You change your mind, like a girl changes clothes, yeah you PMS like a bitch...

...I would know.


Good Afternoon, yet again.

I've started volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages (Website). They just opened a store in the downtown and I absolutely am in love with the products and their mission. In a brief little couple of sentences, Ten Thousand Villages' products are all Fair Trade. They are bought from artisans in developing countries around the world. There are no middle men. The artisans/producers are paid a "fair wage" for their products. A "fair wage" being enough money to support their education, food, housing, health care, etc. The are paid usually around half of the cost when the orders are made, giving the artisans enough money to buy materials if need be, and then the rest of the money is paid when the product is shipped. A lot of the products are made by artisan groups, organizations that have formed to create employment for people. A lot of the artisans are women, due to their lack of status, respect, or responsibilities in their home country.

So please, take a couple minutes to browse their website, even. It's a beautiful cause.

On another note: Kittens are one the most entertaining things I have had the privilege to experience. He climbs everything. Has no fear of our 180 lbs Newfoundland dog who drools everywhere. He chases things. Gets up on the kitchen counters. Sleeps for a bit and then goes and tires himself out again. His vast amount of curiosity is probably what I find most intriguing. He's constantly learning every day, without any reservations.

As we get older I think we start to lose this curiosity. We stop asking questions about why things are a certain way and we simply acknowledge it as part of our daily lives. We don't always consider the reasons behind events or situations, we just accept them. If we could maintain some amount of curiosity, of childhood wonder, even, could that bring more joy to our lives? If we had a goal to do something different, try something unfamiliar, learn a new word, every day, would that enhance our daily life? I think that's a challenge I'm willing to accept. Are you?

The joy of making an effort to spend time with someone should be a cherished creature held dear; when one doesn't always see the beauty of said creature nor appreciate it the way you do, the disappointed feeling like someone just called your baby fugly seems to come crashing down. -L.E.Missen