Random thoughts...

[Ben Staad]

LOL. Thought I would share this here. My wife, her brother, and me were discussing Thriftbooks on a social media site. This is my wife's reply when I stated Thriftbooks can have some very rough books:

"Don't let Tim fool you. He likes Thriftbooks too! He's a book collector and a total book snob though. If it's not signed by the author, 1st edition, with a remarque by the illustrator, he's probably not buying. We literally have 2 sets of books. Reader's copies and Tim's."

She knows me very well. Anyone going into my library knows which books they can borrow and which books are off limits. By the way. I do like Thriftbooks and purchase a good amount of reading copies from them. I have zero used book stores left in my my region so they are a great resource.

[Martin]

So the new Rex Pickett book is out. For those not familiar he wrote 'Sideways' and stretched it into a trilogy. Sideways was excellent and the follow-ups had diminishing returns . Reading the books and articles about issues with the author that will prevent any other movies in the Sideways universe from being made I got the impression that the main character really was the author. I have been debating getting his new book, wondering if he would strike gold again or continue down his self destructive path. So the early reviews are mostly one and two star reviews. I found one four star review which started with the statement 'If I had to describe my impression of this book in a single word. It would be pretentious.' I rarely determine if I am going to read a book based on other peoples opinions. The best review I can find on this one strongly re-enforces my views of the author. I am now planning on passing on this book.

[saginawhorror]

I guess that dark regions book club coupon code really was permanent. I randomly decided to try it and it still worked 5 years after I last used it.

[mhatchett]

Hope things get resolved in a positive way. I'll keep an eye out for your sales. I have the Keene I need right now. Good Luck!

[c marvel]

This week I learned some borderline bad news about myself. My job, car and housing are all good. It's a health issue (Not covid). For the present my condition is okay. In a couple years things may have changed. I'll learn more when I talk to my dr in November. I am not looking for sympathy. Simply put I have too many books and I have decided to try to downsize. I am trying to sell some Brian Keene novels. These are all S/L hardcovers. I am not good with pictures (I'm lousy at taking pictures). If you are really interested in a title contact me and I'll do my best to send you a picture or two. I'm really hoping I can sell some books here. ~Cap


Brian Keene novels for sale:
Entombed
Dead Sea SOLD
Urban Gothic
Unhappy Endings
The Rising: Death In Four Colors
The Rising: Selected Scenes From The End Of The World
Castaways
Last Of The Alabatwitches

[dannyboy121070]

This:

My early years were spent in a small country town in Ireland, with all the old superstitions that came along with life at the time. Even as a kid, I remember not believing any of it, and being somewhat baffled at some of the stuff people came out with.

It was only when I got into the adult library at age 11 and found science fiction that I realized there were plenty of people who thought like me - I just hadn't met many of them at the time Once I found Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, etc, things made more sense.

I do like looking up superstitions to see where they came from. Walking under a ladder, for instance. Sure, there are obvious reasons to not walk under a ladder, such as if someone's up there with a bucket of paint, or you might jostle the ladder, but if it's just a random ladder with no one around, who cares? Well, from a quick Google search: "Many Christians believe in the Holy Trinity -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This belief made the number three sacred in early times, and along with it, the triangle. A ladder leaning up against a wall forms the shape of a triangle, and walking through it would be seen as "breaking" the Trinity, a crime seen as blasphemous as well as potentially attracting the devil".

Hmm, ok. Maybe I should have been a Vulcan. "That is not logical, Captain".

Fascinating! I never knew, and would never have guessed, that.

I walked under a ladder once. My wife was on it painting the ceiling of our mudroom, and she dropped a big blob of paint right into my eyeball. It was a painful lesson, and I learned to stay away from ladders. At least if my wife is on it.

[TacomaDiver]

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

This:

Hmm, ok. Maybe I should have been a Vulcan. "That is not logical, Captain".

Hey! I resemble that remark!

[Dave1442397]

This:

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

My early years were spent in a small country town in Ireland, with all the old superstitions that came along with life at the time. Even as a kid, I remember not believing any of it, and being somewhat baffled at some of the stuff people came out with.

It was only when I got into the adult library at age 11 and found science fiction that I realized there were plenty of people who thought like me - I just hadn't met many of them at the time Once I found Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, etc, things made more sense.

I do like looking up superstitions to see where they came from. Walking under a ladder, for instance. Sure, there are obvious reasons to not walk under a ladder, such as if someone's up there with a bucket of paint, or you might jostle the ladder, but if it's just a random ladder with no one around, who cares? Well, from a quick Google search: "Many Christians believe in the Holy Trinity -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This belief made the number three sacred in early times, and along with it, the triangle. A ladder leaning up against a wall forms the shape of a triangle, and walking through it would be seen as "breaking" the Trinity, a crime seen as blasphemous as well as potentially attracting the devil".

Hmm, ok. Maybe I should have been a Vulcan. "That is not logical, Captain".

[Martin]

I"m not sure of too many details, but I remember seeing a movie/show of Dorian Gray and it FREAKING ME OUT. I know I was just a kid, but I am curious to know what it was. Even to this day, just the thought of Dorian Gray gives me the shudders. Wikipedia doesn't give me much help in figuring out what version I saw.

Randomly, anyone else have any of those "things" you learned a kid still impact your day to day life, or at least come up, but have no realistic effect? For me, somewhere in the deepest recesses of my mind, there's this "rule" that says if you touch a dog or cat's nose, it will cause them to start eating poop, and you can't change it once you do touch it.

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

The person introducing the play mentioned the 1945 film adaptation and how it scared him when he was young. I really enjoyed the play and am actually surprised how much I new in the story. I believe I, at some point, was exposed to the story. No clue when or through what medium.

With regard to things from childhood carrying into adult life. I actually have very few memories from childhood so I am unsure how much of my life comes from childhood. One I do remember is that I learned to love horror by reading The Wizard of Oz when I was 8. That series scared the hell out of me and I loved every minute of it!

[TacomaDiver]

I"m not sure of too many details, but I remember seeing a movie/show of Dorian Gray and it FREAKING ME OUT. I know I was just a kid, but I am curious to know what it was. Even to this day, just the thought of Dorian Gray gives me the shudders. Wikipedia doesn't give me much help in figuring out what version I saw.

Randomly, anyone else have any of those "things" you learned a kid still impact your day to day life, or at least come up, but have no realistic effect? For me, somewhere in the deepest recesses of my mind, there's this "rule" that says if you touch a dog or cat's nose, it will cause them to start eating poop, and you can't change it once you do touch it.

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

[Martin]

Spending a few days in Cannon Beach Oregon. There is a local theater group here that has been closed for 18 months. This month is their first show back. I will be going tonight. It will be interesting as it will be my first time in a group setting since pre-pandemic. Limited seating, everyone must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask while in the building. The play is from a story I am familiar with but have never actually read. Next year Lyra's Books is producing a limited edition. This play may influence if I try to get a copy.
IMG_2685.JPEG

[c marvel]

Today I recived the Cemetery Dance trade paperback grab bag. Here's what I got: The Amnesiac's Bithday by Terry Adamczyk (Poetry). University by Bentley Little. Things That Never Happened by Scott Edelman. Shivers VII edited by Richard Chizmar. The Fade by James Cooper. I now have 3 copies of this book... 3! lol The first copy arrived damaged. I was sent a new copy and I got the third copy today.


Cap

[Martin]

Random Rant:
Ok mother nature, you've had your summertime fun. You broke the all time high temperature here three consecutive days. No matter what you think Washington state is not supposed to be 116 degrees. You set a new record for total days above 80 degrees for a calendar year. All during the only summer I spent without A/C in 30 years. Fall has arrived. Are you content, no! Weekend forecast of 87 degrees. Did you miss when I mentioned that it is fall? Would you please just cool it!
Random Rant Over!

[Ben Staad]

Spent a good chunk of the weekend putting together a bowflex. If you ever have the opportunity to do this please runaway. It wouldn't kill the manufacturer to label the parts however that seemed to be to much to ask. There was also an issue with them not drawing parts to the correct scale and the ever ingenious directions which say do not tighten fully. The only thing they did rights was all the parts were there which is an improvement over other junk I've purchased in the past.

For such an expensive purchase I expected this to be very user friendly to assemble. It was not.

[TacomaDiver]

All's well that ends well. Congrats on the kudos and the pay hike...now you just get to sit back, relax, and decide which what books to spend your windfall on!

Congrats! Sounds like a very nice win for you.

Thank you both!

The original opportunity that started all of this finally popped up, but I had to tell them I'm not interested. I just hope I didn't miss out on a golden opportunity. But the more I think about it, I feel better about myself staying where I'm at because of the type of organization they are, compared to a different type. (Yes, being vague.)