Stacy Horn

What some people will do for attention (and I give it to them).

A much prettier sight.

I just read her book, The Memory Police. I can’t stop thinking about it. It was both beautiful and moving and horrifying at the same time. Anything I post might give something away. I’m deciding which of her books to read next, except I have a few books in line ahead of her. It’s probably just as well, because I need to take a break from books that can be upsetting and all her books look like they tend to be upsetting. Except Just Mercy is one of the books in line and that looks like a heart breaker. In any case, I highly recommend The Memory Police. It’s exquisite.

My picture today is of Bleecker relaxing within inches of … oh God, who is that? Bali? Bodhi? I’m not sure. Anyway, for the past year I’ve been dealing with a cat behavior issue and it seems like it’s finally over. Bali and Bodhi had started chasing and tormenting Bleecker until he couldn’t be in the same room with them. They still chase him from time to time, but I remembered they always did. And Bali would chase Bodhi, and Bodhi would chase Bali. But it would end and they would all still be friends.

The only thing that hasn’t gone back to normal is Bali used to love Bleecker. Bleecker was indifferent to him, but Bali would do everything he could to be close and curled up near Bleecker, and sometimes Bleecker would let him. Bali doesn’t try anymore. Unless that’s him below.

Yesterday was a lovely day for dancing in the park! A friend and I were sitting in Washington Square Park when we heard some music. We walked over and people were dancing!

Here is the fantastic band providing the music. I just zoomed in and found their name: Eyal Vilner Big Band!

For many years there was a women’s state prison in Chelsea, along the river. It closed in 2012 after it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. I think of this place whenever there’s talk about closing Rikers and opening smaller prisons in each borough. After researching Blackwell’s Island, (now Roosevelt Island) when prisons and other institutions were in operation there in the 19th century, I became very acquainted with the downsides of isolating prisons away from everyone else.

I can certainly understand not liking the idea of having a prison near you, but Bayview was in operation since the 1970s and most people didn’t even know it was there. It’s a beautiful building, and that’s because it was built in 1931, and it wasn’t built to be a prison. It’s first use was as a place for sailors to stay while their ships were docked in Manhattan.

A peek inside.

Another peek inside.

An indication that it was once a prison.

There’s a mural by Knox Martin on the side of the building, but you can’t see it anymore. It’s blocked by another building now.

The details on the side of the building are lovely.

I started watching birdcams during the pandemic. They are fun and surprisingly relaxing. My favorites are one in Akron, Ohio. In addition to the birds they get raccoons, (with babies sometimes!) opossums (my favorite), skunks, bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks, and the occasional deer and cat.

Someone just turned me onto the Cornell feeder, which is lovely. I don’t know what they do but the colors and resolution are great.

Then there’s this new one in Pretoria, South Africa (link is gone now). The variety they get is amazing. For a couple of days I’ve been watching a fruit bat trying to get a banana. It’s been killing me, I so wanted him to succeed and last night, victory!

A few other great sitings at the South African birdcam. This is a genet.

And this is a Hadeda Ibis.