Getting Acclimated

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I don't belong here"? Maybe after you move to a new town. Maybe when given a new responsibility. Or maybe when you're faced with a tragedy or illness. How often I have found myself in that position wondering how I got where I am and having major reservations about whether or not I can manage my new situtation or surroundings. This picture is of Tiger and Vinegar, my parents' cats. Tiger and Vinegar were introduced to my family after a huge flood in Pasadena, Texas when they literally washed up to our driveway when they were only kittens. We've always assumed they are brother and sister. Tiger is the more adventurous one and Vinegar is a little more cautious. Shortly before Alvaro and I were married and we were in Pasadena for Easter, Tiger decided to take a vacation to Dallas by hopping into my trunk and making the 5 hour trip. We didn't know it till we opened the trunk at my apartment and discoved him. He was so happy to have a little time away.
Now my parents have moved to the country and here they go again...having to get acclimated again. After a quick think, they decided they don't really like cows or horses or other big animals. However, when we were home for Christmas, I found them venturing out into the field slowly investigating. They have once again acclimated to their new surroundings.
I wonder how and why. Was it because they had the constant of each other and my parents? Was it because of their own resolve? Or was it simply because they had no other choice and just had to buckle down and do it for survival. I wonder too why we humans find ourselves in situations that at first aren't comfortable. I'm never one to venture into the whole, "God is testing me" notion but I do believe strongly that God is right there with us as we bumble through. Through contant conversation and questioning of God we find our way into comfort and peace. It also doesn't hurt one bit to rely on the comfort of our family and friends...God speaking to us directing through them.
Who would ever think that cats could bring me to this understanding? Maybe God speaks through cats too. Take that you cat haters :)

Bye bye birdie

Well, today is Niles' vacation is over. I have to take him home today. What fun we have had! I'll have to write Scott and Jennifer a note that I've spoiled him terribly...and I had a great time doing it. He is very smart, very funny and has his very own personality which entertains everyone around him. It's been since 2000 since I've had a pet and he's made me think a lot about going right out and finding a little animal spirit who would enjoy being in our home. Alvaro, who is not much of a pet kind of guy, loved having Niles here. I never owned a bird before and Niles requires a lot of attention and I realize that he, like all pets, need attention...lots of it.

We are leaving for the farm today where there are LOTS of animals which will make me very happy. But none of them are pets...thanks Scott and Jennifer for letting us have Niles for a week :)

Birdie Horror Flick

If you remember from a previous post, I'm bird sitting for Niles the parrot who belongs to my cousins Scott and Jennifer. Wow are we having fun. He is now addicted to 24 just like Alvaro and I are...he makes the 'peet peet' sound of the clock as it ticks down. Last night after his snack of apples, peanuts and squash, I thought it would fun to watch a movie together. Alvaro wouldn't be home till 9:30 so I started looking to see what we could find. The very first movie listed was Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". I thought it was just way too perfect and I know God arranged with the programmers of MONSTER HD to include this flick; so we would just have to watch it.

Creepily, every time the birds started attacking the children, Niles would inappropriately do his woman laugh. Or when the birds really got going with the squelching and screeching, Niles let loose too. I swear he had that evil eyebrow thing happening and I'm pretty sure someone went, "heh, heh, heh". (I'm well aware that birds don't have eyebrows but still)

After the movie was over I went over to his cage to see if he liked the movie and to have the all important conversation with Niles about pecking people's eyes out and the resulting guilt. He seemed to understand and said to me that he's a 'good boy'. So all is well at Hotel Cabal...for now...muuaa ha ha ha ha ha.

Meet Niles

This is Niles (he is named after Frazier's brother). My cousins Scott and Jennifer have had Niles for about 7 or 8 years and ever so often Alvaro and I are the happy sitters of this awesome bird. My favorite thing to do is to feed Niles. He loves fresh fruit and veggies, peanuts in the shell and his newest love (they've just informed me) jalapenos!! I had no idea!! Can't wait to buy some of those and watch him eat 'em. He loves to imitate noises like the phone, my cousins' cats (yes, he actually meows) and a woman's laugh...it's uncanny. He makes our home feel very tropical! I have an unexplainable hankering for something served in a coconut shell with an umbrella.

Before I got married and I lived in a small apartment, Niles would come to visit then too. I let him out of his cage just so he could stretch his wings and be naughty by landing places where I couldn't reach him again. I remember he always landed on the ceiling fan (it was turned off of course). I really didn't care about him being on the ceiling fan but I remember that he would land, then there was a big POOF with dust flying everywhere then his unending sneezing! Hysterical!

I mentioned recently that I used to have cat and how much joy Martin always brought me. And having Niles in our home is a reminder of how much joy all pets bring many people. If you do not have a pet (as we do not), may I recommend taking a little trip to the SPCA or a pet shop and, if nothing else, just stay a while and watch an animal. Be amazed how at they do things. Right now Niles is grasping a carrot and just gnawing away. I'll let you know if he picks up any new impressions during his stay at Hotel Cabal.

The Blessing of the Animals

How many of you have a pet? I used to have a cat named Martin Luther...the reformer, not the social activist although Martin was quite kingly. Martin was to me what many humans could not be. He was the best listener, acted any old way without worrying what I thought about him and simply gave me companionship at a moments notice. Today at 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church will hold a mass Blessing of the Animals at Reverchon Park off the Katy Trail near Uptown Dallas. Because we are talking about hundreds of animals with their humans in tow, there will also be a joyous mass chaos! Dogs splashing about in the kiddie pools, people trying to keep up and the love of pets written all over it. The SPCA will be there to give everyone the opportunity to bless an animal by giving them a home and to receive donations of blankets, kitty litter, pet toys...etc. The children's choirs will be there to lend a song. And a new ministry, UrbanLife, will be launched. You can check out this new group by clicking on the church website to the right.

Hope to see you all there.

eeeeek! A Mouse!

While enjoying my coffee this morning, I saw something I don't like to see...well, maybe it was kind of cute. A mouse was nibbling his way along the edge of fence acting like I wasn't even there. ewwww. or maybe...awwwww. I can't decide. Growing up I spent lots of time at my Nana and Papaw's house in the country. There were always mice in the field, mice in the peanut hay in the barn and yes, mice in the house. So it follows that there were mouse traps. The kind that go 'snap' and you immediately know someone's going to have to go take the deceased to the trash pit. My papaw was elated to hear that sound. I always cried. After all mice are kinda of cute with their little wiggly nose and quick way of darting here and there and I hated the thought that a living thing had just ceased living.

So what do I do about the mouse in my back yard? I have some poison in the garage. I could put a little square on the path he's taking. But then he'll eat it, get thirsty and go into the alley to die and then my neighbor's will call me and laughingly accuse me of murder. I'm an animal lover and am amazed by all life forms but I still have this equation of mice=filth. I don't think I was born with the innate knowledge that 'girls don't like mice' but it's there...that need to jump on the patio furniture and scream. I was trained to possess the eeeeek factor. Last fall I alone killed at least 4 mice and I think I feel remorse. I'm going to let this mouse live his little mouse life in my back yard...I can't bring myself to hurt him. Yes, I'm a tree hugger and I'd probably make a great Buddist in regard to living things but it all boils down to that fact that that mouse is just so darn cute.

As I went back outside after the first sighting this morning, I found that I was actually looking for him and hoping to see him again. Oh well, probably a neighborhood cat will get into the back yard and end the issue altogether. In the meantime, I will embrace the idea of 'mouse' and make that decision that girls don't have to hate mice. Ahhhh...freedom :)

Blessing of the Animals

I've been working with our new associate minister, Rev. Kathryn Ransdell on a launch event for our newest ministry here at FUMC Dallas...It's called UrbanLife. Soon the website will be up and full of exciting information...When it's ready I will add it to my favorites so you'll have easy access...

In the meantine, Kathryn has been working diligently to build this new ministry that focuses on young professionals living in Downtown and Uptown Dallas...our immediate parish. The launch event for UrbanLife is the Blessing of the Animals which will happen on Sunday, October 7th at 5:30 p.m. in Reverchon Park on the Katy Trail. Members and non members of the church will bring their pets to the park and there will be a mass blessing of the ones that are a blessing to so many humans. The ministers will be in their robes, the SPCA will be there with opportunities for us to adopt animals and of course plastic pools for splashing (the pets, not the humans...unless you want us to point and laugh.) Just a good and meaningful time for all.

Some may say, "How can the church feel good about spending money on a ceremony that focuses on muts, cats and whatever else people put on the end of a leash?!" I've actually heard that a lot. But let's think about this. In introducing people to a church congregation...what SHOULD be our focus? Do we need the event to be "churchy"? Should our T-shirts have John 3:16 glowing in neon green with a WWJD just below that?? (hmmm...looks this is a continuation of yesterday blog entry) Or can we simply have an event where we can serve and love and meet new people.

I think people are just people and we all should relate to each as just....people...People who have pets (or not), enjoy the outdoors and might also enjoy experiencing a church family who is made up of normal people of all kinds. As I said yesterday, we 'churchies' (ha, a new word) need to be particularly in tune with how we present Christ. Will Christ be introduced as judging and unapproachable or as loving and accepting. We get to choose that in our words and actions. So whether you believe all pets go to heaven or not (shame if you don't ha!) come to the Blessing of the Animals for an amazing moment of fellowship, fun and blessings!