Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"The key moments of decision come unexpected in life. If I have learned nothing else, this I have. And when they come, it amazes me how instantly they are made. Later, musing over the events, I was struck by how light were the feathers that wafted my fortune. A dwarf's voice, a woman's frown -- these the things that sent me off on a road unforeseen." -- Benvenuti Sfondrati-Piccolomini, in Forward the Mage, by Eric Flint & Richard Roach (Baen Books, 2002; ISBN: 0-7434-3524-9 1, LC: PS3556.L548 F67 2002, DD: 813'.54--dc21 2001056468)

[To some of my friends: Happy new year 5766 -- L'shanah tovah. And to others of my friends: Have a blessed Ramadan. And for anyone not following along: I'm about twelve hours late for one of those and twelve hours early for the other (in Eastern Daylight Time), unless I've gotten something mixed up.]

Big black cat in a sunbeam
Left too long, he's started to melt
Soggy, semisoft cat
He'll probabably congeal again
When he hears food poured into his dish

[Or when the poodle nearly steps on him.]