Another Go-round

Hello everyone in the blog sphere. Is there anyone even here anymore? Or, has everyone flown the coop to Substack? Call me old school, call me old fashioned, but seriously there is just too much technology, and too many platforms to switch every time the wind blows. 

I have written many a blog about this topic, too much technology, and too much screen time changing society, and not for the better. Of course, that is just my humble Greek opinion. So anyhow, for those reasons and more I’ll just stay here. 

Moving along. Has anyone noticed that it’s that time again? What time, you may be wondering… election season, of course. Having recently transplanted to a quaint little town in the battleground state of Pennsylvania (just on the border of New York and New Jersey) my television set is flooded with political ads 24/7. Which at times, has my inside voice using words that would definitely land me in a stint of Facebook jail should I ever choose to post them there. 

Which leads me to the topic of this blog post. Now, it’s no secret that Greek Girl rolls to the right politically. Actually, for most of my life, I had not been a fan of musicians weighing-in on politics. Personally, I am the kind of person who can get along with anyone, even people who do not agree with me on hot button issues including politics. However, back in 2009 I saw a change coming that terrified me. So I did what all songwriters do, I wrote about it. I wrote a song called “We The People” on a cocktail napkin while I was working my pay the bills job as a cater waiter/bartender in NYC with my Mr. 

Most everyone who has followed my music knows I only have one “political” song and that is it. So why the change in my thought process? Why did I release that song and weigh in on something that could alienate music fans? Well, because it was not about left or right, it was about right and wrong. It was about individual people waking up to what was, and is going on around them, and getting involved in making a change. So many people like to sit around and armchair quarterback what is going on in the world. My one “political” song was written to remind people that the government works for us, and not the other way around. 

That being said, I wrote it, released it, and did some pretty amazing things with it. I have performed it all across the country at various political rallies, met some fantastic people along the way including the legendary Andrew Breitbart while singing it at a rally at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and even sang it on the Capitol lawn way back in 2010 with the Tea Party Patriots. I was invited to join a political commentary website called Politichicks, and made many like of mind friends in the entertainment industry including my good friend, the very talented commentator/musician Alfonzo Rachel (formerly of PJTV).

After I “came out” I then noticed something weird started to happen… Facebook, Google and Big Tech started to make changes to the algorithm, they started what has now commonly become known as “shadow-banning”. Now, hear me out. I am not complaining, but it happened slowly and started to hit most everyone. That is unless you were hugely famous, or of a particular political persuasion, if you know what I mean. They got so bad that they all but erased my friend Alfonzo from the internet. This is a guy who used to post a YouTube video and within hours it would have hundreds of thousands of views, and millions within weeks. If they can do it to him, they can do it to anyone, and that is exactly what they did. 

We all saw what they did in the name of “misinformation” during covid, and it has only gotten more partisan as the years have gone by. This phenomenon has in turn, made it quite challenging to promote my music & message. 

Nevertheless, I have stayed on social media despite the big tech shenanigans. I just do what I can and sprinkle my music and message, and hope in some small way that I can be an alternative to the ROT that has become mainstream “entertainment” today. 

So here we are, another election season upon us. We have made several video versions of my song “We The People” and uploaded them to YouTube. Youtube has left a few of them up, but they have also removed several. The most recent one they removed was literally a lyric video with the American Flag backdrop with the lyrics. Mind you there are no explicit lyrics, no cursing, nothing of a sexual nature, nada, nothing. As many who know me, know I tend to dress more like June Cleaver vs. Beyonce. So, it is really mind-blowing to me that YouTube who allows songs like “WAP” and all kinds of other explicit and offensive content to remain there, yet gives my channel a strike, and removes my song because they said “it promoted a dangerous conspiracy theory”. Someone might want to give YouTube the memo that they are a company based in the United States of America. Not sure how anyone could find the American Flag and the words “We The People” (which are in our Constitution) offensive… but then again, what do I know. 

So I uploaded the "offensive Video" to Rumble, and here we are, back to election season. We the People have two choices in this election. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. No person is perfect. We have seen life under both choices, and all Americans should take a good hard look at what life has been like for the last four years, and what is was like before. They can then decide how they want to vote. For me, as the daughter of a legal immigrant (from Greece), the choice could not be clearer. This is literally the most important election of my lifetime. I feel compelled to get my song out to try to inspire people and make a difference. 

So, despite the minions at Big Tech working overtime to bury my content, the Mr. & I have decided to go around them. We are launching a radio promotion for the song. Hoping to take it directly to the people, and hopefully, God willing, get the song out to the masses. Of course, I have to get it by the program directors. Hopefully they will like it, and play it. 

How can you help? Well, you can download the song wherever you like to download music: iTunes, amazon, etc., add it to your Spotify, subscribe to my Rumble channel, share the video, and you can call you local radio station and ask them to play “We The People” by Ava Aston. It would sure mean a lot to me. I am very appreciative of the time it took to read this blog. I know the world is busier than ever and everyone has a lot going on in their lives. Taking the time to listen to the song and share it can hopefully help to waken the masses to this do or die decision that is upon us all. Thank you again so much! 

Love, Music & Blessings -
Ava xo 
www.avaaston.com 

You'll Meet Me In The Light

I really don't even know what to say. Where does one begin to capture the feelings when a beloved pet passes? It is hard enough when it is one, but in the last fifteen months in our house we have lost, not one, not two, but three of our senior dogs to Rainbow Bridge. That is a lot for a heart to handle. 

In March of 2020 Pepe; our eighteen year plus old rescue Tibetan Spaniel went to the bridge. Many who read this blog already knew that, if not (see Pepe blog here). He was rescued at the age of ten plus and lived with us for eight years. He was a special dog who had many issues, and taught us so many things. Most importantly, he taught us that love can conquer almost any amount of abuse and neglect. 

Then unexpectedly in May of this year our rescue Japanese Chin Yuki went to the bridge. We knew he had some health issues and we were treating them, however his airway disease got really bad, he also had CFH, he was struggling and went downhill very quickly. So again, we had to handle a terrible loss. In Yuki's case it was really sad for us, because he did not have a good life before he came to us. He was a little over ten when we rescued him, and we were his third family (that we know of). His last people smoked and that did not help his lung issues. He lived the good life here with us and it was like he had always been here. He fit in so well immediately, and he was such a light in our home. He always did "Chin Spins", he was so happy. I loved that little dog to the moon and back. I still remember going to get him from the Bronx. He was looking out the window, I have an image burned in my brain of him leaving that life and starting fresh in the country, in a home and a yard with grass. An end to apartment and city living, and off to a place where he could enjoy his golden years. I still remember him in the carriage at Petco getting his new name tag, and he was so happy. Which is why we named him Yuki, because it means "happiness" in Japanese. Little did we know it would only last two and a half years. Anyone who has had a Japanese Chin knows they are very special little dogs, like love with legs. I will forever miss that amazing creature.

 

That brings me to the third and probably hardest loss to date, my Punkin Pie. Unlike our other dogs, Punkin Pie was not a rescue. We got her as a puppy and she lived with us her entire life. Which makes me happy that unlike so many other dogs in the world, she lived in the same house her entire life, had the same people, and never had to endure the trauma of being rehomed or in a shelter. 

 

Happy for that yes, but sad that I will not have that little face looking at me every day. She had such a personality from day one. She was the most photogenic dog I ever knew, and it was literally like she enjoyed being dressed up in silly costumes for Halloween and Christmas and any other time we felt like as she would say "exploiting her all over the inter web".

 

In fact she had so much personality that we literally had conversations with her, and as many who read the blog or follow me on Instagram or Facebook saw that personality in her Caturday videos. It all started when she was little because she was so animated that she would sit there looking at you like she understood what you were saying, and then would respond with her stomping her little paws on the ground to get what she wanted or her vocally demanding her way (which she of course always got). 

 

Most of her videos are loaded to my Facebook page or to my Instagram. I will admit I have not been good about loading to YouTube. She has a playlist on my YouTube channel, and I am slowly uploading as I have time. There are however, many older videos of her there from when she was younger, like the "Halloween Atrocity" parts, one, two and three... where she explains the horror of having her parents dress her and her fur siblings up in costumes. 

 

Looking back now, I am so glad we did this, as it is a way to get to see her face and remember the good times we had with her. (See Punkin's YouTube playlist here). I changed the title of the playlist to "Conversations With My Furkids", as her little fur sibling Lulu is going to try to carry on her legacy and continue with the videos with the wisdom imparted to her by Punkin Pie.

 

Anyone who has cared for an ailing senior pet with multiple serious medical conditions requiring literal round the clock care can tell you that when that pet is gone, there is a terrible hole. Going from every minute of every day making sure all of their needs are met, medical, physical, etc., to them "not being there" is really quite an adjustment. I am lucky as I still have two other dogs, and four cats, so the house is not totally empty. It is not the same though, and it never will be. Time will help, I suppose.

 

One thing I do know, is that there will never be a another dog like Punkin Pie. There are so many funny stories I could tell about that little character, but that would not be a blog, it would be a book. Truth be told, she really did not mind the cats at all. Except that one time when Jaxson our first cat had been here a few months... she walked into the office and one side of her face was totally puffed up. It looked like all of the sudden her face doubled in size on one side. We rushed her to the emergency vet, and lo and behold... they found a little poke hole under her fur. She had an allergic reaction to the cat poke. So apparently there is truth to what she always said, "cats have poison fingertips".

 

When she was little, she liked to eat baby carrots. We used to give them as treats until we discovered that she like to swallow everything whole... one time she was out in the yard as a little girl and she was struggling to do her business. My husband was with her and watching her, and she was looking at him like she needed help. There she is, she's trying to do her business, and a little carrot end keeps popping out, and then going back in, then out, then in, and to hear him tell it, I die laughing. Anyway, after watching her do this for some many minutes and clearly she couldn't get it out, the next time it popped out he reached down and yanked it. She ran away from it, and then looked up at him and barked as it if it were a "thank you daddy". From that moment on, she always ran away from her poops. It was really funny. For all of those years she never forgot it.

 

Then there was the time she choked on a tiny piece of an apple, and ended up in the emergency vet for two days. So many memories, and so much of our lives spent with her. It is hard to imagine we will not have her around anymore, or singing her theme song to her all the time. Each of the furkids have their own theme song, and much to Punkin's destain, yes even the cats. 

What I do know is that she is now in Heaven with Jesus, and with all of her fur siblings who went before her. She is reunited with her original pack, Pookie, Bobo, and Itty Bitty. She is also reunited with all the foster failure dogs we took in that also went before her, that she never minded sharing her momma and daddy with; Pepe, Yuki, and Gracie. She can run and play, and breathe easy, free from the terrible awful disease of Collapsing Trachea, and Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome and all of the debilitating medical hardships that come with it. She can breathe easy and rest until that one day when we will meet her in the light. 

 

Hug your furkids and cherish them while you have them, because one day God will want them back. When it is time, remember to please "Don't Shop Adopt", there are so many animals who need a second chance. Dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, nearly every breed there is. Simply visit petfinder.com and you can find practically any one of God's little creatures your heart desires. 

 

Blessings ~

Ava xo

www.avaaston.com 

 

 

Second Chance

With so much going on in my life between working on new music, acting and being a dog mom and cat mom to multiple beings, there has not been much time to tend to this blog. Like so many people life has been moving so fast, and we all have become accustomed to cramming way too many things into a day. That is until a few weeks ago. When all of us came to a sudden and screeching halt.

Suddenly instead of having no time, we all have too much time on our hands. What to do, what to do? Well, with so much uncertainty in the world today I think we could all use a little hope right about now.

So I thought it would be nice to share a story about second chances. (WARNING: LONG BLOG POST) Hey, but it's a true story and aren't all true stories long? Anyone that has followed this blog over the years knows lots of things about me, one of the most important is that I love animals. I can't say what I think should happen to stupid humans who hurt them because if I do someone will surely show up at my door to lock me up.

My social media has been flooded with pics and videos of my furkids both K9 and feline over the years, especially of my beloved Pepe. I have blogged about his story before when we first saved him from the NYCACC.

The short version is, he was on the euthanasia list because he was slapped with the label "New Hope Only". This is a title given to dogs who do not pass their shelter behavior evaluation for whatever reason. They must be pulled by a "New Hope" approved rescue in order to make it out of the shelter alive. In Pepe's case a rescue we have adopted from asked us to foster him. Not knowing his actual situation we agreed. We drove to the NYCACC and busted him out of the clink on October 3rd, 2012.  

 Had I known what would follow, I cannot honestly say that I would have agreed originally. He had so many problems. He had been abused and was a fear biter, he hid, he attacked our other dogs, didn't allow grooming, the list was long. However I made a decision early in that this dog, this little creature had clearly been failed by humans for his entire life (he was at least ten when we rescued him) that I was not going to be that person who let him down again. So after convincing the Mr. we made it official and adopted him.  

It was an eventful first few years to say the least, but finally he realized he was safe, that we were his people, and that he was finally safe. We showered him with everything he should have had all of his life. We took him on trips, hiking, carried him around in a bag, and as much as he didn't like it, even dressed him up for holidays like Halloween and Christmas. He went on car rides which he loved, he took selfies, had girlfriends at the vets office, he even learned to be friends with his new cat siblings. He was popular for sure, everywhere we went people would almost squeal with happiness asking "What is that, what kind of dog is that, OMG that face!", heck chewy.com even had his mug painted, not once but three times.


                   

Yes we loved that little dog to the moon and back. So much so that as his little body began to fail him at the ripe old age of what must have been at least eighteen I was not able to bear the thought of losing him. So I did everything humanly possible to keep him around a little longer.

I cooked him meals, gave him every supplement known to man, and took him for weekly shots of adaquan for his arthritis. There were steroid shots, Vitamin B12 shots, and even rimadyl. In the end it was dementia that finally caused me to make the decision to set him free to fly with the angels. I've lost dogs to rainbow bridge before but this one really gutted me. I was in a depression funk especially with all of the corona homebound lockdown going on.

                  

Here is where a little magic happened. An ending that turned into a second, second chance. Courtesy I believe of my little Pepe monkey and the man upstairs.

The following is a post I made to Facebook in a Tibetan Spaniel group I belong to. It's a space where we "Tibbie" lovers share pics, videos, love and support for the ancient breed of dog we all love so much. (See Post below)
____________________

Tibbie friends. 💜Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement about setting my beloved Pepe monkey 🌈free to fly with the Angels this week. Your words really helped. I read every comment and they all touched my heart.

I apologize for this long post. I hope you all don’t judge me for this as I’m still judging myself. However Thursday when I woke up something happened and I couldn’t help but feel it was a gift 🎁 from my boy.

Most of you know Pepe had a very hard life before we rescued him from the euth. list at NYCACC. He was unadoptable, a terrible biter and had lots of issues. After years of love he finally realized he was safe and turned into a mush. With the occasional Hannibal 😉if you tried to do something he didn’t want you to like clean his ears or trim his Tibbie feet 🦶🙈🤣

Anyway I always said I wonder how he could have been had he not been abused and we could have had him from a baby. Well the universe, God, and my boy I feel heard me.

I woke up Thursday checked the notifications of facebook of my post from Wednesday about him. Still half asleep I saw a new post with a black Tibbie. Didn’t think anything of it just another person sharing their furbaby.

When I focused my eyes I saw he was being rehomed. I thought, huh... black Tibbie being rehomed. Odd. Then one of you tagged me, I looked at the post again and saw it was mentioned he was in NY. I thought hmmm that’s odd, two year old black Tibbie being rehomed in NY... so I texted the number. Called. Turns out he was like forty five minutes from me. Not in NYC, rather the Hudson Valley where we live.

I mentioned to my husband who was like “sure let’s go see him”. I almost fell over because he never wants to rescue dogs or cats, it’s always me. Lol

The woman was in hurry to rehome him. So we went Thursday night. Still in shock really as the loss of Pepe very numbing. ESP since he was pretty much hospice (blind/mobility) for more than a year.
I wanted to wait and think about it as we do have three other dogs, are watching my moms shitzu and three cats. As well as I’m grieving my Pepe. However if I didn’t decide right there she was going to give him to the next person who paid her the next day. Really.

Sparing you the details of what we discovered as it wasn’t quite as tidy a situation as her post laid out. My husband decided for me this time, he scooped him up and said "pay her let’s go".

He is decompressing in our finished basement as he is not neutered yet and with corona I can’t get it done til April 13th. 🙏🏻 Praying our governor reopens things soon!

He’s been a complete angel. Other than being starved for attention - having bunch of matts that I’m still cutting out - we all walked together and I think my Japanese Chin Yuki and him will be play buddies.

Here is where I need your help. He has no idea what his name is. They said it was Nimble. He does not answer to it.

So please don’t judge me for getting another Tibbie so soon. I never in a million years would I have guessed I’d have another this fast. He will never replace my Pepe. But his birthday is 2/3/18. My wedding anniversary is February third.

I can’t help but feel my boy knew of this boys plight and sent me to give him the life Pepe didn’t have (for the first part anyhow). Too many coincidences for it to just be chance.So I’ve taken the gift from my Pepe and will pass the love forward. My motto has always been - “rescue one until there is none.”
I need your help... he needs a name: he reminds me of a bear. Pepe had a monkey face. 🐵
This guy he reminds me of a bear. 🐻

           
Names.... now GO:
____________________

I'll wrap this happy ending in a message. Please #dontshopadopt! There are millions of Pepe's out there waiting for a second chance. Contact the local shelter, now more than ever animals need help to make it out alive.

In the end something good will almost always come from something bad. Whether it's a shelter dog who seems to be turning life upside down, or a pandemic that has stopped what seems like the entire world.

Even though we might not see it at the time. Light will always overtake dark, and in the end love will alway win. So even though it might look dark right now, hold onto hope because all of us will soon experience a second chance. The sun will indeed shine again in all of our lives.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Total Eclipse of the Internet

I know most everyone is going ga ga over the eclipse that is set to split America for the first time in ninety-nine years. People are in a frenzy scrambling to get their hands on last minute “solar eclipse glasses” on Amazon and all kinds of online retailers. I however kind of wish it were an eclipse of the Internet that was on its way instead.

Why because in my humble big fat Greek opinion, something special has died and I just have to get it off my chest. Social media on the Internet has gone from something totally unique that connected people in way it never had before in history to one big giant commercial advertisement. Which leads me to the following thoughts. (WARNING: Greek Girl rant about to ensue)

Dear facebook,

If it’s not broke, please don’t fix it. Now I can imagine that all of the millennials over at corporate headquarters get twitchy and itchy if they don’t have something new and innovate to keep changing. However, here’s a request straight from one of your millions of users… please stop. Because, we the everyday users don’t actually don’t “like” it (no pun intended… well, maybe some).

Here’s an idea, how about we change the term “social media” to “social advertising”. Because the spark of genius that was the magic of Facebook has died. The brilliant invention that enabled a person in Timbuktu to connect to a total stranger, musician, business, blog, or what have you in East Jupeepee no longer exists.

It has been replaced by advertising. So Joe Blow in Timbuktu will no longer organically see a post from a person, musician or, business in East Jupeepee unless that person, musician, or business pays to have Joe Blow see it. This is how technology went from a stroke of brilliance to a nuisance.

Thus more and more people are disconnecting from social media altogether. Sad, but it is true. All of that just so Facebook could go public and increase profits. I suspect that in the long run Facebook will eventually go the way of Myspace. Haven’t really seen or heard of too many people itching to hop on MySpace and check out the latest meme (just sayin).

Since when did the average person have to have a rocket science degree to admin his or her own Facebook business, band or musician page? And I’m not just saying that because I have a head injury (really I do have one, but all kidding aside) I was on Facebook for like two hours the other night configuring, or shall I say, “trying” to configure the apps on my musician page.

Somehow the Instagram got disconnected and the Twitter again for about the third time in a month… I reconnect it, then it disconnects without my knowledge. Next thing you know, Facebook posts are not posting to twitter and so on.

Here’s a shocking bit of information for Facebook to consider: not everyone has a “social media manager” on staff operating their account. Now I can imagine that you all love to talk techie and swap ways to “innovate” and improve the “user experience”; however as one of the millions of users, seriously, please stop. It is beyond obnoxious every time we get the hang of something and figure out where in God’s name you all hid the button to operate a tab or function, you all flipping change it again. Honest to Pete… it’s lunacy.

It’s not “The Jetsons” and we’re not living inside a computer world (yet)… so please for the love of all that is left that is good and right in the world, STOP CHANGING THINGS!

Which brings me to my next gripe… Google. You all are just as bad. Seriously that film “The Circle” anyone seen it? Probably not because it didn’t do so well at the box office. I would bet the powers that be at Facebook and Google got together in a secret meeting and put the kabash on the advertising for that film. It is a frighteningly accurate portrayal of what I imagine the corporate world of Facebook and Google to be.

Get this one: I am “not allowed” to post the link to my own songs on “iTunes” because it “violates Google policy, and is spam”? Seriously… HELLO Google, I’m an “Independent Recording Artist” which means, no record label paying for songs to be promoted on radio, film, TV and lets not forget to be actually SEEN by my own followers on Facebook. Followers who clicked the “like” button of their own volition, meaning they wanted to actually see what I am posting. (Not only when I am paying you to show it to them) If posting my music on my own page (that people sign up to follow mind you of their own will) is “spam” then what in the heck in the world is the point of being on social media at all?

Besides the fact that Google is just as bad as Facebook when it comes to changing things. It’s like a bunch of techie minions sitting around in Silicon Valley trying to figure out the most outrageous way to keep people confused. They change things even more than Facebook, and good luck trying to figure out where and what they did with a feature when they do. Since when did a person need a college degree in Computer Programming to manage their Google and Google plus accounts? Sheesh.

Lets not even get into YouTube (the left arm of Google – and when I say left I do mean left) censoring videos for monetization that it politically disagrees with. How’s that “free speech” thing working out for you all… hmmm? Profanity is allowed to run amuck all over YouTube, and Facebook will allow a livestream of a GANG RAPE and even a MURDER. But boy oh boy… you best not post anything that conflicts with a left leaning ideology… whatchout.

What on earth? HELLO can anyone say Orwell? Holy bananas batman, it’s seriously getting beyond absurd. No wonder people are leaving social media in droves, and unplugging from technology all together. Can’t say I blame them.  

Thus my suggestion to change the name from “Social Media” to “Social Advertising”. Better yet, make that, “Social PAID Advertising”.

Stepping off my soapbox now. That’s all… carry on.  Enjoy the Solar Eclipse wherever you may be watching from (and don’t forget your glasses).

Blessings, Love & Music ~

Ava xo

www.avaaston.com

 

Leap Please

Leap day is here. Pretty neat indeed, but I think I'd like to leap to the next one please. Normally I'm not the kind of person to want to fast-forward to the future, but this particular leap day, America seems to be relishing in the politics of hate. So if I could I would fast forward to four years from now when it's all over.

Funny, the last time we had a leap year it was also an election year. I think the extra day has done something to peoples brains. It's not surprising to find the usual suspects in an election... opposing ideas, plans, and debate. It's when you toss the media in the mix that things start to really boil, which is expected. However this year I think someone turned the heat to high and it's turning everyone's noggins to mush.

The vitriol is at levels I have not seen in my lifetime. Maybe it's that social media is playing a part in this election like never before. Access for everyday people to sit behind a computer screen and type whatever they like without regard to whether it is actually true or not. The rise of the "new media" has produced a multitude of blogs, and pundits popping up out of the woodwork. Suddenly everyone is a "political expert". People can now hide behind a computer screen and cut, paste, twist, splice, dice, and concoct articles and videos that are used like bullets to wound those they view as needing to be taken down. I find it frightening because often these efforts are not promoting the truth, but instead deepening the divide.

The high and holy conservative pundits sit on their thrones telling people essentially: "You must support thus and such or you cannot possibly be a real conservative or Christian". The same bodes true for the opposite side of the political isle... liberal pundits pushing their guy or gal as the case may be. It's like some of them are literally having a temper tantrum from atop their media perch: "How could you evangelicals choose Trump, oh the humanity."  

Many of us have seen it; a "friend" announces on their Facebook something to the effect of:

"If you support thus and such candidate for President then you can just delete me now. In fact I'll even save you the trouble, if you post or like anything by said candidate I will delete and block you myself."

These kind of posts always give me a giggle. I'm not sure the people who post them even see the irony of making such a statement. See we have a word for this in the Greek language it's called hypocrisy. Let's see according to the Merriam Webster dictionary the word means the following:

Hypocrisy: the behavior of people who do things that they tell other people not to do: behavior that does not agree with what someone claims to believe or feel.

What a silly thing for a person to post. Stating that one is so staunch in their belief of freedom that they can not possibly tolerate anyone in their "safe space" (in this case personal Facebook world) who does not agree with their deeply held convictions of personal responsibility, liberty, independent thinking, and most importantly freedom of speech that they have to ban anyone who does not think exactly like they do. Doing so is completely and totally hypocritical. Actually I find it pretty funny, and seem to be having more and more laughs about people doing this very thing, as we get farther along in the election cycle.     

Which leads me to just a little bit wish I could hit the switch and jump onto the next leap year when all of this is behind us. To that magical place in time when people will have woken up to the fact that this is the real world, and there are no "safe spaces". When people will have put on their big boy and big girl pants and finally figured out that we are all free to think and choose our own thoughts. What we like, dislike, and even whom we choose to support for President. That even if we "agree" on some things, even most things, there will always be something for we the people to disagree about, and it does not make us bad people. My wish is that this practice of character assignation of people who do not 100% agree with each other is a fad that dies, and quickly.  

Happy Leap Day and Super Tuesday!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com 

Love to Hate

Something has been bugging me for a while now. I try to ignore it, but the more I ignore the worse it seems to get. So like any good creative person, I decided to write about it.  

I've noticed a disturbing trend in the past few years. It started slowly and has grown to the point that it makes me want to pull the plug. Pull the plug... What in the heck in the world are you talking about Greek girl? We all know the Internet can be a powerful tool. However these days it seems more and more like a weapon. 

For people like me (an independent recording artist) the Internet is a powerful tool that has opened up an entire world of opportunities (literally). Opportunities to share my music and brand with people in parts of the world I never would be able to without it. Artists, businesses, non-profits, the list of people who benefit from the freedom and connection of the Internet are endless.

For some it's a powerful tool to share ideas and products. For others it a hideaway to hurl hate. Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe everyone is entitled to have their owns opinions and feelings about everything in life. We don't all have to live the same and think the same like robots in a Stepford Wives episode. I mean we do after-all live in the greatest country on the face of the earth. Something has happened though, something that truly scares me. Never in my life have I witnessed so many who seemly love to hate. People united in posting, sharing, creating and devoting oodles of precious time spreading pure venom. Hatred, jealousy, envy, sorry but those are just not American values.

A little term I came up with called "derangement syndrome" seems to be everywhere anymore. Insert name or organization before the term and there you have the description of an entire group of people united in sharing and spreading each and every negative thing they can find about said person or organization. People who go bonkers, I mean literally off the rails at the mere mention of derangement objects name. What do I mean? Well, lets see... we have a few examples in no particular order:

Patriots Derangement Syndrome
Tom Brady Derangement Syndrome
Trump Derangement Syndrome
Bush Derangement Syndrome
Joel Osteen Derangement Syndrome

The list goes on. I post these examples not to judge or praise any of them, rather only to illustrate a few of the particularly common derangement syndromes permeating our society today. The thing I find most troubling about this condition are the people who come down with the syndrome, many of whom are Christians.

Of course it's not just Christians getting it that bothers me, it's anyone who comes down with the syndrome. When Christians get it though, I find it especially disturbing. You see Jesus said they will know us by our love. Now I'm not saying we need to lie down and let everyone walk all over us because Jesus stood up when it was necessary. Like the time when he flipped over the money tables in the temple. Standing up though doesn't mean devoting ones self to the sharing of and spreading of hate.

We have a word in the Greek language for this kind of behavior, it's called hypocrisy. Better known as do as I say, not as I do. It's almost as if they are saying: "Yeah I'm a Christian I love God, I love people, I'm good, but I devote my entire Facebook page, blog, website (or whatever the case may be) to sharing articles I do not one hundred percent personally know to be true, but that's OK because I got my opinion out there." 

Everyone knows the media has an agenda and often times are biased. However the rise of the "new media" movement has bred a multitude of websites, blogs, videos and more devoted to spreading utter vitriol. Oftentimes I am shocked even more by the personal words written by people in the comments section when they share these things. The people I see this bitterness coming from, and the level to which they go, this for me is what cuts the most. There have been times I almost dump my dunkins on my laptop it's so disturbing. 

America was built on hard work. Used to be a someone saw a successful person as an inspiration. If they can do it, so can I kind of thing. Americans used to celebrate others success. Instead today we have media propping people up then far to willing, ready, and waiting for the chance to tear them down. When a successful person rises to incredible heights in their field or career, the haters come out in full force. They hide behind a computer screen and cut, paste, twist, splice, dice, and concoct articles and videos that are used like bullets to wound those they view as needing to be taken down.   

Not sure how or when it happened, but jealousy and entitlement for many have replaced aspiration. Take Tom Brady for example: he's talented, good looking, has a beautiful wife, makes boatloads of money doing what he loves. He can't possibly just be gifted though, he must have cheated. Another example, what did the founding fathers want in a President? Successful businessmen to leave their vocation to go and "serve" the people for a time, then leave. So when someone steps up to do it, they are labeled an egomaniac or Hitler. I'm just sayin... think about it.

There are always two sides to every story and there will always be stories until the end of time. I just know I would not want to stand before God at the end of my time and have the answer to what I did with my time to be "sharing hate". So I for one will continue to use the internet as a tool to share the good. To share my music and message. To make a positive impact, to encourage, inspire and do my best to lift people up, not tear them down. My hope is that more will catch this syndrome and do the same.

Blessings, Love & Music,
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Give a Little Bit

"It's time to "Do Something".

    

My name is Ava Aston and I love animals. I know put on your surprise face, no shocking information here considering my furkids are plastered all over the internet. Most people know me as an Independent Recording Artist and yes my first love is music, my second is animals. I have five dogs (three of which are rescues) and to be honest if I were not careful I could possibly end up on an episode of hoarders. Only in my episode the animals would be living in the lap of luxury. The only hard thing they would have to endure would be which orthopedic doggie bed to sleep on, or which organic food they want for the day. Who doesn't love animals? I mean really... can we even trust people who don't?

So last spring I started a little something to help bring awareness to the epidemic of animal neglect and cruelty. To shine the spotlight on the heroes who work day in and day out in animal rescue, also as a way to help encourage people to get involved. Not everyone can rescue, adopt, or foster an animal, but everyone can give. A midweek reminder to think about those on the front lines giving second chances to animals whom without their efforts would suffer and often not make it. Donating on a regular basis even as little as $5.00 can make a huge impact. So "Waggin Tail Wednesday" was born #WagginTailWednesday or #WTW.

There are so many amazing rescue organizations utilizing Social Media, Facebook in particular to help save animals. Neglected, dumped, abused and just when I think I have seen the worst thing I can possibly imagine, another horrific case pops up.

So I post one rescue, news story or video every Wednesday. The idea is for people to visit their pages, websites, give, and share. Animals are Gods creatures, are innocent and do not deserve to be tortured. They are not cupcakes to be sold for profits, should not be bred in puppy mills, sold in stores and most certainly do not belong in ads given away for free or sold on craigslist.

Animal abuse and neglect is an epidemic in this country that many turn a blind eye to. People think they can't help, afford to help, don't have time, etc. Sharing a link of a dog up for adoption is free, pledging $1 or $5 I'm pretty sure will not cause anyone to go hungry. When large numbers of people take a minute out of their day to "Do Something" it can and has literally saved and completely changed the lives of animals who have suffered beyond your worst nightmare. All it takes is for one to care and act.

Think I'm exaggerating? Google "Puppy Doe" or read about it here Unfortunately things like this happen every day. I believe that most people are inherently good, loving and would not do such evil things, but there is also an epidemic of ignorance that at times blows my mind. Having an animal is a lifetime commitment, not a toy to give away when one grows tired of it or it gets a little "inconvenient". Having a baby or moving is not a reason to dump a pet, sorry but it's just not! Rescues and kill shelters all over the country are bursting at the seams to the point where thousands of innocent creatures are killed every day simply because there is no one to adopt them, and the shelter is out of room.

It has to stop and the only way it will ever stop is if enough people "Do Something". Puppy mills, and selling dogs in pet stores has to end!

I'm not for more laws but to stop the viscious cycle it needs to be done. A simple solution is: In order to be a "Breeder" one must be "Licensed". In order to be licensed, one must pass a test (similar to a Dr., Real Estate Agent or any other licensed professional) and pay a high yearly fee. This will keep out the "backyard or kitchen" breeders who are selling to their friends or on craigslist. In order to breed one needs to know the history, potential medical issues being passed on, do the proper testing i.e.: (OFA X-rays for hips) etc. Pet stores should not be allowed to sell dogs or cats. An alternative would be a station to see animals from local shelters or rescues. It would stop "impulse" buying and all together these types of changes could help stop the problem. However the whole cycle is a money making machine so there are people who do not want it to stop or care about the innocent animals hurt in the process. Puppy mills, dog fighting, neglect, abuse, it's all happeneing everyday right under our noses. If people would be on alert, and start to call attention to cases when they see them we can save more lives. Call lawmakers, it all starts with "doing something".

A rescue I give to on a regular basis is Animal Rescue Corps. Check out this video about what they encounter on a regular basis Watch Here.

Something that has always made me smile is the word DOG spelled backwards is GOD. Just like him all they want is our love... think about it. It's in the bible, he gave us charge over the animals to care for, and the lion will lie down with the lamb. You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat animals. So don't forget to tune in every Wednesday on Facebook, and be on alert for ways in which you can make a difference in the lives of animals. Have a beautiful day!

Blessings, Love & Music
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Break The Internet

OK we get it... you want everyone in the entire world to see you naked. Duly noted.

Now that some of the dust has settled and almost everyone in the universe has seen Kim Kardashian naked yet again I thought it would be a good time to add my two Greek cents to the controversy. Anyone who has been reading my blog for any amount of time just had to know I would have something to say about this muckery.

First to the people who say Kim Kardashian has absolutely no talent whatsoever and that she is famous for "not being talented", I beg to differ. Mrs. West is extremely talented in keeping her mug or in this case her naked body in the public eye. Thus further driving her fame and income. So to that I have to say she does have a talent, she is a talented business woman.

What I don't understand is why is she and so many others like her today are so fixated on people seeing their naked bodies? Really I just don't get it. I mean private parts, big deal, we all have them. Why on earth are people so obsessed with the entire world seeing them naked anymore? Is nothing sacred?

For that matter why don't we all just run around naked? Everyone from babies to grandpas. It would be a whole lot cheaper not to have to buy clothes and shoes. Heck why not break all the rules and just do everything in public. Like maybe have sex with whatever or whomever we want any time we want. How about just making it the "norm" to go to the bathroom in public while were at it too?

Seriously leads me to wonder where is the line. Why does it keep moving so far, where will it stop, if it stops at all? Makes me very sad for the generation coming up today. My little niece and nephews are growing up in a generation that isn't striving to become Dr.'s, Lawyers, Scientists, Astronauts, to cure Cancer or Ebola... but instead are striving to get the perfect "selfie" and to be "famous". To really make something of their lives, you know by making it into American Idol, Dancing With The Stars or the ultimate sign you have really made it in today's society, to get your own Reality TV show.

Makes me wish Kim Kardashian or someone would actually just break the internet once and for all. That it would be broken so I couldn't even write this blog. No Facebook, no Instagram, no Google. Maybe then people would stop trying to "capture" the perfect moment and start living their moments. Actually get their heads out of their devices and talk to each other again. Or shall I say "learn how" to talk to each other.

Has anyone besides me noticed that the more "connected" we become as a society the less we are communicating? It is happening everywhere you turn, from the workplace to shopping, even eating out. People seem more and more to have a difficult time making eye contact, and they appear to be so wrapped up in their own noggins that they are not even actively participating in what they are doing. Whether it's taking your order at Panera, the person ringing you up at the store, even at places you would think they would be paying attention, like your doctors office. I could sit here and relate over a dozen episodes from just the last two weeks that would make you wonder if someone from the invasion of the body snatchers hadn't kidnapped some peoples brains. Never in my lifetime have I seen people so disengaged in their present activity.

I'm guessing you have seen and experienced similar situations in your own life. Now I know "Change" is supposed to be good and sometimes it is.  Not all change though actually is good. Better, faster, sooner, NOW... The "Now Generation". We're moving so stinking fast that we don't even have time to experience the present moment. For crying out loud this year stores have even moved "Black Friday" up by rolling out the deals two weeks before Thanksgiving. Some stores are going to be open all day on Thanksgiving and I just heard that Kmart will be open for 48 hrs straight... What the heck in the world? How can anyone "Give Thanks" if we are focused on getting to the next deal?

Slow down. Speaking of slowing down, so I'm sitting on the couch Friday night with my husband minding my own business. It's about 6:30pm EST and were eating dinner. I look up to see a commercial for a new cable show. Before I even realize what it is for, smack dab on my TV is a threesome, you read right, a threesome. Two girls and a guy were sitting in a bathtub naked on my TV screen at 6:30pm on a Friday night. I almost dumped my dunkins on my lap. Now if you think your squeaky clean Greek Girl next door was shocked to see that image, just imagine what the little kids who were innocently watching TV at the time must have been thinking. Especially those who do not have solid loving parents to guide them.

Which leads me to a very important question. How is it that the FCC can fine someone for saying the "F" word on TV or the radio, but think it perfectly acceptable to advertise a "Me'nage a' Trois" on cable television at 6:30PM. For that matter why would a network put a show centered around a newly divorced woman with children and her sex life on TV? I mean really... who cares? The writers in Hollyweird really can not come up with anything more interesting to do a new show about? Bueller, hello calling Ferris Bueller.

Personally I would love to see people like Kim Kardashian using their "celebrity" status to sprinkle more positive into the world. Can you imagine if people like her used their finances and influence to set a positive example for kids growing up today? Just let your mind wander on that for a minute. I'm not saying everyone should dress like a church nun and retreat from the world going back into the 1950's.

Imagine how much impact could be made in peoples lives if celebrities actually paid attention to the fact that people are watching them, and they are influencing future generations whether they want to or not. We the people have a choice. Personally I'm  speaking as a Christian who is bothered by what I see in society today. This isn't just for Christians though, this question is to everyone. We have a choice. We can either retreat from the world and pop culture, or we can dig our heels in and decide we are going to impact it in a positive way. Whether that impact is something as simple as buying or not buying or watching things that don't fall in line with your values. Or using your gifts and talents to positively impact the world through business, art, music, and culture. Because if we don't do it, someone else will... Ask yourself honestly, do you like what you see?

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

No Excuse

I've blogged about animals on many occasions, and well what can I say? I love furkids, deal with it. Besides it's been said ones true character is revealed in how they treat animals. So you know what that means... yes that means Greek Girl is a Good Person ;o)

Seriously though besides having four furkids of my own (used to be five until our ten and a half year old Maltese "Itty Bitty" passed unexpecedly of congestive heart failure back in September of last year) I am involved with rescue. Sometimes fostering, and often do home visits for potential adopters for a few different rescue groups. A home visit is necessary to make sure the animal does not end up back in a dangerous situation. Because as you might have guessed not everyone out there is what they appear to be. Or for whatever reason their wires get crossed in their noggins and decide it would be OK to dump their pet in a shelter. So home visits are necessary and vital to make sure rescued furkids truly do go into forever homes.

After all the things I have seen in rescue nothing really surprises me. However, I was particularly upset this past week when I saw a story in the news about an outrageously horrific situation involving craigslist. I would hope that most people understand why it's never OK to put an ad on craigslist for an animal, especially for Free. It's sad but stories like the one I'm about to share happen often these days. The following link is about a story of a man who was recently arrested for having been found in a motel room with multiple animals he had dismembered. Animals he had obtained from craigslist.
Don't believe me... here ya go:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/16/jason-brown-adopted-dogs-dismember-motel_n_5592267.html

I know life can be chaotic, especially in the times we are living. The economy is rough and people have life changes, I get it. However I'm not sure why when some people start to cut back they jump to something as severe as dumping a family pet in a kill shelter. There are always options, there is always a way, it's just a matter of if someone is willing to make the effort to make adjustments that will allow them to keep their pet. Some people just don't want to be bothered.

We have an epidemic of puppy mills producing millions of puppies that are shipped to pet stores. Backyard or kitchen breeding dogs to make an extra few bucks. Then add to that the ones who refuse to spay and neuter either for financial reasons, or even worse they don't want to make their pet an "it", are just a few of the absurd justifications I have heard. When you add it all up it equates to five to seven million animals and growing being euthanized in shelters across the country every single year. The only way this is ever going to change is to change the law. Make Puppy Mills illegal, and not allow backyard breeding. Have mandatory spay/neuter and for anyone who is interested in betterment of the breed and who wants to breed, make them have to be licensed. The license would be a very hard test like a Dr. and include a high yearly fee which would keep the backyard breeders out. Believe me I'm for LESS Government control not more. The government wants to control almost every aspect of our lives i.e.: health care, cap and trade to regulate how much energy we consume, food, medicine, etc. Yet they allow the rampant torture of Gods creatures in Puppy Mills. It boggles my mind, that however is a blog for another day.

My point here more than anything is why is it that at the first sign of trouble or inconvenience, people's first instinct is to throw up their hands and "dump" the family pet? They wouldn't ever do it to you, you wouldn't do it to a child, so why on earth do it to a helpless creature who only wants your love? I'm really beginning to think that God must be rethinking the whole part where he gave man charge over the animals. I can just imagine with all the evil things that go on every day, he must be sitting up there thinking maybe it should have been the other way around. It'd probably be a lot less cruel of a world.

As you can imagine there is no circumstance where I would ever give up an animal, period. Trust me and it's not like I'm rolling in the dough either... I'm an Independent Recording Artist. That means there's no label or big machine pushing my music all over TV, radio & social media. I do the best I can with what I have and work my pants off. I built my following brick by brick, fan by fan, and work social media like mad. Like everyone else out there working for their dreams I do what I have to do and try to live my life according to my moral compass. That for me means even if I were homeless on the street, I'd be in my cardboard box with my four furkids. That's just how I roll. Animals are family, there is never a reason to "get rid" of them, period. That may sound extreme to some people, but a living creature that can not survive without you that you made a commitment to is not something to be taken lightly, or to be forgotten when life changes. It's called making adjustments. I thought it would be interesting to post a few meme's that quite bluntly demonstrate some of the illogical thinking regarding dumping pets. Some also that dispel some of the misconceptions about what happens to your pet after you dump it at a the "shelter".

The Truth

How do these people sleep at night?

There is No Excuse.

Can you imagine?

Every day they die waiting...

More ridiculous excuses.

You can make a difference.

Pets Do not Belong on Craigslist - Ever!

Trust, Love. Unconditional that never ends... Don't fail them.

You can make a difference. Not only be being vigilant to furkids in need around you, but also with social media. Sharing helps place dogs. Giving even the smallest amount, even $1.00 to a rescue who has just taken in an animal with obscene medical bills makes a difference. There is strength in numbers... if everyone who cares and has liked a page gives even the small amounts when a rescue asks instead of scrolling past, just think of the number of animals that would be saved.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com