While trying to glance at the cricket and see if it would be possible to entice her out from under the fridge and into a cup for outside releasing, I accidentally scared her into moving about a foot away from where she had been hanging out. This was a few days ago. She had been about a few inches from the front, right next to a wood-support, in the midst of many of the metal and coil components, and I think this is why the echo caused was a more grating sound.

Since scaring her, she's found a new favorite place towards the back, near the corner of the walls, and on the outside of the concrete support found back there. This narrow tunnel-like area creates a very pleasing echo, so that now it sounds like I'm back in the country listening to crickets outside my window. It's pretty now, and not annoying. I've also grown quite accustomed to hearing this as I come home from work (which has often been around 8pm lately) and as I fall asleep. What I don't look forward to is the day that I have still not released her outside but that I don't hear that sound anymore... i'm not sure what she's been finding to eat under there, but I hope there's plenty.

I've named her Shelley. For almost having a shell. It sounded better than exoey.

Because my lease since that I cannot have pets, I haven't taken in one of the many really gorgeous cats here that I might otherwise like to. And because I don't have a car, I haven't started volunteering at the animal shelter as I had wanted to. So now, having Shelley here, and my newish window garden, so that there is some organic, living matter here besides myself, is a little more friendly to come home and wake up to.

And speaking of waking up, it's our weekend but I have duty, so I've gotta get my coffee now and head out, and hopefully I'll my brain will be a little more awake by the time I get there and it matters.