Long pause...

Life is busy, busy, busy. But it feels great, everything is falling into place and working out. God is so great!

I really believe that all of life is better when you have a dog. For some reason, seeing the world as they do makes everything seem so joyous. Our old lady is so unique and wonderful, Snickers is an angel baby!

I've decided I'm going to start a cookbook. I need a place where I have all of my favorite things in one place, instead of searching for notecards here, word documents there, remembering recipes in my head. Maybe some day I can sell my cookbook for millions and millions and millions and Jason and I can retire to an island somewhere....right. While doing this, I am also going to work on my breakfast and baking skills. I don't really do either enough to have them up to a level I am happy with, so add that to my list of things for self improvement!

Another Puppy Store Induced Rant....

Jason and I stopped by the Puppy Store in the mall again this weekend. As usual, we found an adorable brindle blue and white pitty that made us have to remind ourselves that for the first year of that puppy's life we'll both be in an apartment, which would be unfair to a dog that size. Otherwise, he would have been going home with us. As we were standing there holding him, this mother and daughter came in and were cooing over this adorable little baby. And he was cute. When the woman said something about someone she knew just loving Boxers, Jason responded with "This one isn't a Boxer, he's a little pit bull". The woman answered with, "Oh, gosh" grabbed her daughters hand, and pulled her to the other side of the store. Seriously? You just removed your 16 year old daughter from the presence of an 8 week old pit bull. Big danger! Or, how about the father and son. Who grabbed his 4 year old son and said, "No! Don't stand too close to that one!" Ok, if that dog can get through the metal cage he's in, then through the glass wall that protects them, we have bigger problems.

I understand that not everyone likes all breeds of dogs. I get that. I have several I myself don't like (mainly all small dogs. They can get lost or stepped on so easily!). That doesn't mean I think they should all be eradicated from the planet. The thing that gets me is people who sterotype. "Pit bulls are SO aggressive. They'll kill you if you look at them wrong". O-M-G. Pit bulls (well, the bully breeds), pass the American Temperment Test at 88.6%. Golden Retreivers pass with 84%. Border Collies have a rating of 80%. Chihuahuas 71.1%.

And really, if they were "born to fight" or "born to kill", do you think that those disgusting people who put these dogs in fighting rings are going to keep a dog that is human agressive? That's the reason they picked those breeds in the first place, they are loyal and loving to their masters, even those who don't deserve it. Oh, also, lets talk about therapy dogs. You know, the dogs that go into children's homes and nursing homes because of the benfits that people gain from being around an animal? They are open to any breed of dog. Their most common, though? American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Pit Bulls.

You don't like them. That's fine. But don't try and get responsible, intelligent owners banned from owning their pets. Or, if you do, be prepared for me to start a crusade against your beloved tiny dog. Their hair ribbons can be used as lethal weapons, you know.

Random ramblings.

This week I was kind of down. Got some bad news, all the new Compass stuff is stressing everyone in the university out, it was just not good. Jason took me to dinner Tuesday, then decided we were going to go to the mall. Come to find out, he had decided to take me to the Puppy Store (which always puts me in a happy mood!). There were tons of little puppies there, all in various shapes of health (poor little milled puppies!). We held a beagle, and a little dachshund, and then it was all over...

Jason saw a little red and white pit bull (well, older than the rest...he was born in December) and we decided we wanted to see that one. Ohhhhh that baby was the SWEETEST thing ever. He didn't want to do anything but lay against your neck and snuggle! When I held him and he laid his head down and went limp, it reminded me so much of Sawyers I almost cried. It was so hard to give him back to the girl to stick him back in a cage to stay there until someone takes him. :( If I had a place that it would be fair to keep a dog that will be his size and energy level, I would have bought him in heartbeat. I hope he finds a good home soon. A baby that sweet deserves it.

LIfe

Its amazing how much life can change in such a short amount of time. New Orleans was the best trip of my life, for so many reasons. I am totally in love with the city and culture, and it will always have an amazingly special place in my heart as the place that Jason asked me to marry him. Its amazing how beautiful life can be.

LIst of Places I would like to visit

I guess my impending trip to New Orleans has got me thinking...so, here is a list of places inside the US and outside the US I would like to visit.

Domestic:

1. New Orleans.... :) I've always wanted to go...so hurry up next week!!!!!
2. Las Vegas.....bright lights, lots of sounds...sign me up!!!
3. Gila Cliff Dwellings...they're in New Mexico. You watched videos on them in elementary.
4. Hawaii.....I'm sure that needs no explanation. :)
5. Washington, D.C.....yes, I am a poli sci nerd.
6. Graceland.....just because I adore Elvis.
7. New York City...again with the bright lights. Oh, and the shopping.
8. Disney World. Because I love Mickey!!!!!!!
9. The Great Smoky Mountains...how beautiful to wake up to that view!!!
10. Niagra Falls...so pretty!!!!!

International:

1. Machu Picchu....I want to go here sooo bad. Its so beautiful.
2. Great Barrier Reef...such a beautiful place with so much life!!!
3. Petra...In Jordan. Its so amazingly beautiful.
4. The Pyramids of Egypt...I have always been fascinated by them.
5. The Wailing Wall...and Jerusalem over all. I would love to be at the birthplace of religion.
6. Tortola...British Virgin Islands. Google image it for my reason. <3
7. Venice...I would love to float on a gondola though a beautiful city.
8. Germany...there is so much about Germany I would love to see. And the beer.
9. Ireland...where my ancestors are from. And great beer...
10. Paris...because sometimes I am cliche. And I like escargot.

Reflections and Rambling

It is so hard to live in the world today. Violence is breaking out everywhere, its in a new place every day. From the killings and kidnappings in Mexico, the 12 gunmen shooting at the Sri Lankan cricket team, all of the violence in Sudan, not to mention the natural disasters in Germany and Peru. Everywhere you look there is crime, poverty, sadness, and desperation. Still, I can't help but have faith in humankind.

Many times in our history it has appeared that the world is coming apart at its seams. The 60's are a great example of this. 32 countries gained independence from their rulers, and not without battles. London suffered horrors that it had not seen in centuries. Civil rights were non-existant for those that did not meet the standards set by an ethnocentric and racist nation. There were political and racial assinations that spanned the globe. Then, in the late 60's, the social revolution took hold.

I'm not saying that the nation needs to turn into hippies again. No seriously, no hippies. But I am hopeful for an organic movement, somewhere, that can start repairing the hurt we are experiencing. The 1960's had music to save it. The Beatles helped created a mass movement of peace, understanding, love, and imagination. They revolutionized the world through their lyrics, and through their songs.

I can only hope that our generation is lucky enough to have this same thing happen to us. And that its not the Jonas Brothers.

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We'd all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We'd all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be alright

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
We'd all want to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're all doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you'll have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright

You say you'll change the constitution
Well you know
We'd all love to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright

Consider my attitude adjusted.

Sometimes I get in these little moods. Actually, they generally end up being big moods. I think a lot of it is when I try and wrestle with the fact that I don't know what's going to happen in the future. One of my big issues in life has always been realizing that I am not in control, but that there is a force much greater and better than me that already has everything mapped out. I guess sometimes I just need to remember that what I want doesn't matter, because there are so many more things more important than me.

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother
What will I be?
Will I be pretty?
Will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me:

Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.

When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my sweetheart
What lies ahead?
Will we have rainbows
Day after day?
Here's what my sweetheart said:

Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own.
They ask their mother,
What will I be?
Will I be handsome?
Will I be rich?
I tell them tenderly:

Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.
Que sera, sera.