Sophie, with her little plush frog, had discovered the delights of the metal water-main covers set flush with the sidewalk outside the book store. She walked from one to the other, and then back again, pausing only to do a mysterious little dance. This activity was repeated several times, and would have been repeated many more, but she saw the old dog tied to a light post. We introduced ourselves to the old dog, much to the delight of all concerned, except perhaps the plush frog, who came perilously close to being sampled.
Jen came out of the store with books, and with a little gnome inside her left ear, who had decided to practice his cruel arts on her eardrum. Perhaps hot pokers are being used. She is still in a bad way, and I can't do anything about it. She couldn't get any painkillers from the clinic, and the gnome refuses to budge. I hate seeing her in pain like this.

The night air had that smoky, autumn smell earlier. The moon is past full, and peeked at me between condos. I know this is only a sneak preview of autumn to come, but already I can't wait. I love when the wind blows and the leaves come down in torrents to cover the streets at night. It gives the city an abandoned look, like everybody packed up and left. Ghost city. I've always taken great pleasure in seeing the wild creep in and blur the ordered lines of our cities. Let the leaves fall. Let the weeds heave up and crack the sidewalks. Let the creeks spill over into the streets. Let the spiders soften the corners of our dwellings with dwellings of their own. Let's sow seeds in the barren wastelands we have created. Some of the most fertile soil in the world lies dormant beneath our cities. Let's peel off the scabs of concrete and asphalt.

Cds I listened to while enjoying the cool, smoky night air: Feederz "Ever Feel Like Killing Your Boss?", Cowboy Junkies "Pale Sun, Crescent Moon" (went well with the mood described above, as well as being significant for other reasons today), Simon Boswell & Stefano Mainetti "Deliria" soundtrack, Shock Headed Peters "Not Born Beautiful" (Karl really is a genius), and Kari "Pilot"

Currently listening to: Sky Cries Mary "Moonbathing on Sleeping Leaves"