..I kick ass! An audience of one is sufficient to make a difference. Were my hunny the extent of that audience, I’d still have a reach that matters for such support is not to be taken lightly. Knowing neither of us offers compliments to be naught but nice though, RhodesTer declaring me a “kick-ass blogger” makes me damn proud.

The hella cool madness of it all is I do have an audience. As I’ve expressed, I’m here because I’m addicted to people — not just coffee — & this is my virtual café. I’ve had a simultaneously good & odd life that’s allowed me to turn my thirst for knowledge into wee bits of wisdom. There’s nothing I enjoy more than sitting down over a beverage with someone & shooting the shit, from the sublime to the silly. With each post, I take a break from behind the counter; with every comment, you grab a table & stay a while; meanwhile, we all come & go, topping up our mugs as needed.

Bonus of all bonuses, by including my WordPress.COM blog — along with this WordPress.ORG concoction — as further proof of my ass-kicking, my hunny introduced the fledgling endeavor to the blogosphere. Over the years, that domain was a consistent means of finding me online but this blog is my permanent home away from home. Determined “coffeesister.com” should remain an introduction to me & tired of being a poet without poems, my old domain now complements this one by providing an outlet for more spontaneous missives.

To continue the complimenting & complementing alike, it’s time to do as MammaDawg asks (cuz Mamma said so):

Do you know any bloggers that kick ass?

Maybe they’ve got incredible, original content. Or they’re overflowing with creativity. Is it someone that helps you become a better blogger? Or a bloggy friend you know you can count on? Or maybe it’s someone who simply inspires you to be a better person… or someone else who sends you to the floor, laughing your ass off.

Whatever the reason may be, I’m sure you know at least a couple of bloggers that kick ass. Well… why not tell ‘em so?

LOVE ON ‘EM

• Choose 5 bloggers that you feel are “Kick Ass Bloggers”
• Let ‘em know in your post or via email, twitter or blog comments that they’ve received an award
• Share the love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to www.mammadawg.com

I’ve already shared the Twitter love so I’m going to offer up some EntreLove this time. If you’ve ever clicked through from ad to ad, you know how hit & miss the EntreCard network can be. There are some kick ass blogs to be found along the way though. Case in point is CopyWrite which is where RhodesTer’s ass-kicking status originated &, considering the source, it’s quite the compliment indeed. Since the hidden gems are what ultimately make “card-dropping” worthwhile, I’m presenting five blogs that I not only found via EntreCard but wouldn’t have found otherwise.

1. Bittersweet Collide
   Sighs & thoughts of a vagabond and love convict — turned into words.
2. Photography and Writing
   Photos & info gathered on the journey to be a professional photographer.
3. PoeARTica
   Each month a contributor’s poem or short story is featured w/a short bio.
4. Soul Meets World
   Reconditioning the human condition and rewriting life’s drama with love.
5. un1versal sessions
   A poet inspired by life’s ebb and flow & their interaction upon mankind.

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“Blogging is an art, same as any other method of self-expression.
Some are better at it than others.”
~ Hugh Macleod ~
(consider gapingvoid a bonus blog for it does kick ass)

Happy Earth Day, my fellow Earthlings! Not to leave out aliens living here on Earth, nor to presume the internet doesn’t reach outer space, it’s simply probable that visitors to Earth are nicer to our planet than we home-grown inhabitants.  We do tend to be more considerate in other people’s homes than our own (much to the chagrin of significant others, fur kids &/or living expense sharers). As for those not living on this mostly blue marble, they’re not in a position to do as much damage to the planet itself though they’re hopefully not contributing to our already littered yard!?

Thanx to Gizmodo via Andrew Dobrow

As this is not Space Day, back down to Earth; in all her blue & green glory with a bit of white & brown. While it’s in question how much an issue global warming is, with the white parts encroaching on the blue & green parts turning brown, it certainly seems a case of better safe than sorry. Simply put, the home we all share is deserving of a little [more] care. In our individual homes, many clean up when they know they’re going to have company (not me, mind you but I digress). So, if we rightly consider our dear planet a home we’re all sharing, perhaps that consideration of others’ homes can combine with concern for our visitors’ impressions.

Fully exploring this estate called Earth is sadly not something many get to do which may well be why we don’t typically view it more inclusively. For those of us in the Americas, surely Australasia is our backyard & vice versa. Rainforests are absolutely everyone’s gardens. Asia creates an intriguing East Wing while the Caribbean provides an amazing spa & Europe makes for a brilliant parlour, if only Africa were a safer conservatory of late. Inasmuch as human conflict may be difficult to nip in the bud, the care we take of this planet which in turn cares for us starts far more simply.

Hugged a tree lately? Ever? Only when drunk? Whatever the case, anything we can do to promote the well-being of [possibly] less sentient living things than we & decrease the piles of debris we’ve left lying about our universal home; the better. Perhaps the hope of inspiring some spring cleaning is why Earth Day is in Spring north of the equator. Whether or not we are in the habit of sprucing up our individual homes (my own spring cleaning is more internalized), the world may not be suffering from lack of neglect so much as hurting for a little consideration. Bill Petro wisely reminds us why we should care..

Nevertheless, plants, as you’ll recall, are one of the reasons we came to Earth. Some of the other reasons include:

• Location: it’s right here. Look just below your feet.
• Memorable: it’s shaped like the new AT&T logo
• Spherical: which makes it convenient for those “round the world” trips and has a much more pleasing shape than where we came from. Did you ever wonder why we called the previous generation “squares”?
• Great restaurants: and great atmosphere, unlike, for example the Moon which has great restaurants but no atmosphere.
• Oxygen-Nitrogen atmosphere: so crucial for those of us who breathe, and better than methane in so many ways.
• Gravity: which is set at a convenient one “g” is quite handy for keeping everything in its place.
• Neighbors: generally far enough away that they don’t bother us much, and those who do are generally more intelligent than average, needing to understand things like calculus, tachyons, and three-phase cyclotronic nuclear-fissionable uranium isotope molecular reconstructors for trans-dimensional physics.

I don’t know about you, but I’m planning on spending the rest of my life right here on Earth.

There are various hues of green living & I’m not endeavoring to advocate any particular shade or pigment. Anytime we recycle, conserve or keep from stepping on a fledgling plant; it’s a win. I would absolutely love ideas, especially if you know of convenient ways to recycle when you have no vehicle with which to reach the far too few & far-flung centers. Tis ironic indeed that the greener you live can make it harder to live greener. Along those lines, we apartment dwellers can do little to create new greenery but, for those who have their own bit of earth, Arbor Day is just a few days away. Japan’s upcoming Greenery Day is a time to commune with nature and be appreciative of its abundance. As appreciation is where all consideration begins, I’d say that’s really the goal; you?

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.”
~ Marshall McLuhan ~

Twitter asked me to “Share my story” & share I did. Of course, the story they wanted was why I use Twitter. Having recently answered how I use it on two different sites, the basis for my response was already written but I could have answered why with one word. I’d imagine most of the stories submitted will share that underlying reason yet with all the varied approaches found from blog to blog. Even those who seldom add to the ready flow of communication the internet makes possible are taking part in turning their share of monologues into dialogs.

The reason I blog is to communicate with a wide range of people & Twitter is by far the most natural extension of that. With the flexibility to follow only those of my choosing via Google Chat & an ongoing tweet stream awaiting me whenever I decide to take a dip, it fits my life & online habits even as they fluctuate from day to day. I’m always sure to find excellent advice, article/post recommendations, breaking news & — of course — a good balance of entertainment. Thus, my Twitter stream has replaced the “Digg’s Top Stories” feed I’d used for so long.

Through Twitter, I’ve had a blog post listed on ProBlogger, received a compliment from the founder of eBay & been provided an opportunity to communicate with people I’ve been following through other mediums for ages. Given who you choose to follow, it can be a mini-mentoring experience or simply an interesting influx of information (not to mention both ^_^). Like most Web 2.0 innovations, Twitter can be used in whatever way fits each user’s needs & the benefits are only starting to be realized.

|_|) “Communication–the human connection–is the key to personal and career success.” ~ Paul J. Meyer

PS: It doesn’t hurt that both my hunny & my cat are tweeting too. ~_^

While there are those blogging, & therefore being pseudo-social, with no other intention than making money; even they have to communicate something to have a lasting shot at profitability. There are also many entrepreneurs communicating so effectively that money proved the result. The difference between communicating to earn & earning from communicating is vast though. Gary Vaynerchuk puts it best with his encouragement to prioritize legacy over currency. It may seem ironic that I relate to that SO strongly since both appear equally lacking.

Without a clear path to either, goals still have to be made & intentions declared. My goal when it comes to blogging has always been communication which flows from the fact that I seek out opportunities to communicate in everything I do & everywhere I go. The result has been a full spectrum of observations; with all the extreme viewpoints, hard realities & reassuring wonder of the human condition as my guide. This acute awareness of all that we are, all we are capable of — good as well as  bad — & all we can be to each other is ultimately why I blog.

I’ve been expressing myself online hither & thither for nearly 15 years but not til six months ago was I able to start this blog &, not until this one, was I able to maintain one. Determination & circumstance finally somewhat in sync, an ongoing effort became possible which is why it was time to leave free forums behind. Having established that I’m here simply in the hope of creating a dialog & that I’m no expert in anything, merely an observer of everything, leaves the question; “Why am I willing to pay for a presence online amidst continued poverty?”

The potential answers — Is it ego, am I insane or desperate for friends?! — are why my Twitter story prompted me to tell my blog story. Although I impart much of myself in every post, I’ve yet to actually introduce myself. *flashback to 8th-grade cheerleading* “Dorian,” “Yeah,” “Introduce yourself,” “YEAH,” “Introduce Yourself,” “RIGHT ON, my name is DORIAN!” (flashback dedicated to Tony Northrip whose merciless teasing is why I still remember the degrading chant) As this is an introduction, before you draw any conclusions, allow me to point out cheerleading was the only way to be excused from P.E.

Biographically speaking, in six months I turn 40 & I’m proud of my upcoming milestone. Ever young at heart, I can thoroughly enjoy an age with which my life experience is not so incongruous. My life journey thus far has been one of heath problems, money issues & the mandatory family dysfunction. It has, however, been punctuated by irrefutable hope, miraculous comebacks & unconditional love. I met Rhodester 19 years ago & a relationship of some longevity is training ground enough but I’d already run a bit of a gamut before meeting him. He caught up with me during our first few years of marriage.

I had father issues & had been raped [more than once], fortunately unrelated, was an alcoholic with other addictions as well, very related, a runaway that couldn’t stay away, for love of my mum, & a Unitarian who’d come to believe the Trinity while still questioning Religion. “May you live in interesting times” proved both my curse & my wish; I felt trapped in small-town, middle-class mediocrity & found my escape to be ‘thinking interesting thoughts’ instead. My vices have finally mellowed, even I seem to have along the way, yet not only am I still addicted to interesting thoughts but thinking them isn’t enough; they must be shared.

That’s where you come in. I want to listen & consider, as much as offer contemplation. It’s with the understanding that we have an inevitable impact in every moment of every day that I want even the simplest ones to count. From the difference we can make with a smile to the apathy we contribute to with inaction, our ripples are being felt. In seeking to create good ripples, it just makes sense that it’s equally good — if not better — to impact other ripples along the way. Thus, I seem to inexplicably be offering advice & you don’t really know me; why should you care what I have to say & who do I think I am anyway??

That’s just it, I don’t think I’m any different from any of you. I believe that what affects one of us effects us all, whether we’re aware of it or not, & that we all share shortcomings alongside infinite potential. I hated that word growing up as much because I’d heard it too many times as it coming off oxymoronic. It’s typically used in reference to someone else’s expectation, at worst, or a specific goal, at marginal best, but would be far more encouraging were it to be left appropriately open-ended. Never should we limit ourselves, nor should we forget the potential of unending possibilities & unexpected blessings we all offer each other.

LOL cat found via a tweet from Pete Cashmore of Mashable

While I feel I should promptly start pooping rainbows on that note, life experience & my personal dictate to doubt everything have always kept me a realist so my capacity for optimism is merely a balancing force. Part of my innate balance is an avid interest in almost everything which in no way qualifies me to have opinions about all of it but I do anyway. The next balancing force at work is that there’s little I haven’t come across thus I know there are no right or wrong answers. There is only truth & our individual experiences. So, I’m offering up my own varied thoughts in a way that hopefully makes sense & perhaps even helps, with the single goal of prompting more thought. Therefore, pour yourself another hot beverage & add to the brew..

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him
to find it in himself.”
~ Galileo Galilei ~

<– This is Sheryl or, at least, her current MySpace profile pic. Same difference, right? What?! There’s more to each of us than captured online!? I think I’ve captured myself rather well here at Drink Deeply, I’ll have you know! Of course, this hopefully decent but certainly accurate rendering of me becomes a more complete portrait with perusals of my online profiles; MYbebo, MY[old]blog, MYhelium, MYstumbles, MYtube, even MY[MSN]space each give different & additional perspectives but MYspace – despite all its flaws – does offer the next best peek. Thus, in proper appreciation for the site we all hate to love (or is that use?), may the cross-posting begin. Back we go then after our whirlwind tour of MYself.. Giving the excuse, “Tara tagged me, so here it is,” Sheryl has tagged MOI:

Here’s how you play. Once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a blog (*or a bulletin) with 10 weird, random things, facts, habits or goals about yourself. At the end, you choose 10 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them to be tagged. Don’t forget to leave each one a comment (“You’re It!”) asking them to read your blog/bulletin. You can’t tag the person who tagged you. Since you can’t tag me back, let me know when you’ve posted your blog/bulletin so I can see your answers.

Sheryl, you rule-breaker, why? I must know why you tagged me. *hands on hips* I expect to find out when you comment on this post. *wags finger* You WILL comment on this post; I know where you live your MySpace is. Besides, I’m about to think up write out ten random things – that are supposed to be weird to boot – for YOU.

1. I’ve had a headache for over 20 years. Yes, the same one, constantly.
2. One pain has a root cause. The only time I ever slid home was playing softball indoors.
3. Most of my body is in pain all the time. Different areas flare without rhyme or reason.
4. Electrical shocks, sudden numbness & periodic tremors accompany the ongoing pain.
5. I used to read multiple books at once. Now I read one multiple times to get thru it.
6. I had to relearn swimming year after year. All I actually learned to do is float.
7. While caffeine has little effect, hot coffee relaxes me & can help me sleep.
8. Although I’ll only drink hot coffee black, I sweeten all tea & iced coffee.
9. I hate carrying a purse so oft just put my mobile, lip balm & money in pockets.
10. I desperately need my own computer again; not only do I greatly miss catching up on other blogs – not to mention staying more active on mine – but without this outlet available consistently, I am slowly but surely losing my mind.

Having previously posted “7 Weird or Random Facts,” this was harder than anticipated. However, don’t be discouraged from pondering some of your own weirdness; I would LOVE to see reciprocal lists or links to lists in the comments! Even if you don’t typically express yourself online, what better foray to make?! A safe, encouraging setting where you’re free to be frivolous.. Won’t you play with me? Unless you happen to have a spare laptop about, MacBook preferred , comments are a girl’s [next] best friend. Whatever my health proves to be challenged by, despite my knowledge that it’s not psychosomatic, the effect of the psyche on the soma canNOT be underestimated. Given the intensity of my struggle physically, my mental health is imperative. Whereas physical & mental health typically wax & wane in turn, with one perpetually on the wane, the other absolutely musn’t be stifled.

(|_|*cheers*|_|)

“I know what love feels like. That is one thing I have found. That is one thing that is much clearer because of fibromyalgia. Because once you experience real pain you recognize the vibration, the feeling of being healthy, happy and loved. If I’m not living from my heart, I get sick. I need to do things that feed my soul, like being with people I love, or playing my guitar, or listening to music.” ~ A. J. Langer

PS: With hopes pinned on your comments here & in true cross-posting fashion, I’ll be doing my tagging at MYspace.

There are any number of words starting with E, N, T & P — not all flattering — that could & may be offered up to describe me. The ones that together describe my personality though are Extraverted, iNtuitive (I’m not the one that cheated, ‘I’ was already taken by ‘Introverted’), Thinking & Perceiving. I first tested my personality with this approach over 20 years ago which either attests that I was a precocious teen or I’m getting a few years under my belt.. or both. Either way, the results were the same so — whatever that says about me — it bodes well for this online test.

The version I took two decades ago was far more in depth in its testing & results but this hugely simplified online counterpart gets kudos. I’ll try not to bore you with too many of the results it does offer for, should you find me enough of a curiosity, you may look for yourself.. On a slightly borg-like note; my “Primary Function” is apparently “Extraverted Intuition” & I do have a funny feeling that I’d like to share with EVERYone but that may just be the current lack of caffeine. *brewing* WHEW; my caffeine — er — blood‘s flowing again. **coffee for everyone**

As an ENTP, I’m termed an “Originator” — essentially for original thought — & I admittedly perceive that as quite a compliment; even more so, given some of the company I’m in:

Famous ENTPs
• Alexander the Great — king, military commander
• Alfred Hitchcock — filmmaker (The Birds)
• Lewis Carrol — author (Alice in Wonderland)
• Nikola Tesla — inventor, physicist, engineer
• Sir Walter Raleigh — writer, poet, explorer
• Walt Disney — filmmaker, entrepreneur

Fictional ENTPs
• Dr. Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown — Back to the Future
• Ed — Cowboy Bebop
• Q — James Bond
• Q — Star Trek: The Next Generation

Tesla, in particular, is happy-making in that I could hope for no better company & I’m thrilled he was included at all as he’s too seldom acknowledged. I’m awfully glad as well to have Ed’s company since there are few enough female ENTPs, especially to whom I can relate from the examples the site provided. You may have noticed, however, that I’m almost equally an ENFP so it would seem it’s as an “Advocate” that I’m doing this original thinking. Yes, 3% is marginal; as opposed to how Hillary’s New Hampshire win over Barack was reported. They even won the same number of delegates but I digress.

This balance of two personality types leaves my primary function unchanged; wherein “different possibilities are thought of, realizing that there is always another way of looking at things.” It’s my secondary function that then has to find balance between “knowing what I value & knowing how things work.” While my tertiary functions build on this same balance with a logical approach to feelings, my least dominant function is true of both my thinking & feeling halves (give or take a percentage or three). So, in either mode, I have “the ability to link present experiences to past experiences in search for a connection.”

Perhaps more telling is what I’m not. Between my two interwoven personality types, I have a personality comprised of six of the eight distinct functions of personality. My two seemingly absent functions juxtapose “living ‘in the moment’ & having a sense about the future.” This may well be because I actually do both which I recognize as rare & neither outweighs the other so as to cancel each other out test-wise. In practice though, they are symbiotic. I see life for what it could be while making the most of what it is. That ever-present awareness of what the future may hold frees me to enjoy every moment without concern for what has yet to pass.

What wise quote fits you?

Yes indeed, you see true strength can only be seen when a person has ‘fallen’. Only then can one tell how they will handle it. Just don’t make others fall so you can know who they really are. You, on the other hand, recover very quickly and don’t let people bring you down. You are your own, and you’re fine with that. Emotional issues are something you handle rather nicely.

Some schools of thought set you up to be so focused on the future that you’re harboring regret for the present. I can’t think of anything sadder. I am absolutely an advocate of positive thought & know first-hand how powerful it can be but it shouldn’t distract us from recognizing, simply put, what is. Some things just are & that’s okay; we don’t need to berate ourselves for them or try to be something we’re not, much less bypass an opportunity to accept something real for that’s where ultimate truth is planted. In regard to personality, surely my long-standing ENTPness shows that we do have traits inherently; it’s what we choose to nurture that makes us who we are. Thus, this is me; informed by my head but governed by my heart..

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.”
~ Helen Keller ~

It would seem there is a method to my madness. The order amongst chaos may be in the numbers for my favorite is three & this, my third blog, is the one finally providing me a home online. Then again, it may be that; the synchronicity of having a brick & mortar home at last. The wait implied therein & explained herein points to patience as wondrous things do seem to come to those who wait.

Whatever the reason, the timing brings it all together. Not only will this blog never be abandoned (tho’ my cold, sick fingers will periodically be pried off) but it turns out I’m not the only one who enjoys it! So, one form my ordered chaos is taking is that no sooner am I tagged then awards start arriving. Having always been one to welcome votes of confidence, what can I say but keep ‘em coming!?

Ever so cleverly, Nom de plume The Poetress has included a tag with my very first award. I cannot thank you enough, Michelle! Thus, my acceptance speech for being declared an Amazing Blogger is presented as
“7 Weird or Random Facts”:

• I require but don’t need coffee; it doesn’t keep me awake.
• I know much but remember little; making me my own fact checker.
• I have to be reminded of my own memories; which doesn’t always work.
• I’m first in my family to stay w/a 1st husband; but he’s also my 2nd.
• I’m ill but have no diagnosis; nor can I afford one anytime soon.
• I’m an alcoholic that drinks; moderation IS the family mantra.
• I’m a poet without poems; so have opted for prose.

Just when I thought I couldn’t be more proud or touched, especially in the head, “Omyword!” did Lisa say that? Turns out I make her smile, as does RhodesTer, & we both got some lovin’ to boot.. Truth be told, imparting love & inspiring smiles are my raison d’être. You guessed it, I’m a hugger & am feeling the virtual love so — to all you who keep coming back — “I’m gonna love [you], and squeeze [you] and call [you] George.”

Well, George, since I am feeling so loving & want to keep you smiling, I won’t be tagging today. However, I challenge (read as beg) you to leave a weird, random fact or seven in the comments. As for blogging credit going where credit is due, those of you reading this ARE spreadin’ the LOVE & helpin’ make the SMILES!!! Consider yourselves squeezed..

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“Sanity is a madness put to good use.”
~ George Santayana ~

Three blogs in, over a decade online & I’ve finally been tagged! I feel substantiated, thanx to *Sparky*.. Although relatively new to the blogosphere, her blog beautifully shares her; outwardly reflecting the inner beauty she quite clearly has. [Sadly, she has left blogging behind but made a positive impact while here.]

The rules are simple:

1. Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).
3. Pick your month of birth.
4. Highlight the traits that apply to you.
5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.
6. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve done it!

I was born in October; on the real, not observed, Columbus Day & still think it should’ve been a school holiday.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. [I'll drop whatever I'm doing, even sleep, if someone needs to talk.] Loves those who love them. [Love freely offered & only tempered as needed.] Loves to take things at the center. [Both getting at the heart of things & simply being centered.] Inner and physical beauty. [Is humility even an option anymore?] Lies but doesn’t pretend. [Have to admit I love that distinction.] Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. [There is nothing more important than people, including fur ones.] Always making friends. [see previous] Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. [According to RhodesTer anyhow.] Opinionated. [Damn straight.] Does not care what others think. [see previous] Emotional. Decisive. [The trick is to not feel more than think.] Strong clairvoyance. [Bypassing the claim of strength as mine's intuition not divination.] Loves to travel, the arts and literature. [What's not to love.] Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. [Balance is my most well-worn word.] Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children. [So long as they're not my own tho' I'll care for them as if they were.]

Here’s the tricky part: past the fun of being tagged, the time has come to tag.. Please take this hopeful tap on your virtual shoulder, my taggees, as an expression of affection. Not so different than a kiss from a loved one with a cold; a gift that keeps on giving.

• Jessica: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
• Jodie w/her Alter Ego
• Julie w/her Observations
• Leann w/A Day in the Life…
• Lisa saying OMYWORD!
• Lorie w/her Coffee & Books
• Lorna in Wonderland
• Maureen: her last comment
• MCF w/his Nexus
• PortlandBob: his last comment
• René of Live. Work. Dream.
• RhodesTer w/his Chronicles

Consider yourselves kissed.. I’ve included a few of my readers who don’t typically get to partake due to the lack of a blog so there are amended rules for you: Simply post your birth month with its highlighted traits as a comment. Feel free to tag within your comment as well but, rest assured, no doom will befall you if tags aren’t passed along.

JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislikes being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig up secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“What I admire in Columbus is not his having discovered a world but his having gone to search for it on the faith of an opinion.”
~ Turgot ~

Cats have doing things on their own terms down to a science. My little girl is named Shadow.. with good cause. Reaching down to pet her while passing by recently, I barely caught a flick of her tail as she dashed under the nearby table. As she is quite skittish & well deserving of her name (which she already had upon her rescue), this was not surprising nor could I take it personally. My route took me past the other side of said table & there she was; purrfectly poised in my path, awaiting my arrival. She meowed her request to now be pet — on her terms.

Whether it’s the choices we make moment to moment or the life-changing ones, Shadow reminds us to look for options that consider our needs. In doing so, we start to create our own happiness. What is happiness really but being in sync with ourselves. We feel good when things feel right & what feels better than being true to yourself? So, you may have learned all you really need to know in kindergarten or from Star Trek (okay, a lot of my life lessons have resonated on many an Enterprise) but I’m learning to be a more fulfilled human from my cats.

Of course, my tutelage would not be complete without knowing a bit more about them, such as:

• Cat Quotes — Several Hundred Quotes by Famous, anonymous, and other cat lovers.
• Cat Proverbs — Proverbs from around the world, as well as some unknown origin proverbs.
• Cat Sayings — Various Sayings from around the world.
• Cat Superstitions — Cat myths, superstitions from around the world.

An observation of cats quickly shows the most important lesson to be learned from them is to live life to its fullest. After all, “He [or she] who lives without folly isn’t so wise as [s/]he thinks.” (François de La Rochefoucauld)

Now then, while appearance is not crucial & should never take priority, it absolutely affects how we feel & are perceived. Cats, & other animals, certainly put their wiles to effective use.

Speaking of those other animals, not to mention cuteness, I’m also a dog lover from way back & readily admit they have lessons to teach as well. Loyalty is far from the least of these & by far their forté. The link above is offered to keep the love-fest fair but never forget, “A dog is a dog, a bird is a bird, and a cat is a person.” (Mugsy Peabody)

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“Beware of people who dislike cats.”
~ Irish proverb ~

By far speedier in participating than I in reporting, Lorna took the time in oh so timely a manner to share her various “Three Things” per my previous post. *hat tipped* Sheryl, too, took part & she is equally thanked. I simply cannot share hers so easily as it’s on HerSpace, which is set to private. Alas, only those who know her or traipse off to MySpace to ‘friend’ her can know more than the “Three Things [she] love[s]“:

1:    animals
2:    travel
3:    reading

Other than “Three ways to describe [her] personality,” that is..

|_|) “To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” ~ Jim Valvano

VOILA: Julie, of Observations From the Roof of a Building, has shared herself in threes; thank YOU, shadowfoxwriter!

PS: This space reserved in hopes of yet more future partaking with which to update this update. You’ll have noticed there’s no tagging so just take part as the fancy strikes you.. E-mail me if you do!?

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