Because I love my dogs

So, most likely not what you were expecting. Am I right? Sorry for the surprise racey Peta ad. However, I think there are some very important things to discuss about this. First- if you haven't seen the video I posted with Oliva Munn a few days ago- go watch that first. Then I'll meet you back here.
Often times, when someone uses the word Peta, everyone I know sighs and rolls their eyes. Grant it- Peta is pretty extreme about their view points on animal rights. But, it is important to point out that animals in fact are being treated cruelly in many areas of the world. And for what? A fur coat, a big steak.
Don't get me wrong. I love meat. But I don't love it enough to support this industry. I subscribed to Petas newsletter just to stay informed about this important issue. I urge all of you just to read a few articles from their site.
Please, hear this. I do think that Peta's long term goals are too extreme. I disagree with what they are trying to ultimately accomplish. But! It would definitely be good to head in that direction and help some of these animals out.
I just signed a petition to be Vegan for 30 days. Afterward, I will most definitely resume eating animal by products such as meat and dairy, but on a much smaller scale. I want to do my part to limit the strength and power of these farms and companies that are exploiting animals the way that they are, and I feel that this issue is important enough to share with friends and family and ask that you would please just watch that video I posted. I'm not out to change anyone's life. I just want to help out a cause I think is noble.

Taylor the Tanzbär

You all will have to let me know what you think about this one. Recently, I've posted a few of my favorites. This is just a recent one that could probably use improvement, idk.

“La Mar de la Noche” or Tanzbär

La Mar de la Noche.
She dances a tango of sweet and blissful blue,
Partnered by wave tops of etched emerald greens.
The waves samba in and out.
As each wave peaks,
Before wildly crashing against the cool wet sand,
They glow brighter than any star
In a country night sky.
Those waves waltz with whoever takes their hands,
Whoever cups their desires.
They firmly grab their audience by the waist
Forcing them to drink in their splendor.
I can only stand here.
Stand on the beach.
With each mambo of current,
My arms reach out and yearn to dance.
I would give anything to dive into that melody,
To swim in that song,
To be in the center of that vast dance floor;
Tumbling and spinning to intoxicating rhythms.

It’s your eyes.
From the second I saw that entrancing emerald,
Dance inseparably with that sparkling sapphire,
I could not move.
My entire body wanted to spring forward
To invite those deep oceans to dance.
To get lost in those electrifying seas.

Then they rose up.
A great tidal wave of splendor
Enveloped me and swept me off my feet.
It drug me far out to a watery bliss.
And for a whole night
I drank in the sweet salt of a savory samba.
I washed in the wishing waves of a waltz.
I traded my soul for a tapestry of tango.
The dance was breath taking.
And when I finally kissed the marvelous depths of that ocean,
I sank deep into a dance of love.
There, in the sandy grave of La Mar de la Noche,
Will my heart forever spin.

A Prost: To Bears

“A Prost: To Bears*” To Bears of course..

I wish I was a bear,

King of the woods.

So elegant and wise when required,

Soft and gentle when desired,

But otherwise just doesn't care.

Nobody tells a bear what to do.

Nobody even tries.

After all, what’s bigger than a bear?

Ain’t nothing big enough to fight a bear

poised on its hind legs,

hair bristled for battle.

A cape of fur and crown of leaves

The bear is nature’s king.

As a human- muscles can never be big enough

To display absolute dominance.

Wisdom can never be deep enough

To command absolute attention.

You can’t get any taller when foes stand opposed.

The only thing left to do-

The only thing still standing to reason:

Is to just no longer care.

And that’s Bear enough for me.

Wanted

I still remember you.

I’m telling you it was love at first sight- it made me a believer in fairy tale stuff like that.

I was wearing a red and gray striped hoodie under one of black and white stripes. My pants were rolled up about to my shins because they were sopping wet in the cold Berkeley rain. This was before all the fabric ripped off my Vans and they were still black and had soles. As inappropriate as aviator sunglasses where during the elaborate downpour- they sure enough found themselves on my face. I had a green umbrella and I was smiling as I traversed the busy Berkeley pathways.

And then you came.

You where there in classic yellow rain boots with layered black and red pea coats. No sunglasses, however they would have been perfectly fitting with your see through umbrella. You had a heavy backpack and your hands were filled up with thick textbooks.

When we looked at each other I knew that I could live the rest of my life without vision and still be a happy man.

I wish I would have proposed.

Anyway- I hope you are still out there. And I hope you find your way to this letter.

And I hope to one day see you again- maybe in the rain.

Vienna

Many of those who are close to me know me as a writer. It's something I enjoy to do, mostly for myself. I've never really openly shared most of my work because I just considered it not that great, or personal- I didn't want to hear if people didn't like it. But then I began to realize, that I'm Taylor. And I'm awesome. And I've never been caught up in what people think too much. So, here is one recent work that I wrote and that I would like to share with all of you. Let me know what you think. On my bucket list, one reads- Publish a book. I never said it couldn't be a book of poetry. I think I'll try my hand at this, gather up what I've got done, and see what comes of it.

“Vienna”

You are absolutely beautiful.

From your glacier blue eyes to those vibrant red lips,

Your auburn brown hair to your sassy swag hips;

Your smile is as big as your spirit

The conversation with you always comes naturally,

You are easy to talk to and easy to laugh with, actually,

The most fun person I think I know.

The innermost person to me you show,

Open minded and fair-

A heart bigger?

There is none to compare.

But one thing I see,

One thing that shouldn’t be..

The hurt.

When you talk about home, when you talk about her.

The pain.

I’ve been there before.

That ugly scar screams wildly,

Like a fire beneath those bushy blue eyes

And betrays the words streaming out of your mouth.

If it were possible, I would be tears in your eyes

Just to help wash the pain out, to let you cry

Pain from all of those lies, told by all of the guys

Who smashed your heart, tore it apart

Into bitter pieces of one giant art.

If I could be glue, I’d pour into you.

I’d mold the holes, remake the breaks

Turning you back into you.

Because you are a very special one indeed.

As a human, no one should ever feel so broken and alone

Or unable to be happy in your very own home.

You’re beautiful beyond reason,

Surprise grace more standard than seasons.

You deserve pure happiness

And someone who is going to love you

As much as you love them.

I only wish that I could be him.

Valerie

I'm in love. But don't worry- It's not with you. And, I know what you're thinking in your head right now, it has to be someone- he is probably just saying not you but really it is me and not everyone else. But I guarantee that anyone who reads this, isn't going to be that lady (sadly.. I silently hope that she may stumbleupon this for one reason or another and refuse to stop searching the world until she shows up at my doorstep to confess how much she, in fact, loves me too).
Many times, I have sat through different talks about not settling. And really, no one should ever settle when it comes to relationships, etc. So, my best friend, Jared, and I came up with a list of criteria that would have to be met by our future significants.
Many may consider this a mean thing to do. But honestly, I believe there is someone for everyone. I also believe, that someone has to be on par with you- otherwise someone is going to end up unhappy. It's almost like the cast system in "Brave New World." Just adding the concept that not everyone belongs to everyone.
Here are my criteria. This is basically just to give you some thoughts about things you may want to consider (or things to work on if you want to get with this! lol)
You have to be beautiful. Note: This beauty doesn't have to be aesthetic. My family can tell you, I haven't always gone for the most beautiful of girls- but I don't see them from the outside. Not like you believe when I say this anyway.. but hopefully you will. The idea here is I need for you to be comfortable with you.
Next, you have to have a talent. Everyone has something they are good at. Everyone. I need to know that there is something you would do over everything else. Something you acknowledge you have a gift for and, most importantly, want to share with everyone. Like singing. It's awesome.
Additionally, you have to have a passion for something. For some it's volunteer work, others it's being there to listen.. there is so much you can have a passion for. The reason this is different than a passion for your talent, is I expect this talent to be selfless- something you are passionate about doing for other people. That's severely lacking in modern society but needed more than ever.
One of the most important is you need some advanced level of intelligence. I can't stand not being able to hold a conversation with someone about anything other than reality tv and which famous person is with which other famous person. Sometimes, I like to talk about science! Yes, chemistry! And politics, like an informed decision about who you want to vote for in 2012. And rocks! You know how cool rocks are? And how diverse of a rock culture we have in California. Even if you don't know about rocks, I want you to be able to understand what I'm saying. Or my favorite. Radios- like radio fundamentals and radio wave propagation. That stuff is so fascinating to me. But, it totally kills my buzz when you just can't follow.
Maybe this is asking quite a bit- but I'm finally taking a stand for myself. I'm done settling. I used to think there wasn't anyone out there who could make me happy- so I would just make someone else happy. But I know there is someone who can. By developing these criteria, I know I won't settle again.

Holiday Spirit

"It is claimed by many Biblical scholars that December 25th, the day celebrated in Christendom as Christmas, cannot be the correct date [of the birth of Christ]. We believe April 6th to be the birthday of Jesus Christ as indicated in a revelation of the present dispensation. . ."*
Growing up, I always believed that Christmas was the birth date of our Lord, Jesus Christ. When I was younger, my family made a habit of baking a birthday cake for Christ on the 25th of December, so that as a family we would remember the true meaning of Christmas. Growing older, I've taken to reading more and more books that help me to develop myself as a person as well as develop my faith. In "Jesus the Christ" by Elder James E. Talmage, it is revealed that the actual birthday of Christ is April 6th!
Reading this book has really helped me focus my life on Him. Being a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is something that needs to be just that. We need to be a church about Jesus. I'm not saying we aren't, but! - I was surprised how few people know the actual date of Jesus' birth.
I still think Christmas is as appropriate of a holiday as ever to celebrate the miracle that happened when Heavenly Father sent his Only Begotten down to Earth. Plus, America and the world is so set in it's ways now- good luck changing that holiday even one hour, let alone four months. So, my family will most likely continue the tradition of baking birthday cakes on this special day with family, but just don't forget to wish a happy birthday to the Savior of Mankind on April 6th as well.
*Talmage, James E. "Jesus the Christ". Deseret Book Company: Salt Lake City, Utah. 1915. Pg. 104