This past week, all I've been doing is reading tutorials on how to digitally color better, but to no avail. I should really get a new program. Possibly one that is actually used in all of the tutorials I've read so far.

Job hunting is really stinky. How is this economy going to get any better if people want "experienced" (insert low-paying degrading job name here)workers? Seriously, it's not that hard to be a receptionist. I'm overqualified for typing speed and organization, and a monkey with ADHD could write down a phone number, so why do I have to be experienced? Same with being a fucking bus boy. I know how to clean a table. I've been doing it for three years in Culinary - So why do I have to have experience from another job? Do experienced potential employees have awesome super powers to use on the job? Jeez, people are so stupid. And the jobs don't even pay that well. The majority of the the jobs I'm aiming for are at or just above minimum wage. In conclusion, to all of the job adds on Craigs List in the Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, and Middleburg area that require simple day-to-day labor and yet tell people that they can't have the job because they are not experienced enough, I say go fuck your toilet seat.

Anyways.

Mat always believed I was joking when I said that Dad completely nerd rages when something happens to the internet connection while he's playing WoW.

Dena: 1 Mathew: 0

Dad has this thing that whenever he's mad, he'll start whispering to the computer screen very sternly, as if to slowly go through an argument in which only he speaks and the aggressor listens. He also has his eyes practically bulging out of his head to keep eye contact with the poor monitor.

Last night, KC had an article open on the internet about a cat named Ugly. It's a very touching story, and I believe people should read it. The place where I had found it again stated that the story is completely made up, but whether or not it is, it will still touch your heart and make you think twice.


UGLY THE CAT

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.

The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, and even his shoulders

Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction.

If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love.

If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.


As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.

Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring.

Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit,
to love so totally and truly.

Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me...
I will always try to be Ugly.




END.

This story of love and compassion for everything touched me more than the story of Buddha, if you could believe it.