I didn’t attempt to drive home from work until 6:15, and made it home just before 7 p.m. via residential streets. Not bad, considering my usual commute is 15 to 25 minutes on a good day, depending on traffic. I-435 eastbound was obviously going nowhere fast, so I went north on Metcalf to 95th, then to avoid the traffic jam near State Line, I jagged over on a side street that eventually connected with Lee…

The cats and I were just getting settled for the night when they suddenly leapt off the bed and made a dash for their sightseeing perch on the ironing board by the bedroom window. What garnered their interest? The neighborhood raccoon perched on the window ledge (which is on the second floor, BTW). I tapped the window. He stopped scratching behind his ear, gave me a disgusted look, and then wandered off onto the roof…