Kellys Corner

So a few days before Thanksgiving I was on the phone with a technical guy to repair a problem I was having with my laptop for my job. At the end of our conversation I told him to "Have a nice Thanksgiving.", to which he replied "I, nor my family, celebrate an American Thanksgiving and frankly it is rude of you to assume that I do."

Crickets. Chirping. Crickets.

Then he says "But I hope that you enjoy your turkey."

I muttered something along the lines of okay and hung up. It was only then, while sitting there in awe of being scolded by trying to be a nice person, that it dawned on me in all of it's hindsight-is-twenty-twenty glory what I should have said after he told me to enjoy my turkey. So I will say it here:

"I don't eat turkey, I eat HAM on Thanksgiving and it is rude of you to assume I eat turkey!"



Now let's talk about this people. Oh, easily offended people of the world. I wonder sometimes how it is that you make it through your day. How you do your jobs, or even drive safely as it seems you are always on the lookout for the next big offense that is most certainly being hurled directly at you and you alone. Then the energy and great lengths at which you will go to in making sure that this great offense has been shared with the masses. And if there is any monetary gain in which this offense may carry with you, well then you my easily-offended little friend, have just struck gold.

Hell, I have even wondered once if there was something wrong with me because I don't really get offended. But no, there is not. I think it is that I am okay with what I believe in, my morals, my conduct, the way I treat people. I will not falter from those things no matter what my neighbor, friend or a stranger may do. Whether you believe in any religion or non at all is okay with me, because I know what I believe.

More often that not what ever you are being offended by you can walk away from, turn the volume off, turn the page, click the mouse or remove yourself from in some way or another. But do you? My guess is no. Why is that? I think your looking for someone or something to blame. Didn't your parents teach you that life is not fair? That world is not going to cater to you.

To sum it up, Let's go back to the turkey conversation. So he doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. Can you believe I actually gave myself a hard time about the assumption I made until I realized this. (Other than I am just a nice person I always tell people to have a good day, night, what ever and if there is a holiday close you can bet your sweet ass I am going to throw that in the mix!) The call center he works out of is in Atlanta where my company is based so he was in the United States and in the good ole' USofA Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year making that day Thanksgiving day whether you celebrate it or not. I can now only assume I should have told him to have a Happy Thursday!

Posted by Kelly at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments

Well, it is the time of year to think of what you have instead of what you do not and to be thankful for those things and not take them for granted as you likely do the rest of the year. There are always a list of things on that list that are there every year. Youv'e got your standards such as food, clean water, housing, heat and air, a job, a car, a life to live. Except right now I don't have all of those standards. Like mainly the heat one.

(We interupt this regurlarly scheduled post to tell you that the space heater in my hall just exploded or something. I am still unsure but there is massive amounts of shaking going on as it scared the effing hell out of me and I am now typing with a fire extinguisher and a pair of scissors sitting next to me on the desk. There were three fireballs that shot down my hall towards the computer room I am sitting in at this very moment. Then to unplug it I had to run PAST it and was unsure if a fourth fireball might come hurling at me. I leaped the entire distance of my hall, Indiana Jones style.)

(Why the scissors you ask? Well this here fire extinguisher came with the house and someone decided to zip tie the ring pin in place. Don't worry about me though. I am prepared now. Space heater unplugged--check
fire extinguisher in close proximity--check (it's in my lap)
read all directions on extinguisher--check
noticed zip tie, thought "what the hell" and grabbed scissors--check
do not cut zip tie off unless fire breaks out and extinguisher must be used just in case there is a mystery reason for said zip tie in the first place--check check)

Now we bring you back to your regularly scheduled blogging.

So as I was saying there is not heat in this house right now. No where. It is about 42 degrees if I had to take a guess. I have on two of everything, still cold. I woke up and thought to myself "shiver me timbers!", the thermostat is all dead. They are going to work us in, so there still is something to be thankful for.

Brandon is sick and cranky and now he is "sick of this damn house". I have tried telling him that this is all part of owning you rown home but he aint trying to here it. You see I am a laid back, spontanious, go with the flow, why worry about things that you can not control kinda gal. Brand is a planner and a saver and a the universe is out to get us consiracy theory about everything kinda guy. Yeah, we never argue or fight at all, hahahahahaha!

So today I was going to clean the house, but now I want to bundle up and play on the computer until someone warms it up in here already. Jeez! Then I still have to go and purchase and prepare all the items I am contributing to the family Thanksgiving at my moms. ( My items are: deviled eggs, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and a cranberry pie. All homemade.)

I am thankful for a whole pile of things on Thanksgiving but I am just as thankful for them every other day of the year. It's the family time that I enjoy, and the food. I hope that you and your family have a great one this year. I hope you have many things to thankful for as well, including your heat! And if you don't celebrate this holiday I hope that you have a good day no matter how you spend it.

(There is a story behind that last sentance but I am going to save it for tomorrow!!)

Posted by Kelly at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

I was shocked to learn today that nearly 100,000 horses are killed annually in foreign-owned slaughterhouses in America for human consumption in other countries. No, actually I was outraged. I think that you should be too. Please read the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/01/nelson.commentary/index.html

Then go find your Senator here:
http://www.saplonline.org/horses.htm

Now send him/her an e-mail/letter like the one I sent here:

Mr. Shelby,

I hope that this letter finds you in good spirits. My name is Kelly McNair, I am 28 years old and I reside in Alabaster, Alabama. I came across an article today that I found quite alarming and in many ways very sad. I am very interested in seeing the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act passed and put into place, as I feel that the slaughter of horses for human consumption is appalling and inappropriate. I am aware that if this legislation is passed that would put in place a permanent and immediate ban on both the slaughter of horses in the U.S. and the exportation of live horses for slaughter abroad.


For lack of a more eloquent explanation I am going to quote a passage from the article of which I learned of this travesty:


"Consider the therapeutic riding programs across the country, where horses can have more progress with children with various physical and mental disabilities than their own doctors. The most superhuman thing about horses is the contrast between their unearthly strength and inherent gentleness. Humans abuse their power while horses use theirs only for good. I'd rather be a horse.

With no disrespect to the eagle, I've always thought that the horse should be our national emblem. When horse accepted man onto his back and chose to carry his burdens, it changed the world. Horses have aided mankind through his most arduous and treacherous endeavors, from the sword to the plowshare. Humanity owes an incalculable debt to the horse. In Native American teachings, Horse enables shamans to fly through the air and reach heaven. To steal someone's horse is to steal their power.

Contrary to what some people are saying, slaughter is not a humane form of euthanasia, and these are not unwanted horses. The treatment of slaughter-bound horses is most often inhumane, and more than 90 percent of those slaughtered are young and in good health. Many are sold to slaughterhouses at closed auctions, while others are stolen pets.
Humans are not smart to eat horses. Horses are treated daily with products such as fly spray, wormers, hoof dressings, etc. These products have labels warning against use on animals used for food. Anyone with horse sense would not be exporting this toxic product."

-Willie Nelson, CNN.Com

In closing I would like to state that this past August I had the chance to vacation in Montana and Wyoming, visiting such great places as Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. As this was my first trip out West I was taken a back by the beauty of it. I remember standing in front of the Teton mountain range taking it in. The untouched landscape, not cluttered by noise or pollution led my mind back to a time long ago where cowboys rode their horses through what I was now standing there starring at. Those cowboys and Indians discovered this country on the backs of horses. Horses who at times where probably much more of a companion than they were a means of transportation. I can honestly say that I feel they would not allow us to slaughter such a wonderful creature for any reason.

Mr. Shelby I am only asking you to do what is right when the time comes and see that this legislation is passed. I believe that when you really think about it there is no other answer. Sometimes we have to stop and ask ourselves if what we are losing at the benefit of some profit is really worth it. In this case the answer is a resounding No.

Thank you for your time, God bless you,

Kelly McNair
Shelby County Voter

Posted by Kelly at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments