Passer Mortuus Est. *

I'm not one to get all upset over "songbirds" such as the fetishizers on the Audubon websites seem to be: it's a nomenclature based on brain structure (aka passeriformes), like with many things, used for emotional effect. Many of the Songbirds in my backyard, in fact, are what's known as both Nuisance Wildlife and Invasive.

This said: had the upsetting case today, where the black cat brought in an Invasive bit of Nuisance Wildlife* to finish off. Didn't occur to me that the Poor Thing wasn't a toy until I separated her from it.

Since the injuries were such that Heroic Measures would have only prolonged his misery, I had to take him outside and kill him myself, before giving the little guy a decent burial.

Came back in and had a good cry.

***

* http://waiting-for-april.blogspot.com/2010/04/even-further-inspired-by-aforementioned.html

* * Male House Finch - invasive to the NE USA; crowd out the other, native, less aggressive finches

Stormy Weather.

At its start, the storm didn't feel like it was going to be a terribly powerful one.  As the day progressed, however, the wind certainly picked up strength.  For the first time in a good while (a decade, at least), lost power for more than a few minutes. 

After about 1/2 a day, things switched back on.  It's still kind of raging out there, though.  And the next Spring tide will be coming in, soon, which will cause more problems.

Took a short walk around the neighborhood to see the extent of damage.  Was whipped about a fair bit by the wind:  Big girl that I am, who knows  how to keep steady in wind, needed at a couple points to grab a lamp post to not be blown into the street.  Kind of scary, kind of exhilarating.  Not anything I'd want to be out in for an extended period, though.

Thinking good thoughts for all the folks who had to evacuate due to the tides.  For all the First Responders, all the Folks keeping us safe, clearing downed branches, getting our electricity back up, helping to back up an already overtaxed infrastructure.  

Romantic Mood Lighting:  as everything here's dependent on electricity, just prepped up a simple snack of cheese, pickles, crackers, tinned fish.  The big treat was braving the elements for a warm drink from Dunkin:  meh.  Power finally did come on; rested in candle light for a bit, though, as it was so relaxing.