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Tuesday, May 25th, 1999 - a purrfect evening, and chirpy night

This Time Last Year	On my way home from work, about a block from my house, there lives a little gray and white cat who always greets me. I have, of course, taken the time to get to know this cat, whom I call Mouser. Today I sat on the sidewalk a good 10 to 15 minutes, petting Mouser and letting him curl up in my lap. Cats are so soothing, and I desperately needed to relax. I scritched behind his ears and listened to him purr and the tension between my shoulders started to ease away. His happiness enticed his more cautious red tabby friend to venture a few cautious swipes under my outstretched, patient hand. An old man passed me on the sidewalk, and said, "Is that Louie? Oh. No, Louie's fatter than that, and black insteada grey." We exchanged chit-chat as he passed by me to get something out of his truck. I musta flustered him, because he ended up walking past me the wrong way, only to turn around and pass me with a sheepish look, muttering something about, "..need to go this way, that's right..."
	Once home I did some basic garden maintenance, and sat on the steps still warm from the day's sun, listening to the bird chatter. We have so many birds! There are so many chickadees, with their executioner style black masks juxtaposed with their quirky, inquisitive bird posturing. So cute! We also have Pine Siskins (or maybe they're Hermit Thrushes) with their longer tails that flip up to balance them when they land on the wires. The birds like to land on the saplings under the tree, the first one landing nearest the base, then one or two before the last lands near the end, causing the whole branch to bow and dip with the weight of the birds. It's adorable, watching one take off and the other three cling tightly to the swaying branch, bobbing around and chirping happily. I swear they take turns shifting the weight around so each one can have a ride! I also saw a Black-chinned Hummingbird, hovering and darting around the Mexican Sage. The chirpy evening made me glad to have the cats live down the street!
	I called Lydia to chat and ended up brainstorming all the cool things we can do with her girls. I pitched an idea I've had lately, which is to offer to teach them dance. I had taught Kaylie the five ballet positions at her going away party last year, and she seemed very ripe and eager to learn. Lydia said that Kaylie's been bugging her about finding out the five positions so she can make sure she has them right, and she's sure Kaylie would love to have dance lessons. Ballet, too, which is so exciting, I can hardly tell you. I *always* liked ballet, even though it was more popular to do tap and jazz. I did those too, but I found something comforting in the graceful, classical style of ballet (which everyone had to take anyhow, since it gives you a base for all other Western dance like nothing else). To find a child that is more interested in ballet than the louder, somewhat flashier tap and jazz set, well. This is going to be cool.
	By the way, I'm on book, um, 10 ("Memory") of the Vorkorsigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. I started with the second one about April 20th (I read the first a few months back) and have been whipping through them. There's one more left, Komarr, then a prequel set in the same universe (but without Miles! Sob!) and then, there's no more. Argh! I take heart in the fact that Komarr was only published last year, and they seem to be spaced two years apart. Still, waiting even months...well! I'll just have to reread the series!
	Ahhh. I just had a lovely little "5 minute chat" (more like 8) with David. Very sweet and light. I think on that happy note, I'll grab my book and go to bed. 'Night, my little siskins!
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