The house creaks, shifting its weight as evening settles over my home. I slip out the back door as quietly as I can, trying not to wake up the dog. It's chilly outside; I can see my breath hanging in the air for a moment before it evanesces into the stark fall night. Looking south, I can see the pale warm glow of the city. The light is both a blessing and a curse: It's never totally dark, giving the illusion of warmth, yet because of it, one can never see the starlight wavering down from above. After a while, I notice that my feet are getting numb, so I shuffle back inside to reflect on all the implications of my late night observances.

Tunes: "Stakeout", Freezepop (scroll down); "The Apartment Song", Tom Petty; "Boys Don't Cry", The Cure; "What These Bitches Want From A Nigga", DMX.