This morning I awoke to news that rioting broke out in Afghanistan for the “accidental” burning of the Quran by the U.S military.This left me irked..as a Christian.It’s very hard for me to have compassion about this situation.I am peace loving human and try to stay quiet and “respect” others’ spiritual beliefs,but my belief in God out weighs any of that..in my heart.I’ll never worship that false idol..EVER.Which brings me to tonight’s news story.. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani husband and father of 2 from Iran has been jailed for 2 years for converting to Christianity and renouncing Islam.The 34 yr old was handed a final order of death which can come at anytime now.Every fiber in my soul screams out WHY??? The American in me gets angry and asks the same question we use so much “What if the tables were turned?”What if we committed such a heinous act of terror on U.S soil.I know what you’re thinking we do it in foreign lands.Yes but that’s off subject and we must stay on task=)Seriously though YOU know what I mean.We don’t execute people for their spiritual preference.If the United States or many other countries pulled this crap WW3 would erupt.The Holy Bible is banned in 51 countries..The Quran isn’t banned in any country except the atheistic totalitarian dictatorships like North Korea(where all spiritual literature is outlawed.)The Jesus lover in me knows in her heart the reason for the hate and tolerance of a religion that is represented to the world by suicide bombers,bible burners,and noose tighteners.Worshipers a plenty whom obey Islamic teachings claim it is a peaceful and tolerant faith.HELLO I don’t care who ya are that’s not what you are practicing.So it’s not you who’s pulling the trap door..Why don’t you speak up?Oh because your government will kill your ass too?But the laws are set by the peaceful laws of the Quran..just SHUT UP AND QUIT KIDDING YOURSELF! An innocent man will die and you will put your damn rose colored glasses on and say Assalamu alaikum.I believe after Yousef,your countryman and brother takes his last breath he will gain everlasting life and the title of Sainted Martyr.
I wouldn't consider the issues I feel strongly about to be political..though some may.Abortion..my question is,how do you kill your child?What right do you have to take innocent life?A women has a right to do as she chooses to her own body BLAH BLAH BLAH..too bad your mom didn't agree.Moving on to the Gulf oil spill..many have forgotten, unfortunately the 6500+ dolphins have not.Not to mention the sick,dying,and deceased humans who have gotten forgotten as well.The oil and corexit is still there.Last week alone over 3000lbs of tar balls washed ashore.I don't think the Gulf will ever be safe again.Last but most certainly not least the issue I feel most strongly about is God.I know some of you may giggle,judge me perhaps.Here's the thing..I can't live without Christ and don't know how I did for 22 yrs.I may not be a so called model Christian..but who really is?I know God is real and it saddens me when others don't.I'm not angry at them..I hope they find him.
I won’t forget this past NYE.Wow is an understatement.I had the opportunity to go to The House of Blues in Downtown Disney..crossed another to do off my bucket list..however I really wanna go back for the world famous Gospel Breakfast.The night was spent with a great friend..whom dragged me to the front of the stage unexpectedly..which was something I said I’d never do at a Sevendust concert.The 1st band Love Juice was an Orlando band..that was pretty good..I got hit in the boob with a tshirt while I had my nose in Facebook..who Fbs at a rock concert?(hangs head) I do.All was going well even met some nice people from Texas on the patio.Soon Black Tide came on..These young guys are exceptionally talented.The drummer Steven Spence..is like 20 and has made it to my top drummer list already..the kid is amazing.On came Trivium whom I’ve seen before..Energy is what comes to mind when I think of these guys..the crowd felt it for sure and got rowdy..I was lucky..I had my unmovable friend for protection behind me.Always great to see this band…and I got pegged in the head with a pick by front man Matt Heafy..lol scored again.Then came what I had been waiting for my Sevendust.YAY! I’ve hung out with these guys..but never been that up close to get the full face melting experience,right in front of the stage…sensory overload for sure.I was rockin with the best of them..till Morgan decided to crowd surf…all was fine on his way across the crowd..then he came back..with a massive crowd pushing him forward..still cool as he sailed over my head..then came the crowd push..and along i went..my good friend got pushed like 60 ft away(no more protection) and i went forward..and nearly down..then outta nowhere a Hispanic Jesus grabbed me and yanked me to safety..I am deeply indebted Hispanic Jesus..till we meet again my amigo.It was pretty nuts but worth it.I did have to smash a very rude concert goer’s instep due to his repetitive bouncing on my biker boot shod feet..his Nike’s didn’t stand a chance.I got 2 more picks..one from Clint and one from Vinny.It was great to see Tara on stage.Idk if Clint knows it or not but he has more energy and is happier with his love around…(my favorite couple btw) after the show I needed to take off my Chuck Norris assault weapons..I’m always barefoot at concerts..cause that’s how I roll…and my feet were killing me.(damn boots)So as we laughed and discussed the show walking to the car my friend and I happened upon none other than the band Black Tide in the parking lot.They were blocked in(lucky me) and pissed off some moron had hemmed them in.So i produce a “good one” outta my bra..and ask if they wanna smoke..haha hell yeah they did..and we discussed their problem..even bringing math into it(i suck at math)but as my friend the non smoking banker started to work the problem through his smarticle brain..I enjoyed my new friends.When we left the poor guys were still stuck.If you’ve never listened to or watched them play..you must.They’re from Miami,which no longer has a rock station to play their music.Give them a listen..share their music.Help these guys make it to the top..they deserve it.So yeah this was a memorable night..I got my face melted,scored super stuff and hung out with Black Tide in flowered socks,behind Trivium’s bus, in Downtown Disney…EPIC WIN
I’ve been on a month long hiatus from advocating the Gulf.Sometimes I feel like I’m beating my head against a wall.Advocates turning on each other,lying politicians,people turning a blind eye either for self gratification or the need to continue living or working on the Gulf.I got wore down defending,fighting,advocating…spinning my wheels.I got a call from a fellow advocate tonight whom gave me my own personal pep rally.=) What an awesome refuel that was.I realize that I’ve spread myself too thin…and can’t say no to most projects concerning my beloved Gulf…and that I need to work on.It’s so hard to hear the stories of people dying,coughing up blood,so sick they can’t even care for themselves.There’s hundreds of stories of people from all over the Gulf Coast..young,old,black,white.All these stories have the same common denominator.THESE PEOPLE LIVE OR WORK ON THE GULF!Knowing this and watching our own Gov’t ignore or sweep them under the rug BOILS MY BLOOD!The good news I received was that more clinics are being built(not by the Gov’t of course) but by people like me.People who have given all they have to give..and haven’t give up.People that care.My friend reminded me I was one of them.I remembered God gave me this big mouth for a reason.To speak for those with no voice.February of 2009..2 months before the spill I was in the Keaton Beach area.It was so clean and beautiful..so lovely..fast forward June 2011 Keaton Beach,Florida was named the SECOND dirtiest beach in the United States…ummm say that again?I hate you B.P I truly do..I know I know those are strong words.But to be fair I hate every law maker who supported off shore drilling as well.My adversaries always come at me with the same ole song and dance..you drive a car don’t you?Yes,yes I do.Though I know for a fact that the good ole U.S of A has over 50 years in reserves that could be used.I also know that all the money that has been shelled out in The War On OIL(I mean terror) could have provided an eco friendly car for every household in the United States.These people making and passing these laws are the same people who have destroyed our economy.It’s past time to take a stand.It’s past time to CARE.Please stop allowing the burden to fall upon the BIG MOUTH 
tree huggers and realize we are standing for you with a very heavy load.I get that people are busy and that they have lots to do..so do I.It only takes a moment to send an email to your senator,or even something as simple as a retweet.If your made of stronger stuff, utilize your talents..contact others..spread the word.Keep in mind just because you don’t think something doesn’t effect you personally..it does.The price of gas you pay,the loved one who never comes home from that futile war,the cost of the milk that you complained about at the grocer..that great job you lost.It all comes from the people of our great country laying down and taking what was given to them..STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT…your future needs you.
So my daughter will graduate high school in about 10 months,with honors.I’m a proud mother for sure.The issue is she’s dead set on going into the military..which distresses me greatly (which I try to hide).Last week a Navy recruiter graced my home..I didn’t speak to him..what’s the point? My daughter went in and took a test to find out what area she would be smart enough to embark on.Later that night she told me what a fine job she’d done on the test..said that she did so well that she could go to any branch and do any job but nuclear explosives..(um o.k that’s a blessing I suppose).She went on to say that all of her siblings would have health care and their college paid for as well as her.My baby girl felt like a hero..I could see it shining in her eyes.I swallowed my fear and negative thoughts and listened to her explain that she wants to..”NO MATTER WHAT” do military law enforcement (FML I try to avoid cops)Lastly before she left me she asked “How do you feel about me deactivating bombs?”Come again?O.K folks here’s the deal..in less than 2 months my precious kid will begin her 4th year in the veterinary academy(that’s like 23 miles away) We have jumped through hoops to keep her in..and now she wants to play with bombs?All because in order to receive her OSHA certification she had to learn electricity,and is now interested in wires.SO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN! Or hey why not do a job you’ve planned on since what?..kindergarten? I know i know,if it were another’s offspring I’d say”It’s her life” but she’s not..she’s mine.
Well i have tickets for a few on my list do I will exclude those.Off the top of my head Lenny Kravitz is a must see and he hasn't annouced tour dates.Volbeat is also on my must see list..I can't get enough of them.But the band whom I want to see the most,which is near the top of my bucket list would be the greatest band of all time..(drumroll) Metallica.I love love love my tallica=)I know you only gave me 3..but hey we're talkin music here.Gloomball, Early Melodic Animals,and The Glorious Veins are all super and hope to see tem all someday.
Twelve years ago today,I experienced every parents nightmare..the death of my child.Savannah Rayne (my lil ladybug) closed her eyes to this world.May 14th 1999 changed my world forever.I always tell people new to grief..it never goes away..just gets easier.I have my moments..where it all comes rushing back like a wave crashing upon the shore..unable to be contained.Today was the 1st time I went through this day..relativly happy..bravo self..bravo.I started getting sad..and a thought I never had crept in..Savannah wouldn’t want me sad..people have said that to me for years..though I never felt I could accept that,I think today was a turning point for this grieving mother,and I’m so very thankful.
No I’m not superstitious.I do not like this day.Even if you scoff at the very idea that gloom and doom are hovering at your back..u still have that thought..due to all the hype.Me? I’ve known three people who died on this day..2 in the month of May.I realize death occurs daily,though people I know don’t die daily, and seldom those you know that have passed, die on a significant or noted day.Death is always the ultimate bad luck which leads us back to thus said day, fucking sucks.. for me anyway because the worst of the worst happend..Death of a child…not just any child…my child.So today I will make the best of it,and not be superstitous and try to contain myself when i hear all the Friday the 13th blabberings of how misfortune heaps it’s heartless wrecking ball upon the unsuspecting’s head,as I think to myself..you have no idea.
My ultimate dream was to change the world..somehow..I kicked around being a vet,working for greenpeace,an award winning photographer for national geographic…imagined myself in the Congo….the next Jane Goodall.My daughter is in her 3rd year of classes for becoming a vet,I still support Greenpeace and Jane Goodall,and drool over the amazing shots in the nat geo every chance I get.Much has changed since my days of childhood..I had kids(which I always said I'd never do)Within the past year I've picked up my camera again..it feels so right..so me..I don't know if I'll ever go deep into the Congo or risk my neck and spray paint the side of a moving ship..but I do now realize that those chilhood dreams along with life experiences has shaped who I am today.
I’m not here to throw a bunch of science at you (though it’s tempting)or explain the decimation of a unique ecosystem,inform you of the numbers of dolphin,marine life,or human deaths ..instead I’m here to tell a story.A story of life,death,mistakes and mistrust.One year ago today I watched in horror, along with the rest of the world,while plumes of billowing black smoke darkened the sky,and 11 families began mourning the loss of the rig workers that died in my most beloved place on the entire planet.You see a few years before The Sierra Club was fighting Gulf Drilling(I remember..which is no easy feat,i assure you)People ridiculed them..called them tree hugging idiots trying to deny coastal states desperately needed revenue and the U.S most importantly…oil.As you know the activists and plain old citizens did not prevail..and now no one will, aside those pumping that black gold..that stuff our govt is willing to sacrifice its people and oceans for .The t.v crews have gone away as well as support from even the biggest environmental groups..this is old news..though I hear Dancing with the Stars is all the rave.But I’m here to tell you today there is a group of people whom have reached across state lines and personal differences and have banned together..tree huggers and fisherman alike.We are united to raise awareness of the travesty that has and still is happening to us.Some have lost their lives telling the truth.Others like my friend Tucker(whom was shot 4x in a crazy attempt to hide the truth)are still tirelessly carrying the torch.Can you imagine your family member dying from being poisoned by BP and the U.S Gov’t and having no justice?Lisa Nelson’s family like so many others will never see justice served.There are sick and dying Americans right now,whom can’t get healthcare and are being denied any compensation.Remember “back in the day” when a dolphin/sea turtle/whale washed ashore it was national news?Now they
decompose right on the beach..there’s just so many..people become desensitized and ultimately forget or simply ignore..I mean who has time for all this inconvenient gloom and doom anyway?I do.Many do.Cherri Foytlin and others do..they just walked to Washington in hopes of getting the desperate attention needed for this cause.We are strong..we make some nervous..we have a voice..we have given a voice to the Gulf of Mexico and it’s inhabitants along with Gulf Coast citizens..hell the entire world truly..This disaster won’t go away and neither will the damage.However we will continue to advocate..to help those in need and to keep you safe and informed.We ask you to heed the warnings,and stay safe.I’m hoping the next time you see an article or news segment related to the spill informing you of the latest developments or need to know info(like not eating Gulf seafood)you will think of the ones behind the scenes as well,who are walking across states,dying,being shot,losing everything,clean up crews,standing up to the govt and BP,writing letters,making videos,retweeting,blogging,the list goes on and on..The unsung Gulf Spill heroes deserve if nothing else a kind thought for their efforts,time,and sacrfice.I’d like to add some thanks as well; Tucker Mendoza,C.j Seafood,Gulf Truth Advocates,Gulf Truth Warriors,Gulf News Now,John Scott McKay,Amy Greenwood,Real Coastal Warriors,Save the Gulf,In memory of wildlife and ocean life killed by the 2010 oil spill, all the members in the Facebook groups and pages..and so many others that have worked so hard to keep us safe.From the bottom of my heart thank you all,keep up the good fight..Ella
