The Truth About Elephants and Ringling

Here's a link to an eye-opening article about elephants. Maybe their fate isn't sealed after all.
Oh sweet elephant dreams. . . .

LOVE

This is an interesting take on it.

Photoshop speaks to dreams.

The Victimization of Elephants

I have a difficult time with the whole animal rights movement. Seems to me it is a reflection and symptom of deeper societal ills. You see, I’ve been an elephant trainer. I’ve traveled and performed with circus elephants. And when I see protesters and meet people that “believe” in animal rights, I have a difficult time buying into their imagination. They imagine the worst, without knowing the current reality. Elephant trainers are the most courageous, hard-working people I know. They face their own mortality and demise everyday. They know their close contact with elephants could kill them in an instant. Yet they get up everyday and shovel shit. They have been thrust into this position unwittingly. When they started there wasn’t the media magnifying glass, 30-sec edited videos, sound bites and uneducated* public judging their every move. They simply spent all day, everyday, in the service of these amazing beasts and learned to care for them as best they could. Like any learning experience in life, there are always successes and failures. As science has caught up with animal learning and husbandry, methods have changed. As society has grown and cemented over nature, green spaces for elephants and humans have disappeared. What we are left with is a jolting discrepancy between how we imagine elephants should live and what their current reality, caused by our short-sighted imaginations, really is. In smaller towns and rodeo grounds elephants don’t seem so out of place. They’re just exotic livestock doing their thing. Eating, pooping, and exercising in the form of circus tricks. With the companionship and connection of a caring animal person, they thrive in this situation. They have each other for company and a reason to live. We all need this.

I watch as small children are ecstatic the first time they see an elephant. They point and get stiff and twitchy with joy and wonder. They smile back at their parents making sure they see what they see. They see the wonder and beauty that is an elephant. They believe the elephants are as happy to be there as the kids are to see them. They see the purest, unbiased truth.

Sadly, the current “belief” by the animal rights movement would insist that the elephants are miserable. Their children are told that it is bad for humans and elephants to co-exist and work side-by-side. That feeding, caring and shoveling shit for the elephants is not an honorable job. These children respond by holding their noses and screeching that “Ew, elephants stink!” They are children brainwashed by adult’s mistaken beliefs and go on to invest their time in cleaner, sanitized versions of life, such as television, video games and jobs indoors.

I have the hardest time with people that own animals themselves as pets; dogs, cats, horses, etc. but think that “exotic” animals should be maintained at a distance in so-called sanctuaries. So-called because whose sanctuary is it really? They are still captive. Only the rich benefactors and contributors can now view them. They are still on display and don’t have a job to do. They still don’t have natural families and the ability to wander at will. What were once the earths beings are now the fund raising poster children of holier-than-thou non-profit administrators. I realize they mean well. I’m just not so sure it’s really in the elephant’s best interest. Ideally, in my own imagination, it would be wonderful to see elephants everywhere. Able to co-exist in cities because we had left corridors of greenery for them to hang out in, with their handlers of course. I’m not saying they can be left to wander on their own in the midst of humanity as we know it nowadays, just that it would be great to be able to see elephants out for walks as we drove to work. One time we were hired to take an amazing elephant to a football game for a half-time promotion. I remember watching as people rushed past to their seats, not even noticing this huge beast calmly waiting his cue. I was saddened to think of what they were missing. Maybe they were saddened to think we were missing the game. Somehow I don’t think so.

Rather than adversaries, wouldn’t it be in the best interest of elephants to all work together and pool resources for their benefit?

I suppose I have a very unique and unusual perspective and would hope that I can infect others with visions of humans and animals large and small, living and working together, sharing their lives and their smells with each other, so that the small beings among us, children that is, can be exposed to the wonder of what nature has wrought, and know that the earth is a place to be happily shared by us all.

*By uneducated I’m not referring to formal schooling. Rather animal smarts. Farmers, ranchers and others that have been raised around and work with animals live in tune with animal intelligence. Highly-educated, institutionalized, intellectual, book-learning, city-raised people are sorely lacking this.

Tie Dye *LOVE*

Elise & Lynn went to a flagger tie dye workshop taught by Phillip.


Ooooh, the black light reactive dyes took our breath away. Although it was a drizzly day our bright colors shone. The commaraderie was fun to share.

Phillip's creative spark inspired our own.

Each beautiful finished work a peek at our souls.

Looking forward to finishing our flags and waving them proud.


Thanks Ben for hooking us up!

All we are saying. . . .

is give Peace a chance.

The Peace Alliance presented an entertaining and informative production on Monday. It brought me to tears. It seems so simple to me, to choose peace. I went to my legislators websites to encourage them to support HR 808 a bill to establish a United States Department of Peace.

A Department of Peace will work to:

-- Provide much-needed assistance to efforts by city, county, and state governments in coordinating existing programs; as well as develop new programs based on best practices nationally

-- Teach violence prevention and mediation to America's school children

-- Effectively treat and dismantle gang psychology

-- Rehabilitate the prison population

-- Build peace-making efforts among conflicting cultures both here and abroad

-- Support our military with complementary approaches to peace-building.

-- Create and administer a U.S. Peace Academy, acting as a sister organization to the U.S. Military Academy.

-- And more…

When I submitted the form it asked what my request was regarding. There were 45 subjects listed - such as:
Defense/Military
Homeland security
Military academies
War in Iraq
War on Terror

but not even the word peace. Hmmm, yeah, I think it's time it was an option. Violence is a learned behavior and can be unlearned given the resources and attention. Would you consider giving it yours?

It only took me about 10 minutes to let my legislators know. Click here to learn more and let yours know too.

"More than an end to war,
we want an end to the beginnings of all war."
Franklin Roosevelt

Heartfelt thanks,

Lynn

Yikes, another year already?

It was my birthday last Saturday. Whoo hoo, yeah right. Hard to believe another year's gone by. What have I learned? How have I grown? What difference does it make anyways? Hehe.

This is my birthday wish:

The greatest gift you can give to me is to follow your bliss and grow into
your ‘self'.
Makes it easier for me to do so
my 'self'.

Got my "FREE" birthday chiropractic adjustment. Dr. Johnston and his minions will set you straight. Having visited chiropractors across the nation during my circus daze, I know a good crack when I hear one. Next I treated myself to Big Ron's Yoga. Yoga is my drug of choice. Meditation is my medication. Because of the summer heat I have resisted going to Bikram, aka "hot yoga", 100 minutes at 100 degrees. Ugh. But the reality is it makes me feel soooooo good and when you leave it feels cooler outside. Made myself a committment to go more often this year.

Oftentimes I can't find the words I need so I make them up.
Remember folks, you heard it here first. My gift of words to you. :)

Visionaerialist - my self-coined moniker. I've been a pro aerialist in this life. I'm also a very imaginative person. So in order to describe myself I put the two together. Simple, no?

Ambitchous – Bitchy and ambitious. You know what they say about women with power. I say more power to them.

Perhaps it's "all about the money." Just came across an interesting study that said even the thought of money makes people mean, “less helpful, less considerate and less willing to ask for assistance or engage with others than those who have not been "preconditioned" to money.”

Bills to pay? Forget about it, I want to be nice. Generous even. Anyone need a little extra cash?

Virticariously - Living virtually and vicariously. I’ve never been able to get hooked on soap operas. I’ve tried at times so I could converse with those that do. Better than a soap opera, going online and reading myspace, facebook, blogs and evesdropping on the drama, love lost and love found is life’s reality show. The vengeance of the jilted and bragging rights of happiness. As I’ve become a recluse here in the woods leading an “insular” life, I find myself traveling across the world into others lives and comparing them to my own. I find the lies people tell and uncover truths I’d rather not know. It is easy to live an illusion on the internet with chats, IM’s and emails. There is so much missing; tone of voice, facial expressions, body language. But we’re back to writing and reading more and that can’t be all bad. It takes longer to write and you have the option to edit before you speak. Seems we hear what we want to hear, in the tone we want to hear it, when we read and listen to the voice in our head. It seems we’re all lonelier than ever and searching for that connection we all crave so. Bumping into others with similar interests is easier, but overcoming physical distance is frustrating to no end. I think I’ll just stay here and talk to the trees. Only problem is I hold them close and they don’t hug me.

Spent a night and a day at the beach. Oh, I so needed that. I hadn’t realized how much it was missed. Marveled as the huge, orange-red moon rose perceptively as we counted down. Rose the next morning and watched the sun take its place. Listened to the surf and walked the beach as the warm ocean water caressed my feet. Found washed up shells to carry home. Wondered what is next for me. Only my heart can tell.

Love, you know, inspires me.

I *LOVE* MY FREAKY FRIENDS

BRoS. GRiM SiDeShOw
WeSt PalM BeaCh

Bryce and Ken wound down their Ozzfest tour and it was HOTT.

Starting in Seattle and traipsing across the entire United States this summer, Bryce and Ken managed to keep several unique freaky acts working and survived a blow down. When I saw them I could tell they’d put their heart and soul into their dream and the schedule and miles had beaten them up. I met Ken years ago when he’d come backstage at the circus and hang around. At the time he spoke of pursuing his dream of creating a side show based on historical accuracy. He now has a museum quality collection of artifacts that unfortunately didn’t make this tour. Too hectic. But he has, in fact, followed his dream and I’m sure will continue to do so. It would be nice to see his entire collection displayed alongside his sideshow in a permanent setting. He’s also an accomplished drummer and record producer. Check out Shemp and the songs they’ve produced.

I met Bryce in Dallas when I was touring also and he’s been the force behind Ken to get this show on the road. Great guy and what a hard worker. He’s managed others into amazing careers and I’m sure will continue to do so. His company is called Brown Gravy Entertainment. This guy knows how to get things done.

Pictured here are:

William Dark a formidable fire performer and contact juggler.

Featured in a Red Hot Chili Pepper’s music video, GoGoAnnie does a classic burlesque routine with gorgeous red sequined costume.

Here’s to your recuperation and regrouping into your next freak show manifestation.

Thanks guys for the hospitality!