Joe's Book Cafe 2017 Door One

Happy New Year from the Welches! (Walklover, Seasonsoflove, jnwelch, Jesse, Adriana - the three dogs are Sherlock, Maleta, and Bolita)

Welcome to the first cafe of 2017!

I'm not going to post anything else at the beginning of this one, so the cafe is open!

January

1. The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths by Harry Bingham
2. Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon

Dropping my star, Joe. What a lovely family photo! Happy New Year to you, my friend!

>1 jnwelch: Nice family photo.

Dropping my star. What a l8vely famiky photo, Joe. Happy reading 2017.

Happy New Year, Mamie! Thanks, my friend - we wanted to make sure we had a family photo taken this year. Looking forward to lots of book fun in '17!

>4 Oberon: Thank you, Erik.

>5 Ameise1: Thanks for starring the thread, Barbara. Glad you like that family photo. We're rather fond of those kiddos and their dogs. Happy reading in 2017 to you, too.

Sherlock is so dark I didn't even know he was there until you mentioned him. LOL!

Hope you have a great 2017!

Lovely picture Joe. Wishing you and the cafe patrons plenty of great book discussions.

Hi Joe, thanks for visiting my thread. Have a Happy New Year!!!
P.S. Love the photo, your dogs are so cute.

Happy New Year to you and family. Love the dogs, they each look rather a handful.

Happy readings in 2017, Joe!

Lovely picture of a lovely family and their dogs at the top! :-)

Happy New Year! (dropping a star)

>7 Morphidae: Ha! We often have that problem with poor Sherlock in photos, Morphy. He is so darn dark. Such a cute little fellow once you can see him.

>8 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! I hope you have a grand '17, too.

>9 charl08: Thanks, Charlotte. It's always exciting to start off a new book year, isn't it? I hope we have lots of good book discussions in the cafe, too.

>10 thearlybirdy: Ha! So great to see you here, Birdy. It will be fun to have you with us this year.

Thanks re the dogs. They've got sweet personalities, all three of them. (Maleta, at 4 and 1/2 months, is a bundle of energy and mischievous, but so darn sweet and cute).

The dogs and cats at your house have become big favorites of everyone here, thanks to your Mom.

Top o' the year to you, Joe. Read anything good this year?

How about a nosh? Milk and cookies, please.

>11 avatiakh: Thanks, Kerry. Ha! I suppose each dog is a handful, in his or her own way.

Bolita is the most mellow, but she pines when Adri isn't around. Sherlock is quiet and clever, except sometimes he gets barkative when other dogs are around - although not these two. Maleta is a puppy, and a handful all right. But so sweet.

Sherlock (a rescue) is mostly a miniature poodle, maybe with some cocker spaniel. Bolita is a combo of lhasa apso (did I spell that right?) and cocker spaniel, and Maleta is a purebred lhasa apso. All are hypoallergenic, which is big in our family.

Happy New Year, Joe! What a lovely family you have — people and dogs included! I love the word 'barkative' and plan to incorporate into my vocabulary as much as possible. Just the word, hopefully, and not the action!

>12 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. Isn't that a nice family photo? We had a great get-together in Ann Arbor, and then Jesse and Adri came to stay with us in Chicago for a few days (Becca lives nearby us). So we had the most time together we've had in quite a while. Loved it!

Happy reading in '17 to you, too.

>13 ronincats: Thanks, Roni. That's one beautiful star you've got there.

>16 weird_O: Ha! Top of the year to you, too, Bill. Believe or not, I haven't finished a book yet this year. :-) I'm in the middle of the third Fiona Griffiths mystery. I'm hooked on her character. So unusual and good.

I am going to post my Top 5's for 2016 soon.

A New Year's nosh - great idea. Here you go.

Top 5's for 2016

Arrggh. The touchstones aren't working. Sorry about that.

Fiction

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Honorable mentions: A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler (hard to leave this out of the top 5), Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson (ditto), Dodgers by Bill Beverly (ditto - I guess that's going to be true for all of these), A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin, The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson, Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood, and others, but I'd better stop there.

Non-fiction

Evicted by Matthew Desmond (remarkable, outstanding, please read it)
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (and his wife)
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard

Honorable mention: Create Dangerously by Edwidge Danticat, Dead Boys by Adriana Ramirez (novella-length), In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan, Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre, Waterloo: The History of Four Days by Bernard Cornwell

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Honorable mention: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Poetry

Without: Poems by Donald Hall
Cold Mountain by Han Shan
Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith
Neon Vernacular by Yusef Komunyakaa
Natural Birth by Toi Derricotte

Honorable Mention: Strike Sparks by Sharon Olds, The Swallows by Adriana Ramirez, Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong

Young Adult

Pax by Sara Pennypacker
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
The Poet's Dog by Patricia Maclachlan
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Honorable Mention: On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder,
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Mysteries and Thrillers

Charcoal Joe by Walter Mosley
Darktown by Thomas Mullen
His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham

Honorable Mention: I Shot the Buddha by Colin Cotterill, Night School by Lee Child, An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson, The Gods of Gotham (wonky touchstone) by Lyndsay Faye

Graphic Novels

March: Book Three by John Lewis
Super Mutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki
Velvet Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker
Saga Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Missed Connections by Sophie Blackall

Honorable Mention: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Omnibus by Philip K. Dick and Tony Parker, Sleeper Omnibus by Ed Brubaker, Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier, How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman

I can't believe after all my work on the darn touchstones, they're not showing up! Hopefully they will at some point.

Love Door Number One! Happy New Thread, Joe! Love the family photo. It is a perfect topper.

>20 jnwelch: That is a killer Best of List! Seven Killings was my top read in 2015 and the other 3 made my top 5, in '16. And I LOVE seeing the Count resting comfortably at the top.

Strong NF list too! I should have given a shout-out to Lab Girl. One of my favorites from this past year.

I just heard of Lab Girl for the first time the other day. Now that I see it on your list, it will go on mine!

Followed you over here. Since you seem to be missing the requisite pork, greens, blackeyed peas, and cornbread, I guess I'll just have to settle with the ones that are almost ready to devour.

Happy New Year Joe! I love the family photo. I am cracking up that your kids named their dog Maleta! What is the story behind that name? I have a foster dog that was named Chupete (pacifier). He is can be very barkative so I think that may be why they named him that. He was severely neglected, poor fella. He has a raspy barky voice so we named him Rod Stewart when we took him into rescue, but call him Rodi. Now that I know more about his background and that he was mainly spoken to in Spanish, I am trying to come up with a better name for him. He just perks up when we speak to him in Spanish.

Hi, Joe! Gorgeous family photo. And I love your top reads list!

Happy New Year, friend!

In an interview with Daniel Pink and Jaqueline Woodson this last week about their top books for the year, Dan's matched up with yours, Joe. Evicted was his top book, then March: Book 3 and then Lab Girl, all nonfiction. Woodson chose Ghost by Jason Reynolds, Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and You Can't Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson. You can see (or read) it here: www.pbs.org/newshour/videos/#202433

>17 jnwelch: "barkative." ah, it's good to be home. 'lo Joe. i'm just going over to the inglenook to bask, relax and listen to Broken Harbour while sipping ho-cho and having a >19 jnwelch: New Year's nosh.

i'm with you. let's make it a wonderful 2017, at least on LT. i'm buffing my compassion-fu skills and got myself The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World to help with the outside world. i found it in LP and will just read it in tiny bits. i also ordered The White Cat and the Monk: A Retelling of the Poem "Pangur Bán". for some reason, these gentle graphics are soothing and don't wreck my eyes.

.

Happy New Year, Joe.

Decided I'd better share:

Here's to great reading in 2017 .....

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

Great opener, Joe. Give my best to all your lovely family.
I put you down as the dark horse to lead the pack in posts this year with your sort of retirement kicking in.
It is funny that my own scribbling has oftentimes been inspired by posts I have encountered in the 75ers or books recommended me here.

>15 jnwelch: We love are pets too.

>19 jnwelch: I don't know what that is, but I want one. Is it cookie dough filled with milk?

Yay! The cafe's back!

Happy New Year, Joe! All good things to you in 2017--especially health, family, friends and reading. Will be stopping by the café often--tea lattés are my latest weakness, by the way.

Oh good, the cafes open. Great topper photo, Joe!

Good to see you're not retiring from the cafe business!

Happy new year, Joe!

Happy new year, Joe, and happy reading!

Happy New Year, Joe!

Morning, Joe! Tomm's off today - is it a day off for you, too?

Beautiful photograph of you and the family as topper Joe.

>20 jnwelch: some fine reads there. A few are in my 2017 pile.

Happy new thread.

Happy happy New Year to you and yours, Joe!! Wishing you an outstanding 2017! lovely topper!!

Morning, Joe!

Happy 2017 Joe, love the family photo in >1 jnwelch:.

>20 jnwelch: Enjoyed your top reads list (touchstones have been problematic for me today as well). Several of your favourites from last year are on my to read list for this year (particularly Homegoing and The Underground Railroad). I'm also pleased to see we share a lot of favourites in the science fiction and fantasy category :-)

>21 msf59: Hey, buddy! Thanks, I'm glad you like that family photo and the best of list. What a great year of reading!

A Gentleman in Moscow is such a charmer! Love the Count. Yeah, I had such a good time with Lab Girl. I felt like I was sitting down and chatting with her. It deserves the accolades, doesn't it.

>22 NarratorLady: Oh good, Anne. You'll enjoy Lab Girl, methinks. Please let us know, either way, when you get around to it.

>23 thornton37814:, >28 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori. That's most generous of you!

>24 luvamystery65: Hiya, Roberta! I love the raspy voice/Rod Stewart/Rodi story - Rasposa as his Spanish name? Estrella (de rock)?

Maleta story - one meaning of Maleta is suitcase, right? Son Jesse used to carry Bolita up and down the stairs and call her his little suitcase. When they got the new little one, they wanted a Spanish name, so - Maleta. She speaks (well, she sort of pays attention to) Spanish and English.

Good Morning Joe.

>25 scaifea: Hi, Amber! Thanks. We love them kids and pooches.

I'm glad you like the Tops list. As I dug into putting it together, I was reminded what a great reading year it had been. I could've added several more to that fiction list.

>26 ronincats: I like that, Roni, thanks! I wish I could agree with Jacqueline Woodson on the Ta-Nehisi Black Panther GN. Unfortunately, I found it disappointing. But it's just the first in a planned series, so he may well get better with this different way of telling a story. I haven't read her other two, although I've been considering You Can't Touch My Hair.

>27 mirrordrum: Ha! I'm glad you liked "barkative", Ellie. I need to get my Tana French on at some point.

Your book picks for '17 look wonderful. I've been eying Book of Joy, and it's in my future. I don't know the poem, but I love that illustration from The White Cat and the Monk. So peaceful.

>29 roundballnz: *raising a glass* Agreed, Alex - here's to great reading in 2017. I'm continuing my Fiona Griffiths mystery, reading a Jessica Jones GN, Bright Dead Things as my poetry book, and I need to figure out my non-Kindle book. At some point, it's going to be Infinite Jest.

>30 PaulCranswick: Happy New Year, Paul! Agree completely with all you say. How lucky we are to have this group of simpaticos.

>31 PaulCranswick: Thanks, buddy. I'm so glad you and Hani got to meet Debbi. Maybe some day we can include all the kiddos.

Don't bet money on me as a dark horse. :-) I don't think that will ever happen, but I appreciate the thought. I've promised Madame MBH that retirement won't mean increased LT time, so the cafe will probably amble along at the usual pace.

How great that LT posts have been a "prompt", as Madame MBH would say, for your writing. Looking forward to what you come up with in '17.

>32 thearlybirdy: You have the best pets, Birdy. >19 jnwelch: shows actual baked cookies (choc chip) being filled with milk. What a concept, right? I supposed you'd sip your milk and, as the level goes down, start nibbling the exposed cookie.

>33 drneutron: Ha! It is indeed, Jim. Looking forward to more book fun this year.

>34 kac522: Happy New Year, Kathy! Thank you for the good wishes - back atcha, my friend. Looking forward to seeing you here and around the LT campus in '17. Tea latte? Any particular favorite - my wife and daughter both like chai lattes.

Here's one for starters:

>35 Familyhistorian: Thanks, Meg!

>36 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Good point, Linda. I'm going to stay in the cafe business. This job is a lot more fun, I've gotta say. :-)

>37 katiekrug: Happy New Year, Katie! I hope you're settling into your new digs.

>38 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. Happy New Year to you, and let's make 2017 a great reading year. We can do it!

>39 Berly: Beautiful Kim, thank you.

>40 DianaNL: Happy New Year, Diana!

>41 scaifea: Morning, Amber! Oh good, I'm glad Tomm has the day off.

Every day is a day off for me now - can you believe it? We're heading over to our local cafe soon to read and write.

>52 jnwelch: That sounds AMAZING!!! I want three.
(I have a major sweet tooth.)

>42 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. You know Debbi, and maybe some day we can introduce our favorite children to you (no, we don't have any others).

I was really happy with last year's reading. It just keeps getting better, thanks to all the good LT suggestions in particular. Happy reading to you with your 2017 pile. I've got to get mine organized. I've got holiday books strewn about the house right now.

>43 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! I'm glad you like the topper. Happy New Year, and I hope it's filled with great reads for you.

>44 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Nice to greet each other in the new year. Let's have some fun, whadya say?

>45 souloftherose: Happy 2017, Heather. Thanks, I'm glad you like the photo. That's at our dad's place.

So frustrating with the touchstones! I spent a lot of time on them for those lists, and they showed up fine in the pre-post. Oh well.

Yes, I've benefited from your trail-blazing in sci-fi and fantasy many times. I'm pretty you were the one who tipped me off to the very fine Aeronaut's Windlass. Do read Homegoing and The Underground Railroad; they're both exceptional and rewarding.

>55 thearlybirdy: It does sound amazing, doesn't it, Birdy. I could handle three meself. I may have to confer with my baking-savvy wife and see whether we could pull that one off.

One for our owl-loving friend Mark:

>59 jnwelch: LOVE it!!

Ooh, Bright Dead Things. Look forward to your thoughts on that one.

Morning, Joe! Happy Monday! I am having a great time with News of the World. I love it, when an award-winning book, delivers. This is a perfect way to kick off my reading year.

>54 jnwelch: Congrats! I didn't realize that you had retired! Enjoy!!

Enjoy your retirement, Joe.

Good morning, Joe! Happy new year!

>20 jnwelch: I see that Darktown made your best of 2016 list in the thriller category. I'm glad to hear it. I am now over half way through love it. Love the characters, the narrator, and well set Atlanta noir. It has occurred to me that it has a lot of thematic similarities to The Gods of Gotham.

Happy New Year, Joe! Love the owl reading pic. Can't wait to see what's being served in the cafe in 2017.

Happy First Real Day of Retirement, Joe!

Oh gosh, I didn't realize that the retirement was happening quite so soon - congrats, friend!

What a great family picture! And, happy retirement, the most wonderful thing ever! Looking forward to reading your reviews and views in 2017!

>60 msf59: Ha! I thought of you as soon as I saw >59 jnwelch:, Mark.

I'm loving Bright Dead Things. Among many other things, she's (Ada Limon's) superb at finishing a poem. I plan to post a few quotes I liked below, and maybe one she inspired me to write.

I'll have to take a look at News of the World. I'm being much more pedestrian with my Fiona Griffiths mystery, but I sure am enjoying it.

>61 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle! We just spent about 2 1/2 hours at the cafe reading and writing. On a Monday. How great is that? And no desperate messages from my old office. I'm liking this.

>62 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. So far I'm loving it. :-)

>63 brodiew2: Good morning/afternoon, and Happy New Year, Brodie!

As you know, I loved Darktown, too. I'm already ready for another one with all the features you're enjoying.

>64 cameling: Hey, Caro! How wonderful to see you back in the cafe. It seems like it's been forever.

Hmm. What's being served in the cafe in '17. Let's add to what's on offer above. How about whatever the heck this berry extravaganza is (chef's special):

>65 ronincats: Thanks, Roni! Yeah, this feels like the real beginning of it. Wunderbar, it is.

>66 scaifea: Thanks, Amber! It has started, and what a great start. No getting up in the wee hours to commute, putzing around a bit, and then off to the cafe. What could be better?

>67 Dianekeenoy: Thanks, Diane. Isn't that a great family photo? I'm so glad we remembered to get it done amidst the holiday chaos. And thanks re the retirement. It is the most wonderful thing ever. I couldn't have imagined ever getting here. Leaving those worries behind!

OK, these are some quotes from Ada Limon's poems in her collection Bright Dead Things. Once I figure out where the AAC Poetry thread is, I'll post them over there, too. Sorry I forgot to keep the line breaks for the first two.

"What I didn't like was how people talked to me now that I was no longer single; they were nicer."

From "What Remains Ravenous"

(Intriguing to think about. I was thinking of a different angle, which is how often people are nicer to us when they feel sorry for us - why not be that nice when everything's A-OK?)

"Someone told me that I should have told her all the things that she had done to hurt me before she died."

Also from "What Remains Ravenous"

I've been through this one, and I bet others have, too. I don't see anything to be gained by it.

". . . I never knew survival
was like that. If you live,
you look back and beg
for it again, the hazardous
bliss before you know
what you would miss."

From "Before"

She's remembering riding on the back of her father's motorcycle when 7 years old or so.

OK, this is probably a mistake, but I've been known to make them. This is a poem inspired by reading Ada Limon. Usually I let them marinate for a long time before posting them or trying to get them published, but you're getting this one fresh from the cafe.

My Hummingbird

The hygienist chastises me for
Letting my teeth/gums go.
My mother was dying! I say.
She's not interested.
She sees my mouth, and can't hear it.
All the world is a mouth, and nothing more,
At least during the work day.

Hummingbird handlers probably
See nothing out there but hummingbirds.
Not caring that your
Mother slowed, unable to feed
Unable to move her wings
Finally asking only to lay down,
To let her beating feathers rest.

Oh, Joe. I like it. I really like it - that's a keeper. No need to marinate this time.

>73 jnwelch: love it Joe.

>74 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. That's great to hear. I usually have no clue on the first run-through, but this one seemed to work.

>75 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks a lot, Caroline. You know how it is. I hope we'll see more of yours this year, yes?

>73 jnwelch: I really like it Joe.

>1 jnwelch: >19 jnwelch: one of these pictures looks good enough to eat. As I'm not a cannibal, I'll take the cookie dough milk shot cups ;)

Happy new year!

>24 luvamystery65: cute story :)

Congrats on the retirement Joe. You will enjoy it I am sure. I've starred the cafe and will drop by now and then.

>69 jnwelch: It's coming in the first half of this year. I'm not sure if you've heard. Lightning Men: A Novel. No Touch stone yet.

>19 jnwelch: Gimme. Gimme. Gimme.

>73 jnwelch: Very good. Touched my heart. I "got" it this time.

Happy 98% Retirement.

>73 jnwelch: Oh, Joe, that's lovely.

>76 jnwelch: I'm hoping this year I'll get my writing mojo back Joe. It's been in hiding for a while.

>77 thearlybirdy: Thank you, Birdy. I'm glad you really liked it. :-)

>78 LovingLit: Phew! Our family hates to get eaten, so that's good news. Don't those chocolate chip cookie and milk shots look inviting?

>79 RBeffa: Hiya, Ron. Thanks. So far I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Looking forward to your stopping by.

>80 brodiew2: Really? What great news, Brodie. I see at least Amazon has it teed up: https://smile.amazon.com/Lightning-Men-Novel-Thomas-Mullen/dp/1501138790/ref=sr_...

How do you know it's a sequel to Darktown?

Hi Joe and Happy New Year to your beautiful family. Love the picture up top! Cute pooches, too. I liked your best of lists. I have Evicted and Lab Girl reserved at the library. Good reading is in my future.

Happy Retirement! I look forward to more poetry and whatever else you might choose to spend time doing. "All the World is a mouth"--love it---and it reminds me I need to schedule a cleaning!

>81 Morphidae: Ha! I feel the same way about >19 jnwelch:, Morphy.

Oh good to hear about the poem, Morphy. You're a pretty good measure of whether I'm being too obscure. Touched your heart - that touched mine. Thanks.

Thank you re retirement, too. I feel like I'm in a dream - a wonderful one. :-)

>82 scaifea: Thank you, Amber. I never post one like that. Phew! I loved that woman.

>83 Caroline_McElwee: This should be a most excellent year for getting your mojo back, Caroline. Let's do it together.

>86 Donna828: Hi, Donna. Thank you - Happy New Year to you and yours. I'm totally unbiased, of course, but I love that picture up top, too. Including those cute pooches.

Thanks also re the lists. Evicted and Lab Girl will be good reading for you all right. The first could be the result of a life's work, and instead Desmond is a young, and modest, guy. As I mentioned somewhere up there, I felt like I was having a fascinating conversation with Hope Jahren in Lab Girl.

It is a Happy Retirement, thanks - Madame MBH and I can already sense that this is going to be really great.

Isn't it funny the different perspectives we bring? I've been struck more than once at the dentist by how focused they are on my teeth and gums, to the exclusion of everything else - it seems so strange in one way, and so logical in another. That line is based on what really happened with the hygienist.

>85 jnwelch: On the link you posted, just below the bold quotes from other authors is a link that says read more. There is a plot summary there. Sounds like another good one.

Happy new year and retirement, Joe!

Hi Joe! Your thread is hopping! I love your family picture, and the poem is quite compelling. Thanks for sharing it! I have lots of the books from your best of 2016 lists on my shelves. I'm hoping to get to Evicted, Lab Girl, and A Gentleman in Moscow soon!

Hi Joe. I have been stumbling around in the group and managed to come across your thread. Happy to see the cafe continues to be open for business and I love the family thread topper pic!

Relying on my Irish heritage to leave you the following Happy New Year wishes:

Happy New Year, Joe! And happy new thread.

>73 jnwelch: Very moving poem.

>73 jnwelch: Joe, that poem is beautiful. I lost both of my parents last year so it was particularly touching and meaningful.

Joe--I see the cafe is in full swing with food, beverages and poems! Happiness.

Hey Joe! I'm going to actually try and keep up with you this year, rather than just peeking in at the beginning of the year and then losing you by thread 3. :)

Happy New Year to you and yours, Joe!

Hi, Joe. Just stopping by to add a star for this year.

Morning, Joe!

Good morning, Joe. I was wondering if you had anything today that has chocolate in it?

>89 brodiew2: Oh thanks, Brodie. I missed that somehow. I'll go back and check it out.

>90 tymfos: Thank you, Terri!

>91 porch_reader: Hiya, Amy! Thanks re the family picture, and I'm very glad you found the poem compelling. I loved all those "best ofs", so it's great to hear you have a bunch of them. Evicted, Lab Girl and A Gentleman in Moscow are all strong and good. You'll enjoy them. A Gentleman in Moscow was probably the biggest surprise for me. It wasn't what I expected, and what a charmer it is.

>92 lkernagh: I know what you mean, Lori. I'm still trying to find everyone's new thread. Isn't that a good family pic up top? Jesse and Adriana worked hard to make it to Ann Arbor, after being in Houston with her parents.

Those are beautiful Irish Happy New Year wishes, thank you. I wish the same for you.

>93 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary! Happy New Year!

Good news to hear you found the poem very moving; thanks for letting me know. It's hard to gauge how people will react to them, and I never, ever post one that just got written like that. Being with her at the end is something I'll never forget.

>94 lauralkeet: Thanks so much, Laura. My condolences again on your losing both your parents last year. I can't imagine losing both in a short amount of time. I'm glad the poem was meaningful for you.

>95 Berly: Ha! Thanks, Kim. It's fun to have the cafe going in the new year, isn't it? Looking forward to see you here and around the LT campus this year.

>96 MickyFine: Hey Micky! Ha! Great to see you here. I'd love it if you can stop by once in a while. It's always a pleasure. :-)

>97 AMQS: Happy New Year, Anne!

>98 rretzler: Hi, Robin! Thanks for dropping a star. That's a cool image for the new year.

>99 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

Good morning, Joe! I hope all is well with you. I need to get back on the reading wagon. The holidays slowed me a bit. I'm at the midpoint on both The Atlantis Gene and Just Mercy. Heading into the final third of Darktown and the heat should start rising soon. :-)

>100 thearlybirdy: Hiya, Birdy! It's such a good feeling to have you stopping by these days. Chocolate? I believe we do. To give you warning, you may find my wife hovering nearby. She loves all things chocolate. How about a chocolate croissant or two to start the day?

>105 brodiew2: Good morning, Brodie!

I know what you mean - I want to get some reading momentum going, too. I think I'm going to start one of my holiday gifts, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, to go with the others I've got going on (Bright Dead Things, The Strange Death of Fiona Griffiths, Jessica Jones Pulse). Darktown gets awfully hard to put down, doesn't it?

At some point this month I'm going to pick up the whopper Infinite Jest, but I'm feeling a bit too holiday-lazy to try that one right now.

I've always loved this one.

>106 jnwelch: I think I just started drooling. I might be able to share...one.

>108 jnwelch: That's such a cool piece of art. Whomever did it is very talented.

Joe! Sherlock snuck up on me! The Cumberbun is back! I guess it premiered this last weekend. Did you get a chance to see it? I have not yet had the opportunity.

Happy New Year, Joe! Lovely family snapshop up top. Love the squirmy dogs.

>109 thearlybirdy: Don't those look delectable in >106 jnwelch:, Birdy? You're generous, sharing one.

>108 jnwelch: Is one where I haven't been able to figure out the artist. I can't read the signature, and "streetmagic" isn't likely to be even the artist's nickname. It is such a cool one, isn't it.

>110 brodiew2: Our daughter was all over the new season of Sherlock with Bandersnatch Cumberbun, Brodie. She loved the premiere. Madame MBH and I are slowpokes, and are up to Season 2.

>111 Storeetllr: Happy New Year, Mary! Thanks re the family snapshot. Maleta, in particular, is a squirmy puppy who only slows down when she's asleep. Sherlock and Bolita are old hands with the paparazzi.

I have really enjoyed the series. My least favorite episode being the Baskervilles one, but Snickersnatch Cumberdoodle is amazing in the scene in which he is drugged. You thought he was manic before. My goodness! My favorite is probably 'A Scandal in Belgravia'.

>113 brodiew2: Man, his name is hard to spell, isn't it, Brodie. Benjamin Cummangettit was really good in the Dr. Strange movie, too.

Have you seen "The Crown" at all? Our niece was really high on it at Christmas.

Hi, Joe! Finally checking in for the day. Hope it went well for you. I want to watch The Crown. It is on my Netflix watchlist.

I was kind of hoping you might have forgot about Infinite Jest...grins sheepishly. Mostly, kidding. If you plan to read it, I will have to crack it out too. I would not leave you hanging. I think I will start it on audio, but if it is too hard to follow, I will have to switch to print.

So nice to see, Bright Dead Things getting more love. it deserves it all.

There is a poetry thread set-up on the 75 for 2017. Why don't we post things over there. It looks like it could use some action:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/243801

>112 jnwelch: Only season 2? For shame, Joe! ;)

>73 jnwelch: I like it a lot Joe. Thanks for letting us see it

Thumbs up on the poem, Joe!

>73 jnwelch: i guess i read it 4 or 5 times before the first and second stanzas came together for me. the 2nd is so difficult to read that it physically hurts. i think the thing is that the first stanza says of the narrator "i am in pain, please listen" and of course the world is indifferent. i finally decided that what was in my way was the image of the hygienist with her hands in his/your/the narrator's mouth and the physical impossibility of communicating. i get caught up in that image, the fussing of the hygienist, her impeding hands and her deafness. then finally the message gets to me that what happened was so difficult that self-care was impossible or irrelevant or too trivial. to her it's everything. to you, nothing. if i read it out loud, which works best, the tone in my mind is slow, almost sullen through the first two lines of the 2nd stanza. then it picks up force and speed (in my reading) when you switch from the first to second person and wham! the poem is now in 2nd person but i feel it in first person.

the last 4 lines are very difficult to read, the image difficult to face. i have to breathe through it. i'll leave it at that. and yes, i can see that you've been reading Ada Limon.

3:30 am wittering. good morning good night, Joe. and thank you. starting the New Year off with a bang, you.

Happy retirement, Joe! Wonderful that your joining the ranks! I love every minute of retirement and to all those people who said "you'll be bored, you'll be looking to come back in 6 months" :P nananana! Obviously, they were not readers!

Good morning, Joe.
>112 jnwelch: Well my parents taught me to share. I'm also in season two of Sherlock. (Have been for about a year.) I should get back to watching it. I got distracted by reading Sherlock Holmes, and comparing the two. Speaking of which, I need to finish that two.
Doctor Strange was AMAZING!!! We went to see it the last day it was in theater. I'm so glad we did.

>73 jnwelch: It's funny because I occasionally will dash something out straight from brain through keyboard and voila! Other times it is a laborious process whereby you want to analyse and polish every word. What works with one will not suffice for another.

Seemed to work well enough here for you, Joe. I particularly like the ending of the poem which is gently but effectively realised.

>115 msf59: Hey, Mark! Woo, I hope today goes all right for you - we're about to go out into this nasty chilled weather.

Yeah, this is our actress niece, who keeps up with all the good TV shows, and she thinks The Crown is the best of all of them. Very enthusiastic. So we've put it on our "to watch" list.

Well, I appreciate the company on Infinite Jest. Part of me wishes I'd forgotten, too. :-) But it should be a great reading experience, albeit a mighty long one. I'll keep you posted on when I crack it open. I'm reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon first.

Ah, you're a mensch. Thanks for the link to the AAC Poetry Thread. I'll post over there. I couldn't remember where it is in the usual early-year craziness. Yes, like you and Ellen, I'm loving Bright Dead Things. The best for me is when it makes me want to write, and it does that.

>116 MickyFine: I know, Micky. It's embarrassing the things I have to confess here. Only being on Sherlock Season 2 - our neighbors and loved ones (particularly our daughter, who named her dog Sherlock) are complaining, too. And it'll be a while, as we we've got others we watch, like Longmire, that are ahead in the queue. So there'll be lots of chances to give us crap about it diplomatically suggest that we get with it already. :-)

>117 magicians_nephew: Oh, thanks, Jim. I appreciate your letting me know. I'm glad that one resonated for you. Madame MBH can't believe I posted it that soon; I never do that.

Morning, Joe! That wasn't the AAC link, but the one set up for the 75. I thought we should just post there, since Jim set it up. What do you think?

>118 ronincats: Thank you, Roni! This is heartening.

>119 mirrordrum: Hiya, Ellie. and yes, i can see that you've been reading Ada Limon. I love that!

Thanks for the thoughtful read of the poem and comments. I'm very glad this one had a bang for you, even if a difficult one.

The practicalities of the first stanza: this was the part of the appointment where she takes her hands out of my mouth and chastises me for whatever neglect I've inflicted on my teeth and gums. I get to respond and ask questions. My response was irrelevant and of no interest whatsoever.

The last stanza - they had moved us into large, nice hospital room for her to die (they were compassionate), and that was the way it went. She was ready to go.

Morning, Joe! I also loved Bright Dead Things - I might have to purchase my own copy, as I read the library one.

>120 Carmenere: Ha! Oh, I love it, Lynda. Thanks for your experienced support!

Based on how it's gone so far, I completely agree. I supposed it's the fate of an avid reader, but I still don't feel like I have enough time to do all the reading I want to do! It sure is better, though.

We're off soon to work out - I promised I'd train with Madame MBH three times a week (different sessions - we're too different physically to do it together). Since I'm the one needed to haul the heavy stuff in my house and our daughter's, I'm hoping to get stronger - my youthful superhero strength has inexplicably waned over the years.

>121 thearlybirdy: Good morning, Birdy!

Oh good, we can commiserate over our Sherlock-slowness. You have a much better excuse than mine. Good for you for reading the originals and comparing. Our daughter says there are a lot of references to "the canon" (as she and other Sherlock-ophiles call it) in the shows - it's been too long ago that I read them for me to catch them. I am thinking about a re-read, though. They're so good!

Wasn't the Dr. Strange movie great! Lovely to have a fellow appreciator. I think his cape should be nominated for some kind of award. So cool to have great actors having fun with this crazy multi-universe stuff.

>128 jnwelch: I fully agree, I loved that cape. Maybe a reward for the best or most useful accessory?

>122 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I'm glad that was an effective ending for you.

Yeah, it's different for everyone. Our son, for example, walks around the room writing it in his head before he puts anything down on paper. I could never do it that way. For me, I hear it in my head as I'm writing, and it's usually a quick rush getting it on paper. But it's common to have what I think of as "placeholders", where the words let me continue, but they're not quite right. So I almost always have to go back and polish.

Not always, though. A number of the ones I posted last year, like "Pockets", "The Art of Writing" and "She Lifts Her Arms Up", came out exactly as they ended up. But I still gave them time to marinate to make sure.

>125 msf59: Morning Mark!

I'm fine with using Jim's 75 Poetry thread, but we should make sure to publicize it and let Ellie and Caroline know. Maybe they'll see this exchange about it. I need to get over there and star it - I'll do it when we get back.

>127 Crazymamie: Wow, somehow I missed that you had read and loved Bright Dead Things, too, Mamie. That's a powerful trio of recommenders (you, Mark, Ellen). I know I'll be joining you soon. I'd never heard of Ada Limon before this. Actually, I shouldn't say that - I must have read her in the New Yorker, but I had no idea she was this good.

After Mark and Ellen were so enthusiastic, I did purchase my own copy, and that was a good call.

>129 thearlybirdy: Ha! I like that, Birdy. An award for best or most useful accessory. That should be an annual category. I'm trying to think of contenders from past years. Mandy Pantankin's and Cary Elwes' swords from the Princess Bride?

It was one of my favorite books of 2016, Joe.

Goof morning, Joe!

>121 thearlybirdy: >128 jnwelch: Speaking of Sherlock, I finally got to watch at least half of the season premier last night. Excellent start. I have been missing this show.

I look forward to Doctor Strange.

>131 jnwelch: Mary Poppins umbrella!!!

All the talk of best of the year lists reminded me that now that I can post regularly again (I will be back at work tomorrow) I need to make some of my best of books public.

The best book of the year for me was River of Stars by Guy Gaveril Kay. I couldn't put this book down. It is sort of a sequel to Under Heaven but either book can be read as a stand alone.

Second best of the year was the Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. I read both of these epic fantasy works in a short time and - again - couldn't put them down.

I read lots of non-fiction this year but none of them seemed worthy of putting on a best of the year list. They were good but not great.

I took Aeronauts Windlass home with me, but didn't get to it this break. I will be reading it soon. I did read the second Takeshi Kovacs book Broken Angels and will get the third book via ILL as soon as I can make the request.

Happy New Year, Joe! Sorry for the late greeting, but I've finally finished with my Christmas and New Year's Day work stretch and now have time to make the rounds.

>132 Crazymamie: Wow, even better, Mamie. Sorry I blanked out on that. Usually I have a keen ear for your favorites. How cool that Bright Dead Things was one of your favorite for the year. I plan to read some more of it today.

>133 brodiew2: Good morning/afternoon, Brodie!

I think you'll have a good time with Dr. Strange. Our daughter liked the premiere, too. She said there was some controversy about a "spoiler" in it that bothered some viewers. But she and others who've read the books responded that Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the same "spoiler" in the story in the 1800s, so cool off. (There's a whole group of viewers who comment after and discuss every show in the twitter/instagram/I don't know what universe).

>134 thearlybirdy: Mary Poppins' umbrella! Perfect, Birdy. I suppose Harry's wand would at least be a nominee - and every other wand in the Potterverse.

Can anyone else think of a best or most useful accessory in a movie that deserves a nomination for an award?

>135 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita. As you know, I liked the Takeshi Kovacs books, and Aeronaut's Windlass. I don't know the others you mention. I tried Guy Gavriel Kay on a recommendation once, and unfortunately I don't think he's an author for me. Even though I know he has tons of fans.

>136 kidzdoc: No worries, Darryl. I know you've been busy as a bumblebee. I'm glad your long work stretch is over, and you can kick back a bit.

>138 jnwelch: The one ring, in The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings (granted far more trouble than its worth), and perhaps the Invisibility Cloak?

Your pain au chocolat had me really craving some pastries ...grr.....no luck. There's nothing except spiced nuts to munch on and they don't quite fit the bill when what I need is a hot, flaky, buttery croissant filled a little dark chocolate cream.

>138 jnwelch: I think Indiana Jones' whip earns a spot on the nomination list. He would have come to many a sticky end if not for that whip.

Those Takeshi Kovacs books are quite a thrill ride!

#138

Aladdin's lamp?

>139 thearlybirdy: More good ones, thanks, Birdy. This is fun to think about, isn't it.

Best or most useful accessory in a movie: I wonder which one would win, the wand or the Invisibility cloak?

Creepy to think of the One Ring, isn't it, but it certainly was useful.

>140 cameling: I'm with you, Caro. Spiced nuts are fine, but not when you're dreaming of a hot, flaky, buttery croissant filled with some chocolate cream (I'd go for milk chocolate, even though the dark is better for you).

Oh, good one. Indiana Jones' whip. Definitely. Even when he decides to go with the gun in that hilarious fight in the first movie. I think the bag of sand at the beginning of that first movie will go down as an epic fail in the weight substitution category.

>141 benitastrnad:, >142 benitastrnad: Agreed re the Takeshi Kovacs books, Benita. Great premise, and big time thrill ride.

Excellent choice of Aladdin's Lamp for an award-worthy accessory. You have to be smart in how you use it, but what could be more useful?

By an unknown street artist

>143 jnwelch: Han's Blaster?

>145 jnwelch: Nice!

>146 brodiew2: I like that one very much, perfect use of surroundings, thanks for sharing, Joe!

>145 jnwelch: That is so cool.

How about, Cinderella's glass slippers.

Excalibur

Thor's Hammer

Captain America's Shield

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers

(MrMorphy wishes to add "Deadpool's Wit.")

>146 brodiew2: Han's Blaster, good one, Brodie. I'm thinking the Force is a bit on the too intangible side, and isn't really an "accessory".

Isn't that cool in >145 jnwelch:?

>147 FAMeulstee: Right, Anita, well put. Perfect use of its surroundings. I love it when artists see something like that chain out on the street and play with it this way.

>148 thearlybirdy: Isn't that cool, Birdy?

Are Cinderella's glass slippers useful accessories? I guess in the critical sense of the prince using them to find her, right? Makes me think of Cinder's cyborg implants in Marissa Meyer's series.

>149 Morphidae: Those are all excellent ones, Morphy, and bonus points for Deadpool's Wit from Mr. Morphy. :-)

Batman is wildly accessorized, but maybe the Batmobile sticks out?

>138 jnwelch: Can't forget "Rosebud" (the sled) in Citizen Kane

>151 jnwelch: I was thinking the same thing about Batman. Nothing really sticks out. Same thing with the various X-Men.

Steed from the Avengers (the TV show) had his Bowler and his sword umbrella.

Wonder Woman and her lasso (from MrMorphy)

>153 Morphidae: Sonic screwdriver...

>151 jnwelch: What about Batman's utility belt?

>154 drneutron: OoooOoooh. That's a goodie.

>1 jnwelch: Lovely photo!

>145 jnwelch: Nice!

Happy New Year, Joe! Congrats on your semi-retirement - I'll be following you soon!

Jack Bauer's man-purse?

>145 jnwelch: oooooooh.

Xena's chakram could take 'em all down and i suspect if we only knew more about Grabthar's hammer . . .

Good morning, Joe. Glad to see the accessory game is still going strong.

>155 Oberon: Batman's Utility Belt is a good one.

Iron Man's Armor (or if you prefer only one piece, the arc reactor.)

Daredevil's seeing eye cane

Perhaps Sherlock's scarf

Jack Frost's staff in Rise of the Guardians

Morning, Joe!

>152 kac522: Hiya, Kathy. Is it just me, or do you think Orson Welles would take back "Rosebud" if he could? That part has caused a lot of eye rolls over the years. Still, as an important and famous accessory, it deserves an award nomination. :-)

>153 Morphidae: Oh, I loved Steed in the Avengers - and Diana Rigg, too. Maybe her catsuit (is that what to call it?) to go with his umbrella sword and bowler?

Another good one from MrMorphy. Madame MBH is a big Wonder Woman fan, and would heartily endorse the lasso pick.

>154 drneutron: Oooo, sonic screwdriver. The most useful accessory ever in the history of accessories. Nice one, Jim. Should we add in the TARDIS, or is it too big to be an accessory?

>155 Oberon: Another good one, Erik. Batman may be up for the "best accessory ensemble" award. He's the Home Depot of superheroes. No, that's not right. He's the heavily-outfitted garage of super heroes?

>156 Morphidae: Agreed, Morphy.

>157 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. The planet of retirees will be eagerly waiting your arrival. Some time during the year, or some time after it?

>158 brodiew2: I wasn't a 24 watcher, Brodie, but others will no doubt vote "Aye" on Jack Bauer's man-purse.

>159 mirrordrum: Isn't >145 jnwelch: a riveting one, Ellie?

Oh yeah, Xena's chakram is perfect for this kind of award. It's ricocheting around my mind as we speak.

By Grabthar's Hammer, that's a fine choice. By Grabthar's Hammer, by the suns of Worvan, Alan Rickman sure is missed, isn't he.

>160 thearlybirdy: Good morning, Birdy! Yeah, how did we even get this accessory game going? It sure is still going strong. :-)

Is the arc reactor Iron Man's "heart" (energy source)? It must be. I'd take the whole suit - what an accessory!

Daredevil's cane - good one.

Sherlock's scarf? I've forgotten how that fit into the canon, as our daughter calls it. His deerstalker cap comes to mind, although its use (keeping his head warm? looking unusual?) wasn't as active as some of the others.

I'm Rise of the Guardians-ignorant - what does Jack Frost's staff do? Freeze things?

>161 Crazymamie: Good morning, Mamie! I hope you're accessorizing well today.

In The Canon, Sherlock's violin and pipe were much more useful to him than the cap.

Has anyone mentioned Dorothy's ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz? Or how about The Preacher's "nice piece of hickory" in Pale Rider?

"I'm Rise of the Guardians-ignorant - what does Jack Frost's staff do? Freeze things?" Oh, yeah...it freezes things. You need to become acquainted!

>166 laytonwoman3rd: Yep, I got the ruby slippers up in >149 Morphidae:.

>167 Morphidae: Oh, good, Morphy. I admit to serious skimming with all the new threads up and blooming.

>165 jnwelch: >166 laytonwoman3rd: Oh, Joe, really?! Yes, definitely watch the Rise of the Guardian movie, but you simply *must* read the books, too. You'd LOVE 'em! Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King is the first one.

>166 laytonwoman3rd: Woo, that's a strong opinion you have there, Linda. I hope the cap isn't too sad about this. Is the 7% solution more useful than all of them?

Yes re the ruby slippers, no re the nice piece of hickory in Pale Rider. Good movie, too.

With you and Birdy both urging me, I'll take a look at the Rise of the Guardians. I always get it confused with Chris Pratt and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

>167 Morphidae:, >168 laytonwoman3rd: Definitely award-nomination worthy, Morphy and Linda.

>169 scaifea: Thanks for the tip and the starting point, Amber! I'm worried it may pitch too young for me, but you know me pretty well by now.

>145 jnwelch: och, I love that one. (not sure why I'm Scottish, all of a sudden....)

>162 jnwelch: I had wonder woman sneakers in 1983 and lost one in the surf within the first wekek of owning them. Mum was not best pleased, but my heart was broken.

>171 jnwelch: Joe: No, they won't be too young. I love them myself, in addition to Charlie loving them - Joyce definitely has the writing chops. They'd make amazing read-alouds with YBH...

Morning, Joe! It's Friday!!

>172 LovingLit: Ha! Sometimes I get taken over by Scottish, too, Megan.

My sympathy re the wonder woman sneakers. Tough to lose stuff like that when you're an adult; tougher when you're a kid. Madame MBH plans to read soon that Secret History of Wonder Woman book that folks have been raving about.

>173 scaifea: Oh good, thanks, Amber. That's encouraging re Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King. We've still got a lot of Little House on the Prairie books to read aloud together, but maybe down the line . . .

>174 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Happy Friday!

We had our workout canceled, so Madame MBH is going to take me for some clothes shopping at Kohl's - after all these years in an office, I'm meager on non-office attire.

By Sophie Blackall

Oooh, shopping spree! Leisure suits, then?

Enjoy your shopping trip! What's sorts of clothes are you in need of? That's great that you are will to go shopping with your wife. I have to order Nate's clothes online because he refuses to go to the mall with me! I got tired of hearing him say that he had nothing to wear so I just started ordering him things in his size. He seemed to appreciate that lol

>177 scaifea: Ha! I'm a man at leisure, so yes, of course, leisure suits. They're still considered really cool, right? (Were they ever?)



>178 ChelleBearss: Thanks, Chelle. I've got to get some wick dry (not sure I said that right) gear for working out, as our trainer says my cotton stuff will feel like I'm hauling around a soaked blanket. And some, uh, flannel shirts for the Chicago winter. I do have some flannel-lined blue jeans already, which have helped in this very low temp time we're in.

Pretty exciting stuff, right? Maybe I'll get some rhinestone leg warmers, too.

>179 jnwelch: Yes, absolutely. And definitely in that color.

>179 jnwelch: :-) I'd better be careful, Amber. I don't want to give Madame MBH any reasons to toss me out.

>179 jnwelch: ohhh that's a nice suit! lol

Nate gets his workout gear and his gear for under his uniform from Under Armour. It's great for the summer when he is walking around with 40lbs of gear on and no A/C, helps reduce the feel of the sweat. I think most sporting goods store carry it. I, of course, buy it online :)

>175 jnwelch: Good morning, Joe! I also needed to buy play clothes after I retired. I am still giving away my suits, not sure why I had so many in black. And, my heels, giving those away too. My husband gave me my first flannel shirt for Christmas, loving that. Enjoy your shopping!

>179 jnwelch: I would LOVE to see a picture of you wearing that, Joe!!

>182 ChelleBearss: Our neighbors and friends are going to be so impressed when I wear that suit, Chelle. :-)

Jeez, Nate could probably do a successful commercial for Under Armour. 40 lbs of gear. Wow. I used to wear a 50 lb backpack, but I was young and spry and didn't do it every day. He's a policeman, right? A tip of the hat to him for doing a tough job plus hauling that gear. He can probably lift tall mountains in a single oomph.

I'm pretty sure Kohl's has Under Armour, too. We'll look for it.

Did someone mention Under Roos?

>183 Dianekeenoy: Good morning, Diane! Yeah, it's quite a change. I have a bit more for warm weather because of vacations. I'm going to go through my (non-leisure) suits, too, and give some away. I'll hang onto a couple, just in case. I don't have heels, but I may get some to go with the rhinestone leg warmers. Talk about impressing neighbors and friends!

>184 FAMeulstee: Ha! Thanks, Anita. I might have to buy a wig to really pull it off; my days of having that much hair are long gone. Although I suppose I could say I'm going with the look of the performer Pit Bull.

>186 Morphidae: I had to look up Under Roos, Morphy. Very tempting.

>185 jnwelch: I would tell him your opinion but that would make his ego too big and we just don't want that!
Yes, he is a police officer. Between his bullet proof vest and his belt with all the guns and gadgets it's a little over 40lbs. He is used to it now though.

>189 ChelleBearss: Ha! Personally, Chelle, I'm all in favor of receiving compliments, but no doubt Madame MBH would view it the same way. I can imagine he's grown used to the weight, but that's a workout just walking around.

>179 jnwelch: Are you going to sport some sideburns to go with that leisure suit?

>187 jnwelch: The talk about rhinestones reminds me so much of my nephew. Back when Glen Campbell first came out with the song "Rhinestone Cowboy" which was played frequently on the radio or in restaurants, my nephew was about 3 or 4. We were amazed he had picked up and began to sing the song. He sang, "Macaroni on a Cowboy." I still can't listen to that song without laughing and thinking of my nephew and singing his words.

>188 jnwelch: I had those Wonder Woman Roos! WOOT!

Underoos now make me always think of Spinderman, though - I love that Tony Stark nicknames him such in the Civil War movie. Adorable.

Good morning, Joe! Welcome back!

>170 jnwelch: Rise of the Guardians features characters created by William Joyce. I know you've heard of him. The series of young reader novels is called the Guardians of Childhood.

>191 thornton37814: Ooo, sideburns! That I can do, Lori. Maybe mutton chops?

Why is it I think Madame MBH isn't going to go for all these great ideas?

Ha! I love "Macaroni on a Cowboy", too. There's a whole book of misheard lyrics, called 'Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy that's very funny. Way back when I thought that the Isley Brothers' song, "It's Your Thing, Do What You Wanna Do", went "It's Your Brain . . ." Kinda been my motto every since.

>192 scaifea: Ha! I can see why you'd be stoked about Wonder Woman ROOS, Amber. :-) I'll have to tell Madame MBH about these.

I'd forgotten Tony S. calling him "Spinderman". That kid was a good actor.

>193 brodiew2: Good morning, Brodie! Thanks!

Right - I didn't know before that the Guardians books were written by THAT William Joyce. Even more intriguing. Not something I expected to hear this much enthusiasm about. I will check the first one out.

I liked Bright Dead Things a lot, as did Mamie, Mark and Ellen before me. Here's one I tagged:

What It Looks Like To Us and the Words We Use

By Ada Limón

All these great barns out here in the outskirts,
black creosote boards knee-deep in the bluegrass.
They look so beautifully abandoned, even in use.
You say they look like arks after the sea’s
dried up, I say they look like pirate ships,
and I think of that walk in the valley where
J said, You don’t believe in God? And I said,
No. I believe in this connection we all have
to nature, to each other, to the universe.
And she said, Yeah, God. And how we stood there,
low beasts among the white oaks, Spanish moss,
and spider webs, obsidian shards stuck in our pockets,
woodpecker flurry, and I refused to call it so.
So instead, we looked up at the unruly sky,
its clouds in simple animal shapes we could name
though we knew they were really just clouds—
disorderly, and marvelous, and ours.

>195 jnwelch: I LOVE Tom Holland as Spider Man - I'm excited to see his movie, too.

>195 jnwelch: I've read a couple of the picture books, but I have not read the Nicholas North or Easter Bunny novels. All that said, the movie is fun. It's kind of like the Avengers of mystical childhood beings. The Tooth Fairy is involved as well.

Good afternoon, Joe.

>197 scaifea: Personally I liked Andrew Garfield as Spider-man. That being said, I didn't dislike Tom Holland. I'm also excited to see what they do with the new movie.

>197 scaifea: Yeah, that's the guy, Amber. He was a nice surprise. I hope his new movie is a good 'un.

>198 brodiew2: Hmm, okay, thanks, Brodie. I didn't think I'd be watching any movies with the Tooth Fairy in them, but I'm trusting you guys.

>199 thearlybirdy: Good afternoon, friend Birdy. I understand that many find Andrew Garfield "easy on the eyes", as Madame MBH would put it, and he does seem to be a good actor. I saw most of his Spider-man on TV and he was fine.

>195 jnwelch: >198 brodiew2: Joe & Brodie: The movie is quite different from the books, but they're both very good in their own ways. Joe, please do try the books at some point, because I just *know* you'll love 'em. They're right up your street.

>199 thearlybirdy: Birdy: I've never watched the Garfield Spider Man movies. I suppose I should? At any rate, Holland is totally adorable as Parker and delivers the quips just right, I think. I'm excited that Stark seems to have a pretty significant role in the new movie, too. They work well off each other.

All this talk of leisure suits is just scary .... it is something that should never be allowed again

I hoping MBH will be in charge of the shopping so there will be no leisure or superman/spiderman suits ???

A plaid flannel shirt is a classic. I treat myself to a flannel shirt every Christmas. I usually get the flannel shirts from L. L. Bean. Look at the Scottish Tartan plaids made out of Portuguese Flannel. Very nice shirts that are generously cut. Those shirts are warm and they wash up so well. Then when they have lost all their fluff (after years of wear) you can still wear them in the summer.

I am a student of flannel. Flannel is simply cotton that is brushed to have a nap. Flannel was sold by weight. You could get 4 oz. flannel, 5 oz. or the best was 7 oz. In the old days, the Sears and the J. C. Penny's catalog had all three weights and believe me, I owned shirts in all three weights. Now it is impossible to get 7 oz. flannel. Because flannel is brushed cotton, every time you wash it, it will loose fuzz. All that fuzz is what keeps you warm, so eventually the shirts aren't as warm as when they are new.

It is a Christmas tradition for me to purchase my brother-in-law, and my nephew chamois cloth shirts from L. L. Bean or Lands End. Chamois cloth is heavier than flannel, but it is still made the same way. However, it has a tighter weave (more threads per square inch) so it is heavier than flannel. They are heavy (they weigh alot) and stiffer than flannel, but nothing beats them for warmth. And the colors are so rich and vibrant. It is hard to figure out which color to purchase for who each year.

L. L. Bean and Lands End both sell flannel lined blue jeans. They are a must have out where I come from.

As for Long Underwear - Lands End. They have colors and sizes to meet every taste and need. They have different weights of long underwear. Personally, I wear the silk lightweight long underwear most of the winter. You can put it on under dresses, dress slacks, and jeans. In fact, I have a pair of long underwear on right now. These are mid-weight. I have long underwear in different weights that I wear for different occasions. My favorite color for long underwear - Black. I encourage the students who work for me to get a pair of the silk long-underwear, as it is so very practical and it is surprising how often I wear it.

If you are in the market for warm shirts - go to the web sites for L. L. Bean, and, or, Lands End. You will find what you need there.

Hi Joe and a belated Happy New Year! That's a great picture of your family at the top of the thread. I am dropping a star here and looking forward to another year of lively talk, great poems, friendly banter and, of course, wonderful book talk here at the cafe.

Does the Cafe have any of that delicious split pea soup that everybody was talking about? And for desert how about a nice Fruit Cake Bundt cake?

I see you are reading another Poldark novel. I have a good start on Warleggan but got distracted by Invasion of the Tearling. I buzzed through Queen of the Tearling and am thinking that if I finish Invasion I will make a trip to Barnes & Noble and get Fate of the Tearling. Might as well finish the series all at once instead of dragging it out.

>201 scaifea: You've hit it right on the button for me so many times, Amber, so have no fear. I'll try that first book with an open mind.

I did like the Garfield Spider-Man better than the couple before it with - was it still Toby McGuire? So it's worth your taking a look. Plus Emma Stone! We just saw her knock it out of the park in La-La Land. So relaxed and charming.

Agreed re Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland. They worked really well together.

>202 roundballnz: You can't imagine, Alex, how many times the U.S. public has said, Thank goodness for Madame MBH; that jnwelch would be a disaster without her. I was going to bring back Davy Crockett hats and pantaloons, for example, and she saved us all from that.

All right, you convinced me, no leisure suit or super hero costume. Madame MBH wouldn't have let me out of the house anyway. Are the rhinestone leg warmers still okay?

>207 jnwelch: Oh, yay! I'll try to remain patient until you get round to reading them...

I agree that Emma Stone is a delight. I love Toby, but didn't love those movies.

No leisure suit?! Dang it. You know, I've recently acquired the superhero-cape-making skill; I could whip one up for you...

>203 benitastrnad: That is the best information about flannel and chamois I've ever read, Benita. Thanks. We had success at Kohl's, but I will peruse the offerings of Messrs. Bean and End.

>204 DeltaQueen50: Hiya, Judy! Happy New Year! Thanks re the family photo; on top of everything else, we all like each other. Go figure.

I'm with you - let's have a great time this year at the cafe and LT. I'm figuring it will be good for our sanity, too.

>205 benitastrnad: Hmm. Checking in the kitchen, Benita. Ah yes.





>206 benitastrnad: Yes, I'm enjoying Four Swans, Benita. I'm trying to stay ahead of the BBC tv series with Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson. Warleggan (doesn't the name alone start to make you angry?) was another good one.

I know Mark liked the first Tearling book, and others have spoken positively about the series. I'll look forward to hearing what you think.

>200 jnwelch: Might as well chime in on Spiderman. I liked what was done with the Raimi/Maguire. The films successively lost their way, with Raimi being forced out for the final film if I recall correctly.

I have only seen the first of Garfield's Spiderman, but he was way too much an angsty loner for me. And his drama as Peter did not transition well to his light-hearted quipster he was as Spidey. The rest of the film is well done, including Emma Stone.

That said, I loved the Holland Peter and the Holland Spiderman. The suit and abilities are supposed to empower Peter which is why, as Spidey he can let loose a bit. But, Peter is still an awkward teenager. I thought the Stark-Parker scene is Civil War was a brilliant piece of comdey from both sides. I, too, look forward to Homecoming!

>208 scaifea: :-) Can you make me a Dr. Strange cape, Amber? If so, you'll probably want to make two, as I've no doubt Charlie will want one, too.

Even Madame MBH loved Dr. Strange's cape.



OK, we're off to the theater to see Charles III. We'll report back.

Why do they keep making new Spider-Man movies?!?! It seems like every other year there is a re-set or a new franchise or whatever. I don't get it.

>212 katiekrug: Hi Katie! I don't think that 'Homecoming' will rehash the origin story. There has enough backlash about it already. Having him appear in Civil War was a perfect way to move forward rather than backward.

As for why they keep making them, they make money.

>209 jnwelch: They put food coloring in that split pea soup or something? Photoshop it?

Plopping down to place a star and to hope for a cup of hot tea with honey and lemon. Best cure for the sniffles, eh what?

You're at the theater, you say? It's okay. I'll wait. Too comfortable in my spot to make a move! Have fun!

Happy Friday!

*waiting patiently with a chocolate malted shake for the movie review*

>207 jnwelch: did you say leg-warmers ???? ** shudders*** I vote that MBH does all your shopping

>196 jnwelch: Another Limon gem! We can not get enough of those!

Happy Friday, Joe! My visiting time, on the threads, has been limited lately, due to brain freeze. My books are treating me well, though. I really like Kindred. Did you say you had read it? If not, it sure is your cuppa.

I saw the film version of A Monster Calls came out today and it has been getting glowing reviews. It is such a great book. I am glad the film-makers did it justice.

Hi Joe!
Peeking in to your cafe - it's been awhile.

Scanning your favorite reads of 2016, it looks like I've read a smattering and mostly agree they were great - except War and Peace. Couldn't get through it after 3 serious attempts.

LOVED:
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Lab Girlby Hope Jahren
and
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Also, love >73 jnwelch: "My Hummingbird" . Will have to look for Ada Limon's book.

And if you have anymore chocolate croissants, I'd love one without calories! If not, a glass of water, please.

Looking good @179, Joe, as always! So you are semi- retired? Enjoy! Rhinstone leg warmers? Bring 'em on!

>219 -Cee-: Cee! Cee! Cee! Hi! Hi! Hi!
:)

Hi Joe.
I had a great cafe experience this morning. I think your cafe could adopt the "secret sliding bookcase door". It is so cool. You don't know it's an automatic door until you get to it....to look at the books. And once you go through it and look back, you can see the books, as the back of the bookcase is Perspex.
The doorway leads to the toilets, but we needn't dwell on that.

>207 jnwelch: Davy Crockett hats and pantaloons, eh? The Public hereby Publicly Thanks Madame MBH for her Ongoing Service to Mankind.

Happy weekend, Joe.

How was the play Joe, I missed it when it was in London, but I've heard good things?

Wow. I am not a bit surprised to see how much I have missed here. I will try to go forward with you :)

>211 jnwelch: Ha! Well, I could make a cape that looks like Dr. Strange's, but don't expect it to *act* like his...

>210 brodiew2: Thanks for the thoughtful comments on the Spidey movies, Brodie. I couldn't have told you who directed the Toby ones, although now that you say Raimi, I remember. Who's directing the new one, if you know?

That awkward teenager, bumbling along like everyman quality probably is a big part of the enduring appeal of Spider-Man. Plus everyone would like to be able to kick bad guy butt, and use shooting spiderwebs to swing through the city.

>212 katiekrug: Hi, Katie. I think some of the answer is above in my >210 brodiew2: response, and in Brodie's response (they make money). Superman and Batman seem to have the same enduring appeal, and the X-Men. And Thor. Am I missing anyone? I always liked the oddball Dr. Strange; we'll see whether more movies featuring him are made.

The need for escapism has shaped a lot of movie-making all along, right? This may be a prominent latest version of that.

>213 brodiew2: I'd like to see the Spidey story move forward, Brodie, that's for sure. Enough of the origin already.

How long can he stay a teen/early 20s, I wonder?

>214 Morphidae: Ha! It's a kitchen secret, Morphy. I do know it's a gourmet split pea soup, with buttered lobster and truffle oil. So some master chef knew how to turn it that green.

>215 michigantrumpet: Hey, Marianne. Good to see you!

The play, King Charles III, was great.

I always recommend a hot toddy for the sniffles - it sure improves the spirits! - but let's start you with hot tea with honey and lemon.



>216 cameling: Hi, Caro.

'Twas a play. Here are some pics from King Charles III at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.



King Charles and Camilla



William and Kate



Girlfriend Jess and Harry

The play is well-written by Mike Bartlett, and well-perfomed here by an excellent cast. What if, after Queen Elizabeth II dies, Charles takes over and feels driven to contest questionable parliamentary legislation (in this case, restrictions on the press)? Can the monarchy block democratic action? Great premise, right?



British actor Robert Bathurst (Downton Abbey) is a knockout as Charles. Britain doesn't have a written constitution; it has tradition. Those who have seen "The Audience" (or are well-read in how it works) know the queen - or king - has a weekly informational meeting with the Prime Minister. It turns out the monarch also perfunctorily signs any passed legislation. What if Charles refuses? Would he be protecting the British public, or thwarting their will as expressed through the democratic process?

Fascinating for a non-Brit as well as, I'm sure, Brits. We had a Londoner with us, and she LOVED the play.

Well worth seeing if it pops up where you are, Caro.

>217 roundballnz: Ha! Madame MBH did indeed accompany me and keep me out of trouble at the clothing store. So, alas, no leg warmers. Although I can see why you and the rest of the world might be happy about that.

>218 msf59: Hiya, Mark! Another Limon gem all right. I may post another one this weekend. Thanks again for getting the ball rolling with her.

I've read other Octavia Butlers, but not Kindred. I'll plan on adding it to the WL, unless it goes awry for you.

Stay warm today!

>219 -Cee-: Cee! Cee! Cee! Hi, Claudia!

Lovely to have you back on the LT campus. Sorry about War and Peace - it took me a lot of years to finally finish that sucker. Weren't Evicted, When Breath Becomes Air, Lab Girl and Dark Matter great? Wonderful reading year.

Thank you re "My Hummingbird". I miss that lady. Yes, do read Ada Limon, particularly Bright Dead Things, although I'm going to explore more by her.

P.S. Oops! Yes, all our baked goods are calorie-free. Our water, too. :-)

>228 jnwelch: Looks like nuclear slime. *sticks her nose in the air and gives a snobby sniff*

>220 vancouverdeb: Alex and Madame MBH put the kibosh on the rhinestone leg warmers, darn it, Deb. The semi-retirement is suiting me to a tee, thanks. We had a most excellent get-together with friends and quite a play last night. Tonight is a Bulls game with Madame MBH.

>221 LovingLit: I'm with you on the Cee excitement, Megan!

Ha! I love that story. I was enchanted by the cafe's automatic sliding book case, that opens to those perusing the books, and then . . . toilets. Hmm. If we add a hidden room behind a sliding bookcase at this cafe, what should be in it?

>222 kac522: The Public hereby Publicly Thanks Madame MBH for her Ongoing Service to Mankind. Ha! No doubt, Kathy. You wouldn't believe how many awards and accolades she's gotten for that since she met me. Although you haven't really lived until you've seen me in a Davy Crockett hat. Just sayin'.

>223 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. It's a grand one so far. Happy weekend to you, too.

>224 Caroline_McElwee: The play was excellent, Caroline. See >216 cameling: up there for some pics and comments.

I did have some quibbles - e.g. I thought one critical turning point happened a little too easily. But overall, great, and well worth seeing. You'd find it quite thought-provoking, I suspect. We sure did.

>225 mckait: Yay Kath! Yay Kath!

No worries about not coming by often, as I know you have a beautiful granddaughter to adore. :-) But I hope we do get to see you here once in a while. You're missed!

>226 scaifea: Well, you can't fool me, Amber. I've seen your skills in action on LT and FB. A fully functional Dr. Strange cape should be no problem for the Supreme Seamstress, Master of the Sewing Arts.

>227 jnwelch: Caught up! Whoosh!

>231 Morphidae: I heard that, Morphy! No split sea poop, I mean, split pea soup, for you!

A latish Happy New Year!

Ack, Joe, your thread is one of those that I can never keep up with! It's rolling!

Congrats on the retirement! Me too, me too! I've been off for two months and have made barely a scratch in my 'to do' list.

I'll finish Evicted today to get it back to the library and I just picked up March: Book Two at the library.

>235 jnwelch: Ooof, no pressure or anything...

>236 jnwelch: Oh, I like it! V. cool.

>237 jnwelch: *SNORK!*

>237 jnwelch: But that's what I'm sayin'! That wasn't split sea poop. Dangit! Now you got me saying it!

No true split pea soup would be that neon green color!

THIS is split pea soup!

Nice photos from King Charles III, Joe. I hope that you and Debbi enjoyed it.

>240 Morphidae: What Morphy said. That is split pea soup!

>238 streamsong: Hiya, Janet! No worries - I'm still telling folks Happy New Year. Same to you, my friend.

I'm loving retirement. I'm avoiding a to-do list right now, but I know what you mean. The days are so full. I don't know how anyone gets "bored" after retirement. But I was never a workaholic, so that's probably a big part of it.

How did you like Evicted? The first March book? That March series, for me, was a knockout.

>239 scaifea: Yay! I'm always happy when we get a *SNORK* from you, Amber. :-)

No worries about the Dr. Strange cape. If it has your usual sartorial splendor, it doesn't need to do mystical tricks. I think even Madame MBH would agree with that. I'm a size "Bigger Than I Should Be", if that helps any.

>240 Morphidae: Nice, Morphy. I miss the deep unnatural green, but otherwise it looks mighty good.

How about this? At least the color seems more like what you're showing.

>243 jnwelch: That's more like it! :D

>240 Morphidae: Yes, that looks delicious! I need to make some again soon (it goes pretty fast here at Scaife Manor)...

>243 jnwelch: What can I say, I'm a fan of potty humor.

I'm gonna need to do some research for the cape and watch the movie... Tomm will be happy, as he's been pestering to see it...

>244 Morphidae: :-)

>245 scaifea: Yes! See the Dr. Strange movie for an exciting and delightful movie experience research, Amber. Good idea!

Ooh, soup and lemon tea sounds perfect. Sniffle. Although I'll avoid the peas altogether...

>236 jnwelch: is great. I love the 3d street art.

I finally copied My Hummingbird into my Common Place book Joe, I have returned to it several times, it both moved me and I enjoyed it's originality, it's juxtaposition of different facets, and in a sense a little bit of wonder. I felt the pain, but could also smile, and enjoyed an element of surprise. Clapping.

I can but hope that play makes it over to Boston some time soon. I shall keep my eyes peeled for new play announcements. It sounds really interesting.

So what have you discovered is taking up most of your retired day?

Retirement clothing: I live in denim jeans and teeshirts with varying length sleeves, depending on the temps. Some flannel shirts and sweatshirts to throw over the tees when it gets colder. Sneakers and Clark's wave.trek walkers to complete the outfit.

howdy do, Joe.

>233 jnwelch: okay, that hat image is frightening. truly frightening. absolute accolades to Mme MBH. stars, bars, ruffles, flourishes and every kind of embellishment shall she have.

>240 Morphidae: now that's split pea soup! needs a basket of San Francisco sourdough. it ain't sourdough unless it's made with the real, original 1850-ish "Mother dough," ya know. and it must be torn, not sliced. frighteningly good with clam chowder, too. there's this great place up near the Russian River . . . ah, sorry, i got carried away by my salivary glands.



i finished Create dangerously yesterday and Girl on the train early this a.m. the first was superb, as you know, the latter, imo, comprised 10+ hours of ear time that i'll never get back. what a waste of air space. i swan!

>247 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Glad you're enjoying the 3D art. Clever and skillful - a nice combo.

Soup and lemon tea? Mais oui. I hope your sniffles snuffle out and leave you alone.

>232 jnwelch: probably a room full of cushions and low tables and coffee and books. Not just a hallway to the loos like at C1 :)

http://www.travelguideapps.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/C1-Espresso-Toliet-D...

>251 mirrordrum: not impressed by Girl on The Train huh? I didn't go there on account of a general suspicion of thrillers, and the latest thing.

>248 Caroline_McElwee: Yay! Thanks so much, Caroline. You've made my day. I can hear you clapping all the way over here. :-)

>249 cameling: I'll bet good money that King Charles III gets out your way, Caro. Lots of good theater in your part of the country, there is. (Said Yoda).

You know, it's just one thing after another each day. One day we work out, run errands, read; another we go to a movie, do chores around the house, visit with friends; and so on. And every day I try to read some poetry and maybe write some, too. Plus meditate. Plus food once in a while. Plus plays and such. Tonight, Bulls v. Raptors (there's a wild Jurassic Park image for you). And we haven't even gotten to traveling yet.

I haven't really figured out a schedule yet, but maybe that's okay.

>254 jnwelch: isn't the point of being retired not to have a schedule anymore? Still plan events, enjoy time with friends, hit the town etc, but for the most part relax and be schedule free?
Or maybe that's just what I want my retirement to look like in a very long 20-25 years from now :(

>250 ronincats: Ha! Sounds just right, Roni. Your temperate climate helps, I know. Here I've been wearing my flannel-lined jeans on a daily basis, with various combos of tshirt, flannel shirt and sweater. Lots of layers - it's cold here! But no office gear - yay!

>251 mirrordrum: Howdy do, my sweet petunia.

I beg your pardon?!! Moi, in a Davy Crockett hat, we're talking folk art, a lovely summer's day, a delusional man. It's not frightening! And don't make that Madame MBH's head swell up any more than it already has. Arrgh. The gall, the injustice. I may have to have a frosted cinnamon roll soon.

Despite your out-of-touch haberdashery views, that sourdough bread looks awfully good. With clam chowder?! I'm trying not to swoon here. Forget the cinnamon roll.



I'm sure with you on Create Dangerously. I just found out that Edwidge Danticat is on Adriana's board for The Asterix Journal. Very cool.

I'm not a Girl on the Train kind of guy meself. Those who like twisty not-what-you-thought thrillers like that, which includes our esteemed daughter, apparently find it riveting.

>253 LovingLit: That sounds much better, Megan. Not to mention the fact that, who wants the loo hidden? That's one place you want to easily find, right?

Thank you for the visual aid.

Yeah, similar for me with The Girl on the Train. I'm an Emily Blunt fan, but I'm not even tempted to see the movie so far.

>255 ChelleBearss: Ha! Yes, good reminder, Chelle. That is what retirement is for - being footloose and schedule-free. I'm having a blast; I'm just still trying to figure out how to do this. Maybe I should drop the figuring out part, too, and just go with it.

20 - 25 years Madame MBH and I couldn't even have imagined being able to do this. And we'd both go back in a blink to have our kids at those ages again. But this is sweet.

Thanks for the soup. Just what the doctor ordered.

Glad you're both enjoying the new free time. I just read Ms Marvel volume five - so enjoying this series. Hope it gets a film.

>258 charl08: :-)

Oh, I love that Ms. Marvel series, too, Charlotte. A film would be most excellent.

The new cafe is open. See you there!

Did i spy 'flannel lined jeans' up there .... bizarre

>261 roundballnz: They're the best, Alex. Don't let anyone bizarre tell you otherwise. Comfy and warm; just the thing when we get near 17 C or start heading below.

>251 mirrordrum: >256 jnwelch: Oh, yum! I love clam chowder so thick that you can stick a spoon up in it. And, sour dough bread - there is nothing like sour dough bread from San Francisco. Nothing beats it.

>250 ronincats: Ro I mailed you your books in a Clark's wave trek walkers shoe box! I'm not retired but I live in those shoes. Great for 12 hours shifts or my day off.

Howdy Joe. On to your new thread for me.

I had forgotten that your thread makes me hungry !

>265 mckait: Ha! Come on over to the new one, Kath. There'll be more mouth-watering delights. All zero calories, too.