Stacy Horn

I’ve posted before about a video I watched that suggested doing five things every day for 21 days and you’d be happier. It worked for me and I continue to do the five things to this day, except for me it was four. I messed up writing them down and ended up combing two things into one.

I’ve tried many times to find the video again, but I was never successful until yesterday. Here it is. And these are the five things.

– Write down three new things you are grateful for each day.
– Journal (his word not mine) about one positive experience you’ve had that day.
– Exercise.
– Meditate.
– Do one random act of kindness.

Here’s what I did. You can see how my first thing is a mash-up of his first two. But it worked, probably because it’s so close.

– Write down three new things that made you happy that day.
– Exercise.
– Meditate.
– Do one random act of kindness.

I know you’re looking at those first two things on his list and thinking “gag me,” but watch the video and listen to his explanation for suggesting them.

A garden at the end of an alley. Where I’d be having my coffee if this were my courtyard.

The first season was good, but not great. It’s just that it had some really great elements, I loved the humor and all the actors so I kept watching. In season two they must have gotten some new writers or something, because every episode was out of the park great and funny. Season three just premiered and it’s as wonderful as ever, even better actually. I’m sorry if I haven’t mentioned this series before, but it’s so worth watching. Download the first two seasons to get the back story! It’s worth it, I promise.

In other TV news: My heart is broken about Alex Wong. SYTYC fans will know what I’m talking about. I’ve been waiting a year to see him dance again. Poor Alex, poor us. Get well soon though. I’ll still be here (hopefully!) when you get better, still ready and happy to watch you dance.

I kayaked five miles on the Nissequogue River yesterday. Only my fingers are sore! It must be the push-ups.

Give them What They Need to Give You What You Need

If you’re emailing someone to ask them for something, spend some time and think of everything you can do to make it easier for them to help you. Is there information they’re going need that you can get for them? Go get it! Don’t make them look things up, look them up yourself and give it to them. Are there questions they’re likely to ask you? Give them those answers in the initial email. Do as much up front homework as you can. The easier you make it for them, the more likely it is that they’ll help you.

If you are not willing to spend the time to think about and gather what they need, your email might be experienced as rude. Think about it. Not only are you asking them for something, you’re making them do work you could have just as easily done yourself.

Tip 1a. Get to the point.
Tip 1b. Be Honest About What You Want
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Watching the ballgame. This is the ball field on Hudson between Clarkson and St. Luke’s that was once a graveyard. Still is, in all likelihood. There was never any mention of moving the graves that I saw.

I’m smiling, Finn is about to rip my face off. Typical.

This is the story of Buddy and Finn, the short version, because I just noticed how late it is.

I got Buddy (the gray one) to keep my remaining cat Beamers company when my other cat Veets died. Given the same circumstances, I will never do that again. I thought Beamers would be lonely without Veets and would like the kitten company, but in reality I think he would have just liked me all to himself in his old age.

Four or five months later Beamers died (my heart is still broken) and that’s when I got Finney.

Finney was extremely affectionate right off the bat and I was afraid he was going to become my favorite because Buddy didn’t like to be held or picked up. Beamers had been my favorite before, I always felt enormous guilt about slighting Veets, and I didn’t want a repeat of that dynamic.

So I showered showered showered Buddy with love and even though he still doesn’t like to be picked up, he responded to the love and he curls up next to me or on me and I can say in all honest I love them both equally.

They both came from a rescue organization called City Critters, so thank you City Critters for the two furballs of my life. Here’s to all the animal rescue organizations of the world!

St. Paul’s Chapel (the church on the corner of ground zero which did not get smooshed) is going to have a picnic for the 9/11 volunteers on 9/10. They’re having special services on 9/11 as well, but because this is the 10th anniversary, and Obama is going to be here, security is going to be VERY tight, etc., everyone felt it would be easier to have the picnic the day before.

I volunteered to call all the various groups that came to St. Paul’s to help in the volunteer effort to let them know. I’ve got a huge stack of papers for phone calls. I’m going to start with the close states, NY, NJ and CT, and then fan out from there.

This morning I’m going to go swimming, take the quickest shower on record, and run to the library. In other words, a perfect day. This is a view of the Empire State Building from within the library.