The Practical Magic of a Morning Manicure

I have to be at my new job sooo early. Hours before a 9 to 5. Mind you, this is only a temporary schedule, which goes back to a schedule that's appropriate for a sane nightowl like me in a matter of weeks. Yet, this is my schedule for today. Being, um, slightly nervous, I naturally woke up at before 3 and could not get back to sleep. So here I am. It's 4:30 in the morning, and I am wide awake and getting ready for my day. Writing a bit first, too, of course.

I turned on Practical Magic first thing this morning to pick myself up; I love this movie so very much. While watching it, I gave myself a manicure using the Material Girl nail polish that I got for Christmas and have been dying to try out. The color is Psychadelic. Love it. I'm no pro, but I think it came out quite alright.

In case you are wondering why I so adore Practical Magic, let me give you a sneak peak:

All in all, I'd say the movie is a great way to start the day. I highly recommend it.

Dream, Dream, Dream

Last night I watched the Kathleen Savio/Stacy Peterson story. (I know, but I did.) (Also, I don't to say the criminal's name here because it's unnecessary; I honor those who were impacted, not those who abuse and hurt others.) I thought Rob Lowe did a fantastic job with the role; he was completely transformed in pretty much every way. The story is so disturbing, tragic, and maddening. The worst part is that, although some details were changed and scenes fabricated, this is a horrifyingly true story.

Stacy Peterson has been missing since 2007, and her body has never been found. You can help her family and support their efforts to find her at FindStacyPeterson.net. 

Perhaps my subconscious felt the need to punish me for watching it, and I had nightmares all night. I dreamed I was in a really abusive situation, and I went to the local store where Ross from Friends was the store clerk. We became friends, and he helped me conspire to run away from the situation. One time I was in the store with a friend, and I fell to the floor, and he ran to help me and conspire on how I could leave. I woke up before he could actually help me escape, though.

Strangeness. 

For the record, I like the show, but was never a particular fan of Ross. I think all the cast in talented, but Pheobe is by far my favorite character on it. I'd go so far as to call her a kindred spirit. (Not the ditzy parts or the parts where she believes in pseudoscience stuff...but...A vegetarian, Xanadu-loving girl, come on! (-;) Except they went way over the edge with Pheobe for a laugh. I still love her. Not sure why Ross is a hero in my dreams. 

Best Way to Spend a Lunch

I had a busy day. I start a new job on Monday so I had some last-minute errands to get done, such as picking up some vegan makeup. I write for beauty websites like Type F and Yahoo! Shine (and love it). However, I have been going a bit more natural lately. So I figured why not get a bit prettied up for the job, no? Mostly for myself. I like playing around with cruelty-free cosmetics. 

So I went with my sister to pick up just a few things and some vegan Amy's pizza and some mix for adding strawberry flavor to my almond milk. Just the necessities, you know. Other errands came up as well.

I got to see the gorgeous bay. It's a bright, sunshine-filled day, and it was just over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun shone, and the breezes blew. It felt so heavenly. It was just a lovely day. I really needed to be out in the world just absorbing the beauty of the day.

Now, on the way home, I grabbed a quick lunch at Taco Bell. I ordered a vegetarian seven-layer burrito with no cheese and no sour cream. A vegan meal that's delicious and simple. I was pretty psyched about eating it, although I am trying to stay away from fast food. (That's not difficult when most fast food places do not cater to vegans around here.) This is my favorite fast food meal, in fact.

We stopped at the gas station after Taco Bell. I saw a black and white cat sitting in a vacant parking space at the edge of the parking lot. It did not look starving or suffering or as though it was deeply in need. However, seeing it there by itself made me so sad. I can't take in any animals where I'm now living, and I'm not so up on the preferences of cats.

I did feel very compelled to give the cat my lunch. Just in case he was hungry. So I went to the parking spot where he was. He let me pet him, and I showed him my lunch. He followed me, then stopped for a moment, not certain I really meant the food for him. I assured him that I did, and he continued to follow me to the far edge of the space. (I didn't want him to start eating and then have to move or have his food run over.) I set the burrito down for him and left him to eat. I sat in the car, watching, and he chowed down. He seemed to really be really enjoying it, except not the guacamole. (Sorry, kitty; I'd have custom-ordered for you if I could.) He chowed down and seemed to be quite happy about it, and we had to drive away. 

I was so happy to have given the lunch to the cat. I think he enjoyed it far more than I could have, and I wanted so much for him to be well. I worry for him and his well-being. I was just in wonder of the cat. I wish I'd had my camera to capture my privileged, all-too-short time with this wonderful cat. I finally solved a problem with my camera today so I will start bringing it with me.

I want to save all the animals in the world. The thought of a single one hungry just shatters my heart. I pray and hope and wish that that cat has a safe, happy, and well-fed life. I wish I had more personal power at this moment. As soon as I get my next car (I am currently car-less), I plan on filling the trunk with meals appropriate to any species I may possibly encounter on my travels who could be in need of some food. 

My Alleged Obese Posse

I "friended" someone on Facebook not too long ago who wanted to be my friend. She saw a comment I had posted on one of the vegan pages I follow. I follow many vegan sites and do not remember which one. As soon as she friended me, she was enlisting my help in all sorts of things. I helped her find grants for college and answered such questions as how one applies to college. I try to help when I can and when it's needed. That's all fine and good.

Recently said person has posted various posts on her own irresponsible life choices. To each his own. 

Yet, today, she posted on how it was impossible for someone to be both healthy and obese. I said that you cannot tell the health of someone just by looking at them. She went on and on stating that you can judge a person's health just by looking at them if they are obese. She said this without backing it up with any proof, studies, or data of any sort. I debated it logically, citing scientific studies, personal facts, and other detailed information. She just kept repeating that she didn't believe it even when presented with objective sources. 

Then she grew increasingly condescending. I'd call it verbally abusive for sure, and, after I reminded her of the study I provided, she stated, "these 'studies' you read, robin, are from your posse of obese friends trying to be ok w/ being obese. i find that VERY offensive to the public at large, trying to make it out to be OK!?"

My obese posse? I explained to her that, instead, a man who was not overweight at all had given me the study, she said he must like bbw. That there are men who do. 

Backing up here, when I explained this fact, which is an excerpt from an article I had the good fortune of having published for Friends of Animals' Action'Line, "more weight often means training harder. My muscles, heart strength, and endurance need to be stronger to do the same amount of running as those of average weight."

After I explained that....this person chose to state that such a thing meant that I run differently as in a deformed way, as her "friend" was trying to state that obese people cannot walk right. 

Her bigotry grew immense, and I was tempted to bring up her own loudly broadcast poor choices that she had recently made. I mean, if you are going to be so hatefully judgmental, get your own self in check first. I went there. I shouldn't have, but I could not take the repeated insults any longer. I just couldn't.

I think the person is a bigot with a very low IQ. She has shown this time and again, and I blocked her. After doing that I was bummed because I think that means that your comments are also blocked from appearing on the page, and I feel I made some sane points to her violently hateful language that showcased extreme prejudiced for people of a larger size. 

I will not engage in such conversations with such extreme idiots again, if I can help it, but I just try so hard to reach out and dim out the flames of ignorance and cruelty. It is impossible to do that for the whole world, but I was just trying to make some sense out of such horrible behavior and language. 

This bully has been lately publicly admitting to quite a lot of foolishness. I do feel sorry for this person. Truly, I do, but she needs to grow up and not spread her bigotry around. Chosen ignorance is a terrible thing. So I am learning to quickly spot abusers and quickly remove them from my life. A lesson learned is trouble out the door, and she is out that door! Bye bye.

I want to surround myself with those that bring out the best in me, and she definitely brought out the worst. Her cruel comments had me shaking and turning red. Here's to all the enlightened, sensitive spirits who give me the strength to face such bigots and the hope that most people in the world are not like those few horrid bigots. :)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2012

It is one of the most significant and important holidays of the year today. It is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, also known as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, as many choose to dedicate today as a day of service in honor of all Dr. King did for others. In fact, Congress designated it as a national day of service in 1994.

He was a peaceful, non-violent activist who did so much and had so much courage, never resorting to violence no matter what cruelty he faced. He once wisely stated, "I have not urged a mechanical fusion of the civil rights and peace movements. There are people who have come to see the moral imperative of equality, but who cannot yet see the moral imperative of world brotherhood. I would like to see the fervor of the civil-rights movement imbued into the peace movement to instill it with greater strength. And I believe everyone has a duty to be in both the civil-rights and peace movements. But for those who presently choose but one, I would hope they will finally come to see the moral roots common to both." 

What King accomplished is well known and also not fully realized by many. He took away a lot of fear and empowered so many. His actions continued to influence others far beyond his short lifetime. He changed the world. I could never do it justice. I cannot begin to sum it up in my humble blog entry.

He would have been 83 this year. He is remembered in many ways by so many of us. The King Center was established by his widow, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, after his assassination. It is fully called The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. 

Here is one of his most memorable speeches, one that has always touched me, one I used to have on a poster in my college dorm room. His words are still so important to hear as we still have quite a distance to go as a society...