Just as we sat down to lunch today, we heard a big thud from the Finsterium. Either Cinnamon or Cassia had just fallen to the floor. The bird gasped a last few times in Bruce's hand, and then died. I still can only tell which bird is which if I see Cinnamon singing — I haven't heard Cinnamon's song since the bird died, but I haven't heard Szechwan (Pepper)'s song either. And it hasn't been too long. So I don't know yet if it's Cinnamon or Cassia that died, but I also don't know which bird is in this picture. (Non sequitur.)

There's a bit of Finster Guilt — but there's always a bit of that. The truth is, that neither of the humans in the house noticed anything amiss these past few days. We probably haven't paid as much attention to the Finsters since they got out of (Harley's) quarantine, but we also haven't ignored them. Usually, we notice if a Finster isn't feeling quite right. Not this time. The sudden deaths are a little easier, since hand-wringing rarely does any good. But it still sucks.

And we totally need more Finsters, but with the fear of quarantine in me, I don't know how to do it.

Update: Cassia died. I just heard Cinnamon sing his Hunka Hunka Burning Love song.

R.I.P. Cassia, ? — June 17, 2007.