Josh’s Comments (group member since Jun 17, 2010)

Josh’s comments from the Q&A with Josh Lanyon group.

Antonella wrote: "I've just heard on the radio the audio of the assassination of Keenan Anderson. Terrible! How is it possible that this still happens?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2......"

How the hell does a traffic accident and someone showing signs of serious mental distress, possibly mental illness, turn into that someone being tased to death? Whatever happened to all that supposed de-escalation training? Nothing there indicated an effort to de-escalate.

Jordan wrote: "OOF. So sorry you have to go through this. I agree with Ije and Antonella. I'd tell her and get it over with asap. Rip the band-aid off, as they say. She must know her father's not the greatest guy..."

Thankfully, this resolved itself in an unexpected way. The SO saw her coming home, went over to speak to her, and she told him he didn't have to explain SHE HAD SEEN THE VIDEO.

It turns out they have video inside their house as well as outside, and she watched it all. Saw the dog get out, saw the SO shame her father into looking for the dog, saw her effing father take a lengthy call from his dentist while the dog lay dying on the floor, saw the SO go with her father to the vet...saw it all.

She gave us a little box of homemade cookies.

So it's still heartbreaking, but at least she knows we didn't harm her dog. I'm so relieved.

Although the idea of cameras inside my home seems a bit creepy. Maybe that's just me.

I don't know! I honestly can't imagine trying to explain without it sounding like we're throwing her father under the bus (not that he doesn't deserve to be under the bus--and for the bus to reverse over him once or twice) or like we're defensive and guilty.

If it was me, I'd have wanted to know what happened. I mean, not the really awful stuff--we wouldn't share that anyway (I wish *I* didn't know), but she has shown no inclination.

And she wasn't terribly friendly to start with, which was why the whole situation was a bit odd.

Thank you guys for the sympathetic words and thoughts.

Of new concern is the fact that his actual owner is back and has not spoken a word to us. Which...it's not that we want to hold a post mortem, but I'm a little concerned what story her very odd father might have given her. Does she think we had the dog in our care at the time? I really can't see a way to approach the subject if she doesn't initiate. There is no graceful way to say, Hey, just so you know, your father's to blame here.

It's not that I want--well, the only thing I would want is for her to know no harm came to the dog in our care. We did text her the day after it happened to let her know how sorry we were about everything, but again, it wasn't the time to launch into explanations. She didn't ask.

It's just awkward as hell.

Antonella wrote: "1. flowers out of the blue from a woman I've been helping
2. the trans daughter of a friend getting new documents with her name
3. random acts of kindness: I spent New Years Eve together with one f..."

That is a wonderful list!

Karen wrote: "Antonella, Jordan, Josh — thank you for these lovely, smile-inducing, inspiring lists!

And a special welcome to Diego!"

That is truly the loveliest news! <3

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Oh no. HUGS.

It already sounds like a nightmare.

I eventually came to the conclusion that I could not leave my dog alone without me for any extended period of time. I ..."

He was coming along nicely. He was just a big baby. So patient with my two little thugs.

Antonella wrote: "I wish everybody happy holidays with your families and friends, or a happy time on your own 🌈🌲🌈🌲

A special thought to the people in the US in the middle of the winter storm. Stay safe!

Here some..."

Thanks for sharing! <3

Yeesh. After that cheery update, I just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a very happy New Year!

Maybe 2023 be better than 2022 (which was already way better than 2021). ;-)

Jordan wrote: "Oh no. HUGS.

It already sounds like a nightmare.

I eventually came to the conclusion that I could not leave my dog alone without me for any extended period of time. I had sent her to a boarding f..."

This is my fear as well.

To be very brief, on the 5th evening, the SO returned the dog to the owner's father who promptly lost control of the dog, which rushed out of the house, got hit by a car and was killed.

Only it was so much worse. Agonizing hours while the SO searched for the dog (our neighbor told him not to bother, the dog would return on its own) grudgingly accompanied by the neighbor who complained the entire time and said it was a waste of time, then to the vet where the SO heard this evil **&&^%$#@@! say that he had the $3K to try and save the dog, but "not for THAT."

Even though it was his fault the dog got out.

And that was the second time, by the way! The first time, I was there and was able to get the dog to come back to me. But I was coming down with a cold and didn't go that night, so I feel doubly terrible because maybe if I'd been there, it could have been prevented.

Anyway, I could go on and on about the callous, heartless horrible things that **&&^^%% did and said that night. But this is already more than I intended as it is a real holiday killer, I know. I cried for three days. Even the SO cried.

In short, this is why I would never leave my dogs in the care of anyone who isn't my own family and loves my dogs like their own. And in this case, I did love that dog like my own--I fully expected to have that dog one day given how dysfunctional the situation next door is.

Anyway.

FINAL DAYS/HOURS OF SMASHWORDS SITEWIDE SALE. My smashwords backlist is 50% off thru Monday.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...

And my Author Direct audio backlist is also 50% (or more) thru Monday

https://shop.authors-direct.com/colle...

1 - The start of a New Year! Exciting and terrifying. ;-D

2 - Reading. I finally took a day and just READ all day long. It was wonderful. The book was Very well done.

3 - Raspberry turnovers

4 - Marlowe and Spenser my faithful canine companions

5 - Rain (we're maybe supposed to get some today)

Antonella wrote: "1. my first grand-nephew Diego, born yesterday, the first child in my family since some 29 years;
2. time to read, since the 24th till today
3. time to visit friends, from tomorrow till the 2nd Jan..."

Aww. All such wonderful things!

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Josh wrote: "I suspect we're all hunkering down for the ongoing festivities, but I wanted to pop in and wish everyone Happy Holidays!

Hopefully, you're all looking at some quality time off.

We ..."

Actually, it all went so horribly wrong, I can't even bear to talk about yet.

SamSpayedPI wrote: "My question is, can anyone explain Julius's little expedition to try to cross the river? Did I miss something? I don't see any reason for it."

This whole scene felt a bit contrived. My suspicion was that Hare felt his villain was too obvious, so he tried to obfuscate a bit by sending Julius fleeing.

It didn't really make a lot of sense. I didn't feel that Julius was afraid for his life, and he would have to know that his flight would make him look more guilty. And also, presumably, he knows the area enough to know that what he was doing was dangerous and dumb.

So, from my viewpoint, this was just the author trying to throw us off the scent.

I finished reading a few days ago, but hadn't had a chance to check in till now.

I did ultimately enjoy the book, but I don't think it's going to become part of my holiday tradition.

I suspected Mrs. Carstairs right away, but largely because I thought she or her husband were distant cousins (did I imagine that--I was too lazy to go back and double check) and therefore in the line of succession. So I had the right motive even if for the wrong reasons. :-D

I thought the actual motive, once explained, made sense, but yet I had a slightly dissatisfied feeling. Maybe because we never come to reallly understand Robert.

Was he always an utter cad, and the old lord (who's one of the most likeable characters, I think--I loved the relationship between him and Briggs) and Camilla are just are blind to his faults?

Or did something change him into the swine he becomes? He seems sort of angry and conflicted, so I was hoping for some understanding of his backstory.

It seems pretty clear where Hare's sympathies lie socially and politically.

Although Brigg's daughter is quite correct on a number of points, she's also pretty unlikable and possibly morally compromised herself. It's unclear whether she set out to entrap Robert or whether she really did care for him. I think our admiration is supposed to lie entirely with Lady Camilla.

Interestingly, I did not particularly like our sleuth. He seemed a bit hard to relate to, despite what is a very sympathetic backstory.

I suspect we're all hunkering down for the ongoing festivities, but I wanted to pop in and wish everyone Happy Holidays!

Hopefully, you're all looking at some quality time off.

We agreed to walk our neighbor's German shepherd while she's away, and that has turned into QUITE the challenge. I love the dog, but it's pretty much untrained and coordinating with our neighbors father--who doesn't want the dog, doesn't want anything to do with the dog, and keeps forgetting that we're trying to walk the dog and so need access to same dog--has been exasperating.

More exasperating is the fact that our neighbor was originally going for a few days, then a week, and then last we heard THREE WEEKS. And her father says he'll be taking a trip at some point during these weeks, but isn't sure when and isn't sure when she'll be home.

So it's kind of funny but also kind of alarming.

Gabi wrote: "There's a few ebook giveaways on Storygraph right now if anyone is using the app.
Love Is a Stranger by John Wiltshire
As You Wish by [author:Isobe..."

Ah! Just purchased the Milverton book. Always on the hunt for a genuine cozy with gay characters.

Antonella wrote: "Gabi wrote: "There's a few ebook giveaways on Storygraph right now if anyone is using the app.
Love Is a Stranger by John Wiltshire
As You Wish by ..."

amazon-free!? Is that even possible? ;-D

Antonella wrote: "I wanted to remind us all about Josh's delightful Advent Calendar at: http://joshlanyon.blogspot.com

I admit that I tend to read several days together, but I do enjoy it.

Thank you, Josh! 💜"

You're very welcome!