Three crows spent the afternoon loudly arriving and departing repeatedly as if they were waiting for something to happen, and eventually either having witnessed what they wished to witness or decided that it was no longer worth their time, wheeled off towards their northern roost. I had a sporadic day as well, full of technical misfires and fruitless pursuits, but it was largely saved by a surprise meeting with a good friend and an hour spent talking excitedly about deep matters in our parked car outside Value Village.