We all need some cuddling.

Update...Micah True

     Recall that in late March of this year Micah True (aka Caballo Blanco) disappeared on a training run in the Gila Wilderness, and was found dead on March 31.  He  was made famous by Christopher McDougall's book "Born to Run," a book I highly recommend.  He was a legend among runners.
     His autopsy results were released yesterday.  He died of cardiomyopathy, or enlarged heart.  His left ventricle was thickened and dilated.  Medical examiners could not pinpoint the cause of the heart disease.
     He is a person I would have liked to meet or to hear speak....an inspiring individualist who followed his heart.  His death seems less tragic as he died doing something he loved.

Here is an article from the NY Daily News with more information.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/running_dialogue/2012/05/ultra-marathon-runner-micah-true-called-caballo-blanco-died-from-heart-dise

Increase your longevity by 6 years.

     Jogging at a slow or moderate pace for one to 2 1/2 hours per week increases the life expectancy of men by 6.2 years and of women by 5.6 years.  This is according to a Danish study released by the European Society of Cardiology.
        http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=664404

        http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/245011.php


     Of course there are the added benefits of sexiness as reported by Runnersworld.com:




     Whether this is sexy, or maybe just a badge of honor is subjective.  It does constitute proof of being a jogger.  I choose sexy. My own proof:

We are all equal here. ---The Dalai Lama

Dear children, I would love to talk to you about this beautiful world of ours, about flowers, trees, birds, animals, stars, mountains, glaciers and all the other beautiful things that surround us in the world. We have all this beauty all around us and yet we, who are grown-ups, often forget about it... We sit in our offices and imagine that we are doing very important work. I hope you will be more sensible and open your eyes and ears to this beauty and life that surrounds you. Can you recognize the flowers by their names and the birds by their singing? How easy it is to make friends with them and with everything in nature, if you go to them affectionately and with friendship. ~Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) 









    All it takes is for one to walk away and the rest to follow.

     Ethical?  Moral?  Are you?  I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  People just don't stop and think about their actions....ever.  Everyone else is doing it so it must be okay, right?  Peer pressure for grown-ups.  Or money is involved.  Money always trumps ethics in our country.
     Please consider the environment and the future of humanity, if not the suffering of animals. Or if you are part of the me-me-me generation, at least try to consider the future of your own children and your own grandchildren. It isn't looking good for them.  Try living a life of compassion.

Vegans do too have a sense of humor!

                          (Bizarro comics)





Happy National Star Wars Day.
     "May the Fourth be With You!"





     Today is a chemo day for Dean, so our day will be spent there.  Have a nice weekend.  We need to start doing some yard work as the weeds are up and taking over.

Texas is a state of mind.

"I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that.  It is a mystique closely approximating a religion.  And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox.  But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing.  For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America.  Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study and the passionate possession of all Texans."  ---John Steinbeck


  For a few days this past week, we were fortunate to be in the Northern suburbs of San Antonio, Texas in the Texas hill country.  I love the Texas hill country and find it very beautiful. It runs from northern San Antonio up to west of Austin, Texas.  There are rolling hills with a thin layer of soil over limestone.  The hills are covered with vegetation ranging from Texas live oaks (evergreen oak trees) to yucca, prickly pear cactus, and many wildflowers.
     It was constantly windy there.  Is that why Texans always choose to wear those ten gallon hats?
     Our Austin family came down to stay for a couple of days.  We got in some tennis, swimming, and a guided nature hike.  We learned about feral pigs and the problems they can cause, katydids, fossils, limestone and the aquifer beneath, turkey and black vultures which are always flying overhead, and Mexican free-tailed bats. We enjoyed all the Mariposa lilies, the rosemary shrubs, the yucca and flowering sage plants.
     Dean then attended a 3 day seminar.  I just relaxed at the hotel.  It was wonderful.  Finding vegan food was difficult, as at most places, so I ended up eating a lot of trail mix and fresh fruit gotten from a nearby Super-Target, and supplementing them with salads. When will restaurants learn that Americans really are trying to eat healthier.  They, the restaurants, will make more money providing menu options that reflect this change.
     The last night of the seminar had entertainment....ice fighting.  Two contestants had 3 short rounds in which to use chainsaws and other electric tools to carve 300 lbs. of ice and sculpt it into art.  We, the audience, chose the winner, who received a championship belt.  It was fascinating to watch.
     The winner carved a gryphon, which if you read the Harry Potter series, you know is a majestic creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.....the king of animals meets the king of the birds. The other contestant carved a magnificent butterfly....la mariposa in Spanish.  What transient beauty is ice sculpture.  (Alex, we know you love gryphons so we took these pictures to show you.  We hope you enjoy them, too, Syd).

Evolve!

Today I would like to share some "Evolve! Campaigns" posters.  I hope they make you think and strengthen your resolve.  Whether or not you believe all creatures have souls, we all have lives. We all feel. We are all sentient. Don't be guilty of speciesism.  Think about your actions. Please.