Month: January 2016

I need two root canals. Not one, two. We were watching two teeth and I was hoping to catch a break, and maybe only need one, but no. I need two. Of course. Because the universe hates me. Not enough to kill me, thank God, but enough to want to torture me.

Meanwhile I can hear steam hissing in the radiators! The heat is back! At least there’s that. The cats and I will be warm tonight.

The picture below is of someone actually sitting in Gramercy Park. For those outside New York City, Gramercy Park is a small, beautiful, well-preserved part of New York. They also have a park that only residents there can use. It’s locked to everyone else. It’s lovely, looks restful, and NO ONE USES IT. I walk by it every time I go to the dentist, which is a lot, because as we know the universe dislikes me intensely, and the park is almost always empty.

It makes sense in the winter, but it’s often empty in the spring, summer and fall.

The picture below was taken this morning and I’m pretty sure this has never happened. When Finnegan started stepping onto my lap I said, “Little dude, this is not going to work.” But he made it work, and Bleecker didn’t do anything to wreck it. Finnegan is actually sitting a little bit on top of Bleecker, but it was the only way he could fit himself in and thank God Bleecker was just fine with that.

Meanwhile: Still without heat and hot water. Right now I have the oven on with the door open and a fan in front of it to blow the warm air into the room. Sounds a tad dangerous, I know.

Just as I started this post the heat came back on. Even though the cold weather has only just started here in New York City, I’ve already lost the heat twice. I’m going to start keeping track. The times I’ve called the landlord so far about the heat: 12/30, 1/5.

In keeping with my mental challenge I will note that it came back quickly this time. And, I own a very effective space heater.

A beautiful sleeping kitty. This is Finnegan in one of his Bleecker-free sleeping spots. Isn’t he the sweetest looking cat in the whole wide world?? I get to curl up with this guy. ENVY ME.

Every year my friend Barbara and I go to see Amahl and the Night Visitors performed at Grace Church. All the singers are always great and charismatic, and hearing this music makes me happy. It is the music of my Christmas childhood. It never fails to put me right back into the best memories. I can actually remember being so anxious on Christmas Eve I could barely contain myself. Anything was possible. That is still true, technically. Not even technically. Every night is Christmas Eve in a way.

Two of the kings passing us by as they walk up the aisle.

I watched the movie Spotlight yesterday. I’m still reeling. What I don’t understand is, why are there no priests in jail? Why isn’t former Cardinal Law in jail? I don’t know how to put it delicately, but when he put priests known to have raped children in positions where they would have contact with children—actually I do remember a term I learned not long ago that puts it more delicately—isn’t he acting in concert? And therefore subject to arrest and prosecution?

The statute of limitations for rape is different from state to state, but it’s 16 years in Boston so they could have prosecuted at least some of those priests when the story first came out. I’m not a legal scholar, so maybe they couldn’t proceed with the incidents that were settled out of court, but according to the film many other victims came forward after the articles came out. What about them? Even now, they can go back to 1999.

Also, if this many priests were being shuffled around, and all over the country, (and the world) other bishops and cardinals had to have been involved. Law doesn’t oversee the entire country. And given the numbers, it had to have gone higher than Law. No one could claim that activity of this magnitude escaped their notice. Investigations continued and are continuing, no?

Further, the church not only hasn’t excommunicated Law … wait a minute, have they excommunicated anyone over this? Googling … one, last year. One. And while Law recently retired, he was given a prestigious appointment in Rome after the scandal broke. They excommunicate people for advocating the ordination of women, but not for raping children?

How can the church talk about healing until all the priests and the people who covered up their crimes have been prosecuted and the victims more truly compensated?

With respect to the mental challenge I have taken I will end with: good work Spotlight team. And that is really an understatement. Think of all the children who would have been harmed if you hadn’t investigated this story.