Inspiration for Writing

Streams of Life
The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day

runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth

in numberless blades of grass

and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth

and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

by Rabindranath Tagore

Save the Dolphins!

It's not unusual for an animal as smart as a dolphin to be trained for it's entertainment value and though I am not a avid activist in these matters a cause has recently caught my attention that I thought I would bring to yours... I've never so much as darkened the doors of a hotel in Las Vegas apparently there is an exhibit at The Mirage, owned by MGM Grand International called "Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat." The pool the dolphins live in is reportedly located near a highway which cause them to develop respiratory diseases. In addition to this, the dolphins are subjected to extreme temperature changes. As a result many of the dolphins die from the unnatural causes.According to the article:

The dolphins perform tricks and flips for the paying customers and are given fish as reward. These are not natural behaviors for dolphins; they are trained and taught behaviors.

This exhibit has been the death sentence for many wild and captive-born dolphins. The Review-Journal obtained records from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration that includes an inventory of the dolphins at The Mirage and cause of death for those that died.

This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. A few days ago, I wrote of my character's "animal spirit guide"-- I love dolphins and they are my "spirit guides" and I hate to see them so shabbily treated. Please sign the petition asking The Mirage to ask them to end their exhibit and if you are planning to visit Las Vegas, please avoid The Mirage and MGM Grand properties. For the sake of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean! For more information and to sign the petition sign the link below or click on the picture!You can find out more by going to my other blog... Meanderings of Wandering Mind.

An Award, The Blogging Community and my New Blog!

Not necessarily in that order..... but here we go!

I've posted a bit more on politics at Meanderings of a Wandering Mind - if you enjoy current events I'll be posting there at random times. Comments and suggestions are always WELCOME at either site!!!

I also want to thank Tara at Feel of Something New for awarding me with the Stylish Blogger award! It is always lovely to be recognized in such a way!

When I received the award on top of the others that I have received recently it reminded me that the blogging community is indeed a COMMUNITY. On our blogs we share our writing (which is often our most personal piece of ourselves, right? I mean we put our heart and souls into our writing!!!), our thoughts about writing, joys and sorrows about rejections, bits and pieces of our lives (so many cute kids out there! and Sara at The Unwrapping fell and had an embarrassing fall!) so we learn to know about each other though we may never meet each other face to face (though I have met a fellow blogger-- as mentioned before-- Conchscooter at Key West Diary was a terrific host when we traveled to Key West!) At any rate... As I read all your blogs (and I haven't been as active as I might have been as it has been crazy at work and I have been really busy trying to get things done and keep my own real Writing going) I have enjoyed getting to know you and appreciate the feedback I get from all of you which has been reflected in the awards so Thank you again!!!! 

Here is your moment of Zen... 

Is it an eagle? Is it a snake?

I'm developing a new character and I have a pretty clear picture of who I think she is. If you were to name her spirit animal what would you say it was?  

She advances down the street with a confidence that holds life itself in contempt, she has a "you-aren't-going-to-defeat-me" gait that carries her around The Common and, fortunately, well beyond The Peonage. She plows through the cracked and crooked Cyprus door, pausing only to allow her cornea time to adjust to the dim, the duskiness that inhabits the cleavage of the walls scurries across the floorboard and over the surface of the hovel that has somehow gained the reputation as a shop. Compound odors of garlic, curry, cigar, incense, dust, and ancient artifact assault the nasal passages of her finely refined nose resulting in a stallioned flare just as the irritation overwhelms her and explodes into the silent gloominess. Plainly the war on grime has been lost and she swats at her hand-pressed sierra-sand-colored skirt and fitted white blouse to prevent any possible incursions to her personage. The tailor-made "Refined Explorer" boots she purchased in Milan wrinkle of their own volition in distaste, disgusted by their proximity to the dirt floor which had undoubtedly been the bed of herd animal at some not too distant past. Cosmetically enhanced nails brush a single stray hair that has rebelliously crept down out of sternly drawn locks and smooths it back in place as she prepares herself for a wait that would have made Abraham impatient.