http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmcjjvdfcoE

Where I live they are everywhere, and roam without leashes. Last night I saw a cat near a garbage can, amazing it can survive given the situation. I've found the best way to keep from getting bitten is to look upwards to the sky and in the opposite direction and say a prayer when they come near - the inspiration for that idea came while in prayer after having been bitten while riding my bike and the owners of the unleashed dog had the nerve to say it was my fault, that I shouldn't have been riding the bike in that area! With blood dripping down my leg, I pointed to a sign nearby that showed that bikes are allowed but dogs are only permitted if they are on a leash and asked their names (an elderly couple about 70-ish!) - but they turned and hurried away ... boy how they - and their dog! - deserved a really good but how do you do that to someone older and weaker than yourself without looking like a jackass?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzKFjjeWQI4 nothing new but might be worth watching - if you can handle the sad ending

Anybody remember this one? This was my favorite book as a child: Captain Kitty by Godfree Lynn and Elizabeth Web ... and apparently I'm not alone: "I have no clue where we'd found this book - probably at the "Airmens' Attic" or the base thrift store shortly after we'd moved to RAF Upper Heyford, England. My son was about three and my daughter an infant. Although we just about read the covers off that book, I think we still have it packed somewhere with the childrens' other toys and books. My memory has always been very poor, BUT, I remember that book rather clearly after 19 years! I think we read it every night for months! Then it would re-surface with regularity over the next five years or so. Such a sweet story - calm and perfect for bed-time with its soothing cadence and soft pictures. A true gem of a book!" ... "This was far and away my daughter's favorite book. I would be obliged to read it every day with her sitting in my lap, and at the end she would exclaim "Again". After a few weeks I was able to memorize the book and could read the newspaper while she held the book and I recited the text." ... "Actually, i am not Dave, i am his wife. I went to PS 50 in the Bronx. There was a book fair there one day and this is the one i chose. I had many a golden book, comic books, and library books were available, but this was the first big picture book i chose by its cover. I was 8 years old and am now 57. I still remember the catchy rhyming story, most of it, and the beautiful and imaginative pictures.I see there is no way to browse the book, so here is a bit of the poetry, as i remember it. "Oh, Captain Kitty, where have you been?" "i've been sailing the ocean blue, and (wife's name) went as my good, first mate, and Perly and Mew were the Crew" "We sailed and sailed for over a week, we followed our noses by day, and when the stars came out at night, we followed the milky way"-There are cats from around the world, a persian cat who is queen and wears a shell on her head as a crown. It is also well illustrated. i think mine may have had a different cover though, i thik the story is the same, same cat." ... "This was my favorite book as a child, and the first one I learned to read! I was so glad to find it again! The pictures are delightful, and the story is sweet. I plan to keep my "new" copy to read to my grandson some day, so he can enjoy it like I did once upon a time."

We saw it best the night-before-last-night when the sky was clear, should have taken a photo, but anyway if you haven't seen it here's an idea of what it's like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izWRKl06XEY&fmt=18

What exists? For sure lots and lots of CREATURES ... ... so surely there must be a CREATOR ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzDlLtgt1BI The Ideal Journeying with Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvNOZegkVXo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GSKdC05hpA "Second Hand Emotion" ... well, there's lots of truth in that nowadays. "What's love but a Sweet old fashioned notion" ... could be some truth in that, too ...

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=o4ZOYxa5siI&feature=related for several weeks now, it's all I seem to hear ...

Maybe this is silly, but it made me laugh ... while listening to this song The Birds and The Bees this photo flashed in rhythm on the thread "What do you do" (posted by Dancin'Days)

Here's a post from a thread of an online Spirituality course I'm taking (that I can't believe I actually paid for) ... _______________ "Quote ---: One definition of spirituality is the "art of making connections". When we connect, we recognize that we are in relationship with one another. It is through our relationships that we grow and awaken to our own divinity. Our connection with God causes us to seek ways to express deeper connections with people. Our deeper connections with people are a symptom of how we reach deeper, stronger connections with God. A sense of connection forms a central defining characteristic of spirituality: connecting to something greater than ourselves. We are always connected (tethered) to God. We all have a deep need to be connected and respected. Once we learn to love ourselves, then it will be much easier to connect with others. By connecting with our own best self, we will inspire others to connect with their own best selves. Healthy people create healthy communities." _________________ Underneath here's my response to that post: Led Zeppelin (http://www.ledzeppelin.com) has one of the best websites I've ever seen for making connections and establishing a solid community. Their website allows one to see another's profile, the topics they've posted to, the threads they've started, and every post they've ever made. This in-depth connectivity allows a community to grow because others are aware of one's "evolving" nature and superficiality is avoided. *** will they just keep on ignoring me or kick me out?

Actually, this one makes me laugh AND CRY... David Crosby Has Mixed Feelings About Donating Sperm Again "It's discouraging how this worked out, because one of the main reasons that (wife Jan and I) did it was because of the love between Julie and Melissa, who have obviously transferred that affection to new partners." "He famously posed with Etheridge, Cypher and their children for a Rolling Stone cover, where the world discovered Crosby's role in the conception. To his dismay, Etheridge and Cypher decided to split up seven months later... Julie Cypher is (now) married to Matthew Hale while Etheridge is (now) married to actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, who recently gave birth to twins using an anonymous sperm donor."

Maybe that explains the weird commentary on this Myspace Candle LightingThread in honor of what might have been Thomas Merton's 95th birthday ...

Wow, I'm ready to visit you Mary, 'cause where I'm at there's just a ZOMBIE HEAT WAVE ... and never-ending drought ...

The little blue parakeet who landed on our apartment gutter, singing loudly, moving to the left and right as if on a perch, trying to fly with the other wild birds who steal seed from the bunny cages on our balcony. I wanted to catch him and try to return him to his owner (surely he must have one) before a cat, dog or bigger bird hunts him down but he happily (and confidently!) flew away ... as a FreeBird.

My husband was in the hospital with his mom the day before she died ... he said all of a sudden she sat upright and turned around to greet "visitors", her deceased brother and sister! He didn't see anything but is sure that she did, in fact - despite her ill health - she carried on a conversation with them "How are you, I haven't seen you in years!", etc. Here's a website with the latest MUFON sightings: Mutual UFO Network Sightings - The scientific study of UFOs for the benefit of humanity

Statue dedicated on September 12, 1998 (9 years before Led Zeppelin's reunion announcement) Location: Louisville, Kentucky (USA) in front of the Thomas Merton Center December 10, 2007 also marks the 39th anniversary of Thomas Merton's death. More photos and interesting details here