Final Thoughts for 2018

As 2018 draws to a close, I want to thank everyone who visited my blog this year.

I write because it is something I really enjoy, and it's a skill that comes naturally to me. I first discovered that I have a talent for writing when I was in middle school and was encouraged to write for the school newspaper. Later, I put my talent to good use during most of my professional life, as the director of communications for a large California humane society, and then as a public affairs professional for the federal government.

In 2018, this blog was visited by readers from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, US Virgin Islands, Unknown Region (I have no idea where that is, and apparently neither does Google), and Vietnam. That's 38 countries around the world!

Wherever you live, thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed what you found here, and I welcome your comments and shares. I hope to see you again in 2019!

Kicking 2018 to the Curb

I am very happy to soon put the year 2018 in the rear view mirror.

This was not a particularly good year for me. Every year has its ups and downs, of course, and 2018 was no exception. My eye problems continued, leaving me with limited vision in one eye after repeated surgeries. I picked up a 'bug' of some sort in Ethiopia that left me quite sick for nearly a week. Other transient health issues appeared. My investments have tanked, along with those of anybody invested in the US stock market. Family issues abound, with resolution yet unknown. Two of my dogs have taken turns being sick. And the year's parting insult is an apparently infected finger that is very painful and swollen. There is no obvious cut or other damage. I'm hoping that soaking it in warm water will help.

On the plus side, I got to travel to some amazing places. I went to Ethiopia and got to see the endangered Ethiopian wolf. I traveled again, twice, to Yellowstone, to Colorado to see the gorgeous fall colors, to Tanzania on a wildlife photography safari, and to Alaska to photograph grizzly bears. I also visited Nicaragua, and I met a friend in Rio de Janeiro for a two-week adventure in Brazil's Pantanal in search of jaguars, giant anteaters and other amazing animals.

But overall, I'm more than happy to kick 2018 to the curb. Let's hope 2019 brings more peace, more stability and less insanity to the world.

Finding Respite Through Beauty

This has been, and still is, a tough year for many people.

The stock market is plummeting. The country is deeply divided. Major manufacturing companies are undergoing massive layoffs. The federal government is more dysfunctional than usual. Senior administration officials are fleeing like rats from a sinking ship. Several others have been indicted or have pleaded guilty to prison-worthy crimes. Parts of the government are shut down because Congress hasn't been able to come up with a budget that pleases his majesty in the White House. 

So I decided to try and lighten the mood a bit by posting on my personal Facebook page a photo every day until Christmas. I decided to share a photograph of one of the beautiful things I have photographed. I've been doing this for the past 10 days or so. 

With Christmas just a couple of days away, I asked my FB friends whether they wanted me to continue after Christmas. So many people said I definitely should keep posting a beautiful photo every day, that I will continue to do so until they get tired of looking at my photos or I run out of fresh material to share (highly unlikely). One person noted "Don't you dare stop! In these difficult days, your photos bring me joy."

I started thinking about what she said, and I do realize that beautiful things -- be they photographs, seeing something beautiful in person, or even listening to beautiful music -- do, in fact, bring me joy. That's one thing I like about my home office. Although the rest of the house is decorated in the Southwest style, my office walls are filled with images of wolves, elephants and leopards. An African wood mask is on one wall, and on another wall is a large wooden elephant head given to me by my daughter. 

Some may not find beauty in a photograph of an elephant or a wolf, but I do. These are things about which I care deeply. These animals are beautiful in their own way. I love sunrises. I love beautiful landscapes untouched by humans. I love the intense gaze of a female leopard as she looks directly at me. I love the affection shared by an orphan elephant and the man who cares for her, as she wraps her trunk around his hand. That is beauty, too. Some find beauty in a bird, or in a colorful flower, or in seeing a mountain reflected in a lake.

The world is crazy. The normal -- whatever that means -- order of things is topsy turvy, not just in the United States, but around the world. There seems to be so much more bad news than positive news. So finding respite, if only for a few moments, is so important to my, and others', mental health.

I treasure my photographs, not just because they bring back memories of where and when I took them, and of the friends with whom I shared experiences. They also bring me joy. Looking at an image of a stunning sunrise or sunset fills me with awe. And it brings me joy to know that my photographs bring happiness to others, that perhaps they brighten an otherwise sad day, that maybe they inspire others to become more aware of the beauty that surrounds them.

So take a break from this upside down, anger- and hate-filled world. Find, and savor, whatever beauty makes you happy.

Some Memorable Experiences

As this years draws to a close, I've been thinking about some of the many memorable experiences I have had during the past few years. Here are a few:

• Working for NASA and getting to watch many launches and landings of the space shuttle, as well as working in both the American and Russian mission control centers.
• Standing at the base of the space shuttle on the launch platform just hours before launch
• Living in Moscow for 3-1/2 months
• Walking part of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) in Spain
• Visiting Africa several times
• Getting to photograph elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, leopards and other amazing wildlife
• Hiking in France and visiting Omaha Beach and the American military cemetery in Normandy
• Watching the sun set over the Sahara Desert in Morocco while sitting atop a camel
• Touring England's Highclere Castle, where the Downton Abbey series was filmed
• Walking on a glacier in New Zealand
• Finally getting to visit the ancient Jordanian city of Petra
• Visiting Auschwitz
• Visiting amazing countries such as Costa Rica, Cuba and Ireland
• Being one of the first two people through the gates of the Taj Mahal, before the crowds arrived
• Visiting the elephant orphanage in Nairobi and getting to stand outside the stockade where one of my foster elephants spends the night, watching her eat, and being so very grateful that she was rescued and is on her way to living her life in the wild
• Being just feet away from an adult female lion as she was fitted with a new radio tracking collar and being in awe of her size and strength
• Hearing lions roaring and elephants trumpeting just yards from my tent at night
• Seeing the prison cell on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years locked up 
• Shaking hands with Bill Clinton (before his extracurricular activities became known)
• Meeting Senator John Glenn and getting a photo of him with my niece sitting on his knee
• Adopting a daughter from Russia
• Sharing my life with a dozen dogs over the years (I still have three dogs)

These are just some of the highlights of my adult life. I continue to make new memories and new friends through my travels. I have tens of thousands of digital photographs to keep the memories alive. As I am now in my 'golden years,' I treasure these memories so much more than any physical possessions I have.

I encourage everyone to make new memories and treasure them always.

I Am An Introvert

Yes, I am an introvert. Yes, I am shy. No, I'm not antisocial. No, I'm not retarded or mentally ill. I'm not stuck up. I don't think I'm better than anybody else.

I don't go to parties and I hate crowds. I don't do small talk. I will never be the life of the party. I hate using the telephone. I don't make friends easily, and people who meet me tend not to remember me. I don't have a lot of friends, but the friends I do have are very important to me. I make no apologies for who I am.

During a recent trip to Ethiopia, I was part of a group of 10 people, plus two guides. I was comfortable with these people once I got to know them, and it was easy to talk to them. I once mentioned that I am an introvert, at which point a woman who is most definitely not an introvert replied that I don't seem like an introvert to her.  

Being an introvert doesn't mean I never speak to others. It doesn't mean I sit in the corner with downcast eyes. It does mean that I prefer calm to chaos, a few good friends to a large, noisy crowd, and that I try to avoid the spotlight. It means that I am quiet, even among family members. I am better at expressing my thoughts and feelings through writing than through speaking. That's why I have this blog, and why I wrote a book.

But I worked as a public affairs officer for a major federal agency for 20 years. I did on-camera interviews with news media. I provided live, on-air commentary. I gave a briefing to a group of 200+ people. I gave a briefing to a group of senior agency managers at headquarters. Did I enjoy it? No, I didn't. But I did it. Sometimes I strike up conversations with total strangers in line at the grocery store or while awaiting a flight at an airport. It all depends on circumstances and on how I feel about the situation.

In a world that seems designed for chatty, overly social people who are always on the go and who always have something to say (extroverts outnumber introverts by three to one), there is an important place for introverts. Consider this partial list of famous introverts. It includes scientists, writers, actors, musicians, inventors and social activists.

1. Albert Einstein
2. Rosa Parks
3. Bill Gates
4. Steven Spielberg 
5. Sir Isaac Newton
6. Eleanor Roosevelt
7. Abraham Lincoln
8. J K Rowling
9. Mahatma Gandhi
10. Charles Darwin
11. Meryl Streep
12. Audrey Hepburn
13. Sir Elton John
14. Lady Gaga
15. Warren Buffett
16. Julia Roberts
17. Tom Hanks
18. Laura Bush

Being around large numbers of people or in noisy environments drains our energy. We need quiet and solitude to recharge ourselves. We tend to be deep thinkers who rarely get bored. We are creative, we think before we act, we are a calming presence and we love to read. We enjoy solitude.

Being a shy introvert doesn't make me 'weird' or 'strange.' I am a thinker, a writer, an avid reader and a passionate photographer. In a world full of people who can't stop yammering, it's nice to be with the quiet ones.

My Favorie Things

Remember that song from the 'Sound of Music' called My Favorite Things?

For some reason it popped into my mind recently, so I decided to give a bit of thought to my favorite things. Here are my top twelve.

• photography
• travel
• listening to music, especially classical music 
• reading (history, biographies, historical fiction, nature)
• buying or making a surprise gift for someone
• enjoying a cup of hot tea on a cold morning (or evening) 
• being warm under a pile of blankets on a cold night/early morning
• doing things for others
• observing and reading about wolves and elephants
• spending time with and helping dogs
• spending time in nature
• taking a nap

Favorite things don't have to cost a lot of money. Yes, travel is expensive, but nothing else on the list costs a lot. (OK, I spent a lot on photography equipment, but it will last for many years and it gets a lot of use). I love spending time with wild elephants. I'm ever hopeful that I will get a good wolf sighting in Yellowstone. I listen to music every day, and I read every day. I look forward to my morning cup of hot tea, especially during winter. These simple pleasures are very inexpensive.

I have a good friend who loves my photography, so I produced a made-to-order wall calendar for her birthday, with photos she chose from my Web site. When one of her beloved dogs died, I asked her to send me a few of her favorite photos of that dog. I used one of them to design a coffee mug for her, with the image of the dog and the words Forever in my heart on it. Each gift cost less than $20. The pleasure these things brought her, and the joy producing them gave me, is priceless.

I really learned to appreciate how wonderful it feels to be snug and warm when I spent the coldest night of my life in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. The blanket/comforter on the bed was so heavy and warm that I actually got too warm during the night. Getting up early the next morning, however, was another story.

I think the best thing about my favorite things is getting to share them -- the photographs and the experiences -- with others. This is the perfect time of year to share our favorite things with others. And it's also a great time to appreciate the things and people that bring us happiness.

What Happened to Christmas?

What did happen to Christmas?

Christmas used to be a religious holiday. It was simple. It was about spending time with family. It didn't start in August. There was no 'black Friday' with its throngs of people pushing and shoving, or in some cases, shooting, each other. Families didn't go into serious debt buying 'the perfect gift' for everyone. Commercials didn't encourage people to buy a $70,000 car for that special someone. Many families, including mine, attended church on Christmas Eve.

People made homemade gifts for others, perhaps a jar of homemade jam or a dozen cookies baked at home. Kids' wish lists weren't pages long. We had a couple of items on our list, and that was it. One year I got a small record player that played 45 rpm records, along with my favorite record at the time. Another year it was a metal fort with horses and soldiers; I think I shared that with my brother. I got a doll one year, which didn't thrill me, as I always preferred stuffed animals to dolls. My brother got a Lionel electric train set one year. These were gifts that encouraged us to use our imaginations, rather than sitting in front of a computer or television.

What about the Christmas tree, once the centerpiece of the holiday celebration? Gone are the days of heading off to chop down a pine tree (or buying one from a Christmas tree lot), hauling it home atop the family car, cutting a slice off the bottom so the tree could drink water, setting it up inside the home, and then decorating it. Ornaments were often handmade, and strings of popcorn added another festive touch. My family had some bubble lights that I really liked -- when they were working. Today, somebody drags the plastic tree out of the garage or attic. Most ornaments are made in China. Some trees come predecorated with lights. Where's the fun in that? 

When my daughter was younger, we decorated the tree together. I have a lot of ornaments with sentimental value, and several that I bought during trips to Russia, Poland and Kenya. Some are typical of the area in which I live. Many of my ornaments reflect my love of animals. Each of my dogs through the years had his or her own ornament.

My mother made cookies, a tradition I carried on for many years. Once I retired and no longer had people at work with whom to share the cookies and fudge, I cut down on my holiday baking. After I stopped running, and controlling my weight became an issue, baking became even less of an event. My mother also made fudge and a confection known as 'divinity.' Later, she and my father made popcorn balls and peanut brittle every holiday season. 

This year's holiday will be a total non-event. I stopped sending Christmas cards a few years ago. Last year I didn't bother setting up a tree, although I did decorate the house with the various Grandfather Frost wooden sculptures I bought during my time in Russia. I also have some things to hang on the wall, as well as a wreath of chile lights, reflective of the state where I now live. This year I'm not decorating at all. My only nod to the holiday is listening to each of the 40 to 50 Christmas CDs in my collection. I have everything from opera to classical to Mannheim Steamroller, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Spanish guitar, Celine Dion and Kenny G. 

I still do the bulk of my charitable giving during December, so that hasn't changed. Today I made some almond shortbread, rather than buying some as I used to do. I might make a batch of peanut butter cup cookies at some point. But I don't need either the sugar or the calories.

What happened to Christmas for me? I got old, my daughter moved away, and the commercial nature of the season has made it decidedly less appealing. I was in Costa Rica just before Christmas a few years ago, and I was amazed by how low key it all was. The mall had a couple of displays reflective of the season, but that was all. The hotel where I stayed in San Jose had some decorated trees. A private home where we had dinner had a tree and a Nativity scene. It was a nice change from the pressure and stress of Christmas in 21st century America.

I know we will never return to the days of my youth. Expectations for Christmas are high. Kids would be bored with the things that brought us joy. They can't compete with the latest Apple watch or video game. Such a pity. We loved playing with our toys, and engaging our imaginations. I liked surprising my daughter at Christmas, although I had to hide her gifts at work, so thorough was she in searching the house. Two years ago all she wanted for Christmas was money or gift cards. That's practical, I guess, but not a lot of fun to give.

Times changes, but progress isn't always better.

Nap Time!

OK, I admit it.

I love to take naps. I seldom sleep well (I wake up numerous times every night), and a nap is a wonderful break from the day. It's also a great way to add a bit of sleep to my total. Some days I don't have a chance to nap, and some days I can't sleep. But on those days I get the chance, napping is a wonderful experience!

If I do fall asleep for an afternoon nap, it happens quickly (unlike at night, when it can take an hour or two to fall asleep). And I sleep really well for 30 minutes to an hour. There is no tossing and turning as there is at night. A nap also provides a nice afternoon break. Because I'm generally up by 5 a.m., days can stretch on for a long time without something to break them up, especially during the winter when darkness arrives so early.

I had a great nap recently. I woke up, opened one eye and then decided I wasn't ready to get up. I didn't sleep any more, but it was nice just lying in bed on a cold, gray day. After a few minutes I got up and went about my day. 

I think the best thing about napping is that it provides time just for me, a time when I don't have to do anything. Obligations are set aside for a while. My dogs love naps, too, so as soon as I head for the bedroom, they're right behind me.  

Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's nap time.

Find Your Something

I recently read a Facebook post written by someone who is passionate about animal rescue.

He encouraged people to, in his words, "find [your] something."  He mentioned ad hoc groups of people who have found their something by making cat toys, blankets for dogs and cats in shelters, and coats for animals. A group of photographers found its something by taking quality pictures of animals available for adoption to make them look their best to potential adopters who view them online.

The author encouraged individuals to find their something that will allow them to help in a way that is meaningful to them. Not everybody can pull animals from kennels to be sent to rescue groups. Seeing so many animals waiting for new homes, new families to love them is too heartbreaking for some people. But nearly everyone has a skill that can be put to use helping animals and the organizations that care for them. Some organizations need people with legal skills, or who can handle their accounting needs. Can you walk dogs to give them a short break from their kennels? Can you work with undersocialized animals so they become more comfortable around people? Perhaps you can organize a pet food drive where you work, or in your family. Sometimes children will ask that guests to their birthday party bring donations of pet food for a local shelter, rather than gifts for the birthday boy or girl. And their is always a need for foster homes to care for animals until they are adopted.

You might also find your something in helping other people. Hold a holiday food drive to collect non-perishable food items for a local food bank or pantry. Collect gently used coats, gloves, boots and hats to donate to a homeless shelter. How about a toy drive for Toys for Tots so underprivileged kids can enjoy a nice Christmas? Maybe you would like to volunteer at a food pantry. I did that on a weekly basis for 2 years, and it was extremely rewarding.

When I lived in Houston, I belonged to a church that had a Christians in Action group that performed acts of charity for those in the community. People were invited to 'adopt' a family in need and purchase items, including an aluminum roasting pan, for a complete Thanksgiving dinner. We did something similar for Christmas. Anybody in the church who wanted to participate was asked to take a wish list off a tree and purchase the item/s for that person. I remember how good it felt to buy these items, knowing they would brighten the holiday for a family or child. Fortunately, the church made it easy for us to "find our something."

My something now is my photography. Not only does it bring me great joy, but all the proceeds from sales of my calendars and prints are donated to the Elephant Crisis Fund to help protect the elephants that are so important to me. Helping elephants is my something.

It's a great feeling when we find our something. Each of us has a talent or a passion. It's up to us to find that something and put it to good use.

So Many Dogs

So many dogs.

I follow my city's animal control page online, and it always makes me so very sad to see the never-ending parade of dogs either up for adoption or being held as strays. Sometimes the dogs are there through no fault of their own. Perhaps the owner has died, or had to go into a nursing home. Then there are those given to the shelter because the owner has "no time" for a dog, the puppy is too rambunctious or got too big, or the owner has decided to move someplace that doesn't allow dogs. Even worse are the people who dump a dog in the trash, or abandon it in the desert or the forest, or tie it to a tree in a remote area. Those people should be tracked down and spend the next 10 years in jail.

I know. People sometimes have to move. But I have moved with up to three dogs, from California to Texas to California to New Mexico. Never would I consider a move without my dogs. 

It just makes me so sad to see so many dogs in need of homes. (I'm not a cat person due to allergies, but I feel the same way about cats). Animals aren't disposable items that we get rid of when we tire of them. I've seen the faces of too many depressed, sad, given-up-hope dogs to ever find it acceptable to surrender a dog for a frivolous reason. And in my mind, most reasons are frivolous

Most painful of all is reading about an elderly dog, perhaps 10 or 15 years old, that suddenly finds itself locked away from the only family, the only home, it has ever known. And let's face it, people aren't exactly lining up to adopt an old dog.

Rescue organizations and individuals, as well as animal shelters, work tirelessly to rescue and rehome these sad, confused animals. But until puppy mills stop mass producing puppies for pet stores and online sales, and until people stop buying dogs from these sources, the unnecessary deaths of millions of dogs will continue. And that, quite simply, is not acceptable. How can we in the 21st century allow the deaths of millions of dogs every year, year after year, simply because there aren't enough homes for them, and because people continue to be irresponsible? It is unconscionable. 

If you are looking to add a canine member to your family, please visit an animal shelter or a rescue group, or a reputable breeder of the dog breed of your choice. Reputable breeders care about the dogs they produce. They have health checks done on the parents to minimize the chances of their passing on genetic diseases. They will take back for any reason any puppy they sell. Pet stores and backyard breeders care only about the money they get on each sale. I have adopted five purebred golden retrievers from rescues, all of them adults, and all of them wonderful animals.

Dogs are not commodities. They are not gifts. They are not something to get on a whim and then discard when they get old or sick or become inconvenient or too much work. They are living, breathing, feeling animals. They experience fear, pain, loss and depression just as humans do. 

If you care about dogs, please consider volunteering at a rescue or animal shelter. Donate food or new toys or beds or old towels. Donate money if you can. Above all, Adopt Don't Shop!

Thinking About My Heroes

Today I'm thinking about my heroes who are, or were, active in the fight to rescue or protect animals.

When I think about my heroes who fight for animals, or who seek to better understand and thus protect them, these are the top 13 names (in no particular order) that come to mind:

• Dame Jane Goodall, PhD, is considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. Her pioneering studies of the social and family interactions of chimpanzees in Tanzania began in the 1960s. Today, at age 84, she travels the world speaking about conservation and animal welfare issues. www.janegoodall.org
• Dame Daphne Sheldrick is the late founder of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Nairobi, Kenya. Her organization continues to rescue and care for orphaned elephants, raising them until they can be released to live in the wild. www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
• Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, known as the Notorious RBG, the court's most liberal justice and a long-time advocate of women's rights
• The Kenyan men who are responsible for the daily care of the orphaned elephants, feeding them, watching over them, and sleeping in the stockades with them are so committed to the care of the traumatized babies.
• Iain Douglas-Hamilton, PhD, CBE, has been studying elephants in Tanzania and Kenya for more than 50 years. In 1993, he founded the Save the Elephants organization that supports research, education and anti-poaching initiatives. I have been honored to meet Iain a couple of times, and he joined us for dinner one night. www.savetheelephants.org
• Saba Douglas-Hamilton, Iain's daughter, is a well known wildlife conservationist and documentary film maker and public speaker in her own right. I know Saba from her time as manager of Elephant Watch Camp.
• Dian Fossey, PhD, was an American primatologist and conservationist best known for her studies of mountain gorillas. She was murdered in her research camp in Rwanda.
• Theresa Strader founded National Mill Dog Rescue in 2007 to rescue unwanted dogs from puppy mills. To date, the organization has rescued more than12,000 dogs. www.milldogrescue.org
• Jeff Young, DVM, is the founder of Planned Pethood Plus. He and his staff operate a veterinary clinic in Denver, Colorado, that provides veterinary services to all, regardless of ability to pay. They also visit other countries to hold free spay/neuter clinics, as well as donating veterinary services to a variety of wildlife rescue organizations.
• The Black Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching team, protects South Africa's fragile rhinoceros population through a boots-on-the-ground approach. The group also sponsors the Bush Babies environmental education program. www.blackmambas.org
• Steve Irwin and family. He was killed by a stingray barb to the chest in 2006, but his wife and two children are carrying on his wildlife conservation work. They continue to operate the Australia Zoo. www.australiazoo.com.au
• Michelle Oakley, DVM, is a Canadian-American veterinarian based in Haines Junction, Yukon. She treats animals from eagles to musk ox to dogs, cats and pigs in Alaska and in Canada's huge Yukon Territory.
• Jennifer Smith is the founder of Noah's Arks animal rescue in South Carolina. The organization provides emergency medical, surgical and rehabilitation to abused dogs. www.noahs-arks.net

If you're not familiar with some of these people, I invite you to learn about them and the wonderful work they are doing (or did until the time of their deaths).

If Only I Could ...

• stay inside in my warm pajamas and bath robe on a cold winter day. It sounds good, but sadly, it isn't something I ever do unless I'm really sick. I have dogs to walk, and I've never been someone to spend the day lounging.
• donate more to the many causes I support. Today is "Giving Tuesday," and my Facebook feed is filled with reminders to donate. I do what I can, but how I wish I could donate so much more. There are so many worthy causes that touch my heart.
• feel hopeful that humans will come to their senses and start caring about the environment and the animals that share this planet with us. 
• learn not to hate cold weather so much. 
• spend more time doing the things I love and less time doing the things I need to do
• increase traffic to my photography page (www.annsullivan.zenfolio.com)
• sleep more soundly (although I sleep a lot better than I did in the past)
• bring myself to really start learning Lightroom and Photoshop 
• eat less popcorn and more vegetables!
• believe that people and governments will begin to do what is necessary to save the planet

Hate

Hate is a strong, very negative emotion.

I was taught not to hate anybody. I might not like this person or that person, but it's wrong to actually hate somebody, right? I might have a strong dislike of certain people or organizations, but hate? No, I didn't hate anybody ... until the current administration took power. Now, I confess, I do hate.

• I hate what this administration has done to my country in two years. It has made the racial, economic and class divides much worse.  
• It has emboldened racists and fascists. 
• It has weakened or removed environmental protections that have given us clean water and air and helped protect us from toxins.  
• It is working to gut the Endangered Species Act. 
• It is working to reduce the size of national parks and national monuments, and to allow extractive businesses such as mining on protected public lands. 
• The person occupying the White House is a pathological liar who seems incapable of telling the truth. 
• He's a con man and a hypocrite.
• He tries to use the federal government to go after his political enemies and others who have been "mean" or "unfair" (two of his favorite complaints) to him.
• He convinced 81 percent of white evangelical Christians that he is one of them and that they should vote for him, despite his history of numerous extramarital affairs, three marriages, constant lies, failure to pay those who did work for him, and crude comments about women.
• He appears to believe that he is above the law. He fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates because she determined that his executive order banning people from several predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US was unconstitutional. He fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions because he refused to act to stop the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into possible collusion with Russia by Trump and his campaign.
• He insulted Sen. John McCain, who spent 5 years in a Vietnamese prison after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. 
• He has offended and insulted America's staunchest friends and allies, insulting the leaders of the United Kingdom, Mexico, France, Germany and Canada, among others.
• He mocked a disabled reporter in front of thousands of people, then denied it.
• He praised a Republican for body slamming a reporter.
• He clearly admires several of the world's dictators, including Russia's Putin and North Korea's Kim Jung Un.
• He disrespects federal judges who dare to disagree with his decisions.
• His endless trips to his golf resorts have so far cost US taxpayers some $73 million dollars. 
• He insulted the Khan family, whose son died while fighting for this country. 
• He verbally attacked the US Navy admiral who oversaw the mission that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.
• Security costs to protect his adult children when they travel on family business and vacations have cost US taxpayers millions of dollars. A single ski vacation for Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and their families cost nearly $330,000. And that is just for ONE trip!
• Several of his cabinet members have been caught taking advantage of their positions for financial gain.
• The lack of expertise among his cabinet appointees is stunning. Education secretary Betsy DeVos has never attended a public school, nor have her children. She is trying her best to force public schools to become 'Christian' schools. EPA chief Scott Pruitt was at the time of his appointment suing the EPA.
• He calls opponents and anyone who dares to oppose him insulting names. That is something a 3-year-old would do.

So yes, I do hate everything this president and this administration stand for. I hate what they have done, and continue to do, to this country. Although disappointed that the Democrats were unable to take control of the Senate, at least they now have a majority in the House. More women than ever will serve in Congress, including the first two Native American women and the first Somali woman. 

Change will be slow, but change is coming. Until there is a fundamental shift in the political process, in the attitude and honesty of politicians (who need to start doing what they are supposed to do -- represent the average American) and in the attitudes of the American public, all we can do is continue to resist, to stand for what is just and for what is right, and to remain vigilant.

'Tis the Season

Send money. Give money. Donate now. Give the gift that matters. Year-end matching gift opportunity.

Surprise! It's the holiday season, and the deluge of appeals for money has started. I'm  getting appeals in my mail box and e-mails seeking donations in my inbox. Facebook, too, is filled with reminders that Tuesday, Nov. 27, is "Giving Tuesday." And now there are lots of online appeals for donations to help those in California impacted by the wildfires. How do we know which are legitimate requests and which are scams?

I get it. I really do. The need is great. Non-profit organizations need money to operate and carry out their good works. I worked for a non-profit organization for 8 years in California. I'm a pretty generous person. I donate to a variety of causes. But enough is enough. I'm still getting regular appeals in the mail from an organization to which I donated ONCE 20 to 25 years ago! How much money has this organization wasted with its ongoing appeals about some "emergency" in this or that part of the world to someone who hasn't donated a dime to it in a quarter century?

Non-profits are so persistent that I now refuse to donate to any organization to which I haven't previously donated. The reason is simple: I don't want to end up on a mailing list, or an e-mail list, or to have my personal information sold to still other non-profits.  

Predictions are that last year's changes in the tax laws will make it harder for people to itemize their charitable donations when they file their 2018 taxes. That means that donations are likely to decrease. Fewer donations means more pressure on the non-profits to raise necessary funds. And that may well translate into still more pressure on donors to contribute.

I don't want to be a Scrooge this holiday season. I still will donate, whether the donations are deductible or not. But I don't appreciate the constant 'reminders' for more money. Here are a few suggestions for non-profits.

• Please stop trying to disguise your requests for money as surveys or questionnaires. You're not fooling anybody, so just say you need money to do this or that project or to help this group of people or animals. 
• Don't send me requests for money to provide Thanksgiving meals for the homeless when it's barely August! 
• When you send me a thank-you letter or receipt for my latest donation, DO NOT include a form and envelope for another donation! That makes you seem greedy and unappreciative. 
• So, too, does the not-so-subtle technique of filling in possible donation amounts, with the smallest amount listed being greater than my previous donation. If I give $25, the next donation form will start with $35, with the 'other' box being at the end (i.e., the highest). I know these tricks, and they don't work on me.

When I worked for 8 years for a large California humane society, some people would complain about the fact that employees were actually paid to work there. I was making $12,000/year, and I was one of the higher paid employees. Apparently employees who work for non-profits are supposed to work for free. Sadly, grocery stores don't hand out free groceries to those who work for non-profit organizations. Now we have CEOs of large national non-profit organizations being paid millions of dollars. For example, the CEO of Goodwill brings home $2.3 million each year. The CEO of the American Red Cross is paid $500,000. The CEO of the Salvation Army, by contrast, is paid just $13,000 per year. Quite a difference!

So when you get those piles of requests for donations to various charities this holiday season, please do a bit of investigating before you write that check or donate online. www.charitynavigator.org is a good place to start. After all, you want your donations to go where they will do the most good, not to fund a lavish lifestyle for the CEO.

Finding "The Perfect Gift"

Television commercials already are bleating about "the perfect gift."

Is it that $70,000 SUV? Or perhaps it's a diamond tennis bracelet? Or something else the buyer can't really afford.

I don't have anyone in my family for whom to buy holiday gifts. There is nothing I need or want, and I have spent the past couple of years getting rid of unwanted books, CDs, shoes, clothes and various household goods. This week I donated a chair and a microwave. Last month I donated a down jacket, a dressy wool coat, a 7' artificial Christmas tree and two large boxes of lights and ornaments, and a 55" Sony television. 

I have two good friends who love coffee. So when my travels take me to a coffee-producing country, I buy each of them a bag of coffee beans. So far they have received beans from Ethiopia, Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I don't need a special holiday to buy coffee for my friends. I buy it, and give it, whenever I happen to be in one of the countries known for its coffee production.

Coffee beans are "the perfect gift" for these friends because they both love coffee. I couldn't even begin to figure out something else to buy that would show how much I value their friendship. Both also really love their dogs, so treats for the dogs are other "perfect gifts." And both like to cook with spices, so I have bought them spices from Turkey, Morocco and Tanzania.

That "perfect gift" doesn't have to cost $70,000. Maybe it can be something thoughtful yet inexpensive. Perhaps a gift of homemade food? I have a friend who loves my homemade fudge and cookies. How about a meal together, or a day trip to a favorite place? One friend who loves dogs is receiving a card noting that a donation has been made in her name to an organization that funds research in health issues that impact animals. Another friend is getting a one-of-a-kind photo calendar with images I took during our trip to Brazil this past summer.

The older I get, the more I resist the push to buy "the perfect gift" when that gift is a) expensive and b) often unwanted. I want whatever gifts I give to be personal, not some off-the-shelf, mass produced item. I want them to show that I have put thought into the gifts, rather than just ordering something online.

So this year, let your search for "the perfect gift" lead you not to the mall or to an online shop, but to your heart.

Be Thankful and Be Happy

A Unique Gift Idea

I love photography, and I love sharing my photographs with others.

I also love elephants, and I am very concerned about the survival of this amazing species. To that end, I am selling custom, made-to-order wall calendars, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Elephant Crisis Fund (www.elephantcrisisfund.org)

Each calendar features a different full page (8-1/2x11 inches), full-color photograph each month. (The picture to the right shows the calendar page for January 2019). 

Through Nov. 27, the cost for each calendar is just $20, domestic shipping and sales tax included. These are not mass-produced calendars. You get to choose the subject of the calendar from the possibilities below.

elephants
bears (grizzly and polar)
trees
landscapes
silhouettes
birds
bison
Yellowstone
Utah's natural beauty
big cats (lions, leopards, cheetahs in any combination)
American wildlife
African wildlife
scenes from the American Southwest
sunrises/sunsets
African wildlife
Yosemite

Or you can mix and match images from any of the categories above. 

Payment is accepted via PayPal. Calendars will be delivered in about a week from the day they are ordered.

The Outrageous As Commonplace

The outrageous has now become commonplace.

It's sad, but it's true. Don't believe me?

• Shootings of multiple people are now commonplace (there were two so far this week, in Chicago and in Denver). 
• School shootings -- commonplace. 
• Acts of violence against Jews, gays and other minorities have become commonplace. 
• Police officers being gunned down -- commonplace. 
• Convicted criminals getting nothing more than a slap on the wrist -- commonplace.
• Lies from the occupant of the White House and his minions -- more than commonplace. 
• Attacks on the military by the so-called commander-in-chief -- commonplace.
• Members of the Dump family doing things they criticized others for doing -- commonplace. 
• Attacks on the free press in America -- commonplace.
• Republican hypocrisy -- commonplace. 
• Government officials treating the US Treasury like their own personal slush fund -- commonplace. 
• The current administration trying to use federal agencies to get revenge on people the dictator-in-waiting doesn't like -- becoming commonplace. 
• Insulting our traditional allies while cozying up to dictators -- commonplace.

We cannot allow these outrageous acts to continue. Violence against others, and attacks on our constitutional freedoms, must not be allowed to become commonplace. America is better than this. We must not allow the current occupant of the White House to ignore the laws and use his position to enrich himself and harm America.

Another Day, Another Shooting

Another day, another mass shooting in America.

I always check the news headlines shortly after I get up each morning. The recent headline announcing the murder of 12 people at a bar in southern California wasn't really a surprise. In fact, it was the 307th mass shooting (defined as a shooting with four or more victims) of 2018 in the US. As a result, 328 people have so far lost their lives, according to NBC News.

And as is typical of the Republican Party, one of its newly elected representatives announced that what’s most important is to protect the Second Amendment. Not to try to get a handle on gun violence. Not to make it possible for people to appear in public without fear of being slaughtered. Apparently the ability of college students and other regular Americans to go out and enjoy themselves without fear of being murdered by some idiot with a gun is only of secondary importance.

It wasn't long before the NRA chimed in with an inane attack on physicians who routinely treat victims of gun violence, calling them 'anti gun.' Such is the NRA's stranglehold on Congress that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are prohibited from even studying gun violence as a public health issue. If the deaths of thousands of Americans from guns isn't a public health issue, I don't know what is.

Excluding most suicides, at least 15,549 people were killed by guns in the United States in 2017, according to data collected by the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization that tracks news media and law enforcement reports of shootings. More than 15,000 lives lost in just one year to gun violence -- and that isn't a public health issue worth studying?

I am certain that the framers of the Constitution, when they wrote the holy Second Amendment, never dreamed of a day when semi-automatic and assault rifles would be so readily available. After all, the weapon of choice then was the musket loader. 

Nobody is suggesting taking guns away from law-abiding citizens. Aside from the legal issues, that isn't even remotely physically possible. But so far, the NRA and its puppets in Congress have rejected even moderate, common sense proposals to keep guns out of the hands of those who should never have them. "Gun laws don't work," they cry. Apparently they don't want to even attempt to tackle this problem since the laws we have aren't preventing mass shootings. So why bother having laws at all? Driving under the influence is illegal, yet people still do it, so we should simply get rid of laws that prohibit DUI, right? 

An article in Time magazine from earlier this year (http://time.com/5209901/gun-violence-america-reduction/) suggests some common-sense ways to tackle the gun violence problem in America. What do we have to lose by at least exploring these and similar proposals? 

Someone asked me recently which policy changes I propose. I replied that I don't propose any policy changes, as I'm not an expert in that area. What I do know, however, is that we need to do something to at least start to understand and address this problem.




.

What Makes You Blessed?

This is an appropriate question at this time of year.

It's easy to overlook all the blessings in our lives. Each life has its ups and downs, its successes and failures. I, like most people, tend to focus on the challenges in life. Our country is struggling; it is divided more than it has been during my lifetime. Acts of violence and hatred have skyrocketed. 

I have continued to struggle with eye issues that have left me with greatly diminished vision in what used to be my 'good' eye. I have had four eye surgeries, a non-surgical procedure, a laser treatment and two injections into one eye in less than two years. My vision will never be what it used to be.  But

• I am blessed that I can see well enough to drive, to read, to travel and to take part in my passion of photography. I can continue to live independently.   
• I am blessed to be able to travel the world. In 2018, I visited Yellowstone, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Alaska, Brazil, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, Colorado and Ethiopia.   
• I am blessed to own a beautiful home that I love. It provides shelter from the heat, cold, rain and wind. It is a safe haven for me and my dogs. It has gorgeous views of the mountains.
• I am blessed to share my life with three loving dogs who ask for nothing more than a daily walk, good food and lots of attention. 
• I am blessed to have a good friend who has been, and is, willing to drive me to countless eye appointments.  
• I am blessed to have food for myself and my dogs. My pantry and my freezer are filled with food. 
• Unlike so many Americans, I am blessed to have good health insurance that pays for almost all of my medical expenses, including my expensive eye surgeries. 
• I am blessed to have a wonderful, supportive friend in California. We seldom get to visit in person, but she is just a phone call away.
• Overall, I am in good health. Eye problems aside, I have no major health issues.
• I am blessed to live in a free country, despite its current problems, divisiveness and corruption.

I could go on to list many more ways in which I am blessed. But you get the idea. Regardless of our circumstances and struggles, there are blessings to be found in our lives. 

With Thanksgiving Day just a week away, I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to think about the blessings in your life. And please consider what you can do to be a blessing to others. Perhaps you can volunteer for a cause that's important to you. Perhaps you can give an elderly neighbor a ride to the grocery store. Visit someone who is lonely. Donate food to an organization that helps feed those who cannot afford to buy enough food for themselves or their family. 

I wish everyone a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving.

Veterans Day 2018

Today is Veterans Day in the United States, Remembrance Day in some other countries.

Let's step back in time, back 100 years ago on this date in 1918.  At 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was signed with Germany, bringing to a close the 'war to end all wars.' This four-year war cost tens of millions of lives, both military and civilian. The Allies saw more than 6 million deaths, with another 4 million dying on the other side. Millions of civilians died of starvation and disease brought about by wartime conditions, and the flu pandemic took countless other lives.

Although exact numbers vary, Wikipedia states that "The total number of combined military and civilian casualties during World War I was about 40 million: estimates range from 15 to 19  million deaths and about 23 million wounded military personnel, ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history."

While many people think only of American, English and German combatants, troops from India, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Russia, Romania and Serbia fought on the Allied side. Fighting alongside Germany were troops from Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.

On this day, the centennial of the cessation of hostilities, let us pause to remember all those who died fighting 'the Great War." Don't be like the current US president, who flew to France to attend ceremonies marking the end of World War I but who couldn't be bothered to visit an American cemetery in France because it was raining. Other world leaders managed to get there with no problems. Remember the men who fought and died in the rain and the mud of France, Belgium and other European countries. Remember those who suffered the horrors of mustard gas attacks. Please take a minute to remember those who died, those who were injured and those who suffered from starvation and disease brought about by wartime conditions.

I know, 1918 is generations removed from those of us now living. It is ancient history to many. There are no surviving veterans of 'the Great War.'  But remember that American military personnel continue to serve in harm's way, in Iraq, in Afghanistan and in many more countries. Men and women continue to get up every day and don a military uniform, regardless of where they serve or what jobs they hold. My former son-in-law is on active duty with the US Air Force. Veterans still live among us, veterans from World War II, the Korean Conflict, Viet Nam, and conflicts in the Middle East.

Don't be a coward like the US president. Stand proudly to honor all veterans, following the examples set by Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau, who put away his umbrella and stood in the rain as he spoke of the sacrifices of generations of soldiers and sailors. Take a lesson from the leaders of France and Germany who stood together, hand in hand in the rain, to pledge that never again will their countries go to war with each other. 

Remember all who sacrificed, including some 16 millions four-footed animals -- horses, dogs, mules, donkeys, cats and even camels and elephants -- with the lives of 9 million tragically cut short by war. Their sacrifices have gone untold for far too long. The 'Great War' ended the lives of so many. Let us remember and honor all of them today.


 

I Voted Today

I voted in today's midterm elections this morning.

Voting in American elections is something most of us take for granted, but this time around, the stakes couldn't be higher. Will we citizens sit back and allow the person in the White House and his cronies in Congress to run roughshod over our constitutional rights? Will we allow him to continue his racist attacks and his violence-inciting words unchallenged?

This person has publicly questioned whether public protests should be allowed. He has attacked the family of a US soldier who died fighting tor his country and who happened to be Muslim. He has called the news media "the enemy of the people." He is sending thousands of troops to the US/Mexico border to confront migrants -- mostly women and children -- marching toward asylum in the US. He continually hurls insults at people he doesn't like, calling them 'Pocahontas' or 'a dog', among other insults. His followers, emboldened by his rhetoric, are increasingly taking actions against religious and ethnic minorities.

I haven't voted in a couple of city elections, but I always make a point of voting in state and federal elections. Just look what happened when millions of eligible voters didn't bother to vote in the 2016 presidential election. Of course, the 2018 midterms aren't a presidential election. But by voting wisely, we have the chance to at least put the brakes on the efforts of the party in power and its attempts to cut benefits to seniors, veterans and the most needy among us. We have the opportunity to restore a semblance of balance in Congress. We have a chance to say 'Enough is enough' when it comes to attempts to remove millions of people from the health insurance rolls. We have the chance to stop the rollback of environmental protections.We can say enough of cutting benefits while giving more and more money to the ultra rich.

Never have I valued the freedom to vote more than I did today. And never have I felt the importance of my vote as I did today. People around the world have fought, and died, for the right to vote. Voting is a precious right that we must not squander.

Make Yourself Happy

I want to share something that makes me happy.

This country has been torn apart by the antics of the current Republican administration. I have written about my dismay and anger resulting from what has gone on, and still is going on, in the U.S. 

But today I want to write a positive blog post. I'm going to write about something that made me happy, that made me feel good.

It's a long story, but a 7' tall artificial Christmas tree, along with two storage containers of ornaments, recently was returned to me. I didn't want it, as I know I will never put such a big tree up again. So I wanted to find it a new home, with the minimum amount of work on my part.

I know a local therapist who works at a shelter for victims of domestic abuse. I had previously donated a sleeper sofa to the shelter, so I reached out to her to see whether the shelter might want the tree. As it happens, she was just leaving to visit the shelter, so she checked with staff when she arrived. YES! They wanted the tree. That was great news. I also included more than eight strands of colored lights and two large boxes of ornaments.

When I talked to the guy who was going to pick everything up, I asked whether the shelter would like my 55" Sony rear projection television. It works great, but I had bought a larger set with a brighter screen last year. YES! They would like to have the television as well. And by the way, I asked, could they use a couple of women's jackets? One is a down jacket, the other a dressy wool coat. YES! They would like the coats as well. I also had a large bag of colored pencils that I donated.

After the fellow left with all the donations in his truck, I was so happy to have a) found a home where these items I no longer wanted would help others and b) cleared out my garage.

When online friends congratulated me for my good deed, I realized that while these donations helped others, they also helped me. Donating to the shelter allowed me in some small way to fight back against the hatred and the negativity that are consuming our nation. I'm sure many of the women in this shelter had to flee their homes with little but the clothes on their backs. I hope their kids will enjoy using the colored pencils to color and draw. 

We all need to practice small acts of kindness to peacefully protest the anger and hatred in our country. It can be something as simple as donating a few cans of food to a food drive, delivering dog or cat food or old towels to an animal shelter, or donating some time to a local charity you support. 

It wasn't the thanks from friends and acquaintances that made me happy. It was simply the feeling of doing something for others with no expectation of anything in return. It doesn't take a lot to make a big difference. And it benefits the giver as well as the recipient.

 

Wild Africa

I've been longing to return to Africa and reminiscing about an amazing 3-week trip to Kenya in 2017.

That was my fifth trip to Africa, and my third to Kenya. I was joined by a friend from Scotland and a couple from England, all of whom I had met the previous year on a trip to Kenya. The trip saw us visiting four different camps in northern Kenya, for stays lasting from four to seven days each. 

This adventure was outstanding in so many ways. In addition to seeing and photographing lots of wild animals, we went for a horseback ride in Borana. We were able to get pretty close to giraffes and zebras, as well as enjoying the beautiful weather. We followed a pride of 15 lions one late afternoon, with two of the pride's three adult males walking just an arm's length from our vehicle. We watched a beautiful leopard and her cub over the course of three days. She was totally unperturbed by the presence of numerous safari vehicles.

Also while in Borana, we were part of a group that replaced a radio collar on a lioness. Once she was located, a Kenyan veterinarian tranquilized her with a rifle-fired dart. After she was down, she was quickly moved into the shade, her eyes were covered and water was poured over her to keep her body from overheating. After the old collar was removed and the lioness fitted with a new one, the veterinarian collected blood and tissue samples. Then a lion researcher took a variety of body measurements -- from length of the animal's tale to the size of her paws -- before the vet gave her a drug to reverse the anesthetic. We had hoped to be involved with the collaring of a male lion the next day, but he and his pals were in an area too inaccessible to be safely reached.

I visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's elephant orphanage in Nairobi three times. The 11 a.m. visit is open to anyone, while the 5 p.m. visit is open only to those who sponsor one or more of the orphans and who sign up in advance. It was great fun watching the babies rush to their individual stockades at the end of a day spent in Nairobi National Park. Each baby gets a bottle or two of special milk formula, as well as freshly cut greens before being closed in its individual stockade for the night. 

I spent several minutes with one of my three sponsored orphans (the other two had moved on to the next phase of their preparation for return to the wild). Mbegu is now four years old and described as a 'mini matriarch.' While making our final visit to the orphanage, we ran into Iain Douglas-Hamilton, noted elephant researcher and father of Elephant Watch Camp's manager and wildlife filmmaker Saba Douglas-Hamilton. We had met Iain the previous year while visiting the camp in the Samburu National Preserve.

We visited the Maasai Mara to watch the Great Migration. Some 1.5 million wildebeests and countless zebra make this annual circular migration through Kenya and Tanzania.

I got to meet the student whose high school education I am sponsoring. She 8is Turkana, from one of the many tribes in Kenya. She was very shy, probably due to her developing English skills and the fact that females in her culture are expected to be submissive. She said that chemistry is her favorite subject in school. We learned that we both love Coke (she had had Coke only once before), and both of us have blue as our favorite color. The lunch that was served was entirely foreign to the students, and mine definitely did not like lettuce! Another sponsored student, also Turkana, visited his sponsors at the same time.

I tried some portrait photography with a few of the incredible Samburu people who work at EWC, although I would have liked to photograph more of them. The tracker assigned to my group, a young man named Skanga, was extremely cooperative and seemed to enjoy being photographed. 

This trip was a bonanza for watching lions, including males, young adults and mothers with cubs. We were lucky enough to see a lone male cheetah, as well as two different mothers, each of which had two older cubs in tow.

In all, I shot more than 9,500 images with my two cameras. Of course, thousands got deleted when I got home, but I still have some good images. The wildlife viewing was phenomenal, and my photography has improved considerably since my first trip five years ago. I won't get to visit Kenya again for a couple of years, but I hope my trips to Ethiopia and Botswana will be equally as rewarding..