Comedians are probably the only people in the world that consistently willingly and INSISTANTLY work longer than they're scheduled to.
How often have you heard some joke about a Comedian that needed to be pulled off stage because his act ran too long?
All the time!
Take ANY other profession in the WORLD... And more often than not, you'll find that the majority of people either show up a few minutes late, leave a few minutes early, or both!
So what is it about Comedians?
The dedication?
The spotlight?
The fame?
It's the MONEY!
That's right!
It's ALL about the MONEY!
They're not leavin' that stage until they get PAID dammit!
And that's final!
Monday, April 20, 2009
How I Came Across Pets Alive
I was surfing the web, looking for rodeo abuse articles to link to, and I came across this article on SHARK:
After seeing videos of the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo from SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20 decided to withdraw from the line-up.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Headliner Withdraws! Matchbox Twenty Cites Rodeo Animal Abuse
Press Release Found on SHARK:
April 10, 2008
Regrettably, Matchbox Twenty will not be able to perform at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 18th. After careful consideration it was decided that the participating in this event would directly contradict the mission statement of SIDEWALK ANGELS FOUNDATION, our non profit organization. The other members of Matchbox Twenty support this decision and while we understand that a great deal of effort went into the planning of this show, and apologize to any and all fans who purchased tickets to see us, we ask that they please understand that it would be impossible for us to put ourselves in the position of making money from what we believe to be the mistreatment of animals.
Sincerely,
Rob and Marisol Thomas and The Sidewalk Angels Foundation
How incredible is that?
Plenty of people just go about their business every day, not doing anything more than they need to in order to get by. Some people find it's good PR to "sponsor" or be founding members of a non-profit organization.
And then you have Rob and Marisol Thomas and Matchbox 20 actually going out there and doing incredible things with their non-profit organization, and standing ground with it. They could have easily still headlined that show, but they chose to stick with their beliefs and not play.
I thought that was just incredible. Here are people that don't need to think about anyone but themselves showing the entire world they really do care.
On that note, Bon Jovi and several others have been shown videos of rodeo abuse as well. The show went on.
So of course I checked out the Sidewalk Angels Foundation website.
From there, I found a link to Pets Alive, read about Rob and Marisol Thomas's experience there and passion for them, and just fell in love with the place.
Sidewalk Angels Foundation
"Established by Rob and Marisol Thomas, Sidewalk Angels Foundation is a New York-based non-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with charities in and around America's big cities. Life in the city can be so fast that those in need are often passed by. People who are destitute or homeless and get lost in the system; those who cannot afford proper medical care; animals that have been abandoned or abused -- these are universal problems that Sidewalk Angels encourages people to address locally."
Rob and Marisol Thomas also help support Pets Alive.
Pets Alive
"Pets Alive is a no-kill animal shelter, located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, about 1 1/2 hours from New York City. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and place animals in need. Victims of neglect, abuse, and violence, many of them have special needs and have been rejected by other organizations.
Animals at the sanctuary range from dogs and cats to farm animals, exotic birds, and many others. Many of the animals at Pets Alive are older, have special needs or require special care."
I think any organization that really helps the sick and the homeless (human or non-human) is just incredible.
But the heart and passion that go directly into Pets Alive is like none other. It's not like larger organizations where they mostly encourage you to donate your wallet to them, then spend it all on mass mail and advertising.
Pets Alive has actual NEEDS, and they're not evening gowns for events praising all the good they do. Have some new dog toys? An extra 100 foot garden hose? 3-lb paper trays? Paper towels? Know how to paint a fence or a barn maybe? Monetary donations are of course welcome as well, and it all goes towards these things in the first place.
After seeing videos of the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo from SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20 decided to withdraw from the line-up.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Headliner Withdraws! Matchbox Twenty Cites Rodeo Animal Abuse
Press Release Found on SHARK:
April 10, 2008
Regrettably, Matchbox Twenty will not be able to perform at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 18th. After careful consideration it was decided that the participating in this event would directly contradict the mission statement of SIDEWALK ANGELS FOUNDATION, our non profit organization. The other members of Matchbox Twenty support this decision and while we understand that a great deal of effort went into the planning of this show, and apologize to any and all fans who purchased tickets to see us, we ask that they please understand that it would be impossible for us to put ourselves in the position of making money from what we believe to be the mistreatment of animals.
Sincerely,
Rob and Marisol Thomas and The Sidewalk Angels Foundation
How incredible is that?
Plenty of people just go about their business every day, not doing anything more than they need to in order to get by. Some people find it's good PR to "sponsor" or be founding members of a non-profit organization.
And then you have Rob and Marisol Thomas and Matchbox 20 actually going out there and doing incredible things with their non-profit organization, and standing ground with it. They could have easily still headlined that show, but they chose to stick with their beliefs and not play.
I thought that was just incredible. Here are people that don't need to think about anyone but themselves showing the entire world they really do care.
On that note, Bon Jovi and several others have been shown videos of rodeo abuse as well. The show went on.
So of course I checked out the Sidewalk Angels Foundation website.
From there, I found a link to Pets Alive, read about Rob and Marisol Thomas's experience there and passion for them, and just fell in love with the place.
Sidewalk Angels Foundation
"Established by Rob and Marisol Thomas, Sidewalk Angels Foundation is a New York-based non-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with charities in and around America's big cities. Life in the city can be so fast that those in need are often passed by. People who are destitute or homeless and get lost in the system; those who cannot afford proper medical care; animals that have been abandoned or abused -- these are universal problems that Sidewalk Angels encourages people to address locally."
Rob and Marisol Thomas also help support Pets Alive.
Pets Alive
"Pets Alive is a no-kill animal shelter, located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, about 1 1/2 hours from New York City. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and place animals in need. Victims of neglect, abuse, and violence, many of them have special needs and have been rejected by other organizations.
Animals at the sanctuary range from dogs and cats to farm animals, exotic birds, and many others. Many of the animals at Pets Alive are older, have special needs or require special care."
I think any organization that really helps the sick and the homeless (human or non-human) is just incredible.
But the heart and passion that go directly into Pets Alive is like none other. It's not like larger organizations where they mostly encourage you to donate your wallet to them, then spend it all on mass mail and advertising.
Pets Alive has actual NEEDS, and they're not evening gowns for events praising all the good they do. Have some new dog toys? An extra 100 foot garden hose? 3-lb paper trays? Paper towels? Know how to paint a fence or a barn maybe? Monetary donations are of course welcome as well, and it all goes towards these things in the first place.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wait... I did what?
So, over the last few days I've gotten some members on my site.
I have NO IDEA why a site needs members and all that stuff. Most I gather is that members are placed on a mailing list so I can SPAM them.
That, and I can set things so THEY can blog on MY website and whatever.
Besides having a list of people to SPAM, I don't really get it, not for just an average website. Maybe if I was a business and all that, but I'm not.
So, why all of a sudden are people signing up on my website?
Good question!
APPARENTLY I've SPAMMED them, "inviting" them to join my website!
Wait... I did what? When did I do that?
OH! APPARENTLY webs takes care of that FOR ME!
And I don't see ANYWHERE where I actually have a SAY in this matter!
So, I've opened a ticket with them about it because THAT'S some dick-move bullshit right there!
I can see having that feature, but it should be [OFF] by default!
Spend around $100 with webs to setup your website to be more official and professional and what you get in return is being made out to be some dickhead that SPAMS people after they were considerate enough to take the time to read your blog and comment on it.
Nice webs, real nice.
And of COURSE you're MORE THAN welcome to join my site. The more I think about it, the niftier I think it is to have a mailing list and the ABILITY to allow others to post content on my site.
It's just... I should be able to turn that feature on or off myself.
Now, they HAVE suggested that I could access "My Members" and prevent people from becoming members...
But that's kind of missing the point isn't it?
I mean, also, after sending someone an email to join my site, I'm going to reject their membership TO my site? Ok then...
I'm not saying that I don't WANT site members. I'm saying that I don't want webs to SPAM people, on my behalf, that have commented on my site.
There are certainly far worse things out there in the world.
I just see this as very rude.
I have NO IDEA why a site needs members and all that stuff. Most I gather is that members are placed on a mailing list so I can SPAM them.
That, and I can set things so THEY can blog on MY website and whatever.
Besides having a list of people to SPAM, I don't really get it, not for just an average website. Maybe if I was a business and all that, but I'm not.
So, why all of a sudden are people signing up on my website?
Good question!
APPARENTLY I've SPAMMED them, "inviting" them to join my website!
Wait... I did what? When did I do that?
OH! APPARENTLY webs takes care of that FOR ME!
And I don't see ANYWHERE where I actually have a SAY in this matter!
So, I've opened a ticket with them about it because THAT'S some dick-move bullshit right there!
I can see having that feature, but it should be [OFF] by default!
Spend around $100 with webs to setup your website to be more official and professional and what you get in return is being made out to be some dickhead that SPAMS people after they were considerate enough to take the time to read your blog and comment on it.
Nice webs, real nice.
And of COURSE you're MORE THAN welcome to join my site. The more I think about it, the niftier I think it is to have a mailing list and the ABILITY to allow others to post content on my site.
It's just... I should be able to turn that feature on or off myself.
Now, they HAVE suggested that I could access "My Members" and prevent people from becoming members...
But that's kind of missing the point isn't it?
I mean, also, after sending someone an email to join my site, I'm going to reject their membership TO my site? Ok then...
I'm not saying that I don't WANT site members. I'm saying that I don't want webs to SPAM people, on my behalf, that have commented on my site.
There are certainly far worse things out there in the world.
I just see this as very rude.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Of Course...
Of course I finally make a point of going to bed at a reasonable hour tonight and I can't sleep.
My mind is WIDE AWAKE.
I've made a LOT of mistakes in my life. I feel a LOT of guilt about a lot of things, some reasonable, some not.
I miss my dogs incredibly. I miss all the animals I've had.
My apartment complex is now allowing MY BUILDING to have SMALL dogs.
I had a HUGE loss a few years back. EVERYTHING I loved and cared about was taken from me. Hey, I wasn't the worst person in the world, but I don't blame her for leaving. We weren't that close, not for two people living together.
My heart's been pretty closed off to taking care of another animal since then. I have opened it some to caring for animals, but not of my own, though I do feel the void and wish to fill it. I keep thinking about the breeders D'Argo and Shere Khan came from and how I would love to go through them again for a Great Dane, but also I would love to rescue a Great Dane as well.
I'm not closed off to other dogs by far. You see, that part isn't about the new animals in my life. It's about denial of the ones that were in my life not being there anymore.
I gave up my first dog only a few months after I had her. She was part wolf, part husky, from my sister's dog, Apache. I'm strict about what my animals eat and the care for them. And my parents, especially my mom, do as they please. And I find that EXTREMELY disrespectful. Living with them at the time, I was fairly young, between knowing that they would contribute to making her unhealthy, and my mom convincing me that it was best not to have her, I gave her to someone that she worked with that had a dog already that was part wolf.
It was a bit hard, but I knew it was the right thing to do? She went with him just fine, I watched through the window, until they got to his truck and she just struggled and didn't want to go in. We spent every moment together for that short time we had together. I wanted to run outside and take her back, but I did nothing. I hated seeing her struggling not to get in that truck.
I've got a TON of other guilt about my animals in me, everything from feeling guilty about their deaths, to feeling like I didn't do the right things for them, to realizing some were better off without me.
So my apartment complex is allowing small dogs in this building, which is wonderful. It's just a little bit of something that makes it feel a little bit more like an actual home, even if I'm not in a position to have a dog of my own right now. It still feels nice knowing that I don't HAVE TO buy a house in order to have a dog. I'm not much on small dogs, but it's something.
I've been thinking about him more and more. I'm definitely thinking about him a TON tonight. It's so weird too. I mean, I'm still building up the scars over my heart and all that when it comes to animals. I've only seen him in person really once, but there is just something about this dog Houma over at Pets Alive. He's got the most INCREDIBLE scar all down his back, and all I see is beauty.
So of course I'm transferring money over to my PayPal account and I want to help sponsor him (He's been going through SO MUCH lately). I know the money's not much, but at least it's a little bit more than they had before.
Then I started thinking, "Oh my god! With everything that's been going on with him, so many people are finding out about his story. There's no way he's going to be there for very long once everything's going smooth." And that's good, good for him, upsetting as hell for me right now. Now being able to have a "SMALL" dog? isn't good enough. Because I know the dog I want. And I STILL can't have him.
Dean Koontz basically said, when you get a dog, it's the most pure form of selflessness there is. The most pure love, all that. You take in a dog, open up your home and your heart to it KNOWING, in most cases, that it will die long before you do.
I guess I'm still waiting for that time when I actually get to that point. I had Egypt for under a year. She had to be put to sleep. She spent the rest of her life with me. And I always feel her inside of me. My three boys and even my girl from years ago, I miss them and love them, and wonder what ever happened with them and if they're still alive - D'Argo showed that he'd need hip surgery at some point in his life - but I still feel that in part, at times, they were mine at one point, but the reality of it is they turned into someone else's. Egypt was with me in the winter of her life, but with me until the very end.
I've lost more that I've opened my heart to than handfuls of people experience in their lives. Plenty of it was my own doing.
I'd just like to get it right some day.
I am trying to believe.
My mind is WIDE AWAKE.
I've made a LOT of mistakes in my life. I feel a LOT of guilt about a lot of things, some reasonable, some not.
I miss my dogs incredibly. I miss all the animals I've had.
My apartment complex is now allowing MY BUILDING to have SMALL dogs.
I had a HUGE loss a few years back. EVERYTHING I loved and cared about was taken from me. Hey, I wasn't the worst person in the world, but I don't blame her for leaving. We weren't that close, not for two people living together.
My heart's been pretty closed off to taking care of another animal since then. I have opened it some to caring for animals, but not of my own, though I do feel the void and wish to fill it. I keep thinking about the breeders D'Argo and Shere Khan came from and how I would love to go through them again for a Great Dane, but also I would love to rescue a Great Dane as well.
I'm not closed off to other dogs by far. You see, that part isn't about the new animals in my life. It's about denial of the ones that were in my life not being there anymore.
I gave up my first dog only a few months after I had her. She was part wolf, part husky, from my sister's dog, Apache. I'm strict about what my animals eat and the care for them. And my parents, especially my mom, do as they please. And I find that EXTREMELY disrespectful. Living with them at the time, I was fairly young, between knowing that they would contribute to making her unhealthy, and my mom convincing me that it was best not to have her, I gave her to someone that she worked with that had a dog already that was part wolf.
It was a bit hard, but I knew it was the right thing to do? She went with him just fine, I watched through the window, until they got to his truck and she just struggled and didn't want to go in. We spent every moment together for that short time we had together. I wanted to run outside and take her back, but I did nothing. I hated seeing her struggling not to get in that truck.
I've got a TON of other guilt about my animals in me, everything from feeling guilty about their deaths, to feeling like I didn't do the right things for them, to realizing some were better off without me.
So my apartment complex is allowing small dogs in this building, which is wonderful. It's just a little bit of something that makes it feel a little bit more like an actual home, even if I'm not in a position to have a dog of my own right now. It still feels nice knowing that I don't HAVE TO buy a house in order to have a dog. I'm not much on small dogs, but it's something.
I've been thinking about him more and more. I'm definitely thinking about him a TON tonight. It's so weird too. I mean, I'm still building up the scars over my heart and all that when it comes to animals. I've only seen him in person really once, but there is just something about this dog Houma over at Pets Alive. He's got the most INCREDIBLE scar all down his back, and all I see is beauty.
So of course I'm transferring money over to my PayPal account and I want to help sponsor him (He's been going through SO MUCH lately). I know the money's not much, but at least it's a little bit more than they had before.
Then I started thinking, "Oh my god! With everything that's been going on with him, so many people are finding out about his story. There's no way he's going to be there for very long once everything's going smooth." And that's good, good for him, upsetting as hell for me right now. Now being able to have a "SMALL" dog? isn't good enough. Because I know the dog I want. And I STILL can't have him.
Dean Koontz basically said, when you get a dog, it's the most pure form of selflessness there is. The most pure love, all that. You take in a dog, open up your home and your heart to it KNOWING, in most cases, that it will die long before you do.
I guess I'm still waiting for that time when I actually get to that point. I had Egypt for under a year. She had to be put to sleep. She spent the rest of her life with me. And I always feel her inside of me. My three boys and even my girl from years ago, I miss them and love them, and wonder what ever happened with them and if they're still alive - D'Argo showed that he'd need hip surgery at some point in his life - but I still feel that in part, at times, they were mine at one point, but the reality of it is they turned into someone else's. Egypt was with me in the winter of her life, but with me until the very end.
I've lost more that I've opened my heart to than handfuls of people experience in their lives. Plenty of it was my own doing.
I'd just like to get it right some day.
I am trying to believe.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
YOU can make the difference!
Now, some of you may have seen me talking about this. This Sunday (04/19/09) @ 7:00PM, Middletown's own Manhattan Comedy Club is hosting a night of comedy to benefit Pets Alive!
And MANY of you have seen me talk about how wonderful a place Pets Alive is. They do the best they can for dogs like little Houma that just have the most wonderful spirits, and other very special dogs like little Bindi. Bindi is just SO special! A very special companion.
These are the precious lives you will be helping by either attending this event - details found at Pets Alive - or, MORE IMPORTANTLY, FINDING ME A DATE to this event!
That's right! YOU can help the lives of these WONDERFUL (and special) creatures just by finding me a date for the show!
Qualifications:
1. MUST BE FEMALE!
2. MUST BE FEMALE!
3. MUST BE ATTRACTIVE!
4. MUST BE ALIVE!
5. SHOULD BE SINGLE!
For the pets.
And MANY of you have seen me talk about how wonderful a place Pets Alive is. They do the best they can for dogs like little Houma that just have the most wonderful spirits, and other very special dogs like little Bindi. Bindi is just SO special! A very special companion.
These are the precious lives you will be helping by either attending this event - details found at Pets Alive - or, MORE IMPORTANTLY, FINDING ME A DATE to this event!
That's right! YOU can help the lives of these WONDERFUL (and special) creatures just by finding me a date for the show!
Qualifications:
1. MUST BE FEMALE!
2. MUST BE FEMALE!
3. MUST BE ATTRACTIVE!
4. MUST BE ALIVE!
5. SHOULD BE SINGLE!
For the pets.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Eggs
I have finally started leaving some of the "Inspire" paintings around town for people to take!
The ones I leave, I have fittingly decided to mark "Easter Egg" and give the location where I left it. You can click the painting to see an image of where it was dropped off.
The ones I leave, I have fittingly decided to mark "Easter Egg" and give the location where I left it. You can click the painting to see an image of where it was dropped off.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Pets Alive Mural
For the past month, on the weekends, I've been primering and painting the hallways and stairway of Pets Alive.
This weekend, I start (and likely finish) the actual mural that will be on the stairway wall.
Now, I'm just someone donating supplies and time to do this for them (I really love what they do and the kind of people they are), but damned if I haven't been a bit emotional this week about this coming weekend.
I'm sure if it all works out well enough (They love the base colors I picked out) that there would be plenty more painting projects for me to do. But... this is the first. And with this first, I've started painting more. I'm looking more into the art world as an actual possibility for at least SOME income. I've made a bigger commitment to my website (Something I've been putting off forever). And I'm really realizing that things can and do happen if you put the effort it takes into them.
It's funny... it seems that the people of Pets Alive often are just amazed at how generous people are with them. I mean, I guess I'm one of those people, one of those people out there that just genuinely loves the place. I don't feel nearly the same way about the ASPCA, or Defenders of Wildlife, or any other organization out there.
It's the people. It's their genuine love and dedication to these lives that so many others would, or even HAVE, turned their backs to. It's the real struggles they go through. And it's the personality of the place. I'd say you wouldn't find another bunch like the people of Pets Alive, but that would be false. You look at the same people in the mirror every day.
Pets Alive isn't just a no-kill shelter or non-profit organization.
Pets Alive is the people working and volunteering there, the animals living there, the people donating their time, effort, supplies, and money. It's everyone, including you and me, making a REAL difference (that you can actually SEE) in the lives of many beautiful creatures.
I think I actually just made this weekend a bit more emotional for me.
To Pets Alive,
Genuine people with a genuine cause.
This weekend, I start (and likely finish) the actual mural that will be on the stairway wall.
Now, I'm just someone donating supplies and time to do this for them (I really love what they do and the kind of people they are), but damned if I haven't been a bit emotional this week about this coming weekend.
I'm sure if it all works out well enough (They love the base colors I picked out) that there would be plenty more painting projects for me to do. But... this is the first. And with this first, I've started painting more. I'm looking more into the art world as an actual possibility for at least SOME income. I've made a bigger commitment to my website (Something I've been putting off forever). And I'm really realizing that things can and do happen if you put the effort it takes into them.
It's funny... it seems that the people of Pets Alive often are just amazed at how generous people are with them. I mean, I guess I'm one of those people, one of those people out there that just genuinely loves the place. I don't feel nearly the same way about the ASPCA, or Defenders of Wildlife, or any other organization out there.
It's the people. It's their genuine love and dedication to these lives that so many others would, or even HAVE, turned their backs to. It's the real struggles they go through. And it's the personality of the place. I'd say you wouldn't find another bunch like the people of Pets Alive, but that would be false. You look at the same people in the mirror every day.
Pets Alive isn't just a no-kill shelter or non-profit organization.
Pets Alive is the people working and volunteering there, the animals living there, the people donating their time, effort, supplies, and money. It's everyone, including you and me, making a REAL difference (that you can actually SEE) in the lives of many beautiful creatures.
I think I actually just made this weekend a bit more emotional for me.
To Pets Alive,
Genuine people with a genuine cause.
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