Category Archives: pets

Inner peace

05 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by in community, Health, pets, therapy

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I need frequent reminders on feeling inner peace and not being influenced by the anger and horrible acts of the outer world.

InnerPeaceQuote

2013 Zen Calendar page now reminder poster

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” — Dalai Lama

I heard that phrase or variants several times during performances at the Friends for Peace Day in Ottawa last weekend.  For the past few years, I have made it a habit of attending, to enjoy performances, chat with acquaintances – and new friends, and make bids on silent auction items that appeal to my constant need for reminders for inner peace, quest for wisdom or acts of whimsy.

Being an introverted type and moody middle-aged mother, I prefer to attend non-competitive, calmer public events. 

I enjoy the Friends for Peace Day musical performances, especially those with children singing or playing instruments together. Tears well up when I hear voices joined in harmony, offering comfort, nurturing peace or celebrating joy.

A short time after last weekend’s event, I received the call that a couple of my bids had won.  I ventured out after the work day by city bus to pick up my winnings.

This lovely lotus cushion may have to stay in its plastic wrap for a while lest it becomes embedded with cat fur.

LotusCushionWrapped

Lotus embroidered cushion

Its image reminded me of an ASCII art work and Haiku poem I created during a difficult time.

Lotus Haiku TAJ 2007

Lotus Haiku TAJ 2007

Next was a Zen Alarm Clock.

ZenAlarmClock

Zen Alarm Clock

I have wanted one of these for a long time, wishing to have a gradual waking up process – other than me reaching over a cat every ten minutes, hitting the snooze button on a digital alarm clock radio tuned to Majic 100 or The Jewel 98.5. Eventually, one of the cats will succeed in waking me to serve breakfast. The “pounce on the bladder area” technique often works.

One of the young folk commented that it was odd for a Zen alarm clock to be framed by a triangle shape, alluding to it looking like something from the Illuminati.  The other made a joke, stemming from a theme in a popular sitcom.

Someone remind me why I still feed and shelter these wisecrackers? 

While I was testing the alarm, the cats did not seem to like the sound. Miss Tabby displayed an annoyed look with her ears twisted back.

Annoyed Tabby Cat

Miss Geneva Tabby is annoyed by the Zen alarm clock chimes

I turned the alarm off.  Peace was restored.  Fur now.

CatsCouchSundayMorning

Cats Snoozing Sunday Morning

Have a lovely, peaceful Sunday – however you celebrate it.

T

Fall Wardrobe Woes

22 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by in pets, photography, therapy

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You know how it is.  You sort through boxes of clothing, pulling out the warmer, long-sleeved tops and corduroy pants.

tabby cat lounging in clothes closetYou look at outfits that you haven’t worn for over two years but you keep transferring them each season.  Although you don’t follow many trends, you figure that some are just not stylish any more.

You notice that some have suffered shrinkage after being pushed to one side of the closet or placed in that under-the-bed box. It’s an unexplained phenomenon.

They go to a bag for the local charity delivery.  There!  That feels better.

At least with the cooler temperatures of approaching autumn and (gasp!) winter, those pretty young women with firm, tanned limbs will have to cover up.  Rejoice, middle-aged women.  You regain an advantage by sharing your experience and wisdom in conversations with eligible men.  Although at this stage of life, you still need those sleeveless tops to cope with the occasional hot flash.

The Opinionated Tabby Cat is encouraging me to get some retail therapy.  I shall comply, discount coupons in hand and stored up with the energy required for sweaty changing room disappointments.

Thanks for dropping by.  I hope your wardrobe upgrade quests are successful.

T

 

 

Extended Canadian summer vacation

25 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by in pets, photography, reading, Travel, writing

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It is very rare that I will take more than two weeks’ vacation at a time.

It is not easy to relax one’s psyche with all the shaky and unbelievably violent shit going down south of us and the atrocities being lobbed back and forth in the Middle East. 

While acknowledging what’s going on and is beyond my control, I risk to say that I feel relaxed to the point that I am now a bit bored.  I need a distraction that will make good use of a creative mind and idle hands.

cats lounging on couch

Cats know how to relax

The first week involved volunteer work, travel preparations and a tearful reunion with my four sisters and French Canadian relatives.

The second week brought visiting relatives to le petit apartment on two separate occasions, saying farewell to one of the fledglings, and my completion of an awkward yet important medical test. Call it preventative maintenance for someone who has reached a certain age…

FOBT envelope reminder label

FOBT mailing envelope warning

In this third week I have plans for social engagements, outdoorsy wanderings and appointments.

During a lazy Sunday afternoon while wandering on the Internets, I found what could be a new cause, a campaign to propose that the great but humble Canada reconsider its national mascot.

black cat on coffee table

Snuggles the cat is wary of my busy mind

I reintroduce to you the Ookpik, an Inuit creation that satisfied the need for a mascot in 1964.

 

 

 

So the deep blonde thought that has come out of this summer hiatus is: 

What if the Ookpik could be constructed from sustainable materials (a-hem – not seal skins) and reintroduced in a Canadian mascot campaign?

 

Let’s see how far this idea will fly.

Stay tuned and thanks for dropping by.

Theresa