So Many Changes, New Beginnings

Since I started taking the Thirty-Day Challenge at the beginning of this month, it seems that my life has gone into warp speed - too many projects and new directions to juggle, and all demanding attention.

For right now, I'll discuss the hottest - my new blog, The Joy of Cat Herding - Solving Your Cat Behavior Problems , which began as an exercise in Web 2.0 social networking and has turned into a mission of its own. Namely, to offer cat caregivers information and resources for dealing with the issues that too often lead to cat-abandonment or euthenasia. I'm making connections now with cat doctors, rescuers, fosterers, behaviorists, and communicators, and seeking expert voices - so if you have expertise in dealing with any cat behavior problems, please let me know!

With the onset of harvest, I'm doing a lot of research on composting and wintering-over...ti's early yet, but there's a lot to learn. I'll probably be sharing more about this as I go along...always looking for likeminded folk!

And of course green copywriting - just now promoting the Second Annual Gala Dinner of the William E Proudford Sickle Cell Fund on Sept. 15.  I knew very little about Sickle Cell when beginning this project, and was appalled to hear the statistics...

Experts estimate that between 70,000 and 80,000 Americans suffer its effects, and over 1,300 babies are born with the condition each year.  It’s a complex, painful, lifelong and life-threatening disease requiring intensive social and economic support for the patient at every stage of development, from simply getting through school to gaining and retaining employment and insurance in adulthood.

 Roughly 500 men, women and children die each year from sickle cell disease.

 While it is considered a rare condition, it is by far the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S. According to a 2006 article published in Pediatrics, however, the combined amount of public and private funds raised for sickle cell disease amounted to just over $1,000 per patient (as a comparison, $9,000 per patient was raised for cystic fibrosis). Sadly, the greatest deficit has fallen in private funding, giving a rough idea of the lack of public awareness regarding this disease.

If you plan to be in Baltimore at that time, and have any interest in health issues - please do check this out.

Thrilled to be with Zaadz and see all the wonderful people here...

Namaste!