Dear tourists,

Yes. You should absolutely plan your day so that you take the metro from the suburbs into the city during the height of rush hour. You'll be a little disoriented, on an unfamiliar subway system, and you won't know precisely which stop you want -- but during rush hour, you'll have lots and lots of helpful people telling you where to go. Load the kids into the stroller and hop on the train.

Once you get where you're going, the best thing is to stand side-by-side on the escalators and take in the sights and sounds around you as you emerge from the underground station. Don't worry about the people on the escalator behind you -- they understand that you are awestruck by the grandeur and majesty of the granite buildings that say stirring things like "Department of Transportation," and will gladly allow you a moment's peace to soak it all up. The fact that they are in a hurry to get to work should not concern you or your companions -- nor should it cause you to stand single-file on the right, leaving a space on the left for those who wish to walk up the escalator. In fact, when you reach the top of the escalator, stop for a moment and get your bearings. The commuters coming up behind you can go around.

Under my door this evening:

"Dear Ms. Fox:

"According to our records, your rent for the month of February 2002 has not been paid. ... We take this opportunity to remind you that, in accordance with the terms of your lease, no non-certified checks will be accepted after the 10th day of the month. Also, there will be a charge, as additional rent, of $20.00 per day (up to 20% of monthly rent) for each day after the 10th that the delinquency continues."

Bastards. I paid the rent. I wrote a big fat check and put it in the box. They'd bloody well better find it, and if they don't, they'd bloody well better not be charging me these late fees and extra rents. I'll claw their eyes out.

Grr ...