Pictures of Pets

I took some pictures earlier today of some of my pets. Just wanted to share a few cute ones with everybody!

Enjoy!



Zeus, reading my poetry. Ellie in the background, just chillin'. : )



Ellie and the grape... : )



Zeus in stealth mode!



'What choo want wit my grape?!'



Oh Zeus, my love...you're so handsome. : )



Tee hee! Silly Ellie!!

Ways To Love Your Body...(just like your boyfriend does!)

So, after writing a previous post of mine, I must admit...I'm still bothered by the fact that I have gained weight and that it bothers some people close to me. However, I have come to realize that it's really just their negative self-image being projected onto me.

Now, I am in no way very confidant of a person when it comes to physical attributes. But I am so disappointed in our society. It creates these near impossible standards for our girls/woman to live up to. I am NEVER going to look like Megan Fox or Jennifer Aniston...and to be honest, I don't want to. I am still traumatized by the first photo I ever saw of Megan Fox...she resembled an ugly transvestite. And as for Aniston...well, her face looks like a bony bronzed foot. I mean, if you would like to fashion your looks into an ugly transvestite or a bony bronzed foot, then please, look up to these "fine" actresses. However, I'd like to invite you to take a look at Kate Winslet in all of her curvacious beauty. She defies the norm and STILL doesn't hesitate when taking her clothes off (in almost every movie)! Or how about one of my favorites, Queen Latifah? This "Mamma" struts to the beat of her own drum and as a spokeswoman for Covergirl (their best move yet, I might add), brings in a certain light of REALITY back into our adds and commercials. She loves her body and shows it...which is why most of us have learned to love her body, too.

So now, I ask Hollywood to please, stop publicizing tiny waistlines and unhealthy eating habits just because it has become the norm for our society. If there is anything that can change this outlook, it's Hollywood and ALL that comes with it. We must embrace our bodies as they are now. And if you aren't happy with it, feel free to change it but how YOU want to...not how Jennifer Aniston and Megan Fox do.

On that note, I had to meet with a doctor last week (just a routine check-up) and she had a little red flyer up in her office that immediately caught my attention. She let me keep it (it was her last one and she kindly pealed it off of her wall for me to cherish!) and I am now trying to read it everyday so that I can truly embrace my body in all of it's glory! I have rewritten a copy below for anyone who wishes to defy the norm with me and LOVE YOUR BODY...just as it is. : )


WAYS TO LOVE YOUR BODY

* Become aware of what your body does each day, as the instrument of your life, not just an ornament for others.

* Think of your body as a tool. Create a list of all the things you can do with this body. (My boyfriend and I enjoyed discussing this one...: ) )

* Walk with your head held high, supported by pride and confidence in yourself as a person.

*Do something that will let you enjoy your body. Stretch, dance, walk, sing, take a bubble bath, get a massage. (I'd like to add 'safe sex' and 'masturbation' to this point as they are GREAT ways to 'enjoy your body'.) : )

* Wear comfortable styles that you really like and feel good. (I will no longer be ashamed of my jeans and t-shirt look!)

* Decide what you would rather do with the hours you waste everyday criticizing your body. (Every time I say something negative about my body, Brandon recites this point to me. Every...time...)

* Describe 10 positive things about yourself without mentioning your appearance. (This one is tough, but I hope to get there soon.)

* Say to yourself, "Life is too short to waste my time hating my body this way."

* Don't let your weight or shape keep you from doing things you enjoy. (I can't wait to be at the beach!!! Even though everyone will be running away in fear as Abby the Whale hurdles onto the beach...and in comes Brandon, "Isn't there something you would rather do with the time you waste criticizing your body, Abby")

* Create a list of people who have contributed to your life, your community, the world. Was their appearance important to their success and accomplishments? If not, why should yours be?

* If you had only one year to live, how important would your body image and appearance be?

I hope this list inspires others to join me in loving our bodies!! Good luck!!!

At least I'm not the only one obsessed with Mario Kart!!

GASP!

I was zapped full of gooey goodness when my brother referred me to a video posted on his wall by a friend of his. Ironically, the girl who posted the video did so because it reminded her of me and not him...and I'm honestly touched that she would remember anything about me considering the fact I felt as though she wasn't very friendly to me and flat out didn't care for me at all! Although, if you know me at all and only a little, the one thing you probably do know about me is that I LOVE MARIO KART!!

Ever since I was a little girl with huge pink rimmed glasses, I have been entranced by Mario Kart. I played it when it first came out on Super Nintendo...the very first Mario Kart EVER! Never did I have more fun...until it came out for Nintendo 64! We never owned either of these games when I was a child, having to rent them all the time. But now we own them both and I still, to this day, enjoy pulling out the old consoles and playing them on rainy days. However, last summer...I was introduced to Mario Kart Wii........

...and I have NEVER felt the same about any other video game!!!

It challenges me by allowing me to play against other fellow obsessors. It entrances me with pretty lights and sounds! Ha ha! It stimulates my mind by forcing me to multi-task while I kick ass on my way to the top (hey, it ain't easy turbo sliding while holding a green shell behind you and aiming at Bowser in front of you, waiting for the perfect time to release hell! Ok, ok...it's easy for me. Ha! But only after MUCH practice!). And it sincerely makes me smile. There is nothing like unlocking EVERYTHING there is to unlock in a game and beating a bunch of online members with scores in the 9000's (I am not quite there yet but I'm so close, with a solid 8800).

So, thank you, Mario Kart Love Song singer! Thank you for professing my extreme adoration of a timeless game into an awesomely hilarious song! While playing it for Brandon, he laughed and said, "This is how I feel when we play online!" He said that because when we play online on my license, he takes those blue shells for me and knocks out those Bowsers and DKs so that my score can soar!! Every winner needs a comrade...or I guess I should say every Daisy needs her Luigi. : )

Enjoy!!!

The Extremely LATE "Weirdness" Between a Mother and Daughter

This past weekend, I happily traveled to Evansville in preparation of Christina's (my brother's girlfriend) graduation. To be honest, I had no burning desire to see my mother or brother. And I was right to be void of that desire.

Let's first begin with my brother. He has EVERYTHING a soon-to-be 19 year old boy could want: he's going to college for FREE; he doesn't have to pay rent at either of the TWO homes he lives; he gets FREE money from the government every month; he has a beautiful girlfriend who is totally in love with him and parents who bend to his every whim. So, why must he be cruel? We were at Wal-mart in search for a last minute sweater for me to wear at the graduation last night as it was going to be cold. Bryce so "lovingly" dropped hints and blatantly complained about my weight. Yes, I know I have gained weight. Yes, I want to lose it. But honestly, I personally thought that family was supposed to love you unconditionally, no matter what. Never in the whole of Bryce's childhood did I EVER hint to his weight, which was much more than the weight of society's "normal" child. I am almost ashamed to call him my brother, as he has completely changed and has become very arrogant in his ways. He doesn't realize how much he upsets me, even if it's "only a joke, Abby."

Continuing onto my mother, she is indescribable. Literally. (I just sat here for five minutes staring at the blinking cursor, begging it to give me a word worthy of describing her.) To keep things short, I shall explain that we simply ended up talking about how "weird" Bryce's relationships are and she turns to me with a shocked expression and says, "Well, don't you think your relationships are weird, Abby?" "What exactly do you mean?" I responded. "You dated a WOMAN!" she heaved. "You don't think that is weird?"

Slap! My neck still hurts from that whip across the face.

I was flabbergasted to say the least. All this time, I was under the impression that my mother supported my relationship with a woman and that she was fully comfortable with it. Now, 2 years after I have ended that relationship and am happily dating a man, she lets me know that she doesn't actually approve. I explain to her that I fall in love with a person's personality, intelligence, and humor before I fall in love with their sex. And then I begin to feel bad for her as she tells me that's weird and not right...that she doesn't understand that, because she thought sex really matters because it's the first thing you 'SEE'. I'm sad for her...she loves only with her eyes; never her heart.

Needless to say, I'm hurt and completely taken aback. Never again will I expect anything from my 'family'...least of all love. Apparently, it's certainly too much to ask for...even when you never really ask of it and instead just assume it was always there to begin with.

It's Been Awhile...

"Oh my..."

Most of my thoughts begin this way and nothing was different when I logged into my ancient Blogger account today after being inspired by my good pal, Al. Technically, I actually said, "Oh my...what IS this shit?!"

But seriously...I have been looking for an outlet. I'm finding that I've been writing less and less lately. I lack the motivation (which is normally the case with anything in my life at the moment), yet I intend to find some.

So, this is my first step. Going to www.blogspot.com. Entering in my email address and password. Clicking "View Blog" and deeply sighing with, "Oh my...what IS this shit?!...Oh yeah. That's right. It's me."