Devil_May_Cry_3_-_Dante's_Awakening_Special_Edition (Photo credit: shinoyh)

We’re going to switch gears today and talk about another something I’m passionate about, Games. It’s a very little known fact – that unless you’ve gotten to know me (or have stolen a peek of my room) you’d NEVER guess I was a “Gamer Chick” from a first meeting. Unless of course the conversation earlier had taken a turn for such. One of my all-time favorite games has to be Devil May Cry.

First game had wonderful story, the writing at times could have used some more work, but overall you got the feel for most of the characters within the story – especially Dante. The sequel – we shall NOT speak its name! It was an utter travesty. From what I remember from the rumor mill, fellow Gamer Nerds included, the DMC – Flop was intended to be a Resident Evil game. Apparently – the project got halted in its tracks and so they SLAPPED DMC skins on it and called it good.  Only it was TERRIBLE and many fans cried and “Nerd-Ragged”. Which accounts for lack of story among other things. DMC3 – Not too bad, you can call me a whiner or whatever – but I wasn’t a fan of how “hard” they made the game. I do like to ENJOY my games – not get frustrated and a headache from it. Granted – I don’t want it too easy either. But all the Fanboys cried about how the previous games were “Too easy” and so that’s how DMC3 came to be (least the story was MUCH better this time). Then you had DMC4with the same level of toughness from what I understand (Haven’t gotten to play it yet – have the game but no PS3 and no Xbox360 *le sigh*).

So now I’m hearing news they want to REBOOT the DMC franchise and I’m going – wait, what?! Many fans are doing the same thing along with shaking their heads (in some cases fists – among other objects). Some are even getting angry what with the screenshots we’ve seen so far of game-play AND the NEW Dante going so far as to write in “Death Threats” to the company developing it. Yes; you did read that correctly. I did say “Death Threats“. Now I don’t want to sound like a purest but we’ve all become accustomed to certain things about the DMC series. THAT’S what I’m not liking. The developers are kind of messing with everything we’ve come to know and love about the DMC series, including the ruggedly sexy and iconic white-haired, sarcastically, cheese-humored protagonist, Dante.

Now I can understand they want to play with the new “Platforms” and their gaming engines, I understand completely! Great idea! Really! I applaud that effort. But – this is a BIT over the top. I even read in an article they want to make DMC more like Bayonetta. Wait – hold the phone, I thought Bayonetta was trying to BE the NEW DMC?! Sure seems like a female sexy-librarian-esque Dante to me. But maybe that’s just me.

Image via Wikipedia

Okay, so let’s break this down of what’s wrong with this picture, at least in my eyes:

1. Changing Dante’s look – The new Dante – ye-ah, he looks like an angsty Emo to me. And if you were shooting for “Not pretty” – I think you hit the nail on the head with THAT one. It reminds me of that one commercial they did for the Kia – Soul.

Image via Wikipedia - This?

You can have this! —————–^

or you can have

Image via Wikipedia

That – which would you rather have? Honestly, I’ll take my good old Dante over this NEW guy.

2. Changing the Story/Rebooting the Series – Ye-ah, kind of sounds like a cheap cop-out to me. Did you guys just run out of ideas?! If that’s the case, I could have WAITED for an actually GOOD DMC game! Not this craptastic answer! Hell! I’d have been happy if you remade that dreadful thing you called a “sequel” to the first one if it was actually going to be GOOD this time.

3. Money/Marketing – Pretty sure this is just a “ploy” to continue making DMC a “Cash Cow” in the gaming industry. Just because it SAYS DMC doesn’t make it so. You can call a Tiger a Zebra – but at the end of the day, you’ll be cat food.

Image via Wikipedia

Will this change be good? I’ve no idea. So far though, I don’t like what I’m seeing OR hearing and I’d be lying if I said I was a “Peaches and Cream” about it all. Whatever happens, the one thing I hope Ninja Theory does – is give some credibility to its player base, the fans, us. In a way, DMC is just as much OUR baby as it is theirs now. While I can understand there are some pretty nasty fans out there giving them just as much grief  (more so than me, alright and much less nicer or polite than me) I just hope they listen and don’t try to rush and make something that will ultimately flop. While we as gamers WANT and Desire for something GOOD – GOOD doesn’t happen overnight. Good takes time and effort. Just because we DEMAND another great DMC doesn’t mean the next one WILL be. That will take pain-painstakingly delicate effort and creation. If you want an excellent product – sometimes you gotta wait a little longer for BEST results.

So let’s cut Ninja Theory some slack – not too much, we still want them to know we aren’t happy – but doing away with the “Death Threats” is a good place to start. Try writing a letter of maybe “why” you don’t like the new changes and what you’d maybe like to see them do instead. It’s worth a shot. You never know in this day in age. I know they’ll at least appreciate it.

As a final thought – I recently watched on of the game trailers for this DmC-R – I liked what I saw as far as game-play went at least, so the game-play is definitely DMC’s style (which brought SOME relief). Now if they can only get the rest right this could very well be a bad@$$ game.

Thanks for reading and we’ll get back to our “regular” topics of interest now.

Image via Wikipedia

~Blessings, good fortune, good luck and more be yours fellow Demon Slayers!

References/Resources:

An Open Letter to Capcom Regarding the Devil May Cry Reboot: No

G4 – The Feed – Devil May Cry Reboot Announced by Capcom

Gaming Blend – Devil May Cry Reboot Studio Received Death Threats

The Escapist Magazine -Ninja Theory Wants Devil May Cry Reboot to Compete with Bayonetta

Related articles

• Dante is Front and Center in New ‘Devil May Cry’ Screenshots (gamerant.com)
• Watching Dante’s World Get Torn Apart in DmC Gets Me All Excited [Video] (kotaku.com)
• New DmC: Devil May Cry trailer shows Dante beating down waves of demons (inquisitr.com)
• DMC’s Dante sequestered in a separate universe (joystiq.com)
• Devil May Cry (product-reviews.net)

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I know I’m not posting as often as I was back in 2011. Quite a bit has happened in my personal life regarding myself – and my family.  My mother had surgery within the last couple of weeks for stage 1 Breast Cancer. We had a Snow and Ice Storm we had to contend with here in NW-Washington. So its been a little crazy. I’m not going to speak too much about what I’m going through personally because – it’s sacred, personal, complicated and concerns some spiritual growth aspects about myself. Just know it’s been consuming a great deal of my time since I got back home here in Washington.

Image by xJason.Rogersx via Flickr

I have wanted to get back into the swing and write as often as I had before, maybe not everyday like last year – but perhaps every other day. I want to try to avoid burn-out again though with what happened with NaNoWriMo toward the end as I was trying to cram in ‘Updates’ about my progress, RP (which is another aspect of writing I enjoy to no end), and work on my novel. The novel isn’t finished but that’s why I was considering doing ‘Every other day’. If I do that – I can save the days I ‘Don’t’ update my blog with working on finishing up the novel. The NaNoWriMo site is going to be offering former participants special info up until a certain point and I want to try to make sure I take advantage of that information before it expires. THAT and I don’t want to forget a scene I’d like to possibly change to keep things interesting with the pacing.

The good news is I have about 15 Drafts sitting in my blogs database with rough outlines ready to be expanded upon. The bad news? Not all of it I can quite grasp how to write about just yet because either it will become too personal or I just don’t have enough info to write about the subject. I rather the information I require than write a poorly written topic that lacks ‘substance’. Substance and passion are two of my big key ingredients when I write. I gotta have both.

Image via Wikipedia

Which brings me to something that I often find to be a ‘struggle’ as someone who LOVES to write but wants to avoid the “Me, Me, Me” card while trying to keep up a slightly professional yet casual reader based blog. While I will admit – most of the emotional stuff you will read on my blog is going to be straight from the heart and most likely TRUE for my person, I don’t want to write, “Hey, I get sick of this because” and just turn it into a personal pity party. I’m not one for pity parties and I don’t ever mean to come off ‘sounding’ like it EVER. But there’s been a subject that’s been eating away at the back of my mind and was added today to my Drafts that I was (and still am) struggling with to put together into a cohesive state that doesn’t come off as, “This is so unfair! The world is cruel! You should feel bad for me! Who the heck can I send my personal B***h to!“, because while it IS sort of like that and I’d love more than anything to DO something about it – I’ve NO idea how to do anything about it. All I can think to do is ‘Write’. I feel like – if I at least write about it on a public scale – perhaps the people who it affects most will find it, read it and figure out a way to enact or do something about it. Which would be awesome. But I’m not holding my breath. All I do is pray that my words find the people it’s intended to and imparts what it is meant to.

So I’m hoping instead of THINKING about writing, like I have been, I’ll actually put those thoughts into action and get back into a regular swing of bringing back some interesting topics for discussion again. Which reminds me – I’ve got another Draft outline to write for another topic concerning the Spiritual and religious.

That’s all for now folks! Thank you for reading, positive thoughts and/or possibly prayers. My mother is recovering just fine.

~Love, light, blessings, good fortune and more be yours, Namaste~

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Now this wasn’t the topic I had in mind to follow-up behind the “Common Courtesy” rebuttal, but it works off of the idea regardless of what I desired to discuss initially in this latest topic. For those who weren’t aware – the weather has been rather difficult for some out here in the Northwest. My mother also had to go in for surgery this last Wednesday, which brings me to the beginnings of our topic – but first a story to start us off.

The people there supporting my mother through her surgery was myself and her best friend from many years ago. I got there a little late but just in time before they had administered her “Sleepy Juice” for the procedure. One of the nurses referred to my mother’s best friend as her “Partner” at least TWICE and I caught it both times, saying nothing for the time. Apparently my Mother’s friend also caught it and was just as put off as I was about how the nurse treated her (which was in fact, rude). When the surgery was over we did mention it to another nurse there, because we just weren’t sure at the start what to do on the situation so we had discussed it a bit first after the fact.

Now I’ve gotten this kind of thing before. People assumed my best friend, who is in fact a young man, was my husband and/or boyfriend/Beau. While yes – it might just be a safe “assumption” – that’s all it is – an assumption. And we all know what THOSE make us. Heck, I’m sure if one of my very close female friends and I hadn’t popped up one time together that “We’re Sisters!” the clerk would have thought we were Partners to! Now I’ve got nothing against people who are Bi, Gay, or whatever – I just don’t care for people assuming that JUST because it is a NEW age of sorts that it’s a “Fad” and “Everyone’s doing it!”. That’s where it REALLY makes an @$$ out of you and me or just flat-out you, because I won’t be the one turning red and feeling embarrassed as heck. Not unless I “assume” the same-sex clerk as you is YOUR Partner.

Image via Wikipedia

Now – I can’t say I’m completely “Guilt Free” of not making assumptions in the past – but when I did they were based on educated guesses of what my customers were looking for – not typically about them and their personal life. And yes – on the occasion I’ve made them about people to – but I usually wait and observe, much like Sherlock Holmes before I jump to a conclusion and risk personal and public humiliation. However, that doesn’t mean I’ve escaped the slings and arrows of public humiliation. I am FAR from perfect as much as anyone else.

Here’s a reminder though of what is still existent whether you agree or not:

*Women can still have “Girl-Friends”. Yes; I mean that as a Girl who is a “Friend” whether she is your best friend or acquaintance. We aren’t all Lesbians or Bi. Essentially, platonic love for another.

*Men can still have “Boy-Friends”. The old word for “Friend who is also a Man/Guy/Boy that you love like a brother”. Again, platonic love for another, not Romantic or Sexual.

*Women can still have “Boy-Friends” as in “Men who are loved in a Platonic way but are nothing more. Often thought of as brothers”.

*Men can still have “Girl-Friends” as in “Women who are loved in a Platonic way but are not considered either sexual partners or otherwise. May be thought of as ‘Sisters’.”

Image by Scarleth White via Flickr

The world hasn’t CHANGED that drastically overnight PEOPLE! Best not to assume that it has because big changes like this – happen little by little overtime. Sometimes with help it gains “Leaps and Bounds” but not always.

So – when you’re about to risk making an @$$ of yourself - what do you consider before opening your mouth? Or do you just chance it and go for the jugular? Those are rhetorical but feel free to answer them if you like. I think they might spark interesting lines of conversation.

Thanks for reading as always.

~Love, light, gratitude and more be yours, namaste~

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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 18 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

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This was a response to the old chain letter many of you may have seen known as “Common Sense“. I don’t see “Common Courtesy” get used much any more and I recently (June 28th 2009, so not that recent people. Just re-posting from my dA gallery) had a VERY rare account with “Common Courtesy” not too long ago – someone offered to pay for my coffee when the store was unsure they could process my large bill. It got sorted out eventually – but this person had such a profound impact upon my being that I felt something like this was needed. This is dedicated to her, that stranger that decided to offer their kindness to me when I was in need.

Also to add I’m not entirely sure how well I did rewriting this (like I don’t know if the “Bureaucratic red tape” comment really works or not), but the important thing is I did my best to try to convey the message I wanted people to get from this. Enjoy! Pst! Pst! This is leading up to a different topic I will be writing about soon! *Humm Humm*

C.M.A.: I did write this and it can be found on my dA gallery at NyghtshaydeEN!

Obituary for Common Courtesy

Today we mourn the passing of yet another beloved old Friend, “Common Courtesy”, who had been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old she was, since her birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. She is remembered as a great philosopher and teacher who helped us to cultivate such valuable lessons such as:

Opening a door for a stranger in need or not in need but purely out of kindness and respect for your fellow-man;
saying “Please”, “Thank you,” and “Excuse me”;
extending a helping hand when you see others in trouble or in need of something;
offering to shade someone from the rain or sun when you’re the only one with an umbrella;
saying, “Excuse me may I please get by” instead of expecting others to simply acknowledge you are there and to magically step out of your way.

Common Courtesy lived by simple, sound principles (give when you can but never put yourself in a place it could potentially hurt you) and reliable strategies (a little bit of kindness goes a long way).

Her health began to deteriorate rapidly when people no longer made their children do chores to help build character and spoiled them rotten, not wanting them to experience the harsh life they had to endure when they were young, allowing their children to be lazy and spend more of their time indoors playing video games and watching television allowing their young minds to rot and bodies to become bloated with obesity.

Her condition only worsened as she witnessed first hand people shoving their fellow-man out-of-the-way to get by without so much as a “Pardon me” or “I’m sorry”.

Common Courtesy lost ground when people all of a sudden “expected” they had the “right” to live and gave off the aura and notions that the world revolved around them and them alone and everyone should respect and cater to their needs.

It declined even further when she heard reports that in New York city at a Wal-Mart on November 28th, 2008 a man was trampled to death. When potential customers were asked to leave they refused because they wanted to get a good deal because it was Black Friday. They showed no remorse for their actions.

Common courtesy lost the will to live as churches no longer supported spiritual growth and development and betterment of the self; and people no longer understood what it meant to work hard for the things you want in life and should rightfully earn through blood, sweat, and tears. Common Courtesy took a beating when you had to kiss the ass or do questionable favors for those above you just to get a raise, a bonus, good grades, or move to a higher place in a company that you rightfully earned through respectable means.

Common Courtesy finally gave up the will to live, after people began pointing fingers at their fellow-man of all races, shapes, creeds, sizes, sex, religions, colors, political disposition, and jobs to find a scapegoat to distract them from their own flaws instead of working on becoming a better stronger nation, country, or people.

Common Courtesy is preceded in death by her Daughters, Kindness and Compassion, her husband, Humanity and her son Tolerance.

She is survived by her 4 stepson’s – who are removed:
I Know My Rights;
I Want It Now;
Someone Else Is To Blame;
I’m A Victim

Not many attended her funeral because so few realized she was gone. If you still remember her, take a moment out of your day for silence to say a prayer to remember the lessons she taught us and strive to carry on her legacy. Or join the majority and do nothing except carry on with your lives as they are.

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• Interesting Obituary – Courtesy – Shaji Mathews [Dhananjay Parkhe 'Jay'] (ecademy.com)

“To Live is a Blessing to Die is a Shame but to live without Love is to give up the Game.”

- Unknown, passed on to me by my 2nd teacher Thorn and I use it.

“What’s popular is not always right and what’s right is not always popular.”

-Albert Einstein

“We are here to love each other, serve each other, and uplift each other.”

-Yogi Tea

“Banish Hate * Invoke Love.”

-Azure Green Bumper Sticker

“The trials you now are facing
They are not greater than your will
For there is nothing under heaven
You cannot overcome

See the door that lies before you
And know this too shall pass
The confrontation of your fears
And strength drawn from the past
Where the silent voices whisper
Find the course that is your own
And however great the obstacle
You will never be alone

For I have watched the path of angels
And I have heard the heavens roar
There is strife within the tempest
But there is calm – in the eye of the storm…”

-Cruxshadows – Eye of the Storm

“Do not injustice to another
Defend the weak & innocent
May truth & honor always guide you
Let courage find a life within
Stand up when no one else is willing
Act not in hatred or in spite
Be to this world as a perfect knight
Even if it means your life… “

-Cruxshadows – Sophia

“Dry your eyes and quietly bear this pain with pride

For heaven shall remember the silent and the brave
And promise me they will never see, the fear within our eyes
(my eyes are closed)
We will give strength to those who still remainSo bury fear, for fate draws near
And hide the signs of pain
With noble acts, the bravest souls
Endure the heart's remains
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made"

-Cruxshadows - Winterborn (This Sacrifice)

"God helps those who help themselves"

-Ancient Greek Verse

"Heaven never helps the man who will not act."
 

-Sophocles

 
"The fact is that in order to do any thing in this world worth doing, we must not stand shivering on the bank thinking of the cold and the danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can."
 

-Sydney Smith

"There are three kinds of people in the world, the wills, the won'ts and the can'ts. The first accomplish everything; the second oppose everything; the third fail in everything."

-Eclectic Magazine

"Success does not consist in never making blunders, but in never making the same one the second time."

-H. W. Shaw

"It is with many enterprises as with striking fire; we do not meet with success except by reiterated efforts, and often at the instant when we despaired of success."

 -Francoise de Maintenon

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt."

-William Shakespeare

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."

 -Theodore Roosevelt

"He that is down needs fear no fall."

 -John Bunyan

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one."

-Elbert Hubbard

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way."

 -George Herman "Babe" Ruth

"Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them."  

-Washington Irving

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"

-Vincent van Gogh

"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat."

-Napoleon Bonaparte

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

"A Warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does."

-Peaceful Warrior - Socrates

"There is no starting or stopping - only doing."

-Peaceful Warrior - Socrates
That's all folks! Have a nice day!
~Love, light, blessings and more be yours, Namaste~
Reference (s):
Inspirational Quotes (http://www.inspirational-quotes.info)

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A Passing Glance by ~NyghtshaydeEN on deviantART

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As of late there are VERY few music artists that impress me anymore over here in America. I hate to come off harsh – but the only American artists I really like now – is Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. I miss the days when Queen was big to be honest. Freddy Mercury had stage Charisma up the Wazoo! His natural gift for music didn’t hurt either. When I’m cleaning I often listen to ‘Queen’ because Freddie’s voice makes the work seem less monotonous and fun! Freddie also makes me wonder – where has all the Charisma gone in our music industry? I hear a lot of ‘Rap’ these days on the radio and to be quite frank – I’m NOT a fan or impressed. There’s only certain ‘Rap’ I can tolerate or actually DO like and it’s few and far between (Cleopatra from like the early to mid-90s was a fave, like some of Cee Lo Green‘s stuff and so far I appreciated “The Way I Are” by Timbaland). I also get tired of going to a club and watching people dirty dance to said ‘Rap’. Now some might say, “So why bother going at all? Why ruin it for everyone else. Just stay home!“. Problem? I LOVE to dance! I like dancing with other people to – so long as they are enjoying themselves. I DON’T enjoy guys trying to cop a “Free-feel” just through a stupid “Dance” that lacks variety, soul, and creativity. I’m an Ecstatic Dancer and I mix a variety of moves in my style. So when I dance – there’s no room for that crap you call “Dirty Dancing“. If you want to know what real “good” dirty dancing is – watch the OLD Dirty Dancing not the new one.

As for Lady Gaga? I don’t really think she has the Charisma – but I know she has the love, passion, and creativity. Perhaps I’ll hear the Charisma in her work in time. But there’s no doubt overall she seems a decent human being trying to send out a positive message to the youths of all countries and nations and I can appreciate that about her. Perhaps you have to be at one of her concerts to really FEEL her Charisma? I don’t know – I can sure hear and feel Freddie’s Charisma in the “Queen’s Greatest Hits 2″. Who can say for sure. I haven’t the chance yet to go to a Lady Gaga concert – but I hope to one day. Just don’t have the money. I’m sure every fan also says this – but I hope to meet her in person someday as well. I feel like she’s the sister I should have had growing up! We would have been thick as thieves I think.

Image via Wikipedia

Reason why I am bringing music up though is that yesterday I was watching a video off the Kitty Blogger’s blog entitled, “Cute Kitten is Sad”. I heard the music in the background of the video and I said to myself, “Oh my Goddess! I need to find out who the artist is and the name of the song! It sounds like something up my alley! Why haven’t I heard them before?!”. After a careful listen 3-4 times I FINALLY managed to get enough for my search results to pull up Morandi – Colors. They are a Romanian Dance-pop group that were formed in 2004. There’s only been one other group I have heard that I like just as much as these guys and that’s O-Zone. Their Moldavian from what I understand. You might have heard of them through “Numa Numa Fat Guy” and other fan-made videos. The real song’s name though is Dragostea Din tei – but since no American knew how to properly pronounce that, it was promptly dubbed the “Numa Numa Song” and went completely “Viral” on the net.

Image via Wikipedia

As of late – the music to me that has the spirit, love, passion, and most heart? Is the music not even made in our country. It’s the music in other countries. I can tell you eight other (the two mentioned above included) musical groups or talents I have discovered thanks to Pandora or other sources that I love – that aren’t found in the U.S.A.:

E Nomine (German Duo with Choir)

Highland (Which is a Rap/New Wave sound and feel. It’s awesome! French combined with English Rap)

Oomph! (German group)

O-Zone (Moldavian)

Morandi (Romanian)

Tarkan (I believe he’s a Turkish Pop-singer)

Blackmore’s Night (They sing in English and have a Folk/New Wave sound, I believe. A personal favorite and I don’t believe they live in America)

MELL (Japanese Pop/Rock group. You might have heard their song, Red Fraction, if you ever watched Black Lagoon the anime)

Faderhead (A German Electronic group influenced by House/Trance/Techno/Pop)

Image via Wikipedia

Sure – you might not be able to understand the lyrics and I’ve heard some people argue, “Well you don’t know what they are saying! How do you know they aren’t singing F*ck you! and F*ck America?!” Uh – well hmm – I’ve never had a bad ear for good soulful music. I’ve also looked up rough translations of some of the songs to figure out WHY I enjoyed them with such vigor! The results? Usually positive and made of Awesome and WIN! So don’t knock it just because it’s not American Grade A musical talent.

Overall? I really just like my fast paced beats! I feel like I can let loose and literally lose myself in the music when I hear those beats thrumming through my body like an artificial pulse. I LOVE and THRIVE off that feeling! I can’t do that with Rap or with some guy trying his hardest to “Dirty Dance” with me. They cramp my style. Plus – how are you suppose to appreciate the way a woman dances – if you don’t give her the room to show off and knock your socks off? Hello! Can we say, you’re missing out? Seriously!

This concludes my musical “Grinds my Gears” segment (Much like Peter Griffin’s from Family Guy). I hope you enjoyed and will try broadening your musical horizons a bit in the future.

~Bright blessings, good fortune and more be yours, Namaste~

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Sorry folks! I know I took the “Post-a-Day” Challenge and I know I’ve been slacking horrendously with it this month. After NaNoWriMo it just took its toll on me and I figured I’d keep working on the novel…that didn’t happen either. Actually much of this month has been about introspection, reflection, and contemplation why you might ask? Because I wouldn’t call it a rut – but let’s just say I’m not where I’d like to be now with my life and I’m sure other people are feeling the same as I do now. I could definitely say I can see where I would have liked to have been – but fact of that matter is – still not there and not now. So that’s been getting to be a bit. Course I’ve tried to support a positive outlook. However even that has been faltering on me just a bit. While in this time period I can say I have learned and experienced a bit (I took a trip last week to Wake Forest, NC and very much so enjoyed myself), I know that it might just be a bit unwise for me to share everything with you all – so I’m going to share something that I can definitely understand far better now. For some it’s probably old news but for others they might not have realized this in the least which brings me to our topic title!

A friend once told me that Buddha taught (this is paraphrasing people) that if we want something then we shall always be suffering, for we shall continue to crave what we want until our desires are sated. So we suffer and the process is a vicious never-ending cycle of torment. I know I briefly mentioned the Wants vs. Needs thing back in another topic post I did, I believe, back in October (It had to do with prayer). I gave a similar example to this – Universe knows we have Wants and says, “Ye-ah I know you want stuff – but it’s not what need.” In the end the only things we truly need in life are Food, Water, air and maybe some human companionship. Overall these are the three basics for Living, Food, Water, and Air.

Image by bitzcelt via Flickr

The Wants we have are not limited in the least from having a good day to, “I sure hope I don’t get an angry customer at the end of the day,” also “I want that awesome new car I saw!” and “I want the latest game system!” the list goes on. So I’ve definitely become more fully aware of this and how much Humanity suffers from its Wants. Not so much because of personal suffering or anything – just that I’ve had the time to really see and feel things out. I think to myself, “Wow – We are real masochists!” because either we are suffering or we are the result of another’s suffering and we don’t stop to give it a second thought in the least! I feel that is sad and it’s definitely not how I live my life or desire to live my life.

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Given what time of the year it is – I truly wish the positive sentiments of this time of the year were practiced with much more fervor than they are all year-long, every day of every year. You shouldn’t need a “Good reason” to simply be respectful & courteous to others and practice “Random acts of Kindness and Senseless acts of beauty“. In my book – everyone deserves some level of “Common Courtesy” until they prove otherwise – and even then I strive to rise above my anger or frustration and try to change it to unconditional love, understanding, reason, and perhaps even tolerance – or I get the heck out of there and fast! Point is – I don’t see enough of our Humanity shining in our country much these days and that wounds me. I didn’t come from an upbringing where I had everything – but – in the time I did get to spend with my families they taught me these lessons that I consider very valuable even today (There is a positive way to manifest your desires and that’s in that earlier post I mentioned).

If we are going to live in this world together why not make it a bit easier on everyone and try to at LEAST make it tolerable for us all – why not practice some of what I mentioned above? Give it a chance. By doing so – you’d help make the world that much more positive, tolerable and maybe even a bit more loving. Maybe try this as your New Years Resolution and see if you can keep to this one.

Thanks for reading!

~Blessed Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays one and all. May you and yours be blessed in all yours ways. Namaste~

Related articles

• How do Buddhists believe that suffering can be (wiki.answers.com)
• Why Do We Suffer? (alwayswellwithin.com)

Gabriel - with my brother

I have grown up with cats since I was a wee baby. Cats have been a BIG part of my life (animals in general always have been) and I love them. I’ve been called the “Cat Whisperer” a few times in my life as well. Some people think Cats are selfish, annoying, sometimes arrogant, persnickety among other things and this is often why people choose dogs over cats. But every animal has a VERY distinctly different personality and I guarantee anyone – if they took the time to look – could find the Cat right for them. No; this isn’t one of those, “Please adopt cats because I love them and you should have one because they are great blah blah blah,” rants. No; this is about the amazing things my cats have taught me and what I admire about them personally.

Why is it my title is “Happiness is a – Cat?” because cats usually tend to be pretty chill about “Life” in general (unless they absolutely hate strangers and someone comes over to make them FREAK OUT).  Cats also aren’t lazy creatures in the least. Their heart’s beat faster than a human beings so of course they get tired pretty easily from play or frolicking outside/inside. So what else is there for me to love and admire about my cat? That fact that every time I hear the sound, “Puurrr PURRR purrr PURR”. That sound alone makes my heart simply swell. When you pet a cat they can’t help the fact they purr. It’s a natural instinct that they have no control over. It just happens.

My cat Amadan and his mother Cammy

Cats are animals that live in “The Moment“. They aren’t living in the past or the future. They are constantly creatures of the present and whatever experience they are having NOW that they enjoy, they let you know with that wonderful sound! Now I did used to work at a Shelter for Cats (I plan to volunteer my time there again this month). While the shelter does receive cats from time to time that are skittish or afraid of people – it just means they need to be shown not all humans are out to get them – much like people. If you get put down enough – you’ll start to believe that perhaps everyone is out to foil your plans.

Loki - named so for good reason

My Cats Amadan and Loki are very sweet and often love to be close to me – even if they aren’t on my lap. While sometimes they can get in my way when I’m working on something on the computer or otherwise and it bugs me – I put up with it. Why? Because that’s the power of true “Unconditional love“. Cats are part of my equation of giving and receiving in “Unconditional Love“. When you find your match they give to you in kind and they hope to receive in kind from you “Unconditionally”. That is why often Cats just amaze me. Doesn’t matter, at times, how good or bad their life has been – when they give us their love and affection – they give it “unconditionally”. I love them for that. That is how my cats are some of my constant source of “Happiness” and “Unconditional Love“. They remind me constantly how living “In the Moment” can be grand vs. worrying over the past or the future and that giving love “Unconditionally” can feel so good when given and receiving. Maybe we can’t understand their language but sometimes I feel they understand ours better than we think they do. That goes for all animals mind you!

Thank you for reading!

~Blessings, good fortune and more be yours, Namaste~