Cat Clips---And Tipi Makes Three

Today's episode of "Cat Clips" features the introduction of a new member to the cast--Tipi. To watch the video, please click on the photo above. In today's installment, "And Tipi Makes Three," a new addition arrives in the house, with some very interesting aspirations.

NOTE: Winners of the latest "Henson's Hell" contest will be announced on Friday. Good luck!

Bringing Blogging to the Next Generation

Over the Christmas holiday vacation, I had the opportunity to introduce my niece and nephew to the wonderful world of blogging. And it wasn’t even my idea. One afternoon, we happened to be talking about the videos I was making, and I showed them a few on YouTube, which eventually led me to showing them my blog. Of course, my Nephew (who is eight) really loved the use of the word “H-E-double-hockey-sticks” in the title of the blog. (His father, however, did not.) Nevertheless, I explained to them how I could write about anything I wanted and put it on the web, and people would actually read it. (A feat, I must admit, I’m still pretty amazed by.)

When it was time for dinner, we all went to the dining room to eat and I thought that would be the end of it. But during the meal, my Nephew kept steering the topic of conversation around to my videos, or the blog, or what I liked to write about. Finally, in the middle of dessert, he blurted out a question that took me entirely by surprise.

“Uncle Henson, how did you get such a great personality?”

You can imagine how my heart melted. Everyone at the table let out a collective gasp and giggle. It was such an innocent question, phrased so perfectly, that I was quite taken aback. (Partly because I wasn’t really sure how to answer it, and partly because I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I didn’t want to come across like a blubbering idiot.)

“I think my mother and father had a lot to do with it,” I answered simply.

The next day, my Nephew begged me to help him create his own blog. And shortly after that, my Niece decided that a blog was something she would like to learn how to do as well. So I helped them set up their blogging accounts on Blogger, and then they sort of took it from there, anxiously pointing and clicking to select their titles, colors, design, etc. At some point, I was called away to watch something on TV, and they were left on their own to post whatever they wanted.

When I came back an hour later, they were trying to figure out how to add links to some of my videos. Apparently each of them had decided they wanted to post one of the “Bird Bits” on their blog. (Honestly, I did not prompt this or even think to suggest it.) My Nephew liked the “Skate Birds” episode, and my Niece favored the “Scavenger Hunt” video. (Again, I was touched by the fact they even wanted to include me on their blogs at all. It certainly wasn’t a requirement when creating one.)

Next, my Nephew asked me help him write something, as he wasn’t really sure how to start. He was very interested in giving his critiques on some movies he’d seen, as well as several video games he’d played. So, as I sat at the typewriter and his sister sat behind me, he dictated to me his review of some new Alan Quartermain movie that apparently “sucked big time.” I tried to make helpful suggestions and keep his story focused, but mostly the words came from him. (Okay, there were a few Hensonisms that I threw in, which had the three of us laughing so hard, I think tears were running out of all our eyes. It was absolutely the best time I’d ever had with them, and I felt like it bonded it us in a way we’d never been before.)

In fact, the rest of the writing session was filled with so much laughter and giggling, that several other members of the family stopped by just to see what all the ruckus was about. I felt like I was in my element in the “teacher” role and I treasured every minute of it. The rest of the vacation, the Niece and Nephew were obsessed with adding more pictures, videos and critiques to their blogs, and I became their resource for valuable information about how to create links, add pictures, etc. It was a role I was happy to play.

But that’s just me. Has a family member or relative ever asked you to help them create a blog of their own?

Dog Days--Obedience School

Today I kick off a new series of videos called "Dog Days," which will feature many different types of dogs. The first episode, entitled "Obedience School," Bailey's mother gives her some pointers before her first day of obedience school. To watch the video, please click on the photo above.

A New Year, A New Contest

Many of you may recall the first contest I held back in August to honor the achievement of over 110,000 views on YouTube. At the time, I think I had about 135 subscribers and maybe 30 friends (who are also subscribers, but supposedly at a more intimate level). Now it is January, and my views are currently at 207,000, with 281 subscribers and 73 friends. Which means, it's time for another contest.

But first, I'd like to congratulate Debbie Lane of Wisdom Hynosis (pictured, above) for winning a special extra prize in the last contest. There were actually five winners of the last contest, and each person was given a special "Want a Quickie?" t-shirt from the wizardofwit website, as well as a special collection of buttons. For those five people, a second opportunity was also given to win a special prize. All they had to do was photograph themselves in a public place wearing the t-shirt, and the most original photo would win special recognition in an upcoming episode of "Cat Clips." Well, as you can see from the photo above, Debbie fullfilled the requirement and took a great photo in front of a local park sign. (She looks sort of like Vanna White here, right?) So sometime in the near future, look for Debbie's website to be featured in a new "Cat Clips" video.

Now on to the latest contest: The prize is a little different this time, and there will be three winners. Each winner will not only receive a wizardofwit t-shirt, but also their very own copy of the Cat Clips DVD, featuring 8 minutes of never-before-seen outtakes and behind-the-scenes schenanigans. To enter the contest, all you have to do is send an e-mail to feedback@wizardofwit.com. Please write "Contest" in the subject line, and include your name and e-mail address. The contest is open to everyone and ends on Sunday, January 11th. Winners will be announced the following week.

Good luck to everyone!

Cat Clips #35- New Years Surprise

Please click on the photo above to watch the latest "Cat Clips" episode, entitled "New Years Surprise." When the male cat suggests making their New Years resolutions, the female cat surprises him with a New Year's prediction instead.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! I hope this year's surprises are only happy ones!

Tense Times Make for a Testy Traveler

I love to travel….Let me rephrase that. I love exploring new and different destinations, but I do not enjoy the time and hassle it takes to get there. This past holiday vacation was like a case study in bad travel luck. Though I was excited to spending the holidays with family in the warm sun of Florida, I was somewhat hesitant when all the weather stations began predicting a huge snowstorm/blizzard about to hit New Jersey on the very day I was leaving---December 19th—which, if you recall, is also the anniversary of my father’s death.

So when I woke up that morning, I was already a little bummed. Trying to stay optimistic, I thought the light sprinkle of snow that began falling mid-morning was all we might get. Then the snow began falling much harder, with no end in sight. Roads were covered within an hour or so, and traffic was starting to slow down to a snail’s crawl. By noon, my flight had already been rescheduled from 3:15 to 6:30, so I didn’t leave for the airport until around four. (Technically, I’m only about fifteen miles east of Newark, so it usually only takes about a half hour to get there.) Unfortunately, with the heavy falling snow and dangerous road conditions, traffic halted to a standstill on numerous occasions. There were also road closings, detours and overly cautious drivers that prevented me from getting to the carpark until 5:45. Naturally, I was in a panic that I might miss my flight.

The driver from the parking lot dropped me off at the airport at 6, only to discover long lines of people trying to reschedule their bookings, as there were a hundred or so flights that had already been cancelled throughout the day. Luckily, mine was not one of them, though the departure time had now changed from 6:30 to 7. Which would have been fine if the “express line” for checking baggage was actually moving. Instead, all the counters were packed with people trying to have something else taken care of, and the line literally did not move for fifteen or twenty minutes.

Finally, some bright soul decided it might be good to check in everyone who was taking the 7:00 flight to Tampa, and I was finally moving forward. Once my bags were checked, I went through the security checkpoint, which was practically empty due to all the cancelled flights. However, this also gave the rather bored employees ample opportunity to search the bags of the few passengers that did have flights. Which brings me to my biggest pet peeve about airline travel these days---the ridiculousness of what is allowed and what isn’t.

For instance, did you know that Snow Globes are no longer allowed to be carried onto a plane? I didn’t. Otherwise, I never would have considered bringing aboard a beautiful set of wine stoppers with tiny snow globes on the top. It was to be a Christmas present for a Wine Enthusiast I know, as each snow globe had a beautiful sculpture of a silver animal inside it. When I was told by the security personnel that I was not allowed to bring the wine stoppers, I assumed it was because they might look like a weapon---as the stopper portion was shaped like a point. But when I discovered it was because of the snow globes on top, I became irate.

The security guard (a woman) apologized for the “inconvenience,” and suggested maybe I’d want to check another bag and put the wine stoppers inside it. (Apparently snow globes are okay to pack in your suitcase, but not to carry on the plane. Lord only knows what might happen if one of them should crack open, scattering all the artificial snow and miniature dioramas throughout the flight deck. It was certainly cause for worry, don’t you think?)

When I told the security guard I didn’t have another bag (except my backpack), she informed me of several gift shops in the mall area where I could purchase one. (Not to mention the cost for checking an additional bag.) When I began protesting the silliness of the policy, she then suggested maybe I’d like to try the UPS service at one of the local hotels. Honestly. What was I supposed to do? Get out of line, grab a cab to the nearest Hyatt, and try to get a package out, when my plane was supposed to leave at any minute?

Without a feasible option, I had to give the present up, which presumably went to one of the security guard’s families, as I’m sure they take in quite a load of stuff over the holiday season. I noticed other people were also prevented from bringing various items on board, mostly due to the liquid level of their seemingly innocent gifts. And while I appreciate all the concern over our safety in these times of terrorism and unrest, I think that somebody needs to rethink what might be considered treacherous. Remember when you weren’t even given a plastic knife on a plane for fear you might stab someone with the serrated edge? Better yet, remember when you were actually given food on a plane?

My flight didn’t get out until after nine that night, but not before we sat on the runway for an hour as they de-iced the exterior and wings for travel. I didn’t get to my final destination until one in the morning. Not exactly a great way to start my vacation, but at least I was finally where I was supposed to be.

Given the current state of the economy, I think my leisure travel will be cut down in the next year to places I can actually drive to. At least if I am the one behind the wheel, I’ll feel like I have a say in where I’m going and how long it will take. And better still, I will allow snow globes to be carried into the car, regardless of how dangerous or amusing they might be to my fellow passengers.

But that’s just me. Did you have any hassle with travel over your holiday vacation?

Cat Clips--Christmas Present

Please click on the photo above to watch the third episode in the special three-part Cat Clips Holiday mini-series called "Christmas Present." In this episode, the female cat finally gets to see her Christmas present.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!!!!