The random thoughts & events in the life of an animal-loving, peace-loving vegetarian.
I can't promise to write regularly. And I can't promise that it will be interesting when I do.
I try not to offend when I find myself in a position to speak out on behalf of a group of people or for animals. Finding the balance between remaining silent and speaking out because it's wrong not to defend that which needs defending ("Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.) can be precarious sometimes. I do understand that just because I have a point of view that doesn't mean it's right or that others share it. Still, there are some positions that are consistently sound and compelling regardless of time or place. Could these then be considered "truth"?
I am listening to a book right now in which the main characters are motivated by the search for truth. The main character at one point says, "The truth is the truth. Don't be mad at me for saying it." I love that. So many times people get mad at the messenger (more often defensive and combative) instead of feeling outrage at the issue. So I will continue to speak the truth as I see it. Don't be mad at me for saying it.
In less than five hours it will be a new year, always a good time to begin new patterns of behavior that we intend to continue. Sometimes it takes a few false starts before the change sticks, but a renewed effort cannot be faulted. Bad habits are hard to break and good habits are hard to keep. My point is that we need to reflect on choices we've made and see if we can make better ones.
This sweet little video is a gentle reminder of what I feel is important to emphasize in my life. All I ask is that you sit back comfortably with a cup of tea and reflect on its message. Happy New Year. :-)
Since we've already celebrated our family Christmas it's going to be quiet around here, but that's OK with me. I worked half a day today, it being Christmas Eve, and the office is closed tomorrow. I have to put all our decorations away and start reading in earnest my book for book club which meets in another two weeks. My job for today, though, is to do Christmas cards. Late, yes, but Santa finally bought me that color printer I needed. That's my excuse anyway. :-)
Little stripey Christmas elf sitting under our tree.
Napping in front of the fire while waiting for Santa Claus.
Samuel Clement Moore got it right: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. Merry Christmas everyone!
Sometimes we don't have Anahita home for Christmas but this year we did. And of course Shirin and Gabriel do a Christmas with us and a Christmas with Gabriel's family in Florida. In fact they like Christmas so much they do one for their little family at their house too - three celebrations altogether.
It wasn't long after Tita had gotten home that the kitties had to investigate everything. Chappu loved Tita's old running shoes.
Earlier that day we'd gone to Charlotte so Tita could be fitted for some new running shoes. As much as she runs she needs a really good pair, so this fellow was the purported expert, or so the store personnel claimed. I guess you can look interesting and still do a good job fitting peoples' shoes.
She'll probably kill me for including this picture but it was so funny - she wanted to break in her new shoes so she wore them (and her pajama pants) while cooking us dinner. Her food was yummy - a quinoa and lentil dish - cooked by a chef in flamingo pink running shoes.
One of the first things Kai did after getting up Saturday morning was to check out the pile of presents under the tree.
Poor Banu! She's giving Kai the stink-eye from under our bed.
Shirin hired Cyrus to take a picture of her and Tita.
My gang.
My hired staff, putting together the luminaries for our house that our subdivision does every Christmas. It looks so lovely when all the neighbors light them. People drive slowly through the neighborhood with their lights off and some of the neighbors go from house to house Christmas caroling.
We walked though the neighborhood to look at our neighbors lights.
This house was our actual destination. It was a mine field of guide wires and electrical wires and I had to go in more than once to rescue two little curious boys. They had more blow up characters than last year!
It was fun for the big kids too.
There's nothing better after an evening of strolling through Christmas lights and luminaries than sitting around a nice fire. Saeed had been working on Shirin's fire pit since her last visit; it now has a a barrier of bricks and...
... some nice benches.
We had hot chocolate and s'mores.
I have to laugh when I see this picture -it's too posed and what makes me laugh is that my mother would love it!
The next day David came over bearing gifts. The boys were so excited.
Iron Man! I wonder if it comes with a pink duster?
David Claus:
Shirin was trying to get the boys to cooperate and pose for a picture that would be the wall paper for her new Surface. Who knows how that picture turned out!
Tita peering into her stocking for some goodies.
Wish I could remember what Gabriel was saying to Cyrus about that granola bar... probably something like, "Now son, these are really disgusting. You give me yours and I'll eat it for you."
The next day we took Tita to the airport only to have her call us up to ask if we could turn around and come back to get her - her flight was delayed by four hours. Yikes. We made lemonade out of lemons and went to the Vietnamese restaurant for lunch to kill some time. That's why this nice picture of Saeed and Anahita has sexy Asian ladies on the poster behind her!
And this is a picture Tita sent us today wearing her new Georgia Bulldog T-shirt (from Shirin) with the caption, "I may be back in SF but I am wearing my Southeast gear! With my Gamecocks hoodie too! Represent!"
What a great few days together. I loved our time together.
This picture was taken at an awkward angle with my iPhone, but this is Lupe lovin' up against me one day after work when I plopped down on my bed exhausted. Talk about fuzz therapy!!
As I look back at these (and the folder was dated 10-9-11) it was clearly Shirin's birthday. Where was Anahita? If I remember correctly she didn't come home for their birthday in 2011 so she will be absent in this post.
This was the first pic in the folder, of Cyrus mashing the top of a fuffin. Hey!
I don't remember what type of cake I made, probably something healthy based on Gabriel's expression.
Hmmmm. I wonder if Nama would mind if I went after that cake.
Shirin was teaching Cyrus how to ride a bike.
It was really hard for him to go up hill!
Nama to the rescue.
Proud little biker.
I don't remember, but I guess while we were biking Kai was helping Baba cook dinner! It's so funny to see him without hair! (Kai I mean.) :-)
My sister gave me a video titled "Kitty TV", a series of vignettes of scurrying gerbils and fluttering birds to titillate any cat worthy of the genus Felis. I think I blogged about it a few years ago. Recently we were watching a nature program about the animals in Alaska and it attracted an audience we weren't expecting.
Tippy started it off.
I brought the table closer.
Frosty was very interested in the Arctic Fox and...
I guess I'd better leave my pots on the deck this winter, even if I have to remove dead tomato plant material. Somebody will come looking for a mid-morning snack (AKA "second breakfast") in a month or two, and it had better still be there.
