Day 5

and Junior (and Grizoulis) still gone. Today I talked to some construction workers nearby to check the building in case animals are trapped inside...The guilt is starting to built up. I can't help to think that had I not taken in Aristos making him the third dog, and not punishing Klelia enough for chasing Junior, he would not have gone...
I am hoping he will be waiting for me tonight...

My baby is gone

My baby cat Junior, is gone since last wednesday night. He never left for that long. I found Junior in early June 05, about two months old, outside my home at the time, in Nea Filothei. His left eye was covered with a thick white layer of something, not sure what it was. He was hardly moving and very small for his age.
I immediately took him to the vet, and he took good care of him, but told me that this cat was not going to make it. But we tried, gave him the medications, had him in a self-made incubator-type box that I created out of a thick moving box placed ontop of a heater for about a month. Every day for two months I was afraid that I would come home and find his tiny little body frozen.
But he wasnt. He and Zizou became best friends. Junior grew up to be a very tall grey tabby, his eye was clean after a year that I had to put ointment on it twice a day but never totally healed. His left eye kept running so he needed some eye drops, but that was it.
In March 2007, just a couple of days before I left for Argentina, Junior stopped eating. Again, rushed him to the doctor and his sugar lever had gone sky high, close to 700 (normal level for cats is about 150)....The vet was my friend and kept him in his clinic for eleven days, treated him and Junior was back to life again.
Since that time, Junior had no problems, medical checks but he was fine. His eye would run but that was it
A healthy lively gorgeous cat. He was the ruler of the neighborhood. Grizoulis, the only bigger cat around, I knew him when he was born, he was raised in my porch but never let me touch him and take him to the vet. However Grizoulis and Junior became best friends and they would sleep very often in their little houses in the terrace looking at each other.
Since Wednesday, both Junior and Grizoulis was gone. Both gorgeous cats.
Junior was one of the tenderest cats I have known, he would purr just by recognizing my shadow and he would be just like cats should be. Tender yet autonomous, walking around yet coming home every night, afraid of people yet extremely protective of his mummy and home. At times I would walk the dogs to the park and he would shadow us, coming with us but afraid of the other dogs just kept to himself on a tree nearby overlooking the dog play in the park
He was not a people cat, but he loved me. He understood I saved his life. I dont think he appreciated so many other cats and dogs in the house, that's why he spent most of his time in the great outdoors. I was always worried about that, but then again, that is what a cat nature is: to hunt outside. His life was five star in terms of cat standards. His presence was always so aristocratic and discreet you could not tell he was in..well, only when he was hungry he could make sure he got noticed.
I am devastated that my gorgeous baby is gone missing. I can only imagine the worst..Tomorrow will be the fifth morning that he is missing...I can only think that I gave him five more years than what fate had stored for him. I can only hope that he did not suffer has he met with his end.
My only consolation would be if he understood how much loved he has been

Scientists say dolphins should be treated as 'non-human persons' - Times Online

Scientists say dolphins should be treated as 'non-human persons' - Times Online

Christmas is here again

Only yesterday I have realized that Chrismas is round the corner. I am not a big fan of holiday fever, I hate the traffic and the crowds and the spending and the hype only to get the downturn of when that is over and receive the credit card bill. I love the lights though. All cities look better and neighborhoods look happier.
Yet, the same problems that haunted each family exist hidden under those lights- sometimes magnified. But we put our best dress and smile on and pretend to forget them. For a short while
I also like playing cards this time of the year. The problem is since I don't play any other time during the year, I usually lose as I am out of practice haha, but still it is fun
What really saddens me around holidays, especially Xmas and New Year that everybody gets high on festivities - especially when kids are involved - is the contrast between those who can celebrate and those who are much less fortunate. I can not really celebrate when I am thinking of all those orphan children or abandoned old people in greek institutions, or those who have lost the loved ones in war.
It is really impossible for me to celebrate and I end up being gloomier than any other time of the year.
My favorite christmas song describes how I feel

Bazaar 2009

This year the annual bazaar for our SOS ADESPOTA VRILISSION (SOS Vrilissia strays) organization was held last weekend. Not as successful as previous ones as the weather was quite cold, people have less money and everyone is throwing a bazaar...

Like every year I brought my pets, three this time with Aristos, but was not able to go inside as dogs were not allowed - a senior member of the town hall would not let us. They made us pay for the space but would not allow the dogs in. In a bazaar of a humane society for dogs!!!

Anyways, because I am against any discrimination especially that targeted to animals or weak parties, I only entered the bazaar space very briefly and was sitting outside with my babies and chatting to other people coming with or without their pets.

I did enjoy myself but the cold would not allow me to stay for a long time

My dogs were very well behaved and everyone was playing with them

Aristos

A couple of months ago, I got a call in the middle of the night by Anna, a friend of mine asking me if I could go up to Pendeli and rescue from the rain and cold a little dog who was thrown out of a car in the darkness and cold.
I went up there and found this white fluffy all dirty fella who despite his fear waived his tail and me and gave me a lovely dog smile (you know when they are relaxed and breath freely with tongue out; it looks as if they smile)
In the beginning I felt overwhelmed for the third dog that entered my house. Two months later, I can not stop feeling devastated that I found such a good home for him that I have to let him go. His new dad is a network engineer but also a sailor and Aristos will be taking sailing trips along with Goofy the other dog of the new family
Aristos, I named him after Aristotle, had a haircut and did not feel shy like other dogs do, his hairdresser was in love with him, his vet was in love with him, Zizou and Klelia are in love with him, I am in love with him, even Patty and Junior get along with him.
Everybody who sees him tells me that I can not give this dog away, I am eaten away by guilt and by the fact that I feel that I am giving away a family member, but I am convinced that at the end it will be better for the dog. I am away too long, I have now with Aristos five pets and I am afraid that I am start not doing such a great job to each individual one. I think more focused attention is better.
Still, I have the new owner swear to me that he will bringing him on Sundays to the park near my house so that all the kids can play and whenever he goes away and he needs someone to look after him, that he will bring him over.
I have dealt with a lot of dogs over the last five years. None will ever reach the personality quality of Zizou but noone has ever reached that close like Aristos.
Not to mention that he is one of the prettiest dogs I have ever seen.
It will be very hard for me to let him go but I hope that it will turn out to be to the benefit of the dog

Woody works

Last night, I went to see Woody's new comedy. I have not missed a Woody movie, and some I have seen like 20 times (definitely Annie Hall is one of those movies).
I must say, that I have probably enjoyed this movie more than any other of Woody movies because I could not stop laughing. Also, when I first watched Annie Hall and Manhattan, I was much younger and could not really get all strength of the punchlines the first time round.
Whatever rocks is amazing. I dont want to spill the beans and destroy it for you by narrating the plot, but I must say, that Woody is back!!! Finally- After the last few years of mediocracy compared to his unbelievable genius (with the exception of the role of Maria Tereza that Penelope Cruz gave us last year) hungry Woody's fans got something that was worth waiting.
The movie is filmed again in New York - where they should have a statue of the guy somewhere in a prominent place - the characters are split into categories.
Of course he touches upon his favorite subject - religion and ridicules it, only this time the victim is Catholicism and not Judaism. He also of course explores the power and hypocricies of relationships and how they can turn someone's life around, for the better or the worse and eventually it will set them free. His genius rests not only in punchlines, an unbelievable script and a sarcastic search for the ultimate truth, but also for the contrasts he represents between and within the protagonists. Before and after they let go and accept that life is all about finding whatever works to make us happy after we got rid of all the societal must and should and would and take it as it comes. I adored the scene with the 5th symphony when the mother of Melody enters the room. I think that's when my first tears came out haha
I have to tell you that there were times that I had tears in my eyes from the laughter and the whole theater was shaking.
I will definitely see this one another 19 times. At least

Time and purpose

Time, or rather the lack of, is probably the most common denominator in any large urban center. Especially in western cultures, although I am sure pedestrians in Tokyo walk as fast as newyorkers.
Time as a concept is cruel. It ages us, it gives us stress, it is found in the roots of most evil dids. That very stress though, caused mainly by the lack of time, it is one of the most necessary evil components of self-worth. Idleness and lazyness is fantastic for the annual two-week holiday, but on a daily basis is probably the most certain path to depression.
It is our busy schedule, our lack of time, the need to have more than 24 hours in a day, that actually gives us worth. Slightly more important than what we actually accomplish. By being busy and thus feeling important we find purpose in life. Whatever the outcome
Think about that for a sec and tell me if I am wrong

November is here

Actually mid-november, a month or so since my later posting. In the meantime, we had elections, we had a historic win of PASOK, the first positive signs of the new government, my brother's sudden surgery, the opening of Fastrack, the rushing of my aunt at the hospital and her near-death experiences, the saving of Aristo the Griffon, and many other things that I will slowly comment on, given time constraints
In the meantime, enjoy one of my all time favorite songs that I heard again recently and once more made me bow to the genius of the man who created it.

Morrissey - Meat is Murder

live in NY 2000. Sent by Manos



Meat Is Murder lyrics

Heifer whines could be human cries
Closer comes the screaming knife
This beautiful creature must die
This beautiful creature must die
A death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER
And the flesh you so fancifully fry
Is not succulent, tasty or kind
It's death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER
And the calf that you carve with a smile
Is MURDER
And the turkey you festively slice
Is MURDER
Do you know how animals die ?
Kitchen aromas aren't very homely
It's not "comforting", cheery or kind
It's sizzling blood and the unholy stench
Of MURDER
It's not "natural", "normal" or kind
The flesh you so fancifully fry
The meat in your mouth
As you savour the flavour
Of MURDER
NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
Oh ... and who hears when animals cry?