* Cats, kittens, tigers, lions, cheetahs, leopards and all manners of felines –especially when they wrinkle their eyes in contentment.

* Perfectly sunny days in the low 80s and with moderately low humidity, where the only word that can apply to the sky is "cerulean."

* The words "cerulean", "juggernaut", "smörgåsbord", and "doppelgänger."

* Knowing that everyone has a doppelgänger.

* The colors lavender and violet, and the corresponding flowers and scents.

* When a stranger smiles in a friendly manner for no reason whatsoever.

* When people remember it’s her birthday unprompted (and, well, even when prompted).

* The movie "Amèlie"

* The smell of the Metro as it wafts out of the vents and into the street.

* Receiving flowers.

* The curls on the back of Herr Meow’s head.

* Green eyes.

* Chocolate raisins.

* Friends –the in-person kind and the kind through the computer.

* A well-made chai tea, especially when the barista takes the time to make a design on the foam.

* French fried potatoes.

* The Washington Post, most of the time.

* Plants that do well.  And even plants that don’t do so well.

…And Madame Meow doesn’t like,

* Cat hair everywhere.

* The feeling that every year, her birthday fills her with too much melancholy and not enough joy.

* Knowing that she shares her birthday with the Edsel.