Moment of Joy

I lived here, in this castle, when I spent part of the summer of 2007 in England and Scotland. Well, it's not a castle, really, but a manor house with a conservatory, park, music rooms, ballrooms, great halls, libraries...

simply put, one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

And for a little extra joy... this was the view from the gorgeous window seat in my bedroom.

Damn, I'm lucky!

Moment of Joy

Inspired by several awesome photoblogs, I've decided to take a crack at it myself. I can't always post a whole article, but I'd love to share these photos with you. Moment of Joy is my little way of sharing images that just make me happy, from any number of sources and venues. I hope they make you happy, too!

This first edition of Moment of Joy features one of my favorite pictures ever. This is Edinburgh at about 9 or 10 pm, just after I left a tour in Mary King's Close. I traveled there two summers ago for a college course and was amazed at how early the sun rose, how late it set, and how utterly gorgeous this city was, especially the colorful, modern, funky storefronts topped with century old buildings. Just thinking about that trip makes my heart soar. I think I am a misplaced Scot at heart!

The Prodigal Grad Student Returns

Finally! I am done for the semester! Yes, I know I have been very lax in updating, but never fear, you will get all kinds of insights and gossip on the world of the PhD student over the next few weeks. It's been a ride, and this is just the first pause I get before I plunge right back into it, a cycle that will repeat over and over again for at least 5 years.

But right now, I want to direct your attention to the bottom of this blog. See that "Let's Say Thanks" widget? It's a great program brought to you by the people of Xerox. The company has collected some great artwork from kids all across the country and they are turning them into postcards for the troops. They have a website outlining their project and a facebook group you can join, too. All you need to do is follow that widget to their homepage, where you too can send your own greetings and thanks to those who serve. Trust me; this is a great holiday treat for those who can't be home to celebrate with family and friends. So take a minute (even less, take 10 seconds) to send one to a stranger who cares for you and your freedom.

Isn't it time you care back? Send a "Let's Say Thanks" card.

Soldiers harassed in Afghanistan…

… by roving packs of sheep and goats? Hey, it could be much worse…

…you could be this guy.

I came across these photos while doing some research for a paper (got to love the grad school workload). I guess everyone needs something to keep their spirits up, especially these guys. Seriously folks, say a prayer for our armed forces. They need love, too.

Also, send new boxer shorts.

The Boss blew it…

Dear Mr. Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen,

So… what was the deal Friday night? Seriously… what happened? This was supposed to be an epic show, you know? We were shutting down the Meadowlands, this was the last night at Giants Stadium. You ever wrote a song about it! You know, "Wrecking Ball?" But, wow, what a letdown. No encore? Really?

Okay, yes, I looked at the set list online and you did play all the songs labeled "encore," but it's not an encore it your don't leave the stage and then come back. Then it's just… well, it's just more concert. Even Supre Boy was pretty disappointed, and he was beside himself with excitment for this concert. Don't get me wrong. "Born to Run?" Epic. I sang, I danced, I cried a little. Same with "Born in the USA," "Badlands"… awesome. But no encore? You just left us standing there, asking each other, "Was that it? Should we go? He's coming back, right?"

But you didn't!

I might be able to forgive all this if you hadn't left out three of my favorite songs. No "Rosalita," no "10^th Avenue Freeze Out," and no "Thunder Road." I love "Thunder Road!" Skipping that song was sacrilegious. Hearing that song live was the main reason I came to see you. And you blew it!

Look, you couldn't help that Bon Jovi never showed, although that would have been mind-blowing. But to leave the stadium for the last time on such an anticlimactic note… this should have been huge. This should have been the night you pull out all the stops and bring down house without the damn wrecking ball! And you end with a love song? Yeah, okay, a love song about Jersey girls, but… really? Who ends with a ballad?

No huge encore of "Born to Run?" Nothing extraordinary? I mean, hey, if this was a regular show I'd still be surprised, but ok with it, but this night… of all nights, this should have been the big one. And it just wasn't.

The rest of the night falling apart wasn't your fault. The brawl with the angry fans and security, the swarm of state troopers, the descending K-9 unit, the delayed trains and waiting in the pouring rain… that just pulled the night into a major tailspin.

All the people in the world, you should have known what that night mean to everyone there, and how special it could have been.

I'm sorry it just didn't happen.

Love,

One of your most (disgruntled) faithful fans

Llonely Llama Lluckily Lled Llower by Lloving Llady

You hear about lost dogs and cats all the time, see flyers posted around town with a picture and a phone number, begging anyone with information to bring Fido home. But what happens when a lost pet has no one looking for it? And what if that pet is a llama? Meet Homer, the llama who's had one heck of an "odyssey" in Colorado (witty, no)? It turns out that this llama has been wandering around Pike's Peak for over a month, living off the local vegetation and trying to make friends like bighorn sheep. But the folks who spotted this little guy worried that he might be attacked by mountain lions, coyotes or succumb to the upcoming winter. Lucky for him, a nice lady, her friend and their llamas went looking for Homer, who happily joined their little group and left the mountainside.

While this may seem like a fluffy feel good story, it actually highlights a little know and often ignored problem in our society. Every year, thousands of animals are discarded by their owners, most commonly because their owners do not know how to properly care for them and become overwhelmed. Go to any animal shelter and see the adorable kittens that grew up to be not-so-cute cats, the puppies that grew into much-too-big mutts, and the bunnies that graced Easter baskets and now just take up space. And these smaller animals are not the only victims. In rural areas (parts of Texas and New York State in particular come to mine) there is an epidemic of livestock abandonment. Horses are turned out to pasture and ignored, cows left in barn stalls with ankle deep manure, and sheep and llamas left to fend for themselves. Sheep and llamas are increasingly in this predicament, as their wool is highly prized for yarn (as a knitter, I can tell you good yarn is not cheap). Inexperienced owners buy these animals looking to make a quick profit, and quickly realize they are in for more than they bargained for.

When people take on any animal without understanding its needs that animal is doomed to suffer, and without people intervening on the animals' behalves, many will die from neglect. This doesn't have to happen. Before you adopt or buy any kind of pet, research it, find out what it needs to live a healthy life, and find out what kind of care it will need over its lifespan. Understand that you are taking on a life to care for; you would take a sick child to the doctor, why is your pet any different?

But Homer is one of the lucky ones. Not only did some very dedicated people search for him, they are working to find him a loving forever home. Now that is a happy ending.

For more on Homer the llama, follow this link: http://www.optimum.net/News/AP/Article?articleId=619278&categoryId=66

For more on animal rescue, click here: http://www.aspca.org/

And as for the title of this post…I had to do it. As corny as it is, it had to happen. Sorry.