Friday, September 25, 2009

feed the birds, tuppence a bag

(*note another old blog from 2007)

when i was growing up as a child, we only ever had a dog as a 'pet'. i always wanted to have other animals as a child.
my mother says when i was an infant, i used to feed crumbs to the little mice and even ants near my crib. i remember having two little birds though when i was about 4 or 5 years old (i can't remember how old i was).

i remember watching mary poppins as a child and this song really etched itself in my mind i think.

every so often over the past few months while here at the old house in the woods, i've had to take care of and prepare the food and feed all the animals myself, cats, bunnies, birds, pig, dog, etc.
i have to say as much as i love them all it can be stressful sometimes and really wears me out some days...
last night while i was taking care of something for the cats, getting their food bowls cleaned or cleaning the litter (a job i definitely do not enjoy, but has to be done), i heard this song from iTunes that matt had playing in the background, disney songs mostly and i heard this song playing.
matt always gets choked up when he hears this song and so do i.
so as i was busy getting a little stressed with taking care of some of the chores for the animals i heard this song and it just completely lifted my heart like a balloon getting filled with that gas that makes your voice sound funny. it hit me like a dart hitting a bull's eye, and why i do all this work for the animals, both at home and elsewhere- feed the birds, tuppence a bag....

Friday, September 18, 2009

chicken a la carte


At first i didn't get the video because it seemed to just be about two girls going to a mall and shopping- boring and not very interesting; but then you see the end and realise what's happening.

The irony- if you can call it irony, is that this is in one of the poorest nations in the (so-called) third world- the philippines. The disparaging gap between the rich and the poor is wider than the grand canyon in the u.s.. It's very sad indeed. I feel sorry for all the people there, rich and poor alike. I feel sorry for the family who has to eat the "garbage food" and risk food poisoning constantly at every meal (which probably happens often). Garbage i wouldn't even feed stray cats in my neighbourhood. I also feel sorry, and in some ways feel worse- for people who are oblivious to that suffering, to the dire poverty around them daily, not in a judgemental way, but just to say that they are first of all missing out on an incredible opportunity to serve those in need which is our privilege and joy; and secondly, that their focus is so small and limited, it's like watching those poor horses drag carts around with blinders on. That's what it's like for them and yet they can't see or realise how truly blind they are. How blind we ALL can be at times. This is what is truly sad.

Life is short, how much good do we leave undone in the world around us while we live?
I pray for all- that the poor may find justice, the hungry may be filled, and those who are blind and ignorant to the suffering around them may open their eyes and see the great opportunities before them.

Photobucket

"if you do not love the brother whom you see, how will you be able to love God whom you do not see?" - St Elizabeth the New-Martyr

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

message from an older shelter cat

Currently, i am hoping and praying to find a realistic, and successful way of rescuing some stray/feral cats, at least two that are really needing to be rescued.
One has a bad left paw and lives in a parking lot (she's been called 'Flipper') and another one that is more urgently needing to be moved to a different home. He lives on the sidewalk near a street near a very busy supermarket mall and no one else (so far as i can tell is looking after him). He waits for me to bring him food and water daily, but needs a new home. He cannot be caught easily as i am guessing he is either feral, or an abused stray who was at one point living at a person's home but was abandoned or kicked out.

This poem is sad, poignant, and if nothing else, it makes you think. Hopefully and more importantly it makes you feel something.

The thing is....people can sometimes make all kinds of excuses for not wanting to take care of someone- whether it is an elderly person we know, or an older pet, or any animal...some people just can't be bothered.
Some people don't like hearing this and some say there is no comparison...but if they'd only listen with their hearts they might see the similarity or the irony.
What if they had to move to a place that didn't allow children (and they had children), or didn't allow people who were black, asian, latino, irish, polish, cherokee, catholic, jewish, etc., and they happened to be one of those things or their spouse was, would they still insist on moving there?
"..Well, with 'pets' it's different- Someone will take care of them or give them a home."
Is it really too much to ask? Are our other 'priorities' in our life really that much more important?
hmmm.
Meanwhile, Lucky sits and waits...

Hi there - My name is "Lucky" and this is my story....

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Admitted October 2007 - I am told that I am the longest resident at The Finger Lakes SPCA...Does that make me "..lucky"..???...read on.....


Message From An Older Shelter Cat


I sit alone and so confused behind these metal bars,

The loss that I am feeling will forever leave its scars.

My family left me here one day a month or two ago -

maybe a year, I don't know

They said, "Don't worry, Tabby, you'll find a home, we know."

It seems they'd bought a condo that said "No Pets Permitted".

I thought they'd never leave me, but then they went and did it.

My favorite windowsill is gone where I used to lay and sun.

I cried all night the day they left and remembered years of fun.

The people stop and look at me and always say, "Poor Thing".

Then they choose a kitten, when they could have had a KING!

So, please, if you stop by my "home", just give me an extra rub.

I've given up being adopted, but I sure could use the love.

And if you really like me, please, please take me home with you.

I'll be real good, I promise, and love you long and true.


http:../../..www...petfinder...com/..petnote/..displaypet...cgi?..petid=13560963

www...myspace...com/..fingerlakesspca


THE FINGER LAKES SPCA, INC.
7315 STATE ROUTE 54
BATH NY 14810
607-776-3039
OPEN DAILY 11-4
CLOSED EA. Thursday &

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

millions and miracles from the eyes of a child


Et erunt signa in sole et luna et stellis et in terris pressura gentium prae confusione sonitus maris et fluctuum...

And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea, and of the waves - Luke 21:25

this is one of my favourite films from the director Danny Boyle. the story is so fascinating, but the most beautiful part of it is to see things from the point of view of the 7 year old boy in it- Damian Cunningham (played by Alex Etel) who's imagination is not limited to anything less than saints who constantly visit him, and in his own innocent way see this apparent miracle as a brilliant way to help the less fortunate.

i relate in many ways to the character Damian, not only because he loved the saints as a child and knew their stories by heart, or that he so much wanted to help others, but that his mind was so open to the idea of 'miracles', even at the risk of making him look like a 'looney' to others (including his own brother). i think this is what i like best about this film.

"what was your miracle? don't you know? it was you."



this is the song at the end of the film (and the trailer) with the latin words taken from Luke.

animal rescue site

The Animal Rescue Site

hunger site

The Hunger Site

farm sanctuary

humane society

alley cat allies

saving shelter pets

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riverside, california, United States
please feel free to offer some thoughts and leave me comments if you should feel moved to do so... these are simply my thoughts, rants and ways of reflecting on where i've been and what i've seen. factual corrections and insight from others is gratefully appreciated and always welcome; endless arguing, debates and preachy personal opinion is not. ;-) "pussy cat, pussy cat where have you been? i've been to london to visit the queen. pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there? i frightened the little mouse under her chair"