C’est ennui ou égocentrisme? 

Enough said, huh?

.

Photograph courtesy of KarenFayeth © 2012, All rights reserved. Video uploaded to YouTube by Will Braden.  Cat gif courtesy of Cat Stuff: Thousands of Animations.

“While normally viewed alone on a computer screen, our unofficial cat-lady-in-residence invites you to come gather together on the field and LOL in the presence of others as your favorite silly cat videos are projected larger-than-life one after the other. Experience the joy of a surprised kitten or keyboard cat together. Participate in this experiment that tests the social boundaries of the online community with a live, off-line event as we attempt to gather in physical space and real time to enjoy one of the internet’s most popular phenomena.”

This is like my dream date night – outside under the stars, with a bottle of wine and my sweetie, watching CAT VIDEOS! I’m in love with the big winner of the festival, Henri 2, Paw de Deux, which won the Golden Kitty Award.

Here’s a quick recap of the event — most notably, a quote from Minneapolis mayor, R. T. Rybak: “Cool cats are skipping Romney speech to see International Cat Film Festival @walkerartcenter #catvidfest”

Hilarious! And amazing. Lastly, Misu & Lily say hi:

Are you longing for a fresh start?

Last week I was surprised to find green sprouting from the soil of my potted dracaena. The plant has persisted for almost 15 years through cycles of neglect and overzealous watering, and I’d been thinking about taking it out to the compost pile. Its response, even though I’d not dared to speak of my plan out loud, was to show me new possibilities. It seemed ready for a fresh start.

The possibilities are infinite. We are the ones who set limits, telling ourselves something can’t be done, or it’s too hard, or will take too long, or will require too much sacrifice. Yet some people seem to know how to tap into an abundant universe. I hear stories every day of those who have made a fresh start, who are pursuing their dreams, saying “yes” to infinite possibilities.

For instance, an article in today’s NY Times mentioned Will Braden, who won the Golden Kitty award at the Internet Cat Video Film Festival held at the Walker Art Center on Thursday. Braden, a filmmaker from Seattle, now makes his living from Henri, le Chat Noir, who is featured in “Henri 2: Paw de Deux,” about the existential angst of a black-and-white French cat. Amazingly, Braden has an online store that sells $1,000 worth of T-shirts and mugs each week.

This weekend I downloaded MC Yogi’s second album, “Pilgrimage,” which is equally as good as “Elephant Power,” and also quite different – more layered, nuanced, and worldly. Hip Hop Yoga – never knew it existed until I heard “Elephant Power,” and I was hooked. MC Yogi wasn’t a big music star when he released “Elephant Power.” He’s a yoga teacher and a graffiti artist. And, as it happens, a very talented musician.

On iTunes, MC Yogi wrote in 2008, upon the release of “Elephant Power,” “Namaste everyone, I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude to all the family, friends, and yoga students who helped to raise the money necessary to make this album possible.”

Ganesh is fresh. Through Ganesh, all things are possible.

On his website, MC Yogi encourages us to use “Pilgrimage” as the soundtrack to our own personal pilgrimage. He writes that “Pilgrimage” is a “Pill for the Grim Age. The more we venture into the great unknown and travel beyond our borders, the more we can see and discover for our self that which is animating everything. So, Go explore! Turn it up, play it loud an stay connected as we continue this adventure broadening our horizons and experiencing all that yoga and life has to offer.”

What fresh start is sprouting in you? Don’t deny it. Feed it love!

“Je suis seul à sentir ce tourment.”

“I alone feel this torment.”

Henri, Le Chat Existentiel

Another little Bardo on The Light Side. Kudos to the brilliant Will Braden for imagining such a wonderful script for Henri. I posted this on my personal blog, The Writer by Day, where it seem to be very much enjoyed. It is charming and funny; but, it does also serve to remind us of how we humans can torture ourselves by misreading the intentions of our fellows or occasionally turning everything into drama. Without a doubt, Henri, like many of our younger brothers and sisters in nature, is a teacher. J.D.

Video, Script, and Voice ~ WillBraden

Part I

Part II