There is a meme that has gone around Facebook a few hundred times that says "I don't trust a person that doesn't like dogs, but I trust a dog that doesn't like people" (and other variations).
You hear vets, pet shop owners and workers, professional dog walkers, dog owners, and others talk about how wonderful these fuzzy four-legged creatures are and who wouldn't love a dog? Everyone loves dogs. You have to love dogs.
But what if you don't love dogs? What if there are people out there that genuinely do not like your, or any other, fuzzy four-legged companions? What if? Now, I'm not talking about cat owners who say they aren't really dog people, but they still love dogs. I mean straight up, couldn't be clearer, I DON'T LIKE DOGS people. How could people like that possibly walk this earth? Do they actually exist?
YES. They do exist. And I am one of them.
Don't get me wrong. I appreciate that people love dogs. I can looks at pictures of little puppies and think of it as an adorable little puffball. I mourn for friends that lose their beloved four-legged family member. And I would never wish harm upon a dog. But I don't like dogs.
I don't like barking, licking, sniffing, being rubbed up against, or being jumped on.
I also don't like the fear that comes along with some of those actions. Yes, fear. I'm not afraid of all dogs. But I am afraid of some dogs. Certain breeds and actions can cause me paralyzing and tear-inducing fear. Irrational fears, perhaps. But fear all the same. Telling me, or people like me, how friendly your dog is does nothing to alleviate that fear. Please think about that when your "happy" pet is bounding down the sidewalk coming my direction. Please think about that when your "friendly" dog is trying to show me how friendly they really are by jumping on me or sniffing me. They say dogs smell fear. If that's the case, fear is the only thing they will be able to smell until I am safely out of range.
But do you know what's almost worse than the fear? The reaction I get if I say "I don't like dogs." That single phrase gives me looks of shock. It gives me looks of disappointment. It gives me looks of confusion. It gives me looks as if I've just kicked their dog in the head (that is the worst because I would NEVER cause harm to an animal unless it was a matter of life or death for me or a loved one).
I don't get it.
I don't hate your dog. I don't hate dogs in general. I don't want or need you to defend your dog to me. They just aren't my thing. It's as easy as that. I don't like chocolate either. And while that still generates a strong reaction, it's nowhere near the negative feedback I get from not liking dogs.
I love Depeche Mode. But if someone says they don't, I don't look down on them. It's a matter of taste, and we all have people, things, foods, beverages, and more that we either like or don't. It doesn't make anyone a bad person if they don't like something someone else does. It just makes us human.
There you have it.
Thank you for reading.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
A Harry Potter Birthday - Wand Tutorial
My son is celebrating hitting double digits and turning 10 years old by having a Harry Potter theme birthday party. He's watched the movies over the years, and recently began reading the books. Over the last 6 months, or so, he's read the first 4 books and is currently about 1/2 way through book 5. He got the box set of all the movies for Christmas. And he's really become quite obsessed with Harry Potter.
We normally have a theme for his birthdays, even if it's just for the cake design and treats. This year, not to our surprise at all, he chose Harry Potter for his theme. One of the things we decided to do for his party was make wands for the kids. Thanks to a tutorial passed along from a friend, found HERE, and another tutorial, found HERE, we were on our way to magical wand madness!
Here is a how we melded the two tutorials, along with our own ideas, and ended up with 8 wands for the big day.
Materials:
Sticks
Hot Glue
Beads
Paint
The sticks we found were from the beach, so they were already clean and smooth (unlike the sticks we originally gathered from our yard). My husband cut them to size and sanded one end on each down to a bit of a wand-like point.
Using the hot glue gun, we applied glue to the sticks, in a random fashion, to give them each a unique, knotty look. We made some with glue only. Others we put glue on and then applied assorted size beads for more texture. Even though I wanted perfection in the bead placement, I had to be reminded that perfection was not necessary since we'd be painting OVER the beads and glue. Ultimately, I left my husband to design the glue and bead designs.
Once they were all dry, I took over for the painting process. I used basic acrylic paints from the craft store in different shades of brown, from light to dark, to finish the wands off.
Here is a photo tutorial:
And there you have it!
Thanks for reading!
We normally have a theme for his birthdays, even if it's just for the cake design and treats. This year, not to our surprise at all, he chose Harry Potter for his theme. One of the things we decided to do for his party was make wands for the kids. Thanks to a tutorial passed along from a friend, found HERE, and another tutorial, found HERE, we were on our way to magical wand madness!
Here is a how we melded the two tutorials, along with our own ideas, and ended up with 8 wands for the big day.
Materials:
Sticks
Hot Glue
Beads
Paint
The sticks we found were from the beach, so they were already clean and smooth (unlike the sticks we originally gathered from our yard). My husband cut them to size and sanded one end on each down to a bit of a wand-like point.
Using the hot glue gun, we applied glue to the sticks, in a random fashion, to give them each a unique, knotty look. We made some with glue only. Others we put glue on and then applied assorted size beads for more texture. Even though I wanted perfection in the bead placement, I had to be reminded that perfection was not necessary since we'd be painting OVER the beads and glue. Ultimately, I left my husband to design the glue and bead designs.
Once they were all dry, I took over for the painting process. I used basic acrylic paints from the craft store in different shades of brown, from light to dark, to finish the wands off.
Here is a photo tutorial:
Thanks for reading!
Monday, December 23, 2013
My Two Cents on...
I have a lot of opinions. We all do. We're all free to share those opinions. We are also free, in that "freedom of speech" defense, to receive praise, criticism, opposition, and acceptance of our opinions.
I don't always share my opinions, publicly at least, because the arguments that can follow are just too draining and pointless for me sometimes. I'm not sure what is compelling me to want to share an opinion today, but here I am.
God.
For me, God is a source of love, hope, acceptance, and guidance. That's how I was raised, at least. I was brought up hearing how God loved us all. I grew up with "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red, brown, yellow, black or white, they're all precious in his sight..." and "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." We said grace before dinner and it started with "God is great, God is good." Not once in my life was any of that followed up with "unless you are gay."
Interesting.
Christians will tell you God is a loving God. They will say he wants the best for all of his children so they can join him in the Heavens. Yet in the same breath they will say that his gay and lesbian children cannot join him in Heaven. And in some cases, they say supporters of gays and lesbians will not be able to join him in Heaven either. Homosexuality is a sin, and therefore not acceptable in Heaven. Guess what? Go on, guess. No? Ok, let me tell you something - we all sin. In one way or another we all sin. Your sins are no better or worse than the sins you say will not get a group of people into Heaven.
My point.
I hear a lot of ignorant and hateful words come out of self-proclaimed "good" Christians mouths. Most of it is toward gays and lesbians. Are they really sharing the word of God? God's word isn't supposed to be about hate and condemnation. God is about love and bringing all of his children together. Yet so many are more than willing to tell the rest of us how awful it is to be gay. You're disgraceful. It's disgusting. You're being immoral. You're perverted. It's evil. You're going to Hell. But we accept all of God's children. Huh? That doesn't sound too accepting, if you ask me.
Now, I am not generalizing and saying all Christians are like this. I am speaking from personal experience with some of the Christians in my life. Most of the "good" Christians I know are truly GOOD Christians. They follow the word of God in a loving and open manner. Another persons race, sexuality, other religion (or lack thereof), and beliefs are just that - THEIRS and theirs alone. It is not for them, or anyone else to pass judgement. Everyone is welcome with open arms and deserving of love and a spot next to them in the afterlife.
My personal experiences.
I have been told I'm going to Hell. And not just once. The work I've done with and for assorted charities doesn't matter. The compassion I can show toward others no matter our differences doesn't matter. Anything good I've ever done in my lifetime doesn't matter. I am going to Hell. Why? Because of who I've supported and voted for in Presidential elections (totally not kidding on that one - it first was told to me because I didn't support GW Bush for a second term). Because I support my brothers and sisters in this world who are gay (see, if I were truly a good friend, and wanted to go to Heaven, I would show them the way to salvation and would work toward changing their sinful ways - aka turning them straight, because you know, being gay is just a choice and is like a switch that can be turned off and on).
I've been called a negative and hateful person who hates all Christians. This was based on an article I read and shared with friends. Admittedly, the title of the article was off-putting. But had the article been read, it would have been found to be a very interesting look at Christianity. Instead, I'm hateful for even thinking of sharing it with people.
Tell me. Does that sound like the words and actions of loving, kind, and accepting Christians? I'm curious where this disdain for human beings comes from. I choose to believe in a God that loves us all, no matter our differences, no matter our "sins". It's a shame, to me, that others can't believe in a God like that too, no matter how much they claim to.
As we embrace another Christmas, as well as, the end of another year, I hope your hearts are filled with love and acceptance. And I hope the new year brings about more positive and hopeful stories and lives into our world. Thank you.
I don't always share my opinions, publicly at least, because the arguments that can follow are just too draining and pointless for me sometimes. I'm not sure what is compelling me to want to share an opinion today, but here I am.
God.
For me, God is a source of love, hope, acceptance, and guidance. That's how I was raised, at least. I was brought up hearing how God loved us all. I grew up with "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red, brown, yellow, black or white, they're all precious in his sight..." and "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." We said grace before dinner and it started with "God is great, God is good." Not once in my life was any of that followed up with "unless you are gay."
Interesting.
Christians will tell you God is a loving God. They will say he wants the best for all of his children so they can join him in the Heavens. Yet in the same breath they will say that his gay and lesbian children cannot join him in Heaven. And in some cases, they say supporters of gays and lesbians will not be able to join him in Heaven either. Homosexuality is a sin, and therefore not acceptable in Heaven. Guess what? Go on, guess. No? Ok, let me tell you something - we all sin. In one way or another we all sin. Your sins are no better or worse than the sins you say will not get a group of people into Heaven.
My point.
I hear a lot of ignorant and hateful words come out of self-proclaimed "good" Christians mouths. Most of it is toward gays and lesbians. Are they really sharing the word of God? God's word isn't supposed to be about hate and condemnation. God is about love and bringing all of his children together. Yet so many are more than willing to tell the rest of us how awful it is to be gay. You're disgraceful. It's disgusting. You're being immoral. You're perverted. It's evil. You're going to Hell. But we accept all of God's children. Huh? That doesn't sound too accepting, if you ask me.
Now, I am not generalizing and saying all Christians are like this. I am speaking from personal experience with some of the Christians in my life. Most of the "good" Christians I know are truly GOOD Christians. They follow the word of God in a loving and open manner. Another persons race, sexuality, other religion (or lack thereof), and beliefs are just that - THEIRS and theirs alone. It is not for them, or anyone else to pass judgement. Everyone is welcome with open arms and deserving of love and a spot next to them in the afterlife.
My personal experiences.
I have been told I'm going to Hell. And not just once. The work I've done with and for assorted charities doesn't matter. The compassion I can show toward others no matter our differences doesn't matter. Anything good I've ever done in my lifetime doesn't matter. I am going to Hell. Why? Because of who I've supported and voted for in Presidential elections (totally not kidding on that one - it first was told to me because I didn't support GW Bush for a second term). Because I support my brothers and sisters in this world who are gay (see, if I were truly a good friend, and wanted to go to Heaven, I would show them the way to salvation and would work toward changing their sinful ways - aka turning them straight, because you know, being gay is just a choice and is like a switch that can be turned off and on).
I've been called a negative and hateful person who hates all Christians. This was based on an article I read and shared with friends. Admittedly, the title of the article was off-putting. But had the article been read, it would have been found to be a very interesting look at Christianity. Instead, I'm hateful for even thinking of sharing it with people.
Tell me. Does that sound like the words and actions of loving, kind, and accepting Christians? I'm curious where this disdain for human beings comes from. I choose to believe in a God that loves us all, no matter our differences, no matter our "sins". It's a shame, to me, that others can't believe in a God like that too, no matter how much they claim to.
As we embrace another Christmas, as well as, the end of another year, I hope your hearts are filled with love and acceptance. And I hope the new year brings about more positive and hopeful stories and lives into our world. Thank you.
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