A Tale of Two Cities: for those of us that have been lucky through this storm, it’s heartbreaking to be in proximity to so many who are struggling, many silently. We haw friends and family who have not had power for 7 days.
The lack of national coverage on what is happening in Nashville is atrocious. The death toll will rise as more people are found over coming days and weeks. And still 60,000+ with no power, temps in the teens (it is snowing today) and no end in sight.
The root cause may be a terrible lack of leadership, but what’s also frustrating is knowing the incredible wealth in this area. Enormous McMansions have taken over so much of Middle TN and so many areas are not struggling with the power outages that are plaguing Davidson County in particular. I have seen local businesses, stepping up to offer free and discounted food and services, which is great. Sadly, the influx of people from all around the country to this area I feel has diluted and more likely abandoned the volunteer state that Tennessee has always been.
I know there are countless heroes out there. And I do believe in focusing on the good, is Mr. Rogers taught me many years ago. I do like to look for the helpers, and I’m sure there are many. But it’s hard when you hear a story like this about someone losing their life when there are warm houses all around.
I hope we can all learn from this and do better. Being a good neighbor is everything.
Yesterday was $5 Friday… and we only received two donations.
Just two.
And if I’m being honest, that one stung a little.
Because out here it’s been cold, cold, cold — the kind of cold that seeps into your bones. The kind where propane tanks empty fast and straw has to be replaced every single day just to keep little bodies warm and safe through the night.
Every day right now costs more than most people realize.
Propane.
Straw.
Feed.
Gas.
Supplies.
And tomorrow is February… which means all of our bills hit at once.
And the hard truth is this —
if we don’t pay those bills, the rescue ceases to exist.
No sanctuary.
No warm beds.
No second chances.
That thought alone keeps me up at night.
But today is $10 Saturday, and we’re choosing hope.
Hope that our village shows up.
Hope that the people who love these animals help us keep going.
If you’ve ever cheered for one of our rescues…
If you’ve ever smiled at one of our posts…
If this ranch means anything to you…
Please consider donating today. Even $10 truly adds up.
We can’t do this without you.
And because we could all use a smile — enjoy this video of my boyfriend Coby
Donate: https://t.co/UahIUXeu6H
#laylasheartranchandrescue #pitbull #dogrescue #animalsanctuary #beingkindiscool
Macaulay Culkin writes tribute to Catherine O’Hara:
“Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you but I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later”
@NashvilleDeeDee@David_B_Wells@NESpower No one has any issue with the line workers. They are the heroes. NES is the villain here and doesn’t deserve anyone to “be nice.” People are dying as we speak in frozen houses. Not to mention the property damage that’s gonna come from burst pipes. Unacceptable
A MESSAGE YOU NEED TO HEAR & SHARE…
Humanity needs it right now 👇
Last Tuesday, at exactly 7:00 PM, I decided to check out of life. My apartment was spotless, my debts were calculated, and the only loose end was Barnaby, my twelve-year-old Golden Retriever, and the grumpy veteran next door who hadn't said a word to me in three years.
You wouldn’t have known I was drowning if you looked at my social media. I’m twenty-nine, a "digital nomad" working three freelance gigs just to pay rent on a shoebox apartment that smells like damp drywall. On the screen, I’m living the dream. In reality, I’m exhausted. It’s not the kind of tired a good night’s sleep can fix. It’s a deep, bone-weary exhaustion from running a race where the finish line keeps moving.
The world feels so loud lately, doesn’t it? Everyone is screaming at each other. The news is a constant feed of doom—inflation, division, anger. I felt like a ghost in my own life, scrolling through photos of friends getting married or buying houses, while I was deciding which meal to skip so I could afford gas. I was isolated, surrounded by millions of digital voices but hearing absolutely no one.
That Tuesday, the silence in my head finally got too loud. I didn't want a scene. I just wanted the noise to stop.
I packed a small bag. Not for me, but for Barnaby. I couldn't leave him alone in the apartment. I grabbed his heavy bag of kibble, his favorite chewed-up tennis ball, and his leash.
I walked down the hall to Apartment 1B. Mr. Miller’s place.
Mr. Miller is a relic. He’s somewhere in his late seventies, built like a brick wall that’s beginning to crumble. He spends his evenings sitting on a folding chair on his porch, staring at the street, a generic can of domestic lager in his hand. He doesn't look at his phone. He just watches the world turn. In three years, our interactions were limited to me nodding and him grunting.
I knocked on the doorframe. The porch light buzzed, attracting moths.
"Yeah?" His voice sounded like gravel crunching under tires.
"Mr. Miller?" I tried to keep my voice steady. "Sorry to bother you. I... I have to go on a trip. A last-minute work thing. California. It came up out of nowhere."
The lie tasted like ash in my mouth. "They don't allow dogs at the corporate housing. I was wondering... I know this is a huge ask, but could you watch Barnaby? Just for tonight? The shelter opens at 8 AM tomorrow. I’ll leave a note for them to come get him. He’s a good boy. He sleeps most of the day."
I held out the leash. My hand was trembling.
Mr. Miller didn't take the leash. He took a long, slow sip of his beer, his eyes fixed on Barnaby. Barnaby, being the traitor he is, wagged his tail and rested his graying muzzle on the old man’s knee.
"California," Miller said. He didn't ask it as a question.
"Yes, sir. Big opportunity."
"Bull," Miller said.
I froze. "Excuse me?"
"I said bull." He set the beer down on the railing. He turned those steel-gray eyes on me. They were sharp, intelligent, and terrifyingly clear. "You ain't going to California, son. You’re wearing the same sweatpants you’ve worn for three days. Your eyes are red. And my wife... she had that same look. The look of someone who’s done fighting."
The air left my lungs. I took a step back, ready to run. "I don't know what you're talking about. I just need someone to take the dog."
"Sit down," he commanded. He kicked a plastic crate toward me.
"I can't, I have to—"
"Sit. Down."
I sat. I don't know why. Maybe because for the first time in months, someone was actually looking at me. Not looking at my profile, not looking at my productivity, but looking at me.
Miller went inside and came back with another cold beer. He cracked it open and handed it to me.
"Drink. It's cheap swill, but it's cold."
We sat in silence for ten minutes. The only sound was the distant hum of traffic and Barnaby panting softly at our feet.
1/3
Loving all the awareness and exposure for Down syndrome. I often say that it is the greatest club I never wanted to be a part of but am blessed every day with. Jack makes us all better and he is an amazing and happy person. 💙💛💙💛
October is Down Syndrome awareness month
- 67% - 85% of pregnancies in the US with a Down syndrome diagnosis are aborted
- 90% of pregnancies in the UK with a Down syndrome diagnosis are aborted
- Women are often pressured by doctors to abort their Down syndrome babies
- Over 400,000 people in the U.S. have Down syndrome
- Down syndrome occurs in about one in every 700 births
- Down syndrome is caused by an error in cell division, which results in an extra copy of chromosome 21
- Most people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays but live fulfilling and productive lives
John 9:1-3: "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"
Renowned brain specialist Dr. Clint Steele reveals a stunning finding: Increasing daily magnesium intake can dramatically slash dementia risk.
A 16-month study of 6,000 adults found those taking 550mg of magnesium daily saw a 41% decrease in dementia risk, plus enhanced memory and cognitive ability, compared to those on 350mg.
Dr. Steele's protocol? 500mg daily, split between morning and night, specifically using magnesium threonate or glycinate for optimal brain function and sleep.
A simple, powerful step for a sharper future.
“She is perfect just the way God made her”
Fox News host affirms the value of her daughter with Down syndrome, highlighting how she’s perfectly made in the image of God.
This child, with an extra chromosome, is valuable and worthy of life.