mstrust- Around the World in 80 Days or Less (or your money back)

Happy 2019!

I'm Jennifer. I live in Phoenix with my husband Mike and our boxer, Coral. He's tall, she's demanding, I'm a reader. March will mark my 11th anniversary on LT.

I've made two challenges for 2019. The smallish challenge turns my 75 Book Challenge into a kinda mash-up with the Category Challenge, in that each new thread will be inspired by a particular book. I may have already read that book, but if I haven't, my goal is to read it for that thread. I may read other books in that genre for that thread too, or maybe not. 'Keep your standards low' is my motto. Also, 'Never let the hippie take you to a second location'.
The bigger challenge for this year is to read the books I already own. There are hundreds of unread books in my house. It's gotten to the point that I'm surprised by what I find on my shelves, so this year should be an amusing exercise in self-control. Of course, I have some built-in cheats: the huge VNSA book sale in February, well I'm not missing that. Also, I can't help it if I find something great during my volunteer shift at the library. We'll just call that fate. Also, sometimes a nice person will give me a book as a gift, and if there's an amazing new release or an author signing, that's just me contributing to the economy. But otherwise, I'm going to be firm about this, and I'm even joining the ROOT group for the first time.
My first thread for the year was inspired by Around the World in 80 Days. I've not read it or seen the movie versions, but I can tell you there's a lot of traveling in it. So, we will also be traveling, but not to the places you're expecting. Prepare to be surprised by our destinations. I'm packing Dramamine and a Costco pack of peanut butter.
As always, my threads are strictly politics-free. But sugar and cocktails, yeah we got that.

Books Read in 2019

1. Around the World in 80 Days- 4.5
2. Hemingway & Bailey's Bartending Guide- 4.2
3. My Family and Other Animals - 4 stars
4. The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley-3.5
5. My Friend Dahmer- 4 stars
6. The 7 Secrets of Awakening the Highly Effective Four-Hour Giant, Today- 3 stars
7. Blood on the Boards- 3.5
8. Lumberjanes: Sink or Swim- 2 stars
9. Book Towns- 4.2
10. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea- 4

Happy to be along for the ride!

Hi Kim, and thanks for being my first visitor! Claim your handy prize:

Welcome back!

My ROOT thread, for anyone who wants to see proof that I'm reading from my shelves: https://www.librarything.com/topic/301124#6671997

>4 drneutron: Thanks, Jim! And thank you for creating the challenge for us all!

Hi Jennifer! As sad as I am that the BBC has not returned, I am looking forward to following the usual books, food and other "stuff" that shows up on your thread. ;-) Wishing you a Happy New Year now, just in case I don't make it back before Jan 1st.

Ok, I'm ready to go. Dibs on a window seat. (Hoping the picture I have here will show up eventually.)

>7 lkernagh: Hi, Lori! I'm sad about The BBC's last eviction too, but I hope to have an interesting year anyway. Happy New Year to you, and come back when you can!

>8 RidgewayGirl: You made it! Sorry, the pic isn't coming up for me, but I'm sure it was grand.

Hi, Jennifer! Looking forward to another fun set of threads in 2019.

Yaaay! Starred your thread -- looking forward to following your reading adventures in 2019 :D

And away we go!

First I'd like to stop by the 14th floor and practice some advisory techniques on whomever had been hammering since 8am.

...ok, we can go now. Step on it, Jennifer!

>10 harrygbutler: Hi Harry! Good to see you!

>11 rabbitprincess: Hurray, princess is here!

>12 SomeGuyInVirginia: I knew you'd make it in time, Larry!
Should we all go en masse and toss bottles at the noisy neighbor? I would love to be your getaway driver, but we're scheduled for departure on Tuesday. Please commit your crimes accordingly.

Happy New Thread! I only recently read Around the World in Eighty Days and loved it.

Hi, Nicole! I'm finding it to be a lot of fun, not a dry, old book at all.

Happy New Year Thread!

Hey, Jennifer! Always glad to see another 'oldie' around these parts. Hard to believe that this group was first formed in 2008 and is still hanging in there.

>16 quondame: Hi, Susan glad to see you!

>17 alcottacre: Hey, Stasia! It's a very long time, social media-wise! When someone clicks on the old-timer's threads, "Pomp and Circumstance" should play ;-)

My moratorium on book buying in the new year + Amazon gift cards for Christmas = a lot of scrambling to buy books before midnight New Year's Eve.

*starred*

>3 mstrust: LOL! Good luck fitting in the book buying before time's up. ; )

>18 mstrust: I'll one-up you to say that I had all those gift cards spent before Christmas day was over. With one exception, the boxes of books have already arrived and been added to my LT account.

The trick now is to get them all read.

Happy New Year Jennifer!

Happy reading in 2019, Jennifer!

>19 Matke: Hi, Gail!
>20 Berly: Thanks! I'm going to be working on that today. It's like trying to panic shop before a natural disaster.
>21 RidgewayGirl: Wow, was there a whooshing sound as you raced to the computer? :-D I've ordered just a couple of books so far, but I've also got coffee, cds and a sweater coming.
And your pic in >8 RidgewayGirl: shows up now!
>22 The_Hibernator: Happy New Year, Rachel! Lovely picture!
>23 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita, and to you too!

Happy new thread! Happy new year! and if I may say so myself >1 mstrust: you're looking amazing.....and just a little bit sober ;0)

Yay, Lynda's here! Thanks for noticing how nice and vertical I am there. Clearly the party doesn't start until me and my shawl show up.

Happy new thread and 2019!

Thanks, Chelle, and happy 2019 to you!

Every happiness in 2019, Jennifer!

Wishing you a year of good reading, Jennifer!

I wish you from my heart a healthy 2019 filled with happiness, satisfaction, laughter and lots of good books.

I want to quietly wish you all a Happy New Year. I'm not going to even think about champagne for a while.

>29 SomeGuyInVirginia: And to you, Larry!

>30 quondame: Happy New Year!

>31 harrygbutler: Happy New Year, Harry! I know how that little gnome feels.

>32 Ameise1: Happy New Year, Barbara! Pretty pic!

Look, I've stuck to my challenge so far!



1. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. Wealthy loner Phileas Fogg makes a bet with other club members that he can leave London that very night and travel around the world, returning to the club floor in 80 days. It's 1872 and he has every means of transportation possible: boats, horses, trains, and even elephants in India. His chances of success often hang on the actions of the French manservant, Passepartout, whom he had hired the day of the bet.
Lively and action packed, this is a fun story. I saw a review that called this book outdated, which I guess, if you're expecting airplanes and cell phones in 1872, but I found it remarkably fresh. 4.5 stars

>34 mstrust: Woe! look at you! Glad you enjoyed it! I've already got some catching up to do!

Ha! Surprised you, didn't I?

Okay, our transportation has arrived for our first outing. You might want to stand back until we begin boarding.



We going to The Museum of Bad Art in Boston, where we will marvel at the smeary portraits, surreal landscapes and just weird attempts. Bonus, you can pick up some bad art souvenirs to take home.
http://museumofbadart.org/

Yuppers! You're just jumping right in while I'm still testing the water. It will be a couple of more days before I add a book to my ticker.

I tend to start the new year full of energy and within a month or so I'm back to just a book a week.

>34 mstrust: I love that book. What a fabulous first reading in 2019.

Definitely a good one to start the year with. I try to pick something that I'm almost positive I'll like for the first book of the year. Who wants to start off with a two star?

>34 mstrust: Excellent! I don't recall whether I read the book back in my youth, but I think I did, and I enjoyed the Michael Todd-produced movie, too, with its abundance of cameos.

>37 mstrust: Yay! I always enjoy a visit to an art museum. And all the better when it's filled with people who all smell faintly of elephant.

Happy new year, Jennifer.

>34 mstrust: A great start for the year and your theme with Verne. I'm glad it can still entertain. I read (and loved) several of Verne's novels as a teen but I'm not sure I ever read Around the World (tho I did see a modestly entertaining movie version). I have 20,000 Leagues on my list for a re-read this year. It was on last year's list and didn't get done so hopefully I will.

>42 harrygbutler: I'd like to see that movie version. I think David Niven would be a pretty good Fogg.

>43 RidgewayGirl: :-D I can't promise you such a ripe scent at all the places we'll visit on this thread, but there will be other museums along the way.

>44 figsfromthistle: Happy new year, figs.

>45 RBeffa: Thanks, Ron, I enjoyed it a lot. And I've been reading 20,000 Leagues for, oh, about a year. My copy is a heavy, gilded thing that I can't hold comfortably for very long. But I like the story and I'm going to finish it. Hopefully soon.

>46 mstrust: I think I have an old paperback of this, probably an abridged ed. but the one I am going to read is a gorgeously illustrated Heritage Press edition. Not gilded though. OK, now I want to read it very soon, like this month. Thanks for the spark.

Happy new year! I hope your 2019 is filled with great reading.

I am keeping a tight hold on Adrian. I'm afraid the elephant won't see him, and I'd hate for him to get smushed.

>47 RBeffa: That's a really nice edition, and boy did that artist use Quint as inspiration. Good luck to both of us in finishing soon!

>48 cbl_tn: Happy new year! Yes, our elephants are ornery, yet I never tire of watching them kick people.

Happy New Year! I'm just boarding (out of kicking range) and you've already been around the world. Congratulations you have just added to my TBR mountain already.

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, Jennifer, this year.

Happy New Year.

I'm so glad you liked Around the World in Eighty Days! I was surprised it was so light and fast paced for a book from that period.

Also this next part is a mini-SPOILER:
There are so many covers of this book with a hot air balloon on the cover and he never rides in one! That surprised me.

>50 VivienneR: Yes!!! Got someone with a BB the first day! Happy New Year, Vivienne!

>51 PaulCranswick: Good to see you here, Paul. Happy New Year!

>52 BLBera: Happy new year, Beth.

>53 PaperbackPirate: I noticed that too! As I was writing the review I flipped through the book, wondering if I'd forgotten about him using a hot air balloon, but came to the conclusion that a balloon wasn't in the story at all. And I too saw many covers that featured one. Huh.

>53 PaperbackPirate: >54 mstrust: Woe! What's that!? There is no hot air balloon in AtWi80days?! What kind of artistic license is that?! I haven't read the book but for some reason I remember seeing a movie with a hot air balloon. I may have to read this book at some point.

I think the balloon must have come from the movie version, like the artists didn't read the book but had seen the movie :-D A hot air balloon has become so much the image of this book and it's just weird. Phileas Fogg was a man on a tight schedule who didn't have time to float around.

that is so interesting! Look the second day of 2019 and I've already learned something!

It makes for a beautiful cover, just doesn't match the content.

>57 Carmenere: :-) Then my thread has done something useful, thanks to Nicole for even bringing it up.
>58 PaperbackPirate: I haven't read Crime and Punishment yet. It might be a romance with lots of picnics and gardening.

>59 mstrust: I'm glad I finally had someone to talk about it with!

I'm here, and I'm listening.

2. Hemingway & Bailey's Bartending Guide to Great American Writers by Mark Bailey, illustrated by Edward Hemingway. A fun little book of American writers who liked to be drunk. Each chapter has a brief bio of a writer, with a few paragraphs about them personally, usually including some infamous confrontation while inebriated. Each author has a cocktail recipe, which could be for their or their famous character's favorite tipple, and an excerpt from their own work about drinking. For instance, Dashiell Hammett's chapter includes a recipe for a Martini, the favorite for both Hammett and his fictional Nick and Nora. It also includes the story of a night of drinking and arguing between Hammett and girlfriend Lillian Hellman, and an excerpt from The Maltese Falcon. And it's illustrated by Ernest Hemingway's grandson. The recipes look good. 4.2 stars
This was a Christmas gift from my sister.

Hi Jennifer, what a fun idea, choosing a book as a topper for your thread.

I have read a lot of Jules Vernes books as a child. My library had a whole collection of them. I looked up what cover "my" book had, and it also has a hot air balloon somewhere. But it dates from far before the movie, illustrators must just have loved balloons.

Happy reading in 2019!

Somehow this next stop seems fitting. We're spending the night at Das Park Hotel near Linz, Austria. Our rooms are actually reclaimed sewer pipes, and you choose what you want to pay. They also have a location in Germany.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmqDN7whgfk

Trip Advisor page: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g190428-d670571-Reviews-Dasparkhotel-Li...

>63 EllaTim: Hi, Ella!
Then it's a great mystery of who started drawing balloons on the cover of a book that has no balloons. I've seen book covers that had little to do with the story, but this has to be in a class of its own for it to go on for so many decades.
Happy new year!

>62 mstrust: Now that sounds like a fun book indeed. Was there anyone you were surprised to discover? Or whose favorite drink was a real surprise?

>64 mstrust: Well, I'm happy to see that they're reclaimed.

>64 mstrust: That seems like a fun place to stay. Interesting, I've been to Linz many times and never saw that hotel. I'll have to check it out next time! Are you visiting any other parts of Austria ?

>66 harrygbutler: As far as being unaware of their existence, poet John Berryman. Most are very famous though. Surprised by stories about their heavy drinking, Edna St. Vincent Millay and James Thurber, whose page includes the story of him fighting Hellman and Hammett in a speakeasy.
The recipes are mostly classics, as every writer featured is long dead. But poet Robert Lowell has a whiskey recipe called Ward Eight that I've never heard of.
:-D If they were still in use, it would be a difficult way to pass the night.

>67 figsfromthistle: I believe this hotel is just a few years old, maybe six or seven?
I can't say at the moment where we'll land next, as there are so many places in mind.

>68 mstrust: I checked out a couple Ward Eight recipes. It certainly seems a cocktail worth a try.

Alrighty! I'm ready to check into Das Park Hotel :0)

And the journey is on! I am so going to enjoy this year here. : )

>70 harrygbutler: You like whiskey, so let me know if you like it.

>71 Carmenere: Good, you have all the necessities. Let's hope there's a tiny, highly efficient heater in your room.

>72 Berly: Yes, there are so many more places to visit!

Happy Friday Jennifer!

Thanks, and right back atcha, Linda!

YYouve prompted me to read Eighty Days, Jennifer. Also Twenty Thousand. I must have read Verne as a child but have absolutely no memory of it/him.

>62 mstrust: I read a sort of trivia book about authors not long ago and was amazed at how accident-prone Hemingway was.
Then I remembered the drinking.

>64 mstrust: That's a lot of pipe. Oddly, the rooms don't have bathroom!

>76 Matke: I hope you enjoy them. I just finished a chapter of 20,000 Leagues myself.
That's interesting about Hemingway, but yes, the drinking may have made his accidents a more frequent occurrence. Seems likely ;-)

>77 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ha, I actually hadn't noticed that. That may explain why the "rooms" are so close together, they must be sharing a bathroom. Everyone who just held it all night, raise your hand. Sorry.

Hi Jennifer, I am ready to join in with the Around the World in Eighty Days tour. I've packed my passport, a change of underwear and my fully loaded Kindle - let's go!

Hi, Judy! You're a very sensible packer. Here I am with knotty hair and wearing the same socks all week...

3. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Durrell's widowed mother moved her four children from England to the Greek island of Corfu in the 30's, mainly to stretch their very limited funds. Eldest son Larry was a young, arrogant writer (who became novelist Lawrence Durrell), next son Leslie was obsessed with hunting and guns in general, teenage daughter Margo hoped for romance and the youngest, the author, was single-handedly the worst thing to happen to the island's wildlife.
Durrell grew up to work with animals and other wildlife his whole life, working in zoos, leading collecting expeditions, writing books and presenting programs on tv. At the time he's writing about here, he's about 8-10 years old, and unfortunately, completely fearless. He captures snakes, spiders,and pretty much anything he can get hold of. He climbs up to nests and steals baby birds because he wants them for himself, and finds giant toads, which he then keeps in a box under his bed. He accidentally puts predator with prey and gets the logical results. To the modern reader, you wish his mother, too calm and too sweet-tempered, would stop him as he cages everything he comes across and throws even more into jars filled with alcohol, all in the name of research. His observations in the field are interesting and display his fascination with every living creature.
The best parts of the book, for me, involve the Durrell family. Loud and always fighting, the strongest personality was Larry, who is hilariously narcissistic and sees everyone else in the family as being the source of his problems.

"That's the trouble with this family", said Larry bitterly: "no give and take, no consideration for others."
"You don't have much consideration for others," said Margo.
"It's all your fault, Mother," said Larry austerely; "you shouldn't have brought us up to be so selfish."
"I like that!" exclaimed Mother. "I never did anything of the sort!"
"Well, we didn't get as selfish as this without some guidance," said Larry.

I've had this on the shelf for a year or two and pulled it down because I really love "The Durrells of Corfu" on PBS. 4 stars

Now we're going to Malmo, Sweden for a really special treat: The Disgusting Food Museum has opened!
Consider that what is revolting in one culture may be a delicacy in another. I believe the entrance ticket being printed on a barf bag is genius.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWG4blPQOQw

A little belated Happy New Year.
A little belated Happy New Thread.
I wish you and yours a year full of books, love, friends and health.

Thank you for taking us on this journey - with you, this visit to the Disgusting Food Museum is very pleasant.
If I were to visit it alone, I wouldn't know in which state I would come out again.

I am overjoyed that I decided to stay at Das Park Hotel for one more night. As long as you have a couple of empty wine bottles the loo situation isn't so bad.
I guess I'll have to wait for another time to visit the disgusting Disgusting Food Museum. Did the woman in the video say pork brains taste like cat food? Now, how would she know that!?
Have a happy Sunday!

Some very good reading to start off your new year! I loved My Family and Other Animals when I read it.

Jules Verne is a favorite of mine, but I am not sure that I have ever finished Around the World in 80 Days. Thanks for the reminder that I need to get back to it.

One thing about the South, we eat all the pig. All of it. And if it's really too disgusting for words, we'll press it tight into a box and soak it in vinegar. Word to the wise, don't eat large, tangy, gelatinous cubes south of the Mason Dixon line.

>83 SirThomas: Thanks for coming along, Thomas. I think The Disgusting Food Museum is someplace you need to go with a group, or at least with one other person. Going alone would make you look like someone who's just been looking for a chance to eat maggotty cheese, ;-)

>84 Carmenere: I'm glad you liked the sewer pipe enough to stay another night!
As long as you have a couple of empty wine bottles the loo situation isn't so bad. It would take a whole lot of empty bottles for me to be cool with that. Be sure and put the corks back in!
I noticed that too, her very quiet "cat food", and no reaction to the taste. Almost like she it was her usual brand.

>85 alcottacre: The Durrell family is so funny. It's remarkable they could live together. I'd love to read more from the author, and I happen to have Justine by his brother on the shelf, so I hope to get to that soon. I haven't read anything by Lawrence Durrell.
You're very welcome for the reminder. I thought 80 Days was fun.

>86 SomeGuyInVirginia: My mom's from Texas and my dad was from Georgia, so I have had things like head cheese and olive loaf. As a kid I loved fried cracklings until I was told it was skin. One of my Grandma's favorite dishes was calf brains and scrambled eggs, which she ate all alone because you have to draw the line somewhere. Mom always says, "We ate everything on the pig but the squeal." But then, she's also eaten possum.

My treadmill finally gave up on New Year's Eve. It was at least twelve years old, so I suppose it was to be expected. I have a new magnetic exercise bike being delivered tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. But we happened to spot Alien Donuts while we were driving around Old Town Scottsdale this morning. I had a very fluffy buttermilk donuts topped with bacon, while Mike had a big Fruity Pebbles & Milk, then followed it with a Boston Cream Pie one.


internet pic

I came along for the ride even though we are at the Disgusting Food Museum. Wasn't too sure if it was safe after that.

>82 mstrust: I thought it amusing that the news report failed to identify most of the food actually being tried (unless I missed it).

>87 mstrust: Are those Fruity Pebbles?

I am late to the party, but I have caught up with you now. I'll...um...just wait outside the Disgusting Food Museum for y'all. I am newish to the Deep South (we have lived here six years now), and I was so shocked to see literally every part of the pig available in the local grocery. Slightly disturbing to this Indiana born and raised girl.

As always your thread is delightful and made me laugh out loud, so thanks for that.

>88 Familyhistorian: Safe to go in? Perfectly safe. They have root beer and Twinkies.

>89 harrygbutler: I remember looking at a shorter report and some photos from the museum, and they had things like roasted bats and tarantulas, maggot filled French cheese, durian, and yeah, a can of root beer among the displays.
Yes, fruity pebbles cereal. They also had Lucky Charms and Apple Jacks topped donuts, and cream filled alien faced donuts too.

>90 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Thank you very much for the compliments!
For every disturbing part, there's a fan. My father liked the knuckles. They came in a glass jar and my sister and I would yell "ewwww".

Here's a calming food picture for anyone who was disturbed by their visit to the museum. No refunds though.

>81 mstrust: I read My Family and Other Animals last year and loved it! I was also inspired to pick it up by the lovely PBS series :) I love all the quirky side characters.

Just catching up with the tour and looking forward to the next stop. ;-)

>93 curioussquared: Durrell had a real talent for just allowing those around him to be their weird selves. And what a coincidence that today is his birthday.

>94 lkernagh: We have another stop on the tour tomorrow. And it's something really special.

>95 mstrust: Any hints? I need to let Das Park know if I'm staying another night. I'll also need to drink two more bottles of wine.

Just wait here and I'll get our car. I think you'll find there are lots of rooms available where we're going.

It's The King's birthday! Elvis!



Bet you think we're going on a trip to Graceland. Good choice, but no.
We're going to Las Vegas to get married. Vegas became almost a second home to Elvis, who sold out shows there for years. In tribute, the citizens of this great city have made it their goal to have Elvis remain in the building, if that building is a wedding chapel. He's also responsible for getting you there. Basically, you need Elvis on your big day.



Check out the Elvis wedding packages on offer. Young Elvis, older Elvis, Vegas Elvis, Memphis Elvis... he'll sing and even perform the ceremony.
https://www.gracelandchapel.com/las-vegas-elvis-ceremonies.html
https://theelvisweddingchapelinlv.com/
https://www.thelittlevegaschapel.com/wedding-packages/elvis-weddings/

To give you a better idea of how awesome an Elvis wedding can be, attend this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvTIXH_rwdQ

Here's the birthday boy himself singing one of his hits. Very appropriate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui0EgRsFVN8

Do you have any idea how easy it is to get lost in Elvis gifs?
So here's one way to celebrate Elvis' birthday. Cocktails and fried banana balls, which look pretty good to me. Just ignore all the crap she says about "Elvis is dead". Ain't true.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXw0FySQPag



Happy Birthday, Elvis!

Alright! Happy 84th? birthday to Elvis! Just checked into the Hilton to watch the wedding links.

4. The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley by Ted Harrison. An unusual angle on the Elvis phenomenon in that it examines what happened after Presley's death. Many of the chapters look at the money, or surprising lack of it. The author goes through the incredible greed and manipulation on the part of Colonel Tom Parker, who was taking up to 50% of Elvis' earnings, even after death. There are the legal proceedings after Priscilla took over the management of the estate and how she and a well-chosen team were able to rebuild Elvis' reputation and earning potential.
From there, the book takes an odd turn, spending several chapters discussing fans who have melded Elvis into a religious icon. There are chapters that cover Elvis impersonators and the attempts to stop them by both Colonel Tom and Priscilla, the many corporations that have owned the Elvis rights since Lisa Marie sold them, the difficulties of turning Graceland into a tourist attraction and keeping it running, and a discussion of the rumors that Elvis didn't die in 1977. And lots of testimonials from loving fans.
Overall, a good discussion of the enormous impact Elvis has had, though the three chapters of Elvis as religious icon was nutty. 3.5 stars

>99 Carmenere: Excellent choice! And doesn't he look good for 84? Doesn't look a day over 42.

All that bacon must have been healthy, after all!

>98 mstrust: - Fabulous! Love how the trip ties in with your recent read. Since we are in Vegas, I am off to play some blackjack and see if I can get some cheap tickets to a show tonight. ;-)

>102 Carmenere: The bacon was just takin' care of business.

>103 lkernagh: I timed my read to the birthday, and now I'm sorry that I have just one other Elvis book on the shelves. He's fascinating.
I hope you got lucky in Vegas!

Jeez, my mom really did love Elvis. He was whatever the bomb was back then.

I came very close to watching an Elvis movie last night — maybe this weekend!

>105 SomeGuyInVirginia: My mom's not really an Elvis fan, she listens to Country, but I think he's great. I like young Elvis and Vegas Elvis. Mom has told me that her favorite Elvis movie was the pretty obscure "Stay Away, Joe", which makes her an Elvis snob.
>106 harrygbutler: I've got "G.I. Blues" recorded, as I've never seen that one before.

>107 mstrust: I've seen most, but not all, of his movies and liked most of them I've seen. I lean toward those from the early '60s. I do recall not really caring for Change of Habit but I haven't seen it in years and can't remember just why. I did enjoy G. I. Blues.

I don't think I've seen even half of his many, many movies. I'm working on it. My favorite is Blue Hawaii, followed by, yep, Change of Habit, which I know a lot of people don't care for but it was played pretty often on our local station when I was a kid. It has two really great songs in it, "Rubberneckin'" and "Pray Together".
If you have Prime, they have very few of his movies available but an absolutely huge number of both concerts and documentaries available.

>109 mstrust: I'll probably give Change of Habit a try again someday. Blue Hawaii is a good one, but my favorite may be Fun in Acapulco. I could probably be swayed by others when I watch them again, too.

We do have Prime, so I'll have to try to remember to poke around a bit. I've never really explored the video offerings much beyond some movies.

I watched Fun in Alcapulco last year. Ursula Andress was certainly very beautiful, but shoulders like a linebacker. To be clear, I was talking about Prime streaming. It's often frustrating that they want to charge extra to see a thirty year old sitcom, but they'll have a movie that was released less than a year ago for "free".

5. My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf. Backderf went to junior and high school with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, so this is a unique view of a kid who didn't fit in from a young age. It was the 70's and Backderf and his friends were band nerds, so not high up on the social ladder themselves. Backderf's drawings and dialogue portray Dahmer as a loner who couldn't make friends until he began making a spectacle of himself by imitating his mother's seizures to make the other kids laugh. Backderf and his friends included Dahmer in their group at times as a "mascot", but not as a real friend. Even then, there was something about Dahmer that made people uncomfortable.

Backderf went on to become a newspaper and graphic novel cartoonist, so this book is very well done. There's also just one minor act of true violence portrayed. It's much more about Dahmer's disconnect at a young age and his attempts to be like the other kids. 4 stars

Ready for our next location? Here comes our ride-

Okay, when it comes to a skidding halt, everybody pile in through the windows. We're going to Independence, Missouri.



To Leila's Hair Museum! This place was actually my starting point for our world tour. Quirky, creepy and artistic, Leila is a former hair stylist who began collecting artwork made of human hair. Well, go on in and see for yourself. Ozzy's been here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qQp2Ff3cKk

Boy did I fall off the wagon today at my library shift. I brought home:
The Redbreast
Leather Maiden
Not In The Flesh
You Make Me Feel So Dead
The Girl Next Door
The Vintage Caper
The Devil's Necktie
Unholy Night

In addition, my Christmas last hurrah purchases are trickling in and Mental Floss presents...Be Amazing was in the mailbox when I got home. I'm slapping my hands.

Nice swag!

Thanks, Larry. I need to be sending books out rather than bringing them in though. A couple of these are now double-parked in front of another row of books until I get my fangs out and start culling.

I hear you. I'd love to have all my books upright and one deep, but that's not to be. I've been pretty merciless about culling lately- I move in one month to the day!

Both exciting and exhausting, isn't it? I knew I was a little early with the card. I'm glad you're looking forward to your move.

Christmas continues. I've had a few other Christmas purchases arrive. Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives and The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs. And I love my new exercise bike, it's so quiet and I did seven miles yesterday. I'm still waiting for Lemmy: The Definitive Biography and Book Towns: Forty-Five Paradises of the Printed Word. And we opened Christmas presents this morning, as my MIL had been holding out for us to get together, but I guess she just gave up and sent them over with Mike.

Someday I will read Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives! It looks great.

Well, I practically lost my lunch when I saw that sheep's eye juice at the Museum of Disgusting but I perked up when we went to Vegas to see Elvis. Not sure what to think of the Hair Museum, it's kinda neat and kinda creepy!

>118 mstrust: Well I probably should take a look at The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs as I need a reminder of why I should live with them after stepping in a couple of the less fine points they made yesterday.

>119 rabbitprincess: It gets so many good reviews, probably because Shirley Jackson and Dorothy B. Hughes in the same book is a winner.

>120 DeltaQueen50: Ha! That's why I went with that pic in >82 mstrust:, because it was impossible that find one of the food that would lure you to click on the video. I'm glad you're continuing on our little road trip. That was my feeling about the hair museum too, that the material was creepy but the finished works were kind of marvelous.

>121 quondame: Awww, a family of little wiener dogs! That's cute!
This is the third book in the series and I've really liked the first two. Hopefully I'll get to this one soon so you can find out just how Dachshund-y it is. I wish McCall-Smith would do a book with Boxers, which is my family's favorite breed.

Hello! Thank you for stopping by earlier to welcome me! I've got you starred now. But I'm not the traveller you are, so I suspect you'll rapidly outpace me. But I look forward to following your travels.

>107 mstrust: I saw a lot of Elvis movies growing up as my dad was a big fan. I bought Elvis-related gifts for him for years. My aunts visited Graceland and brought him back swag, some of which he passed on to me.

I don't think I could handle the same museums you're visiting. Interesting to hear about from a safe distance.

I actually think the hair remnants were nastier than the gross food museum. I did like the barf bag tix. LOL. >100 mstrust: sounds like a good book on Elvis. Are you still enjoying the new indoor bike?

>123 justchris: Hi, Chris, glad you found me. I've yet to visit Graceland, but I'd like to go. It's great that you have some older souvenirs from there. There used to be the Marty Robbins Museum about 15 minutes away from me but it closed. Not quite the same thing, I guess.
Sounds like I'm meeting my goal of taking us well off the beaten path. :-)

>124 Berly: Yeah, I can see that. At least the hair is under glass though, so you won't be tempted to nibble it.
The Elvis book has some really good information, especially about the court cases and having to re-build Elvis' earnings after Colonel Tom Parker had grabbed everything for himself.
I'm loving my new bike! I've been listening to music on my morning ride, then read on my Kindle for an afternoon ride. It's incredibly quiet, so I don't have to crank up the volume like I did with the treadmill.

We went to the farmer's market in Old Town Scottsdale yesterday morning and got lots of fresh produce and some apple varieties I've never heard of. Also, pastries and a big fat loaf of sesame bread.

6. The 7 Secrets of Awakening the Highly Effective Four-Hour Giant, Today. Written by the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia gang, with chapters such as "I Beat Marriage and So Can You", "How To Make Millions as an Actress and Quit Your Crappy Bar Job", "How To Strike Out with a Porn Star Like Dennis Did" and "Soon I Will Rule You All", you know you'll learn some important life lessons here. 3 stars

We're headed to Toronto, and finally, we're eating something that won't cause lifelong trauma.
We're at O. Noir, a blackout restaurant. That means that you put your hand on the next person's shoulder and you're led into a pitch black room. Your servers are blind or visually impaired, and they will list today's offerings. The idea is that without visual distractions you will focus more on what you're tasting. Also, no, you can't use your phones here, so don't be tempted to turn on your flashlight app.
I don't know how I feel about there being a "surprise meat" option, but the cooking is all modern dining and the kitchen is the only place that has light. In case you were wondering how they kept chefs.
http://www.onoirtoronto.com/

Want to see what it's like?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmNYBNNH6NA

>127 mstrust: My goodness! Is this place for real?! The blind leading the blind is normally not associated with a good thing but in this case, I'm in!!

Yes, it's real, and it's becoming something of a trend. We drove past a new "dark" restaurant in Vegas at Christmas. I'm glad you're so adventurous, Lynda! Can I watch you eat spaghetti?

>127 mstrust: There's also a location in Montreal! Friends of mine have been there.

>129 mstrust: No, Jennifer, you can not watch me because it's dark! hahaha so I can be as messy as I wanna be :0)

>130 rabbitprincess: Thanks for mentioning the Montreal location. I meant to note that for anyone in Eastern Canada who wishes to dine in the dark, you don't have to trek across the country.
>131 Carmenere: What if I bring my own night vision goggles? Just act like I'm not there. I can refill your wineglass for you.

>113 mstrust: I think I would like to visit the hair museum. I think it's easy to forget just how difficult it was to memorialize people before widespread photography, and when most folks also owned fewer possessions that could be shared as well, and there is something quite touching about these well-crafted means of remembrance, especially when one reflects on the time required to make those wreaths, for example.

Leila points out in the video that many of the artworks were made to show lineage of a family, so it does hold a value, even aside from giving someone an outlet for their creativity. Doesn't stop my skin from crawling though ;-)

I decided to stay in the car during the stop at the hair museum but love the dark restaurant! Great idea - and something I would love to experience. Even better, you can eat like a pig and no one can see or comment if you make a mess. I am assuming that they give out after dinner wipes for clean up? ;-)

They probably have a lot of customers who look down at their shirts in the parking lot and are surprised at what they see. But it's a memorable meal, I'm sure.

My Friend Dahmer has stuck with me long after I read it. A friend pointed out that there are interviews available on-line with his parents which is interesting, but I'm not sure how deep into that mind I want to go.

I'm so glad you now have a copy of Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives. It really is a fantastic anthology.

I felt the same way about seeing the interviews, but reading about Dahmer's teen years and the author's portrayal and assessment of Dahmer's mother had me go look at her broadcast interview for a few minutes, which led to an interview of both Dahmer and his father that took place in prison. Dahmer Sr. clearly loved his son, and Dahmer himself spoke in a perfectly reasonable way and was intelligent and insightful. Which proves that you never know. Even at a distance of 25 years, knowing what he did to people is just so icky, and I'm someone who reads about murders pretty regularly.

There is a Dining in the Dark restaurant in Vancouver, B.C. and my daughter and her husband have been. They enjoyed the experience but I don't think I am as trusting as they are alsoI hate the idea of the staff watching me while I am unaware of the scrutiny. Of course since we are a large group, I suspect we will take over the restaurant and I am ok with that. Beside the staff will probably be having too much fun watching Lynda eat her spagetti to bother with watching me!

I wonder how the staff knows when you need a drink refill, and if they ask if you're done just by setting a timer. I was thinking the owners must save big on the lack of light bulbs. You might be eating in a plywood room for all the customers know, but the savings could be wiped out in broken dishes.
Yes, let's all wait for Lynda to show up for her meal of soup and spaghetti. We'll send over a bowl of Dippin' Dots for dessert. I'm buying, Lynda, just ignore the giggles!

Hey! who turned on the lights?! Jenniferrr? Judyyyy?

Exactly what I expected!

We're off to a new locale. Have you ever gone to the library and thought, "Great place for a nap"? Or just wished you could spend the night in a plywood cave? You're going to love this hotel chain!
http://bookandbedtokyo.com/en/
The Book and Bed Hotels have locations in several major cities across Japan. Their appeal is that you get to sleep among their bookshelves and peruse to your heart's content. Each sleeping space has its own light, but if you click around the locations you'll see some significant differences in atmosphere. I like how upfront they are about the beds and blankets being low quality. No tv, no dressers, but some of the locations have a cafe. The point to us being here is that you can lay in bed and read all night and the other guests will be doing the same.

>143 mstrust: That is my kind of hotel! I would hope since their bed and blankets are of low quality that they invested the money in good quality books :)

I'd guess that's where the money goes, as looking at pictures of the hotels, it's so many shelves of books and the guests are rather hidden away among them. But look at those cot mattresses on plywood. I'm bringing Advil for the sore back I'll have in the morning, but it will be worth it.

Those nutty Japanese! What I'd like to see here is a place with a row of leather recliners and each with a large scotch.

Sounds like you're describing a proper British gentleman's club, where wealthy men went to have somewhere quiet to read the paper, fall asleep in a comfortable chair and be murdered.
The Japanese do excel at quirky things that appeal to a small percentage of people, but it makes that percentage very happy. Hence the black hamburger and the business that allows you to sit in a room full of cats and pet them.

>146 SomeGuyInVirginia: That sounds like my kinda place!

>126 mstrust: That book sounds pretty funny.

>127 mstrust: And that restaurant sounds interesting.
>139 DeltaQueen50: I wish I'd known abut the one in Vancouver because I was just there a year ago for a conference.

>143 mstrust: I would love to stay in that hotel. But I might not get much rest.

>147 mstrust: The book hotel sounds much better than the ramen hot tub. People soup, eww,
Hee! I see what you did. I do so love Lord Peter Winsey, though that isn't one of my favorite stories.

>127 mstrust: I have heard of restaurants like this and I think it would be a really cool experience so I'll be right over. : )

>143 mstrust: I am tucking in for the night. With a book. And a light.

>91 mstrust: They have root beer and Twinkies. Now that is disgusting!

We're going to some interesting places.. I enjoyed finding out more about Elvis. I've seen hair art before but usually just a piece or two among other stuff not all hair stuff. Not too sure about the book and bed hotels.

>143 mstrust: Now, that's a hotel I can wrap my arms around! Checking in with a concealed bottle of wine. If only there were a fireplace.

>148 drneutron: From the books I've read that take place in such places, there would be some kind of club official whose job would be to shush you and Larry every time one of you chortled into your glass.

>149 justchris: I'm glad you're coming along on our travels, Chris. There's some weird stuff in the world and we need to see it.

>150 Berly: You might find one near you, since they seem to be popping up. Wear black, it hides the stains better.
You rhymed!

>151 Familyhistorian: I'm glad you're enjoying our visits. I like learning about Elvis too!
Not too sure about the book and bed hotels. What, is it the wafer thin mattresses, or that you have a space just wide enough to lie down in? At least you don't have to go out in the cold to use the bathroom, unlike our last hotel stay.

>152 Carmenere: I think it's a great idea too. Ha! You do have a little privacy curtain, but I don't know if that will muffle the sound of the wine glugging. But give me a sip anyway.

As you can see, I've had a lot of trouble with my desktop posting this morning. Fingers crossed.


7. Blood on the Boards by William Campbell Gault. Joe Burke has been a cop in L.A. for twelve years. He's good at his job but still can only afford a small apartment with old furniture, until his wealthy aunt dies and leaves him everything. Suddenly Joe can think about making a life where he's not worrying about what he can afford. He quits the force and buys a house in a good neighborhood and a new car. With no career and realizing he doesn't have any close relationships, Joe starts to wander, and quickly throws himself into helping out at a small theater. He's sucked into the acting troupe's conflicts and jealousies, and his attraction to both Norah, the sharp-tongued blonde and Sharon, the sultry redhead who can't get along with the other actors. When a well-known producer is murdered outside the theater, everyone in the troupe is a suspect.
A good mystery with plenty of suspects and a theatrical flavor. I had to check on the date of publication (1953), because there's quite a few instances of political bickering. I'd read more from this author. 3.5 stars

This sat on my Kindle exactly 6 months.

Coffee break! We're just going to run over to London real fast for a coffee at Attendant. In Victorian times, it was a men's public toilet. Now we can all sit here and enjoy the atmosphere.



https://www.yelp.com/biz/attendant-london

Aaak! Back to Japan! Back to Japan!

>159 mstrust: Heh. “Atmosphere”. *snerk*

>161 drneutron: and >159 mstrust: Yeah! Jim's already been busted hanging around the men's loo, I don't think he'll feel comfortable there!

Oh, sorry. Didn't everyone know?

I am up for the book and bed hotel as long as you are willing to share your Advil the next morning. I love those ornate urinals in the coffee shop, definitely worth a visit!

Count me in for the experience of reading my book and drinking a cup of coffee sitting between two Victorian urinals. After, can we go here?

http://oldoperatingtheatre.com

Theres a lecture on what it's like to be buried alive tomorrow night and I think that it would be something we could all enjoy and relate to.

>160 SomeGuyInVirginia: You've seen the toilet coffee shop. You can't unring a bell.

>161 drneutron: It's so clean looking. I'm going to go ahead and believe it smells of Tid-E Bowl. And espresso.

>162 SomeGuyInVirginia: And here's our resident snob Larry, acting like he's too good to eat a sandwich next to a urinal. Well, Mister, that's an antique urinal! Queen Victoria may have used it!

>163 DeltaQueen50: I'm happy to share all my pills. And it's a pleasure to visit the toilet coffee shop with someone who appreciates it.

>164 RidgewayGirl: I'm glad you've enjoyed your coffee. Certainly, we can fit in the lecture. I expect the experience of being buried alive has to include an assessment of how much you hate the coffin your family picked out for you.

I'm not a snob. I'm getting into the swing of things. Who ordered the urinal cake? Oh...I see, I was supposed to just leave that there. Fun!

Who took a bite out of it?

>166 SomeGuyInVirginia: Does the urinal cake have dairy? I'm allergic.

8. Lumberjanes: Sink or Swim by Watters, Leyh, Pietsch & Laiho. This is the first of the series that I've come across. It has a stamp on the cover that says it's a New York Times bestselling series. I don't get why but it must be working for lots of other readers. The story, about a group of girls at camp, is entirely predictable and the artwork isn't that great. 2 stars

>168 PaperbackPirate: Hi, Nicole!

Our ride.

We're going back to Canada. Our next destination is Vulcan, on the prairies of Alberta. This place (last census put the population at a little under 2000), is "The Official Star Trek City of Canada". They have a bronze bust of Leonard Nimoy and the Enterprise too. And it seems as though every city official owns a Star Trek uniform. No word on how often the redshirts are fired.
https://townofvulcan.ca/

It is! I like little quirky towns. But our world exploration of weirdness will be over soon.

And since this is my year of trying to read what I already own, of course I brought home a few from my library shift.
I'm Traveling Alone
The Dark Horse- for Mom, who loves Longmire. This will be going to her within the week.
Dangerous Days in Elizabethan England- by the guy who created Horrible Histories!
Ready Player One

You can't end the world exploration of weirdness! That would be...illogical!

>167 mstrust: >168 PaperbackPirate: Is this urinal cake gluten free?

What can I do, there are other book titles to inspire. Don't worry, I think you'll like our next topic, and we might go through enough book titles to circle back to world exploration later in the year.
That urinal cake may be gluten free, but I'm sure it isn't flavor free. Probably gets stronger with age, like a lasagna.

I'm looking forward to visiting Vulcan - a town I seem to have missed in my trips to Alberta. We could take a detour north of there and visit Vegreville, Alberta, home to the world's largest Easter Egg.

Now that is a sight! Lots of towns used to create a "world's biggest" item to draw visitors. They may just take a picture and leave, but it's fun.

>176 DeltaQueen50: I've been there! My parents had friends there and now and then we would drive hours just to have dinner at their house.

An eyewitness! It's real!

>177 mstrust: & >178 RidgewayGirl: If only it was full of chocolate!

Maybe it is. That's why they have four Mounties there to protect it.

We're off! I don't know about you, but I've always been fascinated by the ice hotels. It's made of ice, you sleep in it, and hang out at the bar, and admire the ice artistry, and you're still alive in the morning. Maybe. And then the hotel disappears, never to be the same thing twice.
We're going to northern Sweden to spend the night in an ice hotel. I wish our guides would knock off the kissy-face, but apparently that's their thing. Put on a second layer of longjohns, here we go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0m24TIgSso

.

What, nobody checked into the ice hotel? Isn't the possibility of freezing to death appealing to anyone else?


9. Book Towns by Alex Johnson. The subtitle is "Forty-Five Paradises of the Printed Word" and that's exactly what you get. I had no idea there were so many towns who have intentionally turned themselves into destinations for book lovers. Hay-on-Wye, Wales is the most famous, but there's also Bowral, Australia, Gold Cities in California, Redu in Belgium, Selfoss in Iceland and so many more, especially across Europe. Each town has it's own chapter with pictures and a history which often includes a previous industry that fell on hard times. That books and readers are the saviors of places in decline is a repeated theme, and often the exact person who developed the book town is named. The author also weaves in brief instances when a town's intentions to become a book town don't pan out.
A great choice for readers and book hoarders, it's light enough to go in a suitcase to be used as a travel guide. 4.2 stars

"Hello, this is room 314. Can you send up a bucket of ice?"

"Room 314 again. How do I adjust the thermostat in my room?"

"314 here. My partner is stuck to the toilet seat. Can you send up a new partner? Well, can I at least change rooms?"

"It's me. Are bold check patterns over in Scandinavia?"

>112 mstrust: Sounds like an interesting read. I will have to give that one a try.

>127 mstrust: Is there anything vegetarian on the menu? If so, I am in!

>143 mstrust: One night would just not do it for me, I am afraid. I might have to stay there for years!

>171 mstrust: No word on how often the redshirts are fired. Hopefully they just get fired instead of dying in some way. . .

>183 mstrust: Oh, yeah. That is more like it. Who wants to freeze in an ice hotel when I can hang around a town hawking books?

>182 mstrust: No need for me to check into the Ice Hotel as my home has become the ice house with 18 inches of snowflakes in all directions and an outdoor thermometer which reads 8 I think I'll forgo the expense of this destination and wait for the next. Hope it's in Hawaii ;0)

>184 SomeGuyInVirginia: And I believe management's response would be, "Sir, we don't have room phones made of ice. Please stop holding your hand to your head while screaming down the hallway."
But do Google "ice hotel bathroom" to see what the situation is. One of your complaints is valid.

>185 alcottacre: The Dahmer book is very interesting, very insightful about his school years.
I don't know if they have vegetarian for sure, but I would think a blackout restaurant would have many options for people who want to make sure of what they're eating, like me. I can tell I'm eating a salad in the dark, but meat, I want to see.

>186 Carmenere: Fortuitous! Get out there and build an ice hotel in your yard. Time is money, Lynda!

Hehe. And I believe management's response would be, "Sir, we don't have room phones made of ice. Please stop holding your hand to your head while screaming down the hallway." Nice one!

Apparently I have a lot to get caught up on since I last visited!

>143 mstrust: - OMG fabulous!

>159 mstrust: - Ah... hum.... not sure I can get past my squeamish self to actually consume food/drink there... wondering why they left in the Porcelain"dividers"? Kind of an ick factor for this Food Safe trained individual. I like >160 SomeGuyInVirginia:'s idea... back to Japan.

>171 mstrust: - YAY, Vulcan! I have a work colleague who actually had a Vulcan marriage 2 years ago, costumes and all.
... and Vegas thinks they have the theme wedding thing sewn up... NOT. ;-)

>176 DeltaQueen50: and >177 mstrust: - "World biggest" has its interesting tribulations, as Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is learning due to Oslo Norway's recent statue, dethroning "Mac the Moose" by Storelgen by a mere 30 centimetres. Pride is everything, it seems. ;-)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/mac-the-moose-international-dispute-...

>182 mstrust: - That is totally on my bucket list! How did you know?

Haha I agree with >186 Carmenere:; I thought I was already AT the ice hotel! This morning the temperature was minus 24 Celsius, windchill of minus 37.

>188 SomeGuyInVirginia: ;-D

>190 rabbitprincess: I think a lot of people, especially women, would have looked at those ornate dividers unknowingly and thought, "Well, isn't that pretty?" I'm sure they've had many bleach washes, and my feeling is, how many times in my life will I have a chance to drink coffee in a Victorian men's toilet? Probably just once.
Doesn't Vulcan look like they have fun? They even got Nimoy to attend the Spock bust unveiling.
Sounds like Norway has thrown down the gauntlet. You know how they love to make moose based trouble.
That is totally on my bucket list! How did you know? I just knew that somebody out there thinks they're cool.

>191 mstrust: If you build it, they will come. I've yet to hear of a Canadian ice hotel. But I did the conversion and -24 Celsius is just over 11 degrees Fahrenheit. Ooooh, that's so cold!

>191 mstrust: There is an ice hotel in Canada, outside of Quebec City. No pictures of the bathrooms, however.

https://justinpluslauren.com/quebec-ice-hotel/

10. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. A scientist, his loyal servant and a Canadian harpooner are taken prisoner by Captain Nemo in order to assure they don't tell anyone about Nemo's remarkable submarine, the Nautilus. The three hostages are taken on an undersea journey around the world, seeing all types of creatures and fauna, which allows the scientist to continue his studies and gives the blood-thirsty harpooner a chance to kill nearly everything he encounters. The Nautilus has many perilous encounters, including being stuck in an iceberg and meeting the giant cuttlefish.

I did it! I finally finished this book, which I'd started nearly a year ago, and it sat on my shelf for nearly two years before that. The story is both imaginative and fantastical, and also gets bogged down with scientific numbers and lists. I liked Verne's Around the World in 80 Days more, but I would read anything by him I come across. 4 stars

I took a geology minor in college, where I tried to read Journey to the Center of the Earth but had to stop because the outdated science made me crazy. I did listen to Tim Curry's audio version over Christmas and really liked it but I'd pay money to listen to Curry read the phone book. Ditto Morgan Freeman. I think I would like his 80 Days.

>192 RidgewayGirl: and >182 mstrust: Isn't there a bar in Las Vegas with the counter made out of ice? Or did I just dream that?

Time Curry makes everything better. I would choose him as a narrator over pretty much anyone.
Yes, there is/was a bar of ice in Vegas. I'm not positive, but I think it may have been at Mandalay Bay. You can rent a big fur coat to wear inside.

I've just come back from a photofacial, where your face is zapped with a laser one trigger pull at a time. The description of pain level is always "it feels like being snapped with a rubber band." It feels more like being stabbed with a needle to me.
And I received Anatomy of a Murder in the mail.

Here's our last stop. I hope you have transportation home from Mexico.
.

We're snorkeling down to the Cancun Underwater Museum to see the hundreds of statues created by Jason DeCaires Taylor. It's both peaceful and eerie down there, and definitely out of the ordinary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhn19Uya6xU

>192 RidgewayGirl: Very cool!

>196 mstrust: Ha! Thanks for the warmer destination! I hope this photo posts. It's a picture of Will taken in 2014 with one of the statues taken while it was above ground. We were at a makeshift display of the statues somewhere in Cancun and honestly they were pretty darn awesome.

>196 mstrust: Hold my spot in line, that looks awesome. Trying to decide if I care that all of y'all will be seeing me at my very pastiest part of the year.

>193 mstrust: I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea many, many years ago and liked it. I'm also a fan of the fine 1954 movie, with James Mason as Captain Nemo (where else does one get a song from Kirk Douglas?).

>196 mstrust: Intriguing. I've seen some similar photos of ancient sculptures along the coast of Egypt. You can see some examples at this archaeologist's site, such as on this page: http://www.franckgoddio.org/projects/sunken-civilizations/alexandria.html

Ice Hotels are fascinating but not sure if I would actually like to overnight in one. But, what the heck, I'll try anything once!

So from the frigid north you are now taking us to a very warm Mexico. Talk about extremes! Some of those statues look like they could open their eyes and come to life - eek!

>193 mstrust: I read it last year and was pleasntly surprised.

I love the journey.
*cough sniff cough*
I think going from an ice hotel straight to Mexico was a bit too much to handle, or is was just the ice hotel where I got a cold.

>198 Carmenere: Small world, huh? Those statues are pretty awesome.

>199 RidgewayGirl: Seeing how fair skinned I am, you and I can act as lighthouse beams if any of our group gets lost.

>200 harrygbutler: I haven't seen any movie version yet. I didn't even know about the whole kidnapped scientist plot when I started, I only knew there would be a huge squid involved at some point because it's on so many covers.
I believe there's another underwater museum off... Finland? Maybe.

>201 DeltaQueen50: Yes, one extreme to the other. I have frantic cat syndrome. The statues look so lifelike because the artist used the same procedure that is used to make latex doubles of actors for movies. It captures every pore and line. Pretty freaky underwater, huh?

>202 FAMeulstee: Hopefully you'll recover after some time in the warm Pacific Ocean. Or you can come over to my new thread and we'll disinfect you from the inside.

Come see me at my second thread!