I haven't read any of his books, but they get very good reviews. And he's taking over the Spenser series.

Oh, I've heard of him (lately wrt the Spenser series-- it was in some of my news feeds).

Yeah, smonster, a book purchase isn't a requirement nor is it bad etiquette. I love when people come to signings just to say hi.

And he's taking over the Spenser series.

Hey what now? I love that series and didn't know it would continue past Parker's Death. But, damn, isn't Spenser like 70 years old now?

I just might buy a copy anyway! It sounds all Justified-y. He and A met when they were both crime reporters in St. Pete's, FL. For true. I've seen her since they got married at rugby reunions, but never met him. And she's about to have her second kid in a few weeks! ::plots road trip to Oxford::

I've also heard the bookstore holding the signing is absolutely AWESOME. ::iz jealous::

Well, T, who's a friend of two friends (he stayed with A and A after Katrina, and is friends with a fellow RPCV) works at the store and also does radio interviews with writers. So, you know, you come visit, I'll introduce you! I was thinking of you last night listening to The Stooges Brass Band - it was damn near a whole marching band horn line - three trumpets, three trombones, an alto sax, a tuba, and at least two drummers - and they had some horn angle choreography going on. Whapow! Talk about a wall of sound.

It is! It's right around the corner from Commander's Palace, too.

Where I have yet to eat!

There's certainly enough anecdata around the phenomenon. My VERY non-woowoo BiL's admittedly bs pet theory is that caring for a newborn exposes you to stem cells at a crazy rate. He's been surprised to see the arthritis he's struggled with since a brown recluse bite in his 20s easing considerably in the year + he's been a father. It makes evolutionary sense enough -- raising a small child is taxing as hell, its good if the little nipper actually physically benefits you in SOME way.

I have read actual research - somewhere - that fetal cells (stem cells, maybe, I dunno) migrate to the mother's brain during pregnancy. What they do, unknown. It is both fascinating and creepy. But if that's possible, then surely it's possible, even likely, that fetal stem cells could end up in other body parts and ... do something good, right? Hey, if sniffing babies is rejuvenating, I'm gonna hafta borrow some babies to huff.

right around the corner from Commander's Palace, too.

oh yum.

I've been a sloth all freaking day. Tonight, sleep. Things will look better in the morning. But I need to solve dinner first.

Hah! I of course like the bad-ass meara, but would not have flinched at big-ass meara...in that context.