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

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

Just about my entire Smashwords backlist is 50% off thru January 1.

https://bit.ly/3aPjVO8

Loretta wrote: "Alison wrote: "Lillian wrote: "Loretta wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm trying to keep an ongoing list of my sales and promotions--of which there are currently many--on my website: http://joshlanyon.com/ho..."

Thanks so much for doing that!

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "Antonella, I get the feeling you like that cat. :-D

NEARLY as much as I like my dogs."

As much as ;-).

And I've got him at the best possible time, because now I'm always at home..."

One of the good things about the pandemic is pet adoptions are up. Assuming all these pets continue to be loved and cherished once life returns to "normal."

Jordan wrote: "I'm now in the middle of DOAPK! And I swear, in THYS, Adrien bought a silver forester. But somewhere else in this series it turns green. I'm listening hard to find out where that magic happens. lol."

Oh my God. The editor of the Chinese translation came across something the other day. I can't remember what it was, but I was like ARE YOU KIDDING ME? IN ALL THESE YEARS, ALL THESE EDITIONS, ALL THESE TRANSLATIONS, YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON WHO CAUGHT THAT? lol

When I was finishing up the Advent Calendar, I stumbled across a new to me poem by DH Lawrence

NEW YEAR'S EVE

D.H. Lawrence

HERE are only two things now,
The great black night scooped out
And this fire-glow.

This fire-glow, the core,
And we the two ripe pips
That are held in store.

Listen, the darkness rings
As it circulates round our fire.
Take off your things.

Your shoulders, your bruised throat!
Your breasts, your nakedness!
This fiery coat!

As the darkness flickers and dips,
As the firelight falls and leaps
From your feet to your lips!

1919

Antonella wrote: "Ode to the First Day of the Year by Pablo Neruda

We identify it
as if
it were
a wooden horse
different from
all horses.
We adorn
its forehead
with a ribbon,
we hang
on its neck colorful rattles,..."

Neruda is so marvelous.

Lulu wrote: "here is one for either a good laugh or believing in magic:


Do you believe in magic?

so you are in love so what?
with that magic feeling in the gut

you used to be the man who goes to sears
and n..."

hahaha I love this.

BTS and Harry Styles. :-D The Office Elf is broadening my listening horizons. :-D

Antonella wrote: "If you have more time than usual, you can ''visit'' several museums:

1. Pinacoteca di Brera – Milano
https://pinacotecabrera.org/en/

2. Galleria degli Uffizi – Firenze
https://www.uffizi.it/en/o..."

Oh this is so great!!

Lately we've been watching episodes of Bourbon Street Beat, a 1960s detective show set in New Orleans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon...

It's goofy but sort of charming. There are some really entertaining touches--and also some things that are just beyond painful, like the ditz beauty queen Southern Belle receptionist.

We watched the latest Psych movie and I regret to say it was kind of ...awful. It started out well, but then there was just so much filler nonsense. I think it is a perfect example of when you try to please everyone. And also when you don't know when to leave well enough alone.

KC wrote: "Two great stand-up shows in a row!
Started watching yesterday another Netflix Special - Rhys Nicholson (the Australian stand-up comedian). He's really good."

I'm going to keep an eye out for both of these! It's a really good time for comedy. I was watching Jerry Seinfeld last night--I've only ever watched him in Comedians in Cars--and I was laughing so loud the dogs kept lifting their heads to stare at me. :-D

Karen wrote: "Thank you for sharing your holiday news. Mymymble, very happy to hear your son's operation went well. KC, I truly empathize with your worries. I hope all of you enjoyed your time with family (human..."

Calm. Yes. :-D That is the best positive spin for sure.

Melissa wrote: "KC, i hope everything settles down.

Mymymble, i am glad to hear the operation went well. I beard about the Brexit deal but haven't had time to research the specifics.

To everyone who is going thr..."

A very good reminder! And absolutely true. <3 <3 <3

Mymymble wrote: "Happy holidays peeps!
Two good things happened to us over Christmas. Kid's operation went well and we got a Brexit deal 'at the last minute'. Bad deal, but any deal is wonderful compared to no deal."

I'm so glad. Especially about the kiddo! <3

Johanna wrote: "Merry Christmas, everyone! Happy Holidays, where ever you are and how ever you're celebrating—or not. :-)

Because covid situation is bearable here, I'm really, really lucky to be able to spend the..."

My sisters and I did a very careful, socially distanced version of our "Le Chene" dinner at my house a few days before the holiday.

We zoomed with my mom on her birthday (Christmas Eve). I think it was the hardest for her. She started talking about her will and that kind of thing.

For the holiday we dropped by my parents' house in the morning as is our tradition, but sat across the room, wore masks, and had no contact for opening presents. Then I went on to my other sister's house for the same careful, socially distanced present opening.

And that was it. No family dinner. It was SO weird. So quiet. Not bad--we're so fortunate in so many ways--but definitely a little melancholy.

However, if we can all come through this safely, it will be worth every minute of not being able to be together now.

Antonella wrote: "Amazon bans public libraries from buying accessible audiobooks.
Please sign this petition:

Amazon: Release the Audiobooks!"

What. The. Hell. ???

Loretta wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Loretta wrote: "My son called me this morning. They won't be coming for Christmas. My DIL has contracted COVID. Which means my son will be sure to get it, but he doesn't plan to get..."

This is promising news. <3

Jordan wrote: "That is an interesting article about our democracy, sadly true, and it’s calling for a lot of work that just... well, it would be great if it could happen, but I doubt it will."

I think Democracy is something we all sort of took for granted for most of our lives. Part of the shock of the Trump era is discovering how fragile our Democracy is. How much its success depends on people looking past self-interest and doing the right thing.

Karen wrote: "Thank you for your wise thoughts, Alison, Jordan, and Loretta.

My father died 17 years ago in November. He was 88, ten years older than my mother. He'd been through a year and a half of decline, i..."

I think this is the perfect space to share some of these worries and fears and just...musings. We've all known each other for so long now.