The Love Blog by Vancouver Blogger Barbara Doduk

Vancouver Foundation makes Emergency Grant to Cat Sanctuary

2009-07-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

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In my last post about RAPS, I mentioned that RAPS has begun to care for almost 100 ill cats found in an urban barn in Richmond. Each cat and kitten requires antibiotics and testing for Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS (or FIV).

On July 7th:

**Vancouver Foundation makes emergency grant to Richmond Cat Sanctuary***

Vancouver Foundation has approved an emergency grant of $7,500 to the
Richmond Cat Sanctuary to help cope with a sudden influx of 100 farm
cats and kittens at the facility.

The cats were recently discovered in the barn of a local farm, and were
suffering from a variety of ailments including upper-respiratory infections and ear mites.
All 100 cats require immediate veterinary attention.

Faye Wightman, President and CEO of Vancouver Foundation said, “We just found out about the issue after reading an article in Friday’s /Vancouver Sun/. We wanted to do something to help, and do it quickly. We hope that others will also contribute, and that many of the cats can
be successfully treated and adopted.”

The money will be used to quarantine and treat the cats. They will be checked for other diseases, vaccinated, and spayed and neutered so they can be put up for adoption. The Cat Sanctuary, which is part of the Richmond Animal Shelter, is home to hundreds of cats, many of whom are
available for adoption.

For more information, or to donate to the “urban barn cats”, go to the Richmond Animal Protection Society’s website at *www.rapsociety.com*

To see a video on the Cat Sanctuary, go to the Vancouver Foundation website at *www.vancouverfoundationstories.ca/story.php?recordID=65*

With more than 1,200 funds, and assets of $662 million, Vancouver Foundation is Canada’s largest community foundation.

In 2008, Vancouver Foundation distributed $60 million through 3,331 grants to communities and innovative projects across British Columbia.

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For more of my photos of the Cats & Cat Sanctuary please visit my FLICKR account.
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Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) is a registered charity that operates two shelters in the City of Richmond, British Columbia. The first shelter, on No. 6 Road in Richmond, is North America's largest cat sanctuary. At this shelter homeless and abandoned cats and kittens are rescued and cared for. Most of these beautiful animals would have otherwise faced starvation, injury, disease and an early death due to the many hazards in their environment. The cat sanctuary is currently home to more than 800 animals.

The second shelter is the City of Richmond Animal Shelter, which RAPS have operated since February 2007. In 2006, RAPS bid for and was awarded the city contract to take over operation of this shelter. By expanding to a second facility, RAPS now cares for a wider variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits and other small domestic animals.

In addition, the RAPS City Shelter runs a comprehensive adoption program to find the animals at this facility a safe and loving home.

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DONATE NOW:

I have made a personal pledge page to collect donation for RAPS. I hope to raise money for the charity through this blog. I have all ready donated and donate monthly. You can set up monthly donations through CanadaHelps or do a one time gift. You can always pick one specific cat at the shelter to sponsor as well, there is a sponsor program. Every bit helps.

Note:

Coming up on July 25th is the Blogathon, and I will be blogging for 24 hours to raise money for RAPS. You can find out more about the BLOGATHON 2009 at their web site, and you can sponsor my event there or by donating below.

The kitties thank you.

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For great stories about RAPS adoptions and other tidbits, please read the RAPS BLOG.

Mommy Blogging : Oh Diapers

2009-07-06T11:11:00.001-07:00

Okay I know I said I wasn't going to go all mommy blog on you, but I thought I'd put this out there for you moms to help me.

I know, I am not the best at being environmentally conscience. I do however recycle as much as I can. I try to help whenever I can. Anyway, more importantly though is cost.

I am at a cross roads about diapers.

Cloth Diapers vs Disposable Diapers.

I've been researching and every thing suggests that the modern day cloth diapers are the cheaper way to go, not to mention the environmental bonus. Environment Canada's Report made me go hmmm?

Their fast facts:

Over four million disposable diapers are discarded in Canada per day.

In the first two years, the average baby will require between 5000 to 7000 diaper changes.

That's a lot of plastic in the land fills.

Then there is the costs, depending on the calculations used, cloth diapers seem to save you money, even with the washing and drying.

I think a balance of both might be wise?

Since I am a total noob (aka newbie) when it comes to EVERYTHING Baby... yes truth is I have NEVER changed a diaper... Something I am proud of, by the way. I never saw the sense in getting poop on me, that wasn't genetically half mine... anyway diapers (and everything) are getting a little overwhelming.

Being a planner, and this was not a planned pregnancy, I am way behind on the research and knowledge I think I require.

From thenewparentsguide.com :

The new multiple layer, Velcro fastening cloth diapers are just as easy to put on and take off as disposables. Cloth diapers do not really need to be presoaked, or even rinsed out. Flushable liners can be used with cloth diapers that let you lift the soiled liner off the cloth and flush the liner and the poop down the toilet. If you don’t use liners, you can just dump the older baby’s solids down the toilet. Cloth diapers usually only add about 2 extra loads of laundry a week to your schedule.

Disposable diapers are more convenient when traveling because you can just throw the dirty diapers away without carrying them around for washing. Disposables also require fewer changes because of the super absorbent materials; but taking into consideration the increased risks of rash and the extra impact on the environment, your decision should be made with much thought.

What have you mothers out there done? Anyone use cloth diapers? With a balance of disposable for travel or such? Anyone know ways to save on diapers?

July is RAPS Feline Foster and Sponsorship Month

2009-07-04T15:33:00.002-07:00

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I was back at the Cat Sanctuary on Friday. I had to skip the previous Friday due to my mom's retirement party, and the Friday before that, my camera accidentally deleted all the photos I took. ARGH. So finally I got a chance to snap a few more photos of the wonderful cats at RAPS.
July is RAPS Feline Foster and Sponsorship Month
Friday, July 10th & Friday, July 24 -- Sponsorship and Foster orientation at the Richmond Animal Shelter at 5 pm.

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RAPS has begun to care for almost 100 ill cats found in an urban barn in Richmond. Each cat and kitten requires antibiotics and testing for Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS (or FIV).

RAPS is in desperate need of donations for the “Urban Barn Cats” to provide veterinary care and find adoptive homes. Tisol Pet Nutrition and Supply Stores have generously supplied high-quality cat food for these rescued cats, and RAPS is incredibly grateful for their timely donations. To donate to the Fund for Urban Barn Cats, send donations to the:

Richmond Animal Shelter
12071 No. 5 Road
Richmond, BC V7A 4E9

Or donate below and note "Urban Barn Cats" in the donation online.

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Animal Wellness Day is Sunday, July 19th
Photographer, Tracey Garbutt, will take Family Pet Photos by donations to RAPS.

You won't want to miss Animal Wellness Day at the Richmond Animal Shelter this month. RAPS has teamed with natural pet food stores and local veterinarians to provide you with information and supplies to help your pet stay healthy. But even more exciting is the Family Pet Photo Fundraiser! Bring your dog and the whole family to get your picture taken for a donation to RAPS. Photographer Tracey Garbutt is donating her time for the day to help RAPS, and who wouldn't love a picture of the furriest family member?

Animal Wellness Day runs from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. We'll see you there!
Click here for a poster of this event!

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For more of my photos of the Cats & Cat Sanctuary please visit my FLICKR account.
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DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

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Yard Sale for RAPS at the Island Vet Hospital Island Veterinary Hospital (IVH) is holding a Yard Sale for RAPS on [CORRECTION] SUNDAY July 12th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (rain or shine). Don't miss this great event! No pets please. (The parking lot is not safe for dogs to play.) We'll see you there. Tables still available by calling IVH at 604-273-3158.

For great stories about RAPS adoptions and other tidbits, please read the RAPS BLOG.

I Am Super Auntie B

2009-07-04T14:22:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, I took my 9 year old niece to her first BIG concert:

The Jonas Brothers. Her choice.

The tickets said 7 PM, so we paid for parking at the last Skytrain station and rode the train down, and hour long trip. Got in our seats just before 7 PM, and there was an opening band playing called Honor Society. Then after then played Jordin Sparks played. Then some awful dance troop of girls came out called Wonder Girls. Then we waited about 30+ minutes for the Jonas Brothers to finally hit the stage. They finished after 10 PM. Way to long a night. We didn't get back home until 11:30 PM. Tsk Tsk on the planners of the show.

But she was a happy girl.

She was thrilled, and couldn't believe how many people were there. She screamed and I think she had a good time. I took a lot of photos for her.

I was grateful that the nice mom next to us gave me a set of ear plugs.

I couldn't believe the amount of screaming teenagers. I have never been witness to such things. I was never one of those screaming teens. But the light show, and stage was quite the show.

Her next concert is Keith Urban in September, it will be very different.

There are more photos on my Flickr page.

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Movieboob #14 : Confessions Trek Bucket Weddings

2009-07-02T11:11:00.004-07:00

Years ago as a member of Spymac, I created a forum called Movieboob to talk about my love of movies with other movie lovers at the Apple related site. I thought it would be fun to add that element to The Love Blog.

*Rating out of 10 is the rating I gave the movie on my IMDb account. If you have an account on IMDb you can view my ratings list here.

Star Trek (Rating 9/10) Okay I am a Trek fan, and this movie was brilliant. The only flaw, the running in the halls scenes. Everything else was great, even the plot of an alternative time line worked. The casting was bang on. The acting bang on. The action super. Cheers to JJ Abrams. I can watch this over and over and over.

Australia (Rating 5/10) This movie is WAY too damn long (almost 3 hours). It feels like 2 movies, the first ends when they load the cattle on the ship, the second drags on the war story. Nicole Kidman is so stiff and unreal, I just never believe her character. As yummy as Hugh Jackman is, his character is dull. Only the kid was interesting.

Confessions of a Shopaholic (Rating 5/10) is a cute waste of time. I can not relate to the shopping bug, but I find her character's ironic job and story line cute, and Hugh Dancy is easy on the eyes (in the movies, not real life)... and he is engaged a skeleton.

I couldn't remember where I'd seen Isla Fisher before so I looked her up, and discovered that she has been in a few good comedies like...

Wedding Crashers (Rating 6/10) which is a standard goof ball slap-stick comedy about two friends (Owen Wilson & Vince Vaughn) who crash weddings, and accidentally find love at one. Isla Fisher is the kooky woman Vaugh falls for, and she is really good in that role too.

Then she was also in... Definitely, Maybe (Rating 7/10) which I only saw recently. I liked that movie, it is a nice tale of a father telling his daughter the story of his dating life and his true love.

Bucket List (Rating 7/10) Jack Nicholson is Edward Cole and Morgan Freeman is Carter Chambers. They end up in the same hospital room dying of cancer. Edward happens to own the hospital, and decides that Carter's "Bucket List" is something they have to go do, but do it Edward style. It's cute.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Rating 5/10) was a long movie, that really had little point other than to watch the special effects of making Brad Pitt's character age backward. I thought it was boring, but it had a few good parts, and the special effects were well done, and interesting. Doubt I'd watch it a second time though.

The Illusionist (Rating 7/10) was an interesting story. I liked it, even if it lagged a little. I normally don't like Edward Norton's acting, but his emotionless character in this movie suited his acting ability. I'd recommend it, but not if you were tired, as it might not keep you up, as there is little excitement or intrigue to keep you enthralled.

36 and Pregnant

2009-07-01T14:22:00.003-07:00

I'm sitting hear tonight thinking, the name of my blog couldn't be anymore perfect. The Love Blog. I am love. I am about to embark on the most amazing journey of love ever.

I am 36 years old and for the first time ever - I am pregnant.

Yes that is right, in May I found out I am pregnant. Odd how the universe works. Mysteriously perfect.
I am THRILLED. Sure I was shocked as heck when I found out, but I cried tears of joy and was truly happy. I knew in my heart at that moment, this was just meant to be, no matter what.
You see, many years ago I was told one side of my reproductive system was NOT firing out eggs. Common thing, but one good Fallopian Tube, means, at the very least, half the chance of ever getting pregnant. Add my age into the equation and I had pretty much resided to just being the coolest Auntie ever, and accepted that I would never be a mom.
Believe me, there has been many opportunities, where I was not on birth control that I could have got pregnant, but just never seemed to. I really felt like it was impossible, given the odds, and how many years of my life I never got pregnant.
I only went back on the pill at the end of 2006 after not being on them for 3 years.
You might recall I was having a lot of problems in the menstruation department, in the last half of 2008. (I blogged about it.) I figured a good lot of it was the stress of ending my relationship (something that stupidly I let drag on until April of this year) but some of it was unexplainable.
When the new birth control pills didn't remove the endless pain I was suffering, I decided in February, to stop taking them, to see if that would fix things. I didn't plan on this happening.
As my mom says, BOY DID IT FIX THINGS.

Don't get me wrong, my mother is as thrilled as I am. She's retiring this July and can't wait to be a Grandma (again - my niece is excited too). My family are all as excited as I am. I couldn't ask for a better support network of amazing family & amazing friends.
I'm learning all I can about what I am in for *LOL* and I have a web of wonderful women/mothers who are at the ready with endless advice and information. So I know even though I am going to be a single parent... I am ANYTHING but alone.

I know you are probably asking, what about the father?
He knows. He was the first person I told. After all, this baby is half his genes. I didn't plan this to happen, he knew I had stopped the pills, and he took the risk anyway (as he did when we first met in 2006). However, to put it delicately, he is NOT as thrilled as I am. He has said some things I can not ever forgive him for. I'll leave it at that, because if you can't say something nice, say nothing. A lesson he should learn. So yes, I am going it alone without him, and happy to be.
[Note July 8: We have agreed to be friends, and he says he is now happy and looking forward to the birth of "his" child. He's come to terms with everything now it seems.]

Sure I'm a little scared, but that is normal, and the excitement over rules that all the time. Despite the accusations, I am not all that hormonal and emotional. I never got sick, well sorta barfed that one morning, after taking my prenatal pill on an empty tummy, but the semi-nauseous feeling I would have has passed. I'm not tired anymore, and I feel amazing. I talk to my tummy all the time. I always play the baby music.
All you need is love.
My first ultrasound in scheduled for July 10th. My mom is coming with me. I will post the photo. However, I am not going to start personal blogging about this all the time, or turn this place into a Mommy Blog, I just wanted to share the news with everyone just because I am that excited.
My baby is due (around) January 10th, 2010. I think we will do a pool to guess the date and time of the birth and sex of the baby (although I would like to find that out ahead of time).

I love White Rock

2009-06-28T16:44:00.001-07:00

I love White Rock.

I am all settled into my place. Still some pictures to hang (did a bunch today) but basically settled. I'm loving being out here. Spending time with family is great. So here is a few of the photos as of late, to bring you up to date. Check Flickr.

Both Maggie the Cat and Bear Cat went for adventures in the space behind the washer and dryer, Maggie came out looking like this. I had to snap a picture before I cleaned the cob webs off.

The cats love the space, and long to go outside BUT WON'T.

I set up the living room area, and I'm loving the fact that cable, internet and all utilities are included in my rent. I watched a program on a serial killer The Yorkshire Ripper the other night.

I might get a different kitchen table and chairs, even so I love the little bar like chairs, even if the hydraulics on one is dead. And I LOVE cooking in my kitchen. I made the perfect chicken the other night. Clean up is so easy, and the dishwasher kicks ass.

When it was super hot, I laid out in the sunshine for a few minutes at a time in the back yard. Visited with the landlady's cat. There are 3 little dogs upstairs too. They are a little noisy. Little dogs seem to love to YAP all the time at stuff. When I was allowing the cats in the sun room, they would always scare my cats by running at the sliding door window and barking.

Aside from the place, being close to family is the greatest part. Dinner with my cousin down the road, beach days with my niece, my niece's school picnic, whatever it may be, I am loving it. My besties even came out one Sunday and we all lazed in the hot tub and swimming pool at my brother's.

Father's Day:

Family:

Mom's Retirement Dinner (Officially retires July 31st):

June has been a wonderful month.

And today I found out my cousin Amber (and her husband Mike) are expecting.

*Tee Hee*

Blogathon 2009 Raising Money for RAPS

2009-06-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

This year the Blogathon.org site is back and in full swing. So get your fingers limber bloggers, and pick your charities and get ready to blog for 24 hours on July 25th.

You can register on the BLOGATHON 2009 Website on July 1st.

This year I will be raising funds for Richmond Animal Protection Agency. Big surprise.

I plan to highlight some of the cats and animals that are helped by RAPS. (Although that may or may not be altered depending on time and content I can collect prior to the event.)

I hope you can donate to the cause and help me out.

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DONATE NOW:

I have made a personal pledge page to collect donation for RAPS. I hope to raise money for the charity through this blog. I have all ready donated (to fund-raising page) and I donate $25 monthly (separately from my fund-raising page). You can set up monthly donations through CanadaHelps or do a one time gift. You can always pick one specific cat at the shelter to sponsor as well, there is a sponsor program. Every bit helps.

Some folks have all ready donated (thank you) and my donations page will go on - even after the Blogathon - so please donate when you can, if you can and I thank you so so much. I will keep track of what I raised specifically during the Blogathon and post the numbers when I am done.

In the meantime you can follow Blogathon 2009 on Twitter too.

I first got introduced to the idea of Blogathon by my long time net (and real life) friend Trace Beagley. So 2006 I joined up and raised some money for the WWF however in 2007 the Blogathon took place while I was preparing to move, so I missed it. Last year the official Blogathon didn't take place, however a lot of smaller groups put on their own mini-Blogathons, including one in Vancouver started by local blogger diva Miss604. I was disappointed with the outcome of the fund-raising last year. Yet, I am thrilled that the original Blogathon is back on this year, and can't wait to blog for RAPS.

Audio Addict #84: Sly & The Family Stone

2009-06-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

I thought since I have been addicted to music since I was a kid I would add a feature here that will allow me to reflect on the favourite music through out my life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Sly & The Family Stone is an American funk, soul and rock band from San Francisco, California. Headed by singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, and containing several of his family members and friends, the band was the first major American rock band to have an integrated lineup in both race and gender.

"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"

Kids will know this tune as it was used at the end of Shrek The Third with Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas singing the song.

Sly & the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. The original founding members of the Family Stone were in attendance, except Sly. Just as the band took the podium to receive their awards, Sly suddenly appeared, to thunderous applause. He accepted his award, gave a quick speech, and disappeared from public view.

"Dance To The Music"

In December 2001, Sly & the Family Stone was awarded the R&B Foundation Pioneer Award. Two Family Stone songs, "Dance to the Music" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)", are among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked them 43rd on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[64]

"Everyday People"

A Sly & the Family Stone tribute took place at the 2006 Grammy Awards on February 8, 2006. The tribute began halfway through the Grammy Awards ceremony, and was introduced by comedian Dave Chappelle. It featured Nile Rodgers, Joss Stone, Van Hunt, and John Legend performing "Family Affair"; Fantasia and Devin Lima performing "If You Want Me to Stay"; Adam Levine and Ciara performing "Everyday People"; will.i.am performing "Dance to the Music"; and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith with Robert Randolph performing "I Want to Take You Higher".

After the first half of "I Want to Take You Higher", the Family Stone took the stage alongside the other musicians, and Tyler called backstage "Hey, Sly; let's do it the way we used to do it!" Sporting a blonde mohawk hairdo, sunglasses, and a silver lamé suit, Sly Stone emerged and contributed vocals and keyboards to a continuation of "I Want To Take You Higher." Three minutes into the performance, Sly tossed a wave to the audience and exited the stage, leaving the Family Stone and the guest performers to complete the number alone.

"I Want to Take You Higher"

AP reported that "nineteen years after his last live performance, Sly Stone proved he's still able to steal the show."

Discography

* 1967: A Whole New Thing
* 1968: Dance to the Music
* 1968: Life
* 1969: Stand!
* 1971: There's a Riot Goin' On
* 1973: Fresh
* 1974: Small Talk
* 1975: High on You (credited only to "Sly Stone")
* 1976: Heard You Missed Me, Well I'm Back
* 1979: Back on the Right Track
* 1983: Ain't But the One Way

"Hot Fun in the Summertime"

Happy Cats are RAPS Cats

2009-06-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

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Hello Kitties!

Last Friday at RAPS the sun was shining and the cats were happy. I stopped off in the New FIV "AIDS" cats section and sat at the plastic table under the umbrella loving the kitties.

Barbie (pictured above) is an FIV kitty. She sat on my lap the whole time getting scratches and loves, while the other kitties milled about my feet and sat on the table next to me getting combed.

The peace such activities bring are hard to convey in text. So here are some photos of the FIV kitties in all their loving glory.

On Monday, June 22 at 7:30PM, the Annual General Meeting of the Richmond Animal Protection Society will be held.

I have applied for membership. Sadly I can't attend the AGM as that is the same evening as my niece's School Picnic which I all ready agreed to attend. I also won't be able to do my shift on June 26th because that is the night of my mother's RETIREMENT dinner.

YAH Mom!

But I will be there tomorrow night for my feeding shift, and to take more photos.

Last Friday after the my feeding shift was done, a group of staff and volunteers had a BBQ and sat around chatting and listening to music. I must say it is a pleasure to be in such good company.

Lillix wanted the BBQ :)

For more of my photos of the Cats & Cat Sanctuary please visit my FLICKR account.
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The roof of the double wide trailer (that I do all my regular shift of volunteer work inside of) has extensive water damage and the roof needs to be removed and replaced soon. Given that the Cat Sanctuary is at Max Capacity with somewhere pushing 900 cats, fixing the roof will be quite the project.

Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

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DONATE NOW:

I have made a personal pledge page to collect donation for RAPS. I hope to raise money for the charity through this blog. I have all ready donated and donate monthly. You can set up monthly donations through CanadaHelps or do a one time gift. You can always pick one specific cat at the shelter to sponsor as well, there is a sponsor program. Every bit helps.

[Note: Coming up on July 25th is the Blogathon, and I will be blogging for 24 hours to raise money for RAPS.]

The kitties thank you.

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Community Alert:
RAPS Cat Sanctuary is at Full Capacity

Attention all community members, the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) Cat Sanctuary has reached full capacity. The RAPS Cat Sanctuary, which is home to more than 900 cats who have been removed from the streets of Richmond, no longer has room for any additional animals.

RAPS has long been known as one of the only no-kill animal organizations in Richmond.
Although this facility cares for animals that are currently homeless, we cannot accept additional animals from the community. Public donations are desperately needed to help run this facility.

THANK YOU.

For great stories about RAPS adoptions and other tidbits, please read the RAPS BLOG.

White Rock - Semiahmoo History

2009-06-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to White Rock, British Columbia.

From Wiki:

White Rock is named for a distinctive large white boulder found on its beach near the promenade: a glacial erratic that migrated south during the last glaciation. The 486-ton granite boulder was kept white by shellfish-eating seabirds, whose guano covered the rock, so much so that sailors in the 19th century used it as a beacon. However, it now remains white through frequent applications of white paint by the city parks department, as it has been a popular graffiti target for over thirty years.

'Semiahmoo' is the Coast Salish word for 'half-moon', describing the shape of the bay.

The large, white rock figures prominently in narratives of the local Coast Salish native peoples. One legend holds that the Transformers, emissaries of the Sagalie Tyee, the Creator, once passed. Another legend holds that the white rock marks the landing spot of a stone that was hurled across the Strait of Georgia by a young Indian chief. It was said that he and his bride would move from Vancouver Island to wherever the rock landed to make a home together. It was their descendants who became the Semiahmoo first nation.

The Straits Salish people dominated the region from Boundary Bay in the north to Birch Bay in the south (in the U.S.). Semiahmoo First Nation permanent encampments were known to exist between 1791, the first white contact, and the 1850’s, the beginnings of white settlement. These were at the extreme east and extreme west on the water of the present site of the City of White Rock. The Semiahmoos also constructed "forts" as lookouts for raiders from the northern first nations; one is located in the Ocean Park area.

In 1792, Captain George Vancouver explored Semiahmoo and Boundary Bay. He did not encounter the Semiahmoo but did describe the ruins of a fishing camp on Point Roberts capable of containing at least 400 or 500 Inhabitants.

Shortly before 1850, their neighbours to the north, the Snokomish, were almost entirely wiped out by a smallpox epidemic. The few survivors joined the Semiahmoo and the Semiahmoo became heirs to the Snokomish territory which encircled Boundary Bay. After this time, the Semiahmoo made Crescent Beach one of their temporary summer camps.

The Semiahmoo maintained forts for protection against other First Nations and in reaction to the Hudson's Bay Company fort at Fort Langley. These fell into disrepair following the 1854 establishment of the colony of British Columbia. One such fort was discovered in the 1950s on a bluff in Ocean Park.

In 1857, British Royal Engineers established their Camp Semiahmoo which was later used as a base to survey the international border. Soldiers described the Semiahmoo as "harmless and peaceable."

By the 1860s, Roman Catholic missionaries had a successful church among the Semiahmoo and a gold rush poured settlers and miners into the area. A new trail was built to Semiahmoo Bay with Fort Langley. Smallpox epidemics in 1862 and 1888 resulted in heavy loss of life among the Semiahmoo.

Many Semiahmoo worked as loggers or charged tolls for transportation of logs across their land. Reef-netting also became commercialized until a continuous line of traps by Alaska Packers ended their industry in 1892.

The Semiahmoo Reserve was established in 1887. For much of the last half of the 20th century, 172 acres (0.7 km²) or more than half the reserve's area was leased by the band to the Municipality of Surrey for recreational purposes. This lease ended in 1998 and the band now profits from leases to a variety of organizations and individual residents.

Renown Haida artist Robert Davidson works from a studio on the reserve.

Additional Information is available here.

Off to See The Kitties, The Wonderful Kitties of RAPS

2009-06-12T11:11:00.002-07:00

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In Loving Memory Wall

The June Newsletter is now online at the RAPS web site, please take a look and give it a read. There is a little write up I did in there and my picture (thanks!) as well as lots of other interesting stories. If you want to you can subscribe to the email newsletter on the RAPS web site home page.

As always RAPS could use volunteers, the more the better. If you can spare 2 hours of your day any day, we'd love to have your help.

The RAPS always needs new volunteers at both of our shelters. If you can dedicate just a few hours of your week, we need volunteers to feed the animals, clean animal pens, do laundry or dishes, and walk dogs.

If you wish to volunteer at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary, volunteer shifts are from 9 AM to 12 noon and 6 PM to 8 PM daily.

If you wish to volunteer at the RAPS City Shelter, volunteer shifts are from 9 AM to 12 noon daily.

Volunteer shifts are usually two hours long, and we recommend that you commit to just one or two shifts a week.

It is rewarding to me to volunteer at the cat shelter, I do the feeding. I prepare 10 large plates of food for inside the double wide trailer, each plate gets 4 cans of food. Then 2 large plates for the patio, 4 large plates for the laundry room which connects to outside. Then I have to do up little plates for any of the kitties in the cages, kitties in the cages are usually kitties on medicines that need to be isolated temporarily. 1/2 a can per kitty. It is a lot of cans.

Then I wash out the cans, and put them out for recycling.

While I do that Shannon "the scooper" cleans out the litter boxes that are situated through out the areas, and hauls the trash out to the bin. That is, after she gets the kitties all excited from her treats of REAL meats.

Then we top up the water dishes, and the dry food dishes and make sure the bunnies in the bunny cage are taken care of. After a tidy up, we are off on our way.

However, a lot of the time, I stick around to snap photos, play with cats, love the cats, and to chat with the other volunteers and staff. There is no rush to leave, and some times it is really hard to drag myself away from the splendor of the place.

Also I would like note, the double wide trailer I do my work in, is the biggest section, other volunteer sections of the sanctuary don't take as much food or scooping to do, and the more volunteers there are the faster the tasks go by.

Please call 604-275-2036 to volunteer at the RAPS City Shelter.

Or Email volunteer@rapsociety.com to volunteer at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary.

For more of my photos of the Cats & Cat Sanctuary please visit my FLICKR account.

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Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

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DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

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Running the shelters is a very costly endeavour.

For the City Animal Shelter and our cat sanctuary combined, we need to fundraise around $500,000 per year. Most of the animals arrive unfixed and without basic veterinary care such as vaccines, deworming and other parasite treatments. Our current veterinary expenses average $13,000 per month!

Our thrift store revenue and municipal contract cover almost 100% of our administrative costs.

When you donate to RAPS, you can be assured that your donations will be used to directly benefit the animals.

Sponsorship of a Cat

RAPS has a sponsorship program designed to help provide the cats at the sanctuary with loving care.

For $15 per month, you can help to ensure that one of our precious cats is well-nourished. As a sponsor, you will receive a photo of your cat and, if you live in our area, are welcome to visit your kitty as often as you'd like. The cats all need love and attention, and always appreciate company.

For more information on sponsorship, please contact Janice Lambert at 604-271-7322.

Shelter Clean-Up Day and Volunteer BBQ
Saturday, June 20th

The Richmond Animal Shelter is having a Shelter Clean-up Day and Volunteer BBQ. Gather your friends or come as a family to help make the shelter a better place for homeless animals. Your team will be assigned a maintenance task for the morning or afternoon shift such as gardening, trash collection, painting, repairs or sweeping. There is a volunteer BBQ at 12:30! Individuals, families and groups are encouraged to sign up for the Clean-up Day by filling out a sign-up form. Children are welcome and must be accompanied by an adult. Come help make the shelter sparkle and shine!

THANK YOU.

For great stories about RAPS adoptions and other tidbits, please read the RAPS BLOG.

White Rock Beach & Pier

2009-06-11T11:11:00.003-07:00

The 1,500 ft. long White Rock pier is a favorite destination spot for tourists and residents, and the 2.5km long beach promenade promises strollers a refreshing walk and connects west beach and east beach at the ocean's side.

The wooden pier was built because saw local mills had been offered business from the Atlantic Seaboard once the Panama Canal was opened. Construction began in 1914.

The finished pier was 628 feet in length, with a small boat landing at the outer end. The following year, a further 985 feet was added to the existing pier.

In 1953, a breakwater was constructed to protect the pier and the boats harboured there. When the pier had finally deteriorated to an unsafe condition in 1976, the community formed a Save-the-Pier committee.

In 1977 the pier was completely rebuilt.

In April 1982, the pier and White Rock were declared heritage sites.

Of note, PARKING isn't cheap. $2.00 PER HOUR for a spot, and they fill up fast.

After a stroll on the Pier and shore line, there is also a lot of interesting shops lining Marine Drive along the beach. As well as many restaurants and ice cream shops.

Have Some Eats:

Charlie Don't Surf
Uli's Restaurant
Chart House Grill
West Beach Bar and Grill
Troll's Restaurant
Cosmos Restaurant (Greek)
Super Wings Restaurant
14981 Fusion Cuisine
Iguana's Beach Grill
Fronds on the Beach
Italian Touch Restaurant
The Boathouse Restaurant
Cielo's Tapas and Oyster Bar
Giraffe Restaurant
Torino Restaurant
Pearl Restaurant
Little India Restaurant

Grab Some Ice Cream:

Sara's Old Fashioned Ice Cream
Dolce Gelato
Gellateria Italia & Coffee Shop
White Mountain Homemade Ice Cream

Do Some Shopping:

Saje Natural Wellness
Pamper Me Day Spa

Barb's Boutique
Mad Katz Clothing
Blondies Clothing
Wishes & Co
Beach'n Surfwear

Canadiana Gifts
Pier Point
Heritage Hemp Beach Shop

Or Check out the White Rock Museum & Archives

The museum is located in the old Train Station. There is a Train Campaign, a community building activity, offering community members the opportunity to purchase a personalized, engraved, brass train plaque to be set in cement and installed in the promenade outside the Museum & Archives.

On New Year’s Day in 1913 a new train station opened on the shore of Semiahmoo Bay in White Rock, British Columbia, a tiny community in the southwest corner of Canada. There, it welcomed the trains of the Great Northern and the Burlington Northern (later known as the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe) as they rolled by on their way to Vancouver or Seattle.

Although the station is a museum now, trains still run the tracks along the water shore. Be careful, sadly a few people still get hit every year. Don't risk it. Trains are restricted from using their horns after 10 p.m unless the conductor sees a problem, however, normally a train will sound its horn during the entire time it passes by the White Rock waterfront.

Planning your day:

Check out the Weather Forecast for White Rock.

Check out the Tide Forecast for White Rock

Check out the White Rock Web Cam of Pier & Beach

White Rock is Home Sweet Home

2009-06-09T15:33:00.001-07:00

White Rock Pier.

Well, even though I know I am not going to start up personal blogging again, I wanted to share a bit about my new city. I know I started awhile back a series about Vancouver, but to be honest, it is hard to write about something (like Vancouver) that no longer inspires you.

Vancouver, albeit my birth place and home for most of my life, has changed so greatly that she is not what she used to be, which is bad if you ask me. The city has become unfriendly, unaffordable and down right unappealing.

According to the fifth annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, Vancouver sits fourth on the list of least affordable cities in the world, with a median house price at 8.4 times the median income. That means it costs 8.4 years’ average income to purchase a house. The average median in Canada was 3.5.

All of Canada’s "severely unaffordable" cities are in British Columbia, including Victoria at seven, Kelowna at 19 and Abbotsford at 25.

In any case, this was not intended as a post to slag Vancouver and all its warts. This post is to introduce you to my new city.

White Rock here I am.

It is amazing to be so close to family and friends. I think this could be the beginning of something amazing.

With a population of 18,250, White Rock is located in the southwest corner of the Lower Mainland, forty-five kilometres from Vancouver and only five minutes to the Canada/US border. We are an exciting seaside community clustered around an eight kilometre sandy beach and the warm shallow waters of Semiahmoo Bay.

My grandparents lived out in White Rock / South Surrey area when I was growing up, I always loved it. I have fond memories of the sandcastle competitions that used to be held at the beach.

My aunt and uncle owned a restaurant on the corner of Crescent Road & King George Highway (it is a Repo.com auto lot now) and we often would spend a day at the beach and stop in there for a lovely dinner and a Shirley Temple. (Don't I look cute as a kid?)

From Wiki: In 1979, friends Tom Kirstein, a chartered accountant, and Chip Barrett, an architect, organized an annual sandcastle competition, which became internationally famous. It took advantage of the long, sandy beach exposed at low tide, giving enough time for enterprising souls to construct elaborate displays. Prizes of up to $10,000 were awarded, and crowds of 150,000 were estimated at the competition's height. In 1987, the contest ceased because of security costs, and the inevitable party-spoilers.

Boats at White Rock Pier.

My 90 year old Grandmother still lives in South Surrey, in a house of her own, she is about 10 minutes drive away. My cousin and her family is literally 6 blocks walk down the road from me and they are having me over for dinner Thursday. My other cousin and her hubby are moving to Cloverdale on Friday.

My brother and niece are a 5 minutes drive away, or a bike ride or nice walk (and that pool awaits me if my dad would ever heat the damn thing, the cheap bastard).

The White Rock beach and pier are just a few minutes drive or bus away or even a good 3 KM walk away, and Crescent Beach is 10 minute drive or 10 km bike ride.

I am one happy little monkey.

The pool at my father & brother's house.

The suite I rented is about 1000 sf ft, plus an enclosed (unfinished) sun room. It looks out onto a large beautiful (wild) back yard, southern exposure. There are two gas fireplaces, one in the bedroom, and one in the main living area. The fireplace column is painted red. The suite was renovated completely 2 years ago, includes all brand new appliances, and in-suite laundry. Rent also includes all utilities. I can't wait to cook in the massive kitchen.

I think kitties love the space and all the windows to look out and the sun room to chill in. I will love being near family and friends and away from the nonsense of the city.

Outside Shin Ji Ru Restaurant there is a wall of whales.

I look forward to sharing some great information about my new city and surroundings.

RAPS: Hot Time, Summer for the Kitties

2009-06-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

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Vancouver just had a heat wave, and high temperature records were broken for 3 days in a row. Friday was a little cooler than the week, but it was still Hot Time, Summer for the Kitties.

Thanks to the use of my brother's camera, I was able to get a lot of amazing photos of the hot cats. When it is this warm, kitties laze about the place in the warmth. Which makes it easier to snap a photo of them. Cats were flaked out in all sorts of places cat napping in the heat.

On Friday I took 117 photos of the Cats & Cat Sanctuary please visit my FLICKR account.
Reminder that tomorrow (Sunday) is the Bake Off For Bunnies.
Richmond has a lot of homeless rabbits and 40+ of them are waiting for adoption at the Richmond Animal Shelter! RAPS needs your help to raise money to repair their cages and spay/neuter the rabbits before they can be adopted. Join us for the RAPS Bake-off for Bunnies @ The No. 5 Road Shelter between 1 pm and 3 pm.
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Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

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DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

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Squeaks & Mario chilling in the heat.

RAPS needs FOSTER HOMES for senior cats.

RAPS has many beautiful, loving older cats that need long term foster care. Many of these animals simply need some tender care, and RAPS will pay for the veterinarian costs, while they stay with you. If you can provide a safe, warm and loving home for a senior cat, please contact RAPS at (604) 275-2036 to find out more information.

RAPS also has many loving animals (cats and dogs, bunnies and birds, you name it) for adoption at the No. 5 Road Shelter.

For more great stories about RAPS adoptions and other tidbits, please read the RAPS BLOG.

Description: RAPS is a registered charity that operates two animal shelters in the City of Richmond, British Columbia,
Canada. The Canadian charitable number is 89073 3777 RR0001.

Executive Director: Carol Reichert is the Executive Director of RAPS and the shelter manager for the RAPS City Shelter. Ms. Reichert founded RAPS over 20 years ago and has built, sustained and led the organization since then with the assistance of the Board of Directors, a small staff and a dedicated team of volunteers.

Board of Directors: The RAPS Board of Directors consists of six volunteers from the community with backgrounds in business, finance, administration and not-for-profit management.

Funding: The RAPS Cat Sanctuary is dependent on donations to operate. Sales at RAPS Thrift Store on Granville in Richmond provide the funds to pay a small staff at the Sanctuary. As a result, all donations to the Sanctuary are used to care for the animals. The RAPS City Shelter is funded partially by a contract with the City of Richmond as well as the collection of adoption, surrender and boarding fees. Funding for significant medical costs and on-going care for hard to adopt animals is found through fundraisers and generous donations from those who support RAPS’ philosophy of no-kill animal sheltering.

Why I No Longer Support The SPCA

2009-06-05T14:22:00.002-07:00

DISCLAIMER:
THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION AND PERSONAL REASONS FOR NO LONGER SUPPORTING THE SPCA.

I love animals.

So most of you know, every year for some many, many years of my life I was a dedicated supporter of the BC SPCA. I donated monthly, I sponsored animals, I even did volunteer work at a shelter, and I did the yearly PAWS FOR A CAUSE WALK.

However this year I canceled all my support of the SPCA.

Instead I support the No Kill Shelters of BC.

No-kill Shelters are a type of animal shelter with an anti-euthanasia policy for the animals they house. The most widely accepted definition of a no-kill shelter is a place where all adoptable and treatable animals are saved and where only unadoptable or non-rehabilitatable animals are euthanized.

I could personally, no longer sleep at night knowing my donations to the BC SPCA, my money, my kindhearted support was being used to UNNECESSARILY KILL animals - animals I thought I was helping.

Yes the SPCA kill animals, lots of them. Often just because they were deemed "un-adoptable".

How can the SPCA raised a million dollars during PAWS FOR A CAUSE and still have to kill animals ?

Sure, some animals are sick, and to end their suffering - they should be euthanized.

That is common sense, no sense in the animal suffering. However more often than not, it is a human judgment call on the "personality" of the animal that means death to a dog. Too old? Send them to the gas chamber, because no one wants old pets, right? Shelter too full? Animals not adopted after a short period of time? These are the practices of the BC SPCA.

Sure, PET POPULATION is a MASSIVE issue.

If ALL pet owners were responsible and took steps to spay or neuter their animals a lot of "unwanted" animals wouldn't needlessly be KILLED each year. That blame lies on society's shoulders, but for an animal society like SPCA, the biggest of all, and the one with the money, shouldn't they be able to afford to take steps away from their willingness to kill animals?

Some of the news over the years that I have read regarding the practices of the SPCA also weighed heavy on my mind, and helped finally fuel my decision to NOT support the SPCA ever again.

News Examples (borrowed from other web site sources):

In 2001 the discovery that the executive director of the Greater Vancouver branch was being paid $203,000, including benefits. [WHY IS MY MONEY GOING TO THAT?]

The same year, the B.C. SPCA lost its animal control contracts with the District of North Vancouver and Coquitlam amid allegations of animal mistreatment and a failure to enforce anti-cruelty legislation.

In its 109-year history, it was only in the recent years it began to provide an independent audit of its financial statements. [ALL THE FIGURES SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR!]

In 2004, two workers kidnapped Cheech, a Rottweiler-Lab cross, from the Delta shelter to save it from being put down. The volunteers insisted Cheech was not the aggressive dog the SPCA made him out to be, and said he deserved the chance to be adopted by a loving family. But the SPCA refused to change its stance, suspended the two workers, and a few months later, lost the contract it had held with Delta for more than 30 years.

Those involved in Cheech's kidnapping formed the Delta Humane Society and won the contract, which is worth about $225,000 per year, plus revenue from licensing and adoptions.

The biggest thorn in the side of the BCSPCA has to be Judy Stone of www.animaladvocates.com, who is in a bitter and long drawn out legal battle with the titan. B.C. SPCA launched a defamation lawsuit against Stone, but she maintains everything on her website is true.

[The battle has cost her a million in legal fees, which he has paid out of her own pocket. Whether I agree with her or not, my question is: are BC SPCA donations being used to pay those SPCA legal bills ?]

Richmond decided in 2007 not to renew the SPCA's bylaw enforcement contract, instead the shelter is run by Richmond Animal Protection Society which operates with a NO KILL policy.

Elsewhere, the SPCA has lost contracts in Langley City, Langley Township, Abbotsford, Port Moody, North Vancouver District and Delta.

[Langley now has LAPS]

The B.C. SPCA has greatly reduced the number of animals it euthanizes, but still kills thousands each year out of what it says is necessity. The statistics for animals euthanized by the SPCA are inexact, because the organization still operates on a "completely paper-based system."

Rough figures for 2004 show about 11,500 of the 55,000 animals taken in by the SPCA were euthanized. [THAT IS 20%]

Of the 9,000 dogs that were taken in (in 2004), about 1,000 were put down. [THAT IS 11%]

Of the 18,000 cats that were surrendered to the SPCA (in 2004), about 5,000 were euthanized. [THAT IS OVER 27% !!]

The remainder of those put down (in 2004) fit into the categories of seized animals, wildlife, strays and impounded animals. [That is 5,500 animals other than dogs and cats]

In 2007 Lorrie Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the B.C. SPCA, said the society doesn't euthanize healthy animals. "When we do have to euthanize animals - which is only when they're so critically ill that we just can't save them or if they're so aggressive that they can't be placed back into the community - it's done by injection, euthanal injection.

She said that, out of about 50,000 animals taken in provincially last year [2006], 8,551 were euthanized. [THAT IS 17%]

On the BC SPCA stats page, they list all their impressive good work from 2008 (I am not saying they don't do good, because they certainly do, do good work, and they do save most animals) however the one notable number (stat) missing from the page is how many animals out of all those animals they "rescued" were killed. If the numbers above can be taken as an average, we can guess that once again they killed about 15-20% of those animals.

That means of every 10 animals they rescue, 2 of them they kill.

That means of every 1000 animals they rescue, 200 of them they kill.

That means of every 10000 animals they rescue, 2000 of them they kill.

I PERSONALLY can not support those numbers.

[Support your local No Kill Animal Shelters]

Love & Sunshine by Justin Ewart

2009-06-03T09:11:00.002-07:00

I often get random emails from people asking me for links and/or posts about other sites... sometimes I think they are worthy... today was certainly one of those days.

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Justin Ewart emailed me this note:

I thought you might like to post my new video for your Love Blog. I recorded a cover of You Are My Sunshine and directed a music video for it. The concept came to me while meditating with friends.

Much love,
Justin

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So, I watched the video and cried.
So beautiful.
Hope you enjoy it too.

You can read more about the 3 year project to make this video here.

Bravo Justin, it's wonderful.

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RAPS: Love Cats

2009-06-02T10:10:00.001-07:00

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We move like cagey tigers... No surprise that kitties love to cuddle. All over the cat sanctuary you see the Love Cats snuggled and cuddled. When you walk around they follow at your feet, rubbing your legs. If you take a seat, with a moment of time, there will be a kitty on your lap, and one on each side and more around your feet. If you happen to have a bag of cat treats (Temptations really do make cats come running!) you will be followed by hordes of little fur bellies looking for a crunchy treat.

My camera is officially dead. It lived a long life, and for the $300 it cost me in 2005, it served me well. My brother has kindly donated his little Fuji camera to me, so I can continue the photos.

Have I mentioned that I have the greatest brother in the world?

He busted his butt moving me, he got me a lovely new set of Stainless Steel pots and pans as a house warming, he's come over to help install closet organizers and hang curtain rods and assemble items. I don't know what I would do without him.

I'd also like to send out big love and thanks to Paul and Karen who also helped with the move, and provided their cars for the extra bits. Thanks to all 3 of them for going up and down those 3 stories of stairs. The move out was way more work than the move in. I couldn't have done this without them.

Thanks to my cousins, Shanna and Amber for bringing over lunch on the day of the move at the new location, and the extra pre-cooked meals for me that make my week easier. I truly am blessed to be surrounded by such love.

I'm tired. My ankle is swollen. There is still lots of unpacking etc to do but my heart is bursting with love.

My Bear Cat and Maggie The Cat are settled in nicely, and loving the space to play.

For over 500 photos of the Cat Sanctuary please visit my FLICKR account.

Also the June Newsletter has been emailed out. If you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter by EMAIL please click here. My picture and little blurb are in it, as well as other great articles, specially about the guys who volunteer at RAPS. Most of the volunteer staff is women, but there are quite a few men who come to love the animals, and this month's newsletter highlights just a few of them.

You can always check out all the past email newsletters here.

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Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

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DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

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For more great stories about RAPS adoptions and other tidbits, please read the RAPS BLOG.

We also lost a couple of residents recently, Rest In Peace dear little fur balls, we the staff at RAPS will miss your purrs greatly.

Have fun in kitty heaven:

Harby

Boo

RAPS: Cat's Meow

2009-05-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

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I believe this is Salty stopping to smell the...

I am moving on Sunday and almost everything I own is all ready packed up.

In my total fussy headed morning today, I am amazed I remembered anything. I did however FORGET my camera. So I will not be able to take any photos tonight at RAPS. Boo! to me.

I took A LOT of photos last Friday though, and I uploaded 78 of them to my FLICKR account.

Zulu yawning...

I wrote a little blurb for the RAPS Blog about my adoption of Maggie The Cat.

I have also submitted a blurb for the June Newsletter, I'll let you know when it is out, but if you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter by EMAIL please click here.
You can always check out all the past email newsletters,

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Olive normally hisses or growls at any other cat that comes in her space or near her. I was so shocked when she seemed totally cool with Leonard being with her. He ate beside her and then hung out on the window sill next to her bed. Love is in the air.

It's a hard life eh Cara?

The roof of the double wide trailer (that I do all my regular shift of volunteer work inside of) has extensive water damage and the roof needs to be removed and replaced soon. Given that the Cat Sanctuary is at Max Capacity with somewhere around 900 cats, fixing the roof will be quite the project.

Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

WE ARE ALWAYS FUND RAISING !!

Cissy is a hissy but pretty kitty

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DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

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Sadly because of my move I won't be able to attend the Pub night.

However I certainly plan to go buy some baked goodies for the bunnies. :)

I won't be back until after I move and settle into my new home.
Enjoy the summer like weather we are having.
:)

RAPS: Bake off for Bunnies June 7th

2009-05-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

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It was wonderful to be back at RAPS on Friday night, after my work. Such an amazing sunny day too. All the cats were out in the sunshine. There was a lovely breeze blowing in the windows. All was calm and peaceful.
I took A LOT of photos, and I uploaded 78 of them to my FLICKR account.
After feeding the kitties in my section I got to hang out in the Single Wide Trailer section a bit, which I don't normally go, so I snapped a whack of photos of the lovely cats in there. Afterward some of the regular RAPS folks had their weekly BBQ and I joined them for a smoky hot dog and potato salad. Thanks!

I wrote a little blurb for the RAPS Blog about my adoption of Maggie The Cat. I have also submitted a blurb for the June Newsletter, I'll let you know when it is out, but if you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter by EMAIL please click here.
Christie needed a photo of me with the cats, so I had the amazing Karen take some of me with the cats on Friday night.

You can always check out all the past email newsletters,

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The roof of the double wide trailer (that I do all my regular shift of volunteer work inside of) has extensive water damage and the roof needs to be removed and replaced soon. Given that the Cat Sanctuary is at Max Capacity with somewhere around 900 cats, fixing the roof will be quite the project.

Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

WE ARE ALWAYS FUND RAISING !!

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DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

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UPCOMING EVENTS @ RAPS:

Bake-Off for Bunnies
Sunday, June 7th

Bake your best cookies, bars and pastries to help raise funds for bunnies at RAPS Shelters! Richmond has a lot of homeless rabbits and 40+ of them are waiting for adoption at the Richmond Animal Shelter! RAPS needs your help to raise money to repair their cages and spay/neuter the rabbits before they can be adopted. Join us for the RAPS Bake-off for Bunnies. Sign up to bring your best cookies, candies, or pastries for an afternoon bake sale.

Prizes will be awarded in a number of baking categories. Please email RAPS at newsletter@rapsociety.com to RSVP for the contest and to ensure we have enough space for everyone!

This event will include education on bunnies, responsible bunny ownership, and ways you can help stop the rabbit overpopulation problem in Richmond. This event is open to the public. If you are baking for this event, please remember to invite your friends and family. Thanks for helping the RAPS bunnies!

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Help Prevent Animal Over-Population and Cruelty

Petition Against the Sale of Animals at Retail Outlets and Related Matters
Petition Against the Sale of Animals at Retail Outlets - Public Signatures
City of Richmond Animal Control Regulation (Bylaw 7932)
No Puppy Mills Canada
Fluffy Net - Listing of No-Kill Shelters and other information

RAPS: Pub Night in Steveston, May 30th

2009-05-20T20:08:00.002-07:00

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"Olive"

I miss the Cat Sanctuary. I will be happy to be back on Friday night.

On a personal note, I am moving at the end of the month. Sudden change of plans... 2 weeks notice to move out. So now I have to show & rent out my current suite for my landlord. Plus get boxes, pack and arrange a truck *fingers crossed* for the move, then clean, clean, sort & clean. But I am happy as heck with the place I found, it is perfecto. I'll show you when I'm settled how perfecto it is.

On the RAPS front, I wrote a little blurb for the RAPS Blog about my adoption of Maggie The Cat.

I have also submitted a blurb for the June Newsletter, I'll let you know when it is out, but if you are interested in subscribing to the newsletter by EMAIL please click here.

"Lincoln"

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The roof of the double wide trailer (that I do all my regular shift of volunteer work inside of) has extensive water damage and the roof needs to be removed and replaced soon. Given that the Cat Sanctuary is at Max Capacity with somewhere around 900 cats, fixing the roof will be quite the project.

Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

WE ARE ALWAYS FUND RAISING !!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

WHAT'S ON @ RAPS:

RAPS Pub Night in Steveston

Saturday, May 30th, 2009 6:30 PM
@ The Buck & Ear Bar and Grill in Steveston Hotel
12111 3rd Avenue, Richmond, BC

Even shelter dogs need a great place to run and play!

Join RAPS for a Pub Night in Steveston to raise funds to repair the shelter dog run.

There will be good food, great beer and a silent auction with something for everyone!

Tickets are $15 and include a pasta dinner, salad, and glass of Buck 1895 lager or pop.

Tickets are available at the RAPS Shelters and Thrift Store. We'll see you there!

Movieboob #13: Clueless Bride Knocked Up

2009-05-16T23:11:00.006-07:00

Girlie weekends are the best, and really who cares if men want to poo-poo chick flix. We women know fantasy, and we know real life isn't like the movies... which is really why we have chick flix in the first place, isn't it?

My niece who is 9 1/2 came over a few weekends back for our monthly sleepover and it was the Dove Sleepover for Self-Esteem on W (TV Channel). So we watched that, and rented the chick flix Bride Wars as well. I really enjoyed the self-esteem exercises that they shared (instead of commercial breaks), and my niece and I played along. I found out she wants a pet chihuahua one day. The things you learn. :)

So here are some recent movies I've viewed, including the chick flix from the sleep over..

Bride Wars I actually thought it was a cute (although silly) movie about 2 best friends (since childhood) who both happen to get engaged at the same time, and accidentally get their dream weddings booked at the same time on the same day at the same place. Neither willing to give up the dream, they end up in a battle, and at the same time a journey of self-discovery. Kate Hudson & Anne Hathaway are cute. (Rating 6/10)

Drew Barrymore's Cinderella

Ever After from 1998, stars Drew Barrymore in this Cinderella story. I've always like Drew Barrymore, and the movie is a very cute rendition of the old story. No fairies and magic, just plain old human beings in old world society. Darling movie for what it is. (Rating 7/10)

Paul Rudd & Leslie Mann in Knocked Up

Clueless is a silly movie made in 1995 that borrows heavy from one of my favourite books by one of my favourite authors, Emma by Jane Austen. Alicia Silverstone is Cher Horowitz who would be the character Emma in the book. Paul Rudd (who I adore) is This isn't 1812 though, this movie is high school in Beverly Hills in the 1990s. I think it is over the top in characters and plot but it works so well, and is funny and cute. (Rating 6/10)

Thriller Dance

13 Going On 30 is an adorable movie, sort like Big with Tom Hanks, but this time it is charming Jennifer Garner who gets to become grown up due to her 13th birthday wish. However she finds out, that her wish to become "popular" meant becoming someone she doesn't like. A great moral story. A wonderfully cute soundtrack, and the Thriller dance scene is right up my alley. I've seen this movie a lot and it is always fun to watch. (Rating 7/10)

Stoners of Knocked Up

Knocked Up was on TV the other night, and I found myself watching it again. I love the odd ball cast of characters. The story is cute too, I mean how often have people happily accidentally got pregnant? Ummm? Although the happy ending is predictable, and a little hard to buy, as if a stoner with no money and no job and no ambition would suddenly clean up his act and trade in his giant bong for a baby crib... well who knows but I didn't buy it. Even so, though, the movie is wonderful, the comedy is great, the relationships are real and like I said the cast is one of my favourites. Seth Rogen is the stoner, Katherine Heigl is the pregnant TV show host, Paul Rudd (who I adore, didn't I say that all ready?) and Leslie Mann (who I also adore) are her sister and brother-in-law. Jason Segel and Jonah Hill are a couple of Rogen's stoner friends. Worth watching even if you have to shut your eyes during the birth scene. (Rating 8/10)

*Rating out of 10 is the rating I gave the movie on my IMDb account. If you have an account on IMDb you can view my ratings list here.

RAPS: Cats, Dogs, Ducks, and Bunnies Oh My

2009-05-15T15:22:00.003-07:00

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I am not going to be at the Cat Sanctuary tonight as I will be seeing Fleetwood Mac in concert... I will miss the cats @ the Sanctuary.

"Cat Paradise"

But I thought I'd give a little update on my cats, as you know Bear Cat cuddled up to Maggie the Cat recently and I was able to grab a couple of photos. Bear Cat is feeling much better now, and is frisky, the other night when I came home after they had some dinner, he was running around.

He likes to play "chase". Always has.

When Bear Cat was a kitten he got very attached to my cat LizBeth, and the two would play "chase". She would chase him, and then he would chase her. When I lived in the 3 story townhouse, they would sound like elephants running up and down the stair case in their endless game of chase.

So I know Bear Cat, I know I am not as fun to play "chase" with, but over the years (after LizBeth died) Bear Cat and I have developed our own version of "chase".

Bear Cat chirps (sort of a purtttt sound) and runs around, and then Bear Cat "hides" and I say "Where's Bear?" while I pretend to search for him and when I find him I say "There's Bear!" and he goes running *and chirping* off to the next hiding spot. Yes it is cute. I'm sure I look crazy doing it.

So the last week Bear Cat has been attempting to convince Maggie the Cat to "chase" him and come find him. He will run by her and playfully poke her with his paw as he skampers by her, chirping the whole time. Maggie doesn't get it. I tell her to "get him" and "chase him" but she just looks at us both like we are both nuts.

The day she gets the game, I'm sure that she'll be all over it.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

The roof of the double wide trailer (that I do all my regular shift of volunteer work inside of) has extensive water damage and the roof needs to be removed and replaced soon. Given that the Cat Sanctuary is at Max Capacity with somewhere around 900 cats, fixing the roof will be quite the project.

Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

WE ARE ALWAYS FUND RAISING !!

"Groucho in the Sun"

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

RAPS in the NEWS:

Watch Noel on Breakfast Television on Tuesday, May 19th in the 7:30 to 9:00 section. He'll be talking about the Noah's Wish emergency disaster response training.

Check out this awesome May 15th post on Modern Dog Magazine's Blog which features fabulous photos from the No. 5 Road Shelter.

Finally, thanks to Christie Lagally for passing on those too items and the following article that appeared in the The Province Newspaper on May 15th titled: Economy blamed for hike in animal complaints:

In Richmond, the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) had to deal with three large, abandoned and neglected dogs in the past week.

None of the dogs had tags or tattoos, according to Christie Lagally of RAPS, and the owners couldn't be found.

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"Cat Condos"

More photos of the cats @ the Cat Sanctuary are on my Flickr account for viewing.

RAPS: Cat Sanctuary in the Sun

2009-05-13T11:11:00.001-07:00

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I am not going to be at the Cat Sanctuary this Friday as I will be attending Fleetwood Mac in concert... I will miss the cats.

In the meantime, I was asked to, and I am busy writing a couple of blurbs for June's RAPS Newsletter. Last Friday I took some more photos of the cats, the rest of the photos are on my Flickr account for viewing.

"The Walk"

"A Real Cat House"

The roof of the double wide trailer (that I do all my regular shift of volunteer work inside of) has extensive water damage and the roof needs to be removed and replaced soon. Given that the Cat Sanctuary is at Max Capacity with somewhere around 900 cats, fixing the roof will be quite the project.

Now more than anything the charity could use your support.

Any help you can give at this time would be greatly appreciated.

WE ARE ALWAYS FUND RAISING !!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

DONATE NOW:

The kitties thank you.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

ONGOING EVENTS @ RAPS:

The Great Richmond Catsnip
Spring 2009

RAPS is hosting a spay/neuter event. Now is the time to get your cat fixed. RAPS is aiming to fix 250 cats in Richmond before summer. Help us meet the challenge! RAPS will subsidize the cost through the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program. Fixed cats prevent animal overpopulation, avoid reproductive cancers and are less likely to engage in undesirable urine spraying behaviours. Call RAPS at 604-275-2036 to set up an appointment for your cat(s).

Coins for Cats & Dollars for Dogs
Everyday!

The Richmond Animal Shelter is collecting Coins for Cats & Dollars for Dogs. Everyone accumulates a lot of small change, and that change can make a big difference for homeless animals at the Richmond Animal Shelter. Collect your small change and then come visit the shelter animals and add your small change to our fundraising bottle to feed homeless animals! The animals will appreciate your visit and your donation. Thanks!

DNA My Dog
Kits Available at the Richmond Animal Shelter

Do you wonder what kind of dog you have? If so, pick up a DNA My Dog kit at the Richmond Animal Shelter. These kits instruct you on how to get a DNA sample from your dog to find out his or her breed combination. (Don't worry! It's easy and painless!) The kit and processing costs about $60.00 plus GST+shipping. (This is the same cost as if you purchased the kit from the company, DNA-My-Dog). DNA-My-Dog will donate the proceeds towards the care of shelter dogs with special medical needs. Also, after you get your results, send us an email and picture of your dog and let us know what kind of dog he or she is. Kits are available for a $10 donation to RAPS (which is included in the $60.00 plus GST+shipping). The remainder of the cost is paid directly to DNA-My-Dog.

Audio Addict #83 : Strange Advance

2009-05-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

Strange Advance was a Canadian band from the 1980s whose music was a fusion of progressive rock and new wave. The band's signature sound combined highly synthesized melody, driving rhythm, and space opera themes.

Strange Advance released three albums between 1982 and 1988.

The first, Worlds Away, featured the title track "Worlds Away", which saw modest airplay in North American markets in 1983.

This band should forever be at least remembered for "Worlds Away" - it is a brilliant beautiful dreamy galaxy of music.

Strange Advance - Worlds Away (1983)

Kromm and Arnott played together from 1974 to 1977 in a group called Slan. Kromm and Iverson were playing together in the late '70's including being part of Bryan Adams' first tour. In 1980, while working on original material in keyboardist Drew Arnott's own studio, the trio were playing the bar circuit in Vancouver as Remote Control doing rock and roll cover tunes. A copy of their demo eventually made it into the hands of production wunderkind Bruce Fairbairn in 1981.

Fairbairn had just finished up work with Prism and Loverboy and took the project on. He would forward the act onto manager-guru Bruce Allen for representation. The heavy clout landed the trio on Capitol Records. But, upon the release of the band's debut album, 'Worlds Away', in February 1983, Strange Advance signed to Management III (Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond) in Los Angeles and not with Allen due to stylistic conflicts.

A dance mix of "Love Games" became a club hit in England and "Kiss In The Dark" was released as single #4. The album went gold (50,000 copies) and the band was nominated for a 'Most Promising Group' Juno Award. The album featured guest appearances by Bryan Adams, Bob Rock and Paul Dean (Loverboy).

Strange Advance - We Run (1985)

In early 1983 Strange Advance approached Ed Shaw (lead guitar) and Derrick Gyles (drums, vocals) from a group called The Instructions to join as touring band. They were to tour with Kajagoogoo in Europe, then return to Canada opening for David Bowie. They were with Strange Advance for about a year rehearsing and doing promotional spots on TV and radio and new material for the band's follow-up album. Unfortunately, Darryl Kromm's father has passed away during the rehearsals and the tour was cancelled. Shaw and Gyles moved on and joined Images In Vogue.

In 1984 Strange Advance relocated to Toronto and began recording their follow-up, but Kromm and Arnott found that three was a crowd and allegedly fired Iverson (he would later sue the group for back royalties). Arnott produced the second album, '2WO', with the exception of "Nor Crystal Tears" which was handled by famed soundtrack orchestrator Michael Kamen. The album boasted a name-dropping roster of special guest talent including Spider Sinnaeve (bass), Gerald O'Brien, Steve Sexton and Howard Ayee (keyboards), Andy Newmark (drums), Earl Slick, Keith Scott (Bryan Adams) and Domenic Troiano (guitars) and John Jones (piano).

The first single "We Run" became an AOR radio hit weeks before the album was released. In 1985 Strange Advance became a 6-piece for their first Canadian tour including two nights at Ontario Place in Toronto. The album went gold in Canada.

Strange Advance - She Controls Me (1982)

Their third album The Distance Between produced the hit single "Love Becomes Electric".

They switched to indie label Current for 1988's 'The Distance Between' (which was still being distributed by Capitol). The album was once again produced by Arnott with musical assistance from Owen Tennyson (Rational Youth, Blue Peter), Greg Critchley (FM), Randy Bachman, Simon Brierley (FM, Lee Aaron), Ed Shaw (Images In Vogue), Allan Holdsworth (UK). The lead off single/video was "Love Becomes Electric" and the band returned to the road throughout Canada.

The bottom finally fell out of the synth-pop market and both Current and Capitol Records passed on Strange Advance. Several 'best of' projects have since been released including 1996's 'Worlds Away' which featured new recordings of the title track.

Strange Advance - Love Becomes Electric (1988)

In 1995, the album Worlds Away & Back featured a mix of old and new material.

Strange Advance - Till The Stars Fall (1988)