"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian."
-Paul McCartney
Hhhmm... I am trying to decide how long I have been a vegetarian. It was the middle or end of March. If I really wanted to know the exact date, I could just look in my journal. I am too lazy right now. Anyways, people are always asking me why I am a vegetarian. Health reasons? No. Meat grosses you out when you think about the fact you are eating a dead carcass? Nope. Ethical reasons? Ding-ding-ding. We have a winner!
My sister decided to be a vegetarian just over a year ago after seeing a cow get slaughtered on TV. At first she didn't eat beef because it made her sick, but soon enough she couldn't eat any meat. Then early on this year, my brother asked me why I wasn't a vegetarian. Duh! Because I think meat tastes yummy! He went on to explain that he thought it was strange I was such a big animal lover and yet I didn't mind the fact that animals were killed for my enjoyment (not that I enjoy watching them killed or anything, but I enjoy eating them). I thought about that for a while and I finally I decided to do some research. Big mistake!
I went to the PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, website and started reading about the conditions in slaughterhouses and what animals had to go through. Of course that made me feel terrible! After reading about it, I went and watched their little videos that were supposed to make people want to stop eating meat. I can even remember the names of them, 'Meet Your Meat', & 'Chew On This'. Watching those two videos wasn't the best idea I ever had. I bawled like a baby. Seriously, I cried for like four hours. It was just horrible!
After that night, I stopped eating meat. And I'm not going to say it was easy. It was really hard. Especially at first. I really couldn't imagine a meal without meat as the main course. I craved it like mad and every time I saw someone eating it, I wanted it! It got better though. Now I don't really even think about it. One day I hope to be a vegan, but I really can't imagine cutting milk and eggs. Think about how many food items that eliminates! Bread, tortillas, most pasta, etc. Those are staples! Can't imagine not eating bread and such. Maybe one day I won't be so selfish.
Haha. Oh well, being vegetarian is better than nothing!
I am quite proud of myself. When my sister first told me she was going to be a vegetarian, I laughed. I think I even made fun of her a bit. And I can remember thinking, 'I could never give up meat'. Funny thing is, every time someone finds out I am a vegetarian they say the exact same thing. Now don't think I am trying to talk you into becoming a vegetarian. I'm definitely not. I think it is one of those things you would have to decide for yourself. And no it doesn't bug me to be around meat or to watch people eat meat. In fact, I think my sister is the only vegetarian I know....yep. So everyone besides her eats meat in front of me! Anyways....
that's it. The end!
"Dear Lord, I've been asked, nay commanded, to thank Thee for the Christmas turkey before us... a turkey which was no doubt a lively, intelligent bird... a social being... capable of actual affection... nuzzling its young with almost human-like compassion. Anyway, it's dead and we're gonna eat it. Please give our respects to its family." -Berke Breathed
Side note: About the picture of the bunny, I know we don't eat bunnies, but you have to admit it is a pretty cute little thing. Anyways...
I love Cassie's body position in this shot. It looks really awkward!
Peter really enjoyed swinging. It was pretty adorable.
Watch Angie's face in the next few shots. I am not sure why she is so excited. It's almost like she was on a really intense roller coaster. I think she was more into it than Cass.
Doesn't Cassie just look so dejected? I know, kind of sad, but I love this shot!
It is a decent picture I suppose. Nothing to spectacular. Next one...
Do you see what is going on in this picture? At this point I didn't notice. Look closely!
Can't miss it now can you? At this point I was laughing because llamas were suddenly appearing and heading in my general direction.
At this point, I stopped laughing and basically ran semi-screaming to my car. It was really pretty freaky. I never realized how big llamas are. It was really crazy! They were pretty adorable of course. I just wasn't sure if they would bite!
I took this one while I was safely in my car. Then I drove away and took some more pictures. I stopped at a church, a park, and a few random spots along Geneva Road. I ended up with some decent ones. Here they are for your viewing pleasure!
The last two are definitely my favorites of the day. I love the power lines in the first and the wet roads in the second. Yep yep. Well, hopefully it wont take me too long to post again. Farewell!
This might be a good time to mention that a few years back while I was in high school something similar happened. I had a bad day at school so I headed down to this same spot to think. It is a really beautiful place and quite relaxing. Anyways, I was down there thinking and some guy drives up and rolls down his window. Now I am pretty naive sometimes and I figured he just needed some directions. He was actually looking for some 'company'. I declined politely and sped away as soon as his taillights disappeared.
Back to my original story... I was stuck in some snow. I called my pop and he and my brother, Rob, were running errands so they said they would head over. While I was waiting I talked on the phone with my sister and told her about my shitty day at work. Talking to her made me less nervous! Some random guy stopped to see if I needed help but I waved him away. That was the only semi-creepy thing that happened. Anyways, so my pop and Rob got me out. Rob was being so nice to me because he could tell I felt like a moron. He was so sweet it made me cry. Have you ever noticed that once you cry, you are way more susceptible to tears? Maybe that is just me. Anyways, thank you getting me out of the snow!
After getting out of the snow I went straight home. Since I had a bad day and just got paid I decided to order dinner. I get on the internet order some food around 6:30, and then I waited. And waited. And waited a bit more. Finally at 8:30 I call the place to find out what is going on with my food and guess what? They never got the order. The girl tells me to just give her my order and they will whip it out quick, but there is a catch. They are going to need to charge my card again. Uh no. I am not paying twice. So the manager gets on and after hearing the situation says, "so what can I do for you? what outcome are you looking for?" Um...Lets see... Give me the food I paid for three hours ago. Complete idiot. Then she decides she should call the company that hosts the website I ordered through. At 9pm on a Friday night. Did she really think they would be there? Five seconds later she gets back on the phone and says "well...I guess they are closed for the night. what can I do for you now?" Long story short, I got my food. Did I get charged twice? I'm not sure yet. Anyways, worst day ever!
So pictures explanations...
So the moral of this story is that I need to have my camera in my car at all times. One thing I need to work on is realizing that I am not going to be able to take pictures of every sunset. And I know that that is not possible, but I can't help but feel a sense of loss, you know? It is like yesterday. By the time I got home to get my camera (yes I forgot it again) the sunset was gone. And while I was driving I saw it begin to deteriorate and I couldn't help but feel that I was losing it. And I am . I will never ever be able to get every moment of every sunset. Of course I know this but... I don't know. I am rambling and not making much sense. That is my cue to take off. Have a good night!
I went and took a few photo's of the last sunset of the year...last year I guess. I haven't gotten around to posting it so I figured it was about time! It is not the greatest photo but oh well. So Happy New Year everyone! Better late then never! For New Year's Eve, I went over to my brothers house and played with him and his family. He has the most adorable kids ever. His little girl, Cassie, almost makes me want to have my own kids. Keyword being almost. She is a doll. Anyways, we played Rock Band & Settler's. Good times.
I took some sunset pictures sometime last week...don't remember precisely when. These are some of my favorites so far. It is funny to say 'so far' because I have only had my camera for like two weeks. But still..I enjoy it!
The sky looks like it is on fire in the middle one. And the other two with the moon...love them. I like the angled one but I do with they were a bit more focused. A little fuzzy. Anyways, the one below I snapped when I got back to my house and went to check the mail. My only regret on that one is the street light in the bottom of the photo. One of these days I will get photoshop and it'll be gone. Until then....
