Waking up from their siesta....

"Where are my little kitties?", that's how I call for them when I return home. "Where are they?", I want to know.
Silently, and out of nowhere, Augustus appears, his fur a bit ruffled from his siesta. He gives me the hello look.
Up the stairs, the 3rd-floor resident, fluffy and golden, looks down at me.
Ooohhh- someone needs to wake up.
Ollie!
We appear outdoors immediately,
and scope the surroundings.
Stretch...look....
Augustus seats himself in his plant to listen to the birds.
Yawn, waking up!
Naughtiness commences...cat boys make faces at each other and stick their tongues out. I think my work is done.

I did not read with them on this particular afternoon sensing that they were not about to get into the learning mode. Instead I myself read this:

"...It is in the context of raising the level of human capacity through the expansion of knowledge at all levels that the economic issues facing humankind need to be addressed. As the experience of recent decades has demonstrated, material benefits and endeavors cannot be regarded as ends in themselves. Their value consists not only in providing for humanity's basic needs in housing, food, health care, and the like, but in extending the reach of human abilities. The most important role that economic efforts must play in development lies, therefore, in equipping people and institutions with the means through which they can achieve the real purpose of development: that is, laying foundations for a new social order that can cultivate the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness.

The challenge to economic thinking is to accept unambiguously this purpose of development -- and its own role in fostering creation of the means to achieve it. Only in this way can economics and the related sciences free themselves from the undertow of the materialistic preoccupations that now distract them, and fulfill their potential as tools vital to achieving human well-being in the full sense of the term. Nowhere is the need for a rigorous dialogue between the work of science and the insights of religion more apparent." (Prosperity of Humankind)

Although they did not participate in the reading still the cat boys made big afternoon kisses, filled their paws with them, and blew them in the air for you. They send you their love and greetings.

Cheers!

Just so you know...

the cat boys do not forget their friends, nor do they stop missing their Sylvester who is far far away. They wanted to send extra special kisses for everyone.

For this reason dudes took me out early this morning and asked me to snap a few shots of them here and there.
I was fascinated by the tree branches, which looked like an abstract painting against the canvas of the early morning sky- actually, I was trying to see what patterns I could come up with but cat boys were impatient.


Augustus on the patio wall, standing tall and practicing yoga poses to prepare for his reading.

Ollie was preparing for the reflection time by sniffing grass and gazing in the near field.


We read:

"The journeys in the path of Love have been counted as four: From the creatures to the True One. From the True One to the creatures. From the creatures to the creatures. From the True to the True One.

Consider how you are the first in relation to your son, and the last in relation to your father; how, outwardly, you bear evidence of the inward mysteries which, as a divine gift, are deposited within you. Consequently, being the first, the last, the manifest, the hidden, becomes true of you in the sense (of the four classes of worlds), so that in these four grades bestowed upon you, you may comprehend the grades of the Divine, and that the nightingale of the heart may call out on all the branches of the rose garden of Existence, both invisible an visible, in this melody: "Verily, He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden!"

These sayings are mentioned in connection with the grades of the "worlds of relation"; otherwise, these men who have with one step traverse the worlds of relation and dependence, have taken their seat on the blissful carpet of abstraction, and pitched their tents in the world of independence and command, have consumed all these relations with a single flame, and obliterated all these words with a mere moisture. They swim in the sea of spirit, and roam in the sacred atmosphere of light. How then can words have any identity in this stage, so that any grades of the "First" or the "Last," or any other besides these, be distinguished? In this stage the "First" is identical with the "Last," and the "Last is the same as the "First."" (Seven Valleys and Four Valleys)

Refreshed and content, the cat boys filled their paws with juicy cat kisses and blew them in the air with best wishes for your new week.

Hasta Pronto chicas and chicos!

Rolling into the weekend, already the second week in 2011

Dear Friends, This is Ollie last night, belly full of tuna, he lays on the ground and thinks of good things!

The night was short and a warm January morning had the cat boys all excited. I took the dudes to the so-called back yard, the little feline romping field, Ollie hops around in the moist, cool grass and plays pretend games.
Gussy wonders what his brother is up to.
Soon they engage in a little game wherein I naturally participate.
"Who is behind that wall?", Ollie wants to know.
"Who is behind this wall?", Augustus wants to know.
Ha ha...I caught the little Gusser peeking...
and here is Ollie, paw in mid-air!
Later, Augustus goes on to do his rounds and I have the Ginger cat with me, place him on a high ledge that we have just installed. If I am going to read to Ollie, I better put him on a high ledge.
We read an old favorite of Augustus',

"Meditate on what the poet hath written: "Wonder not, if my Best-Beloved be closer to me than mine own self; wonder at this, that I, despite such nearness, should still be so far from Him."... Considering what God hath revealed, that "We are closer to man than his life-vein," the poet hath, in allusion to this verse, stated that, though the revelation of my Best-Beloved hath so permeated my being that He is closer to me than my life-vein, yet, notwithstanding my certitude of its reality and my recognition of my station, I am still so far removed from Him. By this he meaneth that his heart, which is the seat of the All-Merciful and the throne wherein abideth the splendor of His revelation, is forgetful of its Creator, hath strayed from His path, hath shut out itself from His glory, and is stained with the defilement of earthly desires.

It should be remembered in this connection that the one true God is in Himself exalted beyond and above proximity and remoteness. His reality transcendeth such limitations. His relationship to His creatures knoweth no degrees. That some are near and others are far is to be ascribed to the manifestations themselves.

That the heart is the throne, in which the Revelation of God the All-Merciful is centered, is attested by the holy utterances which We have formerly revealed.

Among them is this saying: "Earth and heaven cannot contain Me; what can alone contain Me is the heart of him that believeth in Me, and is faithful to My Cause." How often hath the human heart, which is the recipient of the light of God and the seat of the revelation of the All-Merciful, erred from Him Who is the Source of that light and the Well Spring of that revelation. It is the waywardness of the heart that removeth it far from God, and condemneth it to remoteness from Him. Those hearts, however, that are aware of His Presence, are close to Him, and are to be regarded as having drawn nigh unto His throne.

Consider, moreover, how frequently doth man become forgetful of his own self, whilst God remaineth, through His all-encompassing knowledge, aware of His creature, and continueth to shed upon him the manifest radiance of His glory. It is evident, therefore, that, in such circumstances, He is closer to him than his own self. He will, indeed, so remain for ever, for, whereas the one true God knoweth all things, perceiveth all things, and comprehendeth all things, mortal man is prone to err, and is ignorant of the mysteries that lie enfolded within him...." (Gleanings)

which he thoroughly enjoyed, and then he assumed the posture of reflection to let me know that he was trying to meditate upon that reading.

When I was leaving for work Ollie made his pawful of kisses and meowed you a happy Friday. Gustopher did the same later when I picked him up from his morning rounds.
Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Ciao!

Performing Arts...

Somedays our dudes talk and other days they prefer to express themselves with facial gestures. Here's Ollie winking at me, I am wondering what is he trying to tell me.

Now, I think he is pissed off that I did not understand him!
Now, he is making the sheepish face, I think he is telling me that he is a bunny!?!?

Augustus said that he could do better. He can stick out his tongue,
blow up his cheeks,
and make a crooked smile!
Well, I am so proud!

After much silliness we reflected on the following:

"Take heed lest excessive reading and too many acts of piety in the daytime and the night season make you vainglorious. Should a person but recite a single verse from the Holy Writings in a spirit of joy and radiance, this would be better for him that reciting wearily all the Scriptures of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Recite ye the verses of God in such measure that ye not be overtaken with fatigue or boredom. Burden not your souls as to cause exhaustion and weigh them down, but, rather endeavour to lighten them, that they may soar on the wings of revealed Verses unto the dawning place of His signs. This is conducive to nearer access unto God, were ye to comprehend."

That's all we needed to read...cat boys joyously dropped all reading, filled their paws with kisses and started blowing them in the air while prancing about. Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

Ciao!

At their beck and call...

When cat boys ask me to press their collars and bow ties, I don't say "whaaa?", I just do it. At their beck and call we are, happily.

Ollie going out to work. I hope he makes a lot of dineros because he has many expenses.

Augustus dressed up and ready for his pupils.

Afterwards he takes off his collar and stretches, something we all must learn to do.

I noticed that Auguste was reading in French today but suprised I am not. I will post the paragraph in English too as soon as Ollie translates it for me:

"Par les explications que nous avons déjà données, nous avons voulu montrer que la gloire, le bonheur, l'honneur et la paix de l'homme ne consistent pas dans ses richesses personnelles mais plutôt dans la sublimation de son âme, la noblesse de ses intentions, l'étendue de son éducation et dans la solution qu'il adopte devant les problèmes de la vie.

En vérité c'est dans les âmes des hommes que se trouve leur seule gloire."

Baha'u'llah : L'Art divin de vivre

Cat boys made pawfuls of kisses this morning and blew them in the air, I hope some landed on your faces.

A bientot!

PS-in case certain cats need to dress up, the bowties are from whiskerkisses, thank you Rebecca and Twiggy!

Translation:
"The happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning, and his ability to solve difficult problems."

The Spirit of Aloha...

This morning I was awakened way too early by a certain ginger cat who needed my attention; mildly confused, tired and irritated though I was my heart and mind were filled with the Spirit of Aloha. I actually think that I heard Ollie meow Aloha to me but I may have been dreaming too.

So I gathered up the cat boys to read the poem by Kumu Pilahi Paki (1952), a poem which describes the meaning of Aloha. Literally Alo means face to face and Ha means the divine spirit. So when you say Aloha you embrace each other in the shadow of divine spirit, a joyful sharing of life energy, a mutual respect and regard for affection with no expectation for return.

The catboys who are well introduced into the spiritual sciences immediately assumed the Aloha posture waiting for someone to cross their path so they could give them an Aloha hug. Looking one way
and the other searching for someone to hug, no one to find

they had to go find someone,
perhaps hide behind a pot and jump out for a surprise aloha hug!

I said dudes, "maybe you can show your friends how one does an Aloha", and no moments wasted I saw an Aloha kiss.

Ollie who was amused by this game ran indoors to do a sneak aloha attack.


Here's what we read....

Akahai E Na Hawai`i

Kindness, express it with a feeling of tenderness.

Lokahi A Kulike

Unity, express it with a feeling of harmony.

Olu`Olu Ka Manao

Agreeable, express it with a feeling of pleasantness.

Ha`Aha`A Kou Kulana

Humility, express it with a feeling for modesty.

Ahonui A Lankila

Patience, apply it with perseverence.

Cat boys joyfully filled their paws with aloha kisses and blew them in the air for you!

Aloha!

First week of 2011

we pretend that it is winter and here's the proof below but not really. The days are getting longer and our earth is tingling from within feeling springlike inside.

Much to my contentment I find Augustus all dressed up and ready to go to work with me on this first Monday of 2011.
Ollie on the other hand...well, take a look, he is passed out on the bed from too much playing last night. He wants to know if he could take the day off if
he shows us some of his cute parts...his puffy pants,
his puffy paws. I gave in. He can stay in and play.
Gussy selected this for reading and reflection:

"A drop of the billowing ocean of His endless mercy hath adorned all creation with the ornament of existence, and a breath wafted from His peerless Paradise hath invested all beings with the robe of His sanctity and glory. A sprinkling from the unfathomed deep of His sovereign and all-pervasive Will hath, out of utter nothingness, called into being a creation which is infinite in its range and deathless in its duration. The wonders of His bounty can never cease, and the stream of His merciful grace can never be arrested. The process of His creation hath had no beginning, and can have no end." (Gleanings)

Cat babes send you pawfuls of kitty kisses and best wishes as you start your first week of 2011!

Ciao everyone!