Life of an Orca

A few weeks ago, I heard the news that a killer whale killed its trainer at the Orlando-based Seaworld. And I cannot stress enough how disturbed I was about this entire incident.

Dawn Brancheau and Tilikum

Though I am a big scaredy cat, I have always been a lover of animals. I remember going on a specific 6th grade field trip to Dana Point. They took us all out on a boat and we got to see dolphins, seals, etc. I don't remember too much of that field trip, but I do distinctly remember being absolutely fascinated with the animals. So, at that tender age of 12 or 13, I began considering a career in marine biology. (I say "considering" because although I really liked the animals, I was still scared of them.)

As a junior in college, marine biology entered my mind again as I desperately tried to find a career path. So I pulled tooth and nail with my friend and we went to visit SeaWorld! Imagine how excited I was! My imagination ran so fast that by the time we parked into SeaWorld, I had already decided to send out my resume for an internship. Then...we went to go see the Shamu show. (I don't remember what it was called back then. Believe?) To my shocking surprise the killer whale's dorsal fin was bent! The trainer said it was because the temperature of the water is not as cold as its natural habitat and told us not to worry as it isn't harmful to the animal. But I was outraged! Just because something is not harmful doesn't mean that it is healthy either! I wish I could say my childhood dreams of becoming a marine biologist came true. Unfortunately, that fateful day resulted in confirming me that marine biology was not where I belonged.

That could've been me up there~

Orcas, commonly known as killer whales, are not actually whales at all! In fact, they are largest member of the dolphin family! That's right! They're really dolphins! But they were dubbed "killer whales" because they are known to have whales in their diet. Also, they are the largest mammals in the world! So large, they actually don't have a natural predator of their own, meaning that they are at the top of the food chain. Sadly, many of them are whale-napped from their homes and put into captivity aka animal parks. Some of the animals who reside in animal parks were rescued but many were not. And, sadly, Tilikum (the whale in question) falls into the latter category.

He was taken from his natural home at age 3 and placed in an animal park in Iceland. There he killed a trainer and subsequently was put on probation. SeaWorld bought him to sire many calves (baby whales). At SeaWorld, he killed a visitor when that man sneaked into the park after hours to go swimming with him. SeaWorld stated that Tilly (short for Tilikum) is not responsible for that man's death because the man should not have been there in the first place and because Tilly may have thought he was playing. Still with his previous records and his sheer size (he was the biggest killer whale at SeaWorld) only a third of the trainers there were allowed to work with him. With his recent killing of his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, Tilly is now on trial as to whether or not he should be put down.

I mean no disrespect to the trainer nor her family but this is ridiculous! Tilikum is a wild animal who does not belong in a swimming pool tank! He belongs in the ocean with his family and friends! Doesn't anyone see that Tilly is really the victim here! Also, I truly do not believe that his trainer would want him to be put down. She was aware of the dangers that came with her job and yet she still went to do it because she loved it. And she loved her job because she, too, was an animal lover. And she would not want anyone to harm her animals, including Tilikum.

Free Tilly!

As for me, this incident with Tilly brought back my divided feelings about animal parks. I do think that these parks are holding these animals in captivity and thus is a form of animal cruelty. And yet, I can't help but to be amazed by them and to be drawn to them. They are magnificent creatures who show just how great our God is, and it humbles me.

God is so awesome! It takes my breath away...

gardening mama

The dollar spot at Target is one of my hot spots when I need to find a "thank you for doing your homework" present for my tutor kids. During one of my recent visits, it came to my attention that the tiny corner holds tiny seeds of hobbies waiting to bloom! And as each is $1, testing out a hobby is now super cheap and available for all! I found these tiny little flower pots that come with soil, seeds, and directions. The kit is virtually fail-proof, which is a plus for those who do not have the "green thumb" gene, i.e. yours truly.

I bought one for each of my tutor kids because
1. they are cute and fun
2. it will give me motivation to actually take care of the thing
3. it will make great how-to essay topics =)

I realized I used the word "tiny" too many times in this post


Obviously, the change of background scenery in these pictures indicates that it took my several days to get to these points....


I shall monitor and update the status of my little strawberry plant every now and then (that is if it hasn't died). Hopefully one day, I'll have enough strawberries for a strawberry salad~

Say You're One of Them

Say You are One of Them is a compilation of short stories written by Uwem Akpan about the lives of the children of Africa. It gives glimpses into the lives of some of Africa's smallest people.

Now, I cannot tell a lie. I was hesitant to read this book for two reasons. First, I don't like real-life depressing stories. I know they are supposed to make you feel blessed and grateful, which I do feel to some extent, but I mainly feel guilty and helpless for living my "luxurious" life. Second, I'm not a big fan of short stories.

But, this book blew my mind and I couldn't stop talking about it for days! Although, these children go through such horrors, which I am very lucky to not have experienced and I would never wish on my worst enemy, their resilience and hope through it all is INSPIRING. Their ability to not only survive their situations but to go forth and live imbued in me a camaraderie of humanity. And thank God they were short stories otherwise, I may have come out depressed after reading. No wonder this book was one of Oprah's book club picks of 2009!

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

I have to read many children's novels because ironically I tutor elementary students English. Recently, I had to re-read a childhood favorite of mine, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, and the story didn't affect me as much as when I had read it when I was younger. I attributed this to the fact that maybe I have grown older and thus my skin has grown thicker. In any case, I don't have much gung-ho when I have to read children's novels.

Robert C. O'Brien single-handedly changed my blase attitude with Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH! I adored this book especially the rats! So much so that I was getting upset that my tutor kid wasn't reading it fast enough! I had so much fun imagining! And as an advocate of animal rights, I feel the lives of animals must mimic this story somewhat. It was a wonderful read! Brilliant and refreshing! Maybe my heart is not as cold as I thought! =)

Brownies and Blondies

I found this great baking book for vegans! I just happened to browse through the cooking section at Barnes and Noble. To my delight, all the delicious sweets in this book are all vegan and allergen free! I found out that Erin Mckenna is the owner of the bakery Babycakes in NYC and this is her first cookbook. However, the big news is that she is looking to expand her business to California! I cannot wait for her bakery to come here so that I can try it out. Until then I must rely on the book and my humble baking skills. For Christmas, I made my bible study group and my tutor kids brownies and blondies respectively. (I am posting this late) The difference between them, in my opinion, is that blondies are brownies minus the cocoa powder. Needless to say, they all LOVED it and I know you will too. Not only are they yummy but consider them healthy too!

On a side note, I would just like to add that these brownies were the best I had ever seen. They were perfectly moist and fudgy even with the full 10 minutes cooking time. I had been searching for a good brownie recipe and this is it. The fact that it is vegan is just cherry on top!

brownies
makes 36

1 cup garbanzo-fava bean flour
1/4 cup potato starch
2 tablespoons arrowroot
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, plus more for the tins
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot water or coffee (I used water)
1 cup vegan chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease three 12-cup mini-muffins tins with oil.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, potato starch, arrowroot, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt. Add the 1/2 cup oil, applesauce, vanilla, and hot water to the dry ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the chocolate chips just until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
3. Using a melon baller, scoop the batter into each prepared mini-muffin cup. Bake the brownies on the center rack for 10 minutes, rotating the tray 180 degrees after 5 minutes. (For a fudgier cake, bake for only 8 minutes total.) The finished brownie will have a firm edge with a soft center, and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean.
4. Let the brownies stand int he pans for 10 minutes; they are best served warm. To maintain freshness, leave the brownies in the tins until ready to serve. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

The yummiest brownies ever! The blondies looked like these except white~

blondies
makes 36

1/2 cup garbanzo-fava bean flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/4 cup arrowroot
1 1/4 cup evaporated cane juice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, plus more for the tins
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup vegan chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease three 12-cup mini-muffin tins with oil.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, potato starch, arrowroot, evaporated cane juice, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt. Add the 1/2 cup oil and the applesauce, canilla, and hot water and stir until the batter is smooth. Using a plastic spatula, gently fold in the chocolate chips just until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
3. Using a melon baller, scoop the batter into each prepared mini-muffin cup. Bake the blondies on the center rack for 9 minutes, rotating the tins 180 degrees after 5 minutes. The finished blondies will be golden brown and firm to the touch.
4. Let the blondies stand in the tins for 10 minutes. To maintain freshness, leave the blondies in the muffin tins until ready to serve. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

my littlest tutor kid, and my favorite of the bunch, who loved the blondies the most =)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

"But this tree in the yard-this tree that men chopped down...this tree that they had built a bonfire around, trying to burn up its stump-this tree lived!

It lived! And nothing could destroy it" -- Betty Smith

This profound novel is the story of a little girl [Francie Nolan] who grows up in the slums of Brooklyn. At a young age, Francie and her younger brother, Neely, learn more than their fair share of privations and suffering. Her father, John, who Francie adores, is a romantic who tragically seeks escape through alcohol. Her mother, Katie, is a stern realistic who fights through poverty to give her children a better life. Francie also grows up surrounded by her mother's sisters, strong Rommely women who are forces of nature themselves. Influenced by these people, Francie learns to not only survive her environment but also to thrive. Francie's wisdom resounds throughout this book and thereby makes the book impossible to put down!

I love love love loved this book! It is a story that speaks to all peoples of all ages. I loved every page of this book as every sentence rings a bell of the heart. The poignancy, pathos, humor, and insight of this novel has secured it's place among the classics as well as in my heart. We are the "tree[s] that lived!" And nothing can destroy us!

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us. If the book we are reading doesn’t wake us up with a blow on the head, what are we reading it for? We need the books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us." -- Franz Kafka

This hamlet-inspired tragedy tells of the world of a mute boy named Edgar Sawtelle and his dogs. However, they are not just any dogs rather they are the Sawtelle dogs, a breed all their own. They are full of intelligence, heart, wit, and purity. They are the amalgamation of all of our beloved animals.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is equal parts a mystery and a love story. And, although tragic, it is also a story of hope and freedom.

The characters are so tangible. I was able to relate to all the characters, even the dogs! I loved them and hated them. They were strong yet frail. They were, in a word, human. And though the human characters in the novel displayed the flaws in ourselves, the dogs mirrored the best aspects of ourselves.

From the novel, I learned that sometimes, it takes a tragedy to break our mirrors of illusion so that we can have the freedom to make clear and sound choices. And this freedom is a priceless privilege. All in all, I believe this book is epic and I am so excited for those who will begin their journey with Edgar Sawtelle.

P.S. I heard through the grapevine that David Wroblewski is working on his second novel which will be about John Sawtelle. So we may visit the Sawtelle dogs again!

One of my "Sawtelle" dogs