Tell Me, Does This Disgust You?

Innocently, I was surfing the net looking for helpful hints about owning a pet mouse, and I came across this. I can't even show a picture here;I just find it too disturbing. It's a step by step picture filled guide on how to taxidermy a mouse into a computer mouse--a MouseMouse, as they call it. Please tell me what are your thoughts on this? I am shocked, do you think I am overreacting?

Meet Lola!

I found Lola at the pet store, a couple of months ago, while making a quick run for dog food. One thing led to another --I fell in love, and then, of course, I had to take her home.

She is a very funny little creature, she sleeps most of the day, runs on her wheel all night, and when she's not sleeping or running she slips out of her cage and explores the area around her. In fact, one morning I woke up and found that Lola had crawled out of her cage, chewed a hole in the bag of her bedding, and was nesting in the bag. She never ventures out for very long, though, she loves her wheel way too much.

If I had to describe Lola in two words they would be Scaredy Cat. I don't like disturbing her much because she freaks out and runs around frantically. More often than not, right in front of me, she will try to hide by running into her little igloo house thing and barricading herself inside with bedding. Once I'm able to, finally, pet her she settles down a bit and actually seems to enjoy her self!

So my point is, having a mouse is great fun--many hours of enjoyment---Lola rocks! She's not very fond of the camera, so these are the only good pics I have been able to snap, thus far.

I'm Ringing a Bell....

for the Salvation Army! This year, again, I'm hosting a virtual kettle to collect donations for the Salvation Army. I know money is tight for most of us this year, but I would appreciate any help you can give. :) Many thanks in advance!

Banner Ad for Red Kettle

Oh My God-Movie

Just found out about the movie--"Oh My God." It looks incredibly moving. This is what Peter Rodger the director has to say:

"I was frustrated with the childish schoolyard mentality that permeates this world - I call it the "My God Is Greater Than Your God" syndrome - where you have grown men flying airplanes into buildings shouting "God is Great" - where you have the leader of the free world telling the BBC in 2003 that he invaded Iraq because God told him to - where you have the constitution of a country (Iran) that dictates that its supreme leader is God's representative on earth - where you have young men and women blowing themselves up (and innocent others) to buy a place into heaven. None of these concepts made any sense to me. Does it matter what I believe? Does it matter what you believe? And what is this entity that goes by the name of God, that seems to bring about so much friction, hurt and pain? So I decided to go around the world and ask people what they think.



Over a three-year period I traveled across 23 countries asking children, religious leaders, celebrities, fanatics and the common Man what God means to them. Along the way I experienced an incredible array of faith expressions and had no small number of unforgettable adventures. The film is a result of this journey. It is not about religion per se; it is about what God means to people throughout our human family. I needed to explore and discover for myself whether religion and religious people were the cause of all the world’s woes. And, as a person who wrestles with faith, I needed to determine whether God created man or man created God. "

Aerosmith Breaking Up?.....

Nah...I doubt it! They may be taking a break though. According to an interview with Classic Rock Magazine, this is what heartthrob (in my humble opinion) Steven Tyler, lead singer, had to say: “I don’t know what I’m doing yet, but it’s definitely going to be something Steven Tyler: working on the brand of myself – Brand Tyler.”

I LOVE Aerosmith, and I'm thinking an album done without Steven Tyler wouldn't sound like them at all. He is the voice of Aerosmith! I'm hoping that they take a short hiatus and go back into the studio to record an album with Steven.

Kiss Concert Tonight....And Musical Monday Metallica Edition

Going to see Kiss and Buckcherry tonight! I scored tickets on ebay for $8.50....very cool! I am so excited!

On to Musical Monday, Metallica doing a Misfits cover---"Die, Die My Darling." Been in my head for days--they do such a great cover!

Thinking of Getting My Nose Pierced...

Just a stud, not necessarily a ring. Any thoughts?

A history of nose piercing, courtesy of here.

NOSE PIERCING HISTORY
Leonardo Da Vinci believed that the nose set the character of the whole face.

Nose piercing was first recorded in the Middle East aproximately 4,000 years ago, it is mentioned in The Bible in Genesis 24:22 Abraham requested his oldest servant to find a wife for his son Isaac, the servant found Rebekah, and one of the gifts he gave her was a "golden earring" the original Hebrew word used was Shanf, which also translates as "nose-ring".

This practice is still followed among the nomadic Berber and Beja tribes of Africa, and the Bedouins of the Middle East, the size of the ring denotes the wealth of the family. It is given by the husband to his wife at the marriage, and is her security if she is divorced.

Nose piercing was bought to India in the 16th Century from the Middle East by the Moghul emperors. In India a stud (Phul) or a ring (Nath) is usually worn in the left nostril, It is sometimes joined to the ear by a chain, and in some places both nostrils are pierced.

The left side is the most common to be pierced in India, because that is the spot associated in Ayuvedra (Indian medicine) with the female reproductive organs, the piercing is supposed to make childbirth easier and lessen period pain.

In the west nose piercing first appeared among the hippies who travelled to India in the Late 1960's. It was later adopted by the Punk movement of the late 1970's as a symbol of rebellion against conservative values.

Belated Blogging Anniversary

Oh. My two year blogging anniversary came and went without notice by me. I haven't been as frequent with my posting this year, as I've been focusing more on other/different aspects of my life, and for some reason not able to share, here, as fluently and freely as I would have like to. Though, I am still committed to Thoughtful Reflections and the joy it brings me to connect with the world. And thanks to my readers; I appreciate you for keeping up with all of my sporadic posting. Stay tuned for further musings by me.

And for your listening and viewing pleasure, below is Pearl Jam, live, doing Little Wing with an awesome guest guitar player who happens to be my mom's friend's husband. How cool is that?! I also just found out that said guest guitarist was a former guitar teacher of Eddie Vedder's!

Bear Makes Beer Run in Wisconsin

This speaks for itself! LOL

HAYWARD, Wis. — Shoppers in a Wisconsin grocery store got an unexpected surprise when a 125-pound black bear wandered inside and headed straight for the beer cooler.

The bear stopped Friday night at Marketplace Foods in Hayward, about 140 miles northeast of Minneapolis, sauntering through the automatic doors and heading straight for the liquor department.

It calmly climbed up 12 feet onto a shelf in the beer cooler where it sat for about an hour while employees helped evacuate customers and summoned wildlife officials.

Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tranquilized the animal and took it out of the store. Store workers say the bear seemed content in the cooler and did not consume any alcohol.

Bear Makes Beer Run in Wisconsin - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com



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I'm Slightly Obsessed With the New Pearl Jam Album

Ok! Slightly obsessed is really an understatement! I've been listening to Pearl Jam's Back Spacer nonstop, for a week now! (And I'm thinking the only pause will be tonight when I see Metallica, for the first time!)

It's a wonderful album overall...I had forgotten how good these guys are. Even if you are not a fan, you should really check Back Spacer out!