Day Ten

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?

Google stupid analytics is busted. No more checking up on blog traffic (I had intended a wonderful closing post on such, but no: the Google franchise had to be shit instead (they also own blogspot.com. The jerks).

Morning walk! We finally managed to get On The Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness running about 6pm yesterday evening. We finally finished the game at about 4.30am this morning (so good that you will die (!) if you don't play it. I'm not even kidding, and I refuse to be held responsible for the consequences if you don't play it).

Layla did the decent thing, and didn't cry for her walk until about 8am. So off we went. We being Layla and me.



Sonja



woke up a little later - when we returned.

The weather was lovely.



And the music of desire was The Pillows - whose entire catalogue just happened to be on my ipod. Sweet baggy days.

We returned to Morningside Park! For a long walk - a three-drinker! What - how do you measure the length of a walk?



Click on that image for a better version. That's some hike for a Shih-Tzu.

We were almost late to the park.



In a real measure of the socioeconomics of the area (so we're East of the park, on the West side. West of the park is a bit rough) I saw - I'm not kidding - two young men carrying a table. Not a picnic table. A table. The legs were off, and they were pretty much going to bolt them back on in the park, then return it to their kitchen or dining area or wherever. No, I did not take a photo.

This was similar.



Don't get me wrong: I'm glad the kids have a playground. I really feel for the kids that have to point to this cage while saying, "I'm going on the swings!"

I learned many things: (1) there is a sign for Morningside Park - at the other end;



(2) something or other about the tectonic plates of North America and Manhattan's bedrock;



(3) something about flowers (I've had less than 4 hours' sleep).



We also saw some wonderful things. Like this procession of high amusement. This chap was either oblivious to, or just plain unconcerned about, the police behind him.



What a rock for standing on!



Return on investment? Perspective.

This tree, although my wobbly cameramanship (also a word) has not at all captured the fact, was practically crawling with squirrels. Squirrelalia, almost (there were so many of them).



It's something called a Black Locust.



We finally wound up (looking out at) the bottom of the park.



With its strange, single piece of statuary.



The Jungle Book reference equally odd. Thence hometime, partially retracing our steps - except for this.



What a tree for standing on!

And by the time we were home I'd decided to make us berry-laden pancakes for breakfast.



Delicious!