It is night in Palo Alto.

It is night in Palo Alto. I'm looking outside the open window of a room on the 3rd floor of the Cardinal Hotel. At the bus shelter outside, a man in city-worker garb draws shovel and broom together to loosen the material that has collected around the base of the garbage can. The light on his headband glows blue; the taillights on his white Chevrolet flash yellow. Two cyclists amble past, with flashing red lights. Vocalizations emanate from the truck radio.

Across from my room is an art-supplies store. The third floor has a sign: "Space Available, 650-857-0116, Alhouse - Deaton". The third floor has 12 windows; two of them are lit.