Thursday, July 31, 2014

National Mutt Day/July 31st

Blogging Friends.... Guess what?! It's National Mutt Day!! This very special celebration--which is written on my calendar!!--of Beautifully Unique mixed breeds only comes but twice a year!! July 31st. And December 2nd. But then again. For those who are blessed to love and own mutts. And those who embrace their mixed breeds, as just as important as purebreds. We celebrate National Mutt Day all year around!! I love, love, love Rose!! And I adored Shadow before her!! 75 percent of canines who enter shelters nationwide are mutts. 75 freakin' percent!! So. "Say it loud, say it proud", as that phrase goes. And chant with me now. WE LOVE MUTTS!! WE LOVE MUTTS!! WE LOVE MUTTS!! WE LOVE MUTTS!! WE LOVE MUTTS!! Wasn't that fun?! Love you later.

{Taken from National Mutt Day's Website!! { http://www.nationalmuttday.com/index2.htm } They also have a Facebook page { https://www.facebook.com/NationalMuttDay#!/NationalMuttDay } which has been very fun these days as mixed breed canine owners worldwide have posted pictures of their cuties!! Check it out!!}

National Mutt Day was created in 2005 by Celebrity Pet Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate, Colleen Paige, and is celebrated on both July 31st and December 2nd. National Mutt Day is all about embracing, saving and celebrating mixed breed dogs. The biggest percentage of dogs euthanized in due to the constant over-breeding and public desire of designer dogs and pure bred puppies that are sold to pet stores supplied by puppy mills that often produce ill and horribly neglected animals. National Mutt Day was created to be celebrated on two dates per year to raise awareness of the plight of mixed breed dogs in shelters around the nation and to educate the public about the sea of mixed breed dogs that desperately await new homes. Mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier, better behaved, they live longer and are just as able to perform the duties of pure bred dogs - such as bomb and drug sniffing, search and rescue and guiding the blind. There are millions of loving and healthy mixed breed dogs sitting in shelters, who are desperately searching for a new home. One of the county's most famous movie dogs is Benji, is a mixed breed Terrier. So please visit your local shelter and find a new friend today! If you can't adopt a mixed breed friend on July 31st and December 2nd, please donate at least $5 to your local animal shelter, as they all need financial assistance and every dollar counts! You can also volunteer to walk a dog, donate food and other supplies needed to your local animal shelter or make a donation in the memory of a loved dog who has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Our goal is to save 10,000 Mutts this July 31st and December 2nd from coast to coast!

ADOPT A MUTT! PLEASE SPAY & NEUTER YOUR PETS!


Shadow Sunshine, my German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix!!


Rose Elizabeth, my Mystery Dog of a mutt!!

Oh yeah!! Look for my August fictional children's book to be posted on Minuscule is good! {Lord willing!!} on August 2nd!!


   









Saturday, July 26, 2014

Rose's Paw In My Hand

Blogging Friends.... Apparently, carving time to write fictional children's books during the Summer is quite challenging!! Last month? I was helping move around bedrooms. This month? I have "Amethyst" on Tuesdays {I am not complaining!!} and my nearly eleven-year old cousin every Friday!! {I repeat. I am not complaining!!} So. I know I've promised a story about Rose {Which has been written just not edited!!} a photograph will have to do as I begin work on my August fictional children's book!! Love you later.
  

This is an artsy picture of Rose's paw in my unique, disfigured hand with the small ring finger and only three knuckles!! I snapped it awhile back. I stole the idea from another dog Blogger. I love, love, love how it turned out!!

Blogging Friends.... P.S. Yes, I know I'm still a stranger to all of your Blogs. I sincerely apologize for that!! Every time I attempt to read/comment on your Blogs, it somehow never completely happens. Please do not forget about me!!


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

An Unlikely Superhero

Blogging Friends.... Did you know that it is Batman Day?! No? Neither did I until finding out!! Apparently the Dark Knight turned 75 years old today, hence why this date is dedicated to him!! Honestly? Batman was never truly my very favorite superhero. {But I loved Robin!!} However. Because I have an older brother, Batman was my first word!! True story, I'm afraid!! Anyhoo. In correlation to this being Batman Day, here is a superhero-themed Blog post!!

{Taken from my private Word document journal!! Some changes were made, as per usual!! It was written--for the most part!!--on July 20th!!}

I have often considered myself as somewhat of a superhero. Like an X-Men. By the way? I like Wolverine!! Oh, and Jubilee!! I have often considered my powers as being inborn, like Superman's. Because I am an alien!! I have often considered myself as not having been a self-created superhero, like Iron Man. No offense, Tony Stark!! However. I am an unlikely superhero. In more ways than one. According to my Blogging Friend, Robyn {Who founded TinySuperheroes!!} having been born with craniosynostosis, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome--therefore overcoming such severe birth defects--would qualify me as a superhero!! I like that!! As a matter of fact. My journey with folliculitis decalvans {And somehow maintaining an out of character, un-victimizing, positive attitude!!} might also, according to Robyn, qualify me as a superhero!! I like that!! And according to my Blogging Friend, Ellen {Who has a Beautifully Unique son with cerebral palsy named Max!!} my developmental delays, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and--yes--dreaded premature short-term memory loss, would qualify me as possessing superpowers!! I like that!! Today Michael {Who has at last accepted my probable furthermore hair loss!!} called me Ben--aka The Thing--because of his "bald head". To which I laughed!! "I'm The Thing!!" I exclaimed, a cockeyed smirk written on my face, "I love it!!" I then lowered my voice to a deeper man-like tone. "It's clobberin' time!!" I said. "We have something in common, The Thing and I," I added in my "normal" voice, "Neither one of us can hide the way we look. When I lose my hair and go bald, my hair won't grow back." I am The Thing!! So much for my superhero powers being inborn....





Saturday, July 19, 2014

I Am A Freak!!

Blogging Friends.... This has easily been the busiest Summer of my Life {And I am not in any way, shape, or form, complaining!!} Every Tuesday, we have been watching my niece, "Amethyst"!! All. Day. Long!! And every Friday, we have had my ten-year old cousin. All. Day. Long!! So please pardon me for being a stranger to all of your Blogs!! I will return.... Eventually!! And please excuse Beautifully Unique's random posts of late!! I am working on a story about Rose!! Slowly but surely!! My Life right now has seemingly become a purpose-given combination of spending quality time with Rose, watching kids, and writing!! Love you later.

Taken from my Life Story!! Which was written in 2012 through 2013!!

I am a freak. This birth defected, learning disabled, weird and crazy freak!! Plus, I am an oddball, too!! I shall announce this "loud and proud", as that phrase goes. Yes, loud and proud. For I shall stand atop the balcony of some tall skyscraper. And scream. I!! AM!! A!! FREAK!! Because I am definitely not human!! And, that is okay. You know what? Society says "freak" as though it's a negative thing. Yes, negative. Oh, and you must automatically need therapy on account of being a freak!! I do not like that mindset. And, why is it, exactly, does society think of "weird" as being negative? Like "weird" is some fault or shortcoming. I do not like that mindset, either. For society has long-ago deemed anybody who is different--whether developmentally, physically, or both--as some "freak". Like they are an animal infected with rabies. But I think that the word freak (And weird!!) should be used only in positive ways. I am a freak. I am a freak!! Or, as my phrase goes, I'm Beautifully Unique. A Beautifully Unique freak. (Hey, it rhymes!! The poetess within me likes that!!)

Taken from my private Word document journal entry!! Which was--for the most part--written yesterday!!

Ever since I was a teenager, I've considered myself a freak. Inhuman. How so? I was born defected, with craniosynostosis/congenital diaphragmatic hernia/Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. I have, my entire Life, lived with premature short-term memory loss as though I'm some middle-aged person. I am a learning disabled individual. I'm "hard to kill", as that phrase goes. I am both physically and emotionally resilient. I'm a weird, crazy, misfit, outsider oddball. You know what? I have long felt like a mutant from X-Men. However. I am--throughout time--gradually gaining self-acceptance regarding my birth defects, premature short-term memory loss, learning disabilities, and being a weird, crazy, misfit, outsider oddball!! I. AM. A. FREAK!! And now? Thanks to folliculitis decalvans, I will possibly eventually look like a bald-headed freak with Frankenstein-like craniosynostosis scars. Bring it on!!



Wednesday, July 16, 2014

From "Bad Boy" To Family Man....

Blogging Friends.... At a birthday party on Sunday, I impersonated Tony/Stark/Iron Man {It was for the kids!! But I rather enjoy being Iron Man, thank-you very much!!} Then I caught my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a colorful polka dot party hat and girly-looking bow tie!! How very cool. Not really!! Tony Stark wouldn't be caught dead wearing a colorful polka dot party hat and girly-looking bow tie!! Robert Downey Jr. on the other hand.... And I love, love, love him for it.

I found this last night!! Be. Still. My. Heart....  

{Interviewer} Are you enjoying fatherhood the second time around?

{Robert Downey Jr.} I love it. I love being with Exton and trying to communicate with him on his level. What's fascinating to me is that when I was in my twenties I could never have imagined myself as a married guy in his forties raising a young son and having this very mellow life. Now I'm in the process of accepting the fact that I am that guy! 

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Not Brave

Blogging Friends.... I found this quotation Online the other day. Gail Porter has alopecia {Which is not quite the same as folliculitis decalvans!!} She has experienced hair loss and is now completely bald. I learned a little about Gail Porter this morning. She absolutely refuses to wear wigs or hats!! Wow, I think I like her!! I hope that when--if--I lose my beautiful hair and go bald, I, too, will tout it.... Surgically-created Frankenstein-like craniosynostosis scars and all!! Somehow, I think I will!! What an inspiration this Gail Porter is.... Love you later.      




Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Independence Day

Blogging Friends.... I hope all of my Readers who reside in America enjoyed themselves a happy and safe July 4th!! Here is my experience with Rose, who suffers from noise phobia.... Love you later.

For those of you who have not read it yet, I finally--three freakin' days later than promised!!--posted my July fictional children's story on Minuscule is good! !! Go ahead. Read it!! And be sure to leave comments!! So I know you visited!!

Congrats, congrats, congrats to Robert Downey Jr., Susan, and Exton as they are adding a girl to their little family in November!! I am so very happy for them!! I've always thought that Robert--especially considering his past--should have a daughter. How so? Nothing against sons, but a daughter eternally holds an incredibly special place within her Daddy's heart. Robert. An ex-drug addict. Is having a daughter!! It's nothing short of beautiful.
   
Bombs explode in warzones. And they are set off during terrorist attacks. Bombs' powerful blasts turn homes into rubble. They blow off people's limbs. And worst of all, bombs kill. I am not an Army soldier who served in Iraq. Nor was I a runner during the Boston Bombing Marathon. And I hope to never {Ever, ever, ever!!} witness or experience the real thing. These were thoughts which crossed through my crazy never-shuts-down head as I sat on our hard tiled "Boy's Bathroom" floor while fireworks, illegal booming pretty explosions and bottle rockets {Or "bombs" as I call them both!!} were lit on Independence Day night. I hope to never {Ever, ever, ever!!} witness or experience the real thing. There truly is no escape from fireworks in our one-level home. For we do not have a basement. So, after a few distant fireworks, I linked Rose's collar with her spare red leash and "held my girl hostage"--in "our" bedroom. Then, when they stopped, I released a very cautious Rose. She wandered toward our great room. I followed her. Well. It was 7:30 PM when the first resounding, booming, nerve-racking, heart-stopping, terrifying "bomb" went off behind our house. I gasped. Rose abruptly jumped up from her lying position by our red great room loveseat. Again, I followed my little girl, figuring that Rose would lead me to the "Boy's Bathroom". She did not. Rose wandered down the hall toward my parents' bedroom, instead. I gently grabbed her collar, another red leash in hand. I linked it to Rose's collar and lead us toward the "Boy's Bathroom". It serves as an incredible sound barrier!! Although we can still hear fireworks, illegal booming pretty explosions and bottle rockets {Or "bombs" as I call them both!!} I, myself, feel safe in the "Boy's Bathroom" on Independence Day!! As does Rose. Anywhere else in our home and she trembles, pants or tries to escape. Poor baby!! Not that I blame her. When I momentarily stepped foot into our darkened great room and stretched my legs, there were twain sudden flashes of fireworks-created light. I jumped, then whispered these words. "I am feeling unsafe in my own house!!" Not surprising. I always feel unsafe in my own home on the 4th of July!! Yes, always. But I never feel unsafe on the hard tile "Boy's Bathroom" floor!! As I sat next to Rose, and stroked her velvet-soft fur, I bemused myself with this far-out thought. It feels like we're hiding in a bomb cellar!! I know, I know. But that is--in a minuscule sense--how it feels!! Behind our house resides a semi truck driver. As he drives across America, this "neighbor"--who I have not met--purchases illegal fireworks that result in booming pretty sky lit explosions. He is safe and responsible. But these "bombs" are resounding, booming, nerve-racking, heart-stopping, and terrifying!! This year, The Trucker was not home!! That being mentioned. Despite our outside world setting off countless "bombs" anyway, the "Boy's Bathroom" felt safer this year!! Somehow. Rose--as per usual--even slept through several "bombs". Although some fireworks made my canine's eyes suddenly pop open and inhale deep Drama Queen sighs. Rose otherwise escaped to Dreamland, as her legs twitched. No tremors worked their way through my mutt's poor body. She never panted hard and salivated. Rose simply snored!! Oh, how I'd wished I possessed that ability as I was tired and exhausted all day long on July 4th!! I do not know if it was the several consecutive late nights due to pre-Independence Day fireworks. Or horrid hot Summer weather. Or the manual labor of exchanging my brother Michael's bedroom with our sister's. Or happily chasing after my energetic two-year old niece, "Amethyst" on Independence Day. Or the stress of spending five freakin' days writing my July fictional children's book. {I am already thinking about next month's story, by the way!!} Or.... Nonetheless. I was tired and exhausted!! After everybody in our home attempted slumber among seemingly endless "bombs", I mixed up my ultimate chocolate addict's recipe. About 1/2 cup Hershey's syrup--no, I have not measured it!!--mixed into pure white milk!! Yum!! I mixed it up in a glass as swiftly as I could {While "bombs" were lit above our roof, therefore terrifying me!!} then I poured my "chocolate/chocolate/chocolate milk" into one of our bottles so that Rose could not drink it. Because accidents occur. I was partying hard. Hey, I do not too much care for alcoholic beverages!! I was going to get "high on chocolate". Because I needed it!! A result which is ineffective, I'm afraid, when I am exhausted. Did you know that when the Boy's Bathroom toilet seat is down, it makes an awesome makeshift table?! Well? The counter/sink is too high up from where I was sitting!! There I set my "chocolate/chocolate/chocolate milk"!! Pop the toilet seat back up, and I can urinate in it!! Which, I did!! Toward the end of everybody's fireworks, illegal booming pretty explosions and bottle rockets {Or "bombs" as I call them both!!} I was dozing off on our hard tiled Boy's Bathroom floor, my back against the opened hollow wooden door, my feet between its toilet and sink. "Bombs"? What "bombs"? I was suddenly determined to sleep through them alongside Rose right then and there!! But alas, I could not. For every time yet another resounding, booming, nerve-racking, heart-stopping, terrifying "bomb" went off, this light sleeper--me--popped open her eyes!! Oh well!! I would have awoken the following morning with my butt and legs asleep, anyway!! Although. The bathtub would have made a good makeshift bed!! And I am just now thinking of this because....? Rose lets me leave the Boy's Bathroom--or our "bomb cellar"--so I do get to briefly witness some booming pretty explosions out our living room windows while stretching my legs!! It was 12:15 AM. "The cone is silent", to quote a line from Twister. Or so I thought. I quietly called Rose into "our" bedroom. She stood up from her lying position on the Boy's Bathroom floor. Willingly!! Rose then walked toward "our" bedroom and lay on her comically-sized dog pillow as though no "bombs" were ever lit!! I was shocked and surprised!! What a resilient girl!! Then, as I was checking our great room sliding glass door to make sure it had been locked--my pre-bed ritual--apparently yet another "bomb" or two exploded. Ugh. Rose returned back to the Boy's Bathroom--or our "bomb cellar"--and I will never, ever, ever forget her apologetic, untrusting facial expression when she looked directly at me with a pair of big brown "Beagle" eyes. I felt so very guilty, so very terrible!! Did my facial expression look displeased? Because I was most certainly frustrated. But not at Rose!! No, I was frustrated with the seemingly never-ending fireworks. I was frustrated with everybody's late, late, late night insanity. The thought that crossed my mind during those ungodly hours was this. She'll never trust me again!! Eventually, I was forced to give up as distant fireworks, illegal booming pretty explosions and bottle rockets {Or "bombs" as I call them both!!} still exploded. My clock now ticked at almost 1AM. And I was desperately in need of some sleep!! So I grabbed Rose's collar and gently pulled her out of the Boy's Bathroom. Literally!! I lead Rose to "our" smoky-smelling room--because the window was open--closed its door, heard a few faraway "bombs", apologized profusely, lay in my bed, then attempted slumber. Until another nearby resounding, booming, nerve-racking, heart-stopping, and terrifying "bomb" was lit. I popped open my eyes, checked on Rose, attempted slumber again, then yet another "bomb" exploded. Sigh. It was nearly 1:20 AM when our outside world became silent!! At last.... 







Friday, July 4, 2014

"Goodnight, Everybody!"

Blogging Friends.... Happy Independence Day!! Well, it is nearly midnight. Bombs--er--bottle rockets--are still being lit, and Rose is sleeping peacefully on our Boy's Bathroom floor!! I need to go to her. As Shawn from "Boy Meets World" said. "Goodnight, everybody!" Love you later.

And the {bottle} rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there/Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!