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p.s. Hey. ** jay, Hi. Oh, right, intimate “coupon-ish” things, that’s even better. If I ever give Xmas gifts again, I’ll try that. Right, again the youth = innocent and/predatory and the adult = predatory or blinded by the libidinal. Good old generalisations. Thank you about ‘I Wished’, and, yes, caution is probably advised. Speaking of wishes, yours for the IKEA is greatly appreciated. I haven’t stepped outside yet today, so who knows. I hope your today lacks sogginess. ** Dominik, Hi!!! Thank you, yes, it could be ideal if the stars in the sky keep aligning. If only wrestlers were my type, but alas. They’re so not. Me too. I only shower. I get bored just looking at a bathtub. Wow, what would I tell my teenaged self, I wonder. Maybe ‘Dude, you’ll never have sex with Keith Robarts — a high school mega-crush — so give up!’. Do you have words of wisdom for your former teen version? Love asking you to choose one of the lunchboxes today with the caveat that you must carry it with you everywhere you go for, oh, a week, G. ** Steeqhen, I’m manor-less too. Yes, I know that feeling. And it’s an unpleasant one. But sometimes it’s the best and only way to make your masterpiece. Keep at it. And … did you make your 3 hour deadline, and are you consequently and gleefully festooning your Xmas tree with ornaments? ** Huckleberry Shelf, Hey! Cool, I’m glad you liked LA. It has a tendency to disappoint people who don’t know it well, but you obviously got it. Nice: the Xmas trip to NYC. It’s a city that, like Paris, actually feels Xmas-y when it’s Xmas time, I’m not sure why. That sounds totally fun. I’m sharing a Xmas Buche de Noel with a slew of good friends tomorrow, and I think that might end up being as much of a Xmas as I’ll have. Other than the wonderful stroll around on Xmas morning when Paris is as deserted as it was during Covid lockdown but without the terrifying vibe. Is prose something that you see yourself giving as much concentration to as your poetry? Do you feel as at home and excited writing prose as you do when you’re making poems? That’s really great news in any case. Happiest day, sincerely me. ** _Black_Acrylic, Nice, you sprang for the New Juche special edition thing. And that does extremely covetable. I haven’t gotten any Xmas cards yet. Maybe I won’t. Although I can always count on John Waters’ card. And that would be plenty. You have a tree! And a decorated one! I always think about getting one, mostly for the smell, but my hands never follow my brain’s dream in that case. ** James, Hey. I don’t know what ‘Ping Pong’ is which probably answers your question about whether I read much manga or not. No, I don’t. Just not in the habit. But one of my novels is being turned into a manga/graphic novel, so I really should get knowledgeable. Your Xmas break starts … tomorrow? Am I remembering correctly? If so, you’re so close to your Xmas freedom that you could kick it in the face, but you probably shouldn’t. Sneezes and nosebleeds aren’t a great combination. You okay? So, your brother is a homophobe, I’m assuming? Or you intuit that he might be? Or you just want him to think of you as a mysterious, ambiguous human being? Hot, weather-wise, you mean? Not all time, but it can be. Summer lasts a long time in LA. Starts in early June or sometimes even earlier and doesn’t end until late October if you’re lucky. It never gets cold there, or not cold in the way you and I define cold, although people there think it gets cold. You probably know this, but in France hot chocolate is called chocolat chaud. ‘Chaud’ (pronounced ‘showed’) doesn’t sound like it would mean hot, at least to my American an ears, but apparently it does. Mm, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard about people getting my novels as Xmas presents, but then that doesn’t mean they were ever within a million miles of the North Pole, obviously. I am praying, or, more accurately ‘praying’ that you are not totally totalled by Thursday (today). ** Sarah, Hi, Sarah! It’s really, really good to see you! Things are okay. The film is finally on its way to being born. How are you? What have you been doing and working on and into, etc? I’d love to know if you feel like spilling. Take care! ** Toniok, Hi, man. Jamie gets all the credit for absolutely sure. Comix and manga and graphic novels are a huge weak spot for me. I know very little about that world. My experiences there are so limited that I don’t have favorites. It’s an area I keep meaning to do a deep dive into, but I haven’t so far. Thank you about the film. Yes, there are still some troubles left, but the film will finally be alive and in the world soonish, and that’s a huge victory. I hope you’re doing great. How are you? ** HaRpEr, That amount of money sounds pretty doable. Fingers as crossed as they need to be. I’m really happy you’re into your novel and feel confident. As long as you shoot high, and I know you will, you’ll always be confused, no worries. ‘Swimming Underground’ is really fun and good, yes. ‘Belladonna of Sadness’, no, but it sounds great in your depiction. I’ll hunt it. Thank you, thank you! ** Bill, Hi, B. Maybe my blog’s on a no-fly list in Thailand. I think of Thailand as being pretty wild, but I mostly only know about the ‘seamy’ aspects, so I’m sort of like people who imagine an Amsterdam that doesn’t actually exist. I’ve only been to Hong Kong. I’d like to see Taipei. One of these years. Another gig, awesome. Awesome that you’re getting to perform so much while you’re there. What is the upcoming gig? ** Jimmy, Hi. Well, I’m also perfectly capable of encouraging you to feast on what you wish to feast on. I’m a man of many colors. I ate some Flying Tiger gummys once. They were good. Hm, I’ll check the candy aisle when I hit my little market. Yum. ** Barkley, Hi, Barkley, old pal! I’ve been good enough, but what about you? Wow, that playlist, you’re so kind and cool. Wow. Yes, sure, email me about art stuff. I think you have my email, right? I can give it to you again if not. No, I didn’t know solidaritycinema until you just mentioned it. I just had a quick, superficial look, and it does look really valuable. Thank you so much! I’ll pore over it and inside it. Merry Xmas to you too big time if I don’t get to blab with you again before. ** Lucas, Hey! Hm, favorite Lispector? I think maybe ‘The Hour of the Star’. Yes, it’s ‘Crowd’, and I’m seeing it tonight. That qualifies as superstardom in my book. I hope your Thursday is just as lucky. ** Darby𓃱𓃱, I’m really, really glad you’re feeling better. You definitely just made me smile, and it was definitely unexpected. Thank you, pal. Maybe my lunchboxes or something therein will bring a smile to your face. The game with the ‘staple’ boss is ‘Paper Mario: The Origami King’, and it’s really fun and really good. High recommendation. You’ve played some good stuff. I just started gaming again after a few years break, so I have a lot to catch up on. Yeah, save some that $400 for yourself, but gifting friends is also a fine goal, obviously. Which Tim Buckley vinyl are you aimed at? Cool poster concept(s). You can probably get all three looks and effects? I especially like the ‘Carrie’ one. I hope today lifts you up like 70s glam rock platform shoes. ** Right. If anyone out there is in the market for a lunchbox, my blog has 218 suggestions for you. See you tomorrow.