richardderus's fifth thread of 2019

1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan sedan. Yum.

These were the cars that rescued Ford, the 1949 line...and, look at that mammoth wallet wagon! Can you *believe* that car right there was designed as the 1949 Mercury?!

Damn, it's almost the end of the Teens. The days may drag, but the years WHOOSH by! I'll shoot to write 200 reviews for my blog, meaning real reviews not impressions or squibs. My ancillary goal will be to create some sort of post about the Pearl-Ruled books explaining why I am abandoning ship; I'll set an arbitrary count of 100 of those since goodness knows I abandon a lot of books.







My 2018 Reviews Are Here:
Reviews 1-25 are linked there.

Reviews 26-31 are linked here.

Reviews 32-39 are linked there.

Reviews 40-54 are linked over here.

Reviews 55-70 are linked over here.

Reviews 71-101 (I misnumbered) are linked over here.

Reviews 102-110 are linked over here.

Reviews 111 - 123 are reviewed over here.

Reviews 124-127 are there.

2019's Reviews Are Here:
Reviews 1-4 are here.

My first Pearl-Ruled notice and two reviews are found here.

Reviews 7-15 plus some Pearl Rules are in this thread.

Reviews 15-19 and a Pearl Rule are here.

20 Any Old Diamonds is a Victorian jewel heist caper with several twists in post 67.

21 Alice Payne Arrives delighted me on many levels, see why in post 84.

Via Bookish, here's a list of challenges to #KillYourTBR (note that I've modified a few entries to make them possible for me to meet):

1. A book you bought for the cover
Any Old Diamonds

2. A book by an author you’ve met
The Front Runner

3. A book you’re embarrassed you haven’t read yet


4. A book that is under 220 pages
The King's Evil

5. A book that came out the year you were born


6. A book whose title uses alliteration
When Saigon Surrendered

7. A book in your best friend’s favorite genre


8. A book from an independent publisher


9. A book you borrowed from the library
The Reluctant Widow

10. A book featuring a fictional language


11. A novel that includes a recipe (Bonus points for making the recipe)


12. A book won in a raffle/giveaway


13. A book about going on a quest
The Burning Page

14. A book set in a city you’ve visited


15. A book with a dust jacket


16. A book by two or more authors


17. A book that is over 1000 pages


18. A book that’s been out for less than a month


19. A book with a name in the title
The Other Boleyn Girl

20. A book from a genre you want to read more of


21. A book written by a Native American author


22. A book with an asexual character


23. A book you were given as a gift


24. A book translated from Spanish


25. An award-winning graphic novel
Tom's Midnight Garden Graphic Novel

26. A book featuring a false confession


27. A book you meant to read in 2018


28. A book featuring a memorable companion animal


29. A book set in South America


30. A book with a cover you kind of hate (but a story you love)


31. A book by an author you’ve never heard of before
Coming Through: Three Novellas

32. A book of short stories


33. A book featuring a nonbinary protagonist


34. A book you’ve been waiting for forever


35. A book about intersectional feminism


36. A book with a place in the title
Our Man in Havana

37. A book bought at/from a physical bookstore
Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World

38. A book by an author you’re thankful for


39. A book with gorgeous descriptions


40. A book signed by the author


41. A book set in Africa
The Making of the African Queen

42. A book about mental health
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

43. A book written by an immigrant


44. A retelling


45. A book about incarceration


46. A book recommended by an author


47. A book with a person of color on the cover


48. A book by an author who uses a pen name


49. A book whose title includes a verb
Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd

50. A book recommended by a librarian


51. A book being adapted in 2019


52. A book you found in a Little Free Library

Okay, go on and post.

Okay, don't mind if I do. A fine start to a Friday afternoon. Happy New Thread.

Happy new thread, Richard! That's one monster of a car! Size-wise, I mean. Classy, yes, but huge! :-)

>1 richardderus: Well, now, isn't that something! Happy new thread!

>5 mahsdad: First past the posts!

I'm pretty sure Cthulhu wore this.

>6 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! It's *immense* and I can't even imagine what the one they designed as a Lincoln would've looked like.

>7 quondame: It surely is. Happy to see you, Susan!

Mine! Happy new one!

Happy new thread, Richard. Lincoln's not really my marque, but that's not a bad-looking sedan.

>1 richardderus: That is some car. Too bad the color reminds me of liquid sulfa medicine. *gag* But I'll take one in midnight blue.

>10 katiekrug: Happy one-armed visit, Katie...hope the NSAIDs are treating you well.

>11 harrygbutler: Hey Harry! It's 1949 over here, so I'm slowly making my way through 1949's marques.

>12 laytonwoman3rd: How do, Linda3rd. Here's a teal one, as midnight blue doesn't appear to have been a 1949 color:

Happy new thread!

>8 richardderus: Wow, that's some bling!

Things to be happy about today: New thread, new month and its Friday! Wishing you a wonderful weekend, RD.

>14 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! Ain't that a gas?

>15 lkernagh: Lori, you're correct on all counts. Have a specially lovely weekend.

>13 richardderus: Much more my idea of a good color. Not candy apple red metallic flake, but few have survived and I don't think any were OE.

Happy new thread!!!

>17 quondame: I'd certainly never have *bought* a tan car...I turned down a chance to buy a 1976 Olds 98 because it was that horrible pea-soup green that energy-crisis wallet wagons were painted for the same price I paid for my 1977 Gremlin!...but that was a popular shade in 1949.

Go know.

>18 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita!

>1 richardderus: I want the green Cosmopolitan (the dark green second one down.)

>20 Morphidae: That color makes me drool, Morphy. Sorta the anti-lime jello shade.

^The wife and I enjoyed a couple of old-fashioneds tonight, while watching Widows. A well-made heist film, with a solid cast. Nice evening.

Happy New Thread, Richard. Love the Lincoln topper!

Happy new one RD!

*smooch* from your own Horrible

>21 richardderus: Second choice would probably be the dark blue Cosmopolitan. Or I sort of waffle with the blue regular Lincoln. But mostly lean toward the first.

ETA: The other colors are meh - "gold," "silver," red, and... "seafoam." *shudders*

>19 richardderus: The first car of my parents' that I remember was that color, but sort of an inflated version of a station wagon, which got replaced in the early '50s by a woody which wasn't quite as big, but must have lasted until we got the '57 Plymouth wagon, powder blue.

Happy new one and happy weekend, Rdear.

Snowing. Snowing AND STICKING.

"I would prefer not to." Yeah, Bartleby, you'n'me both.

>27 richardderus: Wish I could ship our rain to melt your snow.

Blech on sticking snow, RichardDear. It's still technically winter, alas. It looks like your weekend is going to be filled with the nasty white stuff.

On the other hand, I hope you have lots of good books going and visits from YGC planned.

another *smooch*

>22 msf59: Oh GAWD yes, Mark, I'll have a double.

>23 karenmarie: Hi Horrible, happy Saturday! *smooch*

>24 Morphidae: Most car colors were ~meh~ before the mid-1950s. Then turquoise and pink and candy-apple red suddenly became okay, and I for one miss that. Today's running-shoe-lookin' cars could benefit from being painted turquoise. Or rose and charcoal. Or SOMEthing other than gray.

>25 quondame: Those '57 Chrysler products were something off Mars! The *fins* on 'em! Yowza.

>26 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara, it's a struggle right now but things will improve.

They better, anyway.

Happy new thread!

>28 thornton37814: Me too. *shudder*

>29 karenmarie: I don't mind snow that piles...I really don't think March is the place for it. Rob's probably not going to be here except for a flying smoochfest on Sunday, and even that's not guaranteed. Such are the ways of the busy young folk, and that's okay by me.

>31 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

Morning, BigDaddy! Happy new one!

>33 Crazymamie: Happy Saturday, Angel Flower, let's have strawberry shortcake, shall we?

You're trying to hog Amber's pancakes when you have THIS??? No shame.

>35 laytonwoman3rd: None whatsoever. Why should I? *blink*

Happy new thread, Richard! I'd like the reddish convertible Lincoln Cosmopolitan, if you please.

Amber's pancakes look amazing.

Happy new thread Richard, great thread topper picture my friend, sending love and hugs from both of us.

>30 richardderus: Fins? What is this fins you speak of?



The sedans & coupes came out rather finny, I'll admit!

>8 richardderus: Well I am happy to take Cthulhu's hand-me-downs. Thank you!

>37 kidzdoc: Thank you, Darryl!

>38 johnsimpson: Hugs heartily returned, John (and Karen).

>39 quondame: Heh...fins evident on a wagon would've had to be impressive indeed.

>40 mahsdad: Sensible man, Jeff.

It snowed a bunch here today too. I had to drive through whiteouts twice today :(

Happy new thread Richard!

Happy weekend, Richard! Are you getting hit with the same snowstorm we are tonight? If it lasts late enough into Monday, I might even get the day off (not holding my breath).

Happy New Thread, Richard!

I’m loving the photos of vintage cars. Will fins ever make a comeback? I miss them.

>42 ChelleBearss: It's going to smack us around tonight and tomorrow, Chelle. Yuck.

>43 humouress: Thank you, La Overkill.

>44 bell7: Hi Mary! I'm southeast of I95, so we're looking at the dreaded "wintry mix" instead of heaps of snow. Rain plus freezing equals ICE and that means Big Daddy is staying inside until it melts. My knee popped out another tophus last night about 3am, so I'm perfectly happy to let the great world spin until things stop throbbing.

>45 jnwelch: Hi Joe! Fins...oh well, you know how it is, these are puritanical times and exuberant joyful things like chromey fins and actual colors are Just Not On. *sigh*

I’m here more or less early, for once.

Happy new thread, Dear Young Man.

>47 Matke: *smooch* for the "Young Man" part, since I'm very much the Elder in my world...

Glorious.

Good morning, RD!

We had two Pontiac Catalina station wagons when I was growing up and my Sunday morning job (instead of church since we never went to church) was to clean the whitewall tires. Monster station wagons. Fins for sure.

>50 karenmarie: Howdy Horrible, that was a darned tough duty. I remember how hard it was to buff the white sidewalls until they weren't grayed down by road dirt BUT not to scuff them.


Ugliest Pontiac fins were these on the 1960 wagons. Just blech!

>49 richardderus: - Pretty!

I hope this storm doesn't amount to much. I have an orthopedist appointment Monday morning, and really don't want to have it cancelled or have to try to drive and walk myself through slippery conditions. FIngers crossed!

>52 katiekrug: You're sort of on the dividing line, Katie, so it could go either way. I'm southeast of I95 so it's wintry mix here. You're much closer to 95, so it could be piles of snow. Either way, someone else needs to shovel for you, and I'd try to reschedule my appointment for Thursday were I you.

Morning, Richard. Happy Sunday. We have a party to go to later but I plan on spending time with the books, beforehand. Black Leopard has been a violent and profane hoot.

>53 richardderus: - Luckily, our rent includes plowing and shoveling so that's not a worry. I'll see what develops and then call the office int he morning to find out what the deal is. The Wayne may have to take me...

>54 msf59: I'm glad you're enjoying James's rowdiness, Mark! Have an excellent, though woodpeckerless, Sunday.

>55 katiekrug: Yeah, at a minimum you'll need to be chauffeured. Really, it's the slipping hazard that would make me recommend against keeping the appointment if there's an option. A fall after dislocating one's shoulder is *a*go*ny* and this is indeed the voice of experience speaking unto your shell-like ear.

This is the latest rock I got out of my right knee.

For anyone who wonders why I'm sometimes a bit grouchy. There are literally dozens more of these sharp things all over my body. It's such fun!

>51 richardderus: check out the visibility on that Pontiac. It must have been like driving lime green fish bowl.

About your Momma and pimiento cheese. Once on a visit to my Grandmother I saw some old timers sitting in front of the general store empty packets of peanuts into their Cokes. When I got back to her house I tried it and liked it. My grandmother came in and when she saw what I had done she flipped right out was filled with wonder. She demanded to know what I was doing and when I explained that I had put peanuts in my Co-Cola because I'd seen those old men do it she said it was common and to never do it again. Ever. Class in the South, with its markers and protocols, is and was a very real thing.

>57 richardderus: God Almighty Richard, is that calcium? I'm so sorry!

>58 SomeGuyInVirginia: Heh...I wasn't allowed Cokes, so that trap never sprang on my ankle.

>59 SomeGuyInVirginia: It's about 60% uric acid and 40% calcium. Not only sharp but acidic. Yeah, this is fun.

I would have called it 'pop' but I was quite fond of her and didn't want to kill her.

>49 richardderus: Now there are some pearls to clutch!

>49 richardderus: - Stunning!

>57 richardderus: - Good Lord, that must be painful!

>61 SomeGuyInVirginia: Heh.

>62 AuntieClio:, >63 lkernagh: Ain't they!

>63 lkernagh: Annoyingly enough, yes it is. Today's not a good one, either.

Belated happy new thread, Richard dear!

>57 richardderus: Ouch, that looks very painfull, so sorry for you (((hugs)))

>49 richardderus: OMG!
>57 richardderus: OMG!!!

20 Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles

Rating: 4.75* of five

The Publisher Says: Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes, the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, holds a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary — so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it.

The Duke's remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: he'll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec's new best friend.

But Jerry is a dangerous man: controlling, remote, and devastating. He effortlessly teases out the lonely young nobleman's most secret desires, and soon he's got Alec in his bed—and the palm of his hand.

Or maybe not. Because as the plot thickens, betrayals, secrets, new loves, and old evils come to light. Now the jewel thief and the aristocrat must keep up the pretence, find their way through a maze of privilege and deceit, and confront the truth of what's between them... all without getting caught.

THIS WAS A YULE GIFT FROM MY YOUNG GENTLEMAN CALLER. THANKS HONEYBUNCH AND YOU CAN READ IT NOW.

My Review: Three instances of the vile, not-to-be-countenanced w-bomb. Two heinous, one of those so so so horrible (ON THE LAST PAGE!) it alone cost that quarter-star dock. One actually not that awful.

I can not believe I just typed that.

The cover art of this book makes me smile big'n'pretty. I'd've read it just to have that on my Kindle, had I known nothing of KJ Charles's previous ouevre. (I did...see my The Magpie Lord et seq. reviews.) But lucky me, this is vintage Charles! This is a lovely excursion into late Victorian London via a young, hard-up aristocrat who finds some jewel thieves to do his wicked stepmother dirt by relieving her of an £11,000 (about £150,000 today) diamond parure.

Hijinks ensue...as always...but let me just warn you that there are quite some several events on the way to resolution that cause the sensitive reader some serious collywobbles. I came close to invoking Cthulhu's attention to Author Charles during one or more of those moments (e.g., 63%, 86%), pulling back from the brink of madness barely in time. After all, we're taught from the cradle to praise Cthulhu...He hasn't noticed you yet. So. There's that.

But what a treat the good bits were. I am a sucker for Dominant/submissive romantic reads. This is clearly something Author Charles gets to the tips of the typing digits. These scenes are just flat wonderfully imagined, created, and inserted into the narrative. (Yes, that was me *not* making the dirty double entendre. You're welcome.) In this book, the submissive's consent and limits are so deftly woven into the narrative that I had to flip back to be sure they were there (even when they weren't one memorable time). Yeah, that's my story and you can't prove that's not why there's a finger-dent in my Kindle's screen.

Which brings me to a point I should make very clear: I am not recommending this to my heterosexual acquaintances. You will blench and clutch your pearls at least four times. Not straight safe! No! Don't!

Then there's the other great pleasure of this read. The big one, maybe, since it's something I like in series reads. We're dealing with new stories populated by characters from books past...but honest and truly, that's not a requirement to understand the motives and impulses front and center in this book. The relationships are there, but they aren't foregrounded. Whatever you need to know in order to enjoy this story is put there on the page, economically but unstintingly.

Anyone into the D/s lifestyle will find a welcome, sensitive aura of acceptance here (as in The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal, which is also excellent); anyone inclined to read MM romantic fiction should already know Author Charles's work; but don't hesitate to adventure into these waters, caper-story readers. At its heart, Author Charles has given us a well-made caper with twists and turns to satisfy all but the sexually squeamish among us.

>65 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita...it's not uncommon for an exacerbation to happen in extreme weather.

>66 quondame: Ooo! The Tentacled American is lovely, thanks.

>67 richardderus: I had to google parure and jesus baby god, is this not something Chrisjen (and therefore me) would wear?

https://goo.gl/images/8cE2hu

>69 AuntieClio: A very Heyer sort of word, parure. The ones I like best are Napoleonic.

>69 AuntieClio: Yaaasss ooo ooo

>70 quondame: It's kinda awkward to say, though.

'Morning, darling Richard!

>57 richardderus: Yeesh. *smooches and gentle hugs*

>67 richardderus: I just read this, kindly sent to me from your blog. Heteros stay away! Okay.

>72 karenmarie: Happy happy, Horrible! It's not even terribly icy outside. Going up to middle 40s, so I might even have time to go out for a few supplies. I sure hope so. *smooch*

Knee bleeding continues so bandage derby is tediously constant. Bleeding>infection, I remind myself as I sluice and pat and cream the poor thing.

>49 richardderus: Soooo cool.
>57 richardderus: NOT so cool. Why can't our bodies turn such stuff into pearls?

>74 laytonwoman3rd: Heh. Probably best that I can't make pearls or Mikimoto would long since have chained me up and fed me liver and bacon with eggplant on the side to get more!

That sounds like a delicious dinner, come to think of it.

>57 richardderus: Ouch! That looks like it would be painful, both while inside and while being removed!

>76 ChelleBearss: The removal part's a positive relief because the jagged edges aren't stabbing flesh anymore. None of it is one tiny particle of fun.

>57 richardderus:. Yikes! That would grouch the heck out of me. I’m just sorry that there’s no magic elixir to dissolve those irksome things.

>67 richardderus:. Good review of Any Old Diamonds. I’m already blenching and clutching my pearls, so I’ll have to take a pass.

I went trotting around to do the very few urgent things outside. It's about 38° but the breeze made it feel about 30°...which won't even be the high tomorrow! Oh nay nay nay. So every urgent thing done and I'm hunkered and toasty until Friday!

>78 jnwelch: ...I'm having a mental gag reel of your face at various points...too too hilarious!

Actually, that's sort of sad, too. I think you'd like Author Charles's sense of humor and appreciate her deftness with historical details.

>68 richardderus: I hope the weather turns soon to be nicer for your body...

>80 FAMeulstee: Thank you, dear friend...from your keyboard to the goddesses' inbox.

*smooch* from your own Horrible

Morning, BigDaddy! That strawberry shortcake looks delish.

>49 richardderus: Very cool!

>57 richardderus: YOWZA! So not cool. I'm so sorry you must endure this. *smooch*

21 Alice Payne Arrives by Kate Heartfield

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: A disillusioned major, a highwaywoman, and a war raging across time.

It’s 1788 and Alice Payne is the notorious highway robber, the Holy Ghost. Aided by her trusty automaton, Laverna, the Holy Ghost is feared by all who own a heavy purse.

It’s 1889 and Major Prudence Zuniga is once again attempting to change history―to save history―but seventy attempts later she’s still no closer to her goal.

It’s 2016 and . . . well, the less said about 2016 the better!

But in 2020 the Farmers and the Guides are locked in battle; time is their battleground, and the world is their prize. Only something new can change the course of the war. Or someone new.

Little did they know, but they’ve all been waiting until Alice Payne arrives.

My Review: I love writing about an excellent alt-hist novella by a woman, about women acting to improve/change the timeline, in women's history month.

Why does there need to be a women's history month? Same reason there needs to be a Black Lives Matter movement, an LGBT Pride month, any number of other celebrations of not-white not-straight not-male not-US-centric etc etc history/achievement/identity. Y'all've had the megaphone long enough. Hand it over.

Kate Heartfield earned my delighted approval when I read her novella The Course of True Love in the Shakespeare-as-fantasy anthology Monstrous Little Voices. What a pleasure it is to encounter an author whose command of the demanding art of novella-writing is so complete. Her gift for concise but not reductive prose is flatteringly highlighted in this form. With more scope than a short story, not as much elbow room as a novel, the usual fate of the novella is to exist like old Lycra workout shorts: Way too tight at entry and exit points, uselessly baggy everywhere else.

Ha, says Canadian Author Kate Heartfield, hold my soy chai latte.

This novella, single-needle tailored to fit three women who share a spirit if not a soul, tells the origin story of an eighteenth-century temporal crusader named Alice, her anchor Jane, and their twenty-second century quarry Major Prudence Zuniga of the Teleosophic Core Command. We'll start the admiration engine here: Teleosophy. Time travel, that is. "Tele-" means to, or at, a distance; "-soph-" from "sophos" means wisdom, learning, knowledge. Seeking wisdom at a distance; going far away to impart wisdom. Combined with "Core" or central point and "Command" or the illusion of control, it makes the whole concept of this story's time travel crystal clear: Traveling time to create or control events in accordance with a master plan. Implicit in that is both hubris and desperation.

I'm putting my own words to Author Heartfield's ideas, and can't be certain they represent her thoughts, but there are others just as lovely that she explains. I'd suggest to all who belong to Goodreads that they consult Heartfield's Kindle notes, where she offers sixteen "end notes" about various inspirations and sources for tidbits in the story. I was made particularly smug by "Fleance Hall"'s note; I'd thought to myself, "Oho I see the Shakespeare-based novella wasn't an accident!" and was proved correct.

That type and level of intellectual play is a joy. The idea that someone would use the well-worn time travel trope of coming from the future to save the past in this piquant and creative way is a surprise. The demise of Netflix's extraordinarily well-made and -thought-out series Travelers had rather dispirited me as to the trope's pop-culture future. This novella, and its sequel, exist; there is a pulse in these veins, so there is hope yet!

Alice is unusual in any number of ways. Her created identity of "the Holy Ghost," a feared highwayman, as a means of avenging the powerless and simultaneously assisting the father she still adores; her secret self, lover of the young and supremely intelligent Jane; and her given existence as the dark-skinned Caribbean daughter of a well-to-do white Englishman are none of them ordinary. Alice is over thirty and unmarried. She has carefully kept it that way, despite her attraction to one particular, though completely unsuitable for marriage, man. She makes the awful discovery that a deeply unsuitable and unpleasant man wants to offer her marriage in the course of the story. Jane, no fool and surprisingly quick on the social uptake when her happiness is at stake, squashes both the intent and the desire to marry in the suitor with simple, elegant finality.

Prudence, the Major with a mission to change Time, meets these ladies in the course of the Holy Ghost's highwayman-ing. She's been through the mill, spending a decade making a serious attempt to save an unworthy-but-better-than-the-alternative man from his fate. It should tell you all you need to know that it took a decade...apparently character will out no matter what. As Prudence learns she's failed and her superiors in the Teleosophic Core Command are reassigning her, she concludes that teleosophy is not the answer to humanity's problems. A long-cherished and well-planned act of sabotage, assuring that time travel will stop and not be restarted, is her only hope. She needs someone at several points in time to execute a technological action. Jane, known to be a technological tinkerer but also a socially inept naïf, is her target for 1788, but she gets Alice instead. Alice is anything but a naïf...and anything but socially inept....

Oh dear. Things go pear-shaped in several spectacular ways, and the teleosophical implications are simultaneously dire and delicious. The second volume of the series, Alice Payne Rides, is out now. How you can resist dashing away to buy them both is beyond me.

Oh, you haven't. Addressing empty space never felt so good.

>82 karenmarie: Hey there, Horrible! *smooch* back on this waaaayyyyy-too-cold morning.

>83 Crazymamie: I adore strawberry shortcake, it's so decadently innocent and fresh. Thanks for the sympathy. I'm not sure if I'd be so sanguine about the pain if I hadn't had 37 years of practice coping with it. So tired of the nonsense that goes along with managing a chronic condition in this idiotic illness-care system.

Never mind. Happy to see you! *smooch*

Morning, Richard!

>57 richardderus: Yikes! Poor guy! Grouch a way!!

Morning, Richard. I am so glad I am indoors today. No desire, to tromp along any nature trails either. Very windy and cold today. Taking care of some stuff around here but most of the afternoon will be reserved for the books.

I hope you are having a good one.

Richard, do you need to be in pain management? Suffering is for chumps, as my sainted granny used to say. Or at least that's what she had printed on the moonshine labels.

>86 katiekrug: Hiya Katie!

>87 msf59: A perfect plan for a too-cold day, Mark. I'm doing much the same thing. It's delightful.

>88 SomeGuyInVirginia: Heh, I'm a Fentanyl user...the patch gives me enough relief that I can move around okay. I'm not eager to use higher doses because dependency, while unavoidable, doesn't need to equal dopeyness. I find that remaining aware of my surroundings is more important to me than being unaware of the pain. It's a fine line to walk. It's inevitable that I should fall once in a while.

I'm the only one in my immediate family who has never been in pain management (knock on wood), but I'm probably going to be on sleeping pills for the rest of my life. Mom did Fentanyl toward the end and my brother takes morphine every day to control his mystery disease. I asked him how he can even know what day it was and he said it's different when you're taking it for pain. I have no problem with medical dependency what-so-ever. The problem is with keeping Uncle Sugar out of it.

Compliments, "I love you"s, just-because flowers...all make another person's day brighter and load lighter. That's a great way to add to the world's supply of happiness!

>90 SomeGuyInVirginia: The eternal problem is making abuse of medicine hard while allowing those in need access to the abused substance. There is no correct way to make that happen.

Pain management vs. Over-prescribing is such a thin line, and it's different for everyone. There is no way for a doctor to know in advance if someone's use will turn into addiction. The fact that you are aware of the problem makes you lower risk, happily. I'm currently reading American Overdose, and it is horrible what kinds of things the FDA and big pharma did to spark the epidemic.

>84 richardderus:. Nice review! I got your message over on my thread, and added Alice Payne Arrives to the WL.

>93 The_Hibernator: I haven't asked for any increases in dosage, "lost" any patches, etc etc, so I'm a pretty well-known quantity thank goodness. I never have any issue getting refills. I'm so very cautious because once ONE medical professional says "addiction risk" you're toast forever.

Like I'm not addicted already! It's just that I'm addicted to what works for my (ever-increasing, unceasing) pain.

>94 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe, I really expect you'll enjoy the read. She's got that certain something to her prose.

I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, so I try not to take anything unless absolutely necessary.

I treated myself to a massage today. That manages the muscle tightness I can't work out on my own, even with some exercise. The last one lasted almost 3 months. I hope this one lasts as long!

>96 thornton37814: Three months is a great target to set...I hope the relief lasts that and more. Nothing beats the feeling of a thorough massage, does it.

I ended up going out THREE times this afternoon...I had a $12-off coupon for CVS and they clearanced my favorite snickysnacky, so hey...but the YGC came with. Made it all worthwhile. We stopped at the fruit stand and got some Asian pears

and had a VERY COLD but pleasant wander around. My knees are killing me. My spirits, however, are lifted, and that's really more important in the long run. I got home after the last round of shopping and got a call from my bestie, spent some time blahblahblahing about stuff that's important to each of us, and here I am preparing to make the Q sign for the night after some more Pat Barker.

I am a lucky, lucky man, I have friends, I have all the time I need to read whatever the hell I want, I have food, and meds, and heat...and someone who looks at me like I'm an amazing gift instead of a brokedown ol' crippled-up waste of space. (Which identity I promise you there are lots of folks who want to foist on me!)

It don't get much better than this.

Sounds like a great day, and I love your reflections on it.

>98 richardderus: SO glad you had a good day, and that you can appreciate what's right in your life, in the face of all that's not.

>57 richardderus: Ewww ick.

>66 quondame: Ooh, gorgeous.

>67 richardderus: In that case, duly warned.

>75 richardderus: Might be a good thing?

>84 richardderus: Hmm; intriguing ...

>98 richardderus: I am a lucky, lucky man, I have friends, I have all the time I need to read whatever the hell I want, I have food, and meds, and heat...and someone who looks at me like I'm an amazing gift instead of a brokedown ol' crippled-up waste of space.

Lovely post to read for its positivity. On a day when I got my long absent and very much better half back and had to face up to some difficult truths in my own life, it is heartening to read that those whom you esteem are able to make light of their own difficulties.

>99 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie, it was a very pleasant way to spend a few outdoor hours in cold I wasn't going to enjoy. Company made it pleasant.

>100 laytonwoman3rd: I am realizing as I get older that the "all that's not" isn't worth my time and energy...the "what's right" deserves my focus. Pity it took until now.

>101 humouress: Hi Nina! How's Singapore?

>102 PaulCranswick: It's always, always the self-inflicted stuff that's the worst, Paul. It's only one's self that can do real, painful dirt to one's life.

'Morning, RD!

>98 richardderus: The simple joys of life, right? I tend to express gratitude for the things I'm thankful for periodically - you remind me that I need to do it more frequently.

*smooch* from your own Madame TVT Horrible

>104 karenmarie: It's really amazing to me how much of a positive difference it makes in my mood to speak aloud my focus on what's right with my life. Nothing changes, at least not externally, and I'm still more "bright" as Rob puts it. Old Stuff is a titanically negative, whining person, and I MUST counteract his miasma of misery or I'll go down the drain again!


It's my superpower.

>105 richardderus: That's inspiring! I woke up pretty tired and miserable and feeling sorry for myself that my child was being a brat. I'll try and think of the good things and see if I can turn this mood around!

>106 ChelleBearss: Excellent...moods are catching, and they flow both ways. Getting out of the negative feedback loop with a bratty kid is a great skill to practice.

>84 richardderus: Alice Payne Arrives sounds like a good 'un. And its a series! Count me in

>108 magicians_nephew: I hope it works well for you, since I'm hoping Heartfield will get a lot more contracts and keep writing them.

>103 richardderus: "Pity it took until now." Well...maybe, and maybe not. There's a time in life when railing and fighting against what's wrong in our lives is the thing to do---sometimes it gets shit fixed. Then there are times when you've just got to face what IS and isn't going to be different, and that's when you must focus on the good things. It isn't only associated with getting older, just OFTEN associated with getting older.

>110 laytonwoman3rd: You make an excellent point. I suspect it's really, like so very many things, all about gaining and using the gift of perspective.

Maybe we're biologically wired somehow to have and use that fire when we're younger and need to take on the world, and to slow down and accept things better when we're older and not quite so feisty. But I still want to rage with ol' Dylan Thomas at times. It's easier to get away with at my age, I have to say.

>98 richardderus: Wow, that was a tonic.

>57 richardderus: OMG.

>84 richardderus: Great review of Alice Payne Arrives! I'll add my thumb shortly.

>98 richardderus: Lovely, lovely statement. Thanks for sharing that with us.

What Darryl said, Mr. D. Great to read >98 richardderus:. You deserve a wonderful day like that. Good for your YGC for having such discerning judgement.

I'm at work today. How did this happen? I'll be leaving soon.

>112 laytonwoman3rd: Anyone who *doesn't* rage at 45 and his kakistocracy is stupid or evil.

>113 SomeGuyInVirginia: Good! I hope it inspires others to see with a little more rose and hear with a little more cowbell.

>114 kidzdoc: OYG indeed! I'd suggest adding the book, too.

>115 jnwelch: WORK?! Yikes, man, didn't you get the memo? "Retire" means "to leave the office for the last time."

>116 richardderus: Well, I was more talking about raging at the ravages of age than the evils of Agent Orange, but ... OK.

>117 laytonwoman3rd: OIC

Well, those I can't really see a reason to rage at, but my perspective is different.

Hello!!!!!!!! Just popping by to let you know that there's a vote happening on my thread! Happy Reading!

>119 BBGirl55: Hi Bryony, be right over.

The Kindle edition of Alice Payne Arrives is $3.99, so I just purchased a copy. Thanks for recommending it!

>121 kidzdoc:

>122 richardderus: 😂 I'll try to get to it later this month.

>98 richardderus: Happy too see your spirits are up, Richard!
Mine are a little down, but I know I'll bounce back soon. And knowing you had a good day does help ;-)

I just made my mentor's jaw drop. He asked for words to include in his Patreon project so I typed "serendipitous." His response made me smile big. And then the next commenter said she thought I'd just won. ::grin::

>123 kidzdoc: :)

>124 FAMeulstee: Good days or bad, it's always good to have friends who care. *smooch*

>125 AuntieClio: Heh. Go you!

>126 LovingLit: HA!! I love that one, thanks, Megan!

It's #WorldBookDay!

Little known fact: Reading reverses baldness in men and eliminates bad hair days in women! Go forth and read.

I thought World Book Day was in April? Strange. Luckily, I have few bad hair days, as long as I keep it clean. Maybe that's because I read? I always assumed it was because I tied it back. 🤣😂

Just looked it up, there are two World Book Days! One in March and one on April 23!

>129 The_Hibernator:, >130 The_Hibernator: The April one is World Book Night, on Shakespeare's birthday.

I'm a night person!

>91 richardderus: Also helpful (but harder to come by): the occasional "You are right!"

Cheers, Richard.

>132 SomeGuyInVirginia: Then the 23rd is ideal for you! I don't know if y'all have bookstores there, but if you do, there's bound to be something fun going on that night.

>133 rocketjk: That one is the most difficult to find, all right. Much less common than "I'm sorry!"

>98 richardderus: Most excellent!

>128 richardderus: So THAT'S why I'm having a good hair day today.

>103 richardderus: Hot.

Sweet Thursday, Richard. I am making my usual Thursday watering hole stop. I am enjoying a super smooth coffee stout, that is to die for. Life is good, although springtime will make it better.

>135 SuziQoregon: Hi Juli, thanks! Yep...good hair days forever.

>136 humouress: NO!! Shut the front door, a megalopolis on the Equator is hot...go know from this!

>137 msf59: ...oh great...now I won't sleep a peaceful night until I get some coffee stout..."thanks" ol' buddy ol' pal just a million of 'em.

>98 richardderus: wonderful thoughts Richard. If only more of us could look on the bright side.

>128 richardderus: There must be a few exceptions to the rule amongst our number then RD.

>128 richardderus: I want you to know how restrained I have been about commenting on this picture. Oh, what a lovely ..... book.

>127 richardderus: Not only did he use it well in today's installment, I made him giggle when I wrote my comment in a similar fashion as his protagonist, ending it with (I speak with a foreign accent). It makes me so happy to know I have that affect on him.

'Morning, RD!

*smooch*

>139 brenzi: I'd say it's more "would" than "could" Bonnie. People are capable of, just peculiarly unwilling to, find positives in their lives.

>140 PaulCranswick: ...said the old man with a full head of hair...

>141 AuntieClio: *snerk* You go, lady!

>142 karenmarie: *smooch* How's by you, Horrible?

*looks for tasty breakfast fare*

*leaves, sadly disappointed*

Yah, what he ^ said...

>144 kidzdoc:, >145 drneutron: Tell y'all what, let's have a brunch buffet.

Thant's more like it! 😀

Yes!!!

>146 richardderus: That literally makes my mouth water...

...so the brunch buffet wins...as I suspected....

Marquess Aemilius Manystanes the Beguiling.

>151 richardderus: Dame Arabella Jellyslapper the Addlepated.

>152 PaulCranswick: A bold choice, that.

Count Orville Ballownie the Acquiescent

Ha! I like it.

I saw that on Facebook earlier. I can't decide who my favorite author and favorite musician are.

>151 richardderus: Baroness Henrietta Clutterbuck the Fancymonger

>156 thornton37814: It was hard to figure some of the answers out, Lori. Hometown? I couldn't figure that one out so went with where I was born.

Archduchess Rhodanthe Humberslide The Beguiling. LOL

Margravine Arabella Aardslack the Beguiling ... one of those fits

>156 thornton37814: That's always a problem with these memes. Choices, choices.

>157 Familyhistorian: Home is where the heart is, so I've heard. I like the name you created!

>158 Berly: *snerk* I love that, O Archduchess!!

>159 AuntieClio: Indeed, Margravine, indeed.

Almost the same as Paul's, except I'm Egbertine.

>151 richardderus: After so many choices ( so hard to pick favorites) the result is.....

Archduchess Arabella Kirksfell the Zounderkite

Have a great weekend

>161 bell7: Oh dear, Egbertine! Imagine being nicknamed "Soufflé" because "EGbertine" is such a mouthful.

>162 figsfromthistle: You Zounderkites! One never knows what y'all will do. *tsk*

Countess Arabella Forestdyke the Acquiescent.

*smooch*, RD!

Dame Nowellyn Drinkstone the Acquiescent.

Erm, no. Just no.

Happy Sunshine-y Saturday!

>164 karenmarie: "Acquiescent"? Hm. Shyeah. *quiet snort*

Smooches, sweetness!

>165 katiekrug: "Drinkstone" works...just means ice-in-the-drinks. The rest...well...least said, soonest mended.

Ain't this loverly?!

Morning, Richard. Happy Saturday. Mild out here, with a light breeze. Rain moving in, though. I enjoyed The Dry and I am on the homestretch of Black Leopard. I can't wait to hear your take on this one.

>167 msf59: Hi Mark! I'm really eager to get stuck in to Marlon James's latest. Soon as they put it on sale...

Rules rules rules. Sheesh.

Lord Deiphobus Jellyslapper the Addlepated.

>170 SomeGuyInVirginia: A most gracious welcome, your lordship. We shall endeavour to un-addle your pate whilst you are here.

>169 richardderus: It's ok. You were never a rule-follower anyhow. Smooch. From Archduchess Rhodanthe Humberslide The Beguiling ( I kinda like that!)

>172 Berly: If I'm honest, I really do see the point of #25...goodness knows what sort of mayhem one prevents by following that one...but the others are just so blah and timid!
Kind regards,
Manystanes

>175 richardderus: Who knew archeologists could be such buzzkills?

>174 AuntieClio: srsly

QUEEN (if you please) Arabella Clutterbuck the Acquiescent (don't you believe it).

>176 laytonwoman3rd: Thy Majesty's admonition hath encumbered thy humble amanuensis's weltanschauung.

If you have never seen the video of Mama's Last Hug, I encourage you to do so.

Queen Imogen Giggleswick the Addlepated!

>169 richardderus: #20 Only disallows flashbacks to wars you were not in, still leaves possibilities of wars that you were in. - just saying.

Happy Sunday to you, RD! Boo, hiss to the switch to DST.

>166 richardderus: I admit that the Acquiescent doesn't sit well with me regarding me... Okay. So how about Dame Prudence Humberslide the Dégagé? (my initials and the one I want to be?) *smile*

Happy Saturday Richard!

>180 Familyhistorian: Hmmm...legitimists! *tsk* for inclusivity fail.

>181 karenmarie: Yes, St. Valentine's Day will do as a favorite holiday, Dame Prudence.

>182 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel! But, even though the time change has occurred, it's Sunday. Well, in NY it is, the Wilds of Minneapolis I can't speak to.

Lol. Yes, it IS Sunday. 😃

I don't know if it's extreme but the time switch always just crumbles my cookies. And the switch in autumn back to real time with the extra hour pleases me more than it probably should.

Read or watch movies. What a great choice to be faced with!

Happy Sunday!! Minus an hour.

Empress Felicity Manystanes The Beguiling

>184 The_Hibernator: I thought the days of the week worked the same there but one never knows for sure.

>185 SomeGuyInVirginia: I slept over it...I think I was conscious eight or so of the 24 hours yesterday and today I'm on schedule. So while it's annoying, treating it like jet lag works fine.

>186 Berly: Thanks, Berly-boo!

>187 BBGirl55: That's a classic one, Brony...I mean your Imperial Manystanesness.

Happy Monday, RD!

Any plans for this almost spring-like day?

>189 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle, back at'cha!

>190 katiekrug: A bad knee day, I fear, since another rock came out and it's still bleeding intermittently. So, kinda no.

I want to go there, live there, be there always.

>191 richardderus: - Ah, I'm sorry :(

>193 katiekrug: Yeah, me too...thanks for the sympathy.

>169 richardderus: I wish do many of these things on an archaeological dig.

>195 Oberon: #6 in particular represents a life-long ambition for me.

>196 richardderus: #20 and #34 for me.

>197 Oberon: Ah, PT(F)SD. The (F) is for Fantastical.


NOTE TO SELF: NEVER SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN POWER BEFORE DRINKING *ALL*THE*COFFEE*

>138 richardderus: I aim to educate.

>151 richardderus: Margravine Ursula Aardslack the Fancymonger here. *curtsies just sufficiently low enough*

Good luck on your dig. What are you hoping to find - what area/ era/ skeletons are you hoping to unearth?

>199 humouress: Mme la Margravine *fractional bow*

I'm determined to end Easter once and for all; I want to find the body.

Snooty upstart.

But why end Easter? Bank holidays and chocolate eggs are good. ...Or at least, self indulgent. Well, I hope the warmer weather sorts out your aches and pains.

Extra smooches, gentle hugs, and boo hiss! to the rock.

Your own Horrible

>201 humouress: Because chocolate *ick* eggs are EASTRE's celebration and I think we should go back to the root holiday of honoring and celebrating fecundity and the burgeoning of the world, not the grisly, grim death by torture of someone's imaginary friend.

>202 karenmarie: My dear lady! How lovely. I'm afraid the rock had a dividend a while ago.

I tried to explain Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday to the Jewish bland boy on Saturday. Silly me. I should have just let his somewhat Catholic girlfriend botch it up.

Have a coffee, dear.

Missed you around the interwebs today. I know whatever it is, you're hanging in. Just wanted to let you know I missed you today. ::smooch::

>203 richardderus: What's wrong with chocolate? Chocolate is good, it cheers you up. Ask Dumbledore.

>204 AuntieClio: *snort* Like a bunch of people whose main annual celebrations are that time they hid THEIR babies from slaughter, but didn't bother to tell anyone else how to do it; and the new year's celebration of how *personally* offensive their gawd finds them and how they grovel for "forgiveness" need to have any other freaky-deaky fantasy games explained.

>205 SomeGuyInVirginia: That's the best present I've had in a long time.

>206 AuntieClio: *smooch* It wasn't a pleasant day, but it's over.

>207 humouress: Chocolate isn't vile, like tea, but I don't experience its euphoria-inducing qualities. I experience thick, gloppy paste of unpleasant sweetness where most have orgasms over the creamy goodness of the stuff. But I am, as always, the weird one.

>208 richardderus: I’ll have your share then. Problems solved!

>209 humouress: Bingo. Well played!

Good morning, I hope you have awaken from your boring-book-induced eternal sleep. Sorry about that.

>198 richardderus: Ha! True dat.

Happy Wednesday, Richard. I hope you are having a good week. I have seen robins on the route lately, but this was the first time I saw one at my feeders, this season. It won't be the last. I am loving The Blue Hour. 5 stars, perhaps?

>151 richardderus: "Margrave Ulysses Manystanes the Addlepated" - I finally did this! I love "the Addlepated". I suspect it's a very large family, with December as the month.

>205 SomeGuyInVirginia: This is aces.

>192 richardderus: I'm wondering whether that's the "new" (well, not the old) Foyles. Looks like it.

Say it with me, coffeeholics!

>214 richardderus: *repeats with enthusiasm* Now I can start my day!

What Joe said! I've almost finished my first cup!

*smooches* to you, darling Richard.

>211 LovingLit: That really was the dullest-sounding tome I've encountered in 2019. Yay you for supporting locals; brava for abandoning ship.

>212 msf59: Robins! Pretty! And hooray for 5-star reads.

>213 jnwelch: Your Addlepated Margravity is most welcome.

>214 richardderus: I'm with you! Umm, me. Well anyway, yeah.

>215 jnwelch: It's official...starter fluid imbibed, day commences.

>216 karenmarie: *smooch* Hey there, Horrible. O happy day, we warble with our coffee breath.

>214 richardderus: yes! I'm still working on my, now cold, morning cup.

>219 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! Happy Thursday. Zapping that cold cup in the nuke has always been my major reason for possessing a microwave. The law prevents me from having one where I live now. But this double-walled cafetière has rendered the concept moot, to my delight.

Dropping in to say hi. Busy week for me.

Hey RD, went for a walk with Little Len and a friend this morning, walking/coffee/friend/son- the panacea for a tough 24 hours.

>221 thornton37814: Hi Lori! Happy weekend reading.

>222 LovingLit: It makes life better to do something so outrageously ordinary that's also so full of satisfaction. *smooch*

Happy Saturday, RD! I hope your day is filled with many good things.

*smooch* from your own Horrible

>224 karenmarie: Hey Horrible, at the moment I'm binging The Almighty Johnsons before it leaves Netflix on Monday. It's been in my queue since forever, so I'm finally getting to it.

Fun with mythology.

>226 richardderus: Well that's just not polite.

Happy Green Beer day!

^Come on springtime! We need you!

Morning, Richard. Happy Sunday. I hope you are having a good weekend. How are those books treating you?

>227 humouress: Not remotely. She should've worn a wig so her snakes weren't out from the start!

>228 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ew. Not for me, thanks, but you go ahead. I wonder if the parade's going on. Not enough to check, though.

>229 msf59: Happy day off, Mark! I love cardinals, and that one, in the midst of singing, makes me smile all over.

...books...? What're those?

Reviews. Need to write reviews. Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror first.

'Morning, RD! Happy Sunday to you.

I'm sorry I didn't know about The Almighty Johnsons - it sounds like something Bill and I would have liked.

>226 richardderus: LOL!

>229 msf59: What a beautiful cardinal from Mark. Come on springtime!

Looking forward to the reviews. I'm enjoying the latest Joe Pickett mystery right now, "Wolf Pack", which doesn't even seem to have a touchstone yet.

Happy Sunday, buddy.

>226 richardderus: - Ha ha ha ha ha!

Happy, peaceful Sunday to you, Richard.

>226 richardderus: >230 richardderus: But still, not exactly saintly behaviour.

>231 karenmarie: Thanks, Horrible! You and Bill probably wouldn't like The Almighty Johnsons too much. Lots of adolescent sex humor. It's wearing on me, and that's a tough thing to do.

>232 jnwelch: Thank you, Joe, same back at'cha. I'm not sure what today's meant to celebrate but I'm not specially interested so I'm going with a trip to make groceries.

>233 katiekrug: Hey there, Katie. I'll take those wishes, thanks!

>234 humouress: In what way, La Overkill? Saints are either masochists (Sebastian, Lucia) or bullies (Charles Borromeo and his ilk); in this case, Piraro found a way to make him both! His anti-snake thing means no sex, plus diminishes Medusa's agency in the world. A Catholic/christian win-win. Which means a humanistic lose-lose.

'Morning, RD! I've had one cup of coffee so far. I've chased a raccoon off the only feeder I have that is not animal-proof after forgetting to bring it in last night. I've fed the you-know-what, and have 3 1/2 glorious hours before I have to head into town to give some Friends of the Library book sale training.

Okay, I won't worry about The Almighty Johnsons. We're coming up to the end of the DCI Banks series, so will have to find something else to watch.

I hope you have a good day. *smooches* from Madame TVT Horrible

Some book porn to start the week.

>238 PaulCranswick: Ooh!

Yesterday's silliness is over now, Richard. It is safe to come out!

>238 PaulCranswick: Wow, that's kind of amazing.

Hi there, Handsome.

Ugh. I've got Old Stuff's cold again. So nice to share living quarters. I just *adore* it. All his hawk-and-spit antics apparently aerosolized the virus again and, lo and behold, here I am. AND this is after taking five days of oral Tamiflu! Well, it's not flu (no fever, any aches and pains are from lying in bed too much) I can't blame the pharmacopia for the failing.

I'm back to sleep now, The Doctor Blake Mysteries haven't yet riveted me to consciousness and they're leaving Netflix on the 31st. That poor Craig McLachlan is being made to suffer in the wallet for sure.

>242 richardderus: Well, you didn't have to share it with me. *sniffle**sniff* There is such a thing as being too generous, you know.

*blahCHOO* (ad nauseam)

>242 richardderus: OMG...Dr. Blake is going away??? I just watched one with my lunch. I'll have to binge! Blessings on you for mentioning it, RD.

ETA: What's your source, Richard? I just checked the "leaving soon" page on Netflix, and I don't see this series listed.

ETA: Never mind. I've now watched all the Dr. Blake episodes available on Netflix...Seasons 4 and 5 weren't there to begin with, I see.

I just finished Derry Girls on Netflix, set in Derry during the mid 90s. Interesting take on the Troubles.

so much good stuff on Netflix these days - wish I had time to watch half of it

I'm binging on Love, Death & Robots right now. Heavy Metal for a modern age. Definite hard "R" animated anthology series.

ETA - Hey RD, hope you are feeling better!

Sorry to see you've caught the plague! Hope you feel better quickly!

eccchhh bleurgh choke

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher on Prime Video is quite good!

I'm not feeling better, and am heartily wishing the virus into the third sub-ring of Dante's Seventh Circle.

So sorry you are under the weather, Richard, and sending virus whammies your way.

Been zoning. Bzzzzzzz. Anyway, at the beginning of the month, RD, you and some others were reminiscing about cars with tail fins. Late '50s. Chrysler's Forward Look styling, the whopping big fins on the '59 Caddies.

Here's an F-type Jag gussied with those Cadillac fins.

>251 weird_O: That picture screams Venice (CA). Glad I never saw that monster.

>251 weird_O: So weird.

Morning, Richard. Sweet Thursday. Whenever, I don't see my pal around, I am afraid, that you are going through a bad patch. I hope that isn't the case and if it is, I hope you are doing better now. I am enjoying the day off and it is supposed to be a pretty decent day. Close to 50, with some sun.

‘Morning, RD!

>242 richardderus: I’m sorry to hear that you’ve got Old Stuff’s crud again.

>249 richardderus: I’ve read The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher, which was very good. I didn’t realize there was a series based on it.

Feel better, dear one! *smooches* from your own Horrible

Feel better, Richard. This has been a year for tenacious viruses. Hope you're able to get some reading in while quaffing hot beverages.

I'll just leave this here...

ooohhh yes please I'd love some Jewish penicillin.

Throat's clogged, nose's clogged, a box of tissues is almost empty, and I *still* don't feel like I'm getting any better. No coffee so I'll get more sleep. Can't focus on reading. Am deeply grumpy. Manthrax is miserable.

{{{Richard}}}

I hope the worst will soon be behind you. Yes, Jewish Penicillin is the answer!

I haven't been around for a while, for which I'm sorry. So just popping in to send healing vibes.

Sending good & healing thoughts across the Atlantic, and a bunch of (((((hugs)))))

This is (I think) the third round of this virus I've had and it's far and away the worst. Tight chest, sore throat, streaming eyes. If I had a fever and bone-aches I'd swear it was flu. None and none, howsomever. Clogged ears. Schnerkled nose. I lost the thread of a David Attenborough documentary! Srsly. Totally lost it. Not clue one what planet it was about. (Until the *shudder* hyenas *retch* showed up.)

Was just hopping in after a long absence to wish you a good weekend, now also adding get well wishes and extra (((((hugs)))))

>262 richardderus: - The Wayne has something similar, also for about the third time this winter. His doesn't seem quite as bad as yours, but the general symptoms are similar. I hope you get to feeling better soon! xx

Coughing, headache, eye-watering blurccchhh. The way I feel now, I'm ready to go a-Trumping with all my libtard paraphernalia pinned to highly visible parts of me in hopes the slavering hate-filled ids on legs will take me out of my misery.

O Death, where is thy sting? *hackhack*

Oh, another person suffering from lurgy. My deepest empathy. I awoke at 5am with 101˚ fever, which is apparently related to the sinus infection which is also giving me a sore throat. I am hoping antibiotics kick in tomorrow. I am not sure who to blame. Sigh.

>225 richardderus: is The Almighty Johnsons a NZ series by any chance? It sounds familiar.

>265 richardderus: eugrgh! Me too!!! I totes have that bug. Headache, runny face orifices, sore throat, cough, and a need for horizontal resting.

'Morning, RD!

I hope that you're feeling even a tad better.

*smooch*

>265 richardderus: If you do that, please do it slowly enough that you breathe on a lot of 'em before they getcha.

I am not, worse luck, dead. Nor am I well. So with neither optimal solution to this illness afforded me, here I am. I still can't read or follow complicated thoughts like "the crocodile will now eat the wildebeest" or "the whale will breach through the bait-ball and consume the remaining herring." It took several rewinds to figure that last one out. How did it know there was a bait-ball? Don't the herring's fins snag in the whale's throat? Attenborough was maddeningly silent on all scores.

>270 richardderus: - Aww, you are actually starting to sound like your good ol' self! Good sign, despite what you feel like. There is hope!

Hope you get to feeling better soon. I've had a headache most of the day, but I think pollen and mold are to blame for it.

Hope you get better soon, Richard, or at least well enough to read or to be able to watch something and make sense of it.

Sunday morning hugs and smooches to you, RD!

I'm going to be spending 6 1/2 hours with 18,000 books/audio-visual items today - we're starting the set up for the FoL book sale Thursday - Saturday. Callooh! Callay!

I hope you're all satisfied. All this good cheer and kindness has staved off the Angel of Death *again* and so, miserable, aching, hacking a dry lung, here I STILL AM. Terrible people. Even caffeine can't make The Umbrella Academy make sense. Diverting visuals, though.

The Umbrella Academy doesn't make plain sense, but my god what they can do with that monkey!

Have your watched Derry Girls? You might get a kick out of it but jeebus the dialogue can be hard to follow.

So sorry you are feeling like the walking dead. We used to call it the creeping crud. Here is something to make you smile. Reminds me of the Coppertone advertisement with the toddler and the dog.

>275 richardderus: I’m so sorry. I’ll try to remember to bring the doom and gloom next time.

>275 richardderus: I want you to notice that at least ONE person has remained aloof at the cheer and kindness section of the chorus. She too is still suffering with the, "If I'm going to cough this much, couldn't I at least cough up something?" Also the "how does my head generate so much to go through entire boxes of tissue?" And, most importantly, "Wait .... I sat down to do something .... did I remember to take my pills ... who am I?"

And to the lady in a remote office who is trying to be helpful in telling me about process, I'm still trying to remember how to find the bathroom.

Also .... snozzleweezles!

All the way through episode 4 ("Man on the Moon") of The Umbrella Academy and there has been not one surprise or twist that wasn't blindingly glaringly obvious and there isn't a single unexpected "nuance" to a character...bitter old man in a kid's body, robot (literally!) mom, dastardly day, emo queer boy who's an addict, etc etc ad tediam...this is a train wreck. Oy.

Hi RD!

*smooch* from your pain-wracked Horrible. I did something to my back and right hip last Thursday and am in moderate pain, with 3 more hours of book sorting today... blech. I'm hoping my chiropractor can see me soonest.

I am listening to the recorded version of Empire Made: My Search For an Outlaw Uncle Who Vanished in British India by Kief Hillsbery. Have you read it? Or listened to it? It has been a surprise. The reviews were good and it has been on my TBR list for several years, but I just never got around to listening to it - or reading it. So far I like the narrator, and the content has been very interesting. I requested it through our ILL program as a recorded book, back in February. It finally came last week, so I ended up juggling recorded books. (stopping one in the middle and moving to this one.) I don't like to do that, but had to with this book. I am not far into Empire Made, so will let you know about it when I have finished - I am only 3 CD's into an 8 CD recording. Might be some good narrative nonfiction for you.

Hi everyone. Still nowhere near well. Better, though! I'm recovering slowly but surely.

Horrible, you need to be more gentle and less demanding with yourself!

Benita, that's completely new to me, I'll go and look for it.

Cheers all. I'm panting and hacking again so I'm back to recumbency.

Cheers, RD. Glad you're feeling better, if nowhere near well. I think you might as well expect good cheer and kindness from this group when it happens again. It's hard to change.

I join those telling you not to try to make sense of The Umbrella Academy. You'll enjoy it more without the effort. Have you tried Russian Doll? Even better than TUA, IMO. (Getting a little acronym-crazy here).

You know The Umbrella Academy show is based on one of those godawful graphic novels, right? Written by the lead guy of the band Chemical Romance.

"Godawful" Graphic novels? Joe you cut me to the quick.

Remembering the shower of scorn I got when i suggested Richard have a look at "Watchmen" I was not going to suggest he look at The Umbrella Academy GN. But I liked it.

I liked the first season of TUA. But my god, man, that monkey! Blows me away!

The Umbrella Academy has me both squicked (brother/sister incest OKAY?!) and ticked (emo queer boy gets a chaste kiss with a guy who dies, but even that's more of what appeals to me than the comics had!). Episode seven's the last time "Dave" the dead love appears (per IMDb) so it's got until the end of that episode to convince me that there's something more than a Twin Peaks Laura-meets-The Day the Earth Stood Still Gort vibe goin' on.

Glad you are feeling a wee bit better, Richard, and wanted to clue you in on this!

Hope for the Best (Chronicles of St. Mary’s #10)—Jodi Taylor (April 23, Headline)

The tenth book in the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary’s series which follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History.

Squicked and ticked. Sounds dangerous!

May the slow recovery turn quick. And then you'd be a box of birds licketty split!

I am slowly feeling better. Hope you are, too!

>289 ronincats: Sheesh, number ten? I thought after number four they were all getting samey-samey.

>292 Morphidae: Well, a bit, but except for the Ronan angst, mostly still enjoyable.

>288 richardderus: Doh! Yes I completely forgot that yooge red flag. It is gak making.

Morning, dear Richard! Better, though! I'm recovering slowly but surely. Good to hear.

I feel much better after the chiropractor whanged away on me yesterday. Still tender, still needing ibuprophen/Tylenol alternately but not walking like one leg is 3 inches shorter than the other. I've always been made to feel guilty felt bad when I couldn't go to school, missed time at work, or meet an obligation, and this is no different. I'll go in at 9, see how it goes, stay if I can, come home if I can't. Nobody is putting pressure on me, but if 80-year old Rhoda with sciatica can do it, I can do it.

*smooch* from Madame TVT Horrible

A through-the-night sleep! A morning without six tissues and a half-hour hack before I could get out of bed to make coffee! I'm almost back to normal, except for plugged ears, a rattley chest, a wheeze or two...mere bagatelles. Oh boy!!

So I finished The Umbrella Academy and was unimpressed. That ending was...sub-optimal. So was my viewing experience. I know y'all fans liked it, and for any number of reasons, and you're not wrong. But neither am I. Mechanical stuff like storytelling technique, direction of actors, talent of screenwriters, etc etc blah blah blah, is irrelevant to the source of my bitch.

A heterosexual man and woman raised as siblings got a full-on Love Scene, complete with fantasy dance sequence (where they released poor Tom Hopper from bondage, thank goodness). The queer emo boy got one chaste kiss in a flashback where his True Love is on screen for less than a full minute.

The first doesn't squick y'all out, the second gets ballyhooed as Representation and Progress.

It should, and it isn't. Think about this: Would your opinion of the series be altered for the worse if the two situations had been handled in reverse order? The boys dance, and lip-lock, and the heterosexual couple raised as siblings get a chaste kiss? Because I have to tell you, for me as an incest survivor, I'd still be shocked as hell and outraged that this *extremely*inappropriate*behavior* made it onto the screen and mucked up a perfectly good love story.

So imagine how ungood I'm feeling with the status quo.

I'll leave aside Hazel and Agnes's played-for-laughs losers-as-lovers scenes felt, and...you know what, my main point it made. Take it or leave it, agree or disagree.

So glad you're feeling better!

I’m very glad you’re feeling well enough to post again, Dear Young Man. This has been an awfully long haul for you.

I’ve avoided TUA, so I’ve got no pony in the race. Howsomever, I do think it’s way beyond time to accept the reality of gay couples.

>286 magicians_nephew:. I liked the GN, too, Jim. And you know I love GNs. I just know Richard likes to steer clear of them.😀

>288 richardderus:. TUA: probably not incest. Different mothers, and immaculate conception of unknown origin, right?

>296 richardderus:. Same comment about the squickiness. The ending was unsatisfying, I agree, but they’re setting up the next season, so I think the proof will be in that pudding.

I loved the big soft-hearted killer from the future who fell in love with the donut lady. I’m now seeing, and appreciating, that actor elsewhere.

Glad you’re feeling better. We need virus zappers. They’re sticking around too long these days.

I'm glad you're feeling better, Richard! I'll still drop this off, just in case:

Hi, Richard. Glad to see you visiting a few threads. I hope you get your strength built back up, to get out for a stroll.

The wife and I have been enjoying Russian Doll. You enjoyed this series too, right?

>299 jnwelch: I agree with Richard, and you, but it's a little too Woody Allen for me to pass over.

And oh man YES the guy who plays Hazel is brilliant! I can totally see him as a merciless killer AND a guy who would fall in love with the doughnut lady and want to retire.

Checking in to see if you are feeling better. Glad to see you at least seemed on the mend the last time you reported. Hope you didn't relapse.

Glad to see you are starting to feel better! Hope spring brings us both health and happiness and SUN! :)

>303 thornton37814: *dingdingding* We have a winner! Fever all night, worsening congestion, right-ear blockage...I'm back a week in how I feel.

This is simply marvelous.

Morphy's gift of a cyclamen plant made me feel a lot better. I haven't got what it takes to take a pic today, but it's beautiful!

Hi Richard! I've been absent for a while. Sorry to hear you have not been feeling well :(

>305 richardderus: Yay! I wanted to surprise you back in January with one but it seems they weren’t in season!

'Morning, darling Richard! I'm sorry you're still sick - sounds like a small relapse, too.

I'm off to find Bargains at the final day of our book sale. $5/bag day. Then my work begins - getting money and checks ready to deposit on Monday and start the Revenue/Expenses report.

I'm looking forward to Sunday - no book sorting or sale, true rest for my back/hip although they're better. Thank God for ibuprophen and Tylenol.

*smooches* and gentle hugs from your own Horrible

not dead just yet

got a LOT worse and am now climbing out of the pit.

Morning, Richard. I am so sorry to hear this update. I hope you climb out of the dreaded pit, quickly. Ugh!

>310 richardderus: Well, young man, if you're expecting any sympathy from us now ... Hah! ;0)

(with reference to >275 richardderus:)

Ugh, I'm sorry you got so sick and I'm glad you're seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I don't get anywhere near as many colds and episodes of bronchitis now that I've skipped the subway and drive in. The subway in DC is a major plague vector.

Traffic was epically bad Thursday afternoon and making a right onto 14th Street was almost impossible because people would shoot the red light and block the box. After a few light cycles this Twinkie in his early 20s gets out of his car, walks into the intersection and oncoming rush hour traffic, and like Moses parting the Red Sea puts his hands out to stop traffic. I was too fascinated to look away because I was sure he was going to get run over. And traffic stopped for him! I didn't stick around to see if he lived because, with traffic stopped, I was able to take a right on red, narrowly missing some idiot pedestrian in the cross walk. Thanks kid, and I hope you lived!

watching love death & robots on netflix can just about comprehend explosions mayhem pretty pictures

women: do NOT watch this show you will HATE IT it will offend you appall you and you will say some variation on "men jeesh of course it's all about men" and that's entirely unnecessary

That's very good news that you're not dead yet, Richard. And that maybe you're climbing out of the pit and feeling better?

I don't know love death & robots, so will have to find out. We plan to catch up a bit on the new season of American Gods today. Man, that poor Shadow goes through a lot, doesn't he.

>314 richardderus: You didn't like John Scalzi's episodes? He wrote the source stories for Three Robots, When Yogurt Took Over the World and Alternate Histories. These were probably my favorites.

But yes, otherwise (and even in places in these as well), the misogyny and titillation was showing in full. In general I enjoyed the series, but then I guess I'm the target (albeit a little old for it) target audience.

Poor RD! Much sympathy, many long-distance hugs and smooches.

I've been extremely naughty - acquired 120 items at the FoL sale. Not all for me, but most were... I'm a happy camper and will have fun adding them to my catalog over the next few days.

still alive, achy chest from hacking getting worse which is good because it means I'm not still mid-hack attack, deaf in right ear from blockage which stinks but is slowly yielding to heating-pad-on-pillow treatment. I'm getting huge mileage out of the bargain-brand bluetooth earbuds, thanks honey, and can't taste anything except honey which I'm not wildly enthusiastic about at the best of times. illnesses are harder to shake at my age; Old Stuff's generous sharing of his own infected fluids doesn't help; but I got uberbored with a show and read The Guardian book reviews with actual comprehension!

things are looking up.

>318 richardderus:, first time to post on your thread, but I'm totally enjoying so many things: old car pix, food and jokey comics; best of all: accumulating BBs!

I have 2 saris and wondered what to make with them (or at least think of making) since one is a wedding sari and I don't know what to do with such a fancy textile.

It isn't shiny-new, but here's an old International Harvester truck that a neighbour says he wants to restore. He may not ever get around to it because we've lived here 31 years now ~ and there it sits!
Not unusual for restoration work, I'm told.

13% in on Dark Threat by Patricia Wentworth
"My mum says he didn't ought to be give way to about it."
I am so thickly spread with stupid that it took me a solid minute of concentrated mental effort to comprehend what that simple sentence meant. This is not good.

>320 richardderus: I caught a *vicious* cold virus just before some travel and 2 weeks later am still shellacked.
I think these viruses must have become more robust, because even my millenial-aged children (them as are in their 30's) are laid low these days.
The best medicine is the hardest: get enough rest. My Man says "Lay down, you don't need to do the laundry". OK already...

This has been the worst year I can remember for viral/respiratory illnesses! But your man's correct: Go to bed, sleep until you can't, take a shower and brush your teeth, back to bed. This too shall pass...or you will...either way it's not permanent.

>322 richardderus: It's a bad year in Tennessee too.

I live in isolation but don't work there. It is going around. Three weeks and I'm just now feeling 95% close to "normal." But I still wheeze occasionally and cough in extremis.

::smooch::

Ricardo--That's it. Enough is enough. Get well dammit! Germ-free hugs.

So sorry you are still bugged by this illness, Richard dear, and happy you are still around.
(((hugs))) & smooches

smoochity-smooch from your own Horrible

I'm sorry that you're still under the weather, Richard. I hope that this week treats you more kindly.

I'm feeling ignored (or possibly bored). Litmus test:

Night sweats are horrible. So are The Evil Ones. Night sweats mean something bad is ending. They are simply a reminder that the Universe is ruled by the Forces of Evil and no matter what, malekind is utterly screwed and eternally damned.

I'm going on my fourth week of laryngitis. Last year I had it for two months. I'm not doing this again and have a doctor appointment tomorrow.

Is this book porn, or lie-berry porn, or olde world money porn? And does it matter? It does not. Enjoy!

>332 SomeGuyInVirginia: This is amazing! Any info on whether this is a private place or what country?

>333 SandyAMcPherson: I'm not sure but I can look into it. I think it's a club's library but that could only have been a nomenclature artifact from the posting agent which was vwavclub, or something similar.

I wonder what my ideal library would look like, a grand and structured place full of pools of good light and the kind of furniture that encourages breaks and stretches, or long aisles of books along whitewashed walls, and leather pokes and swaddled and tucked embrasures to lure to lull the reader.

>334 SomeGuyInVirginia: My favourite library would be the more informal sort... with lots of hidden wonders to discover



I think I saw this (above illustration) on LibraryThing recently; however, I originally snagged it when I was looking for one of Colin Thompson 's illustrations of a library, which I have as a jigsaw puzzle.



Colin's illustration is hugely amusing because of the play on words with the book titles. I have uploaded a largish size of the photo. My apologies to richardderus if I've skewed the view on his thread...

I finished Empire Made: My Search for an Outlaw Uncle Who Vanished in British India by Kief Hillsbery and you simply must read this one. It toggles back and forth from the past to the present (1990's ish), and chocked full of information about the British East India Company, Sir Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence, and John Nicholson and what all this history has to do with modern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Really well done and full of surprises.

>336 benitastrnad: Nice review! Very tantalizing...

*smooches* to you, RichardDear!

I hope you are getting better.

La donna è mobile?

I got nothin'. Get well soonest.

What Bill said.

xx

Hey, Richard! *smooch* Congrats on 6 years of your blog!

Come back soon and tell us you're almost better RD.

Having my own respiratory issues at the moment so I fully sympathise with the misery of cough and wheeze.

Here's the best therapy I can think of: BOOK PORN!

*smooch* (blown from a distance) and lots of get well whammies for you.

Never seen Richard's thread so inactive.

Hope you're doing better.

Love and Robots always makes me think of the Comic book graphic novel Love and Rockets though those were very popular with women

You have to get better and come post so I can see a pic of the flowers!

A popular motif since 1600BCE!



I hope your health improves quickly!

xo

>330 richardderus: and any news of a recovery?
(((hugs)))

{{He needs to come back soon because he REALLY needs to start a new thread!}}

Oh, hi Richard. Are you feeling better? : ) Sending lots of hugs.

THREE WEEKS OF GASPING HACKING HAWKING repeat ad infinitum appear to be drawing to a close. I have read for the first time in forever; slept fewer than 16 hours; been outside; eaten more than one grudging meal in 24 hours; I think, laddies and gentlewomen, I am Recovering. I need a new thread, but I haven't reached the point where making that happen elicits anything but a loud moan of misery, so permaybehaps tomorrow.

Get well!

>351 richardderus: Hope the recovery continues -- take care of yourself!

Yay for Recovery!! So glad to hear from you. Big hugs.

*smooch* and good news that you are Recovering.

Your own Horrible

Good to see you pop your head in. Soon you'll be well enough for the rest your body to show up!

Hi Richard dear friend, hope you are having a good start to the weekend, wishing you a really good weekend and hope you are well dear friend.

So happy to see a few words from you, Richard dear, I hope you feel a bit better every day.
(((hugs)))

So bored with sleeping that I can't! So it's The Great British Baking Show's 2018 season. Bread episode. The cookies and cakes were easy to doze through but this is BREAD so I'm wide awake and riveted.

Kim-Joy's makeup was giving me bad dreams anyway. It would any coulrophobe.

>359 richardderus: Too true dear fellow. I mean who can stay awake through cookies and cake?

Looking forward to your new thread and lots of posting action.

Have a great weekend as you complete (fingers crossed) a full recovery.

Yay, Richard! Glad to hear recovery is happening.

Hooray! I’m thrilled that you’re finally on the mend, Richard.

I'm glad you're no longer pale and interesting, just interesting.

Good bread is better than good cake