"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” - Ghandi


I encourage everyone to support these tireless organizations who do their very best every single day to make the world a better place.


Dogs Deserve Better


Best Friends Animal Society


BAD RAP


Animalrescuesite.com - buy cool items and feed shelter animals.  They also have the stats.  8 million homeless animals a year go through shelters, 4 million are euthanized.  This is a sick reality of how human beings continue to ruin the world and think they have the right to exploit whatever catches their interest at the time.  


Your local animal shelters


http://vickdogsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/pb-j.html  This is a blog dedicated to the survivors of Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels.  It is so heartwarming to see.  All of these dogs have gone to great lengths they didn't even know about to crush the myth of the pit bull breed.  Amazing!  I am so glad there are people out there who can do that work and I hope that someday dog fighting ends for good around the world!

Breckenridge

I just got back today from a short trip to Breckenridge to visit family.  A cousin was getting married and I attended the ceremony.  It was just beautiful up there and the marriage ceremony was lovely.  Although it was sad to see the devastation of the beetle kill that has ravaged the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Colorado.  Dad said it hasn't reached New Mexico yet, but will likely get there.  It is a testament to the effects of too warm winters and not allowing fires to burn.  The other thing that struck me was the vast amount of people.  Mountain towns are no longer mountain towns, they are cities right in the middle of what was once a pristine wild wilderness that is quickly disappearing.  I can't help but hope that Mother Nature does a course correction soon.  The world needs it.

Birthday hike pictures

I went hiking on my birthday instead of going to a meeting.  Sometimes I need the hike more.  It is the place where I connect with my higher power.  Even if there is only cosmic chaos out there, it comes together looking spectacular!  And I have to believe because of the gifts given to me in my sobriety, there is a power greater than me.  Even if it's only nature.

The rock climber

Spring wildflowers

My view while hiking

I love that flowers will grow anywhere

June 1st

It's my birthday today.  Next month I will be sober three years.  Life sure hasn't turned out the way I thought it would, but I think it is better than the plans I had.  It is more stable, more serene and on life's terms rather than my own.  That in itself is a good thing.  Left to my own devices I will drive myself into destructive and dangerous places.  With the support of my family, friends and the program, I am on course to live a more complete life.  In the end, that's all I want.  I think that's what we all want.

What a beautiful day for a hike

Pretty day today.  Middle school kids were up for a field trip.  It only dampened the serenity of it a little bit.  No matter what, the frup had a great time and I loved listening to the water sounds and the birds.

Summer may get here yet

Summer has been a long time coming to the valley.  I know it isn't officially until June 21st, but it's been downright cold here. We're in the Banana Belt of Colorado for God's sake!  Mom and Dad went to Beaver Creek this week and wandered into nine inches of snow!  It's been great hiking weather (cool is good to work up a sweat), except I haven't taken my camera on any adventures lately.  I need to do that next week and get some shots of the water before it's gone.  There is a lot of water in the canyons this year.  Callie is thrilled!  I'm still looking at a summer trip, but plans may change again.  I may do Kanab, Utah and then Chico, CA.  I just got word my friend in London may join me.  We've been pen pals for almost fourteen years and have never met!  It would be great to get to know him in real life instead of just over the web, but no matter, he's been one of my best friends through all the turmoil and trauma and now the good times too!  Amazing how life works when you work with it instead of against it.  The serenity prayer is right...Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Whether there is a God or not, there is a rhythm to life that calls for us to pay attention.  Lost in addiction, we pay attention to nothing that works and systematically fight the world and all it has to offer.  Sober, we live life on life's terms and accept the natural ups and downs and forge ahead.  No matter the judgement of others, I am grateful for this second chance that I've been given to do the right things and live the life I want to live, consciously, lovingly and completely.  With all of the bad in the world, and the cold harshness that others choose to focus on, I am grateful for all that has been given to me, and all that I have, and I am sober to enjoy every second, every minute, and every day.  

Thank goodness

Colorado shoppers are much less likely to find beer, wine and liquor on supermarket shelves after a House committee on Wednesday killed a bill to expand alcohol sales and the prospects dimmed for two similarly aimed ballot initiatives.

It was the third time in as many years that a coalition of convenience stores, supermarkets and consumer advocates has been thwarted in the legislature.

House Bill 1279 would have allowed a supermarket to buy the license of a neighboring liquor store from its owners in the industry's most creative attempt yet to secure the beverages for their stores.

I, for one, am okay with this bill failing.  I lived in New Mexico for way too long and all I found was the ease of getting alcohol fueled my drinking.  I chase career drunks out of my store everyday, and I know we all get tired of dealing with the same drunk, different day.  I don't want to deal with hard liquor sales, 3.2 beer is reminder enough of why I no longer drink.