Caitlyn Jenner, The Kardashians, Josh Dugger, Justin Bieber, the list goes on…

There are so many stories in the tabloids that occupy so much of our focus as a society that so many things get lost, so many issues that are more important. They are more important, aren’t they?

Is what’s important like beauty, in the eye of the beholder, or is it just like we think, more important. Is a Kardashian doing something outrageous really more important that the tragedy in Nepal? You wouldn’t think so, but that’s how we seem to treat things as a society.

Is it like one person’s trash is another person’s treasure? What’s important to you may not be important to the next person, but as I sit here thinking about it, I do believe that statement, but I also believe we should have more compassion for others and understanding of what’s going on in the world.

If we knew more about things going on outside our line of vision, we might have more compassion for those around us and maybe even far reaching. And on the other side…if we didn’t give these celebrities the attention, accolades and ultimately money, would they stay in the spotlight? Would our attention go to more pressing issues and matters?

But where one celebrity walks out the door, another walks in. And with so many things going on in the world, heartbreak, heartache, tragedy, not all the time mind you, but it’s out there, these celebrities, reality show stars, etc give us other things to focus on.

So, what’s the answer?

I’m abdicating this world for a cartoon.

Wouldn’t that be cool? I’m watching Rise of the Galaxy and enjoying it, as I always do and I started thinking what it would be like to be a cartoon, not just in a cartoon, but be a cartoon.

C’mon, think about it, you could be a super hero, a princess, a caveman, a minion, an ogre and so much more. I know that you could be that in any type of movie or for a costume part, but not for every day. You could jump, bounce, fly, hover, disappear, walk through walls, bounce off walls, what could be better?

I was very inspired to talk about this, but to be honest, that’s all I have to say.

I want to be a cartoon, in a cartoon. Yup, that’s it.

Don’t you agree?

There are different ways to show appreciation…you can say thank you, you can give a gift, a card, send an email, leave a note, flowers, sky writing, a smile. However you decide to do it, just do it, it means the world to some and makes a world of difference.

I know we say thank you for someone holding the door open for you, serving your food, delivering your mail, the person at the register, but do you thank people who don’t normally get a thank you, people who work behind the scenes?

Sometimes it is something that will make someone’s day. I make it a point of thanking people for things they do for me, even if they don’t do anything directly for me. Do you thank service men and women for their service to the country? Do you thank the person who cleans your hotel room? Do you ever thank the person who cleans the bathrooms in a public place? Your office? The airport? A stadium?

Tonight, the team went to dinner, a roll off dinner, as several us are done with the project this week and even though PM has been thanking us for all we have been doing, she thanked us a little more formally, with a hand written note [a lost art by the way] and a gift card, she didn’t need to go that extra step, but she did and it really meant a lot to me and I know to my team mates as well.

Please take that extra step to reach out and say thank you to someone, maybe you’ll make their day.

So, I say to you, thank you for reading my blog every day, I may not be able to reach out and shake your hand, but I can say thank you, I appreciate you and your support, more than you could ever know.

Smell. This is a good thing and a bad thing.

I don’t know if I’ve ever told you, but I am a wee bit sensitive to smells. Ok, we both know I’m lying, I am super sensitive to smells. Pook.

Now, like I said, this is a good and bad thing. Let’s talk about the bad first…cigarettes hit me hard and it can be on clothing, remnants of a lit cigarette as I walk by, as much as I enjoy being around animals, but…stinky dog smell in a small space, cat pee, even the tiniest bit, coffee, especially if someone is drinking it near me and the cup gets close, cooking onions, alchohol, bad breath, colognes, lotions, so much more…a lot of these things are subtle and then there is being vegan…fish is overpowering, meats get to me and can send me out of a room. I am over sensitive and I loathe it! I try to hide it, but sometimes it just doesn’t work and I feel terrible about that. So I apologize to any friends and family I have offended.

Now, I don’t want to be the total wicked, complaining nose…let’s talk about the good.

The smell of fresh cut grass, the ocean, warm fresh towels, the wind when the top is down on the car, suede, yes, I know, totally contradictory for a vegan, but oh my goodness…I love walking by Wilson’s leather! Babies, my nieces when they get out of the bath, my grandkids, my nieces hands after they wash them, a new box of crayons, an unfinished canvas, the air when it’s going to snow, the rain, the air after a rain storm, puppy breath! my cats after they get a bath or when they’re clean and want to snuggle, a freshly bathed dog, Spring, Fall, flowers [sunflowers, daisies, roses, need I go on?], fresh baked bread, butter, especially when you’re cooking with it, popcorn, crisp apples, fresh cut wood, new car, beach, the ocean, yes I know I said that already! I could go on, but I’m going to end here hoping to have redeemed myself.

So…what do you say, we drop the top on the car, pick up some suede shoes, sunflowers and crisp apples and head to the beach!