Stacy Horn's Blog, page 163

My Pub Date is Here! Also, I’m insane.

I have gone back and forth and back and forth about how I want to spend my pub date and so far all I’ve managed is swimming in the morning and a few errands. I am out of my mind! What is wrong with me?? I think I will light a sparkler. No, I should wait until it’s dark.

This is Charles Street, which I sometimes take on my way home. Lucky are the people who live on Charles Street.

Tomorrow is my Pub Date!

I didn’t sleep last night. This isn’t good. My publisher has set up a bunch of radio interviews, beginning today. Well, I’m sure I will rally.

My friends and I passed by this small makeshift shrine to James Gandolfini on our way downtown. According to the sign this is where the first episode of The Sopranos was shot (one of the scenes at least). I had the movie Fallen on in the background yesterday and Gandolfini was in it. It was weird to see him in a role that had none of the gravitas or depth of Tony Soprano.

Tomorrow is Pub Day!

I didn’t sleep last night. This isn’t good. My publisher has set up a bunch of radio interviews, beginning today. Well, I’m sure I will rally.

My friends and I passed by this small makeshift shrine to James Gandolfini on our way downtown. According to the sign this is where the first episode of The Sopranos was shot (one of the scenes at least). I had the movie Fallen on in the background yesterday. Gandolfini was in it. It was weird to see him in a role that had none of the gravitas or depth of Tony Soprano.

Views from the World Trade Center Memorial

For people following this blog, you might be surprised to learn that I’ve never been to the World Trade Center Memorial. (I was a volunteer down at St. Paul’s Chapel during the recovery period.)

This shot is of the north fountain, and on the far side you see treetops, and coming out of the treetops, a steeple. That St. Paul’s. If you bear in mind that this fountain represents the footprint of that massive tower, and you’re only seeing one section of the fountain, it becomes even more incredible that tiny St. Paul’s is still standing. More pictures below.

Even though there were signs asking people not to leave objects on the fountain, there were still a few here and there. I turned over this picture and learned that it was Robert Penninger, whose name was inches away. I googled Penninger and everyone talked about how he loved his green Mustang—the car he’s sitting in, in this photograph. Penninger was on Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon.

I liked the spot and the memorial, although it still has a construction site feel to it. It will be nicer when it’s done, and all the buildings are built and this park feels more like an oasis.

Other Great News This Week

The United States is going to retire most chimps from research. I wish it was all chimps, but it’s a great step. As some of you know, I can’t watch a movie or read a book if there’s any animal harm, even if the harm is completely fictional. When I think of animals in real research settings I get so upset I honestly wish there was a god so all the people involved in animal research would end up in hell, while all the animals would end up in Heaven.

I’m sorry animal researchers, and I know on one level some of you are really trying to do good work, but, well, you know the arguments. But maybe for you guys, purgatory. Don’t worry, I’ll be there with you because I’m no saint. You can berate me there.

A few days after that article this one appeared about understanding mortality by looking at chimps. How could anyone perform experiments on animals after reading this?

I took these shots of the furballs taking it easy on a Saturday afternoon. This is Finney …

And this is Bleeck. I woke him up to take the shot. He has such beautiful eyes.

Five Days Until my Pub Date

I didn’t post yesterday because I was busy getting my heart broken by the Bumble & Bumble Model Project, except they made up for it, so I have nothing but good things to say about them. But I was hoping to have my hair cut and colored by my pub date and that’s not going to happen (the cut part is my fault, I took forever to contact the stylist).

Ohmygod!! Here is an excerpt that was just published in Fast Company. Now I’m so excited I can’t sit still! I’m going to need to be sedated before this is all over. Many times.

This is the entrance to New York Marble Cemetery. I know you’re wishing I took a picture of the inside, but there are no gravestones to see. All the graves are in a vault underground.

Five Days Until Pub Day

I didn’t post yesterday because I was busy getting my heart broken by the Bumble & Bumble Model Project, except they made up for it, so I have nothing but good things to say about them. But I was hoping to have my hair cut and colored by my pub date and that’s not going to happen (the cut part is my fault, I took forever to contact the stylist).

Ohmygod!! Here is an excerpt that was just published in Fast Company. Now I’m so excited I can’t sit still! I’m going to need to be sedated before this is all over. Many times.

This is the entrance to New York Marble Cemetery. I know you’re wishing I took a picture of the inside, but there are no gravestones to see. All the graves are in a vault underground.

Today is a Great Day for Many Reasons

But lets start with the Supreme Court. From the New York Times: “In a pair of major victories for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that married same-sex couples were entitled to federal benefits and, by declining to decide a case from California, effectively allowed same-sex marriages there.”

I was in a meeting and didn’t learn until I got off the subway, and walked past the Stonewall Inn on my way home. News trucks and news people were lined up across the street …

This tells you how out of it I am (there is only my new book) — I stopped and asked them why they were there. They very kindly didn’t look at me and ask, “What hole did you crawl out of,” and instead they told me the news. Woohoo!!

I keep forgetting! Canada!! We’re thinking of you.

I just keep forgetting to post about it. But how are you all doing? Please check in and let us know that you’re okay.

I thought I had a picture of the flooded area of the West Village where I live but I couldn’t find it. Here are some downed trees instead.

The Countdown Begins – One Week Until Pub Day

My book Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness Singing With Others comes in exactly one week! July 2nd is my pub date!! I am so excited and hopeful I’m barely sleeping anymore, and I can’t do anything except everything I can think of to get the word out about this book. Pretty much all the advance reviews, both from professional reviewers and from regular readers, have been so positive and glowing. I am, as they say, walking on air.

I went around the city this weekend taking pictures for a presentation about the book. Thank God I did this before the heat wave hit. One of the places I wanted to take a picture of was a wall of a local prison, but the guards wouldn’t let me near it. I’m not easily daunted, however. I walked around until I found a spot where I could shoot it from a distance, which, ironically, turned out to be from a overhang in front of One Police Plaza. Ha.

This shot of the inside of the magnificent Grace Church, where I sing, was a much easier picture to get. The caretaker working at the time couldn’t have been nicer. One week!! ONE MORE WEEK!