Rain

I bought a cupcake.

This in of itself isn't unusual. The cupcake came from a bakery in Astoria that looks like it could have once been a hair salon, but I've never gotten so much as a follicle in my brioche. Plus, the sweets there are pretty amazing.

I felt I needed a cupcake because it's rainy, its Friday and my weekend plans have been cancelled. So, obviously, red velvet cupcake.

Rain, I think does strange things to New Yorkers, who can usually navigate the city streets on foot with the greatest of ease. Maybe moisture gets in their brain stems or something, but the weather seems to turn people clumsy and awkward, and before long they're banging into each other on the streets like human pinballs.

A lot of people around here use umbrellas, which I hate. They make people take up a lot of room on the sidewalk, plus they have these pointy spokes that are on about eye-level and can easily result in a Kill Bill-scenario. Add to the fact many can't be bothered to raise their umbrellas above eye-level, which means they easily run into people, which means it's all the more tempting to create a Kill Bill scenario of your own.

Warning: Gross. Do not watch if you're Barbara or possibly Carla



During the rain, trains run late, they're crowded and generally miserable. Getting off at my subway stop, however, and into pelting rain, I still felt kind of lucky. Right behind me is the Flatiron building, ahead is Madison Park, and not too far in the distance is the Empire State Building.

But my destination is my office -- a row of desks and eight hours in front of a monitor. At least my desk is next to the windows. Which allows me to see the rain, which, when you're inside, is kind of nice.