Yes, that's right -- it's a mooing cat! All along I thought it was a cow, but my friend MoodIndigo1, who first made me aware of the emoticon, told me it was created by her great friend Mooingkat. Anyway, I find it incredibly fun to use, and quite addictive, if harmlessly so. I suppose one day people will be composing entire posts using only emoticons! Currently I'm searching for an animated surfer, one that shows a little person moving along a wave.

Row row row your boat gently down the stream
merily merily merily merily life is but a dream.