I'm sitting at the patio table in my backyard, listening to the happy sounds of work guys building me a new front stoop out front. They've been working since 7:30 this morning!

A few minutes ago it rained, but not enough to get me (or the laptop) wet under the maples and patio umbrella. Best little rain storm ever, it could only have been more perfect if there was one wee thunderbolt. Still, it made everything smell great!

I should probably be thanking God that my computer doesn't have sound, huh?

Some lady brought a cat on the train. Which of course isn't allowed (as it was not a seeing-eye cat).

I wanted to go over and say hi to the kitty, but it looked like the woman didn't want to call attention to her illegal cat transport scheme, so I didn't.

When I first heard the meowing, I thought it was someone's ringtone....

Despite eating a ton of veggies for lunch around 2, I am starved. Debating between a bunless turkey burger or chicken gyro. I'd really just like a coffee milkshakey thing, but I think that'd be a bad example for mac.

Am jealous of Theo's backyard hanging out.

A map of the US, showing gas prices by county: [link]

Check out the IL/MO border!

Tangentially, I love how the new metrocards say " your carbon footprint is 1/4 of the national average!" Like most NYCers need a boost in that smug superiority area.

A map of the US, showing gas prices by county: [link]

Here's the actual map so you can zoom in.

Why *are* gas prices so low in MO?

(I can't believe I referred to $3.60-ish a gallon as low. Jesus.)

DUDE.

I just got my first ever official leave-an-hour-early-permission email! I can leave in twelve minutes! This is unprecedented--but AWESOME.

This story on state gasoline taxes has a chart of what each state adds to the price of gas through taxes (not including local/county taxes--Cook County, I'm looking at you!).