Four-Alarm Fire

I'm so jaded by our neighborhood that I didn't even get off the couch when I heard loads of sirens seemingly just outside my window. As it turns out, they were putting out the fire at the building next to ours...8 firetrucks, 2 ambulances, several cop cars. One would think that would at least get me to the window, but no.

Got there eventually, via taking something to the kitchen. It was the building I always watch, and slightly curse, as there is always a ruckus going on in the general area: heard a fight the other night but couldn't see it, kids playing dice in the street who don't even move for the cop cars policing the neighborhood, dozens of kids milling about late, late at night.

Needless to say, I'm curious how it started.

This Just In

Does anyone else find anything odd about the following CNN Update (info bar at the bottom of the screen)?

"Alleged virginity tests for Indian brides under probe."

If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes

Our weather has been really shit-tastic. Weirdest summer on record in New York for yonks. We've had more thunderstorms and torrential downpours than you can shake a broken umbrella at.

Yes, at.

Even with all the rain, daily temperatures are still pretty high. Think 75 to 80 degrees with pretty good humidity, by which I mean it's humid, but you don't have a hard time breathing or need a shower 10 times a day.

In the midst of this, Mitch and I saw an Indian couple crossing the road. I didn't mean to set that up as a joke, but here's the punchline: she was wearing a traditional saree, he was wearing a sweatshirt and ear muffs.

Oh, Jersey City.

My favorite part of the Fourth of July in our neighborhood is instead of knowing it's gunshots I'm hearing, I can try to convince myself it's firecrackers.