i paid $75 nt for some corn on a stick for lunch in the night market today. slathered in hot sweet sauce, cooked over a rotiserie (sic?) until it carmelized, and handed to me piping hot. more expensive than my usual lunch, but different and pretty damn good. i ate it under the covered sidewalk across from the harbor (it has been raining all day), and watched the traffic drive by. a couple of those decorated blue trucks drove by with a taiko drummer, a gong, and two discordant horn players looking wet and miserable in their bright raincoats. i wonder which God had a birthday today. just another mystery for now, like the water jug with attached cup on the bridge over the railroad tracks. i do like that music though. tonight i'm going to meet richard's boss and see where he works. then we're going to a party at the apartment of a canadian named jacques. it is possible that we may be moving into his apartment in the next week. i'm actually happy it rained today - it has stayed below 80 and this is the first day that i haven't been drenched in sweat. the rain also seems to have knocked the pollution down a bit, though walking by the guys welding in the middle of the sidewalk i still felt like i might pass out.