Hi there! Many cheers for your vegan-versary! Consider yourself pinned and recognized for doing the right thing all along. I hope your mother heals quickly and that this temporary time offers you both a gift of unexpected closeness and fond memories to be cherished. I understand all too well distractions and self-regulated avoidances... I hope you take comfort as I do in knowing that good friends always stay close no matter how distant the physical world makes us appear to be. Take care of yourself and the things that are important to you. Stay well and happy. <3

For me I try to detect the general hostility or friendliness in a person's tone... I tend to respond to each accordingly. And I do try to bend in their direction even when they are abrasive. But I admit I slip up occasionally when my patience or time runs short. But a bully? No... Not hardly. Still - I've noticed very often that even speaking in the most rational (and kindest) fashion, if your message is contrary to what another wants to hear (especially about their food choices)... Well - They do then accuse the messenger of being heavy handed or abrasive. Many times you simply can't win no matter how pleasantly you tell the truth. For example I've politely corrected people a few times when they say "Animals die for us". There's two blatant errors in that statement and most often no matter how selective I am in using toned-down "gentle speech"... I'm still called some pretty bad stuff for doing so. I figure though, that it's just a reaction to the way their brain perceives a truth they've tried very hard to conceal. It's a painful thing I'm sure... But the truth-barer should not be thought of as the bully. Though it happens still. Off topic - but what's the deal with the term "bully for you" anyway? :/

Wonderful! You've managed to compile a list of all the best attributes of a whole, compassionate and engaged person! Yep - That would be a Vegan or an aspiring one for sure! Not "just" a Vegan at all! Thank you for this tribute to us! ;)

Very perceptive HGV! It sure does seem like selective hearing when some chose to ditch their ideals. And since Rebecca referred to Alex - so will I... I suppose I could understand if someone was under such enormous stress - Some kind of unimaginable mental anguish that made proper judgments impossible I could see a momentary lapse or a "fall" from reason. But I think in such a case you error - repair - and continue on without making it a lifetime (re)commitment to what you know is not your chosen, standard course of action. In other words borrowing from J.S. Foer --- If eating turkey on Thanksgiving is your one reason for not being vegan the rest of the days of the year --- Well then --- (quietly) --- Eat the damn turkey! But as Alex did... And others... They made a complete, almost "anti" vegan decision. I just don't get that! :/ I also don't get being so dramatically public about the whole thing unless you're out to sabotage all the virtues you abandoned. Hard to say why people do what they do. In the mix of it thanks for mentioning the wrongness in not listening to the animals... In the end it's all about them anyway. “Craving: a convenient way of attributing scientific reasoning to an irrational emotional desire for pleasure to exonerate oneself from guilt.” Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

It's true - To encourage people to go the distance you must praise their very first baby step in that direction. Still, in this case --- (among friends) I'm an "all the way" kind of gal! ;)

I'm entirely with you - "the shredder" is certainly an adequate way of putting it... I'm sure not thrilled with "veganish" - But I've pleaded for that in my personal world and I'm not about to put anyone down who does so in their professional one. The journey is a long one. It wouldn't be wise to veer all traffic to a single lane while closing all other roads. Detours happen... We should just shrug them off and forge ahead. Eye on the prize! ;)

Oh gosh! I hope I didn't come off as being any of those other nasty "v" words! I never, ever intended to do so... I totally stayed out of any blog posts, comments or conversations about Ellen (till now)... I did so because to me in the scheme of things it really didn't (doesn't) matter what Ellen does or doesn't do. Or you - Or anyone else *IF* nonhumans haven't been victimized in the process. As far as I'm concerned there are way too many "compassionate" folks out there that are far too judgmental with other people trying their 99.9% best. I deplore the whole "vegan" club/clique mentality. It's stifling! :/ I dread when these stories come up - I never want to add fuel to a pointless fire. While so many "activists" are pounding their keyboards as to who is or isn't "perfect" --- There are 3,000 victims killed every second --- I'd rather be putting out those fires and wish others would do the same. Am I a little disappointed in Ellen? Sure --- But enough to tear her down? To rant about it? To publicly condemn her? Not hardly - Thus this is my first (and last) comments about Ellen. ~Cheers

Probably more discussion on "happy hen egg eating" than one can stand. http://vegansaurus.com/post/36676372998?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Vegansaurus+%28vegansaurus%21%29 Sigh... :(

Hi again... Just a quick mention about this issue being discussed in Colleen Patrick Goudreau's Food for Thought podcast. http://www.compassionatecook.com/writings/podcast-media/drawing-the-line-how-vegan-is-vegan-2 Not much difference in what we all concluded here - An interesting topic for sure. Confirms what Tom Regan has said many times... To "draw the line" in pencil...

Ah... The egg dilemma - Isn't it ironic that the industry "product" that could possibly be the most harmful to its victims, is also the one with the most exceptions to also (possibly) be the least cruel? But in my mind a lot of conditions to make eggs "least cruel" would have to be met... The hens would either have to be rescues or better still - born naturally from a place that didn't manipulate their bodies or plan their births. No "incubation" boxes - No "forced" impregnation by roosters. Also, needless to say - No killing of boy chicks and certainly not of any "spent" hens. Everyone is cared for as best as possible and everyone dies an unpreventable "natural" death. Under all those conditions - Maybe (?) eggs could be considered almost acceptable IF someone thought of eggs as food. Or IF eggs were part of their sustainability from living "off the land". In the last 4 years I've handled more eggs than I ever imagined I would... Most go back to the girls - Some go to neighbors. My husband still eats them and so do both my (vegetarian) dogs... I'm sticking with the yuck factor as a dietary choice. As far as feeling any guilt over temptation or desires? Nonsense... I don't think there's anything damaging in momentary "impure" wants or urges. We're human. And being vegan humans raises up a whole different set of obstacles that obviously the rest of the world can't even muster up the courage to even attempt to face - Even one meal at a time! Please don't be too hard on yourself --- Anyone for that matter. As has been said many times before it's not about perfection... We're all in this thing trying to do as best as we know how and can do on a daily basis. In the meantime - Enjoy your Veggs! I'm happy they're a reasonable substitute for a food you've found hard to forget. P.S. - I'm Jonesing for a decent replacement for cottage cheese. (sigh)...

Cool shirt! Great message! There's just enough words to urge people to read - Yet it's quick and to the point. Like very much!

Yes it is a mammary-mad world! It's a shame that most infants don't receive the advantages of being nourished with their own mother's milk. A lot of women just want to get their post-maternal bodies back and figure a cow's milk will work just as well... And even though they'll swear they want the best for their babies, they'll ignore what most credible pediatrics advise. Sad... And that leaves Poor Elsie who won't nurse her own but is stuck with Junior at her teat throughout his next 70 unweaned years! All while OOgling purposeless boobs. :(

You're so right Krissa! On the one hand long after "milk teeth" we humans continue sucking on the teat... And well - At the same time proclaiming our right to flesh because of our carnivorous, canines! It's obvious we make up the rules as we go about our twisted way. :/

You're not paranoid - You're perceptive! You can see right through the wash that's intended to make the public feel so good about their choices to use, kill and eat chickens! What fun it was to "swap" them, to watch them hatch and race! What could possibly be wrong? It's this fun-time-disconnect that perpetuates the lie over and over again. :( I know I'm not telling you anything you don't already have a clear understanding of... I'm just echoing the valid frustrations you have. It IS depressing to know how blissfully hoodwinked the public allows themselves to be! Stay strong - Keep persistently getting the truth out there... Ignorance isn't a life sentence for everyone. xox

Yepper! Totally agree - Thinking outside the box, experimenting, refining, and adapting is indispensable to learning better ways in sharing our message. Very good point! ;)

Great that you're finding new ways to hone and refine your advocacy! I don't know that one strategy works for everyone... We all have those different personalities where some modes might just appear "fake" and lose the whole point altogether. (?) I'm sure it's written somewhere... I just try to be honest and speak what's in my heart. Learning different methods of doing that has got to be a good thing! ;)

Very moving! Art is one of the most effective ways to communicate an idea. Certainly compassion has earned it's place in the limelight! Looking forward to the footage during the performances! "Break a leg!" ;)

Wow - This is really a great initiative! Thank you for doing this... And I too think Debbie is quite generous! This is how my budget dilemma goes... I like to leaflet or attend a protest once a month as a minimum goal. But I live so far away from these events it takes $20-25 just getting there. Very frustrating as that's pretty much what my budget allows. It's always an either or. :( I'm sorry I can't contribute financially... But am sending all the moral support I can - Go Team Vegan!

HGV you're singing my song! It's always baffled me as to why "licenses" are issued to drive a car, to be a contractor, accountant, plumber or electrician... Yet the most fragile job in the world is left up to the untested and (mostly) unqualified! It's infuriating! Licenses wouldn't necessarily make more responsible caregivers... But it certainly would reduce the notion that guardianship for all/any animals is a "right". It's not. It's a privilege that should be earned --- In my perfect world anyway. :/

"I <3 cows". I love it! ;)

Well I'm totally behind the times for a variety of reasons... Totally missed Be Kind to Animals Week! :( But thankfully... As luck would have it... I'm vegan! So I get to make up for lost time by simply living right. Or rightfully living simple. -Which ever gets me there best! ;)

A moving, heart-felt post you've written... And those are all great suggestions. I suppose I'm in Krissa's position too - Often too broke to afford the products I'd prefer to buy. I get around the cleaning materials by using peroxide, witch hazel, vinegar, lemon juice and sometimes club or baking soda... I'm sure all those things have been tested on animals at one time or another - Jeeze... It's just soooo hard to escape! But you're right in the gentle advice you gave to Krissa to not guilt one's self too badly - I'm going to take a piece of that for myself if it's okay. (?) Thank you HGV - For saying what needed to be said! "If there's something you wouldn't do unto another human, then don't do it to any other sentient being."