If you love the whimsical and magical side of life, I highly recommend Jean-Pierre Jeunete’s latest movie, “Mic Mac” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GzK7F2LodQ. You may remember him as the Director for “Amelie” which is another one of my favorite French films.

It’s good for our souls to dive into an hour or two of make believe every now and again so that when we come up for air in the “real” world we’re ready with our inflatable deflatable hearts. Even though it has been raining pretty steadily in Austin for the past three days (vestiges of Hurricane Alex of which we are thankful for the moisture…) after seeing the Mic Mac at work, I was looking for leprechauns and faeries running behind the green trees, bushes and doing somersaults all along the rolling lawns on our way home instead of wondering if I might begin to sprout mushrooms on my person.

I was even able to take the Paul-dog for a walk around the block in sandals that aren’t made for walking without slipping or my ankle giving out once. Now that is magic people! That just-after-the-rain scent in the air was full of fragrances from flowers to cedar to citrus. And I do believe that the frog kingdom has taken over the Cicada kingdom at least for this evening. You could hear their happy chirping everywhere.

I’ve been feeling very hopeful today without any formal reason that I can point to or land on. In fact, I read an article this morning by an editor of the New York Times about his premise that we’re in a “third depression” and still, I am full of optimism. It’s as if collectively we are all turning some kind of a huge corner. I’d rather put my energy towards that rather than the alternative.

As I sit here typing this, I’m surrounded by 175 pounds of wet but happy dogs. I think if I let them, they would both be curled up in my lap quite happily. I want to be more like my Aussie, who wakes up every morning in a terrific mood ready to go herd 1000 head of cattle or drive our Labrador bonkers–whichever is most accessible. Today he was full of piss and vinegar after being cooped up inside for the past couple of days and came tearing into the house from the outside with his tail end tucked underneath him running pel mel through the kitchen. He scampered up to Reality (the Lab) and nipped at her playfully and took off running. She let him have it after about three rounds of this but everything ended peacefully.

Mic Mac paddy wack give a dog a bone, this ole lady’s finally home!!