While I admire many ethics in world religions and went to Christian churches as a child,

I am foremost a humanist.  I recently wrote a ten verse (aka stanza) poem titled "Spark" for idealists and humanists, and I hope it will be well received.  

 

Since childhood, I have found contentment in the great sense of humanity that shines throughout the works of William Shakespeare, so I decided to write my poem in the iambic pentameter metrical form that he often used.  Iambic pentameter poetry is pleasant to hear and recite, and I chose an "aabb" rhyme scheme for each verse.  Poetry is very enjoyable to write because it is creative and challenging, and I encourage everyone to try it.

 

Webster's Dictionary defines humanism as "1. A philosophy or attitude centered chiefly on the values, interests, and potential of human beings.  2. The shift to secular concerns that resulted from the study of Greek and Roman classics during the Renaissance."

 

It's very true that humanity's continuing departure from supernatural ideas has led to a greater sense of self-awareness and responsibility in our natural world of reality.  Now that we have come so much closer to that essential self-awareness, I hope we will use it to build better global societies that aim to better celebrate and enhance each human life on Earth.

 

I've published the poem on Amazon for 99 cents. The poem's first verse/stanza of ten is:

 

 

To read the next nine verses, you can download the poem below; please kindly give it a review if you like it.  Thank you!

If you're ready for some Christmas cheer, Sir William the Cat says, "Here's another cool cat, and he has a voice that will get even the Christmas grinches smiling in no time and saying 'Ah, lovebug' instead of 'Bah, humbug!'"

 

 

Our first book cover had a heraldic, traditional look with a parchment paper color to depict the book's intention to be a humorous "defensive treatise" and timeless document for cat lovers.

 

However, because the book is not a heavy document at all to read and is meant for all ages to enjoy, we have updated the cover to a more modern design that still makes the subject seem classic, but intriguing and fun to read, we hope!

 

 

You see, since moving down the mountain to Carson City, NV from South Lake Tahoe, CA, my partner Peter and I have been learning from wild horse mentors on how to train, ride and bond with rescued mustangs every Sunday.  The organization in Stagecoach, NV is called Least Resistance Training Concepts and they teach great gentling techniques. We love all animals, and it's the first time either of us have been able to be around horses so much. 

 

Well, earlier this month on October 8th, a stray black kitten appeared who, unlike a few of the barn cats in the area, wanted lots of affection and attention.  My friend said he could stay at her ranch with her two barn cats.  He was so cute with a white chest and green eyes that I said 'Tuxedo' would be a cute name for him, but she said there was already a cat named Tucker and that the nicknames Tuck and Tux would be too close.  Just as we were leaving for the day, I said, "I know. We should name him Magic. He seems magical to me, plus it's close to Halloween!" So that was his new name.

 

Well, imagine my sense of loss when I went back the next Sunday (the 15th) to ride horses and see Magic when I found out that he didn't get along with those cats, and he was gone!  I was heartbroken because I had spent some time with him and even got to name him.  I had shared part of my lunch with him, but he had been so happy just to be cuddled and pet that food was his second worry. 

 

Poor Magic!  He was just a kitten all alone in the wild where coyotes are just as hungry for a meal as Magic was for human companionship, plus he had an injured tail (probably a horse had stepped on him).  I immediately started looking around the neighborhood of ranches for him and found no sign of him.  After another week of wondering where he was, I again looked and called for him on Sunday the 22nd, but he was nowhere to be found.  Darn, I should have kept him safe when I was given the chance!  I felt so guilty and sad.  But a few hours after getting home, my other friend called and said "I've got your cat!  He's playing in our yard with Amber (a white German Shepherd).  It's lucky the coyotes didn't get him yet."  A sense of relief swept through me - with the heavy feeling of responsibility, too.  My two cat-chasing dogs would just have to learn to accept him as part of the pack and, hopefully, my partner Peter would cave in, too. 

 

Well, Magic is curled up on my desk next to me right now as I write this happy ending on Halloween eve, so somehow he had the magic to bewitch us all. Good night, Magic, you're the best trick or treat I'll ever have!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our cat book "In Defense of Cats!" got a great review from a book reviewer at Petside.com!  It can be seen at: http://www.petside.com/article/delightful-book-defense-cats

A few people prefer cats over dogs and vice versa, but I believe most people that have cats and/or dogs are animal lovers in general and adore all creatures great and small.

 

Over the last five years, I have adopted three wonderful dogs because my previous partner was severely allergic to cats.  One is with him now (Katie), and I now have two new dogs (Finnan and Keira) because it was so hard losing my first dog.  I was asked to write my dog adoption story for the blog "From Alone to Home" which promotes and encourages the adoption of homeless animals in shelters.  The complete link is:

 

Steve Jobs passed on today.  He was one cool cat and will be sorely missed.  He had brains and vision, but it was his lionheart that took him so far.

 

"You've got to find what you love."  That was his advice to all.  See his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech text at http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html where he shared that wisdom and talked about his courageous journey from rags to riches.  The YouTube video of the 15-minute speech is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc .

We have created and launched our British website for British readers at http://www.indefenceofcats.co.uk because American spellings would be wrong and very distracting to them.  I hope "the British are coming, the British are coming" to the site as we speak, and that they will accept Sir William as their own! 

 

I really admire the British people's sense of humor, their sensibility and their fortitude.  They call things as they see them and don't suffer fools easily or mince words.  I hope I've succeeded in revealing those same dispositions in my British cat character, Sir William!  Sometimes, he does have to deliver his strong opinions with a few lumps of sugar, though, to win over his audience so he doesn't alienate them.  After all, the art of diplomacy and tact must also be practiced at times if you're going to win the hearts of many.

It's been a special day for us as a mother-daughter team to see the fruits of our labor.

 

 

 

Janette built the In Defense of Cats! website today and is looking at ways in which she can also offer it in a British English version because her main character is an English cat.  In Britain, the title would be spelled In Defence of Cats!

 

British English is also called the Queen's English when a female monarch is reigning. It would be called the King's English when a male monarch is reigning. Britain's current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II (Her Majesty the Queen). The Queen is Head of State of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms.

 

The American English words used in the book and its' introductions that have British spelling variations (shown in parentheses) are:

 

defense (defence)

honor (honour)

rumors (rumours)

criticized (criticised)

neighbor (neighbour)

cozy (cosy)

gray (grey)

 

I certainly want to offer a British English version of the book because Sir William is a British cat although his creators are American.