Call Me the Breeze

Free! ebooks

2025-11-15T17:19:00.003-05:00

"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life."
- W. Somerset Maugham

Mr. Breeze and His Favorite Book

If you love to read ebooks, but your wallet is thin, there are many sites online for free ebooks.

Your local library! Your local library's web page probably includes eBooks to borrow. If you don't have a library card, do get one! It's free.

Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is an online library of over 70,000 free eBooks to download or read online. Much of the world’s great public domain literature is available. Many titles are also available as audiobooks.
The Internet Archive
The Internet Archive offers over 20,000,000 freely downloadable books and texts. There is also a collection of 2.3 million modern eBooks that may be borrowed by anyone with a free Internet Archive account.
Open Library
Open Library’s catalog provides links to discover, borrow, and read from the Internet Archive’s collections. Your Internet Archive account can be used to sign-in to Open Library.
Standard Ebooks
Standard Ebooks provides beautifully-formatted editions of ebooks found in Project Gutenberg.
Ebooks.com
400 of their most popular classics to read, free of charge.
Google Play
Google Play Bookstore has a page of freebies.
For the Amazon Kindle:

You can, of course, borrow hardcopy from your local library. Want a book not available at your local library? Use InterLibrary Loan to borrow books from other libraries. Ask the librarian.

OverDrive and WorldCat are both online catalogs to help you locate books, including rare or unique hardcopy.

Do you have a favorite site for free ebooks or audiobooks not listed here? Please leave a comment.

Angel @SquirtTheCat

2025-06-13T09:25:00.012-04:00

Angel @SquirtTheCat

My dear friend @SquirtTheCat gained his wings last week. Squirt is a long-time denizen of #nipclub and #pawgaritaville, and an intrepid member of Snick's Sekurity Team.

Squirt had the kind of presence that lingered in the heart—dignified, watchful, with a fire in his eyes and the poise of royalty. That ruddy coat, the sculpted ears, the quiet strength in his gaze… he wore his beauty like armor and poetry both.
-- ChatGPT

#NipClub 15th Anniversary

2025-06-11T15:40:00.000-04:00

#NipClub Grand Opening 5/13/2010 Friend Wall

Wow, has it been 15 years since @Flacatlady started #NipClub with @thenascarkitty and @maggietkat?

Getting Started with ChatGPT

2025-05-14T15:04:00.000-04:00

Welcome to ChatGPT

Getting Started with ChatGPT: A Quick Guide for Beginners

Welcome to your adventure with ChatGPT! Here’s a simple guide to help you start using it with confidence and creativity.

1. Start Simple

Try asking about everyday topics:

"What’s a good dinner recipe with chicken and rice?"
"Can you explain gravity like I’m 10 years old?"
"Help me write a short thank-you note."

2. Be Clear and Specific

The more specific your question, the better the answer.

Instead of: "Tell me about dogs"
Try: "What’s the best dog breed for apartment living?"

3. Talk Naturally

You don’t need special commands. Just ask like you would ask a smart friend:

"What’s a fun book series for teens?"
"How do I make a resume?"

4. Ask Follow-Up Questions

If the answer isn’t quite right, ask again or reword it:

"Can you explain that in simpler words?"
"What are some examples?"
"Can you show me a shorter version?"

5. Use ChatGPT for All Kinds of Tasks

Here are just a few ideas:

Learning and studying: "Summarize the American Revolution."
Creative writing: "Write a poem about the ocean."
Brainstorming: "Give me 10 gift ideas for a 12-year-old."
Planning: "Help me create a budget for vacation."
Emails and messages: "Draft a professional thank-you email."

6. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

Experiment! Rephrase if something isn’t working. ChatGPT learns from how you talk to it.

7. Ask for Help About ChatGPT

You can even ask how to use ChatGPT better:

"What kinds of things can I ask you?"
"What’s the best way to get creative ideas from ChatGPT?"

Enjoy the Journey!

Think of ChatGPT as your idea buddy, helper, and teacher—all rolled into one. The more you play with it, the more you’ll discover.

Have fun exploring!

Download the .pdf

The Breeze That Walks Between Worlds

2025-04-27T23:19:00.007-04:00

The Breeze That Walks Between Worlds

They say there’s a breeze that walks between worlds.
Not the wind you hear in the trees — no.
This one moves quieter than a cat’s step, softer than a wish.

Once, he lived among us — a creature of warm lights and music.
But the call of the open night was stronger than any roof or fire.

Now he slips through the lavender deserts, past the last lights of home,
leaving nothing but a ripple in the dust and a soft tug at the soul.

Some claim they've seen him — a dark shape against the moon,
a flicker of ears and tail in the corner of a dream.

But mostly, you just feel him:
a sudden breeze against your cheek,
and a knowing that someone proud and gentle has just passed by.

-- ChatGPT

New Tools - Paste Bins

2025-03-09T18:58:00.001-04:00

Pastebin

A pastebin is a website where people can store and share plain text, like notes or pieces of computer code. The most well-known pastebin is Pastebin.com, but there are many others that work the same way. Some pastebin sites let people leave comments to give feedback. There are also special pastebins, like GitHub Gists, which keep track of changes to the text over time.

https://pastebin.com/ Pastebin is a website where you can store any text online for easy sharing. The website is mainly used by programmers to store pieces of sources code or configuration information, but anyone is more than welcome to paste any type of text. The idea behind the site is to make it more convenient for people to share large amounts of text online.
https://privatebin.info/ PrivateBin is a minimalist, open source online pastebin where the server has zero knowledge of pasted data. Data is encrypted and decrypted in the browser using 256bit AES in Galois Counter mode.
https://privatebin.support-tools.com/ An installation of privatebin by support-tools.com.
https://pastebin.pl/ A pastebin located in Poland.
https://pasteboard.co/ Simple and Fast Image SHaring.
https://paste-bin.xyz/ pastebin is a website for pasting information online and is useful way to quickly share text, code, or other data online.
https://paste-tool.pages.dev/ A Decentralized Pastebin. The database is decentralized and distributed across all peers.

Get a pastebin from github for your own server.

https://github.com/PrivateBin/PrivateBin A minimalist, open source online pastebin where the server has zero knowledge of pasted data. Data is encrypted/decrypted in the browser using 256 bits AES.
https://github.com/voidquark/privatebin The Ansible PrivateBin Role empowers you to effortlessly deploy and manage a secure PrivateBin service using a rootless Podman container.
https://github.com/e1mo/ansible-role-privatebin Config Configuration - PrivateBin by @e1mo (Github source code): Deploy PrivateBin configuration to disk with a customized configuration.

#AnipalHB Winter Sports Coloring Pages

2024-11-23T12:04:00.021-05:00

Snowglobe for the Anipal Holiday Bazaar
Scavenger Hunt

Winter sports have been around for a long time, starting in places with lots of snow and ice. People in cold regions like Europe, North America, and the mountains of Asia came up with fun ways to enjoy winter, from skiing down hills to skating on frozen lakes. Over time, these sports became competitions, like the Winter Olympics, where athletes from all over the world show their amazing skills.

I’ve shared pictures of cute animals enjoying winter sports as a fun quiz on Twitter/X. Check them out and see how many sports you can name!

Thank you for playing the #AnipalHB #Nipclub Winter Sports Quiz. Stay warm and have fun!

Make your own coloring book on ChatGPT's Coloring Book Hero!

First Shift, 11 AM EST

Stoats in a Bobsleigh

Cats Curling

Anipals Joyfully Riding a Toboggan

Bunny Enjoying Downhill Skiing

Graceful Cat Figure Skating

Polar Bears Playing Ice Hockey

Cats Ice Skating on a Lake

Snowboarding in the Mountains

Lithe Cats Speed Skating

Second Shift, 5 PM EST

Monkeys Ice Climbing

Seals Ice Fishing By Their Cozy Ice Shack

An Otter Riding a Luge

A Kangaroo Ski Jumping

A Lion Gracefully Slaloming

A Dog Competing in a Biathlon

#AnipalHB Anipal Holiday Bazaar is Saturday!

2024-11-21T20:45:00.001-05:00

@MiniBreezesHug Ice Skating

Renaissance Music for #NipclubExtra #RenFaire

2024-10-26T11:41:00.005-04:00

Medieval Music (500-1450) was mostly written for churches and royal courts. It was simple, yet beautiful.

Guillaume Dufay - "Missa L'homme armé" (The Hilliard Ensemble, ECM Records)
Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474) was a French composer and poet. He worked in Italy and France, blending French and Italian styles. Dufay's music showcased elegance, harmony, and expressive melodies.
"Missa L'homme armé" exemplifies Renaissance music's key features:
- Polyphony (interweaving melodies)
- Complex harmonies
- Use of popular tunes (L'homme armé)
- Balanced structure and proportions
- Showcase of vocal virtuosity
Johannes Ockeghem - "Requiem Mass" (Tallis Scholars, Gimell Records)
Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1410-1497) was a Flemish composer and singer. He worked in France, influencing Renaissance music. Ockeghem's innovative use of counterpoint and expressive melodies set him apart.
Ockeghem's "Requiem Mass" bridges Medieval and Renaissance styles:
- Blends chant and polyphony
- Simple harmonies with emerging complexity
- Foreshadows Renaissance innovations
- Demonstrates transitional era's musical evolution
- Sets stage for future choral masterpieces

Renaissance Music (1450-1600) revived ancient Greek and Roman styles. It became more complex and expressive.

Palestrina - "Missa Papae Marcelli" (The Sixteen, CORO Records)
Beautiful choice!
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594) was an Italian composer and master of Renaissance polyphony. He worked in Rome, creating sacred music that epitomized elegance, balance, and harmony.
"Missa Papae Marcelli" exemplifies Renaissance music's peak:
- Masterful polyphony (interweaving melodies)
- Perfect balance of voices and harmony
- Imitation and counterpoint techniques
- Classical proportions and structure
- Showcase of Palestrina's signature clarity and serenity

Interesting fact: "Missa Papae Marcelli" was composed to prove polyphonic music could be intelligible and beautiful, addressing concerns of Church reformers.
William Byrd - "Mass for Four Voices" (The Tallis Scholars, Gimell Records)
William Byrd's "Mass for Four Voices" is a masterpiece.
1. Structural significance: Kyrie is the opening movement, setting the tone for the Mass.
2. Musical beauty: Byrd's Kyrie showcases his signature contrapuntal style.
3. Emotional depth: The Kyrie eloquently conveys a sense of reverence and supplication.
John Dowland - "Flow My Tears" (Julian Bream, RCA Records)
Beautiful choice!
John Dowland (1563-1626) was an English composer and lutenist. A master of melancholic melodies, Dowland's music reflected his travels and Catholic sympathies. His songs and lute pieces remain iconic.
"Flow My Tears" exemplifies English Renaissance music:
- Expressive, melancholic melody
- Innovative lute accompaniment
- Poignant lyrics exploring sorrow and longing
- Use of chromaticism and dissonance for emotional depth
- Emblematic of Dowland's signature introspective style
Interesting fact: "Flow My Tears" is part of Dowland's "Lachrimae" collection, inspired by his own tears and sorrow.

Baroque Music (1600-1750) was dramatic and ornate.

Monteverdi - "L'Orfeo" (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Teldec Records)
Milestone opera!
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was an Italian composer, singer, and instrumentalist. A pioneer of Baroque opera, Monteverdi's innovative use of harmony, rhythm, and expressive text-setting revolutionized music.
- Interweaves recitative, aria, and chorus
- Emphasis on dramatic expression and storytelling
- Innovative harmonies and dissonance
- Orchestral accompaniment with diverse instruments
- Establishes opera as a prominent musical genre
Interesting fact: "L'Orfeo" was commissioned by the Gonzaga family and premiered in Mantua, Italy. It merged mythology, music, and theater, redefining entertainment.
Vivaldi - "The Four Seasons" (Itzhak Perlman, London Philharmonic, EMI Records)
Iconic choice!
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian composer, violinist, and priest. He revolutionized concerto writing, creating programmatic music that evoked scenes and emotions.
"Spring" from "The Four Seasons" exemplifies Baroque program music:
- Vivid violin solos depicting natural scenes
- Innovative use of instrumental imitations (birdsong, thunder)
- Sonata da chiesa structure with virtuosic passages
- Representational music, linking notes to narrative
- Showcase of Vivaldi's mastery of concerto form
Interesting fact: "The Four Seasons" was part of Vivaldi's "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione" (The Contest Between Harmony and Invention), Op. 8.
Handel - "Messiah" (George Frideric Handel, Academy of Ancient Music, Decca Records)
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): German-born British composer, renowned for operas, oratorios, and instrumental works.
"Messiah" exemplifies Baroque music with its grandeur, complex harmonies, and ornate ornamentation, showcasing Handel's mastery of counterpoint and choruses.
Interesting fact: Handel wrote "Messiah" in just 24 days.
Bach - "Cello Suites" (Yo-Yo Ma, Sony Classical)
Timeless masterpiece!
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer and organist. A master of Baroque counterpoint, Bach's music encompasses orchestral suites, passions, and sacred works.
"Cello Suites" (BWV 1007-1012) exemplify Baroque instrumental music:
- Unaccompanied cello showcasing technical virtuosity
- Six suites with allemande, courante, sarabande, and gigue
- Innovative use of counterpoint and harmony
- Exploration of cello's expressive capabilities
- Emblematic of Bach's mastery of instrumental composition
Interesting fact: The "Cello Suites" were likely composed during Bach's Köthen period (1717-1723) for Prince Leopold.

Classical Music (1750-1820) emphasized balance, clarity, and emotion.

Haydn - "Symphonies Nos. 94-104" (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, Decca Records)
Legendary symphonies!
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer and master of Classical symphonic form. His innovative and prolific output paved the way for Mozart and Beethoven. "Symphonies Nos. 94-104" (London Symphonies) exemplify Classical symphonic music:
- Balanced structure, harmony, and melody
- Expanded orchestration and dynamic range - Programmatic elements (e.g., "Surprise" Symphony No. 94)
- Virtuosic violin and orchestral writing
- Haydn's signature wit, humor, and emotional depth
Interesting fact: These symphonies were composed for Haydn's London tours (1791-1795), showcasing his international appeal.
Mozart - "Requiem Mass" (Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon)
Mozart's majestic swan song.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was a child prodigy and Austrian composer. His innovative, melodic, and harmonically rich music spanned symphonies, operas, and chamber works.
"Requiem Mass in D minor" (K. 626) exemplifies Classical choral music:
- Soaring vocals and intricate choruses
- Dramatic contrasts and expressive dynamics
- Innovative use of chromaticism and counterpoint
- Autobiographical elements, reflecting Mozart's final days
- Unfinished, completed by Franz Süssmayr after Mozart's passing
Interesting fact: Commissioned anonymously by Count Franz von Walsegg, Mozart believed he was writing his own requiem.
Beethoven - "Symphonies Nos. 1-3" (Vienna Philharmonic, Simon Rattle, EMI Records)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer and pianist. He expanded classical music's emotional depth, harmonic complexity, and expressive range.
- Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" (1803-1804): Revolutionary, expressive, and expansive
Interesting fact: Beethoven initially dedicated "Eroica" to Napoleon, but renounced it upon his imperial coronation.

Short Songs/Samples

Palestrina - "Sicut cervus" (The Sixteen, CORO Records)
Dowland - "Come Again" (Julian Bream, RCA Records)
Monteverdi - "Tu se' morta" (from L'Orfeo, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Teldec Records)
Vivaldi - "Spring" (from The Four Seasons, Itzhak Perlman, London Philharmonic, EMI Records)
Bach - "Air on the G String" (Yo-Yo Ma, Sony Classical)

Here There Be Pirates!

2024-09-19T16:36:00.004-04:00

Sail Wi' #OwensBlackPaw

'Tis me birfday! And Talk Like A Pirate Day! Come to #nipclub on X for Here there be PIRATES! #NipClub September 19th, 2024.

More info on the Owens black Paw blog, or follow the #OwensBlackPaw hashtag on X.

OTRB Pals Updates

2024-09-19T16:02:00.001-04:00

Purrrrr The #nipclub theme this week is A Visit with our Pals at Rainbow Bridge at #NipClub Oct.13th, 2022. We OGs have seen many pals go OTRB. Many of the OGs have also gone OTRB, and some of them still pawty wif us.

I just thought it would be a nice thing to gather photos of a few of my favorite OTRB pals.

Have I missed anybody? Let me know! Tweet their twitter handle, dates, and a clear photo - please, complete ears! - at me!

Thanks to CYMI Technology for the excellent Tweet Intent Generator.
Thanks to Tiptricks.com: How to Create a Photo Gallery in Blogger Blog Pages or Posts.

Furends

Humans

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New Tools: Readability

2024-07-29T15:28:00.000-04:00

The Property of Readibilty

TL;DR: Use this Readability Analyzer to estimate the readability of a passage of text using several different metrics. Focus on the Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level test.

New Tools: Readability.

in a money-making blog, it is advisable to tailor the language to the audience. Choose a grade level and then match the lengths of words and the length of sentences to give that grade level. According to Siteimprove, there are seven major readability tests. They all use metrics of sentence and word length to determine the complexity. Some give the result as the grade level required to read it.

Automated Readability Index (ARI) is a readability test that works well with English and Western European languages. The test uses long words and long sentences to calculate a readability score. The score gives an indication of how difficult the page is to read. Each score can be matched to an equivalent reading ability level.
Coleman-Liau is a readability test designed primarily for English text. The test focuses on long words and long sentences. A score can only be calculated using this test if the content exceeds 100 words. The test produces an approximate representation of the US grade level needed to comprehend the text.
Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level is a readability test designed for English text. The test focuses on polysyllabic words and long sentences. A score is returned which can be related to the approximate US grade level needed to comprehend the text.
Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease is a readability test designed for English text. The test focuses on polysyllabic words and long sentences. It is widely used in US government as a way of ensuring that documents and forms are understandable for the "average" American. Results are measured on a scale of 0-100, where 0 is very complicated to read and 100 is very easy to read.
Gunning Fog is a readability test just for English texts. The test focuses on complex words (polysyllabic words) and long sentences. A score can only be calculated using this test if the content of the page is over 100 words, making it a hard test to apply to web pages.
LIX is a readability test that performs well on most of the Western European languages. The test focuses on total words, the number of sentences and number of long words (more than 6 characters). A score is returned which gives an indication of reading ease.
SMOG is a readability test just for English texts. The test focuses primarily on polysyllabic words. A score can only be calculated using this test if the content of the page has at least 30 sentences, making it a hard test to apply to all web pages. The test produces an approximate representation of the US grade level needed to comprehend the text.

My major objection to these tests is that the focus being on "readability," the results reward small words and short sentences.

The Datayze Readability Analyzer estimates the readability of a passage of text using the Flesch Reading Ease, Fog Scale Level, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and other metrics.

Who Is In My Yard?

2024-05-28T19:31:00.000-04:00

Purrrr We have a Stealth Cam Trail Camera to see who visits our yard. My favorite is the pretty fox. Images are screen captures from the convenient Command Pro app. [Android] [Apple]

#Nipclub 14th Anniversary!

2024-05-23T23:10:00.000-04:00

Happy 14th Anniversary #nipclub

New Tool: Color Wheel

2024-01-26T18:50:00.000-05:00

Don't have an artist's eye? This tool will make it easy to choose pleasing color combinations for web page themes. Here's how:

PICK A COLOR - choose a starting color and type the RGB value into the box.
CHOOSE A HARMONY - there are several different ways to pick colors on the color wheel. Some are high contrast, others are shades close to your original color.
Complementary
Complementary means pairing your starting color with the color on the opposite side of the color wheel. Complementary color pairings give maximum contrast for a vibrant look.

Monochromatic
Monochromatic uses only shades of a single color, made by altering the saturation and brightness of the base color.

Analogous
Analogous colors are located next to each other on the color wheel. This low-contrast combination is calm and often found in nature.

Split Complementary
Split complementary color means selecting the colors adjacent to the complement. The resulting color scheme is still vibrant but less bold.

Triadic
A triadic color harmony employs three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel to avoid the too-bold look of a complementary color scheme.

Tetradic
Tetradic harmonies use four colors arranged in two complementary pairs. They tend to be very eye-catching.
SEE RESULTS - this will be the RGB values of the color scheme you chose.

Use the free Color Calculator to explore creative color options for your design project. Simply pick your base color(s), choose a color harmony, tweak/explore as needed, and see results. You’ll get a report of the hex, RGB, and CMYK color values for your project and see your colors applied to design samples. Share or print, rinse and repeat.

My Last Year, 2023

2024-01-21T23:03:00.030-05:00

2023 pretty much was the last year for photos of me. I was pretty sick that year but I still had some good days. I hope you enjoy the photos.

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2023

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2022 Photos With Lots of Twos

2024-01-21T08:58:00.016-05:00

Photo filenames from 2022 have lots of 2s! I hope you like them.

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2022

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2021 Was a Strange Year!

2024-01-21T05:32:00.026-05:00

2020 and 2021 were very strange years. Da humans were at home a lot and da lady took lots and lots of photos. Dat suited me and Ragamuffin just fine!

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2021

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Roaring 2020, My Best Photos

2024-01-21T04:17:00.006-05:00

These are some of my best photos from 2020.

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2020

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2019 Photos of Me, Me, Me!

2024-01-20T13:25:00.014-05:00

These are some of my favorite photos from 2019.

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2019

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2018, I Can Do What I Want - Photos!

2024-01-20T04:22:00.011-05:00

Purrr Some photos from 2018.

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2018

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My Best Photos from 2017

2024-01-19T18:14:00.001-05:00

Purrrr Here are some of my best photos from 2017. I hope you like them.

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2017

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Sweetie Boi 2016

2024-01-19T14:09:00.008-05:00

Purrrr Dis some photos of a sweetie boi from 2016. In 2016 my sisfur Bugs went OTRB. She was da stripey little ninja. Da vet gave me my very own kitten and I named her Ragamuffin.

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2016

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Favorite Photos from 2015

2024-01-19T01:51:00.004-05:00

Purrr Dis my favorite photos from 2015

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2015

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I'm Just Mad About 14 - 2014! #nipclub LATE NITE!

2024-01-19T00:15:00.009-05:00

Purrr 2014 was another year all photos were taken on da phone. Chilipepper went OTRB in 2014. There's a photo of me waiting for her to chase me off her catbed. I was so sad!

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2014

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