If a blog falls in the woods to go into a persistent vegetative state for 6 months and no one reads the blog, does it make a sound? Well, I reckon it does. It goes something like this, “Mooooo! Have a fruity moo shake. Now get off yo’ ass.” Maybe I should apologize to my remaining readers for a prolonged hiatus that included ignoring comments and e-mail, but what would be the point if I’m not as sorry as I should be? Maybe I should explain the reasons why I skedaddled off, but I’ll only briefly mention three that don’t involve alien abduction or getting hit by a bus. I haven’t felt “right as rain” for a long time, as if I’ve been starring in my own personal version of Groundhog Day. I came back to save this blog and address a question by a blogger. The question and answer are located at the end of this long post. Welcome me back? 
First, permit me to introduce my new feline muse. Meet the frisky creature named Bad Cat or B Cat for short. Yes, it’s rather mundane to name a cat… Cat, but I didn’t name him that. He’s not really Bad, unless you consider chasing wild bunnies, getting stuck at the top of a tree with no idea how to get down, pouncing on anything that moves, and digging small holes in the flower garden as wicked. 
Unlike Max, he’d rather be outside. He’s very friendly, playful, and too stupid curious for his own good.
For y’all missing Max, photos of Max getting in touch with his fruity Buddha nature. And strawberries! Click on a thumbnail image below to enlarge photo:
And the SECOND REASON why I scrammed? I didn’t like what my blog had become. Long before I’d read about search engine optimization (SEO), Google PageRank (PR), blog monetization and popularity contests, I used to enjoy… blogging. Strip away all the fruitless acts of shameless self-promotion and what do you have? A smack load of sycophantic link whoring. So, I’m going right back to the beginning. Not the bang, not the word, the true beginning. And now, we move on to the sycophantic link whoring portion of this post! 
(Oh come on… that warrants at least ONE chuckle?)
Ten necessary fruity shout-outs to folks who inadvertently inspired me to blog again:
- My sister, Dessert Queen: Here, I wrote something. Click the _____, please.
- My pal Evilgenius joked, “If I got a penny for every time you said you’d blog…”
- Billycoy, thinking that I flew out to the Philippines to attend the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards night, plurked “OMG, I’m gonna print her blog and make her sign it.”: All I can say to that is… thanks, but you’d need A LOT of toilet paper.
- Shari: Thanks for “personally vouching” for my nearly dead blog. So… touched.
- Fritz, a 2008 PBA finalist (Personal category) and #9 in Pinoy Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2008: Yo, just returning your shout-out to me. CONGRATS!
- Jehzeel: KUDOS on helping Batang Yagit to bag PBA Bloggers’ Choice Award!
- Mari: Writing “where the heck are you” in your blogroll certainly got my attention.
- Lil: I got the Pink Dalek from a pal who stole it from a Doctor Who (rules!) geek.
- Alternati: I remembered your quote from the film Before Sunrise (1995), “You know what drives me crazy? It’s all these people talking about how great technology is, and how it saves all this time. But, what good is saved time, if nobody uses it? If it just turns into more busy work. You never hear somebody say, “With the time I’ve saved by using my word processor, I’m gonna go to a Zen monastery and hang out”. I mean, you never hear that.” Ah, but do you remember this scene? Guy from bridge shouts, “I am the cow!”
THE THIRD REASON why I went on hiatus? Like Angelina Jolie, I’ve been studying to speak the French language. Unlike Angelina Jolie, I don’t own a house in France.
The most famous koan… In an attempt to understand the concept of Buddha nature, a monk asks the famous Zen master Joshu, “Does a dog have Buddha nature?” Joshu shouts, “Mu!” In Japanese, Mu has two meanings: 1) “is not”… and 2) the Absolute Mu which transcends “is” and “is not”. Joshu’s answer, therefore, isn’t: “No, Fido doesn’t have Buddha nature” OR “No, don’t ask a silly question” OR “Of course, Fido has Buddha nature!” A koan is not a riddle, but an exercise of the mind. It highlights the futility of the question itself and the meaningless nature of the answer.
I’m not a fan of Idina Menzel (a bit screechy), but I’ve always gotten a kick from her performance of the song “Over the Moon” from Rent (Broadway musical and movie) because it’s just so… over-the-top campy. Watch this YouTube video (5:42 min.):
EH, LET’S WRAP IT UP! OK, we arrive at SHOUT-OUT #10 and the answer to THE QUESTION. Ann asked, “By the way, are you really going to stop blogging? 
”
My response to that question is… “Mu!” Oh, you saw it coming from miles away? Thanks for continuing to “MOO!” with me. Oh, the tiny dog in the photos? My Level 1 French teacher gave it to me for being the TOP DOG in class (I got highest grade).
Cats, dog, cow… Stinks like a zoo in here. (I’m tweaking my blog. A bit messed up.)
I bid you… au revoir mes amis,
fruity
P.S. I forgot to mention that my inactive blog was nominated for Bloggers’ Choice Award and Best Personal Blog category (only in an insane world) in the recently concluded 2008 Philippine Blog Awards. I didn’t bother writing about it because I didn’t want to encourage people to vote for me. Despite my lack of enthusiasm, I am grateful to whomever is responsible for those nominations. Thanks for waking up my cat. 
Filipino. Canadian. Aquarius. Cinéaste. Foodie. Pineapple. Dreaming through the noise. Her life and blurb are a work in progress.
I’ve temporarily come back and posted something pretty important.
@Valerie: Oh, you have another new kitty?! Cool. Pics!
Very cute kitty. Love the Max photos as well! I have a new rescue myself - a ginger little guy - named Thomas. I’ll post a photo of him soon.
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Iva: HAHA, I’ll write every 6 months! Well, you already commented on my latest post. I’ll be writing something new in a few days coz I promised a reader that I’d plug her newly published blogging book…
@Alex: Yo! By the way, thanks for linking me up.
I’ve added you to my blogroll page!
@Lexie: Yes, I’m “trying” to be back. BTW, I dropped by your blog recently… read your “Blog Action Day” post. The pictures are beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
I weep. I’m so thankful to my parents who chose to make a good life here in Canada.
@Jim: Hey, you’re the 1st to jump here and comment! That really means a lot to me.
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Jehzeel Laurente:
Link love, ALWAYS for my online blogger pals and repeat commenters!
@Christina: Hi! I’m still dropping by your blog, even though I’m not on Entrecard now. Sort of liberating, not being on Entrecard. Now I have time to read and comment on blogs, instead of wasting time trying to EC drop 300 times.
@Pusa: Yes, I’m really trying to be back. See, I wrote a new post!
@Nix: Sorry for the comments submission error.
I messed up my blog, but I think it’s fixed now… hopefully.
@Tina: Mu! Moo! My family treats the cats like they’re human, so the cats think they’re human, hehe.
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Miss Dré: Wow, thanks for lurking my dead blog! By “back”, I also mean “back on the blog hopping bandwagon”, so I’ll be dropping by more regularly to your corner of the blogosphere.
@Jude: Not bad, Sherlock Holmes.
Cheese, Gromit!
@Heather: According to my stats, you’ve commented 4 times on my blog, so I really appreciate that!
@Yoopean: Well, I wrote a new post and in 2-3 days, another one. Keeping the momentum.
@Scart: Thanks! I didn’t win at the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards, but I really appreciate the people responsible for the nominations. Woke me up from the dead.
@Fendi: Hey Fendy Bendy. I wrote a new post! I’m on a roll, hehe.
@Kaitlin: Now that I’m back, expect more regular visits from me to your blog from now on! If I consume a ton of fruit, maybe I’ll get my fruity mojo back?
@Zigfred: Thanks. I didn’t win @ the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards, but I’m very grateful to those who supported me. OK, I’ll check out your free e-book first…
@C5: Totally wide awake now. Well, trying…
@Mandy: The strawberries were at the peak of sweet perfection!
@Emma: Thanks for the greeting! Yup, I was busy but I’m back now. I just blogged again a few days ago about seeing up close 2 real props straight from the set of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight”. Nope, not a cat-related topic, hehe.
@Michelle: Thanks. You were true to your word about returning again since you commented on my Batman post. I value that kind of honesty and consistency.
@Ron: 1) Thanks for coming by! 2) Lots of people @ WordCamp Toronto 3) Hello, back at ya! 4) I made the Moo Shake. Lots of strawberries.
@Evilgenius: I wonder when I’ll blog about WordCamp Toronto 2008? Before WordCamp Toronto 2009?
@Pedro: Hi Horshack!
My blog is neither sentient nor a living organism, but it does have Cheese nature.
@Mari: I’M SOOOOO SORRY! I fucked up my blog. Fixed now, hopefully… I think. Thanks for dropping by!
@Sexy Mom: Wow, thanks for the welcome greeting!
@Ann: Yup, that song can induce cringing. I mentioned that Idina Menzel’s voice is screechy, but what I omitted to write (on purpose) is that her voice often grates on my nerves.
@Mitsuru: Hey Bill! I’ll be dropping by your blog more regularly now that I’m back.
@Tracey: Yo! Thanks! And I love your blog, too! Coz… kitty power rules!
@Victoria: Well, I used 1/3 pound of strawberries for 2 milkshakes. Damn goooood!
@Pedro: DONE: added your link to your previous 24 comments + my links page. ON To-DO LIST: add link to mentions of “Pedro” in old posts + make sidebar graphic someday. Tell me if you want “Pedro” name changed. Simple SQL search and replace.
@Zerovoltage: The Cat and I miss you. And your blog updates!
@Brandy: Hey Brandy! OMG, you used to be on LoveStoned.nu! Right? I thought you closed up shop! OK, I will visit your new domain now.
@Euri: Thanks for the warm cookie welcome! Mmmm.
That looks like a yummy milkshake!
They are one of my favourite drinks. That picture has made me want to have one now!
I had a revelation; actually, this might be the 3rd one or approx 3.14th revelation. If you have a posted entry and I have a posted entry and I have a link and my link reaches ACCCRROSSSSSSSSSSS the internet to your entry, then there will be blog… linkage?
What I propose is… I link your blog, I link it up… and you link me up?
You see, I completely failed to be alerted to the recent panic in our credit crunch economy and this… I must have this… I must have this… I’ve invested… my investments have… Oh fruity, I won’t bore you, but I… If I could grab a Fresca, I would.
OK, I’m finished… sorry was getting bored on a Friday of a long week.
P.S. Milkshake looks tasty by the way.
P.P.S. Joshu was more likely to shout, “Nihongo Wakarimasen.”
It’s been a while since I’ve been here. Your posts still make me hungry ha ha…
Missed Max the Fat Cat. I hope he and the bad cat get along.
That drink looks absolutely to die for!!
Welcome back. *ponders* Haven’t been around in so long.
Welcome back! *hands over a cookie*
LKHSOGIHSD:LIHGISDHIFOHSD!!!!
WP-SPAMFREE ATE MY MILE LONG COMMENT@!
You know this means a complain-y comment. I’m far too lazy for war. or capitalization.
Welcome back?
Mu~
lol
~
Again, I’m really glad you’re back.
And congrats on being ‘top dog’ in your French classes.
I really like Bad Cat’s name. But I’m the girl who names her pets by adding ‘-y’ (… crabby).
Over the Moon is the part I skip the most. I sometimes get a kick out of it too but most days, it just makes me cringe. :l
Welcome back blog err, Massa P! I’m looking forward to your posts. :0
It’s lovely to see you back - and I loved your cute kitty pictures.
Welcome back
Sounds like you have been busy. Your cats are so cute.
Well, this is my first time at your blog, but I’ll be back again.
Hey hey…
First of all, welcome back woohoo!! Second of all… was there a lot of people at WC Toronto?
Third, just wanted to say hi. And fourth, was the Moo Shake home-made? Lol…
A post! Finally!! I was going to increase “a penny” to “a dollar”. LOL!
About the short vid of Matt the WP guy, why don’t you put caption on it? Then people can “see” what he said… I know, more work for you. Moahaha.
Dear Mr. Kotter,
Does your blog have Buddha nature?
Nice Nam-Shub btw.
Finally!
Wellcumback!
/Kisses
Welcome back!!!
Those are lovely pictures. I love strawberries. I love eating ‘em, love the color. And that shake looks pretty delightful.
Seriously though, please say that you’re so done with hibernating.
Congrats for being nominated! Great blog. The strawberry shake look delicious too.
By the way Marghil Macuha and I have just launched our free new blogging e-book. You might want to help us promote it. Check it out here.
Wow! Finally you’re awake!
Welcome back!
I just noticed… Thanks for spotlighting one of my blogs!
Visit link.
Welcome Back!
Your kitties are adorable! And those strawberries look so yummy!
She’s alive! I really thought you’ve stopped blogging. I lurk your blog, you know, hoping that URL still works and you’ve somehow emerged from hibernation. Welcome back! (For good, I hope.)
Welcome back, Massa P! Oh. My. God. It took me a while to decipher this. FUN.
I remembered something from “Groundhog Day” movie. Phil (Bill Murray) learns to speak French and recites a poem to Rita. The poem is called “La bourrée du célibataire”. Translated in English: “The girl I will love / is like a fine wine / that gets a little better / every morning.”
Like fine wine, your blog gets better with age!
But like aged cheese, your long hiatuses STINK! LOL. Swear that it won’t be another 6 months?
Yer Pal,
Jude
Welcome back!
I absolutely adore your site, by the way. I’ll be better with the comments this go-around.
The feeling did last only for five minutes, apparently. It took you almost a month to write a new entry since you left a comment on my blog.
Congrats anyways. Hope this one lasts longer than five minutes.
That’s what I thought, I knew you’ll be back, I knew it hehehehehe.
Thanks for always supporting my blog. I really appreciate it and good luck for Bloggers’ Choice Award. Even if you really don’t want it, I know your blog deserves to be nominated.
Thanks for the link love fruityoaty! Welcome back! Yay!
Hi… welcome back! I have been here dropping semi-regularly. It is so good to read your voice. You have dropped on me many times. In fact, you were #6 in the list for September. While I have not been able to know you, you have been a constant for my blog.
You always have to do what is right for you. So I say “MU!” Have a great day!
Yehey! Welcome back, but u were never really gone. Hmmm, really back or we have to wait for another 6 mos. for the next post?
Very cute new cat you got there. Glad to see you back blogging again.
Something went wrong. I wrote a reply and it didn’t get sent. Anyway, now I get the dog named Mu. For a second there I thought you bought a dog. LOL.
It doesn’t matter that you were away for a long time. What matters is that you’re back!
I love the pictures. Max is cute and so is Bad Cat. I’m not that fond of cats, but I find some cats cute.
MU! MOO?
And your cats look adorable! I wish our cats were as friendly to humans as yours. Hee.
Welcome back.
First to comment… ha, p0wned!
I totally love your new feline muse. And I hope there won’t be six months until the next entry…
And the queen bee has awoken!
Welcome back!
OH YOU’RE BACK?!
Cat looks a lot like my… cat.
But Max still pwns. 
Welcome back sistah!
Well, no need to apologize — you’re baaaack!!!