Enchanting New York City

It’s so easy to get lost in research.  In fact, I’m going to dive right back in.  But I wanted to post this picture I took of 50th Street, off Beekman Place.  It was such a lush, pretty block.  I walked back down it a couple of hours later, when it was night, and the block felt positively enchanting. I made a little movie, but it didn’t come out alas.  But I think you can imagine it, from this picture.

50th

Cat Shots, Because I Needed Them

I took these this morning to remind myself that most people take good care of their pets. I know there are many exceptions, but I still think most people love their pets and give them good lives.

Here’s Buddy sleeping on my arm.

buddy

And here’s Finney snoozing about a foot away. Everyone was all well fed and taking their post-breakfast nap. Eating is so much work. That looks like a pizza box in the background, but it isn’t. If only.

finney

Animal Legal Defense Fund

I had a horrible horrible night last night because I unwisely read about a recent case of animal cruelty in New York that was so depraved I have a hard time accepting that the girl involved is human.  I am sorry for whatever might have happened to her that turned her into the monster she is, but other people get screwed over by life and they don’t respond by torturing helpless kittens in a way to inflict as much pain, fear and suffering as possible. (Although I guess she must have been born limited to a certain extent, in intelligence and other resources that might have helped her overcome her circumstances as others have.)
 flowers
I’m a bit of a wreck and someone on Echo suggested contributing to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and while I can only give a small amount that is is what I am going do.  I think it’s all I can do to work towards making sure things like this happen less.

But they also provide another way to donate that I think is smart.  If you buy flowers from Organic Bouquet they contribute 5-10% of the purchase to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.  I love this option because from time to time I need to buy flowers for people, so as long as I’m buying flowers anyway I can buy them here and continue to help these poor animals. And the arrangements are gorgeous.

Maybe another way to respond is to join the Big Sister program and help some other kid so she can try to be the best person she can be, enjoying life instead of adding misery to the world. Except my limitations include being completely flummoxed by children! I don’t have much experience in that area. I feel shy around children!

Vote for Jim Parsons!!

Ha!  Yesterday I was going on about Jim Parsons and how great he is and guess who just got an Emmy nomination for Lead Actor in a Comedy?? Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory!! As usual they fell down the the Reality Show category.  And once again I must point out that they never nominated Buffy the Vampire Slayer for anything.  Wait, maybe they got a writing nomination once.  I think they might have.  Oh and Bones wasn’t nominated for anything, so for the most part, as per usual, The Emmys are not relevant.  Except I see they nominated Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog for an Emmy.  That’s a big step in the right direction.

Here are a couple of pictures I took at Hair.  They asked me nicely to stop though, so I did.  This was during intermission, I believe, and they projected these hands on the ceiling.

hands1

And this is the stage where I sang and danced!!  Except it’s a picture of the way back of the stage.

stage2

Now I must insist: watch Warehouse 13

And Big Bang Theory, but more about that in a second.  I just watched the second Warehouse 13 and it holds up AND gets better.  Please give it a try, you will thank me.  I love Pete and Artie, but everyone is good in this.  It’s as I said, smart, sweet, and funny.  And surprising.  Oh, I wish I was more articulate.

But Big Bang Theory.  For some reason I didn’t watch this show at first and I’m really sorry about that but I’ve been making up for lost time and I’ve been watching the reruns this summer.  How many seasons have I missed, because I want to watch every last epsiode.  Mostly because of this guy, Sheldon (his character’s name).  I just looked up his real name:  Jim Parsons.  Anyway, for some reason one night I watched it, too lazy to hit “fav” on the remote to go onto the next channel?  Maybe the Gods of great television summoned their powers to freeze my hand.  Thank you, television Gods.

It was an episode where Leonard gets Penny’s ex-boyfriend to pay her money back and when Sheldon learns what Leonard has done he tells him, “I was wrong.  Minstrels will write songs about you,” and the episode ends with Sheldon singing a minstrel-type song about Leonard’s bravery. It was just so kind and endearing and you have to have seen the whole episode that led up to that. But I’ve been watching it ever since and EVERYONE is good on this show, but I have fallen in love with Sheldon.  Remembering bits now, him drinking coffee, helping Penny with her business.