Excessive Heat Warnings and Animals--I'm Only Human

A heat warning has been put in place for this weekend because it's going to be pretty warm. Make sure to stay cool everyone! Lots of fluids and fans!

That being said, let me tell you about my venture out this morning with the car and my dog.

Leaving my house around 8:15 this morning, I had to go to my mom's apartment and water her plants... She's on vacation. No big deal.
It's nice outside. So I decide to take Rex (my dog) for a ride-along, and I know he likes to hang out with me anyway.
I get in the car, start it, and realize I need to get gas. No big deal, I'll pop over to my local Fred Meyer, they have cheap gas. And I have to pick up my prescription too.. Well, I have Rex.

I'm already driving at this point... I don't want to take two trips or double back--money is at a premium around here.

But wait, I also have to pick up stuff to make his dog food from the store, and meat for dinner, and power steering fluid. Well, it won't be THAT long, he'll be fine.


I head over to Fred Meyer. It's 8:50 am when I get there.
Realizing I still had 10 minutes to when the pharmacy opened, I parked the car in the shade on the side of the store--instead of in the blinding sun in the middle of the parking lot. It's still pretty early in the morning, still pretty cool, and I won't be that long. I left Rex in the car.

Let me tell you something about my dog. He may look cute and sweet and friendly--and believe me, he is. But I have no problem leaving him in the car, windows rolled down five or 6 inches so he has some breeze and can stick his face out the window if he gets warm, especially in the shade. Nobody is coming near that car. And, if you come near the car and look sketchy Rex will make quite some noise. He is protective over what's his. He's a good dog. I wouldn't trade him for the world.

So, I get my things, head out to the car. Rex is all cool, happy to see me, not even panting. I didn't have a broken window, everything was fine.There was a truck parked a space over from me, and I have no doubt that the driver of that truck looked into the car. And please, be my guest. (Sorry Mom, I would have paid for damages if your car would have incurred any, you know that.)

I think people should exercise caution when leaving animals (particularly dogs) in the car. and NEVER leave your kid in the car. (I saw a sleeping baby in a car the other night at Thriftway, and if I wouldn't have had a sick fiance waiting for me at home, I would have waited for the driver to come out so I could say something. Not even be rude, but say "Hey, I totally get that they're sleeping and you don't want to wake them up and I know you wouldn't have been that long, and you probably locked the doors, but just don't do it man. It's not safe.")
Don't park your car in the blinding sun in the middle of the afternoon or the evening with an animal inside. It would be better to take another trip than risk a broken window and/or police called. Even if it's just a minute. That 2 inches most people leave the window down does nothing.

Was it a bad decision to leave my dog for 20 minutes in the car this morning in the shade with the windows down far enough he could put his head out? Probably not a great one, but definitely not detrimental. Would it be a bad decision to park in the sun in the middle of the afternoon with the windows down an inch and be gone 20 minutes? That is probably a bad decision.
Look at this vet video, I'm sure we've all seen it. He's in a hot car...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbOcCQ-y3OY


The moral of the story here:
Don't leave you pets (OR KIDS EVER) in a car, especially on a warm day in the sun. But if you have to, don't be an idiot. Park in the shade, roll the windows down a little more, and be as quick as you can (We're talking Supermarket Sweep here people--Anyone else remember that show?).
Can't find any shade? Well, I guess you better take them home before you go back.

That was my condition. I was going to drive to Fred Meyer, and if I couldn't find shade, I was going to take Rex home and double back. I refuse to leave him parked in the sun. REFUSE.

This is my wonderful Rexie :)

Let's Talk about Rape. (Mildly Explicit Content)

And by "Mildly Explicit" I mean pretty explicit and probably offensive. But this is my blog and I do what I want.






Do I have your attention now?



Think about that for a minute.

I think it's a thing. Because we (society) act like rape culture is real, it has real consequences. It is a social construction. Society gives it meaning. This definition is courtesy of Urban Dictionary--Definitions for all things culturally prevalent.

Let's first talk about consent... "1) n. a voluntary agreement to another's proposition. 2) v. to voluntarily agree to an act or proposal of another, which may range from contracts to sexual relations." (Legal Dictionary). Once a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their legal right to give consent vanishes.
Example:
Girl goes to party. Girl gets drunk. Guy says "Hey, you're cute, let's have sex." Girl says, "Yeah!" He holds her up while she stumbles into a bedroom and starts to take her clothes off. 

She's drunk and cannot give consent. Sorry bro. Don't hit that. Just let her sleep. Do not have sex with her.

Coercion is a thing too. Well, not a thing. A girl asks a guy repetitively to have sex her. After she badgers him all night about it, he says okay and they have sex.
 
Coercing someone into having sex is still rape.

If you think it COULD BE rape, it is probably rape. So, just don't do it. No means no. Yes means yes if BOTH people are not under the influence of any substances.

Let's watch Laci Green on her YouTube channel talk about consent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD2EooMhqRI


Hell, if people don't force themselves on others then there isn't even room for assault. HELLOOOOO, just respect people and their wishes. Have respect. How do we teach people to not rape? You really don't. We must teach people to have respect for other human beings.


THINGS WOMEN ARE TAUGHT DUE TO PREVALENT RAPE CULTURE:
1. Don't go outside at night.
2. If you have to go out at night, make sure to be covered head to toe. Literally.
3. If you're walking to your car, walk with your key between your fingers, in case you have to stab someone.
4. Before getting into your car check your surroundings, backseat, under the dashboard, and under the car to make sure you won't get attacked.
5. Don't let anyone walk behind you.
6. Don't make eye contact with anyone at night.
7. Don't go to parties, you'll get raped.
8. But if you have to go to a social gathering, don't let anyone bring you drinks.
9. Actually, don't drink anything.
10. But if you do, don't let the drink leave your sight.
11. Actually, don't let the drink leave your hand.
12. Don't stand to close to someone at a social gathering, they might slip something in your drink and you'll get raped.
13. Always walk on a main road at night, never take a shortcut ever. You'll get raped.
14. Forget about taking elevators.
15. Always keep your windows and doors locked and curtains closed.
16. Don't use public transportation ever, especially at night. You'll get raped.
17. That guy in your college English class who you talk to occasionally during class? He's going to rape you if he gets the chance.
18. Your brother's friend you only see at family gatherings? He'll find you and rape you too.
19. Use the buddy system always.
20. Don't use your phone while walking at night, you're not paying attention and will get raped.

These among other ridiculous sounding things.

If you're a guy and reading this, do you actively think that this is what women always think about? Probably not.

And I'm not saying only women get raped, men do too. And they're even less likely to report because it's embarrassing and/or emasculating.


My point here is, we can help to eliminate rape culture by teaching everyone to respect everyone else. Simple as that. A girl turns you down? Well, maybe she doesn't like you like that. She doesn't owe you anything. People are people, not objects. And to objectify ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE, is wrong. If I show up completely naked to a party, I'm not asking to get raped. Bare skin is NOT, I repeat NOT an invitation for you to have sex with me.

Some people say that by talking about rape culture, it's self perpetuating... I disagree. Some people think that it's okay to rape. Or "he/she deserved/asked for it". Or "she was a slut anyway", "she shouldn't have gone to that party", "she shouldn't have drank so much"...the victim blaming goes on.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A VIDEO OF A FORENSIC RAPE EXAM?? NOBODY ASKS FOR THAT TO BE DONE TO THEM NEVERMIND THE BACKLOG OF UNTESTED KITS ANYWAY.
Watch a video about a forensic rape exam being performed. You will be scarred and very educated afterward. NOBODY ASKS TO BE RAPED.

Are you hearing me out there? NOBODY ASKS TO BE RAPED. Ever.

Actually, if someone says "rape me" You better run for the hills, pal, because that is all kinds of bad news. Just don't go there.
Do not pass "Go." Do not collect $200.


What's the takeaway from all of this?
Don't rape.









If you are raped, or think you have been, even sexually assaulted, please get support. You are not alone, and it is not your fault. Call 1.800.656.HOPE (1.800.656.4673) or locate your local rape crisis center.


*Images credit: Google Images, I do not own any rights. And Laci Green, you're the woman. Thank you for being you :)