SomeGuyInVirginia and The Squeaking Talisman Mystery: 2019 reads

Beguine.

January

1) Dead Famous, by Ben Elton (January 8)
2) Bryant & May: Hall of Mirrors: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery, by Christopher Fowler (January 19)
3) Coffin, Scarcely Used, by Colin Watson (January 26)

February

4) Fire Will Freeze, by Margaret Millar (February 20)

March

5) I Have a Bad Feeling About This, by Jeff Strand (March 7)
6) Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner(March 19)
7) Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, by David Sedaris (March 28)

April

8) A Noise Downstairs, by Linwood Barclay (April 6)
9) Good As Gone, by Amy Gentry (April 13)
10) Victorian Britain, by Patrick N. Allitt (on our about April 26)

May

11) The Hephaestus Plague, by Thomas Page (May 23)
12) Elevation, by Stephen King (May 27)

June

13) I Had the Right to Remain Silent... But I Did Not Have the Ability, by Ron White (June 23)

July

14) The Evening Crowd at Kirmser's: A Gay Life In The 1940S, by Ricardo J. Brown (July 2)
15) Convenience Store Woman, by Sayaka Murata (July 17)
16) True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World, by Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd (July 25)

August

17) The Escape Room, by Megan Goldin (August 18)
18) Unreliable Memoirs, by Clive James (August 28)

September

19) The Diary of a Bookseller, by Shaun Bythell (September 7)
20) This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, by Adam Kay (September 25)
21) Lock Every Door, by Riley Sager (September 30)

October

November
22) The Last Days of August, by Ron Jonson (November 1)
23) A Time of Torment, by John Connolly (November 24)

December

24) The Whisper Man, by Alex North (December 2)
25) The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides (December 5)
26) When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Judith Kerr (December 25)
27) The Institute: A Novel, by Stephen King (December 31)

Welcome back!

Happy New Year!

Happy reading in 2019!

Have a very Happy New Year, Larry! Starred!

Begin that ol' Beguine for 2019. Palm-swayingly, Moi

Have a good reading year in 2019, Larry!

As someone I'm fond of says, "I'm in."

>2 drneutron: Thanks doc, it's good to be back.

>3 Berly: Yay 2019! I was so over 2018!

>4 The_Hibernator: How beautiful, thanks!

>5 FAMeulstee: Thanks you, and you too!

>6 mstrust: Thanks Jennifer, and the best to you, as well! I hate it when Uncle Joe forgets that a pill box hat makes him look drunk!

>7 richardderus: Thanks RD, I can hear the music playing!

>8 harrygbutler: Thanks Harry! Cool card!

>9 karenmarie: It wouldn't be a party without you!

Total, mind numbing insomnia, even with the Ambien. It really is a work thing, I slept OK for most of my days off. Can't wait to GTH out of here today.

It sounds like AmBien isn't doin' the job...time to stock up on DMT. It won't matter what state your eyes are in, you'll be dreaming golden dreams in no time at all.

At least you're on the down side of the day, Larry - isn't there something else your doctor can prescribe for you?

I'm sorry about your insomnia, but hopefully you're home now and sleeping right at this moment.
Or-

get The Ostrich, which will allow you to sleep right at work. If you can sleep through the snickering.

Oh my god, it's genius! They will never know!

What a difference a day drug-induced stupor makes. I went home and if it read 'may cause drowsiness' on the label I took it. I chewed up those pills like a gerbil with a mouthful of nuts. Slept like a log until 2:30am, when I woke up.

>13 karenmarie: There are, and whatever out there is an option, but it's all kind of scary.

Congratulations on getting some sleep. Sounds like it wasn't enough though. As I've had long bouts of insomnia since I was a kid, I'll just throw out things that have worked for me. Maybe there's something you haven't tried yet.
melatonin, 3mg
Zzzquil, full dosage, maybe a little more.
Salt tablets- if you don't have high blood pressure. My doctor told me about this, saying several of his patients had good results by popping one or two at night, not to fall asleep, but to stay asleep. It's worked for me. They're at the pharmacists counter, no prescription needed.
Lavender oil on the wrists and chest.
Lavender shower gel at night in a hot shower.
A very, very cold room. Shivering cold, and pile on blankets, make sure your feet are warm.

>14 mstrust: Snickering my eye! I about bustured my appendix from the guffaws.

Happy 2019
A year full of books
A year full of friends
A year full of all your wishes realised

I look forward to keeping up with you, Larry, this year.

>14 mstrust: I've seen pics of that before but would be too self-conscious to wear it where even my husband could see it, much less my daughter.

>16 mstrust: I do better in a cool-ish bedroom - 62F works great for me. Keeping the feet warm is critical, I agree, and I have corn bags for that. Here's decadent for you - I have a small microwave oven in the bedroom solely to heat up the corn bags. Never used for anything else.

Larry - I hope you and Parker D. Cat are having a wonderful day.

>16 mstrust: Thanks Jennifer. Some I've tried, but I never thought about salt tablets. Is that so the person doesn't have to go to the bathroom? I also tried melatonin but it tore my stomach up. I am a delicate flower.

>18 PaulCranswick:. It's always so good to hear from you, Paul. I need to do a better job of posting on LT.

>19 karenmarie: Heya Karen! I was in bed for 12 hours and slept great. I woke up at 3, which seems to be a thing, but took another half Ambien and didn't budget until Parker started playing gave bongos around 11. I'm limiting my caffeine to just Comes.

>17 richardderus: And yet the manufacturer assures us in their advertisement that it's just practical. I guess their coworker's don't have camera phones.

>19 karenmarie: I think you have to be okay with knowing you'd be turned into a meme for sure. It's just too tempting for anyone to pass up.
I've read that the optimal room temperature is the low to mid 60's. I like it to be about ten degrees cooler than that. I've just found that a very cold room and lots of covers works best for me to stay asleep. Before my parents moved to Vegas, some of us met up there but my Mom and sister couldn't get a room because the hotel was booked. There was an extra Queen in my room so they stayed with Mike and I, and years later, my sister still talks about how I cranked the temperature down to the 50's and she and Mom spent the night huddled together and shivering. :-D

>20 SomeGuyInVirginia: The salt tabs may well keep someone from going to the bathroom. My doctor encouraged me to eat salty foods and take the salt tabs during the day too.
I've had people say that melatonin didn't do anything for them, but I've never heard of it making someone sick. Sorry, but I don't blame you for avoiding it then. I'm glad you finally got to sleep though. Turns out that exhaustion works too.

Dead Famous, by Ben Elton (January 8)

Fun read, very cinematic. I especially liked the ending, when the murderer was revealed in a classic Agatha Christie manner but with such modern trappings.

Elton relies on comic action and speech rather than comic exposition. Very American.

>21 mstrust:. Jeez! I wish the medical community would get their act together on one thing. Milk is good, milk is the silent killer. Now that tobacco is taboo they'll probably find out it cures warts.

I think the Ambien is working, it will just take a while. I shouldn't complain, not too long ago my biggest health problem was restless legs and now with the Ropinirole that's gone.

>22 SomeGuyInVirginia: That book seems so familiar that I may have it on my shelves. I've read Popcorn from him.
>23 SomeGuyInVirginia: I know, and a lot of it depends on who funded the study. Adam Ruins Everything did an episode about dieting and showed how the sugar industry had ruined a scientist's career when he said too much sugar would make you fat.
Good luck with the Ambien, and remember to lock up your car keys and phone ;-)

>23 SomeGuyInVirginia: Of course tobacco cures warts! Anything that kills you dead cures warts. Never, ever have another wart! (Corpses can't grow 'em.)

Not a tobacco fancier, me.

It's an addiction thing. I didn't smoke long, but oh my gawd did I love it. As soon as the doc gives me my burn notice I'm lighting up.

Not being a fan of the USPS package delivery, or Amazon delivery for that matter, this made me laugh out loud when I saw it.

The USPS response to Amazon drone delivery.

>27 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ooooo. I've actually got plans for one-a them. I can think of a couple of outfits that could do with a brace of them. An hour's drive (one-way) from my house, but a package sent takes days and days. I'm north of Philly, but a package sent to me from there goes to a hub south of Baltimore so it can be transferred to a wagon pulled by oxen that takes it to Harrisburg, thence east to me.

At the Ayurveda lecture today the speaker said that a good sleep aid was milk with 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Just sayin'.

Other than sleeping and not sleeping and great commuting from drumpf's shutdown, how's it with you and Parker D?

>27 SomeGuyInVirginia: I want a trebuchet.

>29 karenmarie: +1 on 1C warm milk w/nutmeg. Who cares if it's healthy! It tastes nummolicious and is sybaritic enough to make sleep sound and happy.

What up, buttercup? I'm guessing things are very busy. Or maybe you've been asleep for days.

>28 weird_O: I know, it drive me nuts and I think it's getting worse.

>29 karenmarie: I'll try it. Some of that stuff is remarkably effective.

>30 richardderus: Wow! I can just see you now with a siege machine! Scary!

>31 mstrust: Present! I'm awake! The dog ate my homework! Oh, hurro. We had snow over the weekend! I've skootched it out to a second day of working from home.

Cheers, Lar, hoping you're outside the wintry-blast zone. I'm out to buy the few grocery items I need and get reserves from the library.

Man, the days are just packed.

Bryant & May: Hall of Mirrors: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery, by Christopher Fowler (January 19)

I have Full Dark House on my shelves, the first in the series. Have you read it?

I have, this series is one of my favorites and one of the few series mysteries I've kept reading. I think you'll like it, too, and Fowler includes a lot of London history and theater history. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

I've got to review this for early reviewers, I'll probably get to that tomorrow. Let me know if it sounds interesting and I'll send it to you.

Ah, the Peculiar Crimes Unit! My favorite whimsical mystery series. Looking forward to the review.

Hi, Larry. First time visiting but we have quite a few books in common, so I thought I'd see what's what.

>36 SomeGuyInVirginia: I, too, am a big fan of the Bryand & May series. I haven't read all of them yet - I'm reading the new ones as they come out and the older ones in order as I have time. I ordered Hall of Mirrors from the UK because I didn't want to wait for it to come out in the US, and its now been sitting on my shelf for months. Oh, well.

>23 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ropinirole is WONDERFUL! I can't live without it. I suffered from RLS for many, many years, and now as long as I take it by a certain time in the evening, I'm good. 10mg before I travel anywhere that requires sitting for some time, or before going to a movie. On the sleeping pill side of things, Ambien was not my friend - I could get to sleep, but then I would wake up in the middle of the night. When I first started taking it, I would get up and raid the fridge (which is something I never do), but not remember that I did so (or have only a vague recollection.) Apparently, this is a pretty common side effect of Ambien. When I've needed it, I've had much better luck with Lunesta. Sorry, didn't mean to turn this into a medical rant.

>37 richardderus: How is it possible that you read so much, oh my wise friend? Yes, whimsical is the perfect word for the series, but not in an insufferable way. They are as highly entertaining as they are highly improbable. It's a series I read for the company rather than the plots.

>38 rretzler: Thanks for stopping by! Wow, we do have a lot of books in common, more than 11% which is high. Have you ever checked out LT member Fang's library? He's got a pretty awesome mystery collection.

Ropinirole changed the way I live my life, my RLS was getting totally out of hand. I've also found that I need to take it sooner rather than later in the afternoon, because an hour or two before bedtime is too late. My rx for Ambien is up so I'll probably have to visit the doc to get a refill. I'll talk to him about Ambien vs Lunesta. Ambien helps but it's not the cure I was hoping for. I was afraid that I'd wind up driving to work in my PJs or something but I haven't had that problem. I briefly tried Ambien about 15 years ago and vividly recall having a long conversation with someone who I knew wasn't actually there, but kept on talking anyway. Maybe they changed the formula?

>39 SomeGuyInVirginia: No job, remember? Limited mobility...nothing demanding time except food, reading, and the YGC. Doctor visits once a month. I'd go BAnanas if I wasn't a reader!

Hi Larry! I hope you and Parker D are doing well.

>36 SomeGuyInVirginia: Thank you for the kind offer. Send away.

>38 rretzler: >39 SomeGuyInVirginia: Taking drugs to deal with Robert Louis Stevenson? He's been dead for many years. Don't lose any sleep over him.

ETA: Google corrected my misunderstanding. :-)

>42 weird_O: *snort!*

>39 SomeGuyInVirginia: Just checked out Fang's library and I'm soooo jealous! Funny story - before Ropinirole, I was willing to try anything to help with RLS. My husband found a website with odd home remedies, including putting an unwrapped bar of soap under the sheets at the foot of the bed. Needless to say...

Helllllooooooo?

Are you still unpacking?

I'm here! I'm awake! I always dread our annual planning meeting because they are so stressful and so damn LONG. I got home Friday around 3pm and have slept until 30 mins ago.

How about our governor!? I had an aunt who had a cross burned in her yard by the klan, and I was raised to hate those sumbitches.

I hope he resigns - it looks like Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax will step in. I note with interest that he's the second black Lt. Gov in VA's history.

I get why Northam admitted to the blackface when he was in the Army so any photos of THAT episode wouldn't show up, but shame on him.

The klan is still active here in NC - north west of me in Saxapahaw and south of me in Sanford. *shudder*

>45 SomeGuyInVirginia: Wow, I hope it's over now. Tell me it's over.
His claim that he didn't know any better (in 1984) is ridiculous. The point of dressing up and putting the picture in the yearbook was because they knew it was offensive.

>47 mstrust: It's not over, now it's a wild fire. Scandal reaches so far down the line of succession that the junkie who hangs out in front of the local 7-11 may actually become governor.

Gov, Lt Gov, and AG, right?

Sigh. I hope it doesn't end up in Republican hands.

I think it's just beginning and the Republicans are next. With social media, this was bound to happen.

Frankly and unfortunately I can understand any time prior to the mid-1960s for blackface and KKK stuff to be out in the open, but after the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Really? It argues a level of stupidity in having stuff like that in the public domain. Admittedly, until very recently things were harder to access unless you were in the very positions of power and authority that implied the racism and sexism believed in that would keep them hidden.

>48 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ha, I meant that I was hoping your life draining meetings are over. The problems in Va. seem far from over. Just gettin' revved up!

>49 karenmarie: Sigh. I hope it doesn't end up in Republican hands. We should hope for a decent person to run the state, regardless of party. It shouldn't be hard to find, but it is, apparently.

Happy Moving Weekend! It's a bear to move, always, but the result of a larger apartment that you like better should ease your pain.

Wow, do I hate moving. I worked as a mover a couple of summers in college and I've moved my family three times, my mother at least twice, all three of my kids, my brother. My hat is off to you.

I wonder about the fairness and efficacy of pillorying 60-year-olds for misdeeds they did in their 20s. If those misdeeds were repeated again and again during the ensuing 40 years, okay. But we believe in second chances, don't we? As Arlo said in "Alice's Restaurant", "Kid, have you rehabilitated yourself?"

I wonder about the fairness and efficacy of pillorying 60-year-olds for misdeeds they did in their 20s.
Absolutely. And the mob that screams for an apology should be ready to forgive. But they usually aren't.

>54 weird_O: I hear that. I grew up in a military family so I have moved a lot, too. Past me was very good to future me, and I'm all packed and ready. I'll pick up the key about 1pm and have two days to move fragile stuff. Movers get here on Monday, I specifically requested they not be Snow Blind and the Seven Felons.

>54 weird_O: >55 mstrust: We seem to be going through our own Cultural Revolution. I think it says a lot about us that nobody's been killed.

>53 richardderus: I can see National Harbor's ferris wheel from my new place! I'll post a pic.

>51 karenmarie: Mom, who really despised the klan like poison, told me that when I was a baby and we lived in Georgia she could see the night sky lighten when the klan met and burned one of those huge crosses. Mom and dad always stayed in those nights even thought they didn't feel threatened. You just don't go out when there are panthers about.

I think Northam was just being provocative and was living in an insular world, at least on that one instance. Lots of people in DC are freaking out over their college pictures now. I think his handling of the revelation should be enough to disqualify him from office. 'I did it, I didn't do it that time but I did it another time, my wife won't let me moonwalk, I don't want to resign because people will think I'm a racist.' When you bump Trump off the front page, you have screwed up well indeed.

>56 SomeGuyInVirginia: I think his handling of the revelation should be enough to disqualify him from office.

This is my argument about many disgraced figures: The disgrace should be ignored, we're all grateful our worst days aren't on film; but bungling the handling of the reveal is proof you're not up to high office. The gummint always lies to the people. It has to. Imagine climate-change action in a totally transparent world! Gazooks! The people in gummint must needs be the ones who can best slap some lipstick, a set of pearls, and a cloud of Chanel No. 5 on the pig of their actions and have we-the-people saying "oh right, that's a lovely pig indeed," and moving on with our days.

Wellsir, Parker remains the wildness. I heard nary a peep out of him all afternoon, despite his being locked in the bedroom. Usually when I do that I'm cleaning the baffrum and want to get him out of the way. He'll keep up a running commentary of his thoughts but with all the banging and swearing this afternoon nada. When I let him out before I left for dinner he gave me That Look that only cats and dowager duchesses can give, 'You sir are sketchy AF and how did you get in?' I took him to the new place and while he thought it was very interesting be did not want to climb down from my shoulder.

Marie Kondo rules! Spark joy? Keep-maybe. No joy? Set it free. Because I am TOO OLD for this shit.

>58 SomeGuyInVirginia: So purging is going well? LOL

>58 SomeGuyInVirginia: Nothing like moving to bring out the minimalist in a man.

Hi Larry!

I hope Parker settles into your new place easily, glad you didn't have to cancel the move.

Getting rid of lots of stuff?

Good luck with the move!!! Getting a good crew is critical - so I do hope you don't get Snow Blind and the Seven Felons.

You know, I may well be over hauling around all these damn books. I move a lot, I've got several more moves ahead of me. It's madness. MADNESS! I'd go full Marie Kondo if part of me didn't think it was a little 'bonfire of the vanities. Certainly I'm going to do more purging.

Books are the worst things and the best things to move. I've doubled my book catalog since I joined LT in 2007. Scary.

Did the move go well?

Hey Karen. Yeah, it went fine, they were through in about three hours. What got me was seeing things that I forgot I had, and realizing that if I haven't seen it in six years I don't need it.
I like books, it was way more fun putting together a library than it is moving it. Waaaaay more.

I'm glad the move is over! Packing up books is the worst, but re-arranging them in a new space is fun. I wish you happiness in your new home!

Thanks, I think I will be happy there.

It's weird, Parker had claimed the living room as his own and I have to play with him there because anywhere else doesn't count. Weird in general, not weird for a cat, maybe?

My internet provider claimed installing my modem and WiFi router was a 'self install', and I took to mean 'you're on your own you cheapskate for choosing the cheapest package'. I got it up and running because of my awesomeness and because all it required was screwing the cable into the outlet. But nobody needs to know that. -Note to self, delete this post.

>67 SomeGuyInVirginia: You can have all the service you're willing to pay for. Ugh. And yay you for being replete with awesomeness.

What was Parker's 'room' in the other apartment? Maybe it's temporary as he gets comfortable with everything. Then again, perhaps it's HIS room and you're necessary but welcome guest.

I admire your awesomeness and your ability to screw a cable into an outlet.

>68 richardderus: I know, and it's such a scam. $85 bucks a month for internet connection, nothing else. I need to move in over a Starbucks because their WiFi is free.

>69 karenmarie: Also the living room, but since the move he's been particularly territorial. Even when I just sit in s chair surrounded by boxes he seems more content. Plus I have a hallway now and he loves to jump straight up in the air and then spin out on the hardwood floor oh my God I've turned into 'that guy'.

I'm going to liquidate the storage unit, the vast, lost SGiV library famous in song and story may never be reunited with the Traveling Library. My brother and I are going to empty it, cherry pick what's there then put everything back and call an auction house. It's sad in a way, but it's a relief in a way, also. I'm moving more and more to ebooks only.

Are you guys getting snow? We are Wednesday and they say this weekend, too. Whoo-hoo!

Parker might be channeling my daughter when she was young - she'd zoom down the hall on her indoor riding toy wearing her feet pajamas and just when I thought she'd crash into the guest bedroom door she'd slam her left foot down, make a hard left and head on into the library. Kids and hallways. And oh my goodness, YES, you are "that guy".

Wow, huge effort for you and your brother. Have fun, hope you find lots of good stuff. And then yes, it will be done.

We're supposed to get freezing rain tomorrow night late and during morning commute on Wednesday, then rain, rain, and rain through the weekend. Yay for snow.

I'm going to keep as many books as possible, and practical, but not all of them. Here's a pic I took of the unit contents, behold the lost lie-berry of SViG. And a whole lot of other stuff.

Will you be adding shelving in your new place?

Wow. Looks fun and time consuming. Not quite overwhelming but close. I'm sure you'll find some treasures and have some aha! moments.

Okay, that's a lot to get through. I'm guessing that once you see some of your books you'll wonder how you survived without them. Good luck with the liquidation!

Mercy buckets. I might swing out there this weekend and tackle the boxed stuff in front.

Fire Will Freeze, by Margaret Millar (February 20)

Hi Larry!

I hope you and Parker are settling in nicely.

Hey Karen. It's a process. Parker is still put out but I try to remind him he's wonderful. I broke a huge piece of framing glass least weekend and I'm still finding bits. I'm going to wear my vacuum out.

Getting my hair cut in a bit, a friend's dad had died, another friend had to put her beloved dog down, a coworker I really like lost her daughter now her husband so I need to buy sympathy cards in bulk. Rainy, foggy, cold. I may just go on a long road trip this afternoon. I'll feel better tomorrow.

Way too much going on, for sure.

I hope the road trip clears the cobwebs.

Give Parker D skritches from me.

I'm sorry so many things have got you down. I hope you feel better.

>78 SomeGuyInVirginia: I'm sorry that the miseries of living have all showed up at once. Road trip! Blow your cobwebs away.

>79 karenmarie: >80 mstrust: >81 richardderus: Thanks! I did the only sensible thing. After I got my hair did I attacked head-on everything that was bothering me. Got a ton of things accomplished and changed the vacuum bag because the old one was full! Then I took an Ambien at 6pm. There was a kitchen fire in the building so woke up at 9:11pm to alarms, several firetrucks and even more police cars and ambulances. I guess they knew there was an actual fire but didn't know the seriousness of it. No biggie but a fire in a high rise always alarms the authorities. Skritched Tinykin Skywalker and watched most of The Incredibles 2, then took another Ambien at midnight. Groggy but feel much better about things.

Well. Was it the sleep, the drugs, or the excitement of possible arson that perked you up? :-D Anyway, I'm glad things are better now. Have a good Sunday and come visit me soon.

Arson always perks me up so it couldn't be that...

Are you still unpacking?

I'm here! I actually have to add a book I read last week...

'Morning, Larry!

I hope your week is going well so far. Give Parker a few skritches from me.

I will! He was in a great mood this morning. He's been so unhappy since the move I spend a lot of time combing him and telling him he's wonderful. I really don't know why he's been having such a hard time. Poor little Tinykin Skywalker!

Hope you're feeling better and more positive these last few days Larry.

Thanks Paul, I do feel better. And it's early spring with its promise of sun and warmth. Yay!

You're a good cat daddy, Larry. Tinykin Skywalker is lucky to have you!

Bill says that when he dies he wants to be reincarnated as a Karen kitty since I spoil them so badly.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (March 19)

Important if true.

I've read Freakonomics. I was impressed with the way he linked things that didn't seem as though they were linked and then made the case for linking them.

I didn't realize that Freakonomics was a series now. I have the original on the shelf but haven't gotten to it yet. In time, my pretty.

Oh for crying out loud, I read listened to Freakonomics, not SuperFreakonomics. Corrected the entries.

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, by David Sedaris (March 28)

This was my second read of this, and an audiobook to boot. He'll be read in 100 years.

>95 SomeGuyInVirginia: Now you have a second one to look forward to.
>96 SomeGuyInVirginia: I agree. What a strange, funny family. And I love At Home with Amy Sedaris. I sing Ronnie Vino's song to myself often. Just admitting that.

I STILL haven't unpacked my tee-bee, but I did pick up the credenza on Tuesday so it's just a matter of time. I love Amy Sedaris, have you ever seen Strangers With Candy? Oh.mah.Gawd.

Yes! I actually have the Strangers with Candy dvd around here somewhere, season one, I think. That was a wild show. It was amazing to see her without the make-up and brown teeth and pants hiked over the belly, huh?

'... And you wake up in a pool of what, you hope, is your own urine.' Not just pretty words.

ETC spallin' and grimmer an sich.

I would buy this wallpaper today but my new place has chair rails on all the walls. Awallon Design wallpapers, available on Etsy. At first it bugged me that the original painting was show upside down, but it actually makes it more dramatic, although if I were to use it I'd probably show the image right-side-up. There are other designs and man they are beautiful.

P-Bitty has his own gmail account, TinykinSkywalker@gmail.com. Our little boy is growing up.

>100 SomeGuyInVirginia: Oh, Jerri had a rough life. I'd love to see her make an appearance on Amy's show.
>101 SomeGuyInVirginia: That's really beautiful paper. That it's been hung upside down makes me think they got our old landlord in to do the job. He famously hung the bedroom door upside down and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't shut.
>102 SomeGuyInVirginia: Do you happen to wear a crucifix around the house?

What, and have him suck out my soul while I was sleeping? No thanks!

I've been emptying out out boxes I packed while I lived in DC 10 years ago and found some really cool stuff that I'd forgotten I had. One is a Mata Ortiz seed pot in a design I really like, and the other is a painting that I just barely remember but it's amazing- a small oil on board of Perseus and the head of Medusa. Perseus looks like a raving loonatic and Medusa's head, still sentient, is crying and she's very beautiful. The viewer's sympathy is with the beautiful dying woman and not with the crazed psycho hero. I'm really glad to have re-discovered it.

A Noise Downstairs, by Linwood Barclay. (April 6)

>103 mstrust: & >104 SomeGuyInVirginia:

It is always nice to chuckle with coffee on a Sunday!

Have a great weekend, Larry.

>104 SomeGuyInVirginia: That painting sounds so great! You have to hang it in your new place, then post a pic. You must!
And I was flipping through a magazine the other day and that exact wallpaper was featured in an article about...wallpaper!

>106 PaulCranswick: Happy to make your morning a little better :-) But doesn't the expression on Parker's face make you think Larry's days are numbered?

>106 PaulCranswick: Hey Paul, it's great to hear from you!

>107 mstrust: Yeah, I have to put that on the wall somewhere. It's only about 4x8, so it could be tricky.

I would love to be able to use that wallpaper. I prefer dark and moody interiors, my old living room walls were a deep slate blue, at long as there are lots of lights. I don't like dim interiors.

Ack-skully, Parker was happy as a clam in that pic. I'd been scratching his back for a long time and took that close up when he'd come back for more. I used the image on my Christmas cards, with a rude message (Merry Xmas, mother...). I only sent a few, naturally.

>107 mstrust: Do you remember what magazine the paper was in? I'm serious, I flipping love their paper.

Yes, it was the March issue of Martha Stewart Living. The maker is https://www.muralswallpaper.com/

Very cool. Holy cow that's expensive!

Sounds like unpacking is going well...carry on!

Hi Berly, thanks. It's complicated...

Hi Larry! I hope you and Da Floof are doing well. Give him a skritch or two from me...

Will do. I got a return call from the Martha Washington FoL director yesterday. She's been on vacation. Imma be a Friend!

>111 SomeGuyInVirginia: I've just performed math and it's really no more expensive than the Awallon paper on Etsy. I like the pattern, too, as much as I do the Etsy paper.

Yay, Friend!

>111 SomeGuyInVirginia: >116 SomeGuyInVirginia: Well, if you're open to other styles, there's Spoonflower.com. Most of the designs there can be bought as wallpaper, fabric or wrapping paper.
>115 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hooray! Welcome to the club!

Oooh, Spoonflower good!

Good As Gone, by Amy Gentry (April 13)

Ummm...Lar...chair rails come off, ya know, and can be stored in closet-corners upright and taped against the wallboard for re-installation on a whim or a move-out. That wallpaper is utterly, overwhelmingly spectacular and belongs on your wall(s).

>119 SomeGuyInVirginia: I'm glad you found it interesting too. The amount of choice is kinda staggering.

Have a Happy Easter, Larry!

Moments before the bunny's mouth yawns open wide and he pushes the tiny morsel into the unquenchable fire inside.

Happy chocolate rabbit ears day!

Ha! Moloch = Bunny, go know from this.

Moloch! I could not for the life of me think of the name.

Weird'n'Useless Trivia "R" Me.

>124 SomeGuyInVirginia: Every Easter, you and I get such a laugh from the terror of small children. Is there a chance we're terrible people?

God I hope so, villains get all the best lines.

>127 richardderus: Useless? Not even.

Hi Larry! Have a wonderful weekend and give Da Floof a few skritches from me.

>123 mstrust: I'd be crying too. Santas and Easter Bunnies are way too scary for most kids.

I always thought sitting on Santa's lap was scary. I got over it, though, because sitting on old guys' laps was how I paid for my gap year in college. But I digress...

I've been an LTer for 10 years today! Whoo-hoo!

>133 SomeGuyInVirginia: Candy, little boy? *leer*

Happy Thingaversary, double-digiter!

Happy Thingaversary!

I'll leave it at that...

>135 karenmarie:. Oh, I'm just being provocative... Oh wait, no... Never mind.

>129 SomeGuyInVirginia: I can't for the life of me remember why I deleted that post.

>134 richardderus: oh RD, silly man, you don't need to offer candy.

I'm so sorry I missed your Thingaversary! Of course I've brought you a cake, and there's a basket of kittens at your front door. They're your responsibility now. Happy Thingaversary!

You're a lucky guy to get cake AND a basket of kittens. You can start calling Parker "Mommy Cat".

>136 SomeGuyInVirginia:

>137 mstrust: Thanks for the kittens, they were delicious!

>138 karenmarie: I don't know how Parker would react to another cat. He's fine on kitty play dates but he's also very much King of All He Surveys.

>139 richardderus: You and my yoga instructor!

Hi Larry!

>140 SomeGuyInVirginia: Please tell me you paired them with a Cat-bernet. *I'm so sorry*

I Had the Right to Remain Silent... But I Did Not Have the Ability (June 23)

Convenience Store Woman, by Sayaka Murata (July 17)

Astonishing.

You don't ordinarily opine upon your reads. Now I have to get this one from the library.

He's back! I thought you'd thrown a match on this thread as you walked away.

Like they'd ever give me matches!

Hi Larry!

>144 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ya got me. It's now on my wish list.

It blew my hair back. Same with Perfume by Patrick Suskind, and The Class Castle by Walls. One of the few books that I read that make me go ho.lee.shit.

Perfume scared the shit out of me as I recall, and The Glass Castle made me feel sorry for her and admire her at the same time.

I'm up for astonishment.

True Prep: It's a Whole New Old World, by Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd (July 25)

Hey Larry, I finished and reviewed Convenience Store Woman over yonder.

>152 richardderus: I must get to that one soon although I'm not sure I'll manage it with dilated eyes!

Have a great weekend, Larry.

You too, Paul.

Great review, Richard!

Larry! LarryLarryLarry!

Lucille Bluth is my spirit guide!

Is it weird that I saw this TOTALLY AWESOME mask on Amazon and started hyperventilating? It's weird, right? Little bit.

It looks like a neon sign. Very cool. The model should have been bald though, as a curly haired skeleton just ain't right.

>157 SomeGuyInVirginia: ...wow...I hope like hell it's not a disappointment when you get it...because I am totally sure you've already ordered it.

I'm sorry, I can't hear you over this thing's TOTAL AWESOMNESS!

>157 SomeGuyInVirginia: Wow! That would scare the bejeebers out of those little trick or treaters. Wait 'til they're on the porch, then switch it on. Booga booga.

>161 weird_O:. I'm pretty sure if my neighbors check one more box on me they can legally hang me for a witch.

Hallo Larry!

>157 SomeGuyInVirginia: You are shielding your darling cat child from it, aren't you?

Karen! Who do you think is wearing it right now? Yup, Da Floof!

I haven't bought it yet, but I will. Oh yes I will.

OK I just ordered it.

Good for you! Fun buys are the best. I just bought some more-than-I've-ever-paid sunglasses and love them. They just arrived and I haven't worn outside the house yet. There are benefits to bringing in slush fund money.

>165 SomeGuyInVirginia: Between the Wanda Jackson and the mask, you're having yourself a little spree, aren'tcha?

Ruh roh, Raggy, he's got the Mask....

Annnnnnd... once again, Larry has wandered off. I swear someone needs to put a bell on him.

Parker - bell your human dad.

Been laid up with a bug since Thursday. Keep trying to rest, get woken up by Parker tieing a bell around my neck. Weird! This is how I know there's a God; cats don't have thumbs.

Get better!
At least your nemesis can be scared away by rattling some paper, so that's a point for us humans.
Sending a crate of medicine:

Good old Four Roses, you've never let me down!

Good ol' Parker! A Very Superior Kitty Indeed.

Sorry you've been sick. Drink your way to health...

Stephen Fry’s Victorian Secrets: An Audible Original, by Stephen Fry (September 18ish)

New Stephen Fry!? Fingers crossed it's available as a podcast.
How are you feeling?

I feel good!* James Brown

I've started listening to podcasts lately. One thing that came as a surprise is that I don't listen if they cuss a lot. Dunno, seems like pandering. I also booted Malcolm Gladwell since his podcasts have the same content to ad ratio that broadcast tee-bee has.

Do you have a fav podcast? I like Slightly Foxed and Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me.

I have many podcasts in my rotation. One of my favorites is the "Odd Things I've Seen" podcast, because it's often just him and his family driving to something that's a forgotten oddity, too insignificant to show up in a travel book or show. Though my favorite episode so far was a very funny recounting of his stay at Lizzie Borden's house.
I'm also going through "Lore", really liked "Mobituaries", which is Mo Rocca's essays about famous or infamous people, "What Should I Read Next?", "My Favorite Murders" ( I skip to the start of the actual stories. I don't think the two of them giggling for the first 30 minutes is entertaining), "Disgraceland", and I visit comedian Bill Burr's podcasts and Eddie Trunk's to see who he's interviewing. Also, I've binged on "Welcome to Night Vale", "Criminal", "So Many Damn Books" (books and cocktail recipes), "Zen Tiki Lounge" (tiki and cocktail recipes) and enjoyed them all. And for my own specifically weird interests, "Echo Valley" is all Bubblegum music and "Dis Unplugged" is food reviews from the Disney parks. Yes, yes I do.
Opened a can of worms there, didn't you?

Yes! Thanks for the heads up! It's funny you mentioning it, but 'My Favorite Murder' was the podcast I was thinking of when I said that just a bunch of cussing turned me off. Funny, because I have a filthy mouth. Ditto 'How Did This Get Made'. Indeed, how? I'll have to skip the giggling on Murder because It's always on people's top lists.

I can absolutely see getting tired of hearing their "f-ing this" all over the place. They use the f-word in the same way others use "like" four times in a sentence. Maybe I'm also annoyed because I actually went to broadcasting school. It's working for them though, the podcast is very popular, but as I said, I always skip ahead. I'm there for the murder.

'Morning, Larry! I hope you got some more sleep - insomnia on a Sunday is just plain lewd.

Hugs for you and Parker D!

Weeks go by and not a hairpin dropped over here...where o where is Our Wand'ring Boy?

>177 SomeGuyInVirginia: I miss my cricket, Larry, so I listen to weekly podcasts from the BBC keeping me updated on the game few American's like or understand.

I'm awake! It's going to be 95 here today. Not in my Happy Fall Place!

UGH 95° in October should be outlawed. I'm sorry, sweet boy.

It's 95 here in central NC today, too, with a heat index of 99. Blech.

>184 SomeGuyInVirginia: That's surprising! I thought it was all crisp and happy back east. We're in the low 90's here in Phoenix.

Ok. If you're going to provide food for in-home delivery, mini cheesecake shouldn't even be a thing. I've ordered a bucket of wings from Popeyes and a cheesecake from Granite City. I don't want mini shit. I want Big Assed cheesecake, especially when it costs $15.

I have spoken.

And right you are! Cheesecake should arrive stuffed in another cheesecake.

Always on my mind.

C'est moi! Delurking.

All this stuff about insomnia? Yukky ~ I have books set aside to cure that!
Sometimes even the thought of picking up certain titles at 2 am is enough to send me back to sleep. I know that doesn't work for everybody, though...

Heya Sandy, welcome! It's so nice to see you back where you belong.

>191 SandyAMcPherson: Me, unable to sleep at 4am: "Maybe it's time to ear-read some Dickens"
*unconsciousness in 3...2...1...*

Hi Larry! Hugs and kisses to you and kitty smooches to Parker D!

Happy Turkey Day! Rob's working, so I'll see him Friday. He's requested green goddess seafood rice for our dinner. Carrot cake with pineapple cream cheese frosting *drool* and whatever he brings to drink. And no effin' Old Stuff!! Yay!!

Green goddess seafood rice? Sounds interesting!

Happy Black Friday, everybody!

>194 karenmarie: Hello love! Parker thanks you for the scritches, carries on his strange fascination with dental floss, is bummed because LL Bean can't fit all of 'Parker 2019' as a monogram on a Christmas stocking. Ok, I'm bummed. I thought it sounded cute.

>195 richardderus: RD, that also sounds perfect! And what the hell is green goddess rice? Do tell.

>196 drneutron: Doc!

Are you going to go crazy shopping today, Larry? The only thing we MIGHT get is a Christmas tree, although we won't decorate it until Jenna comes back home on Dec 13th. It's just that I had such a stressful time getting one last year that I want to check that off the list soon and with a strong young woman to help us get it in the house and set up properly.

Poor Parker, no LL Bean monogrammed Christmas stocking. I hope the trauma fades quickly. You shouldn't have told him about it.

Inara is making biscuits in her fleece-lined basket right now, hoping I'll turn on the propane heater. However, I hope to go back to sleep for a while as being up at this time of day is just plain wicked.

Hi Larry! Just saw your post on RD's thread and realized I haven't heard from you in a bit. You and Parker doing OK?

Heya Karen, it's great to hear from you! Work has been getting me down, I've been drinking more than is good for me, and I always get these weird illnesses when I'm stressed. Yesterday I got a crown put back in that popped outta mah mouf trying to open a fortune cookie at dinner, and I got the second shingles shot right after and it's made me somewhat ill.

On the plus side I love Christmas, my brother will be in town tomorrow and we're having lunch, and Parker's Christmas present gets here today. Things will work out, they always do, and it's pretty easy to jump jobs in this town.

I'm sorry things are getting you down, Larry, and I hope it gets better soon. It probably already has, since your brother came for a visit.
Ugh, I had shingles when I was sixteen and it was awful, so I understand getting a shot to prevent it, but then, it's a shot and I'm a big friggin' baby.

Ew on the stresses and strains, *sigh* on the illnesses, and share already on the drinking. Have a great brotherlunch.

*smooch*

Hugs and kisses.

Love,
Karen

*smooch*

Soviet Santa says "Happy Yule!" Solstice Greetings to all. Read more here: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/soviet-santa

Wishing you and Parker a Merry Christmas!

Hi Larry!

Thank you for keeping me company in 2019.......onward to 2020.

>204 richardderus:, >205 mstrust:, >206 karenmarie:, >207 PaulCranswick: Richard, Jennifer, Karen, Paul. Thank you for being a firm foundation. I wouldn't pursue LT if it weren't for each of you. Thanks for somehow keeping it both safe and weird, a true gift. I hope you had a happy holiday season and I wish you every happiness in 2020.

Delurking...Best wishes this holiday season!! See you in 2020!

Hey, Larry! Are you setting up your 2020 thread?
Oh, what I mean is, set up your 2020 thread.
>208 SomeGuyInVirginia: And thank you very much for your kind words. It goes both ways, my friend. Now get to work.

Hi Larry! Happy New Year's Eve to you and Parker.

Thanks everybody, and Happy New Year! I've been down with an inner ear infection and this morning feel human for the first time in days. But I have been reading! I'll set up my 2020 challenge shortly.

Sorry to hear you've been so sick, but glad you're feeling better. I hope you're back to your old self soon.

So sorry you have been under the weather. Get better ASAP. And post a new thread! : )

>212 SomeGuyInVirginia: Oh yeccchhh, the inner-ear pains of an infection are horrifying. Feel better soon, smoochling.