Stacy Horn

And yet another book I’m jealous about not getting to write myself! But I’m sure Richard Zacks did a great job, and I can’t wait to read Island of Vice. He’s getting some great reviews.

“Here is young Teddy Roosevelt as the reformist New York City Police Commissioner confronted in 1895 with a cabal of unaccountably wealthy police officials, whole neighborhoods of brothels, and the paws of the Tammany Tiger in everything. A delicious municipal history, impeccably researched, excitingly told.” —E. L. Doctorow, award-winning author of Ragtime.

Louis CK is filming two blocks away from me as I type. I need to get back out there and watch. If it’s not too late already. I found out as I was walking back from swimming and that was hours ago. Where has the time gone?? But they were at Hudson and Grove Street.

One of the banners I was considering using to comply with Facebook’s new look. I may use later.

The other day I posted about Steven Santiago, the man who died as a result of a head injury he sustained while saving the life of a drunk who had either fallen or jumped on the train tracks.

I just read that there’s going to be a memorial service on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Balsamo Funeral Home, 3188 Westchester Avenue. It looks like the closest subway stop is Pelham Bay Park on the #6. It would be nice if there was a decent turnout.

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I’ve been updating my Facebook page to the new Timeline version. It’s hard to find a picture that works with that new “cover” banner. I went with this:

My friend Howard needed head shots for an article, so I took a bunch of pictures of him in Washington Square yesterday. Howard is the author (with Sandra Newman) of Read This Next and How Not to Write a Novel.

Here are two! Not bad, I say. In the first one I experimented with the “portrait” setting which is supposed to slightly soften the focus.

Honestly, today I’ve decided I prefer it without the portrait setting.

I read a New York Diaries entry written by Leo Lerman about lunching with writer Erica Jong and actress Stockard Channing. He liked them both, but wrote that Stockard “tells stories better than Erica. Erica is a good listener—sort of cannibalistic …” And I thought, but of course the actress is a better story teller in this kind of setting (although writers can be just as good)! And writers are supposed to be a little cannibalistic!

Please don’t let this stop you from asking us out to lunch. Thank you in advance.

I kept taking pictures of subways the other day.

9:32: Truly the most boring Oscars ever. So far the J-Lo nip slip is the high point. Oh, and the film from Iran winning, except I just read on Echo that the Iranian government just shut their film foundation down.

8:13: Uh-oh. Sandra Bullock has had work. Doesn’t look good. Damnit. It’s almost always a mistake. Well, maybe I’m wrong and it’s just a bad day, maybe just too much filler or botox. ABC seems to have monopolized the red carpet. I do not approve.

7:56: I love Penelope Cruz. I think she’s one of the most beautiful women alive. This dress is wonderful, but I don’t think her hair is a success. It makes her look kinda bald on one side.

7:10: I think it makes more sense to tweet instead of filling up this item.

7:08: Tim Gunn is on ABC. Oh Tim! I’ve missed you so!

7:00: Glenn Close looking absolutely smashing in green. A! Maze! Zing! And whoever this is in a white dress, looks gorgeous. First dress I covet. Octavia Spencer.

6:55: I don’t know who anyone is anymore! I haven’t seen hardly any of the nominated movies. I saw Bridesmaids (LOVED+++) and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (loved, lower case, no pluses).

6:53: Michelle Williams looks lovely as always. The thing about short hair though, it’s hard to make it look special and dressy. Somehow she doesn’t look dressed up or glammed up enough.

Okay, now I’m going to pay attention to the Oscars and the red carpet. Right now Ryan Seacrest is interviewing an actress with red hair. I don’t know who she is.

I bought these flowers for myself, to celebrate handing my book in. Pretty flowers, pretty cat, pretty day (yesterday).