‘The die is cast’ were the fateful words spoken by Julius Caesar as he crossed the Rubicon — the singular act that would set in motion the eventual overthrow, downfall and destruction of the Roman republic, the repercussions of which are still felt today.
After a truly dismal beginning of the week, England finally warmed up again — just in time, too! The competition closed last Monday, and I really didn’t want it to drag on another week. I woke up on Sunday morning to be greeted by lovely, spring sunshine; it was TIME! Time to get Eric out of the box. I quickly ran downstairs and let Eric out of the rather cosy box that had been his home for the last week. Isn’t there a phrase about cats being out of boxes? Bags?
There was a bounce in his step. His face was upturned, absorbing the sun’s warm rays. He prowled around randomly, ping-ponging like Brownian motion and sniffing his surroundings, re-attuning his sense of smell and touch.
‘Today is a good day to choose a winner, Sebastian.’ I looked at Eric, shocked that he’d developed the ability to talk while caged up in his temporary, cardboard prison. The last week of solitude had obviously been quite a journey.
‘Indeed it is, Eric. Indeed it is.’
If you can’t see the following video, you’ll have to view it on my blog. The winner is shown at the end of the video. Later today I will post substantiating and ratifying proof that Eric did indeed choose the winner fairly, and justly.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LRG8bu8tUU[/youtube]I’m aware that the video’s pretty rough around the edges, but I only spent an hour filming and hacking it together! Thanks to everyone for taking part, a warm thank you to Eric for being such a good sport and congratulations to the winner!
shuping
May 4, 2009
Eric is such a darling! He has the loveliest eyes despite his inability to see.
What a fun competition. At one point, I thought Eric was about to urinate on one of the slips that were on the grass patch.
Ambles
May 4, 2009
This is the longest effing video of my life!
And yes, you are allowed to swear…
floreta
May 4, 2009
LOL this was hysterical!!!
i love that you got your whole family involved..
and i love that Eric is partaking in performance art.
incredibly silly and ridiculous!!
but cute.
Teresa
May 4, 2009
I want that kitty. Congrats to the lucky winner!
Hannah
May 4, 2009
WooHoo! congrats to the winner
I heart Eric. He’s adorable.
Abi
May 4, 2009
Some classic moments there. I especially enjoyed the urging of Eric to walk into something which later cuts to a desperate plea to “NOT THE POOL”.
The suppressed laughter of assembled family is also good. And I now know what you sound like!.
jen - tsk
May 4, 2009
Lol…soooo funny! I could hear your desperation!! I also think I’m going to cat-nap Eric!! He’s so cute!! Congrats to the winner!!
Amy
May 4, 2009
That was ridiculously cute. And your accent (I have a major thing for good British accents) made the length of the video entirely worth it. Um yum yum
sebastian
May 4, 2009
Aw, come on… 4 1/2 minutes is hardly ‘long’ when you consider the time you spend watching shitty American TV, or English commercial TV. 4 1/2 minutes of comedy GOLD!
I’m glad you all enjoyed it. I’m sad he didn’t actually sit down on a piece of damn paper. After all the time we spent together, training him to sit… (‘Sit, Eric. Stop. Sit. ERIC… Sit.’)
I guess this just lays to rest the idea that cats can be anything like dogs…
Hezabelle
May 4, 2009
Hahaha! I LOVE YOU ERIC!!!!!!
I have to say, in keeping with the theme… Veni, Vidi, Vici!
YAY!!!!!!!!! I never win anything! That was awesome!!!!
Marmalady
May 4, 2009
i told you to smear my paper with marmalade!!
am sure eric would have chosen it in seconds!!
*still planning to kidnap eric*
Eric
May 4, 2009
I think I could withstand the Planet Earth accent. You’d have to say everything with baited breath though, I think.
Chown Town
May 4, 2009
There may have been a fatal flaw in your plan all along…didn’t you say early on in the video that Eric is ALSO deaf?
And I loved that Eric just ran out of the circle as soon as his paws touched the ground!
I cried with laughter SO much!
sebastian
May 4, 2009
I was just kidding about the deaf bit
I would never have attempted this if he was also deaf… cripples should be left alone! I think I was still laughing the third time through…
Attenborough, Eric, Sir David Attenborough, my idol! I spent most of my school drama classes impersonating him — I’m pretty good at it. I’ll do it again soon, just for you.
Chown Town
May 4, 2009
I know – otherwise the cat sounds wouldn’t have worked! That was great as well – he’d hear the ‘miaow’, excitedly pad towards it and then it would start coming from somewhere else and he’d just stop, deflated and confused, then head off again!
I love The Attenborough.
Rini
May 4, 2009
I could definitely stand to watch a few more Eric films…. I still think you should bring him to the Meet Up.
sebastian
May 4, 2009
I’m not sure if Handbag Cats are allowed through customs? Not to mention, that’s still an incredibly American thing… taking pets wherever you go…
I have a lovely story to tell about my sister’s miaowing, and his following of it… I’ll get working on that now.
cari
May 4, 2009
oh man. this was…. priceless. just priceless.
Sarah
May 4, 2009
hahahaha definitely silly, definitely hilarious. good job, eric. good job.
the girl in stiletto
May 4, 2009
eric & his own mine. muahahaha. i’m sure he could smell “sexy” on hezabelle’s name
congrats hezabelle! and seb, dont be so mean to that poor eric.
kidding! i know you snuggle with him at night and wake up together in the morning.
ngah ha ha.
the girl in stiletto
May 4, 2009
i mean to say: his own mind. sorry typo. gloomy day makes me drowsy. @,@
Renee
May 4, 2009
If Eric walked just to the right I would have won… sigh. Ah well.
Congrats Hezabell!
Sarcastically Bitter
May 4, 2009
LOL that was too funny and amusing!
Lindsay
May 4, 2009
Hilarious. I want my cat (Miss Ponita Kitty) and blind Eric to mate and have perfect kitty babies…
I was really hoping at the end I would hear you say my name. Not as a winner, just in general.
Nom nom nom.
sebastian
May 4, 2009
Miss Ponita Kitty…?
Eric is asking me for pics, of the cute mistress.
We don’t say Lindsay very exciting over here — just ‘Lindsee’… but if that does it for you, I’ll see what can be done.
Jossie Posie
May 5, 2009
I loved that everyone got involved and the bit with you telling your dad that he was fucking it up made me laugh out loud…if possible you sound even better when cursing. Congrats to the winner
sebastian
May 5, 2009
I was sure I was going to cut that segment out, but it went so well with the frustration I was feeling… so I just had to leave it in. The whole pool bit was far funnier than I thought it would be, too.
And my level of excitement at the end… *grins* Oops… breathless and all…
If only there’d been a camera on me, I could’ve cut in some shots of me too. Next time…
pinkjellybaby
May 5, 2009
I’m a little weirded out that from your general excitedness and breathlessness in that video… I possibly have a fair idea of how sex sounds with you….
sebastian
May 5, 2009
I’m actually a really quiet breather — like, I always marvel at how loud everyone ELSE sounds when they breathe. It was heavily amplified in that movie, for whatever reason — the camera was right in front of my mouth, I guess.
eleni
May 9, 2009
Okay, so I confess that I didn’t watch that video in its entirety or with sound before; I was at work, so I read the post and then decided I’d get back to the video then promptly forgot about it, until now. “I said that a bit lustfully.” Hahaha, a bit. I’m blushing.