Stacy Horn

I have gone back and forth and back and forth about how I want to spend my pub date and so far all I’ve managed is swimming in the morning and a few errands. I am out of my mind! What is wrong with me?? I think I will light a sparkler. No, I should wait until it’s dark. <—— SEE? I've been like this all day. This is Charles Street, which I sometimes take on my way home. Lucky are the people who live on Charles Street.

I didn’t sleep last night. This isn’t good. My publisher has set up a bunch of radio interviews, beginning today. Well, I’m sure I will rally.

My friends and I passed by this small makeshift shrine to James Gandolfini on our way downtown. According to the sign this is where the first episode of The Sopranos was shot (one of the scenes at least). I had the movie Fallen on in the background yesterday and Gandolfini was in it. It was weird to see him in a role that had none of the gravitas or depth of Tony Soprano.

For people following this blog, you might be surprised to learn that I’ve never been to the World Trade Center Memorial. (I was a volunteer down at St. Paul’s Chapel during the recovery period.)

This shot is of the north fountain, and on the far side you see treetops, and coming out of the treetops, a steeple. That St. Paul’s. If you bear in mind that this fountain represents the footprint of that massive tower, and you’re only seeing one section of the fountain, it becomes even more incredible that tiny St. Paul’s is still standing. More pictures below.

Even though there were signs asking people not to leave objects on the fountain, there were still a few here and there. I turned over this picture and learned that it was Robert Penninger, whose name was inches away. I googled Penninger and everyone talked about how he loved his green Mustang—the car he’s sitting in, in this photograph. Penninger was on Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon.

I liked the spot and the memorial, although it still has a construction site feel to it. It will be nicer when it’s done, and all the buildings are built and this park feels more like an oasis.

The United States is going to retire most chimps from research. I wish it was all chimps, but it’s a great step. As some of you know, I can’t watch a movie or read a book if there’s any animal harm, even if the harm is completely fictional. When I think of animals in real research settings I get so upset I honestly wish there was a god so all the people involved in animal research would end up in hell, while all the animals would end up in Heaven.

I’m sorry animal researchers, and I know on one level some of you are really trying to do good work, but, well, you know the arguments. But maybe for you guys, purgatory. Don’t worry, I’ll be there with you because I’m no saint. You can berate me there.

A few days after that article this one appeared about understanding mortality by looking at chimps. How could anyone perform experiments on animals after reading this?

I took these shots of the furballs taking it easy on a Saturday afternoon. This is Finney …

And this is Bleeck. I woke him up to take the shot. He has such beautiful eyes.

I didn’t post yesterday because I was busy getting my heart broken by the Bumble & Bumble Model Project, except they made up for it, so I have nothing but good things to say about them. But I was hoping to have my hair cut and colored by my pub date and that’s not going to happen (the cut part is my fault, I took forever to contact the stylist).

Ohmygod!! Here is an excerpt that was just published in Fast Company. Now I’m so excited I can’t sit still! I’m going to need to be sedated before this is all over. Many times.

This is the entrance to New York Marble Cemetery. I know you’re wishing I took a picture of the inside, but there are no gravestones to see. All the graves are in a vault underground.