It’s such a lovely Caturday — let’s have open thread on the front steps today. It’ll also help us keep an eye on Mr. Gray. “Despite his bird collar, Mr. Gray still hopes to get a fat pigeon one bright day,” says sender-inner Julie W.
Weekend Open Thread
What’s a bird collar? And what’s going on across the street?
hi, 6rabbits
a bird collar is this: https://www.birdsbesafe.com/
Mr. Gray was a feral teenager when he chose us, and has really good hunting skills from being ‘out in these streets’. this collar helps the birds see him. doesn’t stop him catching rodents at all, which he still considers his job. he still does catch the occasional bird, but it is ~ monthly instead of daily.
across the street is, unfortunately, construction of some really oversized “townhomes” on what was the site of a neglected old building and some really excellent trees.
Well that is very helpful because otherwise you can’t really see him. Awesome!
I enlarged the picture and that space doesn’t look adequate for townhomes!
Something tells me the stealthy hunter will not catch the pigeons, who appear to be having a pleasant chat. I recently read that pigeons mate for life. That changed my view of them.
Not only that, they return to the same place to nest and raise their babies every year. I remember a lovely couple that nested on the kitchen window ledge opposite mine when I lived in Hell’s Kitchen.
That was what changed *my* mind about pigeons—in spite of having once had pigeon poop land inside a tote bag I was carrying to work. (Filed under Poop Happens.)
One of my LR windows faces the side of a building. A pigeon with distinctive markings has come with a mate to that window for years. They nuzzle. A pigeon couple, could be the same couple since the female had at least similar markings, used to nest one floor down and a few years ago there was a tragedy. Tenants renovated and the nest with fledglings was destroyed. Mom came back for a couple of weeks I believe looking for the babies. Nobody’s nested there since.
Hell’s Kitchen–wow that takes me back. I lived there for about 6 months back in 1990 or 91. Walked through Times Square to get to work, as the bus was infuriatingly slow and there were no subway lines. Walking past all the p$rn theatres was a real eye-opener!
No subway lines??? Times Square is the Crossroads of the World! You can get the A, C, E (plus the K in the late 1980s), N, Q, R, W (in the late 80s it was the B, D, N, Q, and R), 1, 2, 3, 7, and S. At West 49th you can pick up the N, R, W, and Q, and at West 50th you can pick up the C or E, or the 1.
You perplex me, DebG!
I’m deeply impressed with your knowledge of lines that are no longer running. I too was puzzled by the no subway line but I assumed it meant there was no direct service from home to work.
I have discovered that people in the.vast reaches of the country where people drive to work expect to spend much less time in transit to work than the average New Yorker. I grew up in Queens and if you live in Queens or most of Brooklyn or the Bronx an hour commute to “The City” for work is considered not bad.
Indeed. I’ve lived here my entire life, and as a third-generation New Yorker, I remember some defunct lines from personal experience, including the AA, the RR, and the 9, but I have to confess that the K rings no bells—I found it on a 1987 map, and I’m not sure it’s real, and not just there just for copyright reasons.
Not only do I remember subway lines, I know the difference between the Lexington Avenue Line, the Sixth Avenue Line, the Seventh Avenue Line, the Broadway Line, and the Eighth Avenue Line, AND I can correctly identify which of those are IRT, IND, or BMT lines. Do NOT get me started on the $*&@ $% fools who call these lines by the colors on the logos. This is New York, not Boston. Sheesh.
And by “here” I meant Manhattan. My mom is from the Bronx (but rooted for the Brooklyn Dodgers), my dad from Queens, and *his* dad from the Bronx.
I revel in knowing which lines are IRT, which BMT, and which IND! I always call the 4,5, and 6 the Lexington Avenue. It’s home. I went to high school and college on the Upper East Side, my law school was on a Lexington Avenue stop, when I worked in Brooklyn, the office was on a Lexington Avenue stop , and 33rd St has been my home stop for more than 30 years.
Ricky & Bibi’s Mom – It’s been a while since I lived in NYC, but I do remember that going crosstown was always a real hassle. Even if there was a crosstown line, connecting to it was usually a long, labrynthian underground trek and walking above ground was faster than trying to transfer. I used to walk 1-2 miles to work because it ended up being faster than trying to take the subway or bus or a combination.
True, true, getting across town is a PITA unless you don’t mind walking—which I don’t, IF I have time. Walking is my favorite form of exercise. But at Times Square there are two lines going crosstown, which is more than you’ll find anywhere else. At 14th Street there’s the L (the Canarsie Line), which is much, much better these days than it used to be. For anything else you have to know where ostensibly uptown-downtown lines take doglegs for a few blocks—and they’re seldom where you’d like them to be.
I was heading from 12th Ave and 48th St, if I recall, to 5th Ave and 42nd St. Hell’s Kitchen didn’t have any subways. By the time I got to Times Square, it wasn’t worth getting on the subway–I was practically at work!
That explains it. The M50 bus would have gotten you to Fifth Avenue, but not necessarily faster than you could walk it.
Wow, buses too! My hat is off to you. I’ve got nothing.
Well if they gave gold medals for blending in to their environment, Mr Gray would be a contender. Good thing for his colorful collar. Too bad about losing the trees and gaining townhomes. Some areas of San Diego are going through the same construction woes. On the basis of not having enough affordable housing, the powers that be have decided to try and cram in as many apartments as possible on sites that barely can contain them. Just shaking my head.
Peeps I would appreciate good thoughts sent our way for my 15 year old Beans who has not been eating well and has started drinking more in the last few weeks. We have an appointment with the vet on Tuesday. I’m actually hoping for a diagnostic of diabetes because that can be managed, I’ve had a diabetic cat before.
I’m trying to keep my spirits up but it’s hard.
Fingers and toes crossed for you and Beans.
We’re sending all the purrs your way. Diabetes would be good news, weirdly.
Sending you good thoughts, Georgiana. 💜
Hoping for diabetes!🤞🏽
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you and Beans. Maszat is sending loud purrs and her kittens are sending tiny purrs!
There are kittens? Tell us more! And send in photos!
Ems, I’ve been wondering about you! Kittens? Please tell more!
Yes Georgiana. So very very hard. Hoping for the best outcome. Beans is one of my favorites.
Hugs 💕
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Crossing my fingers also, hoping for a treatable solution for Beans. Tuesday, probably seems like long time from now.
Keeping good thoughts for Beans and for all of you.
Julie, have you tried putting some bells on the collar? Might help.
Georgiana, good thoughts and feathered hugs are being prioritized on the airwaves in your direction.
Well, it’s stormy here at the moment so I think I’ll stay inside. Supposed to be nice later in the weekend.
Had to log into work for a bit and my internet keeps going out so it’s been a frustrating morning. It better not do this tomorrow.
Hugs to everyone; sounds like we could all use one.
I discovered a self-care app recently called Finch. It is very cute. You start out as a baby birb (I named mine Opal) and grow as you do things (you can set goals and track them, and there are prompts where you can add notes and stuff, though I haven’t done much of that yet…they’re only saved on your device, too, so no one else can see what you write). For the first week I only set one daily goal, to drink water. Today I added some more, including do the dishes and take three deep breaths. You can also connect with other birbs and do things like send hugs and go adventuring together (and I just discovered a little while ago that when she’s adventuring, if you tap on her she whistles a little tune). When she comes back from adventuring she shares something with you (for example, she has discovered music and books). Opal became a toddler yesterday.
That spot is so cute!
Allein – thanks for sharing about Finch. I love the idea of small goals and tracking progress. My therapist tells me that I need to do more for myself. This would be a nice way to remind myself to do that
What a cutie. I would absolutely go for the heart.
Julie, you’re so lucky that Mr. Gray chose you! What a handsome fellow, with excellent camouflage skills.
I’m really enjoying my extra time off. Finishing up textile projects makes me very happy! It’s a good antidote to all the horrible news of the past week.
Sending everybody big hugs and happy thoughts for the weekend.
Hello fellow Qte-watchers.
I would love to step out onto the front steps like Mr. Gray, but I’m on Day 6 (I think) of covid. As far as covid goes, it’s been mild but I know that’s due to the meds I received plus the vaccinations/booster I already had. I was developing a really bad cough Tuesday, among other things, but by Wednesday when the meds kicked in my symptoms greatly improved. Still have symptoms and feel lousy (ugh, the fatigue), but given what others have gone through I have nothing to complain about. I’m so grateful for modern medicine and urgent care centers. So grateful my apt and neighborhood is quiet so I can rest and for food-delivery services. I wanted to make use of my quarantine by doing some serious reading, but my foggy brain says “are you kidding me?”. So, I’ve been re-watching lots of Downton Abby, reading some news (speechless) and of course staying up on all things in Cute-Land (thank you, Mike).
Sending everyone peaceful and healing thoughts. Hope everyone enjoys their long weekend.
Hope you are feeling better soon!
I hope you get back your strength soon, fatigue is terrible.
I’m glad to hear this is not going too badly. I hope it’s all over soon.
Stay away from the news. It’s not healthy.
Echoing what everyone else has said!
Dana, I’m sure you’re feeling wretched but it’s great to hear things aren’t dreadful for you. Sounds like you’re taking good care of yourself. That’s the best medicine, along with kitty purrs which my kitties send in large quantities. They are fantastic purr machines.
I’m grateful that you’re experiencing mild symptoms. Get some rest and recharge yourself while you have this opportunity.
I just realized I forgot to compliment the handsome (and handsomely attired) Mr. Gray! My apologies for the belated acknowledgment, Julie W!
It’s Caturday, and while I could send this to NTMTOM, I feel this is the Cat News we need Right Now:
That’s so funny. I love how the one cat passes the other with the Tupperware in its mouth and I’m imagining the other cat rolling its eyes! 🤣
Awwwwww…how sweet!
A cat and his Tupperware makes the universe a better place.
Hilarious and so so adorable. Oliver’s happiness and good health make the world a better place. So does his loving family who just embrace the weird.
Hee!!!
Awwww.