New York City, August 13, 2013

★ The hard rain and the Internet workflow combined to defer and annihilate the morning hours. Where had it all gone? Into a dripping midday, acceptably cool. The 1 train was lost to delays. Across from Lincoln Center, a wet shine lay on the new paving blocks over the water main project. Pedestrians were divided on whether or not to bother raising umbrellas; there was no advantage to be had either way. The downtown train delivered passengers into full soaking rain again. A late afternoon visit to the roof, begun with a wary eye on the gray sky, ended with eyes squinting into sudden brilliance. A little boy rode up Lafayette under the blue sky, brandishing a toy pistol left and right. But the clearing was no more dependable than the rain had been. After dark, the taxis out the window were doubled, reflecting in water-glazed streets once more.