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

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

Alison wrote: "Josh has a new book out! Requiem for Mr. Busybody! I just now noticed because people on GR are reading it and I wondered what it was and it came out a few days ago! Sheesh, I must b..."

Thank you, Alison! It was a little bit of a surprise to me too. :-D

Loretta wrote: "We were sent home from work on Wednesday to work from home. Someone had come into our office that later tested positive for COVID. We were supposed to work from home for the rest of the week while ..."

ACK.

Marge wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I voted!! Got my sticker and everything."

Great.

Can someone explain the sticker idea to me?"

In many places in the US we get a sticker when we leave the votin..."

Apparently the single largest "voting block" in the US are those who do not vote. Which is...flabbergasting.

So encouraging people to get out there and exercise their right to vote is a thing.

The best thing about today...

Despite all the crazy-ass shenanigans since the election, I still feel relatively calm.

Angry, because a country that prides itself on being a global leader, should not experience post-election shenanigans, let alone the level of outlandish bullshit we're seeing, but still. Relatively calm.

"This is a book about the death of film."
A THOUSAND CUTS by Dennis Bartok and Jeff Joseph

(Background for The Movie-Town Murders--the final Art of Murder book)

This is a very strange weekend in that, for the first time in nearly 30 years, I don't have a gig.

Usually I, my sisters and cousin play the Pleasanton Highland Games

https://thescottishgames.com/

but after Lincoln City in February, all our gigs were cancelled, one by one.

So on the one hand, it's like a snow day not having to "work" this weekend. On the other hand, it is just weird beyond weird to be home on Labor Day Weekend.

I hope everyone is having a relaxing couple of days.

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "A very rough snippet from Requiem for Mr. Busybody (a short story)"

Lovely beginning. Thank you for sharing it!"

Thank you for reading!

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "I went to buy this and see that I apparently already own it. :-D Perhaps I should actually read some of these books I buy! "

In fact amazon could make lots of money with me by avoidin..."

I was thinking that very thing!

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "1 - CBD oil

2 - Coloring books

3 - YouTube Beauty Bloggers (because it's so beautifully, relaxingly mindless to think about eye shadow application--even though we have nowhere to go ..."

Correct. It has only the trace-est amounts of THZ (which contains the "hallucinogenic" properties of cannabis) so it merely relaxes and calms. I use it in creams as well for my wrists, and it does seem to help a bit.

Alison wrote: "Nice to see you, Josh! Hang in there, friend! :)"

Thank you, Alison! I've been thinking about you, as a matter of fact. Any second guesses about moving to this country? :-D

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "Anyway, general news.

Ahem.

From my previous comments, you get an idea of my mental and emotional state.

And yet, believe it or not, I am way calmer than I was, even sort of optim..."

This is true. If we put aside all the politics and plague, things are looking up. :-D

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "I mean, it could be worse! :-D "

It can always get worse ;-).

When in Italy Berlusconi was at the power, he kept making outrageous declarations, one worse than the other. But last ye..."

Yes. I believe it. The SO and I often comment how Trump makes Nixon look like the epitome of class and integrity.

Haldis wrote: "OMG. I grew up on Cal Worthington commercials!"

hahahahahaha.

RIGHT?

We've been watching everything I could find on the Maura Murray case.

I learned about her disappearance years ago when I watched three years worth of DISAPPEARED when I had the flu. The case has always haunted me, and it seems I'm not alone because there are a number of documentaries as well as a podcast about it.

Anyway, it's given me another idea for a short story, so we'll see.

A very rough snippet from Requiem for Mr. Busybody (a short story)

I realized he was about to wrap up this late night visit—and that I didn’t want that, didn’t want him to go, didn’t want to say goodbye.

Which was ironic given I’d been the one to insist—insist--on goodbye the last time.

“Did you want coffee or something? I should have asked.”

Len looked up out of his thoughts. He shook his head. “No. I’ve got to get going.” He swallowed a huge yawn and rose. “I don’t have to tell you none of this is proof of any wrong doing.”

“I know.”

“But it’s…”

“Sinister.” I filled in the blank.

Len smiled faintly. “Yeah, it is. Concerning at the least. It’s always possible there’s some innocent explanation for your friend’s disappearance, but we’ve both been around long enough to know if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck—”

“It could be a dead duck.”

Len’s laugh was tired. “It could be. I’ll follow up and I’ll let you know what happens.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

He shrugged. “Of course.”

He headed for the door and I followed, trying to think of something to say, something to prolong this moment, dreading the moment of goodbye. Which made no sense. None.

We reached the door and my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it thumping in my ears, drowning out whatever Len said as he glanced my way.

“What?” My voice sounded too loud.

He looked wary. “I said, it’s good to see you.”

“Oh. Yes. It’s good to see you too. I didn’t expect…”

I was going to say that I hadn’t expected him to come by in person, but I let it tail off because it struck me that what I really hadn’t expected was how good it was to see him again.

“I bet.” Len’s smile was uncharacteristically cynical.

“No, man. It really is good to see you. I really do appreciate you stopping by and, well, taking me seriously.”

“I always took you seriously.”

I couldn’t look away.

“How are you? Really?”

I smiled, a lopsided effort at best.

“I’m okay. I’m good.” I shrugged. “Really.”

As good as a guy with a T11 complete spinal cord injury could be. Everything is relative.

“Are you happy?

“More or less.”

It seemed we weren’t just making chit-chat because he asked, “Which is it? More or less?”

Dropping in to chat.

Also the knowledge that we will have Chinese food for dinner and cocktails of some kind--probably mai tais--and watch something fun on TV.

Life goes on.

"What's all this about a mysterious grave in the garden down at Heron Point?" asked my tall, good-looking older brother, Josh, as he held the car door open for me.

Certainly packs a lot of info into that opening sentence!

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "Uh... But I was trying to give a cheery update. :-D :-D :-D "

Hahahahahahaaaaaaa!!! That’s hysterical! :-D :-D :-D

In any case :-D good to hear from you, dear. Keep channeling this s..."

I mean, it could be worse! :-D

Let's see...

And a number of coffee table books, especially photography by Slim Aarons

Loretta wrote: "I just finished A Novel Murder. It is the third in a cozy mystery series by K.C. Wells. It was really enjoyable."

Oops. I went to buy this and see that I apparently already own it. :-D Perhaps I should actually read some of these books I buy!