De-stress with pets

I am a strong believer in the health benefits of having pets.  

When choosing a pet, I think it is important to consider the possible impact on one's income, food resources - and the planet.  

Our special boy needs special food to prevent complications with his plumbing.  He and miss boss kitty have their checkups at least once a year.  That's about all I'm willing to dish out.  

I feel for the pets stranded due to the storms in the east coast of the USA and the stress it is causing their displaced humans. 

Provided there is enough food, water and litter space, you can leave cats alone in the apartment for a couple of days without worrying about them getting into the garbage, pooping on the floor or taking over your bedroom.  Until... 

Mental Health benefits:

• http://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/trauma-ptsd/animal-therapy-ptsd-treatment/ 

Impact of pets on the planet:

• http://www.center4research.org/2011/04/pets-and-health-the-impact-of-companion-animals/ 

I don't think cats have as much impact on the environment as dogs.  They likely have more impact than birds - but are not as noisy.  I'd feel bad about keeping something in a cage anyway. 

Cats provide companionship, comfort and soon become members of your family.  They also provide opportunities for impromptu entertainment and creativity.

 
They also provide distractions and practice when you have just purchased a new camera.  Purr-mit me to lure you to recent blog posts about photogenic cats and deep blonde ponderings on what do cats think about.   What's another five minutes of your busy, busy day? 
 

 

Snuggles isn't sure about that Tree of Life print.  Perhaps he thinks I am taunting him with those birds.  Who knows if he can even see two dimensional figures anyway.   You can read more about my cherished tree-themed print in this other blog post. 

Thanks for dropping by.  

Excuse me so I can perform a daily meditation, guilt-free thanks to a pricey but flushable cat litter.   

Be sure to visit the domain for my bittersweet novel about fate, family and forgiveness.  One of the characters is a cat. 

T

 

We are star dust

Every day I am reminded that each of us humans has so much potential for good deeds in this world.  

I am also reminded that each of us is just a spec of dust within the grand scheme of things in this beautiful, mysterious universe.  We are connected.  We are star dust.  We are golden.

No, I haven't been smoking anything or taking mind altering drugs... It's the weekend and I'm procrastinating on housework.  

I find weekends or vacations are great times for reflection and deep blonde thoughts. While on vacation this month, I visited family members up north. Well, Sudbury is as north as we have migrated. 

Armed with my new digital camera, I took plenty of photographs on the bumpy flight up, during the enjoyable visit with a geriatric cat, her humans and on a excursion to Science North.

Science North, Sudbury

I was educated and amused by the exhibits of rock, bones and pooh.  

Underground

Goofing it up with Mr. Bones.  We're all the same inside.

Pooh samples.  Everybody poops.

I was amazed by the Hubble 3D IMAX movie.  
 

I sat in the theatre with my family and other viewers.  While wearing 3D glasses (and likely looking a bit goofy), I watched, agape as we followed the astronauts in their shuttle launches, earthly orbits and on their space walks.  

With the aid of a deep, wide space lens on the Hubble telescope and some computer animation, I travelled millions of light years and floated into a star nursery to witness what astronomers believe looks like the birth of new stars.

That is deep - and far out.  

Thanks for joining me on this little trip.  If you like my writing style, you may want to read The Year of the Rabbit, a novel about Fate, Family and Forgiveness. 

T

Vandalism ventures into a gray (or pink) area

I am not a fan of vandalism and I don't think many other people are either.

I am not a fan of graffiti although some can be seen as art forms or social statements. "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls ... and tenement halls."


While riding the morning bus this week and daydreaming as we waited in traffic, my eye caught an interesting sight.  A billboard for a local rock station had been vandalized.  What was interesting was that the larger than life image of scantily-clad, loose-looking rock and roll chicks had been splattered with pink paint.

Since I happened to have my new camera in my bag of tricks, I took the opportunity to snap a photograph.  

As the bus rolled on, I quietly thanked that vigilante for virtue.  I am far from a prude but I think there are too many public displays of skin and kinkiness invading our communities, assaulting our eyes, ears and psyches. If people want to experience naughty sensations, they know where to look, where to go.  It is troubling that these images are being seen by children or boys who may develop distorted views of what women want. 

Obviously, I am not of the target audience or gender for most of these ads. I wonder if the majority of people who have to encounter these images are in that demographic or appreciate the blatant, visual titillation.

I wonder about the virtue of those skinny, scantily clad ladies - and if a couple of them are natural blondes or... if the chemicals have affected their good judgement.

T

Thanks to Photography

I suppose it was a wonderful invention, that digital camera thing.

Technology has advanced exponentially in the past few decades.  Its speed and convenience though should not take away from the reflective moments and leisurely approach when enjoying the good life. 

The immediacy and convenience of digital photography may tarnish the judgement and scrutiny the artist needs when choosing her subject matter and the resulting number of photographs to spew out at her audience.  

The combination of digital cameras, computers and blogs make it so easy to alter and share pictures. Traditional photographs aren't easy to change or manipulate - unless you are able scan them, add a nostalgic sepia effect and border.

As an amateur photographer, you may find subjects who are willing to pose.  You will find those who are not.

Some hide or play coy.

Plants make easy subjects.  They don't complain or hide.  They also seem to display appreciation after you have re-potted them, fondled their roots, administered fresh soil, vitamins and a little TLC.

Guess what I have been doing this first week of vacation, this holiday weekend, in-between cleaning and preparing for a special family dinner?  

I attribute this particular manic episode of creativity to residual memories of a cuddly dream after watching another video with this beautiful, bright young man.  I like what he says about being affected by a moment within a scene while watching a movie.  You could say the same thing about being touched after reading a passage in a good book. Just imagine the ah-ha moments when one watches scenes of a movie made from that book... One can dream.

This city apartment dweller is kind of sad to not have gotten out for nature walks yet during a much-needed vacation.  I may have missed the opportunity to capture some blazing autumn colours and young buck sightings.  I am sure there will be other interesting subjects and scenes presenting opportunities during week two. 

Happy Thanksgiving, all.  Drop by The Year of the Rabbit blog to see what Flo has been offering.