Saving the Dolphins

Today begins the season of slaughter in Taiji, Japan. Every year starting on Sept. 1 fishermen go out in boats to lure dolphins to a secret cove where they are captured and sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars for research and entertainment all over the world. The ones that don't make the cut end up getting brutally killed by men in smaller boats with harpoons until the water is deep red. This hunt goes on for usually 6 months. Thanks to Ric O'Barry and the makers of the documentary "The Cove", Taiji's dirty little secret is out. Before I saw the movie I had no idea this was going on. I had never even heard of it. My mom knew how much I loved dolphins (I have a tattoo on my ankle)and showed me an article in National Geographic that mentioned it. The only other place I had heard about it was an episode of "Family Guy",(the one where Peter meets a dolphin voiced by Ricky Gervais). Ever since viewing the doc. it has been my mission to become educated and help get the word out. Although, I am extremely unhappy with my current blog host and I think I need to switch.

Dolphins

Watched the documentary "The Cove" and needless to say (which is a stupid turn of phrase when you think about it) I was outraged. I cried. I cheered. I spent today online learning as much as I could about the captivity of dolphins and other animals. I've signed on-line petitions and sent a letter to a lab in Kentucky to release the last 21 of it's chimpanzees back into the wild. I did one thing that was very difficult for me. I "unliked" Dolphin Quest on Facebook. Swimming with Kolohei was, besides giving birth to my daughter, the most life affirming moment for me, but knowing that his day to day life is actually filled with stress breaks my heart. Not having a job, I am unable to donate money, but I can get the cyber word out to as many people as possible about the horrors in Taiji, Japan and other places. Until something else is able to fill my time, this is what I will do.

Dealing With Depression

I'm trying to learn how to be confident again. Depression can take away so many things. Even when you get better, confidendence is the last thing to return. I'm scared of everything: the future, the past, the present. All I want to do is write and I can't find a job anywhere, writing or otherwise. My thoughts go down on paper or into cyberspace but it does little to quiet the nagging monster inside me that says I'm no good and never will be. I realize this is a dark post, but I need to write every day no matter what's in my head or in my heart.

What I Like

     I've noticed a lot of negativity in my life lately, so I'm going to focus on what I like.
I like to watch The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad. I'd like to live near the ocean.  I LOVE the Bob and Tom Show and I've been a fan since 1995.  I like eating at Dick's restaurant in San Leandro.  Been goin' there since I was a kid.
      I like long walks and roller skating. I like going to antique stores because their smell reminds me of home. (My mother is an antique dealer.)  I like to watch baseball  (Go A's and Go Yankees!)  I'd much rather drink a beer than a glass of wine. I like to sleep late and I like to cook. I like to read everything I can get my hands on.
     I like John Stewart and the Daily Show. I like Conan O'brien. (I don't like that they're on at the same time.) I like X-File reruns and I like Archer. I like House Crashers and Disaster House because I had a crush on the host, Josh Temple, in high school. I like that he hasn't changed at all and I think it's funny when ALL the wives flirt with him.
     I like to write. I like to eat fresh fruit, especially pineapples! I LOVE Hawaii and wish I could go back. I like to travel and I like hanging out with my daughter, Brittany, (she's 18). I LOVE dolphins and even have one tatooed on my ankle. I like going to Disneyland with friends. I like romance and snuggling but I have'nt found a guy to snuggle with. I like to be productive but I don't have a job and I don't like that at all.

Donna Summer

If you grew up in the 70's, then you should remember Donna Summer. Her songs were always on the radio and even in the 80's when MTV was born, you watched her videos.
As a kid I would pretend my hairbrush was a microphone and sing her songs. She had such a bright, beautiful talent that you couldn't help but get up and dance when you heard her sing.
She influenced so many of the artists who came after her, but she was a true disco original. From "The Last Dance" to "She Works Hard For the Money", her contribution to the music world will forever be remembered. R.I.P. disco queen.

Mother's Day

Mothers are what we celebrate for everything they've done. They love and help and shelter us, and make time for having fun. Those of us who honor mothers with little ones close by, We thank you for the lessons learned, and in your name we try. People come and people go, but moms are always there. to give advice and love, and teach us how to care.

The Help part 2

One day after I finished reading "The Help", I am watching the movie. I can't help feeling that if Lindsay Lohan hadn't gotten into so much trouble, she would have made a great Skeeter. Emma Stone, however, is absolutely perfect in the lead role as are the rest of the cast. Bryce Dallas Howard's turn as Hilly is spot on. I can't wait to finish the movie. When Skeeter is on her first date with Stuart, I know exactly how she feels. I wasn't pretty when I was younger and when I was fixed up for a rare double date, my date would not even try to hide his disinterest in me. When someone treats you like they're forced to be with you and they are not happy about it, it's a feeling you never forget. I feel like Skeeter and I would have been good friends. The level of hipocracy that these characters show is mind-blowing. I've never understood how anyone can look at a person, whatever their race, and not see a human being standing right in front of them. I'm going to go finish the movie now.