Flew back from NYC this evening and had the wind at my back for a change. Somehow snagged a seat in first class. Seems such a waste: first class to Cleveland. That's like putting truffle buerre blanc on a shit-burger. Whatever -- sitting up front let me sweep right off the plant as soon as they opened the door. Gotta love that.

On the subway to the airport I saw the most batshit-crazy panhandling pitch: lady boards the train and I can see she has a beat up drum strapped over her shoulder. She positions herself in the center of the car, puts the drum on the floor, and takes out two... clubs are really what they were. She gets down on the floor and start beating the drum -- badly. She'd pause momentarily and announce she needed money. I think some of the pleas were rhymed. It was completely insane.

Everyone pretended not to notice. That part I was used to.