Spay Day 2010 Online Pet Photo Contest

Spay Day 2010 Online Pet Photo Contest

I entered Ickis into a pet photo contest and he wants you to vote for us!
I know money tends to be in short supply these days BUT you can also donate to Ickis' vote to help us win and all the money will go to help the Portland organization known as the Feral Cat Coalition. They help get unaltered strays off of the street and into safe environments. If you can't donate DON'T WORRY just vote for Icky! You'll be supporting local, regional, and national animal shelters and humane societies!

Through the rubble, something better will emerge

In the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon we are taught to see the beauty in every situation, even the awful ones. I used to think it was almost pointless to keep up on current events but now I look forward to reading the New York Times everyday, after all, current events are what my industry is all about. The situation in Iraq has become quietly frightening. Elections are just weeks away and more soldiers leave everyday increasing hostilities in the form of violence.   On Monday, during rush hour, three bombs went off within ten minutes of each other in a coordinated attack to rumble the foundation of the fragile capital, Baghdad. I had every intention of reading this article anyway considering it is a situation that America is directly involved in but this photo had a huge impact on me.

  Caption: A girl sought help on Monday after three bombs exploded within about 10 minutes during Baghdad’s afternoon rush, killing her mother. Photo by: Ayman Oghann
  The girl has her hands out as if to reach for aid but also displaying her utter helplessness through the situation. Her face is twisted up in pain and defeat as she lost her mother in this attack. The photo is beautiful and photojournalism at its best. The only part I have a hard time grasping is that someone had to go up and take a photo of this poor grieving girl without so much as a slight hesitation. It's a tough job, no doubt about that.

  Through the rubble and the dust new life always emerges, through tragedy and pain someone will find their way. Another story in yesterday's New York Times was about two little girls from Haiti who got a new home.

The family in Nebraska had been attempting to adopt little Bettania, age 7, and Dieunette, age 2, for the last three years but adoption and visa proceedings had been forcing them to wait. In the wake of Haiti's biggest, recent natural disaster, the U.S. decided to loosen its requirements and the girls were re-located to their new home immediately. For the full story go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/us/26orphans.html?scp=1&sq=haiti%20girls%20nebraska&st=cse

This photo is my favorite from this story: 

A Blonde Prisoner

A Blonde Prisoner  
By: Kylie Keppler
  
Pillow and sheets swirl around me
As a blinder of smoke, a disguise
It silences me like a gag of pretty black fabric
Labeling me less than a pile of bones
With nothing left to whisper, nothing at all
The exposure is false, the light is too dim
This picture is broken and cutting my skin
The bad dreams live inside my mind
To bully and bloody my fragile thoughts
I toss and turn within my cloth prison
Until the morning light recaptures the evil dreams
Forcing them to buzz around my head
As I drink a slow cup of coffee
And eat a bowl of cereal and bananas

Critiques and comments always welcome!

New Movies to Look Forward to This Year

Avatar: The Last Airbender(Summer) -- This movie started as a Nickelodeon cartoon in 2006 and I LOVE it! It looked a lot like American Anime and was about the Avatar which is the only person in this world that can control all four elements and end a vicious war that has been going on for 100 years. If you haven't seen it WATCH it! The downside? M. Night Shyamalan is directing it so we will see. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0938283/

Alice In Wonderland -- Johnny Depp Johnney Depp Johnny Depp. And Tim Burton is directing! Can't wait! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/

Iron Man 2 --The next installment involving Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson. If this movie is half as good as the fist one it will be worth seeing. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228705/

Sex and the City 2 -- I adored the first movie they made so hopefully this one won't disappoint! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1261945/

Toy Story 3 -- The whole cast is back for round three nearly ten years after the second one. Two of my favorite Disney/Pixar movies are Toy Story 1 and 2. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435761/

The Lovely Bones -- I really enjoyed the book and am excited to see how the movie turned out.

Avatar -- That's right, I haven't seen it YET.

Movies I will NOT be seeing: The new Twilight movie or the new Harry Potter movie. A new Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe. The Karate Kid with Jackie Chan. Legion. The Last Song starring Miley Cyrus and anything by Quentin Tarantino.

20 Things To Do in 2010

Drinking: Waturrr
Watching: The Office Season 4
Eating: Goldfish Crackers

Since I am so optimistic about the new year I decided to make a checklist. Some of the items are rather large while others are fairly small but all are important to me in their own way. Perhaps I will update each thing with a photo once I am ready to mark them off:)

20 Things I Want to Do in 2010
1. Take a road trip complete with lots of tunes, my camera, car games, and deep conversations.
2. Dip my toes in the ocean.
3. Get that perfect spider-web photo.
4. Get published!
5. Make a video slideshow of one of our trips or holidays.
6. Try Sushi.
7. Have a straight A term.
8. Make a snowball.
9. Find the perfect local Italian restaurant.
10. Watch a movie at the Bijou.
11. Go to a concert (fingers are crossed for Alkaline Trio in P~town).
12. Volunteer.
13. Take photos of Autumn.
14. Learn a song on the harmonica.
15. Get a massage.
16. Buy a car.
17. Own and watch every single Friends and Sex and the City episode.
18. Win big in Las Vegas.
19. Recognize the important people in my life every day.
20. Watch the stars.

Bitter-Sweet January

I'm always slightly bitter about my birthday. In January no one can do much and not a lot of people WANT to do things since the holiday season just passed. Luckily my parents came up for the day! I showed them where I went to school and then we took a trip out to Pfeiffer Vineyards for wine tasting! It was really lovely.

We went to dinner with my boy and some close friends which was really really nice:)

Unfortunately I had a bit of a meltdown the next day (yesterday) when I got a C on an assignment that I had worked on for several hours. I began to feel hopeless and like for the first time I couldn't handle this school thing. After some tears and reassurance I have begun to recover. I texted my guy for some comfort and that's exactly what I got. He said I just can't be too down on myself and everything will be fine. He also told me to listen to "Wake Up" By Coheed and Cambria because it would remind me how much he loves me<3 He really saved me yesterday and he has no idea:D

Bittersweet January has left me feeling slightly worthless again. The daily headaches, constant tiredness and all the stress weigh me down to the point that I'm not sure how I find the energy and drive to keep going. I know I will find a way to cope and live with the stress that my life brings me. It's just a matter of how and when...

"If I were to die today, please remind me to say, that these hardships have formed me and I am melting away."

Wake Up by Coheed and Cambria

I'm gonna ride this plane out of your life again
I wish that I could stay, but you argue
More than this I wish, you could've seen my face
In backseats staring out, the window

I'll do anything for you
Kill anyone for you

So leave yourself intact
'Cause I will be coming back
In a phrase to cut these lips
I love you

The morning will come
In the press of every kiss
With your head upon my chest
Where I will annoy you
With every waking breath
Until you decide to wake up

I've earned through hope and faith
On the curves around your face
That I'm the one you'll hold forever
If morning never comes for either one of us
Then this I pray to you wherever

I'll do anything for you
This story is for you
('Cause I'd do anything you want me to for you)
I'll do anything for you
Kill anyone for you

So leave yourself intact
'Cause I won't be coming back
In a phrase to cut these lips
I loved you

The morning will come
In the press of every kiss
With your head upon my chest
Where I will annoy you
With every waking breath
Until you decide to wake up

The morning will come
In the press of every kiss
With your head upon my chest
Wh-Where I will annoy you
With every waking breath
'Til you decide to wake up

Remember December

Christmas break began on Tuesday when my boyfriend, Jason, our friend, Hugh, and I drove down to the Rogue Valley to stay with our families for the week. It has been a nice, but busy, break. Dad took me shopping so I could get my Mom some orchids for her birthday which was on the solstice. Shopping with my father is a lot like running in a race but in full clothing and clutching a purse. The man walks faster than a CEO who is late for a meeting in NYC but much sweeter:) He bought me a pair of gorgeous black boots for my birthday next month. What a great Dad!

My grandma flew up from L.A. for the holidays and noticed a five pound increase in my weight the moment she saw me. What are the holidays without a little verbal abuse? My cousin flew into Portland and came down with my sister and her boyfriend on Christmas Eve. We all opened our pajamas(tradition); mine are fuzzy and zebra striped bottoms with a purple top. Snoftness!

We woke up this morning and opened presents after rallying some late sleepers. My parents got me so many things I have been needing such as pots and pans, a vacuum, a coffeemaker, and some other little goodies. Jason gave me a Flip Video Camera which is something I have wanted for quite some time. I gave him his present which was a Playstation 3 with Arkham Asylum. He was so surprised and excited! I love making his day:)

I have already gotten to see some old friends and family as well as spend time with my puppies! Tomorrow we will go shopping for my new laptop and once I have it set up I will be uploading the videos I shot from tonight. Unfortunately while I am excited to return to Eugene with my loot what awaits me there is far from appealing. On Monday morning I will be getting my last two wisdom teeth pulled so be prepared of a lot of lame, swollen, and pathetic videos.

On another note, I am ready for 2009 to end. It truly was a horrible year. We lost a close friend, almost lost one of our dogs, paired with so many unexpected bills, trials and tribulations. The only good thing I can be optimistic about is the fact that I am here, writing a blog. Basically, I made it. Which just goes to show how resiliant we humans are. 2010 WILL be better:)

I want to thank my family and friends for a great holiday. I also want to thank Courtney in particular, for staying at our apartment and watching our kitten, Ickis, while we were away. Thanks Courtney, we love you!

Well it's time for me to get some sleep. Wish me luck on Monday! Send me lots of love! Hope you all had a wonderful week and travel safely.

~Kylie