Author: Stacy Horn

I think Finney would love one of these, to have a place where Bleecker couldn’t bug him. Except I think I’d need to buy him stairs to get up into it, which might defeat the purpose.

I just wanted to say thank you to Director John Hutchins and everyone else at Citywide Aquatics, New York City Parks and Recreation, for the fantastic Lap Swim program they run every year (for the past 33 years!).

Every year, all over the city, in all boroughs, we get to swim for free outdoors, and to participate in this really fun (and healthy!) challenge. I love it. I love swimming, the people I swim with, and the people of Citywide Aquatics. GREAT JOB everyone!!

Finney checks out my trophy. It’s not edible, so, who cares as far as he’s concerned.

Woohoo! Tonight is the party for all the people who won the City’s lap swim contest, and for the people who swam at least 25 miles!! I’m going to get a trophy and a tshirt and a dinner!!

Plus, there is always a relay race where our pool traditionally comes in last or second to last. This year I will do my part to maintain our losing streak. Wish me luck!

It’s been just ages since I posted a picture of a pack of dogs being walked. And never before by someone on a bike. God I love all dogs.

The other day I was trying to decide where to sit and read. I went with the River. That reminds me, I have questions about the currents in the East River and I was wondering who to ask. The Coast Guard? I will start there. I mean yes, I’ll google it too, but come on, contacting the Coast Guard is more fun.

My view of the river while reading. Beautiful boat. Ship. Whatever you’re supposed to call it.

Be still my heart. I’ve just started reading the first of a group of books I plan to read for inspiration. Not because they have information that I need, but because they cover the time and place I’m writing about in a way that I hope will help me. The danger is that they are so well-written they might crush my tender-writer feelings.

First up, The Waterworks by E. L. Doctorow. Holy mother of God could this man write. I would be crushed, by the way, if I wasn’t enjoying it so much. And it’s doing exactly what I hoped, it’s giving me ideas. After this it’s on to The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, and I’m thinking I might also need to read The House of Mirth.

If you have favorite novels about 19th century New York City I’d love suggestions for more to read! Thank you in advance!

Clouds across the street from my apartment. I wanted UFOs to start pouring out of them, like they do in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.