04.30.07
Happy Birthday to Me!
Today is my birthday! Can you guess how old I am? There is a clue in this picture. 
If you are still having problems figuring out my age, there is another clue after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
04.26.07
“I’m Goin’ Back to Cali”
Yeah, these are palm trees in Hawaii, but it’s the closest thing I could find in my photo album that reminds me of California. 
Hey all! I’m off to Cali to give another Sowing Seeds Workshop this weekend. I know you’re all sad, because you will miss my blogs, so here is the “cutest game on the Web” to keep you busy while I’m away. It’s so relaxing and has a bunny. Props go out to my friend Amy (The Aimster) for telling me about this game and for providing the above-mentioned description of it.
Speaking of Amy, I’m so psyched because I get to see her and her hubby Ed while I’m out in Cali. Yay! 
It has probably been four years since I saw her last. Ugh! Time flies way too fast.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the game!
04.23.07
“Scatter Tracts Like Raindrops”
Jon Camp from Vegan Outreach makes a hand-off to a University of Maryland student.
During antebellum America, William Lloyd Garrison (my hero) worked to put fellow abolitionists in the field to “scatter tracts like raindrops over the land;” tracts filled with startling facts and melting appeals on the subject of slavery. These days, Vegan Outreach is using this same model to end the enslavement, torture, and death of animals raised for food.
Today, Vegan Outreach’s Outreach Coordinator Jon Camp, volunteer Neva Davis, and I distributed over 1,600 leaflets in three hours at the University of Maryland. The brochures feature pictures, stories, and facts on the savage treatment of animals on modern day farms and slaughterhouses. Download and look at the brochures yourself:
- Even If You Like Meat…
- Why Vegan?
- Try Vegetarian (no gory pictures)
04.04.07
Sowing Seeds Workshop in Atlanta
Name that brand! Here I am doing an ice-breaker activity for the analyzing ads lesson.
This Weekend (March 31-April 1, 2007), I was in Atlanta, facilitating a Sowing Seeds Workshop for the Institute for Humane Education. Most of the thirteen people who attended were classroom teachers, while others were church-affiliated educators, a student, or active volunteers for local nonprofits. They freely shared their knowledge, experience, and insights making this a wonderfully inspiring learning opportunity for all of us—especially me! Read the rest of this entry »
04.03.07
The Great American Meatout
FARM staff and volunteers feed the Congressional members and staff a free vegan lunch on Meatout. I don’t know how the camera person got a picture of me without a smile! The event was very fun and up-beat.
The Great American Meatout is celebrated on the first day of Spring (March 20). The first day of Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. What better way to celebrate life than becoming vegetarian for a day? This is the goal of Meatout; to have people try vegetarianism.
Modelled after the Great American Smokeout, Meatout is a great time for people to learn about how eating animals harms one’s health, hurts animals, and destroys the environment. A new United Nations report found that animal agriculture is responsible for creating more harmful greenhouse gasses than the entire transportation sector — yikes!
This year, I volunteered with FARM to help them with their Congressional Feed-In where we provided nearly 250 Congressional staff members with delicious (I know, because I tried them :-)) free vegan meals.
Although the Great American Meatout is officially on the first day of Spring, if you missed it, you can make it up anytime — how about tomorrow?
Check out TryVeg.org for information on trying a vegetarian diet. Happy Meatout! Read the rest of this entry »
03.21.07
The Blessing of the Animals
Rev. Lerner blesses Wagner, the companion of Laura Ellis
I went to my first blessing of the animals this past Sunday. It took place at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring and was conducted by Rev. Elizabeth Lerner. There were so many creatures in the sanctuary; I had to keep looking outside to make sure it wasn’t starting to rain for 30 days and 30 nights. 
Rev. Lerner blessed every animal, saying, “May you be as blessed in the coming year as you have been a blessing in the past year.” The only exception to her saying this was when she blessed a three-month-old puppy, causing her to change the blessing accordingly. Read the rest of this entry »
03.17.07
Walk with the Sages: Version 2
This speech won my Toastmasters club’s inspirational speech contest. Yay! The purpose of my talk is to show you how to use the wisdom of the sages to cultivate your spiritual values and improve your life.
After giving an earlier version of this speech to the Dupont Circle of Speakers, I overhauled it based on their helpful suggestions. Thanks Dupont Circle of Speakers!
This version was given on February 27 at Capital 1 Toastmasters–my home group. Because I won the club competition, I will now compete at the area level on Wednesday, March 21. Wish me luck!
Here is the transcript for the new and improved “Walk with the Sages” speech: Read the rest of this entry »
03.12.07
My Life’s Passion: Helping Animals
Our dog Farrah with my older brothers Steve, Mike, and me when I was very young and frightfully fashion conscious.
Here is the transcript of the first speech I gave to the members of DC’s Capital I Toastmasters after I joined their group. The first speech is known as the “Ice Breaker” because its purpose is to introduce yourself to the rest of the club members. Enjoy!
My Life’s Passion: Helping Animals
Mr. Toastmaster, fellow members and guests, when I was in elementary school, my parents gave me an allowance of a dollar a week. I would take that money, bike to McDonalds, buy two hamburgers, and devour them. Considering how much I loved eating burgers, fish sticks, and sausage pizza, I could have never guessed that I would devote my life to promoting vegetarianism, and yet this is exactly what has happened. Read the rest of this entry »
03.04.07
What Was Funny When My Mom Was Growing Up?
Last September I joined members of Compassionate Action for Animals on a camping trip to Minnesota’s wonderful Afton State Park. Here I am telling them a joke that my mother told me.
With my arms as they are, I say through gritted teeth, “Hey! Could somebody please open the window!?”
Ha, ha! Yes, it works on so many levels! Read the rest of this entry »
03.03.07
Enjoy Sunsets More
My boyfriend and I watched the glorious sun set from the shores of Kona, Hawaii last June. © Freeman Wicklund 2006 Read the rest of this entry »