Cool. Sam's official debut is Halloween! "Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little bat like you!"

Timelies all!

Quiet day here. Then again, after an earthquake at 5 am, quiet is good.

Anyone around with car knowledge? Does this [link] look like worth checking out?

Instead of curtains, last winter I hung a quilt over my giant patio window/door. I still have it up. It looks great, and more importantly, it does a great job of insulating. So, I recommend window quilts.

Is Plei around? I want a recommendation for Vivo shoes.

Anyone around with car knowledge? Does this [link] look like worth checking out?

I asked my boss - he said Audi has really improved in quality in recent years. The only bad thing is they're rather expensive to repair.

eta: But it has rather low mileage, so maybe major repairs are still far off in the future?

Is Plei around? I want a recommendation for Vivo shoes.

See what's on sale at Amazon or Endless, order a size larger than you usually take, esp. if your feet are wide?

Sam is so fantastic. There are a handful of bats in the backgrounds of several of the books in Matilda's current bedtime reading rotation, and I find myself thinking every time I see them, "Hey, I wonder if they know Sam!"

I mean, he's part of the literary canon now, and clearly all the bats know each other, because there just aren't that many of them. He's probably palling around with Stellaluna right now.

Apparently the CIO is worried she's beating up on me, and the IT Manager is worried the CIO is beating up on me, and honestly? Still the nicest place I've ever worked. I am beginning to wonder if I've had exceptionally bad relationships with my bosses--not my last place, but the two before.

Vintage Bibliomysteries: Books Can Be Fatal!

Books, Bookstores and Libraries That's Out to Get You

Do you know that there is a certain sub-genre (sub-sub-genre?) of murder mysteries concerned with the world of authors, manuscripts, rare and deadly books - with the emphasis on deadly books?. Typically, they feature an indefatigable hero leaping around libraries in a race against time, unearthing cyphers, ancient manuscripts and clues hidden in old books.

Thrillers like this belong to a popular sub-genre called bibliomysteries, and as the name suggests, they all concern some sort of bookish skull-duggery. Book lovers love them but if you’re tempted to read one here are a few words of warning. Books can be fatal, as this eager reader is about to discover:

[pictures of cool book covers here]

This deadly tome is called ‘The Book with The Iron Clasps’ and its story lies in the novel of the same name. Written by Angus B. Reach in 1848, it’s the first-ever detective novel (!) and it’s illustrated by George Cruikshank. It may well be a cracking read but don’t try to open it – the Borgias have poisoned the pages. It’s just the first of many books best kept under lock and key...

Much more, including lots more cool book covers....

Did you have rain today, Burrell? My crank is totally carb deficiency crank.

We did. Well, sprinkle, we had sprinkle. It was odd.