mstrust's #7- The Return of The BBC

The book shop of Books, Booze, & Chocolate is back!
This is the bookshop I've always wanted, one that sells every book every book you're looking for, plus desserts in our own patisserie and cocktails in our authentic tiki bar.

Prepare to get lost. We have rooms and rooms of books to lose yourself in. If you need help, or need to be led back to the main room, just yell. One of our friendly employees will come for you. Or turn the music up to drown you out. Whatever.




Our patisserie makes beautiful desserts, but also cookies, candies and breads.


And our tiki bar features the greatest bartender in the world.

Books Read in 2016

1. Japanland- 4.2
2. Easy to Kill- 3.5
3. Rickles' Book- 3 stars
4. Tepper Isn't Going Out- 3.5 stars
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
5. Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture- 3.5 stars
6. I Married A Dead Man- 3.5 stars
7. The Halloween Tree- 3 stars
8. Grow Your Own Drugs- 4 stars
9. Magic for Beginners- 4.5 stars
10. The Kalahari Typing School for Men- 4 stars
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
11. Carsick- 2.5 stars
12. Pines- 4.5 stars
13. Neither Here Nor There- 4 stars
14. Letters from the Hive- 3.5 stars
15. Shedd Aquarium: The First 75 Years- 3.5 stars
16. The Great Tea Rooms of Britain- 4.5 stars
17. The Most Beautiful Villages of New England- 4.5 stars
The Man With the Twisted Lip
18. Batavia's Graveyard- 4 stars
19. The Labors of Hercules- 3.8 stars
20. Aurora Borealis: A Photo Memory- 4.5 stars
21. Istanbul (Great Cities)- 4 stars
22. Foreign Babes in Beijing- 4.5 stars
23. The New England Coast- 4 stars
24. Dark Bayou- 4 stars
25. Dear Fatty- 4 stars
26. A Diet of Treacle- 4 stars
27. The Fever Called Living- 4.5 stars
28. Morality For Beautiful Girls- 4 stars
29. This Census-Taker
The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
30. Griffin & Sabine- 25th anniversary Limited Edition- 4.5 stars
31. Cheaper By The Dozen- 3 stars
32. The Walking Dead Vol. 9: Here We Remain- 4 stars
33. The Walking Dead, Vol. 10, What We Become- 4 stars
34. The Walking Dead, Vol. 11: Fear The Hunters- 4 stars
35. Yes Please- 4 stars
36. The Walking Dead, Vol. 12: Life Among Them- 4 stars
37. Dark Entries- 4 stars
38. Bunner Sisters 4.2 stars
39. The Walking Dead, Vol. 14: No Way Out- 4 stars
40. The Walking Dead, Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves- 3.5 stars
41. I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive- 3.5 stars
42. The Merry Wives of Windsor- 3.5 stars
43. Madeline in London- 3.5 stars
44. The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something To Fear- 4 stars
45. Van Halen Rising- 4 stars
The Five Orange Pips
46. The British Tuck Shop - 4.5 stars
47. To Love and Be Wise -3.5 stars
48. An Author Bites The Dust- 4 stars
49. The Twilight Zone: The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street- 3.5 stars
50. The Twilight Zone: Walking Distance- 3 stars
51. Saga- 4.2 stars
52. Wayward- 4.5 stars
53. Flashman- 4 stars
54. The Walking Dead, Vol. 18: What Comes After- 3.8 stars
The Adventure of the Three Gables
55. The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War- 4 stars
56. The Walking Dead, Vol. 21: All Out War Part Two- 4 stars
57. The Lost Continent- 4 stars
58. Things Fall Apart- 3.5 stars
59. Present at a Hanging and Other Ghost Stories- 3 stars
60. Up In The Air- 4.2 stars
61. The Last Town- 4.5 stars
62. Close To Shore- 3.5 stars
63. The Bone Tiki- 3.5 stars
64. Steve Parish Wildlife of Australia- 4 stars
The Adventure of The Solitary Cyclist
65. England For All Seasons- 4 stars
66. The Murder of My Aunt- 4.2 stars
67. The Full Cupboard Of Life- 3.5 stars
68. No Touch Monkey!- 3.5 stars
69. The Missing Skull- 3 stars
The Adventure of The Dancing Men
70. Biggest Elvis- 4.5 stars
71. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- 3.5
72. Flaubert's Parrot- 4 stars
73. Feeding A Yen- 4 stars
74. The Walking Dead, Vol. 22: A New Beginning- 3.5 stars
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging - 3.5 stars
76. Xenophobe's Guide to The Scots
77. The Walking Dead, Vol 23: Whispers To Screams- 4 stars
78. The Walking Dead, Vol. 25: No Turning Back- 4 stars
79. Still Life- 4.2 stars
80. Disney's Enter If You Dare- 3.8 stars
81. The Doom of the Haunted Opera- 4 stars
82. How To Survive A Horror Movie -5 stars
83. Spooksville- 4 stars
84. The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor- 5 stars
85. The Beasts of Clawstone Castle- 4 stars
The Screaming Skull- short story
86. The Haunting Hour- 3.5 stars
87. Spooksville: The Howling Ghost- 4 stars
88. A Tale Dark & Grimm- 4.5 stars
The Adventure of the Bruce Partington Plans
89. Beware!: R.L. Stine Picks His Favorite Short Stories- 4.2 stars
90. Full Dark, No Stars- 4.5 stars
91. The Gates- 5 stars
92. The Spell of the Sorcerer's Skull 3.5 stars
93. The Sleeper & The Spindle- 3 stars
94. The Ghost in the Mirror- 4 stars
95. Stories of the Supernatural- 4 stars
96. Spooksville: The Haunted Cave- 3.5 stars
The Vampyre
97. The Compleat Squash- 4.5 stars
98. Hollow City- 4.2 stars
99. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler- 3.5 stars
100. The Corpse Wore Pasties- 2.8 stars
101. The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook- 4 stars
102. Canada's National Parks
103. The Bird Artist- 4.5 stars
104. Fat Land- 3.5 stars
The Adventure of the Cardboard Box
105. The Complete Professionals - 4 stars
106. Screamin' Jay Hawkins' All-Time Greatest Hits- 3 stars
107. Smuggler's Cove- 5 stars
108. Grunt- 4.2 stars
109. This Music Leaves Stains- 4.5 stars
110. Fargo Rock City- 3 stars

Welcome to the new location. After losing our lease (being chased out by ghosts) at our last digs, we've found a lovely little shop right near you. The holiday stock is arriving every day. Browse, have a cup of coffee and a snack, or visit the cocktail bar. Our employees are thrilled that you've found us again.

Oooooh, lovely photos. *Dreamy gaze*

Stephen! Yay, you found us!
And here's your reward for being the first through the door:

BOOZE!

*Gobbles noms*

>7 Ape: I agree, it was good! hope you don't mind that I stuck my finger in.

>6 SomeGuyInVirginia: Yes, my friend! This should have you knocking into the walls-

Happy new thread! :)

Happy new thread to the BBC. xx

8: Well then, I apologize for eating your finger.

Booga booga!

I'm now reading The Color Purple. What are you reading?

>9 ChelleBearss: Thank you, Chelle! Stick around and have a look at all our books. And you're always welcome to grab a rag and dust. ; )

>10 PaulCranswick: Hey Paul! Glad you made it on opening day.

>11 Ape: Ha! Chocolate tastes good on anything.

>12 weird_O: I'm reading Hollow City, though I confess that I've read maybe five pages in the last three days. I've been very busy with Halloween and scary movies and decorating, and now with our anniversary.
We'll be going to the restaurant in an hour. It's our 13th, which is the year to traditionally give your spouse an arachnid. This morning Mike bought me a three foot wide spider that lights up. And a big, juicy Amazon gift card.

This is Durant's where we're celebrating. Very old school:

Happy new place!

Happy new thread and happy anniversary to you and Mike!

Happy New thread and happy belated anniversary, Jennifer!
I like those few and far between Rat Packish establishments. We had one by us we anniversaried at but it's turned into a Mexican Restaurant. :0(

Good for you reporting the Poll worker. It's seems like a national thing, they're there to provide a service but they act like they're doing everyone a favor.

I'm so disgruntled with this election, I'm headed to the bar and drink cocktails till November 9th.

>14 drneutron: Thanks, Doc!

>15 rabbitprincess: Thank you, princess! I like to remind Mike of how long I've put up with him. He feels the same way, so we're even. : D

>16 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda! If you look at the above picture, we sat on the left at the painting. We think that Tuesday must be their training day for the waitstaff, because not only did our server knock Mike's cocktail off the table and onto Mike's leather shoes, the second employee, the one who refills water and takes away plates, was removing a cup of sour cream Mike hadn't used, fumbled it, and it went face down and splattered Mike's shoes too. But the prime rib was exquisite.
I hate seeing a unique building renovated into just another boring nothing-to-look-at. The most recent in my neighborhood was a couple of months ago, the city took a huge brick building that had been there for years and looked like a castle and turned it into a beige stucco box for economics.
And in case anyone thought the head of the Clean Elections, who said he'd get back to me after talking to the worker, ever called back, I'm still waiting... though not expecting anyone to keep their promise.

It seems like all the fun is over. There's so much to do for Halloween, not so much for Thanksgiving. But I've started Christmas shopping.

Here's what's on my stack for November. Feelings change, but I'll be trying to get through these:

Hollow City- working on this one now.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea- I started this one back in August but had to put it aside for Halloween reads.
Fat Land
Canada's National Parks
The Bird Artist- all the reviews here made me order this.
Real Food, Fake Food- an LT win.
Alice's Secret Garden
The Corpse Wore Pasties
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweller- never read it.
In A Glass Grimly

And in between books, cooking and baking.
What? Throwing away Halloween candy is wasteful, and that's bad.

Happy new thread, Jennifer!

Thanks, Anita! Glad you're here.

Happy new thread! It's great to see the BBC back and believe me I would help with the dusting but I just painted my nails!

Hey, Judy, great that you've found us! I don't want you to mess your nails us either, so how about answering the phones?

Eeeek, well, that was one memorable anniversary dinner! Are the shoes ok?

I just started Season 2 of AHS and I have a question. As I watched the beginning I said "Hey, isn't that Adam Levine?" then it was "Hey, isn't that Tate?"
So, I'm thinking Adam was a guest appearance but then there's a core group of actors playing different parts, right? So, this Tate (although he has a new name) has no connection to the other Tate right?

He came home and scrubbed the shoes but I haven't looked at them. They're styled to that there is stitching running up both sides of the toes, and there was sour cream wedged into those seams. Gross. And the manager said that the owner would call him the next day, but no one did.

Yes, AHS has a group of actors who have either stuck with the show since the beginning, like Sarah Paulsen and Evan Peters, or they will do a couple of seasons in a row, then leave, like Emma Roberts. Since each season is a new story, each actor has a new name and character. The only link that I've found is that in Season 1, Paulsen did a few episodes as a psychic, and played the same character visiting the hotel in the last episode of Season 5.

I ordered a bunch of books today! Oooh, I love when the books come rolling in one by one.

Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops?
Thumbsucker I liked Kirn's Up In The Air so much that I needed to have more from him.
The Moviegoer
The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury
Spooksville- book four, something with aliens in the title.
The Complete Professionals by Dave Rogers. A this-is-how-they-did-it look at the iconic Brit show.
Light Boxes

Doh! I'd never heard of the Professionals before. It's not available on Netflix streaming, but is on YouTube. Woot!

Oooh, I get to tell you about "The Professionals"! Dreams come true!



When "Starsky and Hutch" turned out to be such a hit show, the Brits answered with "The Professionals". It was created by Brian Clemens, who had also created and wrote "The Avengers". "The Professionals" ran from 1977-1983, and was an enormous hit, far surpassing "S&H" in terms of pop culture and merchandising. Like Disney's "Frozen", you could get pretty much anything with Bodie & Doyle's pictures on it. The show starred Gordon Jackson, best know from "Upstairs, Downstairs", Martin Shaw as Doyle, who currently plays "George Gently", and Lewis Collins as Bodie, who was briefly considered to replace Roger Moore as James Bond.

I'm glad you've discovered the episodes on Youtube, as that's how I discovered the show too. Only 30 years too late. The show is known for some confusing plots that no one gets, misogynistic dialogue, explosions and Doyle's "poodle" perm. It's addictive. I think one of the best episodes is "Discovered in a Graveyard", and the one with crazy CI5 agent Shotgun Tommy, "Heroes".



I've had a good day. Mike and I went downtown and took pictures of street art. Over the last couple of years, I'd noticed that there was more and more wall murals and shops in Phoenix covered in really spectacular artwork, and even sculptures. For months I've been saying that when it cooled down we'd go take pictures of all this great stuff, so we finally spent a little time driving down alleys and behind shops, and I got really great shots. We barely scratched the surface, because once we began looking, it was everywhere. I shot trash bins, parking lots, even discovered that I was in a private backyard when I followed a chain of murals. Mike had intended to just be the driver but he has sharp eyes and was spotting more stuff from down the street. He got into it.
This project will take several more trips, but I'll post some pics in the next day or two.

OK, I'm in. The Professionals is on the list. And I want to see those pics!

"The Professionals" revival! Right here!
Not that they need my help, as there are lots of sites dedicated to the show, and even a yearly meet-up that tours locations the show featured. But I like to do my part to keep Bodie and Doyle alive. : D
I took so many pics that I'll need to put them up a few at a time, but I'll be happy to share. Downtown Phoenix has become a big outdoor gallery.



Ok, so I went ahead and grabbed the episode called "Heroes". It features the wonderful John Castle as Shotgun Tommy, who is very popular with fans despite eating it in this one episode he appeared in. As you watch, you'll ask yourself, "Why would a newspaper print the names and addresses of all these witnesses like a hit list?", "Who gathered them all together and shot a video of them?" "Can you actually disguise a shotgun by draping a light jacket over it?" and the perennial, "What was their boss thinking when he came up with this lousy plan?" Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ht7Vc1DfhM&index=20&list=PLX9kscTWvsqvS...

And speaking of tv, how 'bout last night's all-Daryl episode of TWD. Never have there been so many people mumbling the phrase "Don't do that to Daryl. Don't do that to Daryl..."

>26 mstrust: Never heard of "The Professionals", but we do watch "George Gently", I had a hard time recognising Doyle at those pictures!

Anita, I'm surprised you don't know the show, as it was shown in The Netherlands during its first run. The biggest fan base for the show, outside the UK, seems to be Germany, The Netherlands and Australia. It seems those Youtube uploads have gotten them new fans and brought back people who remembered playing at being Bodie and Doyle at school.
I really can't think of anything in America that brings on a similar a wave of nostalgia across multiple generations, but is also tempered with a level of embarrassment at having loved a show that had such gaping holes in the plots.

Ha, I agree, 40 years makes it hard to recognize Gently as the same poodle-permed and packed-into-his-jeans guy. It might help to watch something like the version of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" he starred in, just to bridge that wide gap.

I looked it up at Wikipedia, Jennifer, and see why I never saw it, it started in 1977, a time I did not watch TV much and certaily no police/detective kind of show, I might have seen a few glimpses of Starsky & Hutch, but my brother watched it, not me.
I think the first police series I watched was Miamy Vice... Actually Frank was watching and gradually I started to join him ;-)

I've never cared for cop shows either. I started catching episodes of "Law & Order" about a year ago, that's been about the extent of cop shows for me, other than "The Professionals", but that's a MI5, or CIA, show. I think the difference may only be street clothes rather than uniforms and each case is a threat to an entire country. Oh yeah, and their girlfriends tend to either wind up dead or turn out to be international criminals. Heee!



98. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. Book two of the Miss Peregrine series. Jacob and the group of peculiar children travel from Wales to London, all in pursuit of finding a way to help their Miss Peregrine turn from a bird, back into a human and the children's caretaker. The peculiares around the world are being hunted down by hallowgasts and wights who want to have the special powers that peculiares possess for their own.

I liked returning to the peculiar loops with its special rules and powers, and of course it's great to see all the weird old photos as "proof" of Jacob's story. 4.2 stars

There's some mix-up between my LT read list and the written one I keep, so this is either #98 or #99 for me. I'll have to go through the last month or so to find the mistake.

>32 mstrust: I really liked the first Miss Peregrine book but I couldn't get into the second. I think too much time had passed since reading the first
I just checked and did not realize that the third book is out already. Perhaps I should reread the first and then continue with the series all in a row!

>33 ChelleBearss: I had the same problem at first too. It had been two or three years since I'd read the first and I'd forgotten how it ended. It took a couple of pages for me to get situated, then all was good. With many books that are second or third in a series, you can delve right in and be just fine, but this one is so packed with information that you don't want to forget. I hope I get to the third before the Hollow City information falls out of my head.

Here are a few pictures from Sunday. I have so many that I'll have to dole them out a few at a time. This first batch are all of a concrete fence at 7th Ave. and Granada. Eight murals of David Bowie, and it's fantastic. I'm so glad I spotted this as we we're headed home. The wall is behind a business, a small law firm, I think, so not all of the portraits are visible from the street.













I wish I'd gotten the artist's name, but I only saw it as we pulled away, down at the bottom of the first panel. Whoever it is, what an amazing talent.

Good lord! Those are awesome! I love Bowie, always have.

>35 SomeGuyInVirginia: Aren't they? He was always relevant, always changing yet always himself, so if someone were moved to paint a whole fence in portraits, I applaud their choice of subjects. It makes me happy that this homage to him is in my city.

I also have to mention that we came across a minuscule coffee house on Sunday while downtown. When I say this place is tiny, I mean that it was possibly a garden shed originally. Anyway, they serve maple lattes- dee-licious maple lattes!

And I went back over my book calendar and discovered my screw-up way back in August. My next book will indeed be number 99.

Just a few more pics of Phoenix street art:

Overlooking a few parking spaces


Side of a small shop


A small park

>34 mstrust: Those Bowie murals are beautiful! Thanks for sharing, Jennifer.

>37 mstrust: I like that last image, is that boy watering the birds, or are those butterflies?

Morning, Anita! That mural is a very young boy pouring birds out of his watering can rather than water. The birds come out very small, like drops, and then fly away. The sculpture blocks a lot of the painting, but I stood right on the edge of the park to get as much in the picture as possible, so that's why it's so far away. I wish I'd gotten closer, but I can try again. Also, there was just one individual in the park, a young man at one of the picnic tables, who kept cupping his head in his hands like he had the worst hang-over possible, ha. I was trying to keep him out of the frame.

It's all over! No matter who you voted for, we're done with the campaigning, the commercials and the nastiness. Grab a cup, a doughnut and a book.

99. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Twelve year-old Claudia decides to run away from home because her parents are harder on her than her younger brothers, but she also decides to bring her nine year-old brother Jamie along because he likes adventure and he has been saving his allowances his whole life. The pair run away from Connecticut to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, where they study the art movements, join class tours and determine to discover whether or not the museum's new acquisition is a real Michelangelo.

This was one that got by me as a kid. I'd never heard of it until a few years ago. It was written in 1973, which may explain lots of ways in which Claudia and Jamie are unlike any kids of 2016. The siblings both study, spend their time listening to docent lectures and going to the library to do research. They manage their money to make it last, they go to the laundromat and wash their clothes, and finally, brother and sister bathe in front of each other. Name a kid who does these things. Yet it's an entertaining book of adventure and the reader roots that the kids won't be caught. 3.5 stars

Yeah! I like your style, Jennifer! Books, coffee and donuts! YUMMY!
Love all the artwork, so much better than plain cinder block walls covered in spray paint graffiti.
I couldn't get into Hollow City either and now the Halloween atmosphere is gone. Maybe next year!

Morning Jennifer, I definitely need a large cup of coffee and perhaps a donut or two. I am having difficulty with my internet connection this morning, it keeps fading in and out. Computer woes drive me crazy!!!

I ran out for more! Because we deserve them and because sugar.



>41 Carmenere: Lynda! Grab and armful!
Yes, artwork is always better than an ugly cinderblock fence. We're lucky that so many property owners have allowed artists to work on their buildings and fences.
It would be great to have had book two follow more closely on the heels of "Miss Peregrine", as the world Riggs has created can get rather complicated with its rules and who- has- what- power. And I shouldn't say it, but last night I was organizing my list for next year's Halloween thread, since I had so many left over ideas.

>42 DeltaQueen50: Morning, Judy! Awww, computer problems make me anxious. How can you shop for more books, or just look at pics of John Castle? I hope everything is fixed for you very soon. Steal a plate of doughnuts and go sit next to a stack of books. It might help.

Yum, thanks!

Ha! You're welcome!

Booze! Oh god no, I'm too sleepy for alcohol. Caffeine! Caffeinated booze! Yes, that's it. May I have a cruller and a venti iced skinny hazelnut vodkaccino, sugar-free syrup, extra shot? Please?

These people are a block away from where I work in downtown DC. They're pricy, but the doughnuts are big enough that one will do for lunch.

http://astrodoughnuts.com/menu/

Mmmmm, maple bacon. Sounds like heaven and a heart attack!

I got that first Miss Peregrine book because the photos intrigued me and I wondered how they'd work into the story. Well, as I read the book, I didn't think they did support or further the story. Then as I got to the end, it pissed me off to discover the author was going to stretch the story into another book.

Just feeling whiny today.

>48 weird_O: That was my impression too. Seemed like a good concept but the execution wasn't so great in my opinion.

>46 SomeGuyInVirginia: Sounds like you need one of my cold weather afternoon favorites, a cup of mocha made with Bailey's instead of milk. I had one today. So.Good. And those Astro Donuts look really good too. Thanks for the link. Yum, s'mores. We have a little barbecue place near us that buys the LeMars maple bars (the two shops share a parking lot), then lays whole strips of their own smoked bacon across!
Btw, are you familiar with the current Japanese trend of building the milk foam into a sculpture?


>47 drneutron: Dying happy!

>48 weird_O: I have to say that the photos in the first book were much weirder so I enjoyed them more, but I've enjoyed both books. I didn't follow up with the second book fast enough to keep track of the story, but then they were a few years apart in publication, and I was too lazy to pull the first off the shelf and jog my memory. ; )

>49 Nickelini: Eventually I'll get to the last book. I think the first book was just so unique that it's hard to do a follow-up to it. Who hasn't looked at an old photo and wondered about the person's life or why someone bothered to take a picture of someone peeling potatoes? I was happy to see a photo in this second book of a Boxer that had to be from the 20's, maybe? It showed pretty clearly how the breed had evolved from the Bulldog breed.

Just a few more art pics.

I had to get a picture of this, someone's back fence that let out into an alley. It was too funny to pass up.


Store parking lot:


This is a cool one. The wooden poles are real, the rest has been painted.

>51 mstrust: OMG, Jennifer, These are awesome!!
Are you serious?! The poles are real?! That's one picture which really needs to be seen to be believed :0) Amazing stuff!

They're amazing. And I am totally grooving on the wall design next to the fence painting.

>52 Carmenere: Yes, the poles are real, though you can see that the two grayish ones have been painted in. Either that or they fell off. Everything else is paint though, even the top T of the pole on the left and the center pole with multiple branches. It's so realistic. Now kids can see what telephone poles looked like. : D

>53 SomeGuyInVirginia: We came across many art designs in which every inch of a wall, or entire building, was covered in extremely intricate patterns. It seemed like the artist wanted to make the most of their canvas. We may go out tomorrow afternoon for more pics or it may have to wait til the following Sunday. Mike's going to be hiking in the morning and that hasn't happened in a long time, plus he has a cold. He may crawl home.

I made Mulligatawny Stew last night and it turned out perfectly. I'd never attempted it before as I'd always expected it to be very complicated, but I'm reading The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook on my tablet, thought "I happen to have those ingredients", and it turned out so well that it will go into my rotation. It calls for a full tbs. of curry powder so even Mike could taste it through his cold.

100. The Corpse Wore Pasties by Jonny Porkpie. The author, who bills himself as "The Burlesque Mayor of New York City", is the central character in this novel of the on-stage death of a burlesque performer. None of the other performers on the same bill are that upset when, as part of her act, Victoria Vice takes a swig from a bottle marked "poison" and instantly dies in front of the audience. Victoria was the most hated person backstage, due to her prolific habit of stealing acts from other performers, and that night's line-up was a who's who of performers Victoria had plagiarized. All those suspects, but the police are only interested in Jonny Porkpie, the guy who handed Victoria the bottle on cue.

There are some well-done bits, like the tension backstage or a foot chase that ends with Porkpie turning into Bond in his escape. Overall, it got slogged down with Porkpie being forced to carry out his own investigation because the NYPD are portrayed as stupid to the point of functioning idiots, his suspects being a string of sexy women who are constantly exposing themselves (he interviews one murder suspect as she gives him a lap dance), and the lame "I'm pretending I'm in a noir movie" quips don't stop. I didn't hate it, but it's just too precious for me. 2.8 stars


101. The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook by Dinah Bucholz. The author has created recipes to just about any food mentioned in the Potter books, along with a little history of the dish or ingredients. You'll find an easy recipe for Hagrid's rock cakes, Aunt Petunia's roast pork, Mrs. Weasley's Irish soda bread and blueberry muffins, and Hogwart's Yorkshire pudding. Does anyone need a recipe for mashed potatoes or how to make an ice cream sundae? Probably not, but as mentioned in a previous message, I tried out the Mulligatawny Stew recipe and it was excellent and pretty easy too. Now I've got my eye on the Yorkshire pudding and treacle tart recipes. 4 stars

I am really looking forward to the new Rowling movie, probably as much as I was to the first Harry Potter.

Tell Mike I've got that cold and ask him how he can even get out of bed. I've been immobilized for two days; god this thing is the worst. I'm trying to ween myself off antibiotics because I think they may have messed with my stomach (my last medico prescribed Cipro for hangnail) but if I don't feel better tomorrow afternoon I'm going to a doc in the box.

OK, enough about me. What about you; how do you feel about me having a cold?

Yesterday I finished I Am Not a Serial Killer. Have you read it? It was pretty good, although I think it was a YA book. The author lives in Orem Utah, which was just named one of the hippest cities in America by USA Today (?), but when I was there it's claim to fame was that Provo, next door, had a Hawaiian restaurant. Mondo Gloria and all that.

>56 SomeGuyInVirginia: I'm sorry you're feeling poorly and I hope today is better for you. That's my professional opinion.
Mike isn't quite that bad, and was saying last night that he thought he's at the tail end of it. Of course, I started some allergic reaction yesterday with just sneezing and a runny nose.
I haven't read that book or even heard of Orem. I thought the hippest town was that little artist community in Texas.
And funny you mentioning a Hawaiian restaurant because we went to lunch at one yesterday. Well, Hawaiian/ Japanese food.
"Fantastic Beasts" does look good.

And I made pumpkin corn muffins yesterday, which turned out light and buttery. And corny.

TWD


I have to comment, especially since last night's episode ran an extra 25 minutes.
1. Too much Negan. His circus barker cadence is getting annoying. We need to hear less from him.
2. Dwight has Daryl's clothes, bow, and now his bike. Next, he'll be saying, "You're Dwight now, I'm Daryl."
3. Rick has folded. The one minute of courage is towards Spencer, when Rick shows what he's picked up from Negan.
4. Poor Daryl is silent throughout.
5. Gabriel is being weird, but he thought ahead by creating a fake grave for Maggie.
6. Rick dropped a bombshell by telling Michonne that he knows Judith wasn't his! That came out of nowhere.
7. It's just occurred to me that Carol and Negan haven't met yet. Hee hee.



102. Canada's National Parks by The National Geographic Society. This is a beautiful book, both inside and out. It features photos and text that cover all the Canadian parks in all the seasons. The focus seems pretty equal between the landscapes and animals, but contributors also provide a look at some members of the native people who live on the land. 4 stars

Hi Jennifer. I am hating seeing Daryl so misused but I suspect he is just waiting his chance - and I am sure that something will bring Rick around - he is not the subservient type. You're right about Negan, a little of him goes a long way. It's hard to believe that someone hasn't turned on him yet. From the previews it looks like next week we get to catch up with Maggie.

Yes, I'm very much looking forward to Daryl and Rick getting even with Dwight and Negan. I don't care in which order, just as long as they realize their mistakes. I think Negan's men are so thoroughly brain-washed that they'll do anything to remain in the group. Except for Dwight, who shows many little signs of still retaining some defiance.
I was wondering where Sasha was, but I see that she's with Maggie at Hilltop. I'll bet the two of them have been plotting to fight, and with Michonne and Rosita wanting to also, all we need is Carol to show up and hear what's happened.

Having the woman band together to fight Negan would be fantastic! I would love to see Carol sweep in and rescue Daryl!

That would be sweet! And Sherry, Dwight's wife, will certainly want to pull a wing off too. I can tell that Negan's death will be celebrated by fans, whenever that finally occurs.

And now I see that this Carol meme has two words misspelled. I was too happy about the sentiment to read carefully. : P

It's the thought that counts - and >59 mstrust: is a great thought - and even if the spelling is incorrect!

>62 DeltaQueen50: I tried to be cool with it, but as you can see, I couldn't. I found one that is pretty surprising and still makes me laugh. Hope she washes her hands! : D

I'm just posting this because I think it's adorable and it's the new wallpaper on my phone.



"But it's not even Thanksgiving!"
I hear you.

It works if it even trying to be ironic!

I have a secret weakness for cute, I even check up on I Can Has Cheeseburger at least once every few weeks. And Parker's name for the first few weeks was Da Floof!, with the explanation point.

Don't hide your fondness for cute- go ahead and buy that Grumpy Cat poster. I really enjoyed Mr. Winkles.
For me, it's kitsch. I love it. Christmas kitsch, home kitsch, tiki kitsch.



I have yet to find the most infamous of kitsch items, Green Chinese Girl, but when I do, it will be mine.

I kid you not, I had a copy of that painting hanging in my dining room and gave it to a housemate to get her the hell out the door already. I bought it at a mid-century place on U Street that I loved, back when U Street had real junkies and fake Versace.

ETA- Holy cow! I just eBayed that thing, it's worth a mint. I had no idea, I wonder if she's still got it? Thunderation!

Awww, well at least you got your peace!
That painting was quite the thing at some point, as it was copied in the hundreds, if not thousands. The green martian skin makes a statement.

>64 mstrust: Cuteness prevails! He's only a week early.

>66 mstrust: Ha! for a moment there I thought I stepped back into Aunt Helen's rec room. RIP

Oooh, just waiting to see what I'll find in Christmas pics!
My parents had the ultra 70's living room, with a silvery white velvet couch, long glass coffee table and green shag carpeting. I'd prefer your Aunt Helen's rec room.

Did anyone see the finale of "American Horror Story"? This season had a definite message, with every character filming on their phones non-stop. One character kept filming as she's being attacked with a hatchet, holding it up like recording her death would somehow benefit her. Characters tried to protect themselves by threatening others with phone video, they filmed as they ran for their lives, and cannibals stopped during their attacks to speak to the camera. Many times the characters would be in a life or death situation, yet holding their phones up to record and it blocked their faces. It was an interesting season.

Holy cow, I want to see pics of the living room.

Ha! I don't blame you, it sounds like something that needs to be seen. Mom would have those photos, but pictures didn't do it justice. There were very heavy curtains in the room, a painting over the window and a dark brick fireplace. Add in the photo technology of the 70's, and I recall every picture taken in that room as looking like it was in a dark cavern. Guess you had to be there to appreciate all the magnificence. Should I mention that we had one of those huge tv cabinets until well into the 80's? Something like this. It must have weighed nearly 100 pounds.

Loving the kitsch.

Have a great weekend.

Having toast with maple jelly for breakfast and thought of you! Bought the maple jelly at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto last weekend. There were several booths selling maple products. :)

>73 PaulCranswick: I hope you're having a great weekend as well!
Our temperatures have been so erratic. Yesterday was 71F, then both days this weekend are expected to be 81F, then Monday and beyond will be around 64F.

>74 rabbitprincess: I've never heard of maple jelly- yum! I'd love to have maple whip, the soft serve ice cream, once again.
It seems like people are doing more experimenting with maple and discovering that it can do anything. Can maple medicine be far behind? Maple fuel?

103. The Bird Artist by Howard Norman. Fabian Vas discovered at a young age his talent for drawing the birds of his small Newfoundland village. He cultivated his talent and began making a little money from his artwork while still a teenager. He also began secretly seeing Margaret, the older, alcoholic daughter of the local mail boat captain, a girl his mother dislikes.
When Fabian is twenty, his father leaves for a hunting trip, one that is expected to last many months, where he will earn money from killing birds. Fabian's mother immediately begins an affair with the lighthouse keeper, Botho August. The two conduct their affair without discretion, so that the entire village is aware, which humiliates Fabian. It's Margaret, always drunk and bold, who puts the idea in Fabian's mind for avenging his father.

I had to get a copy of this after seeing some comments in the group read here a few months back. It was one of David Bowie's favorites!
This story of Fabian delivers to the reader a young man who would likely have led a quiet life if not for his mother's actions, which in turn leads him to follow Margaret's advice. Or perhaps Fabian is so easily manipulated that he was destined to get into trouble. Either way, this is really well-written. 4.5 stars

>76 mstrust: Good review, Jennifer, maybe I can get my hands on a copy of the Dutch translation.

Thanks, Anita, and I hope you're able to find it. Norman is another writer that is a new discovery for me. This reading year has been a very good one for me in that I've had so many 4.5-5 star books.

I began reading Fat Land yesterday, one of the books I picked up at the library sale last month. I love finding stuff that has been tucked away and forgotten, like train or theater tickets. This book really delivered, as it contained four small handwritten notecards in a stack. In order, they read:
1. "Hi Bobbi
I hear your
the best..."

2. "The Bobbi-
I just want to tell you I never thought I could
be in love like this again-
Your so beautiful, smart, funny, energetic, talented &
sexy- you fill my life
I LOVE YOU
THE BOBBI!!!
I want us to learn from each other forever-"

3. Bobbi
I love you more each day-" With a big heart underneath.

4. "Bobbi your the best"

So Bobbi must really be something.

We spent another morning driving around downtown and taking pics of the artwork, so I'll have some more posted once I've done some cropping. I got some great stuff. I also had another maple latte. : D
I was surprised, once again, by Thanksgiving almost being here. I don't even have the turkey yet.
And now I'm making a list of the cookies I'll make for Christmas. Each year, I make tins of cookies for Mike's friends, employees and business connections. I've been doing it for several years and a few of the guys begin asking about them in December to ensure they aren't forgotten. Last year I made about 10 different cookies. Chocolate Crinkles are a must, and so are some kind of bar, like chocolate raspberry, but the rest get changed up.

>56 SomeGuyInVirginia: >57 mstrust: Here on Sunday the 20th, I arrived to check out the thread, and the first unread messages talk of Orem, Utah. I know about Orem; a few days ago, a 16-year-old stabbed four classmates in the Orem HS locker room. And that's not cool.

Oh my god! The locker room is one of the most painful places to be stabbed!

>79 weird_O: So not cool.

>80 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ha! Oh, we shouldn't laugh...

We've been out buying the Thanksgiving supplies, and my family has just now settled on Christmas at Mom's.

To Judy (DeltaQueen50), my fellow TWD fan:
Now we've seen a lot more of Gregory, and he's an ass-kisser, so his days are numbered. About halfway through this episode I started getting frustrated with the lousy acting, the likes of which we haven't seen since the days of Beth. The Jesus and Sasha vs. the walkers fight was really bad, like I could hear Jesus thinking, "hit my mark, hit my mark..."

Oh, and I should mention that we're having glorious weather. It began raining last night and continued nearly the whole morning. Lovely gray skies.

104. Fat Land by Greg Critser. Published in 2003, this is a study of all the reasons American waistlines have expanded over the previous decades. Starting with agricultural deals to save the farmers and cut food costs that turned into the development of high fructose and the push for palm oil, how fast food chains were the first to make larger portions to norm, the difference ethnicity plays in weight, and the study of the health risks of obesity on the body.
What a great time of the year for me to pick this one up! Btw, the author admits in the book that America isn't the fattest nation, as there are several small nations that are fatter.3.5 stars

Hi Jennifer. Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving.

Re: TWD - Yeah, through the whole episode I was thinking - "Oh no, they are going to try to use Jesus to replace Glen!" Humph! Do you remember what Gregory did in the comic? I wonder if they will go that route with the show. But, yeah, the way things are going I suspect Gregory won't make it to through the year.

Thanks, Judy! I'll be making the pumpkin casserole today, and putting the seasoning rub on the turkey.

I remember how Gregory was taken care of in the comics, and who did it, but I don't remember what brought his comeuppance. The day after this episode aired, I started to type something into Google on my phone and a review came up as one of the top stories on the internet, so I clicked on it. The title was "Worst Episode Ever!" I agree.

To American LTers-



Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Happy Turkle Dee, ms!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Jennifer!

>85 SomeGuyInVirginia: and >86 Carmenere: Happy Thanksgiving to you both! May your pants be just stretchy enough!

I am thankful for the entertainment provided in 2016 by your BBC, Monica.

Thank you, Paul, I'm happy to entertain you, and thankful for LT members like you who make this a fun place.
But since you insist on calling me Monica, I have to assume you're going about calling other members Jennifer. It's true, isn't it? (I sort of hope it is. It could be a thing.)



I cooked a turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and a pumpkin casserole, and everything came out perfectly, which was great because I am the queen of undercooked meats.
After the meal, we went to the convention center to the auto show. We're hoping to get a new car within the next few months, and I must have sat in at least 50 in three hours. I was so tired when we got home.
Pulling out the Christmas decorations starting today. We saw a few houses already lit up for Christmas last night.

The Kiwanis or somebody (I never pay attention, it could be ET for all I know) was selling trees and wreathes in the grocery store parking lot but I held off buying one. I'll put everything up next weekend. -ish.

>90 SomeGuyInVirginia: Ha! I like that they went to the trouble just to be glib.
We'll wait til around the 6th or 7th. Last year all I could do was put up a book "tree" on the dining room table, which I decorated with lights, ornaments and a nutcracker on top. We'd had Coral just a few months at that point and she'd proved to be...challenging. It was obvious that a Christmas tree would be massacred. She is still erratic, so I'm really, really hoping all my glass ornaments survive. She may be what drives me to start putting up a fake no-scent tree.

Ah, in the late 60s & early 70s our tree was silver, and all the ornaments were turquoise blue (various shapes). My mom had a blue spotlight that tilted up through it. I was in elementary school and thought it was very pretty. My older brothers and their wives (who were all hippies) thought it was ghastly. Although we always do a real tree, I have a soft spot for the silver tree.

I haven't had a christmas tree in decades... when I am up to it I decorate the houseplants :-)

Oh, Coral. We'll have to see what Ivy, our new dog, thinks of an indoors tree. And the cat makes a point of climbing said tree to hunt ornaments. Now that he's six, maybe he'll be calmer and we can hang our nicer ornaments.

>92 Nickelini: Something like this?

Because this is really cool. I grew up with a real tree every year, but now that Mom is alone and can't carry a tree from the lot, she's switched to a fake tree that's meant to look real. If I go to a fake tree it will be one of these bright tinsel ones. I was thinking pink or lavender, but now you've got me thinking about silver.

>93 FAMeulstee: Last year was the first time in nearly twenty that we didn't have a tree. I resented it. ; )

>94 RidgewayGirl: Good luck with Ivy! Coral is a dog who wants the same schedule every day and variation is cause for panic. I know that a tree sitting in the house and covered in shiny things will be an issue, it's just a matter of how big an issue.
We had a tree climbing cat when I was a kid. It brought the tree down with crashing glass ornaments. Very exciting!

>95 mstrust: I think that's pretty, actually. So sue me. Very similar to my mom's except her ornaments were a stronger blue. This also looks like it has white mini-lights on it, which didn't exist in the late 60s. Nice addition.



The pink trees look very Dr Suess!

I wouldn't be surprised if my mom was influenced by this Eaton's catalogue picture:

The silver and blue trees are really pretty. So over-the-top bright and modern.
My dad loved tinsel strands on our trees. His job was to arrange the strings of lights, then he'd leave the room to watch tv while we put all the ornaments on, yet come back in to supervise how the tinsel strands were put on. It was weirdly important to him. He always wanted more, and we'd go through two packs of it. The dogs always pulled it off the lower branches.
The pink trees do look Suess-ian. Now if only someone would arrange those wads of "snow".

>97 Nickelini: "It's so clean and easy! Now you can put up your tree and go back to your macrame!"

I know it's wrong, just know it, but I've always thought those silver trees were pretty, too.

They are pretty. I think the tinsel trees got a bad rap because they came out at a time of plastic everything. There's nothing even remotely natural about them, and they seem to glow. I've seen some really cool rooms decorated for Christmas with the bright, fake trees. If I had the room for two trees, I'd have a real and tinsel. I'd also need to have eyes in the back of my head to watch Coral. Greta rolls with everything, but unfortunately, she's no snitch, so she doesn't tell me when Coral's up to something.


Tree cookies, anyone? I hesitate to offer these, as they're bound to make pics of my own cookies look really bad.

The kittens damaged some of my tree last year. I don't remember if I kept it or not. If I did, I need to evaluate whether or not I need a new one. I kind of remember thinking it looked like I needed a new one. I just hate digging in the storage area under the stairs for it with 3 cats wanting to get in there.

I feel a little like Scrooge and have no interest in Christmas this year. :(

Perhaps I will get into the spirit when we drag all the decorations out later this week. Our tree will probably be going up next weekend.

TWD

So what did you think of this weeks' program? I actually enjoyed getting a break from the depressing situation at Alexandria, and I really liked the scene on the bridge when the dead emerged from the sand pile.

Only two more shows until they take a break, so I expect things will just get worse and then perhaps in the spring when the show returns, they will start to fight back.

>101 thornton37814:


>102 DeltaQueen50: Awww, how can it be that you're not in the mood? Maybe your heart is two sizes too small. ; )
I thought Tara's episode was pretty interesting. And an interesting group that she found. So Negan killed all their men and they snuck away from their original home to hide at the beach. I suppose we'll find out where they came from. And Tara will eventually break her promise not to tell, whether to bring them in to fight or just to get their guns. I predict.
I really thought that we would see Heath die on that bridge. I wonder if he's going to be caught by the women.

Our weather has taking a very exciting dip. On Sunday it rained almost all day, we were around 58 yesterday and right now, it's 43 degrees. That's 10 degrees below normal and it's great!

>103 mstrust: I'll probably attempt to get it out this weekend.

>104 thornton37814: Good choice!

I didn't realize until just now that tomorrow is the last day of November. The end of the year always races by, while the summer seems to last 9 months.
We went out this morning with the intention of dropping off a bag of office supplies to a bird sanctuary/rescue the next city over. Once we were driving, navigation surprised us with saying it was going to be a forty minute freeway drive rather than zipping ten minutes down the street. I'm boxing the supplies and mailing them. : (

But we were able to buy 18 Christmas containers for the businesses and friends we give homemade cookies to every year. Somehow the list has grown to 17 this year, the most I've ever done.
Oh poop, I see the cookie pic in >100 mstrust: has broken.

Stare at this instead:

We've decorated The BBC for the season!





Near the register-


Children's-


Employee breakroom-


Mrs Patmore, Shirley and the other one are filling the patisserie cases with amazing things-

Where's the bar??!!

Yessssssss, the bar has been decorated too, so stop banging on the glass.


I've even hired some extra bartenders for the season. You'll appreciate their years of experience behind the bar.


Our employees are professionals and will take the holiday rush in stride. Just don't expect too much. Unlock the doors, Dwight.




Ho Ho Ho.

>105 mstrust: Love the Yule Log! My DIL wants one for her birthday but my attempt will never look as good as that! Not a chance! Maybe I should just give her a picture of yours?

The employee breakroom is lovely, but is there enough seating? How about some more conversational arrangements (or do the employees really all hate each other and just want to be left alone). Maybe more pillows and a few ottomans? And is the plural "ottoman" actually "ottomen"?

>109 VivienneR: Just pull up that message and tell her to lick the screen.

>110 Nickelini: ...but is there enough seating?
They bring plastic chairs from home or drag bean bags in from the alley.

How about some more conversational arrangements...
The staff tolerates each other for the most part, yet prefer to stare off into space on their breaks.

Maybe more pillows and a few ottomans?
How 'bout less questions. I suspect you're casing the joint.

...is the plural "ottoman" actually "ottomen"?
No, the plural of ottoman is "broken wrists".

Nice decorations! I suspect I need an hour or two of browsing at the BBC to get me in the holiday mood.

ETA: I'm sure some time at the Tiki Bar will fill me with the spirit of Christmas - or the spirit of something!

>106 mstrust: & 108 You all have been working hard to get The BBC in holyday style!
I keep myself near the register and hope it doesn't fall apart when I take a book from it :-)

>112 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, Judy, and please do look around. We've put up beautiful decorations because we think it will make people spend more money. *I think I've spent too much time with Bernard*
The Dude and his tiki crew have a special drink this month, and you get to keep the Rudolph. Only $29.99!


>113 FAMeulstee: Hi, Anita! That would be so great if you could hang around and made sure that no one pulls one out of the book tree. I'm sure it's a hazard and my insurance would be voided if someone got crushed, blah blah blah... Thanks!
Here's your post:

>108 mstrust: Oh thank God!

>114 mstrust: That will do, Jennifer, consider the job filled, I will be hanging around there, watching the book tree as long as I am awake :-)

>115 SomeGuyInVirginia: >116 FAMeulstee: You two, help yourselves to a jug of cocktails.
>116 FAMeulstee: Great! No one cares if you fall asleep here as most of the employees will spend time lying on the breakroom floor throughout the upcoming days.

The Complete Professionals by Dave Rogers. Episode by episode, with plot, list of actors and photos. This is good in a just-the-facts way, and of course it features many photos, but it doesn't come close to all the interviews and additional production info found in Bob Rocca's 2009 The Professionals. 4 stars


I've also read Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of the Cardboard Box. Now that's about the most boring title possible, isn't it? Oh, but the cardboard box in question contains two severed human ears. Those crazy Edwardians!

And even though I don't need more books to read, I hadn't been to the library in a while. Not only did I get free passes to two local museums, but I found Smuggler's Cove, a beautiful new tiki book that I'd been wanting since I missed the book signing at our new tiki bar downtown a few months ago.
My December reading plans include a great big stack of music bios.

I'm surprised I haven't stopped by your thread before. There's lots of good stuff on here. Except The Corpse Wore Pasties, which I read as "Panties," and made it even worse. :)

Welcome, and happy you found me and The BBC!
One would hope that the corpse did indeed wear panties. : D

>117 mstrust: Wait a minute! Wait a minute! What's this with free cocktails for some and I get to drink for $29.99 a shot!! You must think us Canadians have deep pockets.

>121 DeltaQueen50: They think that because we live in a place where a million dollars buys you a house that needs to be torn down.

Viva la booze revolución!

>108 mstrust: I think that clip of Bernard is from a Black Books I haven't seen?

>121 DeltaQueen50: >122 Nickelini: One day away and the Canadians are thirsting for blood. Typical.

>121 DeltaQueen50: The cocktail is indeed free to you, but the Rudolph that comes with it isn't, and you can't get one without the other, is the thing. It's out of my hands, really, as the seasonal bartenders have created this rule. I leave it to them, they say they've owned a bar.
What if I told you that the Rudolph sings a heart-breaking rendition of "Why Am I Such A Misfit?" that will have you crying into your White Russian?


>123 SomeGuyInVirginia: Indeed!
I think that clip of Bernard is from a Black Books I haven't seen?
I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds like you've been spying on Bernard for awhile. I believe there may be a recording of the time Bernard and Manny tried to run the shop's patisserie for a day or two. It went very badly. I've never seen a blancmange attempted in that way.


Spent yesterday morning going round the East Valley with Mike, dropping in on business locations, then we visited The Cave Creek Museum. Very small, consisting of just three small rooms filled with tribal artifacts, mining artifacts, and a small gem and mineral collection. Outside, they have a large ore stamp for gold mining, an old church and a TB cabin from the 20's. They also have an eager staff that is full of information. I'd like to take our guests when they come visit.
And we got baking supplies last night. Now I can make "shoe sole" cookies, cherry bon-bons and chocolate crinkles over the weekend.

>122 Nickelini: You hit the nail on the head, Joyce!

>124 mstrust: Well, as long as my drink includes the stuffed and singing Rudolph I guess I can shell out.

Happy Sunday Jennifer.

I am not sure where I got Monica from that time.

Howdy, Jennifer! your thread is the hootiest! >89 mstrust: I KNOW I had one of these angels! >95 mstrust: Oh yeah, we had one of these too. My mom would change the bulbs on the tree annually, one year blue, next year pink. We used that tree it till I got a paying job and sprung for a green tree.
The BBC is decorated beautifully too! Your employees are probably expecting a Christmas Bonus. Oh yeah, at $29.99 I'll take one of The Dude's Rudolph martini's!

>125 DeltaQueen50: It's a bargain, especially if Dude is working. I think he gives out two at a time of everything.

>126 PaulCranswick: Happy Sunday to you, Paul!

>127 Carmenere: Hello, Lynda! The second I saw that angel in >89 mstrust:, it looked so familiar. Did we have one? The babysitter? I don't know but I have the feeling they were very popular at one time.
The more I look at the tinsel or brightly fake trees, the more I like them. Soooo shiny.
Yea, another Rudolph drinks sold! Whatever it is, I'm making bank!
As to the BBC employees, they would work here for free. I'm a super boss!


And here's something special for all three of you. Be careful, it's frageelay.

106. Screamin' Jay Hawkins' All-Time Greatest Hits by Mark Binelli. Hawkins, best known for his hit "I Put A Spell On You" and his witch doctor stage get-up, was also a man who loved to tell tales about himself. He claimed to have been raised by a Blackfoot tribe, to have served in WWII at just fourteen years old, to have fathered 75 illegitimate children. Binelli takes these outlandish tales and creates realistic stories that layer into a man who led a remarkably full life. He meets other musical greats, along with getting career advice from Stan Freed, who takes Hawkins coffin shopping for his new act. 3 stars

I picked this one up at the library thinking it was a bio, but I'm not displeased that it turned out to be a collection of fictional stories.

Oh! A leg lamp from A Christmas Story....uh....you shouldn't have.......really......(runs out to Higbee's for an official Red Ryder, carbine action,two-hundred shot range model air rifle!)

What did you do with the rest of the body?

>130 Carmenere: I'm not gonna say it. I'm not gonna, I'm not- You'll shoot your eye out!

>131 SomeGuyInVirginia: Sir, I'll have you know that that lamp is a major award.

We've been out getting our tree. Yes, a real one, though it's only four feet tall. We decided that the best way to go, Coral-wise, was to get a short one and put it on the dining room table. Mike is 6'4", the tree is four feet tall, the lot trimmed the trunk to his specifications, yet he's still been at it for half and hour and it's driving him insane. Heeeee!

A Major Award? Shucks, I wouldn't know that. It looks like a lamp.

>133 SomeGuyInVirginia: Proof:


O.k., TWD recap, reactions, emotions, etc....

1. Sigh. Carl got himself captured. Then he gives Negan the greatest gift possible by crying in front of him. And then he takes Negan to Olivia, and of course, Negan finds baby Judith, who couldn't be any more unimpressed. Things sure didn't work out the way Carl had it in his head.
2. Spencer was right about Rick (and his group) showing up and suddenly Spencer's family dies. Rick wasn't responsible for Spencer's brother, more a combination of Eugene and the brother himself. Same with Jessie's family. Rick shows up, gets involved, and suddenly a whole family is dead. But Gabriel had the best line when he told Spencer, "What you're saying doesn't make you a sinner, but it does make you a tremendous shit."
3. Rosita! She's going to fight, and good for her. She'll just bully Eugene a bit more as a warm-up.

I guess they are building everyone up to have an exciting cliff-hanger next week. I am wondering what Michonne is going to do, I also think it is time for Daryl to make a move and I would like to see what Carol and Morgan are up to these days. Hopefully they will all make an appearance next week.

I agree, they're going to do something really awful next week. I'd like to see everyone together too, it's been a long since Carol ran away.
So many in Rick's group are working on their own to fight Negan: Carl, Rosita, Michonne, probably Tara, and Daryl's going to get all squirrley next week judging from the preview. I can't wait til Carol gets back and sees what's happened.

107. Smuggler's Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and The Cult of Tiki by Martin Cate. Wow, what a resource of tiki! The history and how-to, along with a deeply researched study of rum. Cate owns a tiki bar called "Smuggler's Cove" and has been involved in the lifestyle for many years, even having worked behind the bar at Trader Vic's. This thick book touches on pretty much everything, including the music, the exotic ingredients used in the cocktails and how to make them yourself, and the start of tiki after WWII. He also gives a listing of the resources for the tiki-phile to find mugs, decor and carvings. And the cover is beautiful, with the pictured tiki mug being textured. This book is fabulous! 5 stars

>137 mstrust: Hurray! I remember seeing that in the library catalogue and thinking of you :)

Here's an instrumental rock Christmas song for you: "Santa's Compromise", by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. It's a Christmassy version of their song "Zombie Compromise".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqqaKFv4Fok

Hey, it's Princess! If you get the chance, check that book out. It's got everything.
I couldn't get you video to play, it just went round and round. I'll try it again tomorrow and see if anything has changed.

But here's one for you. The Squirrel Nut Zippers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nivsq8Heh1c

And a second too (aren't you lucky?). The Ramones with "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y5GtaTrPHM

>139 mstrust: Weird! Maybe try this one, if the first link doesn't work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMPDWIjqYwQ

Those were some fun songs! Thanks! My brother got my dad the Ramones Christmas EP a couple of years ago. Saw it in a CD store and couldn't pass it up.

I had to go looking for a Ramones Christmas EP- was it this single?


Yes, that link for the Shadowy Men worked, and how cool is that? Great instrumental. And here's another for you because we're both fans of Los Straightjackets. It's a brilliant surf version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82nY_07_Gq4



I've been baking cookies this week. So far, molasses, peanut butter to sandwich with Nutella, chocolate crinkles, maple butter leaves and last night I made cherry bon bons.

Hm, it might just have been the single of the Ramones' Merry Christmas. I'm not finding anything that resembles the cover of the CD as I remember it.

The video link didn't work, but fortunately I have both Los Straitjackets albums and can listen to the one you're referring to :D

Mmmmmmmmmm cookies!

Well, what is happening with these links?
I've put up a new link. so hopefully it works for anyone who wants to listen. At least it's working for me, but then so did the other link. Let me know.
I don't have LS' Christmas cd but I think I need it. I have just their first two so far.
When I see a beautiful gingerbread house like that, I want to lick the roof. Not bite, somebody put a lot of time into making it and that would be inconsiderate, so just lick.

The links are all working for me. I'm having fun listening while snacking on the goodies provided! The gingerbread house may not have a roof soon.

>138 rabbitprincess: Love Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. I just bought that album!

>144 VivienneR: Shadowy Men rock! They've been borrowing Dallas Good from The Sadies to play bass for a few shows over the past few years. Was fortunate enough to see them in Toronto twice. I love their grooviness and their titles!

>144 VivienneR: Glad to know everything's working and that you're having a good time. I'm surprised that gingerbread house isn't in ruins by now.

>145 rabbitprincess: I'll look for them on tour. Hopefully they'll come to Phoenix some time.

I've continued with my cookie baking and Mike will start handing out the tins on Friday. So far, maple butter leaves, chocolate crinkles, molasses, peanut butter/Nutella sandwich cookies, cherry bon bons, cranberry walnut biscotti that I'll drizzle with white chocolate, bourbon balls (never made these before and they are spending the week fermenting in the pantry) and snickerdoodles.
But what I've really been busy with since Thursday is Greta's arthritis. She's our 12 year old Chocolate Lab, and she developed arthritis in her feet just recently. I've been giving her dog aspirin when it seemed like she needed it, and on Thursday morning we trotted around our cul de sac as usual, but by that afternoon she was refusing to get out of bed and her feet had swelled a bit. So, long story short, she is on three different medications for the pain and swelling and she's gotten herself up to walk around the house starting at 3 am this morning. We've been using a sling to help her walk in the backyard, but as she's over 100 pounds, it's exhausting for everyone concerned. Mike and I have taken turns sleeping on the couch the last few nights to keep an eye on her, and luckily, she still wants to eat everything offered.

>146 mstrust: I'm surprised that gingerbread house isn't in ruins by now.

Have you checked it out in the last five minutes?? I needed a sugar-filled snack after shovelling a ton of snow.

>145 rabbitprincess: Unfortunately I don't think they'll ever make it to this area :-(

>147 VivienneR: Eat the roof off anyone's house and you'll be surprised at what you find...



108. Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach. Roach goes where research is being done in all aspects of war survival and recovery. She attends a war survival recreation school, visits a laboratory that houses the most offensive smells ever created in the name of war, follows the trail of scientists who work to keep military food sanitary, thereby cutting down on serious illness among soldiers, and other scientists who believe maggots may be a viable medical tool. Roach has an incredibly high tolerance for the stuff that would have the rest of us barfing, but that doesn't stop this from being very readable, as it's full of amazing accomplishments, unsung heroes, and Roach's humor. 4.2 stars

O.k., this was an extra long mid-season finale ofTWD:

1. Why is Negan wanting to recreate a family dinner? To make Carl and Olivia sweat? Or to remind the viewer of his comment to Rick about there no longer being Sunday dinners to gather round?
2. There's Carol in her home reading. It looked pretty nice for a second with her fireplace and everyone bringing her food like a delivery service. Kinda weird that the Kingdom guy goes to the two newest people, the ones he doesn't know at all, to plot against Negan. Then he says, "Carol, I imagine that violence and fighting is something you haven't been part of." Ha! But again, why go to her if you think that?
3. Aaron paddling the lake with a sign that said "asshole" was something. So now creepy boot guy has followed them to Alexandria. Hopefully he's a vet looking to go crazy on whoever now owns his stuff.
4. I couldn't hear the argument between the man and woman while Daryl was escaping. And why the stare at the little statue? Have I forgotten something?
5. Daryl beats Fat Joey to death. Good for him, Joey earned it.
6. Negan's men who beat Aaron behave like cartoon bullies, like Nelson from The Simpsons.
7. Gabriel actually does a good job counseling Rosita.
8. But Rosita, why just one bullet? Why not a handful, or as many as possible?
9. Poor Spencer. Yes, I always felt sorry for him. Of course he would see that his family died once Rick showed up, so you really can't blame him for wanting to try to get Rick killed. He wasn't a killer himself.
10. Poor Olivia too. She did nothing wrong. Hopefully we'll see that skank with the crappy hair die. Maybe Rosita will do it.
11. I thought when everyone in Alexandria came out of nowhere with Rosita, that they were going to attack.
12. Looks like Maggie will be in control at Hilltop soon.
13. So Michonne killed the red haired woman? Seemed like it.
14. Ya! Rick and Daryl are reunited! And Rick and his Smith & Wesson! And Carl and friggin' Enid! And Rosita and Sasha at least nod to each other, indicating that they are okay with the other being alive! So many meaningful looks, then they all turn and wordlessly walk towards the mansion like superheroes. So they're going to fight.

I want a crime scene gingerbread house!

OK, so I googled 'crime scene gingerbread house' and the internet did not let me down.

Those gingerbread houses are just sweet on the outside! Sorry, I wouldn't have eaten the roof if I'd remembered.

>150 SomeGuyInVirginia: I'll bet you got an eyeful! To have one of your own, I would get one of those kits with ready made gingerbread and make your own multiple homicide. Little candy canes make great skewers.
I'm actually surprised by the number of devil Christmas ornaments I've come across in my searches.

>151 VivienneR: We all should remember that we really don't know everything about gingerbread men. They can lead secret lives.

I've added no bakes and cherry chocolate chunk cookies to my list.

I'm actually surprised by the number of devil Christmas ornaments I've come across in my searches.

Well, Krampus is an important holiday character. The best are the chocolate ones.





Less frightening than an Elf on the Shelf though.

Oooh, are those both chocolate?

It's entirely possible that the ones I've seen are suppose to be an interpretation of Krampus. He seems to have changed over the years.


This is labeled as Krampus.

Yet this little girl looks like the one trying to convince you to murder your family:

Hmm, I'm not sure a guy with a skin disease counts as Krampus, despite how he would ruin the entire plate of cookies by taking one, what with the open sores.

And I would like that ornament of the demonically-possessed child. It might keep the cat off of the tree.

>149 mstrust: Overall I liked the season finale of TWD, but you did point out some things that made me giggle. I loved the zombie infested lake scene, very creative. I am curious as to who the creepy boot guy is going to be.

No wonder Negan's guys act like cartoons, they learned it all from him! I really do find a little of him goes a long way. I also wonder at these Alexandrians that simply stand by and let their friends be beaten and murdered and don't say boo.

As far as I remember, Carol and Morgan don't know what happened to Rick and the gang, and don't know about Abraham and Glen's death. Eventually all these towns will have to come together to fight the Saviors. I wonder if Negan will end up in Rick's jail? I do love the fact that the women seem to be the ones that mostly want to take the fight to Negan. Maggie, Sasha, Rosita, Michonne, and Carol (when she's ready) are going to be quite the squad.

I was very happy that Daryl and Rick were reunited, that scene practically brought tears to my eyes - they are such bros! Rick got his gun back and Daryl got his motorcycle. I was also surprised that Rosita is still alive, you are so right - what was she thinking with only ONE bullet!!!

I will be looking forward to the show returning and the battle getting underway!

There's a guy on Etsy selling Krampus nightlights. Because yeah!

>153 RidgewayGirl: Ha! It would keep the cat away from anything, and maybe get it to run away from home.
That Krampus ornament looks very much like Lon Chaney's clown character in "He Who Gets Slapped", so much so that I wonder if the ornament was based on Chaney.



>156 DeltaQueen50: I've only read up to Volume 25 of TWD graphics, as that's as far as my public library carries, so I have no idea who Crazy Boots is, though he may be created just for the show.
I know, the Alexandrians were like the townspeople of an old western, all gathered to watch and react to the villain but not to be part of the action. Other than being killed.
No, Carol and Morgan left Alexandria before Rick and the group were captured. It's possible that Rick is being blamed for the group of Negan's men that Carol killed on the road, so I'll bet she'll make a point of letting Negan know about that at some future date when she feels like whooping him. Yes, we just need to get Gregory out of the way at Hilltop (Maggie's job), then bring Ezekiel aboard.
Mike has informed me that Rick's gun is a Colt. So Daryl took it from Fat Joey, so you know it's loaded. Maybe Rosita paid attention as Eugene made her one bullet. Or Rick has kept the recipe Eugene gave him.
Let's get ready to rumble..... Oh, we have to wait two months.

>157 SomeGuyInVirginia: Why stop frightening the children just because it's two in the morning?



I was watching a short doc called "The Legend of Santa" and heard something new to me. Santa, a long time ago, doled out punishment to naughty children not by leaving coal, but by beating them. I'd never heard of that, but I suppose it added some variety to his very busy Christmas.


Jeez, things have gotten a bit dark. Let's stuff our faces with cookies.

Have you read David Sedaris's masterpiece, 6 to 8 Black Men? I've read it dozens of times and still can't read it without laughing like a drain. Here's Sedaris reading it aloud.

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

>159 RidgewayGirl: Thanks for that! Sedaris is great and writes some of the funniest essays I've ever read. I enjoyed that.

That is breathtakingly funny.

>148 mstrust: EEEEK! Oh my!

Ha! my son's high school band just played the theme for Krampus in their holiday show! It was pretty darn awesome if I say to myself!

>161 SomeGuyInVirginia: He had that audience hanging on every word.
>162 Carmenere: I didn't know that Krampus had a theme. Will wonders never cease?


109. This Music Leaves Stains by James Greene Jr.. The complete story of the punk band The Misfits, up to 2013, when this book was published. Overall, an excellent look at the formation of the band, its many members who have come and gone, most famously Glenn Danzig, the punk scene, and the personal and financial troubles of The Misfits, of which there have been many. Greene does an excellent job unearthing the facts about what really happened with Danzig's exit, Michale Graves' exit, Dr. Chud's exit, Doyle's exit... the only thing that keeps this from being a five star read is the photos. A 40 year history, and the few black and whites included are all from the same show in 1983. Also, Greene and I don't agree on the merits of the last few Misfits releases, as I think they're fantastic and he's just wrong. 4.5 stars

Neither did I, Jennifer. This was quite a scary number with screams and spooky lighting. This is not our band but you'll get the idea.

A Christmas Tale (Beware the Krampus)

I had to smile at your review of This Music Leaves Stains. What do so called experts know about whether particular songs sound good?!

Have a lovely weekend, Jennifer.

>164 Carmenere: Thanks for that- it's quite an evocative piece, and seems to be the thing this year for school bands. Maybe a new classic?

>165 PaulCranswick: Exactly. I enjoyed this book for the most part, as Greene can write and he must have some amazing research skills. He's a real Misfits fan, but he's unfair to my favorite albums. It's really this whole thing that is particular in The Misfits world, in that "fans" will go on and on, whining about why anything the band has released in the last 30 years sucks because Danzig isn't their singer anymore. Though Danzig returned to the band over the summer, but considering the long history of fighting and lawsuits among all the members, we'll see how long that lasts.
I hope you're having a good weekend, Paul.

We had to put our Greta down Thursday night, so it's been awful. Her arthritis suddenly got so bad that she couldn't get herself up from bed, and the medications turned her into a zombie, not realizing what was going on or able to get up. She got two months past her 12th birthday. What a great dog, so sweet and always smiling.

Oh no! I'm so sorry. Poor girl! She looks like a very happy puppy in that photo.

>167 mstrust: I'm sorry to hear that. Big hugs!

Oh Lord no, I m so sorry.

You made a hard choice and I know it wasn't easy, but it was merciful.

My condolences on losing Greta. I know how hard it is to say good-bye to a good dog.

So sorry to hear you lost your Greta. She was a lovely dog. Hugs to you and Mike.

I am very sorry you had to let Greta go, Jennifer.
It is always a hard desicion to make... she looks so happy in th picture.

((((hugs))))

Oh, I'm so very sorry to read of your loss. I'm sure she will never be forgotten. RIP Greta.

Thank you everyone. She's so missed, by Mike and I, and her little sister Coral.

>168 rabbitprincess: Greta had two photo poses- ears back, eyes wide " you're stealing my soul!" and "I'm so happy, I don't care what you're doing."

>169 Nickelini: Thank you, Joyce.

>170 SomeGuyInVirginia: Thank you. It's a very hard choice to make. Her quality of life was most important.

>171 RidgewayGirl: Thank you. Over the years we often marveled at what a sweet tempered dog she was. The only creature she ever raised her voice to was a neighborhood cat, and that was a game they had for about a year. They had an appointment around 10pm every night to meet at the back fence. The cat would sit on the corner of the fence and look at Greta, whose role was to bark a bit and look like she'd do some damage given a chance. If Greta was ever late for this appointment the cat would come to our front porch and meow until Greta would remember, jump up and run out to the back.

>172 VivienneR: Thank you, Joyce. Wasn't she pretty?

>173 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. She was a happy girl and had a beautiful smile.

>174 Carmenere: Thank you, Lynda, and you're right, she won't be forgotten.

So far, I've sent 12 tins of cookies and a bottle of Irish whiskey out the door for Mike's business connections, employees, friends. I still have two more tins for friends, another to take to Mom's, and the packing to do, as we'll be leaving Friday morning. We'll have our Christmas that day, as my sister and nephew will have to drive back to California that night so she can get to work on Christmas Eve.

Oh wait one second missy! You can not go any where until you leave a tin of cookies for your thread! :9

Have a safe trip and a very merry Christmas with your family!!

Thanks, Lynda. Our patisserie employees are working hard to fill the cases, and there will be plenty for everyone, so don't worry about going hungry. In the meantime, have a seat and enjoy a healthy snack. It has fruit!:

Hi Jennifer, so sorry to hear of Greta's passing, such a difficult choice to make but you did the right thing for her. Take care of yourselves, and Coral who is probably missing her sister.

Do the patisserie employees know how to make those Portuguese custard tarts? Because that would be awesome!

>179 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy. You're right about Coral, she's been depressed and slept all day for about three days. We're trying to keep her active with walks and chews, but she's feeling the loss pretty heavily. She'll adjust to being the only dog in time.

>180 SomeGuyInVirginia: A Portuguese custard tart. Hmmm. Mrs. Patmore, do you know how to make a Portuguese custard tart? Or what a Portuguese custard tart is?


"I'm from Huddersfield."

Just so's you know... New party in town!

http://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin2017

Thanks, Doc! I'd been searching for that just yesterday.

Ohmahgawd! The Portugues will be remembered FOREVER for custard tarts and ovos moles (squishy eggs).

La tart

La squish



Technically, this is called string eggs, but I always called them squishy eggs. Because yeah.

I'd never heard of either of these. The tarts look an awful lot like the delicious Chinese custard tarts sold all over San Francisco's Chinatown. The eggs look like shredded cheese. What is in them/makes them that way? I'll eat anything with cheese.

I love all the beautiful images on this thread!!! Incredible candy for the eyes!

>187 Whisper1: Thank you very much, Linda.

And for anyone who wishes to visit The BBC in 2017, we've leased a new shop:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/243815

No cheese, they're nothing but egg yolks and sugar and vanilla but holy cow, it's like eating happy.

Wow, that's so unusual. So it must be a rich dessert rather than a breakfast item. I'm intrigued and must keep that in mind for a quick dessert.


110. Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota by Chuck Klosterman. Klosterman was a columnist for Esquire, as well as a contributor to The New York Times and Spin magazine, but he grew up in a North Dakota town of less than 500 people. His teens coincided with the rise in metal music, and he especially became a fan of hair metal, like Bon Jovi and Poison. This book is part study of what 80's metal was, who listened to it, the critiscisms, and it's place in American culture. It's also an autobiography of Klosterman's teen years on a farm in a tiny town, where the kids listening to these songs had little experience with the big city or the problems rock stars were singing about. Klosterman's humorous memories keep this from being overly serious while still providing some valid insights. It's an entertaining read. Having said that, not only does he keep going back to the same fake metal bands, Klosterman provides a list of his most favorite metal records of this era, and he has appalling taste. Really bad. I just have to mention that. 3 stars

You know, I think I'm calling it for 2016. I'm just fine with 110 books for the year, and I don't think I'll have time to finish another. We'll be leaving for Christmas with my family in Vegas in a couple of days, plus we'll have Christmas with Mike's mom on Thursday. So, 110 will do nicely.
I'll list my best reads of the year, and there has been a surprising number of 4.5 and 5 star reads for me this year.

Have a wonderful Christmas, Jennifer! I've enjoyed the goodies and eye candy all year and estimate that I've only gained about 10 lbs. Oh yeah, and your book reviews were great too!

>178 mstrust: Mmmm, that healthy fruit laden snack was fingerlicken good, Jennifer! Happy and safe travels and a very Merry Christmas!

Happy holidays! Enjoy celebrating with your Mom.

After our Emmie died, the cat took to her smelly dog bed for a week. He was fine afterwards, but pets need their time to mourn too. Remember all the great times and I'm glad you have Poppy to distract you.

>192 VivienneR: Merry Christmas, Vivienne! I'm glad you've had fun here, as I did too. All these cakes and cookies are delicious and I've been happy to share. I hope to see you at my new shop in 2017.

>193 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda! Thank you very much, and Merry Christmas to you! Stick around, I'll be laying out more food soon.

>194 RidgewayGirl: Thank you, and have a happy holiday too!
Animals definitely mourn each other. Coral is getting back to being active just within the last day or so. I took her on a new route for her walk, which made her curious and more interested, and we've pried her out of bed to play. It's especially hard when everything you own, including a water bowl, was shared.

Here are my Best Reads of 2016:

4.5 stars:
Magic For Beginners
The Great Tea Rooms of Britain
Pines
The Most Beautiful Villages of New England
Aurora Borealis: A Photo Memory
Foreign Babes in Beijing
The Fever Called Living
Griffin & Sabine the 25th anniversary edition
Wayward
The British Tuck Shop
The Last Town
Biggest Elvis
A Tale Dark & Grimm
Full Dark, No Stars
The Compleat Squash
The Bird Artist
This Music Leaves Stains

5 stars:
How To Survive a Horror Movie
The Walking Dead: Rise of The Governor
The Gates
Smuggler's Cove: Exotic Cocktails and the Cult of Tiki

I was very surprised to discover that three of my four precious 5 star reads this year were from my Halloween stack. As you can see, I don't give out 5 stars all willy-nilly. Two of these, How To Survive a Horror Movie and The Gates, were delightfully funny, while the TWD novel was so well-written and created a backstory for one of the most memorable villains, with a twist ending that I found really enjoyable. And the last 5 star is a thick tiki everything manual that just couldn't be any better.

Christmas is Sunday, so we'd better start the BBC party now. Everyone, call home and say you're working. Call work and say you're sick.



The trees are up-



Everyone gets to pick a present. Guess what you're getting!

Of course there's food. So much. Grab a plate.





The ladies in the patisserie have outdone themselves with this massive cake. Took them all day.

The champagne never ends here-


Maybe even give a gift to our hard-working staff? You know they'll open it with the hope that there's money inside. Their disappointment is hilarious!



Normally I'd warn you to visit Santa before you have too many cocktails, but I'm guessing it really doesn't matter since he's been here since noon.


Have a Merry Christmas from all of us!

I'm in!

>196 mstrust: Christmas is Saturday, so we'd better start the BBC party now. . .

NO! It's Sunday, I swear. Nothing will be ready in time if you move the entire thing forward a day.

>199 SomeGuyInVirginia: For sure you'll be here. Your stool never gets cold! Merry Christmas!

>200 RidgewayGirl: You're right, it is Sunday- my week is so screwed up.

Wouldn't it be nice if 2017 was a year of peace and goodwill.
A year where people set aside their religious and racial differences.
A year where intolerance is given short shrift.
A year where hatred is replaced by, at the very least, respect.
A year where those in need are not looked upon as a burden but as a blessing.
A year where the commonality of man and woman rises up against those who would seek to subvert and divide.
A year without bombs, or shootings, or beheadings, or rape, or abuse, or spite.

2017.

Festive Greetings and a few wishes from Malaysia!

Merry Christmas!!

>202 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful holiday!
>203 ChelleBearss: I'm on my mom's laptop and can't get your picture to load, but I have no doubt that it's great. Have a Merry Christmas!

My Christmas party may suck, but I'm having a good time and hope you all are too. We had our Christmas yesterday, opening lots of presents and having a big meal of ham, homemade mac and cheese, lots of cookies, and mom even made cornbread and sage dressing from scratch.
I've gotten a Kuerig coffee maker and around two years of coffee servings, a pressure cooker, a very nice sheet set, about $200 in Amazon, Philosophy bath gels, a David Bowie and a Motorhead coloring books!, and a very good wine set. Along with lots of chocolate. My sister and nephew left to go home this morning and Mike and I will stay here in Vegas with Mom until the day after Christmas.
Merry Christmas, everyone!

Merry Christmas, Jennifer! You got so many fab presents already that Santa may skip your house! Enjoy your Kuerig, I just can't get my coffee strong enough in mine. Have a wonderful time.

Getting hungry reading about your yummy Christmas dinner! Merry Christmas!

>205 VivienneR: Merry Christmas, Vivienne! I do think I'll be skipped tomorrow, as Santa must know that our truck is full. I hadn't heard that about Kuerig, but then I don't drink the "robust" coffee usually, but I've been given maybe six different types so I'll see.
I hope you have a great day!

>206 rabbitprincess: I'll bet you'll have something delicious for Christmas too, and I want to hear about it. Merry Christmas to you! Have a great time!

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Jennifer.

Jennifer, I wish you and yours Merry Christmas

Hope you had an amazing Christmas, Jennifer!

>208 DeltaQueen50: Thank you, Judy, and I hope you had a great Christmas!

>209 Ameise1: What a pretty picture. I hope you and your family had a great Christmas!

>210 Carmenere: Very cool! I did have an amazing Christmas, though it came two days early. I hope yours was awesome!

We got back late last night, as we encountered some heavy traffic on the way. We had our Christmas on Friday so that Julie and Wade were there. On Christmas day, there were no presents to unwrap or meals to cook, so Mom and I went to the casino. No luck that day, but I won small on Friday and Saturday, nearly $400, so I finally broke my many years long losing streak.
Also, Mike surprised me with a signed copy of Pissing In The Gene Pool by Henry Rollins, with artwork by Mark Mothersbaugh.
Coral was glad that we came back, though Mike's mom had been feeding her roasted chicken for four days, so I'm sure she didn't miss us that much. : )

>211 mstrust: Glad Coral survived on roasted chicken while you were gone ;-)

And seemed to thrive on it! Spoiled little girl.

The first anniversary.

To my wonderful visitors of The BBC!

Happy New Year, Viv!

>215 mstrust: Now that looks like a celebration! Have a great New Years, Jennifer.

Looking forward to your continued company in 2017.
Happy New Year, Jennifer

Digging the tunes by the Peanuts band! Thank you for hosting such a wild, colourful thread filled with yummy treats and interesting books. See you in the 2017 shop!

>218 Familyhistorian: And you too, Meg!

>219 PaulCranswick: I'm looking forward to your visits in 2017. Happy New Year, Paul! I hope it's a great one!

>220 rabbitprincess: I'm so glad you were a regular BBC visitor! Happy New Year!

Everybody, the new location is here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/243815

We're suppose to be at a party tonight, but with it being nearly an hour away and the rain that started last night is suppose to last through tomorrow, who knows. We do have the supplies to make our own party ; ).

Wherever you are at midnight, get down witcher bad self.

>221 mstrust: That Godzilla gif is great!

Whether you've reached your destination or stayed in ....Happy New Year!!

>222 Oberon: Thanks! He really gets into wishing you Happy New Year!

>223 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda, and Happy New Year to you! We stayed in after all, as neither of us felt up to dying last night. There were lots of fireworks on our street and surrounding, and they went from about 7pm to 12:30 am. So the rain let up for fireworks but is continuing this morning, so I'm happy.

Thank you for putting up such lovely threads again this year! Always such a joy to visit. Happy New Year!

I'm glad that you enjoyed your visits- and happy new year to you!