Moon Goddess Attends the Olympics

I love how the Olympic Rings were suspended from Tower Bridge in London. It will be an iconic image for years to come, I'm sure.

At the beginning of August when the moon was full, some clever photojournalist got this fabulous shot of a new ring --

I like to think that it is an Olympic salute from the Greek Goddess of the Moon, Artemis, Herself one of the original Olympian deities. Plus a notable athlete and archer as well.

Wake Up, Sleepyheads!

Monday is perfect for posting this tribute to coffee because that's when we're all sleepy, tired from the weekend or just plain old hungover (and no, there's no particular reason why I'm thinking now of you party-hearty guys Barfly, Bryan, Brandon and Workingdan . . . ).

So pour yourself a big cuppa Joe, everyone, gulp it down and then go out there and have a good day, dammit!

Olympic Glory At Last!

She's done it, everyone! Here is this morning's email from Her Royal Highness at the London Cat Olympics --

Hello, human. VICTORY IS MINE! On the very last day of the Games, I have finally won a GOLD MEDAL! Here's a picture of me wearing it -- don't I look like a true champion?

And, best of all, I won it in the MOST prestigious event in the whole Cat Olympics! It took every fibre of my being, every ounce of my self-discipline and control, every last drop of my feline training, but I performed better than any cat in the world . . . .

Okay, yeah, technically I also had a partner -- some cat from Ontario or somewhere -- BUT REALLY IT'S ALL ABOUT ME, GLORIOUS ME!!!

Now I can simply sit back and just let the cat food commercials, flea collar ads and other endorsement contracts roll in! I'll be purring all the way to the BANK!

Luv, hugz and purrz from your Gold Medal Cat

Well! All I can say about this, HRH, is --

Chariots of Fur

My cat, Her Royal Highness, is a true champion. She never gives up! Here is today's email from the London Cat Olympics --

Hello, human. The track and field racing events were held today. This might surprise you, but cats can actually be quite lazy creatures who don't want to exert themselves all that much. So getting together a field of CATletic competitors can sometimes be a challenge . . . .

But of course I was very keen to race -- still hoping to win a medal! Here's a shot of me in action . . . .

Not every cat is motivated by medals, however . . . .

But, no matter what the incentive, NO KITTY ALIVE could catch the Jamaican feline flash, Puss-ain Bolt . . . . What a superstar!

Long story short, I just missed the podium by a WHISKER! But I'm not discouraged. My best event is coming up on Friday and I have a good feeling about it.

Luv, hugz and purrz from your cat, HRH.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Today is the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. When we were in Japan this spring, we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park located at Ground Zero (also called the Hypocentre) where the bomb hit.

I chose to spend my time there outside, exploring the large and beautiful Memorial Park which was full of trees, flowers and families picnicking under the cherry blossoms. The park both memorializes the dead and expresses Japan's hope for a nuclear-free world of everlasting peace.

This is the memorial cenotaph to the victims who died that day --

This is the famous Industrial Promotion Hall which alone miraculously withstood the blast despite being only 160 metres (175 yards) from the Hypocentre. It has been left in ruins to remind people of the bombing.

The building is now often simply called the A-Bomb Dome.

This burial mound in the centre of the park is a mass grave of the cremated remains that were able to be recovered from Ground Zero. It is protected by a fence and surrounded by flowers, lanterns and peace prayer sticks.

There are many profoundly moving statues in the park. I will do other posts about them at another time. Today I will simply post a photo of the park's statue of Kwan Yin, Goddess of Mercy and Compassion.

[All photos by Debra She Who Seeks]

Olympic Cattitude

Here's today's email from Her Royal Highness at the London Cat Olympics --

Hello, human! I bet you think this event is kayaking, don't you? WRONG!!

It is, in fact, the extremely demanding, skill-testing feline Olympic event called "Bossing Around Humans." The CATlete rides in the kayak where it's nice and dry and must, using only meowing (no teeth or claws), make its dim-witted human paddler manoeuvre the boat through a series of obstacles.

An American kitty won the Gold in this event. You can see from his face what a bossy and determined CATlete he is.

American fans are the noisiest ones here too.

Actually, I didn't even enter this event because my bossiness skills are not yet at the elite level needed for international competition. Expect a LOT MORE practising in this area when I get home, human. Right now I'm reading the best training manual on the market -- "Fifty Shades of Meow." So when I say "jump" from now on, by the Goddess Bast, you'll JUMP!!!

Luv, hugz and purrz from your cat, HRH.

Cats Will Be Cats!

Here's the latest email from my Olympic CATlete, Her Royal Highness --

Hello, human. Today I excelled at gymnastics. Unfortunately, so did every other cat at the Games. Gymnastics is EVERYONE'S best event.

I was grace itself on the balance beam . . . .

My pommel horse performance had no equal . . . .

And yes! Perfect dismount!

But @#$%!! ribbon gymnastics did me in and dashed my medal hopes -- damn you, ribbons, why must you be so FUN????

Don't lose hope for me yet! I'm trying my best and I just KNOW that I will win a medal sooner or later!

Luv, hugz and purrz from your striving kitty HRH.