Laughing the pain away

As most of you probably know, I broke my right ankle a week ago (March 24th, 2011) playing softball. I'll tell the story in an upcoming post. It's been an interesting experience and my spirits have been high during most of it–at least so far!

This is the first significant injury of my life. I broke a toe when I was around five years old and I remember that hurting a LOT more than this! But, I was also five years old. Adult pain tolerance < child pain tolerance.

I think it would be helpful for me to chronicle my journey back to health because it will:
1. Keep me entertained
2. Keep you entertained
3. Inform those who, like myself 8 days ago, had never broken a bone, and what it feels like throughout the healing process.

So, here we go!

I was searching online for forums about breaking your ankle and trying to find helpful hints. So far I haven't found anything significant. But this website was pretty funny to me! The contributers are all women who have broken their ankles (and more). Many of their injuries occurred playing softball or slipping on ice, so I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in my softball-injury-fiasco!

I'll be back soon with interesting posts about this process.

An amazing "Drunk Dial" voicemail

I laughed so hard at this! Enjoy.

Tilikum returns to shows

It's been over a year since the tragic incident at SW Orlando that claimed Dawn Brancheau's life. Today, SWO announced that Tilikum, the killer whale involved in the incident, is returning to show performances. It's hard to put to words all of the emotions that are behind this decision, but overall, I believe that most animal trainers will agree and support SWO's decision. It's definitely in Tili's best interest to return him to the show performances. Also, from those that knew Dawn, I hear that this is what she would have wanted as well.

I'm not wanting to get into the nitty gritty of this discussion at the moment, so here's a CNN video about the decision. Even though the interviewed trainer doesn't work for SWO, everything he says is true, and I whole-heartedly agree with him.

If you still have questions about this, let me know and I'll try to address them as best as I possibly can. Remember that I'm writing this blog for friends and family, so I'm mainly opening myself up to answering questions from them, not the whole blogging community.

 

Baby Hummingbird Rescued

This is a cute video about a baby hummingbird and the guy that rescued it. While I like the video, I'm concerned that the bird won't be releasable to the wild. So, I'm not sure that his decision to keep the bird was in the best interest of the animal. But still, I'm glad it was saved and treated well.

Enjoy!

Run in Thongs for Animals?

I found this cute and quirky article on the Baylor Lariat's website (my college's newspaper). For non-Baylor alumns, the joke is that the university hosts a yearly marathon called the Bear-A-Thon. The university also gives Baylor students a spring holiday every year called Diadeloso, or "Day of the bear." (It's often shortened to the name, "Dia")

I love these girls' sense of humor and dedication to help their local animal shelter. I hope they host the event again this year!

Thong race event for animals to take place on Dia

April 21, 2010
By Tori Liggett
Reporter

As the Baylor campus gets ready for Diadeloso, a group of students is gearing up for the Bear-A-Thong.

Like most students on Dia, the residents of "The Big Green" house will host a party - only theirs is for a cause.

"There are so many stray dogs around my house across LaSalle, and walking around campus, especially by Collins, you see so many stray cats," said Austin senior Ashley Anderson, founder of Bear-A-Thong. "The Waco Humane Society is trying to help with this problem; they do so much. We would just like to help give back."

With their mutual love of animals and uncanny sense of humor, the girls decided to host a mile and a half run down 10th Street to benefit the Waco Humane Society (www.wacohumanesociety.com).

"Animals just seem to find their way to our house," Lufkin senior Alyssa Massingill said. "My roommate Miranda has a soft spot for animals. She feeds several stray cats and a lost puppy who found their home on our porch."

While brainstorming for a name for their charity run, someone comically suggested Bear-A-Thong and it stuck.

Instead of making T-shirts for the event, everyone receives a thong, which will be worn on the run, outside of clothing.

The run will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday. The race begins and ends at 1624 S. 10th Street.

The students have extended the invitation for the charity run to anyone who wants to participate. To be included in the run, you have to join the Facebook group Bear-A-Thong, bring $10 to donate to the Waco Humane Society, and grab a thong.

"Do not worry if you are shy or a wallflower: you can always put the thong on your bike or your head," Anderson said.

Since the run is to benefit the Waco Humane Society, participants are encouraged to bring their dogs to run with them in the race.

Although the students of "The Big Green" do not officially own their own dogs - Bruce, a Chinchilla, Ernie, a McCaw Pirate; and Sky, a Siberian Husky - will be out on the porch cheering their owners on.

"I am really excited about the Bear-A-Thong. Every year Diadeloso is a huge celebration for college students. Now we can still have fun but help donate and save lives," Canyon senior Lauren Smith said.

"We are giving the donation to the Waco Humane Society the day after the run; we hope to raise around $500. Do it for the Thong, do it for the animals."  

(Click Here for the link to the original article)

More Tsunami tales

A very hard, touching story about the tsunami survivors and those that they couldn't save.

Push-up bikini for 2nd grade girls??

Abercrombie & Fitch has made another awful decision. Shocking, right? They're now selling push-up, padded bikinis to girls, ages 7 - 12 years old. How ridiculous and wrong is this??! Is it done for the shock factor or as a real, marketable concept?

This is nothing but psychologically destructive to little girls. It also is so evil and wrong for adults to even be considering these little girls as "sexual" beings. Consumers have to voice their opinions and values, and the only way a company like A&F will change is by not shopping there.

Hand-raising a baby Cheetah

I would love to do this one day! Though, I know it's a lot of work and time. But how cool would this be?!!

Fat Ho Burgers?

The newest gem on I-35! Keep it classy, Waco. Click Here for the full story.

Pole Dancing for Jesus?

This sounds pretty ridiculous to me... Does pole dancing to Christian music really help these women "feel closer to God"? What do you think?

Al Qaeda's magazine for Women?? TRUE!

Al Qaeda apparently has a marketing department and they've produced two magazines. The newest addition? "Jihad Janes" are their target market, with articles like "How to marry a terrorist." This is ridiculous!

Video of the actual tsunami wave

This is incredible and shocking. How do you recover from this?

The most ridiculous commercial

I love pets, but this commercial by Fancy Feast is just too ridiculous. Watch, and I think you'll agree. This is why dogs eat cats.

Child gives school her savings

Well, it seems like this blog is becoming a place for me to post videos. I hope all four of my readers don't mind!

The arts were very influential in my development as a child and adult, and my heart breaks thinking that this little girl could see her favorite class dissolve because of budget restraints. So many leaders in our country forget that there are many jobs and careers for artistic people. Not everyone (myself included) has strengths in the general sciences and studies. Don't take away a child's opportunity for growth, exploration and personal expression.

This video was really touching, and hopefully the local and state officials get the chance to see it. One person really can make an difference, no matter their age.

Pray for Japan

I can't imagine experiencing anything like this. Japan's 8.9 earthquake is the 7th most powerful on record. And scientists are saying it was about 100x more powerful than the one that struck Haiti (that one was a 7+ earthquake). Apparently, when you move up a point in the scale, it doesn't mean that the earthquake was a few or even ten times stronger. Instead, it means it was over 100 times stronger. Also, NASA is saying that the earthquake moved the island of Japan 8 ft, and it shifted the earth's axis by 4 inches. It's absolutely incredible.

Not only have people lost their lives, homes, lifestyles, loved ones, etc, but think of everything else that has now changed. Farmers near the sea probably won't be able to plant their crops because their fields will be tainted by debris, dead sea life, chemicals, etc. Museums and libraries probably have lost or damaged artifacts. Shop owners have lost everything--their stores and inventory are destroyed, and they'll probably go bankrupt.

How do you even begin rebuild towns that were completely swept away? One city had a population of 18,000. As of right now, 9000 of the residents are missing. Rescue and recovery crews can't do anything until the water recedes. For some areas, scientists aren't sure that the water will ever recede, and instead, the area will remain a lake or inlet. What happens to the life you once lived?

And as an animal lover, I know that many pets, sea life and other animals died in this disaster.

Keep praying for Japan.

Video: Ground Leaks Water in Japan

I've honestly never seen anything like this. You have to watch the entire video. I'm completely speechless! This videographer must have been crazy to stay and film it.

Dating Video

One of my friends (Andrew) posted this on Facebook and it's hilarious! If you're single (like me), don't freak out about it.