Mysteries & Music – Jonathan Gash

Lovejoy was not a PBS show, but was shown on a cable station as a Brit import. I don’t remember which station it was on, or how I came to know of it, but I became a fan immediately. I had not read any of the books before, but after seeing a few episodes I started looking for the books in the library. I was a bit surprised that the Lovejoy of the books was different from the TV one. Actually, it was the TV one that was different from the original. Gash’s Lovejoy wasn’t quite as nice and a bit sleazy.

I don’t know if this was a conscious decision of the writers, or just the interpretation of the wonderful and handsome Ian McShane. His Lovejoy was so full of mischief and fun and was truly a joy to watch. Even though I read many of the books, I still preferred McShane’s Lovejoy. I even got Sarah to become a fan of the show. I would really like to eventually get this series on DVD. It’s available and not outrageous in price.

The theme was written by Denis King, and played while the opening title and credits were shown, along with scenes from the show. McShane had such a twinkle in his eye! You just knew Lovejoy was going to get into mischief, but it was in good fun. Cute little tune, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8_Lw9XFMIE

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Next Friday will be my dear mother-in-law’s birthday, the first one since her passing in June. I intend to be somewhat of a basket case that day, so I will write this tribute now, even though it’s with tears in my eyes that I do this. The picture here was taken about a year before she died, and is one of my favorites of her and Marv.

I have so much love and admiration for this woman who I was lucky enough to call “Mom” and who treated me like a true daughter.

Lillian Elsie Euler Binder Michels was a devout Christian and never passed up a chance to witness. She never wavered in her faith and was strong to the very end. Her faith was an inspiration to those who knew her.

I really meant to write more, but I can’t. Maybe at a future time.

I still miss her.

No Claustrophobics Need Apply

Right now the Tiny House movement is really BIG! (See what I did there?)

There’s even a reality show on DIY showing them. We don’t get that channel, or I would probably watch it. I think the movement started about 10 years ago, which is about the time I became aware of these structures.

It was probably an article on MSN featuring the houses that Tumbleweed Tiny House makes. I went to their website and thought those little houses were adorable! Since then, you can find many others who sell blueprints so you can make your own.

There are many, many blogs where people go into great detail about the planning and building of their little house. And they are all just as cute as can be. It would be wonderful to be able to pare your life down to the absolute essentials and be content in a very small space. I think I might have been able to do it when I was young. At this point though, I have so much STUFF that I know I could pare down, but there would still be too much to fit into such a small space. And certainly not with another person thrown in the mix as well. And even though I could probably part with more than I think, I absolutely will not get rid of Marvin!

The Tumbleweed site lists the square footage of their plans as ranging from 117 to 874. Having a second floor is what makes the difference. And that second floor is where the bed goes, and it takes up the entire space, pretty much. Not a lot of head room, either. (Marv is 6’2”) You basically climb up a ladder and crawl into bed. Again, at my age, not so possible anymore. When you don’t have working knees, you can’t crawl very well.

So it would have to be a single level dwelling. Fold up bed, Murphy-style. Tiny stove and fridge. I’m giving myself the creeps just thinking about it. Where would I put my stamps? WHERE WOULD I PUT MY BOOKS???

Nope. Not gonna happen.

They are cute, though…

I’m Sorry, She’s Out Of Her Mind Right Now, May I Take A Message?

I find myself with a massive case of burn-out at the moment, so taking the advice of my dear friend Kristi: it’s MY blog, I can do anything I want with it. And right now, I choose to post pictures of cats.

This first pic is in honor of Fall.

Kittens playing in leaves.

How sweet is that?

This pic is a dark kitty with butterfly wings.

Is she good or evil?

Waiting to pounce, or waiting to help?

Make up your own story and tell me.

This is one of the MANY, MANY, MANY pics I’ve recaptioned from the famous website. I have a TON of these pics. Come by some time and let me bore you with them! I happen to think they are hilarious. Some I kept with the original captions, but the majority I have added my own special humor.

OK. Last one, I promise. This actually looks a bit like my cat Harper, but I’ve never had a cat that got in the dryer. I usually keep the door to it closed. The washer is a different story. When I had a top loading washer, my cat Tucker would curl up in it on hot summer days. He would also curl up in the laundry sink in the garage.

There. I feel a little better now. Maybe next week I’ll write something wonderful and thought provoking. Probably not, though. That’s not the way I roll…

Peace out, y’all.

September 2014 Book Report

I’ve written previously about the Dream Park series by Larry Niven and Steven Barnes. The first book was Dream Park, the second The Barsoom Project. Absolutely awesome books. I’ve now finished the series with the last two books. I really don’t see how this series can be continued further, and I kind of regret that. But at least it all wraps up nicely, and I can be content with that.

The California Voodoo Game has a different venue this time. The newest Game will take place in a large abandoned multi-story building and involve several competing teams. There is a lot more at stake this time, and of course the bad guys are REALLY bad. The way this book ended made it difficult to imagine how the next book could take place. Things were pretty well wrapped up. But wait! There’s more!

The Moon Maze Game REALLY had a different venue! The moon! The action takes place 25 years after the events in the previous book. I was a little disappointed at first that the original bunch of characters wouldn’t be the main folks in this book. This was a great book, though. The spirit of The Game was still here, and still just as exciting. The bad guys were terrible people, and the good guys won. And as I said, everything wraps up nicely and I don’t see any reason for continuing the series. Unless they actually do get established on Mars and try something else. But I’m happy with the series. Good books. Definite keepers in my library.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The next two books are in the Blue Hill Library series. As always, good stories with a Christian leaning. Very comforting. Written by Emily Thomas.

Off the Shelf deals with a new tax levy, one that can really help the library. When several children’s books go missing, it looks like there is something shady going on with the council members. There appears to be bribery amongst them as well. Anne is threatened when she tries to investigate what is going on.

Gone In A Flash is about mysterious pictures in an old camera. When Aunt Edie’s camera comes to light during a yard sale, Anne has the pictures developed. In trying to find out who some of the people are in the pictures, Anne decides to host a family reunion. Family ties are re-established and a long-lost relative is rediscovered.

Mysteries & Music – Margery Allingham

I had never read any of Allingham’s books before seeing this series involving the jaunty Albert Campion and his sidekick Magersfontein Lugg. After the first episode or so, I started looking for the books. I devoured them with relish! (But I was careful not to get any of the relish on the books, haha)

Total delights, both books and TV episodes.

Peter Davison is a perfect Campion. He plays him with dapper good humor. He became a favorite actor of mine after seeing this series.

I continued to get the books from the library, and then started collecting them in paperback for my own collection. I was devastated when I discovered I had read them all, and Ms. Allingham had in fact died some time before. She had left copious notes, though, for her husband, Philip Youngman Carter. He was also a writer and continued the series after his wife’s passing. Unfortunately, he was only able to complete one novel of his wife’s and write two more of his own in the series before he died.

You can get the series on DVD, but it’s VERY pricey, unfortunately. So get the books! Read them!!

Nigel Hess wrote the lovely little tune for the theme music. The name Campion is misspelled on youtube, but here is the link. Sweet little tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6XllPtxi88 

Mysteries & Music – P.D. James

I had never read any P.D. James books before seeing this series. They all involved the Scotland Yard inspector Adam Dalgliesh. This series was set in modern times, but I still enjoyed the stories. After I started reading the books, I discovered I liked the books better.

Roy Marsden was a good fit as Insp. Dalgliesh, and it did help my mental picture when reading the books, but something just didn’t grab me with the TV series. I still watched all the episodes that were shown in the US. I read most of the books and enjoyed them, but not enough to keep in my library.

What I probably enjoyed most of all about the TV series was the theme music by Richard Harvey. Very lovely and haunting. Give it a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP2BZQayIWk