Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts

A Friend To Those With Feathers And Fur... That Was My Guy

>>  Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Some have a healing touch... This was one of Darryl's gifts. From the time we met over 25 years ago he was the "doctor" for any ailment or injury sustained to human and non.  A true people and animal lover who opened his home and wallet to those who were in need... He had a way of making things safe once you were in his care:


















I remember so many instances (even before our "veg" journey) of him bringing home sad creatures who needed some TLC before they could be on their own... And those who stayed with us as a family usually did so at Darryl's insistence.  He always welcomed another being to love. That was his gentle way... That was my guy. 

Read more...

For The Love Of Good Food & The Love Of Animals...

I mentioned that my late husband was quite the cook in our house... He hardly skipped a beat when the house began eating friendlier. Darryl easily and cheerfully altered his recipes to reflect a kinder and healthier way of eating. He loved to cook... He loved to feed me and others...







I miss his delicious chili, his hearty soups, his Tofurky masterpieces, and his talent of seasoning everything in life with the special spice of joy... I miss the love (and food) he never grew tired of providing to me. A kinder or better man I never knew.

Read more...

On Washing Away The Stench Of Dear Deer Blood...

>>  Wednesday, June 4, 2014

My neighbors, not the vegan ones and not the ones who disliked my avocado tree (that has regrown like all get-out)... The ones who live right off the lake in a mini-mac from the 90's. The ones that hold a huge get together twice a year - Memorial Day being one of them. Mega-family travels down from the Carolina's, and I'm told a few of them "bring food" obtained through their "hobbies": Venison. 




Now as my good friend Andy L. rightly points out... The smell of cooked blood during these holidays can be overwhelming (read: disgusting). My neighborhood is no exception with the stench of cooked dear deer blood and all the other species from other neighbor's grills.

So what's a vegan to do? Well I could stay inside... But I love my yard and the outdoors calls to me!  And I have a wrap-around six-foot high fence that keeps my loved ones safe and maintains my privacy - Sadly it doesn't block out odors though. And as I look and ponder this fence, I notice it could use some sprucing up... There's nothing like the urgency of a (loud) pressure washer! Vroom!

But pressure washing can be a lot like raking - It's hard to know when to stop. First bushes must be hedged, the beds blown out... And while your at it... As long as the extension cords and hoses are completely unfurled, you might as well do the walkway, driveway, doors, windows, deck, garage floor, etc. etc. Now you get the idea. Yes?

This has all lead me to a week-long event of "playing in water", making lots of (annoying) sounds and best of all, my car has had to be parked right in view to road traffic... Maybe the clan of deer-killers got a good eye/ear full on their thee-day blood-cooking fest? One can only hope... 


So for those reading who might enjoy the smell of cooked blood of any species - Please consider your neighbors. Not only those who wretch at the smell... But your nonhuman neighbors who's lives are stolen for your bizarre and unkind habits. 

Me? I had portobellos on the grill with home made seitan - It was the best! ;)

Read more...

In My Absence...

>>  Friday, March 7, 2014


Will trying to avoid sitting on a black cat who occupies a black chair qualify as good enough reason to be so scarce in blog postings? I thought not... But it has to be a temporary excuse to explain my absence. I'm not ill, injured or "MIA" - Just super busy with assorted life events that I hope will conclude in the near future. 

Till then... Maybe Oz can learn to type? :D

Read more...

An Unconventional Holiday Wrap-Up ... Vegan Style

>>  Sunday, February 2, 2014

Almost twenty-five years ago my husband and I bought our first home. We were w-a-y over-stretched financially with all the things we wanted to change/improve "immediately". So... We did what many other new-home owners do - We both worked two jobs. These grueling hours extended through all major holidays from Thanksgiving well past New Years... That didn't stop us from decorating the tree and house though. Even if no one was home to enjoy and celebrate the donning of festivities - Our new home had been decked out just the same.

And so it was that these jobs kept us from taking down the merry and the holly for a considerable amount of time afterwards. We joked that we could have kept the tree up and decorated it with Valentines decor... And the "green" would be perfectly suited for St. Patrick's Day too! But - The decorations managed to get boxed up by February 12th. Barely.  And so it happens every year since, that some stray Christmas memory lingers around... A card that comes late in the mail. A hidden, stray ornament... Even the persistent single strand of tinsel that escapes the vacuum cleaner till July makes wrapping up the holidays almost a year-round affair.

I'm not packing the Fa-La-La/Auld Lang Syne memories away just yet this time either. I've one more special gift to mention before I do. You see, I'm an extremely lucky person... As I've mentioned before my veterinarian is vegan (how cool is that?) and I also have the greatest fortune of having neighbors who are also vegan and wonderful bakers too!

On New Years Day we were given the most delicious Raw Vegan Cookie Dough Bites... And before long there were only three left so here's to putting away the last of the holiday cheer, this go-round.


Lastly, I'd love to say there was some influence from me that directed my neighbors to go Vegan Style... But nearly three years ago they came to me - Just like this: Vegan-aware and vegan-friendly. So who says things aren't changing for the better? Don't stop advocating. Don't stop telling speaking out... In ways you don't even realize, you're making a difference. It really is true that good people are listening! ;)

Read more...

ThanksVegan & Food For Kind Thought

>>  Sunday, December 1, 2013


What a fantastic meal and celebration we had at the 8th Annual ThanksVegan event coordinated by Florida Voices for Animals! Robert Shepherd was the keynote speaker and you can read his moving essays here.
Robert D. Shepherd
It was a wonderful time with more delicious food than one could imagine. Best part was getting to be with friends who are dear but seldom seen. 
Tucker & me
The poster you see behind us is one distributed by United Poultry Concerns. Many took advantage of this backdrop for cool photo-ops. The truth couldn't be more clear! We know that turkeys are too neat to eat, and no one at ThanksVegan missed out a bit!

Another one of these posters held a place of prominence at the library display that I previously mentioned I would do in the month of November. Of course the major focus was all about the turkeys and the many reasons they are best left off our plates:



*


*

*

*

*


*

I was pleased with the display... It looked festive and colorful. The message was clear that we ought to be kind:


Available in the lobby were brochures also provided by United Poultry Concerns. If people didn't get the message on the way in... They certainly could learn more on the way out. 

I hope that all gentle folks had a wonderful holiday! Food for kind thought is always delicious - Isn't it? :)





Read more...

Vegan Celebrations and Lucky Black Cats

>>  Wednesday, October 30, 2013

I have the great luck to be able to celebrate my wedding anniversary between the yearly Veg Fest events in my area. This year on our 24th (but who's counting?), we attended the 4th annual Tampa Bay gathering located off the beautiful Hillsborough River. As usual there was delicious food, cool music and a full day of activities from petting friendly animals to watching videos and listening to informative speakers.

We got to see the popular film Vegucated. We also enjoyed Dr. Milton R. Mills give an interesting presentation about keeping our bodies (specifically our colons) healthy through eating plants. He addressed the serious topic of food choices in a humorous, easy to digest way.  And Jane Velez-Mitchell was just a ball of energy and enthusiasm in her talk to motivate the audience to get active in helping animals. 

The week after we went to the 8th annual Central Florida Veg Fest and as the announcement says it's an extremely family and pet friendly setting. We thoroughly enjoyed the talks presented by body builder, vegan-athlete-extraordinaire Robert Cheeke. And abolitionist speaker, educator and activist Elizabeth DeCoux gave a riveting and compelling talk on why justice to our fellow Earthlings is long overdue.

In both events there were great exhibits and lots of fun to be had. Along with the memories of sharing a special time with other compassionate people, we came home with a goodie bag filled with coupons, brochures, buttons, stickers and samples: 

****************

Here's a happy me standing in front of the Take Your Blinders Off video truck operated by the amazing activist and animal vet Randall Cannon. His inexhaustible dedication is truly admirable.
The video Why Vegan from the EVOLVE campaign is one of my favorites for it's solid message of compassion and it's closing question asking "why aren't you vegan"? And I too would like to know - If you're not vegan - Why not?

So that was our very perfect two week anniversary celebration... 

Here at home the time of black kitties is relevant again in my life. We're thrilled that this little guy made his way to us. We've named him Oz and he was found of all places, by a fruit and vegetable stand at a local market. When I first saw him, I picked him up and held him out to everyone around asking "Casa? Casa?" 
For sure he had no takers and no home. As it turned out we learned his mother had tragically been run over and his only surviving sibling was rescued just that day. 


Sweet little purring orphan - He truly was meant to be a member of our family. 
For those who may not know... Black cats don't fare well this time of year. So lucky for us all, for so many reasons... He couldn't have come into our lives at a better time! 

To Happy Anniversaries, Happy Kindness Festivals and Happy Halloweens... May our dreams of love, peace and hope all come true. 

Read more...

A Long-Lasting Goodbye To My Teco

>>  Wednesday, October 2, 2013



In May I wrote about our dear Teco. Since then she has been diagnosed with cancer. The months we had hoped for have now passed into the inevitable days and hours to come. We've tried to make her as comfortable as possible as endless time will soon reclaim the body she is now trapped in. It was never a suitable place for such a perfect being as she is anyway.


Because such an illness is a slow one to culminate - We've been able to say our goodbyes many times over and over. This is a mixed blessing as you can imagine. But I wanted to remember her this way... Still alive, still aware and here in her physical presence. She still purrs in the pleasure of our human touch and that's the way I want her memory to remain by way of this living memorial post.  
*****
Teco is and will always be the light and joy of my heart. If I could recall just a few of the things I'll treasure most, they'd be remembering her suckling habit that she kept well into her adult years... Her tolerance when we introduced new members to the family like Tucker...  

And most recently a little black kitty we named Oz. Poor guy, he will be denied the benefit of big-sister-cat-lessons, play and all the love that Teco surely would have given to him under different circumstances.




I'll miss the loving way she'd groom and nap with her big-dog-brother Backus. Teco was never a miser with affection... And she was never a speciesist.



I'll miss her scampering foot patters down the hall in the morning as she announced to the house another fun day has begun! I'll miss her soft purrs at night resting in the folds of the sheets. ...
And her comical stick out tongue. 


For everything in between she is and will always be a most ideal individual.  She's been a pleasant distraction as I've tried to navigate around an often hostile world... 



No matter what shade of blue, green or teal her eyes decided to shine in, there was always love looking back from them. She even treated the small lizards and frogs she caught in a soft manner. I don't think she's ever harmed a single one of them... I know so few humans that carry themselves with such gentleness and dignity as she.



I'll miss her tolerance and patience. Her curiosity. Her quiet intelligence that reminds me always to value the moment, because really... Among good friends, that's the only important thing.

She is the best. A companion and a teacher. I will never stop missing her or ever stop being grateful for the  joy she's brought into my world. When her final time comes:  I'll miss this feline girl-friend of mine to an unbearable degree... I thank you Dear Teco for being you and for letting us share the wonderful preciousness of your life. For us, sweet one, there never will be a last goodbye.  


Read more...

A Vegan Knows Empathy

>>  Wednesday, August 21, 2013

A while ago my neighborhood had a series of burglaries. With the exception of one home being broken into with significant damage, there was nothing of great consequence stolen from anyone. We got robbed too. The first time it was small yard tools. The second time they took my black 50's bike with all the cool vegan stickers, an extension ladder and a pressure washer. For months there was a relentless succession of hits. It was extremely infuriating as you can imagine.

One evening past midnight, there was a noise across the street. When my husband and I went outside, we saw an unfamiliar truck in front of our neighbor's garage. The perpetrator spotted us and ran into his vehicle for a get-a-way. My husband yelled for me to call 911. But by then I was already in my car set to engage in hot pursuit. The chase lead us to a closed McDeath parking lot where I managed to pin his car. He had no choice but to flee on foot, and so he ran into an all-night Denny's. I shouted "call the police!", and I blocked the individual in the vestibule so he couldn't leave.

There we were together... An exhausted pair with clashing interests. I could see then that he was just a kid. A panicked, terrified, trapped kid. I too was shaken. All I could do was ask why he stole things from people who worked hard for what they had. People who weren't any better off than he was. I asked him about my bike too... I was angry! The kid pleaded with me. He begged. He took a handful of dollar bills out of his pocket and said "Please! I'll give you everything - Just let me go!". He was crying - sobbing tears of worry and desperation. He knew as well as I though, that everything was already set into motion. There were witnesses, and the sheriff was well on the way. I let him push me aside and he ran so fast and far that I lost sight of him.

The police arrived in less than a minute. After that, the helicopters were on air patrol searching for this scared, hopelessly troubled young man. I was instructed to wait in my car until someone could take my statement. Officers were everywhere. A K-9 unit sniffed the contents of the abandoned truck. The father of the boy arrived on the scene as well. 

In the meantime I did a lot of thinking. I imagined what it must have been like to be this hunted thief. I thought about how terrified his eyes were. How crazed and frantic he was. How he pleaded with me to make the event disappear. I thought about how this was the worst moment in his life, and I felt sincerely sorry for him that he had poor chances and made bad choices. I know my worry was running along with him in whatever dark alley he was hiding in. I felt his trouble in a way that I didn't expect I would.

Initially I was confused as to why I felt such grief for someone who had violated my privacy and stolen my possessions. How and why did I feel sorry - for him? I was the victim! 

My eyes wandered into the dimly lit, vacant McDonald's building. I stared at the counter. It appeared so sanitized in its smooth, stainless finishes. And then, as a vegan's mind might work sometimes... I thought about how this boy's pleading could very likely be the same as an animal in the hands of a slaughterer. They too cry desperately to be let go. They too beg for pity in their own language. And they too would give anything to be spared from harm. The struggle, fear and panic would be the same. But their cries for mercy go unheard by the slaughterer. I wondered how it could be that I could care so much for someone who had wronged me while those who killed the innocent weren't troubled at all to do so. I couldn't and still don't understand how effortlessly they can do the worst acts against those who are totally innocent. All so that other victims can serve their bodies on cold, polished steel. I thought of these things while in my car... And I sobbed for all of us.


My thoughts linked back to a troubled boy, desperate for money, and settling for any way to escape the chains of poverty. And that boy then became the man holding the knife upon the throat of an innocent. I felt sorry for the father who surely felt he'd failed his son. It had come full circle. I realized in that moment that the only ones that escape, are those who still have empathy

Eventually I gave my statement, the cars and crowds cleared out, and the helicopters ended their search. When the sun rose the next morning that McDonald's parking lot wouldn't show a sign of a weary, pacing father, a boy running for his life, or a woman crying in her car for all the victims.

They'd find the boy a few days later, laying low at a friend's home. My bike was never recovered, as with most of the goods, they were all disbursed or pawned...   But for what I learned about myself that night - What I discovered about who I am, I wouldn't give a hundred black 50's bikes for. I understood completely what being vegan means to me: Empathy.




Frans De Waal talks about Empathy
Center for Building a Culture of Empathy

Read more...