Author: Stacy Horn

My book is due in September and the chapters aren’t coming along quickly enough. Doesn’t it seem like only recently I was writing a book about parapsychology? And now, two seconds later, I’m coming to the end of writing a book about singing? How did that happen?

I was thinking how so many people think they can’t sing and they actually can. They’re like me, they may not have the most beautiful voice in the world, but they can mostly sing in tune and they don’t suck. Except they think they do. So, what? Were they surrounded by mean teachers and parents telling them they couldn’t sing?

Then there are the people who really can’t sing trying out for American Idol without a clue as to how bad they are. They had overly kind teachers and parents, I guess.

Well, time to get to work Buddy. I’m working on three chapters, one about singing coal miners, one about a long dead and forgotten composer named Francis Boott, and one about a piece by Morten Lauridsen. What are you working on?? (Buddy’s answer: “My tour of the nap spots in this establishment.”)

When a building is torn down a fence goes up, blocking the view while they build whatever they’re going to build in that spot. I always look for a hole in the fence to see what’s back there. Obviously I was very influenced by The Secret Garden.

This is what I saw when I peeked through a fence yesterday, two guys just hanging out in the rubble. The one in the back is hard to see, he’s wearing black and he’s sitting in front of a black wall, but if I didn’t pull back you wouldn’t be able to see where they’re sitting in context. They’re nicely dressed, doing whatever they’re doing with their iphones, or whatever device they were holding. It was just a little odd. I was also jealous. There was something inviting about the spot. Maybe it was a throwback feeling to childhood. “Let’s build a fort!”

– A bunch of people suggested setting up a separate site for my new History for Hire business, so I did. Now I actually have to promote the thing and try to get clients. (If you click on the History for Hire link above you’ll see the new site and a quick story about my grandfather.)

– Dating. UGH. Spring is here and I thought, it would be nice to have a boyfriend, but that means dating and looking for one! Ugh to the infinity power.

– The next chapter of my book, which is going to feature a composer named Morten Lauridsen, and other living composers, but a piece of his is going to be the focal point of the chapter. I have to actually try contacting the guy.

A pink dogwood tree, my favorite! This is in Manhattan. There’s a number of them.

I’m reading Cara’s post about the tornados. I feel so terrible for only getting to it now, and I’ve been posting stupid posts about tv instead. (Regular readers of my blog know Cara as a regular visitor here who lives in Alabama). Where was my head at?? I’m so sorry, Cara.

You have to read her post. She’s okay, but has been going through a lot of stuff, as you can imagine. Cara, I’m going to email you.

What I’ve watched so far: Grey’s Anatomy (it was okay, the show hasn’t been great in a long time) Bones (always great) Big Bang Theory (love it, but they have not been at the top of their game this season, still waiting for a high point like the time Sheldon helped Penny try to start a business) The Mentalist (pretty good) Criminal Minds (good but so genuinely creepy and scary it’s hard to watch sometimes) America’s Next Top Model, (always entertaining except those never-seen-before footage shows which I delete on contact).

And I’ve still got Fringe and Supernatural and other shows to watch. Yes, I watch A LOT of tv!

This is my choir, starting to gather for our warm-up before the performance.