Done! I'm done with 2 new holiday card designs. Whoohoo!

This one is of downtown Portland during Christmas. I love downtown Portland during the holidays. I always get Silver Bells stuck in my head when I head down there that time of year. 

I've been working on holiday cards today. It's always kind of weird to be thinking Christmas when it's 88 degrees outside, but it has to be done. Buyers are already thinking of placing their holiday orders and I really want to be on top of it this year.

This one reminds me of last November when Nate and couple of our friends went downtown to watch the tree lighting ceremony. 

I have never been to the tree lighting ceremony before. Almost 20 years of living here, and I have never been. I've always really wanted to go but I usually had to work, or the weather was terrible. 

We went last year because we didn't have to work and the weather was chilly, but really nice. It was a great experience. Being there with friends, surrounded by thousands of people all crowded around a huge tree in out pretty city.

I'm hoping to go again this year, if the weather is nice and Nate doesn't have to work. 

By now we've all heard the news about Orlando. We've all said our thoughts on Facebook and changed our profile pictures. We've said what we've had to say on Twitter and on various blogs. For me, most of my friends and followers are stricken with sadness and anger and frustration. I'm all those things too.

I just don't know what to say about things like this anymore. Sometimes I feel like saying nothing on social media is best for me. I feel like maybe those who follow me and who are my friends already know that I'm heart broken about the situation. I know for many people it's a showing of solidarity and mourning by posting their thoughts and memes on social media, but for me silence and reflection work best.

It's been more than 24 hours since this horrific act of violence has happened. I've had a chance to process it. I still don't have the words to express my grief, sadness, frustration and anger. I know this will happen again. I know that the chances of even more lives are greater now. I know that processing this kind of act is something that we will all have to live through again and again because it doesn't seem like any real changes are being done to stop it.

I feel like all I can do right now is hope that it doesn't hit too close to home...

I will always choose love over hate. 

xoxoxoxoxo

Brock Turner, an ex-Stanford student and swimmer raped a woman and only got a 6 month jail sentence for his actions. According to the judge who sentenced him, anything longer than a 6 month jail sentence would "have a severe impact on him."

This makes me afraid, angry, disheartened, hurt and beyond sorry for the woman who was raped by him. A woman who only wanted to go out with her sister to a party. She was raped, while unconscious, and left with her clothes up over head until someone found her and took her to a hospital.

Why isn't this man being held more accountable? Because he's white. Because he's an athlete. Because he's privileged. Because today, in 2016, we still live in a rape culture.

People need to know this guys name, Brock Turner. This is what he looks like.

People should know what he did. People need to be aware that this is still happening because women shouldn't be afraid to go to a party at night. 

 I want the woman who was raped to know that there are many people out there who feel that he should get a true and just sentencing. That what she had to endure was not right and that her feelings about what happened to her are valid. 

This is her letter that she wrote to Brock Turner.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/heres-the-powerful-letter-the-stanford-victim-read-to-her-ra?utm_term=.dvzVRNOzX#.mxY0GwXjb

This is the letter that Brock Turner's dad wrote:

Well, Chloe had her surgery and teeth cleaning yesterday. She had two of her front bottom teeth removed... So I'm pretty sure her tongue is going to be hanging out even more now.

She is recovering nicely. She's really tired, which is understandable. She doesn't seem like she's in too much pain. She's been trying to jump on the furniture! This is not okay so when I can't keep my eye on her, she goes in her kennel. Which, by the way, if you ever get a dog and debate whether or not to crate train them, I really recommend it. Especially for situations like these. It keeps her from getting into too much trouble. 

We find out next week if her vet was able to get all of the cancer cells. She's cut took a large chunk of her skin off and she probably has about 30 stitches, so I'm thinking that she did. I'd post a picture of her battle wound but it's a little upsetting to look at....

Anyway, her eye seems almost all healed and I hope her gums heal quickly too. She's such a little toughie. Send her all the good healing thoughts. I bet she would appreciate them. <3