January 29, 2018

Calling ALL Animal Lovers! + Monthly Mishmash


THIS IS MY 600TH BLOG POST!

A friend emailed me about a great cause she's helping with to rescue at least 20 stray cats. In her email she said: 

"It was brought to my attention that there is a colony of cats living outside of a home that went into foreclosure. The people who were living there moved out a little over a week ago so the cats lost their source of food. They never had the cats spayed/neutered so the cats kept reproducing. At one point, a few years ago, over 50 cats were euthanized. Absolutely heartbreaking!! I can't...

"So my friend asked me if I could help save the remaining 15-20. And here I am, trapping, vetting and transporting these babies to a beautiful sanctuary I found. The woman who owns the sanctuary is very private and it was extremely hard to get them accepted there since she has over 100 cats to care for.. but at least she has hired help there.

"The sanctuary is amazing! Such a beautiful place filled with lots of warmth, food, love, and nature.

"We set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for vet bills and donations to the sanctuary. We originally thought it would cost 160 per cat but it's been nearly 200 because of the spay/neuter, vaccinations and treatments they need in order to go to the sanctuary. Especially since they will be living among other healthy cats.

"This is such an incredible project. I nearly cry every time I am doing the final transport to the sanctuary because I know what these poor animals could have endured if we didn't save them.


Even if you just donate $5 or click the link and share the campaign to your FB, you'll make a difference.



MONTHLY MISHMASH

Blog Tour: If you missed my blog tour, or missed a few days, here are the links, so you can hop along and read my true story about the fire that inspired Flaming Crimes.



The Fire that Inspired Flaming Crimes (Parts 1 – 10):


Part 2 - Sandra Cox 
Part 4 - Julie Flanders 
Part 7 - Just Jemi
Part 8 - Sandra Dailey
Part 9 - Fundinmental
Part 10 - Elizabeth Seckman


First Public Speech - Last year, I was invited by a women's committee to be the speaking author at their annual luncheon. This day happened January 10th.


I practiced a few days before by reciting my speech twice at my desk and recording it. The day before, I practiced it twice by standing behind a dresser, to mimic a podium. Once again, I recorded it. I never reviewed these recordings, though. I used the knowledge of being recorded to help me create some nerves. I only had note cards to remind me of points I wanted to make. Practicing like this helped me to remember what I wanted to say but because I could also speak from the heart, it made it more real. 


The moments leading up to my speech, I was nervous and couldn't enjoy the food, but once I was behind the podium, holding the microphone, I was fine. That was a miracle for someone who is an introvert and never thought she'd do something like that...in her life. HAHA




60 comments:

  1. You got through it and I bet did a great job.
    Congratulations on six hundred posts.

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    1. Everyone said I did great and gave them much insight. So it sounds like I did good. lol

      Thanks!

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  2. Congratulations on the successful speech! The cat rescue is also a great cause. When I'm back on my own, I plan to get at least a few rescue animals myself.

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    1. Thanks!

      My four kitties were rescued strays. I love them so much. :)

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  3. Congrats n the 600th post and speech!

    What an amazing thing your friend is doing for the kitties. Off to the gofundme page.

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    1. Thank you!

      And thank you so much for visiting the GoFundMe page! Whatever you can do will be a big help. :)

      Delete
  4. Hi Chrys - so pleased you felt comfortable giving your talk ... next time it'll be easier. Rescuing those kittens and cats - so pleased for them. Congratulations on the 600th blog post ... have a good week - cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you, Hilary! I actually want to give another speech now. :)

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  5. Well done on your speech! I hope you go on to do many more. And congrats on 600 blog posts - that's a lot! Cheers - Ellen

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  6. I gave to that feral cat rescue. Poor little kittens.

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  7. Congrats on your 600th. I did my 700th yesterday.
    Iam an animal lover and hate to see any being hurt or neglected. I used to have a dog and cat. The cat was diabetic and I had to give her insulin shots, but she was such a comfort after I lost my husband.
    I adored the pic of the cat, my, those eyes......
    Yvonne.

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    1. Thank you!

      I hate to see it, too. I'm glad you had that kitty to comfort you.

      Delete
  8. Congrats on your 600th post and on your speech!
    I'm an introvert as well and never done well doing anyting standing in front of people. At least not without some liquid courage first. Whew, but going have to muster the courage to do so eventually.

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    1. Thank you!

      Being an introvert, doing anything in public is tough. But it helped that I did things to prepare myself last year and took smaller steps, like my YouTube videos, the radio interview, etc. It really helps to work yourself up to doing a public speech.

      Delete
  9. Congratulations on your speech, your 600th post, and your work with rescue animals. My recently rescued dog is going to cost me an arm and leg as she is now in rehab, but she is lovable and worth it.

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    1. Thank you!

      Aw. I'm sorry your rescue is in rehab. I hope she gets better. She has a wonderful home.

      Delete
  10. Congrats on the speech going off with ease and 600 posts too. Rescuing cats sure is a win indeed. Cassie is a rescue here.

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    1. Thank you!

      Aw. Yay, Cassie! Rescues are the best.

      Delete
  11. I'd be petrified up there. So glad it went well for you. Awesome that you are at 600 posts and what amazing work you are doing for your friend and these animals. Glad you found a new home for them.

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    1. My friend is doing all the hard work. I'm just trying to get some awareness for her cause, but everything helps. :) Thanks, Natalie!

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  12. Well done on overcoming nerves and getting up there! I'm an extreme introvert and find it's very misunderstood. It doesn't necessarily mean you're shy & retiring, and unable to do wild and public things. I actually get a buzz out of standing up with a microphone in front of a room full of people - providing I'm on firm ground and talking about something I care about. But however enjoyable it might be, interacting is draining. That's what makes us introverts.

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    1. Exactly. Just like being shy doesn't mean you're an introvert either. Those two terms have become interchangeable, but they mean different things.

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  13. Congrats on the speech. I know I wouldn't want to stand in front of and talk at people. :-) I am not a cat person, but that is horrible. I love hearing about people that go above and beyond for a good cause.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. Even dog people can help with this cause by donating a few bucks or sharing the campaign. :)

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  14. Doing a recording is a great tip for practising a speech. I can see how that would feel a little like speaking to an audience.

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    1. It really helped me. I recommend it to anyone who needs to practice public speaking.

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  15. I promised my husband no more go fund me's because I get so many, but you're right...even $5 can help.

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  16. Sounds like you were amazing doing your speech, Chrys! Good for you!! Also, so sweet that you're helping the stray cats. That's so sad that they were fed and then abandoned. It's not like they learned to find their own food. We had lots of strays in our old neighborhood and of course, we adopted one of the abandoned kittens. Duke, the kids named him. He was the best cat. I still miss him. But my point being that many of the strays in our neighborhood would hunt for their food in the ravine and were self sufficient. I hope these little ones all find homes!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa! There were strays living around the apartment complex I used to live at that I fed. And other neighbors fed them, too. When I moved, I prayed that others would continue to feed them. I still think about them.

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  17. The poor little kitties break my heart. They don't understand. So sad. I'll try to send a little money tomorrow. I hope they get into the sanctuary. Both of my cats were strays that adopted me.

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    1. Any tiny bit would be great. I’ve donated $10 last month and will donate at least a another $10 this month. It all helps. All four of mine were strays that I took in. ❤️

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  18. It's amazing how easy it can be to get up in front of an audience and speak. I don't know why. We make it seem harder than it ultimately is.

    Such a good cause, with the cats. I hope the GoFundMe exceeds its funding goals.

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    1. I hope the GoFundMe exceeds it’s funding goals, too.

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  19. Congratulations on your 600th post and on your support for those cats.

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  20. Those poor cats! I hope enough is raised for them all!
    Loved being part of your blog tour - what a fascinating story you have :)

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    1. I hope so, too!

      Thank you, Jemi! I was thrilled to be on your blog to tell my story.

      Delete
  21. Congrats on your speech and for 600 posts! I am so sorry for those poor cats! Bless their hearts! Big Hugs!

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  22. 600 posts! That's amazing. Great job! I shared your post on my blog. Those poor fur babies. It's just heartbreaking. It's just so wrong. Thank you for doing so much for them.


    Elsie

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    1. Thank you for sharing my post on your blog! I appreciate that. :)

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  23. Glad to hear that your speech went well. I was thinking about you!

    And congrats on reaching your 600th post.

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  24. Awesome that your speech went well.

    Congratulations! Wow! 600th!

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  25. Woot for making it through your public speaking! That's awesome. And it's wonderful to see you taking effort to help all those kitties.

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    1. Thanks, Loni! My friend is doing all the hard work.

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  26. Congratulations on the 600th post! That's a lot of writing! :) I'd like to donate but I've been eating peanut butter sandwiches at almost every meal for the past couple weeks due to overwhelming bills, but I'll be donating more to animal rescue organizations once I get more money. It's heartening to know that there are good people out there who are devoted to helping animals.

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    1. Thank you! And don't worry. I know how it is. Believe me. I hope you bills ease up. Best of luck!

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  27. Hi human, Chrys,

    That's pawesome that you've done your 600th pawst, my delightful human friend.

    Well done on the pawblic speaking! I know how challenging that can be. I usually start out by addressing my adoring crowd with the words, "Please, be seated!"

    We are involved over here in the UK in making sure that cats, dogs and a variety of animals get their "Furever Home."

    Bless you for your kind, caring nature.

    And yep, like a starstruck puppy, I've been noting your blog tour.

    All the beast, um, all the best to you, Chrys.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny 🐶😀

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    1. Hi Penny!

      Haha. The people listening to my speech were already seated because they were eating. :P

      That's great that you're involved in helping animals get their Furever Home. :)

      Thank you for visiting and commenting!

      Delete
  28. That's so great that you're helping to save those stray cats!

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  29. Poor cats! I'm so glad you've been working to help them.

    I have found that lots of practicing speeches helps calm me down for the real presentation. It's all about being prepared.

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    1. Thanks, Sherry!

      Practicing is the best...practice. ;)

      Delete
  30. I'm playing catch up today. I'd be happy to donate to that GoFundMe campaign.
    Good for you, having your first public speaking engagement can be daunting, even without being an introvert and you totally nailed it. I think it was all the practice and the fact that you just rock no matter what.

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    1. Any help is much appreciated. :)

      Aw. *blushes* Thank you!

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