A blog about New York City, my books, and my cats. Mostly.
This picture doesn’t communicate the sheer immensity of this crane, but what I was trying to take a picture of was the Christmas lights someone strung along the arm. Even though it’s there to do a terrible thing, to erect luxury housing in place of a much needed hospital in my neighborhood, I love that someone put up those Christmas lights.
This weekend is going to be a busy weekend. The Loser’s Lounge tonight, the Millions March tomorrow, where hopefully I won’t be among the arrested. I was just thinking that one of the good things about protesting in a dense, urban area is they don’t throw tear gas canisters at us. Too many bystanders.
Santacon is happening the same day, which is the absolute worst timing. Santacon has become a hated thing because the Santas get too drunk and disorderly, throwing up all over the place, acting like jerks. But I only see them early in the day, while they’re still relatively sober. For me it’s still fun to see packs of roaming Santas all over the place. It’s unfortunate timing though, to have two large groups out and about at the same time, one so serious and one so not.
I came across this picture and it made me a little sad. This never happens anymore. Bleeck still adores and wants to play with Finney, but he’s too rough about it and Finney has decided he doesn’t want Bleecker anywhere near him. That said, wherever Finney is Bleecker is nearby, trying to get closer. Sometimes Finney lets Bleecker sleep within inches of him.
Stephen Mager, the conductor of the Arcangeli Chamber Chorus and Orchestra, sent me their holiday CD of Christmas carols (settings by Mager). Each carol should be part of the soundtrack of a movie, they are all very lush and beautiful, and have this sense of the past that I can’t explain. Timelessness, I guess is the best way to put it. Most of them are new to me, and even the one or two I do know feel new again.
Silent Night is sung in German in this collection. (It is so much fun to sing in German!) Silent Night really is the most perfect carol. You can’t sing it and not be moved. It has this haunting, almost sad melody but with such a comforting message: everything is going to be alright now. Sleep in heavenly piece. It’s almost 200 years old now and I bet we’ll probably still be singing it for the next 200 years. The CD is called Joy for Every Age and you can buy it by emailing Stephen Mager, mwc.conductor@yahoo.com.
I should also mention that Christmas With the Choral Society, Vol II, is out. Except, I don’t see a way of buying it on our website. I guess you could get it through me. I should have posted this before the concert because you could have bought it at one of our concerts. It’s got everything: pieces by Palestrina, Gabrieli, Pinkham, Bernstein, Sametz, Whitacre, Rutter, Handel, and of course, carols.
Christmas decorations in my neighborhood. No way this display is lasting through the holidays!
I just handed in my plan for a possible new book, and I’m convinced I’ve come up with a great idea. Let’s hope my publisher thinks so too! Also, my holiday cleaning is done, and my one area which I always decorate for Christmas is decorated! So right now I’m in a great mood, feeling very hopeful, and I’m going to celebrate and treat myself to a nice day or two off.
How shall I begin? Okay, I have to swim which is half a nice thing, but also half exercise unless I make myself swim at an easy going pace. So my first goal is to swim like I don’t have to and can take my time. Then, maybe I’ll buy a Christmas wreath and watch some Christmas movies. I really feel like walking down 5th Avenue taking pictures of all the holiday windows, but it’s about to rain. That will have to wait for another day.
Everytime I walk into the Rite Aid I normally shop at I come face to face with this guy. And every time I do I am startled. Every time. For just a split second he seems real and he doesn’t seem friendly. He looks like he’s about to punch or tackle you.
Santa: Just stop right there! What do YOU want?
Me: Nothing, I swear. Just picking up some shampoo, Santa.
Santa: No. Go away. Get out of here. But first, fix my feet.
