Keira-anne.com

At the end of a brief doctor’s appointment yesterday, the conversation between my doctor and I turned to my epidermis. After a quick examination of my face, she commented that my skin was looking very healthy and asked if I use sunblock each day. “Yep, SPF 50 every day,” I answered. She laughed and I added that “I make a point of nagging my friends into using it too!”

Her smile disappeared and she said “well, you should probably share with them that they wouldn’t believe how many of my patients I’ve been seeing and diagnosing with skin cancer these days.”

In all seriousness, our skin’s wellness isn’t something we should be taking lightly. We eat right to stay healthy, exercise to stay fit and firm, take vitamins to ensure we’re getting out daily fill and wash our hands to avoid the flu at all costs. So why won’t we do the same for our skin?

I can’t deny that in my early 20s I would visit a tanning booth once in a while or ditch sunscreen for tanning oil. But that was then and this is now and I have come to the obvious conclusion that the health of my skin is important. Beyond the risk of skin cancer, damage to the skin is not reversible and once the sags and spots appear, there’s no turning back. And besides, what I look like in a bikini at age 50 is largely dependent on how I treat myself and my skin in a bikini today. I can be Helen Mirren or I can be Donatella Versace. It’s a no-brainer.

I get it. Sometimes a little bit of tone does look a bit better than the Casper the Ghost-like skin I’m usually rocking. Self tanning products have come a long, long way, my friends, and provide a deep and natural glow – often with a coconut kick. My personal favourite is Clinique’s Self Sun Body Daily Moisturizer for yummy colour. That said, you’re all out of excuses, so take care of yourself and your skin. Every day.

You’re worth it.

With the August long weekend only two sleeps away and temperatures maintaining skyrocketed levels, now is a better time than any to stay protected. While you’re at it, don’t forget to stay hydrated, stay cool and leave your pets at home. Temperatures inside your vehicle can reach 45+ degrees in only minutes and your canine companion can sustain permanent brain damage in as little as 20 minutes. For more tips on how to keep your fur baby cool during these hot, hot days, refer back to my summary from last year.

As it enters its final three days, the horse death toll at the Calgary Stampede has reached six – a number that Stampede spokesperson Doug Fraser describes as “very unusual and very upsetting.” [source] However, death is nothing new to the annual event. In fact, since 1986, more than 50 chuckwagon horses alone have died as a result of various levels of participation at the Calgary Stampede. [source] This number does not include other animals involved, such as grown cattle and baby calves used in rope-tying events.

There’s no definitive reason for the deaths of the six horses at this year’s event. Cause has ranged from broken legs, cardiac arrest due to stress and even a horse that was bucking so wildly it broke its own back and was subsequently put down. [source] Not unlike horse racing, these beasts are forced to perform, holding up their 1,000-pound bodies on ankles not much thicker than yours or mine. Ouch.

All of this leads me to ask only one question: What is the magic number?

Which number of dead animals serves as the pivot point for the Calgary Stampede to move from “family entertainment” to “unnecessary cruelty”? Though the event is considered an Alberta tradition – mini donuts included – the notion of tradition does not automatically translate to ethical or humane.

Many fans of the Calgary Stampede will argue that it’s the nature of the beast, so to speak, and that these horses are simply performing in ways that their bodies were designed to perform. While it’s true that horses run, buck and jump in a natural environment, the Calgary Stampede creates an entirely different circumstance.

It’s interesting that this annual event – and ensuing annual debate – is surfacing simultaneously with a similar deliberation in Vancouver. Vancouver Parks Board Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon is putting forth a motion to hold a public referendum and consider whether or not whales should be held in captivity. Using animals for entertainment or “sport” – as in the stampede, horse racing, zoos and aquariums – is a hotly contested debate, one in which opinions are always strongly divided.

Where do you stand on the issue?

One of the most common topics in e-mails I receive from readers is with regard to pet adoption. Those who have been following my blog know that I adopted a three-year-old rescue dog from a foster home in April, 2009 and have been raising and training him since that time. Though I was initially hesitant about bringing home an older dog, a little bit of education on the topic soon made my choice clear.

Unfortunately, pet adoption is often plagued with misconceptions – particularly the idea that shelter pets have behavioral or health issues. I can assure you that this is simply not the case, as anyone who has met my dog, Jordy, can attest to. To help clarify a few basic questions about pet adoption and general pet ownership, I’ve asked the fantastic folks behind Adopt-A-Pet to answer some of the most common queries I receive.

Q: “Although there are millions of pets in shelters needing homes each year, many pet-owners-to-be don’t consider pet adoption when they’re looking for their new four-legged friend. Why do you think this is?”

A: Many people who want to get a pet are not aware of how many great pets are available at shelters. They might also have the misconception that pets in shelters might be there because there was a problem with the animal. In fact, most pets end up in shelters not because of any problem, but because an owner died, moved, or simply didn’t have the time or money to care for the animal. In some cases animals are lost and never found by their owners. These animals are healthy and very eager to please. Rescued pets are wonderful – just ask anyone who has one!

Q. “I’m looking for a particular breed, so is adoption an option for me?”

A: Some people are seeking purebred animals or puppies and think these animals are not available in shelters. In fact, nearly 25% of all animals in shelters are purebred. Often someone will buy an expensive purebred animal and then attempt to breed that animal to recoup their money. Often these animals are not placed in homes and end up in the shelter. Also, keep in mind that many rescue groups deal only with particular breeds, so a quick internet search can point you in the right direction.

Q: “I’m interested in getting a puppy [or kitten] rather than an older animal. How can I go about this without supporting pet stores or breeders?”

A: Puppies and kittens often end up in shelters as well, but it is important to note that younger animals require a lot of work and training as they can be quite destructive (peeing on the carpet or chewing shoes). Puppies and kittens are great, but often people are much happier getting a pet who is older, and whose size and temperament is a known quality.

Q: What are the 5 most important things a potential adopter should consider when choosing their new pet?

A: 1. You need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life. Consider the cost of food, health care, toys, treats, grooming and vaccinations. These expenses can really add up if you’re not ready for them!

5. Make any necessary modifications to your home, yard and fence to provide for your pet’s safety.

Q: What are 5 positive aspects of pet adoption, and why is it a good option?

A: 1. When you adopt an adult animal, you can see his or her size and temperament. This helps ensure that the pet is right for you and your family.

5. Choosing a mixed breed animal can help avoid many of the genetic health problems that have developed in purebred animals due over-breeding and inbreeding.

I want to offer a huge and sincere thanks to Adopt-A-Pet for taking the time to provide some insight into animal adoption. It’s a huge undertaking for anyone and takes some serious consideration. However, the benefits and joys of bringing a rescued animal into your life are most definitely worth the effort! Please visit Adopt-A-Pet’s website to start your search for animals in your area that are looking for a loving home.

Despite being a fairly capable gal, I’d never attempt to cut my own hair. Living in the city without a car sometimes forces me to rely on the professional assistance of a taxi driver. And while I am completely competent in the kitchen and proficient at painting my toenails, sometimes I simply don’t feel like doing either.

When dining out, having my dog groomed or grabbing a cab home on a rainy day, I’m of the view that I’m paying for the service, not so much the product. I’m paying for a service that, for one reason or another, I choose not to do on my own. And if it so happens that said service is above par or entirely phenomenal, I never hesitate to tack on a generous tip.

Photo: dooq on Flickr

On our recent vacation, Rebecca and I almost never tipped below 20%. It seems as though 15-18% is an acceptable standard, while tipping 10% or less can be likened to spelling out “TIP” in pennies. What I found most surprising on our trip was that, in chatting with friends in NYC that work as restaurant servers or bartenders, Canadians are notoriously “cheap” tippers, generally hovering around the 10% mark at best.

I started thinking about the practice of tipping and how much it varies around the globe. It’s never something I take issue with because, most often, service and expectations are in sync with each other. However, adding a gratuity onto any service can be a tricky and sticky process, so how do you determine if and how much you tip?

And further…

• How do you feel about dining cheques with gratuity automatically included?
• Do you tip various services, such as your hair stylist/barber, taxi drivers, barista or your neighbourhood dog groomer?
• What’s your tip style when dining in vs. having food delivered vs. take-out?

To announce that I love dogs would be stating the obvious, so let me begin by saying that my love of dogs doesn’t discriminate. While I’m often wary of people, there isn’t a dog I won’t approach for cuddles and kisses. So when I heard that my friends Rebecca and Josh adopted a three-year-old pit bull from Hug A Bull rescue, I couldn’t wait to meet him. This past weekend I got my chance.

What surprised me most about Jake first was his size. He isn’t the beastly, muscular menace most come to expect with pit bulls. Jake is a 50-pound pure-bred American Staffordshire terrier that was built for play. He instantly took to me and was quick to show off. Rebecca and I took Jake for a walk in the woods where he displayed his expertly perfected stick-fetching skills, all the while being entirely cute. Yes, cute. His mannerisms and facial expressions were almost puppy-like and it was impossible not to fall for Jake’s charms and huge heart.

When the walk was done and Jake had expended all his energy in the woods, he climbed up on the couch beside me, flopped onto my lap and rested his head on my knee. The boy loves to cuddle when not showering his “mommy” with appreciative kisses.

The stigmas attached to this breed of dog have become unavoidable, but I can’t help but wonder if such stigmas would exist if not for the media. Fear sells headlines, so it’s not unusual for news outlets to resort to fear mongering. No doubt a pit bull’s bite would be stronger than that of, say, a golden retriever. However, if a golden retriever barked at and nipped someone at the local park, it’s highly unlikely that the story would make the 6 o’clock news.

My personal experiences with pit bulls have only ever been positive ones. One of my closest friends is a Special Constable with the BC-SPCA and, over her career, has only ever encountered a single aggressive pit bull. Breaking through stigmas surrounding animals is, in my opinion, equally important as breaking through the stigmas we have regarding people. That said, what have been your experiences with this breed? Do you love them? Fear them? Why or why not?

When Vancouver and Whistler were first awarded the 2010 Olympic Winter Games seven years ago, I was less than enthused. I’ve never been a fan of the Olympics generally and wasn’t pumped for them to be held in British Columbia specifically. My sentiments spent the next near-decade snowballing, tangling up in an avalanche of over-spending, criticizing reports, suffering social programs and homelessness to name a few. While you can talk to me until you’re blue in the face, I will never, ever agree that athletic facilities trump any of the problems within our Province that are rapidly deteriorating. That said, I also can’t deny the fact that the Games are very much here.

This is where I admit to waving the white flag, eat my words and declare my own hypocrisy. Despite it all, I am very, very excited for the celebrations at hand.

I suppose it began last Thursday. I made my way to 49th Avenue in an attempt to catch Steve Nash carry the torch and felt entirely unpatriotic. In a sea of red and white, I stood out like a sore thumb in my purple basketball jersey. I intended to get Nash’s attention and, seemingly, it worked. Without red and white, I felt entirely alienated so made the decision that I’d actually sport Canada’s colours the next day as the torch made its way past my office downtown.

The excitement on Georgia Street Friday morning was incredible with a sea of proud Canadians stretched, quite literally, as far as my eyes could see. And as we cheered, applauded and shouted, everyone was speculating who’d ultimately light the cauldron that night at BC Place Stadium. I had to admit that even I, the Olympic Cynic, was curious. [Cue that white flag I was telling you about.]

Curled up on my couch that evening, I sat mesmerized as so many of the beautiful elements of our country’s culture unfolded before millions of eyes around the globe. British Columbia is only a fraction of the rich tapestry that is Canada, made up of people, images, songs, history and events that have shaped and transformed the home in which you and I live today. Perhaps the hydraulic issue served as an unintended measure of proof that, despite how breathtaking Canada is, it is not perfect. We’d be fools to deny such flaws exist but can instead unite in the pride that threads through us all and hope that one day we’ll see a country in which the final pieces click into place.

I’ve been called many names in the past: Homebody, Little Miss Anti-Social and even Not A Joiner. While those labels can certainly ring true at the best of times, now is not one of them. The movement and spirit of Canadian pride has spread across this city like wildfire. Think of Vancouver as being likened to Zombieland – minus the fleshy tenancies but instead with a healthy dose of infectious patriotism.

The ’round-the-clock music, cheers, screams and partying no longer cause me to roll my eyes but instead stifle giggles. If anything, this event has served as a personal reminder of how truly magical British Columbia is. It’s easy to take the mountains and ocean and blue sky and fresh air for granted each day when it’s on my doorstep. To be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see those elements of our nation through the eyes of countless international visitors is a gift. While I certainly refuse to turn a blind eye to the critical needs on the streets of my city and in the towns of my province, it would also be a shame were I to miss out on such an amazing opportunity in my own front yard.

The strangest thing about this all is the notion that in a few short weeks, the streets will have emptied out, Robson Square will be once again quiet on my early morning walks to work and we will all be left wondering if it was just a dream…

Author’s Foreword: This post is lovingly dedicated to my dear friend Andrea, a woman who shares many of my compulsions. Language is only one of them. Reading thesauruses may be another.

While earlier pondering this blog post, I was formulating what I thought would be the perfect opening anecdote. Upon further consideration, I realized that whether it related to my topic or not was moot, so I’ve decided to drop it altogether and cut to the chase.

“What’s the deal with language these days?”

When ICQ made its first appearance in 1996, chat speak was born. Words and phrases became abbreviated and emotions were instead expressed through cleverly strung together punctuation marks. Further still, punctuation itself was completely thrown out the window. It’s a slippery slope, my friends, and since then we’ve been inundated by way of MSN, AOL, text messaging, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, e-cards, blogs, webcams and smart phones.

While technology has certainly made the world a smaller place and brought people closer together (though that is still open to debate), it has also turned us into incredibly disgusting and ridiculously languid communicators.

Photo: MrPhilDog on Flickr

It can be assumed that the majority of Canadians have been taught, generally speaking, a basic education in the public school system. Many more of us have been fortunate enough to attend post-secondary institutions. The expectation concerning our quality of work only increases as we pursue higher levels of schooling. Words – both written and spoken – are arguably the strongest method of communication no matter which language one speaks.

Have I missed something along the way? I was by no means the most scholastic student in any given class. I made efforts when warranted, pulled off a consistent ‘B’ average throughout most of academia and never gave one subject more attention over another. Yet somehow I’ve still managed to walk away with an understanding of spelling, grammar and punctuation.

An alarming rate of educated adults still mix up contractions with possessive words. “A lot” has always been, and will always be, two separate words. When joining two thoughts with “and,” why use a comma? The “and” in the middle is the conjoiner. Run-on sentences are never acceptable and the only exception to this rule is if your name is Ernest Hemingway or Raymi. Though, even those two know what’s what.

The truth is that this unfortunate phenomenon is not restricted to chat windows and Facebook walls. Glaring blunders are popping up in grocery store fliers, newspapers, magazines, work-related correspondence and on billboards. I can’t help but wonder if our educations have failed us or if we simply no longer care. It’s time for the lost art of language to make a triumphant return.

I’ve been more prayerful this year. When people ask me if I consider myself religious, for some reason I take offense. No one, however, asks me if I consider myself spiritual. I consider myself spiritual. By that it can be construed that I’m deeply aware of the spiritual aspect to my whole self. It’s as much a part of me as my mental well-being, my emotional quotient and the health of my physical body.

I believe in God; yup, the supreme Allah. He’s who I pray to, who I believe in and who I share it all with. Not out of a sense of duty or of obligation. It’s born out of the simple desire to feel connected to Him and to keep my spiritual heartbeat strong because without either then… what? Exactly. I never want my life to read like a guilt-inducing slogan on the neon sign of a church. I’d rather it resemble the sensation of a breeze in a tree or the roll of a wave.

Man takes immense and incredible pride in knowing that he is the most evolved species on the planet, yet the way in which he views lives and loves and heartbeats is far more vulgar and barbaric than any other species on the planet.

Photo: dtcchc on Flickr

“When a man wantonly destroys one of the works of man we call him a vandal. When he destroys one of the works of God we call him a sportsman.” – Joseph Wood Krutch, Literary Naturalist, 1893-1970

Some people seem somewhat shocked initially. Others are in disbelief and others still feel it necessary to dish out mild jabs in good fun. While at the same time, some people have simply exclaimed “finally! I was wondering how long it would take you…”

While I previously went through a two-year period of vegetarianism when I last lived on Vancouver Island, I had long been a big fan of meat. I loved eating it, cooking with it, creating new recipes with it, smelling it as it baked or broiled or barbecued. April 12, 2009 was the last time I ate meat.

A little over three months without meat seems like a short time for most and, while some may doubt the genuine intent behind my decision to cut meat entirely from my diet, that time is irrelevant. I’m still new to this “vegetarian thing” and know that there’s still a lot to learn. I’m constantly educating myself, researching the lifestyle I’ve undertaken and finding new recipes and ways at which to keep myself healthy without eating meat. My choice didn’t come about because I decided it suddenly tasted “gross”. In fact, my diet still includes eggs and dairy products from humanely-obtained local sources.

With so many questions being bounced around between my family, my friends and even my blog readers, I’ve felt the time is right to deliver my vegetarian’s manifesto, if you will. I can’t necessarily pinpoint the “how” but I can definitely articulate and expand on the “why”.

It’s no secret that I’ve long been a lover of animals. This includes everything from cats to dogs to chickens to birds to whales and every other living, breathing creature under the sun. To me, they have always been beautiful, abundant and gentle beings, each possessing somewhat of an innocence that we humans dropped along the way at some point. What was missing in my own life in this regard was a connection.

There was no particular incident that spurred on my decision to shed animals from my diet, my make-up bag or my closet. I know that I can honestly say that, although it may have been an idea floating in the furthest reaches of my subconscious, I truly did wake up one day and realized my perception had changed entirely.

It was Easter Sunday and my mom was out of town, so my aunt and I were left to our own devices for dinner. Rather than cooking a large turkey for the two of us, I found a recipe for Cornish game hens and planned for that instead. Easter Sunday was also the day I decided I was done. I carefully prepared the meal, as well as the vegetables to go along with it, and then sat at the dinner table with my aunt that evening. “Today is the last day I’m going to eat meat,” I told her without batting an eyelash. It was simply that matter-of-fact.

What caused that connection or that proverbial light bulb to illuminate is beyond me, but perhaps it was simply an inevitable culmination of my personal beliefs. If I love animals as much as I purport to, then why do I have no problem at all throwing parts of their carcasses on a grill or in a pan and proceed to devour them?

This is where the problem lies: animals are living, humourous, loving, emotional, intelligent beings that eat, breathe, sleep, feel, think and move. Food, on the other hand, is completely inanimate. A hot dog just sits on your plate without movement or sound. The only thing meat will do if you leave it long enough is decay. But making the connection between the living and the non-living isn’t easy. What joins the two usually involves a sharp blade, inhumane treatment and much pain.

It isn’t my endeavour to shock each of you through facts or unbelievably disturbing details of how the animals make it from the farm to the plate. Many of you have seen the PETA videos while others still may have witnessed it first-hand.

It’s my belief, as a woman and an individual human being, that we are all here on the planet by the design of something greater than all of us. Animals have personalities and feel, experience and understand many of the same quotients and emotions we humans do. If you have met Jordy, you know what I’m talking about! We are all species and none of us can say that one is greater than the other. Animals feel physical pain, experience the emotion of fear and feel the natural urge to flee when threatened just as you or I do.

Something as simple as a backyard BBQ with family is deemed more valuable than the life of the pig whose ribs are being devoured. Dispute that if you will, but actions always speak volumes above words. Last month, an Oklahoma woman and her friend were charged with killing and skinning a seven-week-old puppy with the intent to make a belt [source]. While the community was outraged, I couldn’t help but wonder how this was deemed to be a “despicable” case of animal cruelty, yet if the belt had been made of a cow, it would be okay. Something doesn’t add up.

I’ve heard a million arguments made to justify the consumption of meat. While some will say that the production of meat is actually good for the environment and the economy, others still will tell tales of the astronomical impact it has on the global environment. The point can also be attempted that eating vegetables is also killing living things, but it is scientific fact that plants do not possess both the central nervous system and brain required to feel and register pain [source]. But instead of respecting these beings, we assume we own them by locking them up in zoos, keeping them confined to large tanks at city aquariums and corralling them until they’re ripe for slaughter.

All of that is besides my point. The irony is that humans take such pride in being a group of beings so incredibly evolved as a species that our lives are seemingly worth more than those of animals. Yet, we rely on the idea that eating meat is our primitive right.

The truth about us humans is that yes – we are evolved; so much so that we no are longer required to consume meat to ensure a balanced diet and live a healthy and wholesome lifestyle. While at one point in time, eating meat and testing on animals may have been essential, it’s no longer necessary. Technology has moved us past that, and the choice to eat an animal is no longer premised on a need but instead on desire.

Very recently, I was discussing the beauty and gentle nature of cows with someone close to me. “I love cows too but I could never look one in the eyes – I’d just feel too guilty!” was what they told me. That, right there, is precisely the reason for my choice. I can no longer look at what is literally staring me in the face and deny it any longer.

I have made a decision and declaration to live a vegetarian lifestyle. I now make every single effort possible to use products that have not been tested on animals. No longer will items purchased for my wardrobe be made of leather products. By making these choices I am not claiming to be perfect, just as I do not attempt to describe those that eat meat as imperfect.

However, no matter what kind of argument anyone attempts to make against my choice, there can be no argument against compassion. There can be no argument against equality or love. I believe that every living being, whether toes, heels or hooves, has the exact same right to live a normal, happy and healthy life.

In 2007, Academy Award winner (and bonafide babe) Joaquin Phoenix passionately contributed to a film called Earthlings. It is as incredible as it is intense. In it, he points out the direct correlation between all of the Earth’s species and their individual values. While containing compiled videos that are not isolated events, but instead the norm, Earthlings is perhaps the most violent and graphic film you will ever see. Except it’s real.

Earthlings can be viewed online in its entirety here.

Comments and contributions to the discussion are both welcome and encouraged. In doing so, pleasure ensure that you’ve read this article in its entirety before doing so. All opinions are to be respected, and comments of a belligerent or abusive nature will be deleted after the IP address is flagged.