Author: Stacy Horn

This is walking west on Grove Street. Marie’s Crisis was named for Thomas Paine, who died in a different building on this spot in 1809. Paine is the guy who wrote “These are the times that try men’s souls,” and that’s from a series of pamphlets he distributed called The Crisis. Oh sad. Just read his Wikipedia entry. I’d learned all this before but had forgotten. He was one of the earliest fighters against slavery, argued against organized or revealed religion, although he believed in God. He argued for something called deism, which is very interesting (reading the Wikipedia entry on deism now).

From Paine, “the account of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and of his dying to appease the wrath of God, and of salvation, by that strange means, are all fabulous inventions, dishonorable to the wisdom and power of the Almighty.” Seriously. Why on earth would torturing and murdering a guy in this way become the path to salvation? It makes no sense. Anyway, for all these perfectly reasonable views he was hated, and only a handful of people attended his funeral.

Marie’s Crisis is a bar where people drink and sing, mostly show tunes. I used to go there when I first moved to the Village in the early 80’s. I haven’t been inside since then. I’m guessing it looks exactly the same.

I broke down and bought a new comforter the day before yesterday. I’ve been hating the one I have, but I didn’t feel like I could afford a new one. The hated one was a down alternative that was awful. Whatever the alternative was bunched up and hardened into clumps in the squares and wasn’t warm.

But when Finney threw up on it I said, “That’s it. I’m not paying one more time to have this cleaned.” I went over to Bed, Bath and Beyond, bought a new one, a different down alternative, and took it home.

It was $163 and I freaked and freaked about spending that much, but by the next morning I was happy. It was so comfortable.

The next day (yesterday) Finney threw up on it.

It happened while I was out so the throw-up had hours and hours to set and stain. I cried. But after a million round of Oxy Clean (which really doesn’t work, I’ve decided) and the laundry, I think it looks like almost new again. (It’s only three days old!)

Finney of course jumps right back into it. I’ve got my eye on you.

Could he be any cuter?? I asked if he was affectionate and his owner said yes, but only when he’s home alone with her. He’s nervous in public. Poor shy little thing.

I took a bunch of pictures but I’m going to try to narrow it down to posting only one more.

On another note, I got this in my email this morning. “Asparagus is among the richest food sources of folate, which helps to keep blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, in check. High homocysteine levels have been linked to atherosclerosis.” I love reading that my favorite foods are good for you. Asparagus is all over the place these days. It must be in season.

How come I don’t know that? Year after year and it never sinks in. Like when certain holidays are. Christ, look at all that gum on the sidewalk. Fucking people. Okay, I have to post two more.

Oh! Ha! I just noticed she’s carrying a plastic bag! Just like people who walk dogs.

I was trying to get pictures of the photographers chasing this girl (who I was told was Olivia Palermo of The City). I realized later that from her point of view I was just one of them!

But I was walking down Perry Street when all these photographers with huge cameras appear and go tearing off down the street. Where did they come from? Do they just lay in wait, hoping a celebrity walks by?

I had to ask people who she was. I watch a lot of tv, but not this show. No offense. A cab pulled over and rescued her.

I had the wrong number for my new dentist so about a week ago I dialed it and now almost every night since some guy in Michigan (who sometimes sounds drunk) has been calling me, twice after 1 in the morning. I think I dialed it again by accident. He realizes it was a misdial, but “call me anyway just to talk.” Ew, ew, ew. I don’t pick up because I think any kind of response may only encourage him, he clearly has problems. A person without problems wouldn’t be doing this. I hope he gives up soon.

Meanwhile, I go back tonight for more root planing and scaling. Oh boy.

This photographer was up on a ladder at 7th Avenue and 11th Street. I’m guessing he was taking a picture of the closed St. Vincent’s, but maybe not.