in toronto, it's a wet and miserable day. it's pouring rain, and water is churning down the street in miniature dirty rivers. i left the house late this morning, and decided to take a streetcar (i usually walk). i had to buy a pack of gum that i didn't need or want to get change, as the ttc drivers aren't allowed to make change for the riders. after getting my fare, i had to run, splashing through puddles back to the stop, where a lineup of people hungry for the warmth and shelter of the inside of the car waited in line to board. at the front, a woman argued with the driver about her fare as we soaked soaked soaked up the filthy rain.

a few stops after, a man got on the car with a small child, who was dressed head to toe in a yellow slicker and hat. ever notice how a small child on a streetcar walks a lot like a drunk? they're completly carried to-and-fro by the momentum of the rocking of the car, and a couple of times the little one almost toppled over, only to be rescued by his dad grasping the hood of his smart little yellow coat. the thought made me smile even though when i'd boarded originally i was feeling wet and miserable and bitter. the kid caught my smile and returned it; warmly and innocently. without any judgement or shyness.

when i arrived at work, the garbage and recycling bins were strewn hap-hazardly all over the sidewalk. i picked them up, one-handed, my umbrella in the other, and returned them to the side of the house. this will not be noticed. i don't need to do this, i just couldn't bring myself to go inside and leave them out there like that. after walking upstairs to my office, i saw that i'd left wet muddy footprints on the stairs from trudging through the yard to bring the bins to where they belonged. this i am sure will be noticed.

*sigh*