Breaking news about the service animal story posted about here: I just got some leaked government documents about the new regulations. Turns out, they’ve made them even more restrictive than they were originally — they will now ban all animals except dogs. I’ve posted info about it here, and links to various ways you can speak out against the ban if you’re like: http://scienceblogs.com/culturedish/2009/01/newsflash_doj_ada_changes_leak.php

katrina, losing something you love IS a huge deal, esp. if it is a way to add beauty to the world, like singing. shore do understand that.

meanwhile, peeps, your body may not be a temple; it may be a landfill, like mine, but appreciate it. it might take a notion one day to get sick.
same with our fuzzy/scaly/furry babies. adore them, woo, i do.

This is where the crip sense of humor really comes in handy.

Wannadance-I lost my ability to sing- doesn’t sound like a huge deal, but singing was my life. It mourn it to this day. However, when I had the Pneumonia, and breathing itself was difficult, I had a totally new perspective on what I still have. No Pollyanna, just sayin…

Hugs and snorgles and neck nibbles and sweet pokes in the belly to all of our differently able and temporarily able friends. It just aggravates me when the TV show people doing harm to themselves and putting themselves in physically-hurtful situation-the channel gets turned at once- please, everyone, cherish your bodies and the things they can do for you and your soul! Everyone’s body is beautiful-no matter what.

my fav part of the NYT article… her driver’s license say she is not permitted to drive without a her monkey! Can you imagine the bafoons at the DMV taking the picture and putting down that comment! LOL

I love it!

I’ve thought about things a little differently since a few years ago when I was at a seminar on disability studies in academia and the performing arts. One of the speakers said “I am not ‘disabled.’ The rest of you are just ‘temporarily abled.’”

Wow…we are *all* so lucky to share our lives with our animal companions! And to have these great conversations with our CO peeps. My heart is touched…and warmed. Thank you.

I read about the Pony in the links, how cute! It’s cool that they are training other animals to help people like this. I’ll read the parrot thing next

jennifer, no worries. i am about as ‘unusual’ as you can get and i wasn’t offended. actually, one thing about disability is that it really helps to be silly rather than proper.

man, i love me some animules. jasmine brings me stuffed mice all the time, oh, i tellya, peeps, it’s a wonderful kinda life!

Oooh, Google Cuddles, the other guide miniature horse. He and his dad live up here in Maine, but as part of his graduation, before he could take Cuddles home, the two of them had to navigate Manhatten, alone. Subways, cabs, busses, you name it, Cuddles could handle it all.

Of course, Cuddles has teeny tiny custom made Reeboks that he wears in malls and stuff so he doesn’t slip. His dad says he wishes he had had Cuddles when he was single. Apparently a mini horse in Reeboks is the most powerful chick magnet on the planet…

Wannadance: here’s a big hug from another crip.

And don’t underestimate what Jasmine Kitty might be able to do!

Megumi roused me when I passed out from a bad reaction to a medication so that i could phone for help!

She comforts me after bad dreams, she lets me know when odd noises in the house are nothing to worry about. (“That crash was just the other cat. Go back to sleep.”)

among so many other small things.
Gee maybe I should teach her to drive, but I KNOW she’d swerve like mad to hit the squirrels…