My block in Washington Heights this morning, drying out after the rain. 

Things I loathe, in order: 

• Flying snakes
• Flying white orchids
• That stupid mouse I caught last night but that got away when I decided to have some fun with it

— Elektra

Part of this post is whispery because it has a secret shot of Stephen in the garden after the rains the other night, when the heat finally broke; plus I caught a C-local today at 42nd after three days of A-train torture, and nothing’s better than a non-traumatic evening commute. (Well, except for the crazy preacher lady.) Part of this post is not AT ALL whispery, however, because last night I saw a mouse scurrying across the baseboard heater in my room, and it even stopped and was like “hey” before it disappeared through a space in the heater. Like we were friends or roommates. I understand that it’s probably too much to ask the cats to get rid of the ants that have recently invaded like (Game of Thrones army reference), but with three cats roaming around, you would think a mouse-free living zone would not be an unreasonable expectation. It’s possible they’re angry at us for inviting a two-year old neighbor of ours over to the house, who terrified them by jumping up and down and yelling, and led them all to take shelter under the bed. Actually, I went under the bed too. (As for the mouse, I’m still placing my bets on Elektra, though.) 

“I find unvariegated leaves tedious and mundane.”

—Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) ‘Eskimo Sunset‘ 

The subway lights at Bryant Park, taken yesterday at 5:00 pm when we were all fleeing the ominous skies and the first, heavy drops of rain. 

We didn’t grow peonies this year but we bought some. 

Touring my parents around Washington Heights, near/on Riverside Drive and 157/158. 

London plane tree at Broadway and 166th, Washington Heights. 

Things I learned this week: 

1) If you’re a Michael Jackson subway performer, best to skip the morning commute. People are just not in the mood for that kind of party at 8:15 am. 

2) With the understanding that men are undoubtedly the worst offenders in this department, inappropriate/noxious rubbing of body parts on the subway can go both ways (as in, “seriously, lady, please remove your boobs from my back and your hand from my crack — there’s more than enough room for both of us to stand here without touching.” I wish I were making this up.) 

3) I don’t need to carry a wallet in my pocket when all I need is some cash and a subway card. 

4) Sometimes hosing down the path can enhance the effect of the light in the after-work garden.

5) Some people will send out an e-mail with very detailed instructions that you will carefully follow, but then tell you something very different because they crave any opportunity to exert power, even if it’s meaningless. You must not dwell on such things however, because it will drive you insane. 

6) After being skeptical for two episodes, I really enjoyed the new season of Arrested Development: dense, manic, intricate, it gave me faith that the marriage of conceptual art and mainstream entertainment is still viable.

6) It was a beautiful spring, but it couldn’t last forever.