A Whale Warrior's Words

I find myself more than a little frustrated lately. I don't put my name on "causes" and fundraisers lightly. I'm not one of those "Sure! Put my name down and here take this 20 bucks and add it to the donations pile" kind of person. However, every once in a while something comes along that I give a flying fu..woah.."crap" about and I usually get a little intense. As of late I have been trying to raise money for Sea Shepherd and I've even had a few people question my reason for such action. I will be straight with you. I'm no vegetarian or animal rights activist. Yes, I eat meat. No, I don't wear fur. No, I am not a member of PETA and probably never will be. I've gutted, skinned, and cut up more white tailed dear than I can count. I've hooked, reeled in, cleaned, and cooked my fair share of fresh water fish. I was raised in a family that hunts and fishes for sustenance. I remember winters as a child where we were damn lucky to have had deer meat in the freezer to get us by. That, however does not mean that I am a hypocrite for raising money for an organization that spends it's time trying to stop commercial fishing, whaling, and other unnecessary and very illegal activities. My main focus when it comes to Sea Shepherd is their anti whaling program. Ever since I was a child I had a deep and profound fascination with these majestic mammals of the sea and have tried to do my part to protect them as their numbers dwindle. So, a few years ago when Whale Wars debuted on Animal Planet I was more than interested in finding out more about this organization. They are often referred to as Eco terrorists which is odd when you consider the real terror of the Antarctic expeditions is watching the Japanese kill whales for "scientific research." Bear with me here, this is where I get heavy. I have no issue with blue collar fishermen. Men and women spending their time out on boats fishing for whatever in order to sell it for profit to make a living for themselves and their families. What pisses me off is the people who are out there hunting endangered species. Animals with population numbers so low by the time my nephews grow up they may not even exist anymore. That's what pisses me off. Moreover, they are hunting these animals in an international whaling sanctuary. A safe haven, a place that these beautiful creatures are supposed to be swimming in peace. The Japanese say that this is all in the name of science and that they are killing these whales to collect information on stomach contents and to take tissue samples. However, they are doing this "research" with a self implemented quota. Taking the lives of anywhere from 50-150 whales of various species. Various endangered species...and then selling the meat, blubber, and bones for profit. This is what breaks my heart. I've always believed in hunting and fishing. It's the development of those skills that have allowed us to survive as a species. In my family we believe in Native American tradition. We believe that one must always give thanks for the life lost in order to sustain our lives. Prayers, offerings, and even tears have been shed over the body of beautiful animals who lost their lives for us. There is a morbid beauty within the tradition. I lose patience with sport fishers and hunters. The people that are out for trophies and disregard the integrity and beauty of all of the Creators creatures on this earth...But I find myself immersed in anger at the greedy men and women who take the lives of animals, of endangered animals for the sake of profit. So, in the Antarctic while the Japanese are raping and pillaging precious animals, Sea Shepherd is there to try and stop them with non violent acts. So, it was that anger and passion that fueled me to start raising money for the organization. I've been so desperately disappointed in my friends and family for their lack of support for me in raising money. It's not the lack of support for me that hurts my heart so much, it's the lack of support for this worthy cause. I'm not asking people to empty bank accounts. I'm not even asking them to empty their wallets. I am simply asking for them to help me raise my small goal of $200. I just want to be apart of the change that I wish to see in this world. A world where the endangered species list doesn't shrink because animals go completely extinct..but instead a world where the endangered list shrinks because the animals population grows. So I'm asking you, the person reading this right now to visit the link that I provided at the bottom of this blog to go and make a donation. I've been asking everyone to match my $5.00 donation, but a donation of any size will mean the world to me. All species on this planet are interconnected so by helping me help an organization that is dedicated to saving the lives of the oceans creatures you are really helping yourself and maybe..just maybe making the world a better place for generations to come. 



Oh, Great Spirit, we come to you with love and gratitude for all living things. 
We now pray especially for our relatives of the wilderness - the four- legged, 
the winged, those that live in the water, and those that crawl upon the land. 
Bless them that they might continue to live in freedom and enjoy their right 
to be wild. Fill our hearts with tolerance, appreciation and respect for all 
living things so that we all might live together in harmony and peace.
- Unknown
LINK TO MY FUNDRAISING PAGE!:
http://my.seashepherd.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=381&frsid=55


I'd also like to say a special thank you to my old friend (and fellow native girl) Ariel for being the first and so far only one to make a donation! It means more to me that you will ever know Ariel! 

Inside my actors studio

1. What is your favorite word?

eclectic 

2. What is your least favorite word?

Sorry

3. What turns you on?

Talent without ego

4. What turns you off?

Disrespect 

5. What sound do you love?

Skates on ice

6. What sound do you hate?

Too much bass in a passing car

7. What is your favorite curse word?

Fuck

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Well, I'm still studying to be in communication field. So I guess, if I wasn't working at communication as a degree and future profession...I would be working on getting a teaching degree. I've always wanted to teach.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

Accounting. 

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

In just a momement the sorting hat will sort you into your houses. (admit it, once you realized what it said, you heard it in Mcgonagall's voice.)

Good Conversation

So. There is this site called Omegle.com where you can go and talk to random strangers in an IM sort of fashion. They have a video function but I've never used it. I've heard similar video chat sites referred to as "Penis Roulette" so I just stick with the IM feature. Every once in a while I skip on over to that site to see whats crackin in the world of strangers. Now, first you have to get past the stranger part and I mean STRANGers. Lot's of creepers on that site and with the anonymity feature built right in they can just go ahead and tell you they are horny right off the bat. Which is freaky. I get that you can't see my face..but really? That's the first thing you are going to say to me? You could at least buy me internet dinner first. However, you get past the weirdos and sometimes it can become really interesting. I met a "brain twin" of sorts on Omegle once and we ended up adding each other on facebook and still have a little chat once in a while. But, tonight. Something crazy happened. Now, I should first start off by saying one of my favorite things about Omegle chat is that I can be me the best me possible, without them actually seeing what I look like. Which, in lamens terms means, the person on the other side of the computer doesn't know I'm fat. So I can be me and be funny and witty and even a little poetic and the other person isn't judging me by my looks. So tonight, here I am about to give up because I've gone through 5 creepers and one keeper and got disconnected with the keeper by my internet. So I click connect one more time thinking hey, one last shot. And BAM! it was like just add water and instant conversation. We exchanged names and ages. No locations, and I had to clarify on my gender because of my name..but after that..it was pure stimulating communication. We talked about our majors in college..his psychology and my communication, we talked about dreams and how much I miss my brother. We talked about writing and he told me he was convinced I must be a good writer. I told him I had my moments of magic and I had my moments of fail. We talked about life and I dropped some gems of knowledge on him and he told me he was convinced I was cool. We talked about eye color and hair color and how cool it is that I am and red head. We just talked and talked until 2 hours had passed and we both had to move on to other things. I wish I had saved the conversation(a feature that the site has) but I think I hit the wrong button and the conversation was gone forever. We exchanged emails..I went the safe route and gave him the email that is under the name Penny Lane. Without my last name or my location or anything like that attached. I am excited to see what happens in the emails. Honestly, from a com major nerd standing. I mean it is just so interesting to me the way internet has impacted our communication. I revel in facebook for its ability to open the doors of communication on so many levels. I get why people hate on it and I get why people are obsessed with it but I'm simply impressed by it and addicted to being in contact with my friends no matter how far way they are. But Omegle is something so different. It's random strangers hiding behind the keyboard. No pictures, no screen names (The other person comes up as Stranger while yours say you..and the other person seees vise versa), and no expectations. Sure I mean a lot of people go there "looking for a good time" but I went there looking for good conversation and I go it. Moreover I get to be myself without labels   or pre conceived notions. So at the end of the night I can laugh at an inside joke I have with a boy named Logan about the Golden fleece and how the girl of your dreams might just be the poetic com major from michigan named Jordan or it could just be the best friend I remind you so much of.


Good conversation is just as stimulating as a big cup of black coffee..and just as hard to sleep after.

The People You Know

Every once in a while it's good to stop and take stock of your friends. Think about the keepers and maybe toss out a few downers. This isn't just something people do on facebook, its REAL. ;) So lately I've been doing a lot of thinking (ut oh). There are a lot of people who I thought would always be there, that are gone, and a lot of people I never expected to be "there" are indeed in the h-iz-ouse. So, in the spirit of appreciation, I dedicate this blog to the following people...(in no particular order of course!)




1. The girl that I hated in high school but now means the world to me. -You my dear are one of the most important people in my life. It's like once we graduated we decided to pull together because we were both off on the same path in two different directions. You've been there for so many long talks about the dramatics of my life. You make me laugh in a way that no one else does. You understand all my lame jokes about people that I don't like. (Mostly because we dislike a lot of the same people.) But more than anything you get me. In ways that most people don't. You're my chocolate bear and I luff you.




2. My guiding light. -My sister. My bess fren. You are the first person I turn to in almost every situation of my life. You get inside my mind and you comprehend the mess of it for me. You are the one I can have full conversations with..without saying a word. You are the mother of two of the most important people in my life and I (in all seriousness here) thank you for that. I would not be who I am, who I am becoming, and who I will be without you. If a tree falls in my forest, you're always around to hear it.




3. My minions. -All I had to do was turn around. Oh my goodness you girls are such a shining light in my life. When I am with you all I want to do is laugh because the happiness inside me is bursting. We have only really been friends for a short time, but we've made a lifetime of memories just in that time alone. I look forward to our adventures through life. You'll be the ones that walked in and never walked out. I laker love you oh so very much.




4. The Broster.- When I needed a brother most, there you were. Always. When it comes to words for everything that you mean to me, this com major fails. You are my steady, my constant, my always. I am truly blessed in this life to have picked you up along the way. I'll be there if you'll be there.


5. The one that made me laugh on a night I was sure I wouldn't. Oh my beautiful little photographer. You're another new addition to "the friend stock" this year and that pleases me. You constantly make me laugh. I mean constantly and laughter is one of the most important things you can ever give someone. I am truly rich in friendship because of you. You're there to make me laugh and there for me to send a random bitch fest text to. ...But, more than anything you'll always be the one that stood next to me on Senior night and helped me keep it together. I couldn't have done it without you and I hope I never have to. Who has two thumbs and loves you? This girl right here.




6. The last beautiful girl in the world. -You and me, we're not close. I know you, you know me, we post on facebook together and you always tell me I'm beautiful underneath all my pictures. You're the one that appreciates my hair color the way most people should. ;) But the truth is. YOU are the beautiful one. You're bubbly..yet fiesty personality, you're kind, warm, hilarious, and cute as a fucking button. Your post on my pictures make my day. I wish there were more people like you in the world...but you are truly one in a million.


7-?. You. -Yes, you reading this right now. Either you are curious enough, or legit want to know what this blog says and I hope you stuck around this far. You should know,  I love you too! If you didn't make the list I didn't forget about you. I just ran out of interest in doing this and decided to move on to something new. But you mean something to me. I shouldn't have to tell you that, but in case I do, I'll say it again. I love you. I Laker Love you (and that's a pretty big deal.)

Until the very end..

To be honest, I was a late bloomer into the wonderful world of Harry Potter. My first introduction to it was thanks to an amazing teacher who read the first book aloud to us in a quirky British accent. I do however, remember the first moment I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and began to read it. I read the entire book in one day. My young middle school aged self was hooked from the first page. I had no idea at the time, but clutching that book in my hand, I was really holding on to a cultural phenomenon. The Harry Potter story is not just about a boy with magical powers. It is a coming to age story filled with messages of equality, of love, and the true magic of friendship. I cannot think of any other series of book that has impacted an entire generation such as Harry Potter. Twilight, maybe, there is a true following there, but in content, message, and film adaptations, it will never be was Harry Potter was...is. It feels as if it's been forever since I picked up that first book..forever since I heard they were making the series into movies (something I doubted would ever live up to the books, but has in so many ways)..forever since I was first introduced to a very magical boy and his special group of friends.  Harry Potter fans have been blessed with seven amazing books and eight incredible films. We have more than enough to hold on to as the end of the era arrives. I find myself sad that this chapter of Harry Potter is coming to a close but more than anything I find myself lucky. Lucky to have been apart of the first generation of kids to be introduced to this amazing story and moreover lucky to have the books safely kept on a book shelf so that I may pass them on someday to my nephews so that they too can be lost in the magical world of Hogwarts. I wonder now what the next stage of it will be. Pottermore? I think we're all waiting to see just how that turns out..but until then..I have my books, my movies, my memories, and a few Rupert Grint screen savers and just like "Jo" said Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.


Mischief managed.....for now ;)

Three Cheers(or beers) for New Beginnings!

My new place feels more like home to me than any place I have ever lived. The posters on the wall make it mine, but the feeling in my heart is what matters. I take cues from the things around me, signs I know the earth is sending me. The first night I was here as I rolled over in bed I caught a glimpse of the international bridge and I knew in that second everything was going to be O.K. I have a knack for fucking things up in life. If something can go wrong it usually does and it's usually due to my poor judgement and timing. But..when all else fails I've learned to point myself northward and dream. Look to the vast expanse that lies before me and think about everything I want to get out of this life and while I'm dreaming my heart rate slows, my breath returns to normal, and my cheeks dry. I feel as if something big is going to happen. Something to change me for the better. It could be another epic semester at school, the friends, education, and memories that I get from Lake State are really the only things I have to hold onto up here. However, secretly I hope it's a boy...I know, I know, how cliche' but I spent all winter alone and then summer shows up and I get this desperate shred of hope that I may just find someone so I never have to be alone through the winter again. But, no matter what comes to me in this new stage, in this new place, I'll be ready for it. That's the new me ready for anything and desperately hoping it comes.