​Love
By Dianne Lowe-Breakfield

Love is loud,
over-powering explosions,
sucking out air.
Angry, possessing entire
beings without permission
without apology, relentlessly
hissing, screaming as
it violently consumes.

​20 Inspirational Quotes for 2020
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year! Are you falling behind on your 2020 goals or resolutions already? Do you fall into a seasonal depression due to the new year? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The new year can be challenging and frustrating because there’s pressure to try new things, exercise more, and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Don’t worry about accomplishing all of your goals in one month. If needed, reevaluate your goals to make them smaller and more achievable. Here are some inspirational quotes to motivate you for 2020.
 
1. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou
2. “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” –Aristotle
3. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
4. “What we think, we become.” – Buddha
5. “If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you will never change the outcome.” – Michael Jordan
6. “Today is only a day. Yesterday is gone.” – John Wooden
7. “Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” – Mary Kay Ash
8. “Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” – Swami Sivananda
9. “Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald
10. “Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative place where no one else has ever been.” – Alan Alda
11. “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
12. “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.” – Stephen Hawking
13. “Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” – Oprah Winfrey
14. “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly; you're doing something.” – Neil Gaiman
15. “We must let go of the live we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell
16. “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a break. Don’t lose faith.” – Steve Jobs
17. “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
18. “If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney
19. “Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.” – Les Brown
20. “Nothing says impossible, the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’” – Audrey Hepburn
 
Edited by: Emily Chance

The Benefits of Owning a Cat
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
I have owned cats throughout my entire life, so I am bit biased on why you should get a cat, too. However, I would not say that I am 100% a cat person because I do own a dog, two rabbits, and a fish tank. Furthermore, I am a passionate animal lover. Throughout my life, I have adopted adult and senior cats. It wasn’t until I was 22 years old that I adopted my first kitten. Cats are definitely in my top five favorite animals. Cats of all ages can be fun because they come in different sizes, colors, and have vastly different personalities. Here is a list of benefits of owning a cat.
 
Disclaimer: Cats are real-life animals that require food, attention, and medical care. Therefore, they should NOT be holiday gifts because any type of pet is a serious commitment!
 
1. They can lower your risk of heart disease because they help owners to destress.
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2. Cat owners get better sleep because they relax more with a small sleeping companion.

3. Owning a cat can help reduce your overall stress level because you focus on feeding and playing with them. This helps to take your mind off of stressors.

4. A cat’s purr has therapeutic properties. “For centuries, healers have used the power of sound in their work. It is believed that certain frequencies or tones of sound can have varying healing effects on the body. Cat purring has been shown to fall between 25 and 140 Hz. The same frequency has been shown to aid in the healing of broken bones, joint and tendon repair, and wound healing. There are many stories of people with migraines whose headaches are eased or extinguished when they lie with their heads close to purring cats.” If you want to read more please click on this link: https://www.purrfectpost.com/healing-purrs-how-your-cat-can-help-you-heal/

5. Cats can help reduce your anxiety and depression because they can serve as emotional support during difficult times. (I can attest to this because one of my cats Lacie would come to me and lay on me wherever I was going through a difficult time.)

6. Owning a cat may help you find a significant other. Cats are great conversation topic for date night!

7. If you’re looking to add another member to your family, cats are less expensive to own than dogs. According to the ASPCA they did a breakdown of food and supplies, grooming and training, and veterinarian bills; The study concluded that cats are more affordable. If you want to read more please click on this link: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/which-is-cheaper-cats-or-dogs/

8. Cats are low maintenance compared to dogs. You don’t need to worry about a walking schedule or grooming appointments. However, you still need to ensure their litter box is clean and that they get their daily meals and play time.

9. Cats are considered an eco-friendly pet because they have a small carbon footprint compared to other pets.

10. Cats have a longer lifespan than most pets and can live up to 14 years. If they live longer, you’re real lucky that you’ve got a happy and healthy kitty companion.
 
Edited by: Emily Chance

Brownies for the Demon
By Reagan Greenwood

Alright, don’t panic. You’re going to be fine. I’ll help you through it. Now, the demon child has behaved all week, but it is only an amount of time before it all falls apart. Get him some candy or cookies. Brownies! Brownies don’t take very long. Give him brownies.

First, take that glass pan and – careful! What is wrong with you? Are you trying to wake him up? –  carefully hold it out in front of you. You’re going to want to spray a thin, but even, layer of cooking spray across the bottom as well as the sides. If you don’t, then you’re going to have brownies crusties stuck to the pan and you will never have time to clean it properly. Have you preset the oven yet? No? What are you doing? Preset the freaking over at 375 degrees.

Now, while you’re waiting for the oven to heat up, take that box filled with the premade mixture. Pour all of it – yes all of it --, some milk, and two cracked eggs into a bowl. Mix them together until it hits the right consistency. Mix them fast. Faster. Damn it, faster! Before the demon wakes up from his nap. Oh, good. You’re done. Fabulous.

Next, you’re going to want to pour that delicious batter in the pan. Try to make sure it’s even all the way across. You know how the demon gets when someone gets a bigger piece than him. It’s better to not even risk it. Now, finally toss that pan into the oven and let them bake for, oh, 10 minutes or so. Remember that the demon likes them a little gooey, but not too gooey.

 Hold on, that’s incorrect. It’s 45 minutes. Wait, 45 minutes? What are you going to do for 45 minutes? His naps last 30 if you’re lucky. Is there something else you could make? A smoothie? No. The blender would wake him up. You could run to the store and just buy some cookies. But then you would have to wake him to take him with you. Better not do that. That would be disastrous.

Sorry, Mom, guess you better open that bottle of wine. You’re gonna need as much help as you can get. Remember that the demon likes them a little gooey, but not too gooey.
​
Edited by Emily Chance