It is said that the best movies of the year are released in December, to top off all other movies of the previous eleven months. Well the same can be said of books. I had the privilege to read and write a review before the official release of The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey.

In today's gloomy world beset by a beleaguered economy, one is uplifted through the dark clouds to the radiant sun by the ordinary. Deborah Barnes is an extra-ordinary person, well almost. She's not a Nobel winning scientist, a war hero, or a reality-series celebrity. Deb is a divorced mother of two sons, in her fifties, who like many of us, lost her job but unlike many, she fought her way back thanks to the lessons of her furry children-- her two, three, seven cats!

She is like many unknown, unsung heroes, everyday people,  who clawed her way back to the top.  By leveraging her knowledge, her hard work ethic and an inner strength, Deb regained steady footing and reached her long-ago dream--becoming an author.  What I admire most about Deb is that during her darkest moments, she did not despair, thanks to her cats.  In this rough economy, some pet owners first relinquish their pets, anything to lessen a financial burden. Deb Barnes instead watched and learned from her cats, pets that were content with a little food and affection. Their world was complete and happy.

This is a valuable lesson that we can learn from others less fortunate and that we should give what we need.

Deb inspires me. In reading her book, The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey, I felt we were kindred spirits. Committed cat ladies with a greater cause--to overturn the misperceptions of cats through education. Deb accomplished this with her book. But it's the journey to her goal that makes her a heroine in my eyes. I love stories of ordinary people who are really extraordinary.

This holiday season and New Year, if you're looking for a good book to read, one that combines real life challenges and uplifting humor and hope with a happy ending, then here it is! Thank you for supporting a budding author!

Merry Christmas & Happy, Blessed New Year
Christine

Christine and Johnny Walker

Creativity, fun, camaraderie, sweet treats--those spell out my favorite holiday--Halloween!

Yes how I love dressing in costume and not be myself. This time the opposite happened. I exposed myself, took off my mask of Christine Michaels and showed my true colors, my inner essence and unleashed the animal in me.

Ok so much buildup when you probably guessed my not-so-secret secret. I was Sexy Cat Lady the honorary title bestowed on me by the neighborhood. So if you guessed Cat Woman--you were heading in wrong direction--she was one of the villains in the Batman series. I'm a heroine--or hope to be!

At my office, I went solo and used the occasion to elevate, celebrate and educate the ignorant about the beauty, grace and intelligence of Black Cats. Yes my goal is to turn around the misperceptions of the black cat. So I furiously worked on creating posters of stunning black cats to cover and grace my wall and cubicle "windows". For effect--I brought Johnny Walker, a foster black cat. Was he scared? Of course not! Johnny welcomes humans greeting him like a king. He behaved well and walked around with his striking diamond collar and leash. For the rest of the day he napped on his cat bed under my desk and woke up a few times to ensure I was working diligently (guess who's the new boss?) and turned around for a different sleeping position.

The good news is that more and more retailers are NOT making "scary black cat" fixtures, decor as America is learning that black cats and dogs are the least adopted and the most euthanized. Halloween hurts their image and chances for a furrever home. We still have a long way to go.

Black cats are graceful, elegant and intelligent!

Poster 1

Poster 2

Poster 3

Desk display--diamond frame requesting donations. Video: myths about black cats, and book about Homer

Statue of Egyptian Goddess Bast--a Black female cat Adorned with encircle 5 diamonds (yes these are from my home)

Posters covering cubicle windows

Signed photo of Christopher Coppola and Biker Cat

Gypsy--one of the cat models that strutted down catwalk of Black Cat Gala

My new vanity license plate!

Homer is famous black BLIND cat from Miami Now resides in NYC. Survived 9/11 after 3 days without food

Christine Cat Lady with Calex, the Matador!

It's my birthday!  So what celebratory fanfare marked this special day? Well today the weather was atypical and intermittent rain showers kept me indoors--a welcoming change. Often on the run, juggling three jobs and a semblance of a social life, I decided to stay in and just do nothing. Breakfast in bed, feet up (could use a foot massage), reading birthday emails and answering birthday phone calls absorbed my morning and early afternoon.  Aah, to be remembered and feel loved. Too bad there aren't more days celebrating a single person.

So October 9, 2011 was a day of relaxation, reflection and gratitude.  Gazing through my glass doors and beyond my balcony, the city of Miami lay there before me.  What an incredible view.

My view The dome is the new Miami Marlins stadium, the highway is I-95 and inbetween is the Miami River

Today I give thanks for my health, my job, my family and friends and the ability to balance it all. I also gave thanks for the opportunity to give. Does that sound silly? My volunteer work for helping homeless cats (and dogs) has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I knew this was the beginning of new stage in my life.

Then I begin to reflect on goals for the coming year. Or am I suppose to do that on New Year's Eve?
Doesn't matter.  I'm in charge of my life! (The advantage of being single). So I made a big decision at the unmemorable age of 43. While it's not cemented and I'm in the research phase, I've decided to create a 501c3 nonprofit organization, to expand on my efforts in raising awareness of the plight of homeless cats and reverse the trend.

There are several wonderful nonprofit organizations focused on rescuing cats and dogs from the streets and from euthanasia at the overcrowded shelter and conducting TNR (trap-neuter-return). We are at war and a small army of dedicated volunteers are in the trenches doing their part.

Something is missing. I recall the book Three Cups of Tea. In the US war against Afghanistan, author Greg Mortenson leads us to the powerful solution--education. After a mountain climbing accident in Pakistan, a group of villagers nurse him back to health. In his recovery he learns of the customs and challenges of the remote village.  The children, all the girls, have no education. They are forgotten. The young boys are targets for recruits of the Taliban.  Greg vows to return and build a school and he does. The village people are grateful and an average US resident becomes their hero. He becomes a change agent in the war against terrorism. Education was his weapon of choice.

In my daily routine and in speaking to strangers, the average person does not know about  the epidemic of homeless pets (approximately 400,00 in Miami Dade county), the number of low-cost clinics to spay/neuter pet and stray cats and dogs ($25), and how to recognize the universal sign of a sterilized cat. Imagine if  one in every five people did? What would that mean to half of the stray kittens that die every day under the age of 8 weeks. It would reverse the cruelty and suffering of strays and homeless animal population.

So I begin my homework of the endless legal paperwork to file, the fees (amounting to at least $2,000), and the list goes on. I begin a new stage in my life! Obstacles, more hard work, sweat, tears and joy, all await me.