On June 24, 2006 at 12:25 pm Pacific Time the best dog a bear could ever have and ever love passed away in my arms. Thank you Minnie for 16 years of love and companionship. I will miss you forever. Here's what's been on my mind lately... A great man once said that the definition of an optimist is a man going out to hunt Moby Dick in a row boat with a fishing pole and a jar of tartar sauce. It's hard to keep that kind of optimism in this day and age, but I think if we can all give a couple minutes of our day to say a few affirming words of love and support for our world and for each other things could really start to change for the better. The thoughts we think and the words we say have so much power and can do so much. I would rather have the things I say and feel be for the good of this planet rather then to make a world that is suffering and a unbearable. So when you wake up in the morning just send a little love out into the world and you'll be amazed at how much will come back to you. I am a big, hairy, tree hugging, critter loving, earth nurturing, human rights affirming, Weight Watchers attending, liberal bear. I stand 6'1" and weigh 320 lbs. I have no time for anymore pity parties these days and am attracted to others who feel the same. I take life as it comes and look at each day as a gift to enjoy and relish. I believe we are all special in our own individual ways and deserving of much love and goodness. Never doubt yourself or your dreams. Believing in yourself is the key to making your desires come true and is a major ingredient for looking within and truly loving yourself for the incredible miracle that you are. I Want to take a moment and make you guys aware of an organization that I personally think is extremely important, Childhelp USA at www.childhelpusa.org. Childhelp USA is an organization for the treatment and prevention of child abuse. As a survivor of child abuse I whole heartily support this organizations efforts in the name of helpless children. Having endured more then ten years of almost daily abuse, I wish there had been more organizations like Childhelp USA around for me to have turned to. Please take a minute to visit www.ChildhelpUSA.org and see what you may be able to do to help stop child abuse. Peace.