Happy Year of Bin Xu

It's the Year of the Dog!

And I'm taking it as a sign that I will finally get that long awaited, much hoped for, dog that I've always wanted. I've grown up with cats and they're cool in their feline way, but a dog is what I've always wanted. The Chinese say that a dog represents loyalty and honesty, not what you think of when you think of a cat, they tend to be crafty, aloof, and more independent. When I was 9 I even made a list to my parents of pros and cons of getting a dog. It wasn't just a list, it was more like a detailed poster campaign--it didn't work.

So this is the year! The Hub is all for it too, but we're going to wait until we buy a house first, or at least until after we go to Vegas for a week. I think we can fit a puppy in this apt. as long as we're certain it's short term and we'll be moving into a house shortly thereafter. I can't wait!

My cats will be thrilled, I'm sure. This was Simba's reaction to a stuffed panda bear I got in the mail from the World Wildlife Federation. He hissed and growled at baby Darla when we first brought her home. We actually had to separate them for about 3 weeks until he got used to her and she grew a little bit. She was so tiny... Simba only tolerated her when he was stealing her high calorie kitten food It'll be interesting to see how he reacts to a puppy...

Wang wang to you all!

I am Jason Varitek.

It's a little known fact that Tek wears a "C" in honor of me!

You scored as Jason Varitek. You are Jason Varitek. You are a natural leader and are highly respected by many. You are tough and will duke it out with any purple-lipped princess when it comes to defending your buddies, which makes you a very loyal friend. Oh Captain, my captain!

Jason Varitek 90% Johnny Damon 77% Curt Schilling 73% Kevin Millar 63% David Ortiz 60% Theo Epstein 50% Manny Ramirez 47% Mark Bellhorn 33% Which Red Sox Player Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Is Someone Getting the Best of You?

Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
The life, the love
You die to heal
The hope that starts
The broken hearts
You trust, you must
Confess

I've seen more than my fair share of horrible people this last year, but I've also seen an even brighter side of humanity this past year, and that brightness could never be diminished by those few unjust and miserable people. I could be angry with them, but I don't feel that; I pity them, and I've learned that pity bleeds into forgiveness. Perhaps it's one of the hardest things I've had to reconcile, but with that forgivenss I have let go of the turmoil that they created. The lies and misery are no longer haunting to anyone but the perpetrator.

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."
Mahatma Gandhi

Were you born to resist?

I’ve got another confession to make
I’m your fool
Everyone’s got their chains to break
Holdin’ you

Were you born to resist or be abused?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

Are you gone and onto someone new?
I needed somewhere to hang my head
Without your noose
You gave me something that I didn’t have
But had no use
I was too weak to give in
Too strong to lose
My heart is under arrest again
But I break loose
My head is giving me life or death
But I can’t choose
I swear I’ll never give in
I refuse

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
The life, the love
You die to heal
The hope that starts
The broken hearts
You trust, you must
Confess

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

I’ve got another confession my friend
I’m no fool
I’m getting tired of starting again
Somewhere new

Were you born to resist or be abused?
I swear I’ll never give in
I refuse

Lazy Sunday

SNL has lost its spark, but every now and then they get it back, if only for a fleeting moment. For those of you like me who no longer even care to watch it and missed the funniest skit of the year it's worth checking out.

Woof!

I really really want a puppy. I've always wanted a dog, but our house grew up with a bevy of felines. Perhaps this article is a sign...

If you are interested in adopting a dog take a look at the MS and LA region where Katrina affected not only its people, but its pets.

As Bob Barker always says, "Please get your pet spayed or neutered!"

Humane Society of South Mississippi:

In a perfect world, every orphaned pet would have a good home. We, along with the help of our community, work hard to provide homes for as many of the orphaned pets we receive as possible, but for many animals this is not enough.
Although the numbers may seem a bit overwhelming, the Humane Society of South Mississippi will not be discouraged and is making great progress in reducing the overpopulation of unwanted cats and dogs and increasing the number of adoptions. In 2004 alone, the HSSM has increased adoptions 14.5% and spay/neuter surgeries 27.6%, resulting in a decrease in euthanasia rates of 14%, growing ever closer to reaching our goal to STOP euthanasia!

As difficult as it may be to read, please bear in mind that only 25% of the animals that come to us are either claimed or adopted. It is important that there be a facility where homeless animals receive a second chance of finding a loving home…

Pet Overpopulation Estimates
-Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 8 to 10 million
-Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: 4 to 5 million
-Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 3 to 5 million
-Number of Animal Shelters in the United States: Between 4 and 6 thousand
-Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred: 25 percent
-Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3
-Average number of animals in an average feline litter: 4 to 6
-In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce: 420,000 cats
-Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2
-Average number of animals in an average canine litter: 6 to 10
-In six years, one female dog and her offspring can produce: 67,000 dogs

Some more stats:
-There are approximately 68,000,000 owned dogs in the U.S.
-Four in ten (or 40,000,000) households own at least one dog
-Twenty percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter
-Seven out of ten owned dogs were spayed or neutered
-There are approximately 73,000,000 owned cats in the U.S.
-Three in ten (or 34,700,000) households own at least one cat
-Twenty percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter
-Nine in ten (89%) owned cats are mixed breeds
-Eight in ten owned cats are spayed or neutered

[Office] (228) 863-4394 - [Shelter] (228) 863-3354 | 13756 Washington Ave Gulfport, MS 39503

It's a Wonderful Life

Although they play this movie over and over again around Christmas I have never actually seen it in its entirety, but I get the gist.

I am looking forward to 2006 like a child's excitement on the first day of school! I can't wait to see how much fun we're all going to have this year. So much good has happened lately with weddings, babies, more engagements, new jobs, and acceptances to grad school, it's left me beaming. Soon the Hub and I will start the serious house hunt and I can't wait to buy our first place together =)

Happy New Year everyone!

Clarence: Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.