What has happened to perspective in this country? We seem to have lost all touch with reality on so many levels. Let’s start with the obvious:

Michael Jackson:
Oh, dear god. How long does this ‘deification of a pedophile’ have to go on? Oh, I know many of you are saying, “Well, he was acquitted in a court of law!” My answer to that is, ’so was O.J. Simpson.’ Simpson was acquitted in a criminal court of law. He was found guilty in a civil court, where the burden of proof is less. So, when O.J. dies, are we going to wax poetic on his fabulous accomplishments as a football player and how much joy he gave people when he played? I’m guessing not.

The only difference between Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson is that Jackson bought his way out of his civil trial because he had millions to spend. It is common knowledge that settlements do not exonerate the defendant, many times it only serves to show the parties did not want to go through a lengthy court battle, and perhaps it was too much stress for a 13 year old boy, who had been traumatized by molestation, a child who could describe Jackson’s genetals, was too terrified to take the stand. Money speaks, and Jackson had plenty of it.

The egomaniacal actions that followed were pretty amazing. What person that you’ve ever heard of accused of molestation has not been warned to stay away from children, or if legitimately innocent, hadn’t done so on his/her own? What person in that situation have you ever heard of being able to adopt children? Jackson was the typical abuser, in every action he took, but I guess if you’re rich and famous you’re simply ‘eccentric and love kids’, but if you’re poor you’re a pedophile.

And now, the outpouring of grief is insatiable. I take nothing away from the people who loved his music, but why is this area of his life all of a sudden completely off the table? He was an entertainer. He was not a sitting president, he was not royalty. He was a severely messed up person (I hesitate to even call him a human being, I’m sure his victims, who are serving a life sentence would not) who was obsessed with fame, little boys (admittedly “sharing his bed out of love,“) flaunted his ‘love’ for children, and had porno in his home (with fingerprints of his and his accuser.)

But all of that is now, it seems to be off - limits. Because Jackson was a king. Why “he was the king of pop!” Puhleeze. Can we please remember that pedophelia is not a ‘proclivity’ or a ‘habit’ as I have heard some people call it? It is a crime. It is a crime which destroys people’s lives.

What is even sadder about this and the day he died was how the story pushed Farrah Fawcett’s death right off the front pages. Now, I was never a big Fawcett fan, but despite her shortcomings, she tried to do good for people. She strived to make “The Burning Bed” which carried a very important message, along with other similarly themed films and plays, and at the end opened herself up in her documentary, “Farrah’s Story“. Arguments could be made as to why she did it, but we can’t take away from her the fact that she did do it, stating she felt it might help other people.

Should either of them be deified? No, probably not. But if we’re going to talk about the person who most gave to humanity here, it’s hard to argue that Fawcett wouldn’t hold that spot between the two.

Where is our perspective, and how long do we have to listen to the “deification of a pedophile?”

——-
Mark Sanford
Really. Do we really care if he had an affair with another woman, or three? Have people completely forgotten that as a head of a state he simply ‘went missing’ for four days? As far as I’m concerned (his hypocrisy aside) his personal life is his personal life. In and of itself it should have nothing to do with the way he governs. However, in this case it did! He went missing for four days. But, no, we’re not hearing about that anymore. Just his affairs. After all, how can we pass up something that salacious? Isn’t that what the news media is for? Not to give us news on Iraq, or DADT, or the economy. When a sex scandal comes up,” ‘whoo hoo’ it’s party time!”

———
California
The governor of this state is driving it into the ground. This week he stated, once again, that he would not sign a budget with any tax increases. That’s absurd. Perhaps we should translate that, “I won’t sign a budget with any tax increases on anyone who can actually afford it.”

California is the only state in the union which doesn’t tax oil companies to drill here. At what point do we put the state of the state in front of the state of the oil companies? Where are our priorities?

Dear Gov. Schwarzenegger: to fix the state, please do the following: start taxing the oil companies to drill; repeal prop 13 for corporations, they pollute our state, they make enough, they can afford to pay their fair share of property taxes; make marijuana legal and tax it. Three things that could feasibly be done, could feasibly get us out of this mess and feasibly prevent state workers from losing their homes because you give them I.O.U.s or lay them off, or prevent people from getting the help they need through education and social service.

—-
Gay Rights
President Obama, you said you would be a ‘advocate for gay rights’. Well, what are you waiting for? Start speaking with your pen.

—–
Health Care
To all the Republicans and Democrats, the AMA, etc. who are trying to scuttle a public option, where are your morals? Where are your ethics? First of all, don’t you see that the public option IS the compromise? People in this country want health care, not more health insurance. That said, it appears as though the perspective of the American people is that they are going to ’settle’ for this public option. And here you are fighting it. Why do you want people with less money than you have to suffer and die? Are you that heartless? Forget it. The question was rhetorical. You are.

If people had their priorities straight — ie: concern for humanity — we would have a single-payer universal health care system.

–
American Gluttony
Big houses, big food portions, expensive cars … when did we become a society of opulence v. simple comfort? Do people really need 2500 sq.ft. houses? Do they need a meal portion that is literally pounds on a plate? Will an electric car not get you to the same place as a Hummer will?

Our gluttony has destroyed the environment, facilitated the current housing crisis and economic woes and made us some of the unhealthiest and fattest people in the world. Is there no shame here?

—
Where has perspective gone? What has made this country so insensitive to humanity and the suffering of others? How did we become a nation of “ME, ME, ME” and “If it doesn’t affect me, it doesn’t exist.”

I know this little rant isn’t going to change anything, but nobody else seems to be saying any of it, so I thought I would. Agree, don’t agree, that’s all fine, but at least think about it.

With the 4th of July coming up, thought I would share a story I wrote several years ago.
———-

I didn’t really feel like going shopping on the day before Independence
Day. I had to get up at 6:30 for a networking meeting, (I’m a freelancer
and usually sleep until 8:00,) I had a mild headache and, basically, I
just don’t like or do it very well. But I didn’t want to make my husband
do it, he had to work all day and it would have been a real mess by 6pm.

I should have really stopped on my way home from my meeting, around 10am.
It probably wouldn’t have been so crowded. But I wanted to get home to
follow up on a job lead I had gotten that morning. I figured that if I
got to the store by 1 or 2, it should still be not too crowded.

I was wrong. It was a mess. No one could get through the isles. So I
had two choices if I wanted to get my shopping done: I could struggle my
way through, getting upset at all of the people bumping and shoving, or, I
could make the best of it. I chose the latter. In the process I did the
following:

I found out from a lady in the neighboring town that people were already
lined up waiting for the 4th of July parade. (Amuzing because the town is
so small the parade lasts no more than 10 minutes.)

I joked with people about the grocery cart traffic.

I met a man who was buying food for more people than he could really
count, all family members. (He didn’t seem very happy about it.)

I learned how to pick out sweet white corn. (I did a good job. It tasted
great.)

I met a woman with a tuxedo cat (Peter) whom she got from the pound. She
learned about the tuxedo cat that I found on the side of Hwy 1 and gave to
my mom, as well as about my two cats, one from the pound (Puma) and one
who adopted my husband and I (Cairo.) She learned that we named Cairo
that because he looks so Egyptian. (We concluded that all kids involved
were very lucky to have found us for parents.)

I learned that my local Albertson’s must be unionized because the bagger
was going to earn triple-time for working on the 4th. We decided that was
a good move because she only had to work from 7am-1pm and would still have
time to b-b-q and watch fireworks, as well as raking it in.

I learned a million different things from all of the little encounters I
had with people in the same situation that I was in: having to do holiday
shopping on the eve of the holiday in an insanely crowded store.

I could have just kept to myself and gotten upset with all of the mess,
but I chose not to. I can’t help but think that I’m the better for it. I
was in a good mood when I came home. I hope that my striking up
conversations with these people did the same for them.

We all have choices. We can all pick our battles. Sometimes it’s hard to
discern the ones we should from the ones we shouldn’t. But life would
sure be a lot more pleasant all the way around if we could all “not sweat
the small stuff.” But make no mistake, my little shopping excursion was a
two way street. I may have started the conversations, but all of the
people I spoke with had to be receptive to them. What a nice experience
that was.

Hope you all have a happy and healthy 4th. — Caat

–
Book Recommendations for attaining a higher spirituality:
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)

Today’s Card: PORCUPINE

SIMPLE THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
Daily Inspiration: Oracle Card for the Day

You have all the resources you need.

Embrace your innocence. Maintain your sense of wonder, no matter the circumstances.

Remove the stinging barbs from the past and let them fester no more. Release guilt and shame and recognize that your vulnerable and gentle soul deserves to dance, sing and be happy.

_________
Card shown is from Power Animal Oracle Cards by Steven D. Farmer

Animal-Speak by Ted Andrews

Someone asked advise about getting a cat for the first time: Here are some salient points every cat parent should be aware of:
__
Hey! Congrats on your new cat.
Here are some tips to remember:

1. Keep all lilies out of the house. They are highly toxic and can kill your cat within days.

2. Do not feed your cat onions, garlic, chocolate … those are the biggies, but there are many others. Go online and download a list of do’s and don’ts as far as what cats can eat. To be on the safe side, don’t feed them human food.

3. Feed him/her GOOD food. I prefer a company called Natura which makes a food called EVO. I like this company because, aside from being natural (Truly natural, not Purina natural) - they were one of the few companies that did not use the Menu Foods processing plant that killed so many kitties. They are meticulous on their standards and I believe the get none of their product from China. Wet food is better for them, get some natural hard treats or an occasional dry food to keep their teeth clean. I wouldn’t go for raw right now, since you are new to kitty guardianship. Evo is a great food. We use the original formula.

4. Get pet insurance: Pet Plan — This is a great company, good rates, and I think will insure pets under 9 years old, but you’ll have to check. I’ve had three claims with them and they were swift and professional. Can’t recommend them highly enough.

5. Cats don’t usually drink that much water unless you’re feeding them dry food. If you see them drinking A LOT, tell your vet. But, by all means, change his/her water every day and wipe out the bowl or it starts to get slimy.

6. Watch to make sure s/he doesn’t have a propensity for eating things like string or tinsel or thread or curling ribbon. It can get stuck in their intestines causing blockages that require surgery. (Did I mention I’ve had several claims paid on Pet Plan?)

7. Everybody has a different view on this one, but I am in the “indoor cat” camp. My cats are happy kids indoors, and there are just too many dangers outside these days depending on where you live - from cars to coyotes. There is a company that makes outdoor enclosures that my cats just love, it’s called KittyWalk. I think it’s KittyWalk

8. And finally, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES let anyone convince you that is okay to declaw your cat!!!! IT IS NOT!!! Declawing a cat is literally amputating it’s fingers at the knuckles. It’s cruel and inhumane. If you have a problem with the idea of cats clawing, then you need not to get a cat.

There are several options to prevent them from clawing things you would rather not have them claw: one is called SoftPaws They are little things you put on their claws. I’ve never used them, but some people like them. What I do is trim their claws (I would like to say regularly, but I do not) and get a cat tree and sisal scratch pad. Cats absolutely love cat trees and will use them to scratch and relax. The two scratch pads I like are these:

Round Turbo Toy My cats have always loved this, but I guess it might depend on the cat:

Flat Sisal Hanging Scratch Post — but don’t hang it, lay it down next to your couch, or wherever you see might be a problem for them scratching. It’s worked miracles for me.

My cats also love this one:
Cardboard scratch post

Well, I guess that’s about all (and by gosh, don’t you think it ought to be???)

I hope this helps. Have a long and happy life with your new family addition.

All best,
Caat

SIMPLE THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
Daily Inspiration: Oracle Card for the Day

Today’s Card: RACCOON

You have all the resources you need.

Stop worrying. Trust that what you need will be there when you need it.

Your best resource is you. By using both your intellect and your intuition, you can see things otherwise unseen, to solve the challenges you are faced with.

_________
Card shown is from Power Animal Oracle Cards by Steven D. Farmer

Occasionally I see a new person on twitter saying the same things I did when I first started twittering. “What do you do with this thing?” “It seems so useless.” “What do I write?”

What follows is a conversation I had with my husband over the first couple of days I started twittering.

Him: We need to tweet or die.
Me: What?
Him: We need to tweet. I’m sending you an article on it.
Me. I have an account, I watch the guy on CNN, but I don’t get it.
Him: What don’t you get?
Me: What do people tweet about? What do I care if someone is going to the store?
Him: I’m sending the article. Tweet or die.
……
Me: Somebody’s “following” me.
Him: Who?
Me: I don’t know, a doctor somebody. She’s following me. I don’t get it. What does she care if I’m going to the store or not?
Him: Well, it’s like having a conversation with someone in a room. Not everything is a pearl. You sit in a room with someone and you tell them, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Me: I don’t get it.
……
Me: I’m pathetic.
Him: What?
Me: I’m a pathetic human being and it’s all your fault.
Him: Oh dear god. What did I do?
Me: You said that we need to “tweet or die”
Him: Oh, and your tweeting?
Me: YES! It’s pathetic!
Him: I thought you thought it was stupid?
Me: It IS stupid!
Him: But you’re doing it.
Me: Yes! And you tell me “tweet or die, tweet or die” then you don’t tweet!
Him: So you’ve been tweeting all day?
Me: Well no, not all day, but enough to make me pathetic. Enough to say, “Hey, how come nobody’s tweeting?” I have 6 followers you know.
Him: Well, that’s impressive.
Me: Yeah, but the one person I should be tweeting with won’t tweet with me!
Him: Who’s that?
Me: Grace.
Him: Grace won’t tweet with you? Why not?
Me: Because she’s too busy on Facebook.
Him: Well you know, there’s software now that will send all your tweets to your facebook page.
Me: Silence.
Me: That’s pathetic.
Him: You knew it had to come, didn’t you?
Me: I have to go. I don’t know how I have time to feed the cats when I need to be tweeting. I’ll talk to you later.
……
I’m so pathetic. I”m a pathetic human being.

ASK CAAT

Question:
Sometimes I get confused when I talk to my guinea pigs since i have two is it possible to talk to both of them at the same time?

You can talk to two animals at the same time. It’s funny sometimes because, sometimes I’ll be talking to one animal and the other will just jump in! They’re like people in that respect, some can be very polite and wait their turn, others have just so much to say and they can’t wait to say it!

Question:
Also does your pet know everything that goes on in your head?

That’s a good question. Your pet hears you when you are speaking to them with intent. Think of it this way, you know when you’re at a party and a lot of people are talking? Well, if they’re not talking to you, you don’t really listen or take much notice, but if they are specifically talking to you, you tune in and listen. It’s sort of like that.

That said, animals can pick up on your energies, and they do understand what you say to them when you speak out loud to them. So if you’re obsessing, for example, on some negative thought, they will pick up on that and you can see it in the way they behave. but I think the main thing is when you speak to them with intent, either vocally or telepathically, they listen. If you’re just going along with your day, well, hey! They have their own thoughts to be busy with! Hope that helps.

SIMPLE THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
Daily Inspiration: Tarot Card for the Day

Today’s Card: The Hanged Man

Have patience.
Trust your intuition.
All you want will manifest by holding onto “calm desire” & faith in the universe.

(Card Featured: Universal Waite
Reproduced with permission of U.S. Games, Inc.)

SIMPLE THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY
Daily inspiration: Tarot card of the day

Today’s Card: Page of Wands

Let go of the past.
Look at life again with childlike enthusiasm.
Reignite your excitement in life.
Dare to dream, dare to grow.

(Card featured:The Aquatic Tarot)

THE OWL WHISPERER
You will not find a better book on the love of animals this year, than Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl.

One of the fascinating things about “Wesley” is the transformation you see the author, Stacey O’Brien, going through — from a very scientific, analytical mind to an awakening and acceptance of telepathy as a form of communication between humans and animals.

It’s not that the book focuses on that, it’s really a life story about her and wild owl, whom she named “Wesley.” She adopted him at 4 days old when she was working at CalTech, and this is a story that she wrote as a way to release her grief after he died. He was 19 years old. And no matter how bizarre the circumstance of having a wild animal as a companion, and no matter that every once in a while in the book she uses verbiage that is far above my level of intelligence, (and I consider myself to be of moderately high intelligence) there is a commonality in her story that every parent of an animal can easily understand. The little proclivities our animals have, the snuggling, the cuddling, the getting angry when we leave for too long of a time, these are all things we can understand and relate to from our own experience with our pets.

But this book is so much more — this book is a work of art. I am not a big reader of stories, but I could not put this book down. The side stories are fascinating. For instance, her father was good friends with a man she mentions — the man who figured out it was the o-rings that blew up the Challenger. These are the people she associates with on a regular basis. The stories of some of the people she talks about at CalTech are fascinating, creepy, intriguing and more.

It’s not a book I’m recommending to teach you to become an animal communicator, it is on a higher level. It’s funny, it’s fascinating, it’s repelling at times, making you cringe and say “Eeeeewwwwww” out loud and, by the end, will be hard to read through your tears.

I - can’t - recommend - this - book - enough. Wesley the Owl. If you enjoy it even a fraction as much as I did, you will enjoy it, very much, indeed.