Good evening and happy (or at least, not-worse) new year from me and my new clicky keyboard.
It is a Christmas gift that I got for myself, and since I know the mechanical keyboard people are all shouting the question at me now, the answer is: the switches are BANANA.
Some other gifts I received this year were…
The afternoon at Shopsin’s when Zack Shopsin told Roxie in secret that he likes it when I come by, but Roxie told me anyway.
The opportunity to finally bowl at D’AMANDA’S Candlepin Bowling in Ellsworth.
(I bowled OK, but enjoyed more the gift of relief: everyone I convinced to come with me DIDN’T HATE IT. Candlepin is hard, but inviting people to try something new is THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME.)
Listening to our grown up daughter read aloud to us as we drove back to New York from Maine.
And I got socks. Right when I really needed them.
I don’t need any thing else in this life, but it would still be a gift to me if you joined us on January 27th for JUDGE JOHN HODGMAN LIVE at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
Remember: we have a secret song to sing together.
Speaking of candlepin, I did see the candlepin scene in THE HOLDOVERS thank you, but also THE WHOLE MOVIE SURROUNDING IT.
I enjoyed it a lot, though for a movie that had so many scenes in Western Massachusetts, they should have given MONTE BELMONTE a cameo.
It’s one of four movies I’ve seen so far this year. It’s been part of my new year’s resolution to LAY OFF REDDIT A LITTLE and start taking in some full and considered and completed stories.
Even if it’s old Legion of Super-Hero comics, which it often is.
But it’s also been MAY DECEMBER. AMERICAN FICTION. and POOR THINGS.
And to be honest it’s also been watching Jamie make Julia Child references on ANTI-CHEF or Emma review cruises on EMMA CRUISES.
OK these aren’t full and considered and completed stories (FACACS). But I really love Jamie’s facial expressions when he is grappling with Julia’s sometimes obtuse instructions, and his comic timing is great.
And Emma is so charming and just keeps going on all these cruises, even though she gets sea sick every time. It shows a lot of pluck.
They are both good company if you are awake at night and feeling alone.
But nothing will put you to sleep faster watching the mysterious, faceless, voiceless SOLO SOLO as he silently rides Japan’s most luxurious trains.
Those are just some suggestions for distracting your brains when needed during the remaining 354 days of this year.
If you have any suggestions for me, I want them. Please drop them in the comments box at the top of the stairs in the SECRET ROOM, which is where we are going next.
This time in the SECRET ROOM, more practical witchcraft from Friday Gladheart, plus gossip from a small town in Maine, plus a reading from a novel that will probably help you fall asleep, and the sound of keyboard so clicky it will wake you right up.
You may ascend and join us if you wish, but…