Stacy Horn

I hear it’s going to be a billion degrees today. That kinda sucks. But, I’m off today! I can hide inside all day if I want. Anyway, I’m going to get to work. Morning is my best time for writing.

I took this picture of the Empire State Building peeking through the trees on my way home.

I have tomorrow off. I’m going to use the holiday to work, but still! My work (researching and writing) is fun!! God, I miss my writing life. I can’t wait to get back to it. I will always be grateful to the U.S. Census for giving me a job when I really needed it, but as I was telling one of my Census co-workers, much as I love them (and I do, these people are great) I miss working on my book full-time. Keying in and filing time sheets just can’t help but compare really badly to the research I’m doing now.

For instance, just before leaving for work yesterday I was reading the latest email from an astronomy professor named Dr. Mark Whittle. He’s been helping me understand what he talked about at a presentation at the recent World Science Festival. (Thank you, Dr. Whittle!) I’m tying something he worked on back to something Leonard Bernstein said at a Harvard lecture 40 years ago, and then I’m tying all of that back to singing Mozart, Bach, and others. It was painful having to leave that.

Finney update: Finney is MUCH better. He’s been completely off the pain killers for a few days now and he’s peeing normally. He and the treatment we’re giving him is going to be part of a study about cats with cystitis. So life at Perry Street is SO much better now.

So You Think You Can Dance Update: ALEX. For the love of God. ALEX. I’ve watched that hip hop routine a billion times. If you aren’t watching the show you are really missing something this season.

This is a picture of a a fire I passed by on the way home. It was pretty intense. I wonder what the outcome was. I guess I’ll find out when I walk home today. Unless it’s a katrillion degree out. In which case I’ll be taking the subway.

Holiday tomorrow!!

Remember the red shoes that were sitting out in front of my building?

Well, this time, in the same spot was a pair of blue sneakers. It’s a very tiny mystery, but still. What is with this spot and shoes?

This year the Fourth of July fireworks are on the west side!! I’m going to try watching them by the river, but depending on how many hundreds of thousands of people are there (and the heat) I may retreat to my roof. But I’m excited about what pictures I might get–of the people and the whole scene, not the fireworks.

We get Fourth of July off at the Census. We didn’t get Memorial Day, but we’re close for Fourth of July. I wonder why that is? We have a bunch of vets at the office so it felt kinda wrong that they had to work that day. Although I think they were glad and happy to have the work, so there’s that.

There’s a close-up below because I don’t think you can really see them in this shot, but this great building had the most perfectly trimmed little … trees, hedges (?) in the windows. Thank you fussy people in this house. They look great!

Finney update: He doesn’t have cancer! The vet gave him a cortisone shot and we’re going to give him another ultrasound in a couple of weeks. ($$$)

What is my plan for the week? I must consult my “to-do” lists. Let’s see … lots of work work work and the start of my yearly round of doctor’s appointments (just check ups, I’m fine).

Finney update: The redness is gone, but he still needs the pain killer.

I took this yesterday on the way home from work. Cops were everywhere (Gay Pride Parade day). I left early because I wasn’t feeling well. I’m sure it was stress-related, but I’m feeling fine now in any case.