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| At least there's wine |
Every couple of weeks I have opened this up to write a new post... It has, after all, been months since my last post and, weirdly, that makes me feel guilty. Yet, each time I do, I am defeated the weight of the current affairs topics. What could I say on Fees Must Fall or Turkey, Syria, Paris, Nice, Brussels or Trump, Brexit, Malema, and Zupta? Not least of all given that the premise of my blog is fairly frivolous and came about because I wanted to whine about my own troubles - not face the large troubles of the world (unless they relate to the environment).
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| Putting the bits of the kennel together |
I was quite excited leading up to yesterday's Mandela Day. I love the concept of having a day that reminds people to give a little back. Also, it is Winter, so I am in active pursuit of excitement. I did my 67 minutes (+... I mean it is never really 67 minutes) at a dog shelter "building" a kennel. It was great, there was sunshine (and icy wind) and lots of people all choosing wood and hammering and measuring and sawing (although thank goodness they only let the skilled people do that - I already managed to get a blood blister, I am not sure what I would have achieved with a saw).
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| Here's why it is a good idea to pick up litter (I know YOU wouldn't DROP litter in the first place but still worth picking it up) |
Then, yesterday, my Facebook feed was full of organisations that I follow posting pictures of litter pick ups, community food drives and animal shelter fund raising. It was great. It made me feel a little better about the world and the people in it. Sure, maybe it is just one day that gets people thinking about what they can do but maybe they will enjoy it so much that they will do it more often. Humans can be pretty rad!
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| Look at those eyes, just imploring you to be a better person |
Unfortunately, last night someone smashed by headlight which somewhat dulled my warm fuzzy, "humans are rad" feeling but I am determined not to let it go completely. Today I am going to go try donate blood at the mobile station in Claremont (it is really easy to find out when these things happen - which puts to bed one of my excuses for not doing this before. Follow this link if you live in the Western Cape, I am sure it is as easy in other provinces). I have never donated blood before, which is something else I have always felt guilty about. Then a friend of mine mentioned how much blood is needed for cancer patients which is something I haven't thought about before. Obviously it is used in many equally deserving circumstances, but cancer has made me mad this year (David Bowie, Alan Rickman and closer to home), and this is one little thing I can do to help, so it is totally worth getting over any eekkk needle feelings.
How are you going to keep the feeling behind the 67 minutes alive?
P.S. I did donate blood and it wasn't at all stressful. The staff were super friendly and encouraging and even though they gave me extra time to stay sitting afterwards, I didn't feel at all like I was woozy. I definitely recommend doing it - oh and I got a free bag and pen as a first time donor!
Meanwhile, the headlight has cost me over R400, so whoever did that... you are not a rad person.
