><br /><i><b>...special on which a couple went to live with wild wolves.</b></i> <br /><br />I saw that same special too. Jim and Jamie Dutcher lived with the wolves for six years. They were also founders of the website — <i>Living with Wolves</i> — which you are probably aware of. <br /><br /><i><b> I watched in horror and disgust as girls who I would have mistaken for goddesses screamed, shed tears, and even fainted over the Beatles.</b></i><br /><br />I assure you that my sister and I were never <b>that</b> bad but, agreed, there are a lot of young teens who still behave like that over their celebrity idols. Back in their heyday, the Osmond family gave a testimonial speech at a Brisbane Mormon church when they toured Australia. As the father of my sister's friend was head of that church, he gave us the opportunity to meet the Osmonds in person. Their testimonials are what prompted my sister and I to want to convert but, as I said, that never eventuated.<br /><br /><i><b>As you no doubt know, for centuries, cats were deified, and then for additional centuries, they were seen as the embodiment of Satan, at least in Europe.</b></i><br /><br />I think human nature is a mystery in itself. Serena Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789734075055678964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-70278417184273472892017-01-07T14:09:08.874-08:002017-01-07T14:09:08.874-08:00“an ancient theme that has been written about many...“an ancient theme that has been written about many times regards a man who either unknowingly married a cat in a woman’s form, or else found a way to turn a beloved cat into a woman.”<br /><br />I just remembered that, in the Caras’ book, there is a story by Henry Slesar entitled “My Father, the Cat,” which is about a woman who married a cat and had a male child by that cat. This was my favorite story in the book for many reasons: it was well-written; fascinatingly weird; and spoke to what I mentioned earlier regarding our species' myths and fantasies about cats. As you no doubt know, for centuries, cats were deified, and then for additional centuries, they were seen as the embodiment of Satan, at least in Europe. Why cats? Then, there’s the fact that, in the Moslem religion, cats are esteemed, while dogs are despised. Also, why is it that in some places, black cats were considered lucky, while the opposite was true in others. The meaning of cats in the life of our species is one aspect of our existence that fascinates me. In my own life, one of the things that puzzles me no end is whether I would know that a neutered cat was male or female based upon behavior alone. It’s hard to believe I wouldn’t, but equally hard to believe I would. I'm very sure that I would know that Scully is female, but while Peggy thinks our male cat, Brewsky, seems very female (for one thing, he is still nursing our young adult male named Ollie), he seems quite male to me.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-55880672255309840042017-01-07T12:47:10.883-08:002017-01-07T12:47:10.883-08:00"'A Street Cat Named Bob'"
If y..."'A Street Cat Named Bob'"<br /><br />If you enjoyed this series of books, you would surely enjoy Cleveland Amory, who wrote at least three books about the same cat, and was a noted friend to animals. His unremitting efforts to help animals gave his books a credibility in my eyes, because I assume that all such books are part fiction, it just being a matter of degree combined with my concerns about the motives of the author. It's so very important to me that I trust an author, that, rightly or wrongly, if I lose that trust, I lose interest in his or her writings.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-13125437546707807672017-01-07T12:04:49.839-08:002017-01-07T12:04:49.839-08:00“I soon started to see a lot of hypocrisy in all o...“I soon started to see a lot of hypocrisy in all organised religion.”<br /><br />Which has never looked worse in this country (in my lifetime) than it does following Christians’ widespread political support for a man who is no more ethical or loving than Satan. If anything has given secularism a boost, it has been Christian support for Trump.<br /><br />“While some refer to Buddhism as a religion, technically, it doesn't fit the category as, for one, they don't believe there is a God.”<br /><br />As I understand Buddhism, it varies a lot across national borders, so while the teachings of the Buddha didn’t refer to a deity, Buddhism in some nations is theistic and even superstitious. Even here in America, it seems to me that most Buddhists believe in reincarnation, but if there is no deity, what is the guiding force for reincarnation?<br /><br />“If I ever do get another dog, it would definitely be a rescue, and it would be the dog everyone else would determine as ugly or old — the one that nobody else would want.”<br /><br />You would surely enjoy the book, “A Dog’s Life: Autobiography of a Stray” by Ann M. Martin. Both it and the cat book I recommended can be had for a penny on Amazon, and I haven’t even checked eBay.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-48886190076809216972017-01-07T12:00:03.108-08:002017-01-07T12:00:03.108-08:00“It saddens me greatly to see how the German Sheph...“It saddens me greatly to see how the German Shepherd breed has been ruined over the years because of breeders interbreeding them in search of the 'perfect' dog.”<br /><br />As you mentioned later, they walk like they’re deformed, which I’m sure they are. Yes, “perfect dog” goes in quotes because I doubt that even dog fighters hurt dogs as much those who are willing to do any cruel tinkering with their genes in the quest for ego, money, and ribbons. I am adamantly opposed to breeding dogs except where they’re need for a particular purpose—herding for instance.<br /><br />"I’m a collector of books about cats. ‘Fiction or non-fiction?’”<br /><br />Both, along with books of art and poetry, and whatever else attracts me. I want to learn about cats, but some cat fiction is excellent, and it’s easier to read it late at night when I’m tired. I’ve also read a few books about an individual person’s cat, but I rarely finish most of them.<br /><br />“Have you read the true story called 'A Street Cat Named Bob' by James Bowen?”<br /><br />I started it, but didn’t finish it, although I think Peggy did. I don’t remember enough about it to say what I didn’t like, but I’ll just say that, in general, I am drawn toward books that are about cats themselves, but not so much drawn to books that are as much—or more—about the author’s life as about the author’s cat. As I recall, this author had been a drug addict who attributed his recovery to a cat, and I was turned-off at the start by that because I didn’t consider it realistic. If I could only recommend one book about cats to you, it would be “Roger Caras’ Treasury of Great Cat Stories.” While most of these stories are centered on cats, it’s interesting to reflect upon how different cat stories are from dog stories. For instance, an ancient theme that has been written about many times regards a man who either unknowingly married a cat in a woman’s form, or else found a way to turn a beloved cat into a woman. Have you even encountered anything like this for a dog? For better or worse, cats and women are imagined to share many of the same attributes, which might be why the stories of our childhood were about girls and their cats versus boys and their dogs.<br /><br />“I find myself reading books about dogs but, as I am a lover of all animals, I am not averse to reading books on cats and other animals too.”<br /><br />Same here, although I’m no so much interested in horses.<br /><br />“I have always loved wolves and German Shepherds do have a strong resemblance to wolves.”<br /><br />German Shepherds are often substituted for wolves in old movies, which can be really laughable when one observes that the supposedly fierce wolves are running about in a playful mood wondering what in the hell they’re supposed to be doing. I love wolves too. I recall a PBS special on which a couple went to live with wild wolves. As you can imagine, it took the wolves awhile to warm up to them, but when they did, they warmed-up the the man better. I don’t know so much about cats, but dogs are clearly aware of people’s gender.<br /><br />“my parents becoming outraged once when my sister and I told them we wanted to convert to Mormonism….we were immature, love-crazed teens infatuated with our teen idol, Donny Osmond, who was Mormon.”<br /><br />Girls are different that way, which I realized when I watched in horror and disgust as girls who I would have mistaken for goddesses screamed, shed tears, and even fainted over the Beatles. As a boy with aspirations of coolness, I felt both an honest and an obligatory distaste for the Osmonds, and the fact they were wholesome Mormons only made them worse.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-86430525775296415862017-01-05T12:48:43.364-08:002017-01-05T12:48:43.364-08:00"...plus most pedigree animals have hereditar...<br /><br /><b><i>"...plus most pedigree animals have hereditary health issues that aren’t found in non-pedigrees."</i></b><br /><br />Definitely! It saddens me greatly to see how the German Shepherd breed has been ruined over the years because of breeders interbreeding them in search of the 'perfect' dog. It has happened with other breeds too. Several years ago, I went to a dog show with one of my sons who had to attend for the course he was studying at the time. I was shocked to see that the German Shepherds couldn't even walk properly because their hip areas were so low to the ground. They walked like they were crippled and it made me so upset. I adored German Shepherds as my parents used to breed and show them. I have always loved wolves and German Shepherds do have a strong resemblance to wolves. Yes, I think my parents were also looking for that perfect dog to win a championship which did eventually happen but, over that time, I recall that they sent a few of our much-loved dogs to <i>'live with friends on a farm'</i> and we never saw our beloved pets again. I look back and see the lies they told us which still upsets me to think about, however, I'm glad my parents left the Dog Show world after about eight years of participation.<br /><br /><b><i>"I’m a collector of books about cats."</i></b><br /><br />Fiction or non-fiction? I have a blogger friend who also enjoys reading books about cats. She mentions a series of <i>'The Cat Who...'</i> books on her blog. Have you read them? I find myself reading books about dogs but, as I am a lover of all animals, I am not averse to reading books on cats and other animals too. Have you read the true story called 'A Street Cat Named Bob' by James Bowen? Quite a nice story. I have a few other non-fiction books with animal themes such as camels, pigs, dogs, elephants, etcSerena Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789734075055678964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-64330510385675323092017-01-05T12:10:42.129-08:002017-01-05T12:10:42.129-08:00Snowbrush, our blue heeler was so placid and never...Snowbrush, our blue heeler was so placid and never bit or snapped at anyone although I have heard that blue heelers can have that tendency. <br /><br />I was raised Roman Catholic although my parents were not strict on religion. It was up to us whether we went to church or not and they themselves never attended church regularly, particularly Dad. For years, we attended Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve which we kids thought was fun. I do remember my parents becoming outraged once when my sister and I told them we wanted to convert to Mormonism. Of course, at that time, we were immature, love-crazed teens infatuated with our teen idol, Donny Osmond, who was Mormon. My sister's friend was Mormon and he made it sound great, however, the deep-seated reason was Donny. We never did convert and, in my 20's, I soon started to see a lot of hypocrisy in all organised religion. Now, I don't feel affiliated with any religion. While some refer to Buddhism as a religion, technically, it doesn't fit the category as, <i>for one</i>, they don't believe there is a God. The Buddha apparently said that nobody should believe his teaching out of faith but should go by their own experiences to determine if what he said was true. <br /><br /><i>"I had a model horse collection. If I were in a store shopping for a new horse, and found that one of the horses had been damaged (broken legs were common), that would be the horse I would buy because I knew that no one else would want it."</i> <br /><br />In my eyes, that is commendable. I have always found myself drawn to the underdog rather than the one everyone else felt drawn to. If I ever do get another dog, it would definitely be a rescue, and it would be the dog everyone else would determine as ugly or old — the one that nobody else would want. <br /><br /><i>"It’s the best people who are called upon to do the worst things."</i><br /><br />Very true. Serena Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789734075055678964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-46913816632392416042017-01-01T06:09:41.119-08:002017-01-01T06:09:41.119-08:00You are right, this post was more about dogs than ...You are right, this post was more about dogs than cats. But cats were mentioned more in the comments. The main body also included chickens and the comments included horses. A regular menagerie.😺😽😸😹😿😾😻🙀🐶🐴🐔rhymeswithplaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10870439618129001633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-89167162213621519702016-12-31T12:42:51.896-08:002016-12-31T12:42:51.896-08:00I miss read, sorry. was your cousin with the wande...I miss read, sorry. was your cousin with the wandering cat, not your sister :)Jennifer Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06528908250338974537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-54383398845928815672016-12-31T11:36:04.642-08:002016-12-31T11:36:04.642-08:00“did your sister end up keeping the cat??”
What c...“did your sister end up keeping the cat??”<br /><br />What cat? Maybe I worded myself poorly, but I don’t even know where, so rather go back and look, I’ll just say that my younger sister, Gay, ran over—and killed—her own cat when she dodged my cat while backing out of her driveway one day. At the time, she lived on my parents’ property, and I had given my cat to my parents (i.e. dumped it on them). So, my sister never had my cat, and she thought pretty poorly of my cat after that incident.<br /><br />“I've never had 50 comments on any post in nearly ten years of blogging, and if I have to write about cats to achieve them I guess I never will.”<br /><br />And you accuse ME of being a sloppy and/or senile reader of YOUR posts! You are free to correct me if I’m wrong—indeed, I rely on you for corrections, and appreciate them greatly— but I counted 13 paragraphs in this post, only four of which had the word cat in them one or more times, yet you consider this to be a post about cats! Come on now and tell the truth—you’re just jealous of my cats because you think I love them more than I do you. I can but offer that you love your wife more than you do me, and although that has hurt me through the years, I've come to terms with it.<br /><br />As for 50 comments, a good many of them are mine, and there would be more than there are if I devoted a response window to each of the comments I receive. Part of the reason that I don’t do that is that I don’t want to be the source of anymore mail than I have to. Among the blogs I visit, Elephant’s Child (Sue) receives the most comments, and she responds to every last one of them. I can but be grateful that you don’t lust after comments to the point of being willing to prostitute yourself by writing about cats.<br /><br />Happy New Year to you all, and, Kranhu, I'm glad you found me too.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-89506092437936200862016-12-31T11:22:04.690-08:002016-12-31T11:22:04.690-08:00Happy New Year, Snowbrush! I am thankful that I fo...Happy New Year, Snowbrush! I am thankful that I found your blog.(via Sue)--KrisKranhuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09640625248535967147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-73607267702997794242016-12-31T08:35:20.114-08:002016-12-31T08:35:20.114-08:00Have a great New YearHave a great New YearJoe Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07960458164425338569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-59508203295779343552016-12-31T06:11:10.630-08:002016-12-31T06:11:10.630-08:00I've never had 50 comments on any post in near...I've never had 50 comments on any post in nearly ten years of blogging, and if I have to write about cats to achieve them I guess I never will.<br /><br />A very happy and safe 2017 to you and Peggy.rhymeswithplaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10870439618129001633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-77129164984642999792016-12-30T15:39:07.346-08:002016-12-30T15:39:07.346-08:00did your sister end up keeping the cat??
cats and ...did your sister end up keeping the cat??<br />cats and dogs have been known to go back to an old house miles away, would be interesting to see GPS readings from where they go to get back.<br /><br /><br />Jennifer Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06528908250338974537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-1621885177268515752016-12-29T10:46:40.072-08:002016-12-29T10:46:40.072-08:00“You make me even more grateful for my dad.”
I’m ...“You make me even more grateful for my dad.”<br /><br />I’m grateful for mine too, because despite all his problems, he tried to do right by his kids. In his mind, that meant not beating us, supporting us financially, not making us work hard like he had, sending us to college, and buying us such things as he could afford. In my case, this meant a car, which I started driving at 14, which was a year before I got my license. The important things which my father didn't give my sister and me at all was guidance, discipline, belief in our abilities, and a sense of responsibility,<br /><br />“I wonder though how a cat who sleeps most of the day and night can have such a big appetite.”<br /><br />I’ve read that cats evolved to sleep 16-hours a day to save energy for hunting, but, like people, I guess, they need more sleep for other reasons when they get old. I know that old cats often eat very little and waste away as a result, so it’s good that she’s eating. I’ve also read that cats are prone to senility, the early signs of which appear after age ten, so I’m wondering how old your cat is and if you can tell that’s she becoming senile.<br /><br />“I managed to get her arthriris to go away be keeping her on herring based wet cat food that is pricy but cheaper than frequent vet visits for meds.”<br /><br />And certainly way cheaper than the drug Metacam, which the vet might have given her. It works wonders in dogs, but I have yet to give it to a cat, and I hope I can remember what you’re doing when my cats get arthritic. If herring works for cats, maybe it works for people too. Sardines are herring, and I like sardines. I also wonder if the type of fish has to be herring, or if some other cold water fish would do since they’re all low in mercury (though the small ones are preferable) and high in Omega 3.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-86261520246993811722016-12-28T21:23:27.929-08:002016-12-28T21:23:27.929-08:00I live in Ontatio Canada and also have a cat named...I live in Ontatio Canada and also have a cat named Ellie who is a senior now like me. She sleeps under the tree and is not very playful as she once was. I wonder though how a cat who sleeps most of the day and night can have such a big appetite. She loves her food to be served when we eat and has dry food snacks in the night. Her recent vet check up was costly but we learned she remains in good health. I managed to get her arthriris to go away be keeping her on herring based wet cat food that is pricy but cheaper than frequent vet visits for meds. Vet was surprised she has her movement back in her affected hind leg. I'm pleased for Ellie.<br /><br /><br />Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16174142810114806410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-9942394048673144772016-12-27T12:13:41.443-08:002016-12-27T12:13:41.443-08:00You make me even more grateful for my dad. Bless y...You make me even more grateful for my dad. Bless you for your kind efforts. The smallest things can make a huge difference. And thank you for stopping by my blog. Friendly comments really brighten my day.Darla M Sandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18212760625717298992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-51582449822035431702016-12-27T11:57:48.461-08:002016-12-27T11:57:48.461-08:00“I mentioned a few more individual experiences in ...“I mentioned a few more individual experiences in my lost comment but I'll skip them this time around.”<br /><br />I’m sorry you stopped when you did.<br /><br />“ It played heavily on his mind and he once came home in tears.”<br /><br />It’s the best people who are called upon to do the worst things. The animals I killed were through a small town rescue group that was composed of several women and myself. The killing had to be done, and the women refused to take any part in it (one even saying that she was too “kind-hearted”) and sat looking at me. I took the job and killed truckloads of dogs before abruptly quitting not only the killing but the group. The saddest thing was that we had no way to kill dogs except with a gun, and this made it a true nightmare for the animals because they knew what was coming.<br /><br />“I am a firm believer in the 'Adopt, Don't Shop' slogan.”<br /><br />I am too, but as with hunting, this was a realization that only came to me after many years of having pets, during which I bought a blue heeler and two schnauzers. I can understand why people choose pedigreed dogs and even cats, but at the same time, an animal can be a marvelous pet that has no pedigree and comes from tragic circumstances, and oh the joy of knowing that I might have saved that pet from death. Of course, kittens and dogs are so easy to adopt out that I personally probably haven’t actually saved any animal from death (all that I’ve adopted were my three kitties), but it still gives me a good feeling to adopt a “rescue” animal, plus most pedigree animals have hereditary health issues that aren’t found in non-pedigrees. What we lack in the US is an animal bill of rights because unless the law catches you physically abusing or starving your pet, your pet is at your mercy, so pets often receive the worst treatment that our species is capable of.<br /><br />“In the area we live in, it is illegal to allow cats to roam free although many people ignore it.”<br /><br />Peggy and I both strongly believe in keeping our cats indoors, but there are many people here who consider it unconscionable to do this because they don’t believe that an indoor cat can have a rewarding life. Part of the reason we have three cats is precisely this concern. We’re also at home almost all the time—literally 24 hours a day most days—and are therefore able to spend a lot of time with our cats. As with a lot of things, having to keep our cats indoors is unfortunate in some ways, but letting them out is a far, far worse decision in my view. If they seemed unhappy, I could make an escape proof area for them that they could access through a cat door, but so far, I don’t see the need, and since our neighborhood is overrun with outdoor cats and even feral cats, I would anticipate significant stress coming into the lives of our cats if they went out because they would feel that their home was being constantly invaded by outsiders and that they would be unable to do anything about it. Such stress can come into a cat’s life simply by seeing other cats through a window, so think of the tree that would come from being nose to nose with such cat through a fence.<br /><br />“Many responsible cat owners do adhere to the rules and they also recognise the fact that it is actually safer for their cats to remain indoors too.”<br /><br />Indeed. Since you’re new to my blog, you probably don’t know that I’m a collector of books about cats, and that I spend a whole lot of time actually reading those books, so I know a great deal about the advantages of keeping cats indoors. Of course, nothing I can say means anything to those whom let their cats out (in regard to safety, for example, they can always respond by saying that they knew an outdoor cat that lived to be twenty). A person can make it all the way through college in America without ever taking a logics course—again, Donald Trump (and his millions of followers) being our best known example of how appallingly tragic and dangerous the illogic of the masses can be.<br /><br />Serena, I'm so sorry that you had to reproduce your comment.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-63788280469983698272016-12-27T11:54:31.698-08:002016-12-27T11:54:31.698-08:00“We used to have a blue heeler many, many years ag...“We used to have a blue heeler many, many years ago. He was such a sweet dog.”<br /><br />Ours would bite. She would bite other dogs, she would bite other people, and she would bite us. At the same time, if I scolded her, she would act as if she she wanted to die, she would be so sad. She was the most interesting dog I’ve ever had. I couldn’t believe that I was actually keeping a dog who would bite her human family, but I loved that dog intensely, and I realized that when she would snapped at me, it was often because she was defending her considerable sense of dignity. People—including myself—often treat dogs with condescension, and Bonnie wouldn’t put up with it.<br /><br />“Scully certainly likes to stay active or perhaps she just enjoys keeping you and Peggy on your toes.”<br /><br />Scully is like a daughter to me, and I dread her becoming an adult because kittens are so darn much fun. I get up in the morning all excited about seeing Scully.<br /><br />“I have to confess that some parts of this post were hard to read”<br /><br />Peggy—my wife—says the same. I have written parts of this post before, and at one point included a scan of a one page essay that I wrote about Sassy soon after her death.<br /><br />“I find it hard to understand how people like your father can alternate between acts of kindness and cruelty towards animals.”<br /><br />My father was mentally ill. Also, he was transgender in Mississippi back before he even knew that there were others like him. He was also morbidly shy to the point that he had trouble ordering food in a restaurant (one of the few times he wasn’t shy was when he was mad). He had been a bar brawler before he met my mother, who was his fourth wife, and their marriage was deeply unhappy. He hated inland Mississippi and really wanted to move to some coastal area (he loved Galveston), but mother wouldn’t agree, plus he felt trapped in a low paying job. So, Dad had a lot going on his head that pushed him toward inconsistent behavior. Of course, it’s also true that inconsistency is the human condition. (For example, Donald Trump’s most numerous and outspoken supporters in the recent election were evangelical Christians whose most cherished values completely contradict those endorsed by Trump, both in regard to what he says and how he behaves. It is even true that one of the groups that will perform at his inauguration is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Over the years, I have moved more and more toward what is, to me, the inescapable conclusion that what organized Christianity says it believes and what it really believes couldn’t be in greater contradiction. I would love to be able to take people at face value, but 100% of what I see in organized Christianity is hypocrisy.)<br /><br />“I think the deep connection I feel with animals stems way back to childhood.”<br /><br />This was true for me too because I believed that all things—animate and inanimate—had feelings, but I shared my father’s inconsistencies. For example, I had a model horse collection. If I were in a store shopping for a new horse, and found that one of the horses had been damaged (broken legs were common), that would be the horse I would buy because I knew that no one else would want it. Yet, I would also shoot small animals, and this went on for upwards of ten years before I not only stopped but came to regard hunting as an ethical failure borne from callousness.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-20619968442534620052016-12-26T16:50:43.976-08:002016-12-26T16:50:43.976-08:00In the area we live in, it is illegal to allow cat...In the area we live in, it is illegal to allow cats to roam free although many people ignore it. Cats are domesticated and can live quite happily indoors. People must also register their cats, <i>as we do for our dogs</i>, at the local council. This is an annual registration fee. Sadly, cats have become a big problem because they cause a lot of harm to native wildlife which are protected by Australian law. It wouldn't be so bad if people kept their cats indoors and had them neutered. Many responsible cat owners do adhere to the rules and they also recognise the fact that it is actually safer for their cats to remain indoors too. Some owners erect cage-like tunnel-runs which connect to a pet-door on their house so that their cats can still enjoy the outdoors at their leisure. Serena Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789734075055678964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-48525634802409686872016-12-26T16:38:29.282-08:002016-12-26T16:38:29.282-08:00(Part Two)
My son worked for a time at the RSPCA a...(Part Two)<br />My son worked for a time at the RSPCA and he ended up leaving because he didn't cope well with having to euthanise healthy animals due to overcrowding. It played heavily on his mind and he once came home in tears. Humans are the main reason animal shelters exist. It breaks my heart to think of the weak excuses many people gave for no longer wanting their pet. In my opinion, when people get a dog/cat, it should be a lifetime commitment as they are not disposable commodities. Puppy farms are horrific places and they should be banned. It is ludicrous to me that people buy puppies when so many cats and dogs in shelters need loving, forever homes. I am a firm believer in the 'Adopt, Don't Shop' slogan.<br /><br />Your kindness project is very similar to the way I was raised. I also open doors for people and strike up conversations with strangers in the check-out queues, etc. My youngest son used to admonish me when I would slow my car down to allow a waiting car to join our busy lane of traffic. I always responded saying that it doesn't hurt anyone to be kind and courteous, even on the road. Now, my son is a Learner driver and he too stops to let cars into a busy lane. hehe <br /><br />Agreed, appearances can be quite deceiving when it comes to people. I admire people who march to the beat of their own drum. They make the world a more interesting place, that's for sure. <br /><br />I love the idea behind random acts of kindness. Sad that your friend, Jake, was called an asshole though. <br /><br />Okay, believe it or not, this is was the shorter version of my previous, lost comment. haha <br /><br />Have a lovely week. Serena Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789734075055678964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-89366253345943307622016-12-26T16:36:33.058-08:002016-12-26T16:36:33.058-08:00I think I may split my comment into two to be on t...I think I may split my comment into two to be on the safe side. It was a very long one and Blogger may have a limit for comments. It won't be the same as the original unfortunately. <br /><br />Okay, here goes — <br /><br /><b>(Part One)</b><br />I have heard of dogs and cats travelling long distances to reunite with their beloved human companions. Bonnie was beautiful. So sad about Sassy though. We used to have a blue heeler many, many years ago. He was such a sweet dog. <br /><br />Scully certainly likes to stay active or perhaps she just enjoys keeping you and Peggy on your toes. hehe Cats do love to play with <i>their toys</i> especially when they are young. <br /><br />I have to confess that some parts of this post were hard to read, however, I do appreciate your honesty and the sharing of your personal experience. That's what blogs are for, after all. <br /><br />I find it hard to understand how people like your father can alternate between acts of kindness and cruelty towards animals. I admit that I am hypersensitive when I read about, <i>or see footage of</i>, animal cruelty. My heart aches for the animals involved and my blood pressure literally sky-rockets. I know this because I have to take regular readings with being prone to hypertension over the last five years. <br /><br />I think the deep connection I feel with animals stems way back to childhood. I clearly remember an incident in Grade Two when we were out in the playground at lunch time. A boy had found a grasshopper and we all gathered around to see it. He then stated that he was going to kill it and I immediately screamed "No, don't!" and started crying. I raced off to get the nearest teacher on playground duty. She came over and, through tearful sobs, I relayed what his intentions were. I remember her giving me a look that basically said, "It's only a bug. Why are you getting so upset?". To her credit, she told the boy to place the grasshopper in nearby shrubs and leave it alone. <br /><br />I mentioned a few more individual experiences in my <i>lost</i> comment but I'll skip them this time around. Suffice to say, that all my life, I have experienced a deep feeling of anguish when it has come to animals being harmed in any way. It is no surprise to me that I eventually chose the vegan way of life.Serena Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789734075055678964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-75919593551746203902016-12-26T15:09:09.811-08:002016-12-26T15:09:09.811-08:00From now on, I will be using a word processor to w...From now on, I will be using a word processor to write comments. It has happened to me in the past but I guess I became lax after it hadn't reoccurred in a long time. Lesson learned — <i>sigh</i> <br /><br />A comment will be coming forthwith. Serena Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17789734075055678964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-43810024923835301472016-12-26T13:08:40.013-08:002016-12-26T13:08:40.013-08:00Hey Snowy, Thanks for stopping by. His name is Rus...Hey Snowy, Thanks for stopping by. His name is Rusty... just go back one post: http://possumlane.blogspot.com/2016/12/rusty-and-his-chrismouse-tree.htmlpossumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912443125826672230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23830899.post-8841492064015044692016-12-26T12:01:56.825-08:002016-12-26T12:01:56.825-08:00“They will let a door shut right in your face as t...“They will let a door shut right in your face as they go merrily on their way, chances are they are blabbing away on their phones - or tweeting something.”<br /><br />No matter their age, people on cell phones are off in a private world that precludes eye contact and therefore awareness of what’s going on with others. I have a friend who offered to include me in his cellphone package because he said it would put our friendship on a whole new level if we texted all day, and I thought, my god, I don’t to text all day—or any of the day—so I guess our friendship won’t flourish, and indeed, he has withdrawn what little he was already giving, all because I didn’t want an iPhone. It’s good to set boundaries though. As for young people being worse than older people about opening doors, I just know that most of the people who open doors for me are a good bit younger than I. However, I know that there have been studies in which it was shown that young people are more likely to stop and help an old man whose car has broken down than they are to stop and help an old woman. I don’t know why this would be, but the study I read years ago (and probably couldn’t find again) seemed like a good one to me. Maybe younger people are simply more likely to want “father energy” in their lives than “mother energy.” I just know that I feel very well treated by young people, both males and females, and I especially value being able to relate warmly to young women because since there’s no sexual energy—or the fear thereof—in either direction, it gives me a feeling of safety from the lust that I once would have experienced, and, I suppose, it gives them a feeling of safety because they don’t worry about me me misinterpreting their friendliness. I instead feel interested in, and protective of, them. Some might call this sexist, but I believe it’s natural and desirable.<br /><br />“I'm kicking myself for not 'copying' my comment before I hit ‘Publish’."<br /><br />I do know the feeling, but only horrible people write long comments anyway, so I naturally expected better of you (I know I certainly wouldn’t leave a long comment because I prefer comments that say, “Grate post. You have a grate talent for espressing yourself. I’m so glad I find your blog, and I look forwarded to reeding more of what you have to say on your blog” this followed by a link to a penile lengthening creme that will also care cancer. It’s your hassle and my intellectual loss that your comment disappeared, so I’m kicking myself over it too (I'm SO glad you visited me!). What I’ve had happen was to write a long comment, and then the damn page would mysteriously decide to reload (I think such things are called the devil in the machine), and it would all be gone. I therefore write nearly all of my comments in Pages (the Apple word processing program). Sometimes, I’ll take a chance on getting a short one done on someone’s blog but I always feel like a daredevil doing it.Snowbrushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436087215476479042noreply@blogger.com