Stacy Horn

The title of Tadd’s dance for your life routine was “Send me home, I don’t care.” He didn’t put anything into it! But I can’t fault the decision to send Chris home, even though he was one of my favorites. I agree he just wasn’t doing as well in other styles. But, I love him so … SOB.

Ashley was also a favorite, and I don’t like Ryan, but I absolutely can’t fault the decision here as well. Ashley and Jordan, like Tadd, were barely trying it seemed. While Ryan’s dance for your life routine was fabulous. As was her dancing this week. And last. Okay, Ryan is winning me over. Caitlyn also won me over with her dancing this week, and that reminds me! This week’s routines were pretty so-so for the most part (sorry choreographers, mostly you bring it week after week, not complaining).

It must be hell to park in my neighborhood. I wonder if there are some figures somewhere about which neighborhood has the most movie shoots. This was coming home last night from the … (where else?) library.

Some of the email I get is so badly composed I worry that a lot of people don’t get the help they need because they don’t know how to ask for it. I’ve decided to put together a few tips for writing email.

Tip 1A. Get to the point.

State the purpose of your email in the first sentence. Just say flat out who you are and what you’re writing about and what you want from the person. I know you think you have to sell them on it first, or ease into it, but taking too long to get to the point increases the chances that the person won’t read through to whatever it is you’re writing about.

Let people know right away why you’re writing them so they can read the rest of the email with that understanding. It’s disorienting otherwise. You’re reading and reading and you don’t know why. Sometimes when I finally learn why someone has written me I have to reread the email in that light (not fun when you get a lot of email). Some people never tell me. Don’t assume that your reason for writing is obvious, or that the person will figure it out and offer what you need without your having to ask. Tell them that at the start.

Tip 1B here.

NOTE: There are exceptions to every rule and every tip I’m going to give, of course. But breaking the rules is an art. Only the most adept can pull it off.
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A garden at Canal Street and the highway that wasn’t there yesterday. Okay, it was, but not too long ago it was much more bare. When did trees have time to grow this high?? Some were at least two stories high! I thought putting a small park there was a bad idea, it was such an unpleasant spot. But now it’s so green and lush and the trees are so big you feel hidden from the surroundings. If I worked in this area I would take my afternoon breaks here, with a cup of tea.

I agonized about where to watch the fireworks, down on the river or up on my roof? There was a nice vibe down on the river. I overheard the tiniest bit of the conversation pictured here and what I picked up was: the guy on the right has been out of town for a while and was very very very happy to be back. He was comparing the cops in NYC to the cops in whatever place he was, and they were all enjoying the comparison and each other’s company and it was very sweet. But …

… I went for the roof. Every year I take pictures of the fireworks and every year they don’t come out. I figured I’d only subject you to one mediocre picture of fireworks, and …

… one picture of the Empire State Building. Those are not clouds but smoke from the fireworks.

A piece in the Times today reminded me that I meant to thank the four republican senators who voted for same-sex marriage. It’s one thing (and a good thing) to do the right thing when you have a lot of support. It’s quite another when a lot of people are against you and you’re putting your career at risk. So thank you Senators Mark J. Grisanti, James S. Alesi, Roy J. McDonald and Stephen M. Saland.

Today is a better Fourth of July thanks to you and everyone else who worked towards the passage of this bill. We still have a long way to go, but we’re in a better position to celebrate the freedom of America when we do what we can to make sure ALL our citizens have access to the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

A workman has been here fixing a bunch of cracks and leaks in the ceiling, so we’ve been moving the furniture around as he works. Finney decides the end table in the middle of the room is the best spot to sleep. It makes no sense.