Reading: Double Cross by James Patterson
Music: Lou Reed
TV/Movie: Planet of the Apes (TV series)
Link o' the Day: The Official Alison Arngrim: Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - Nellie Olsen Website



Ah...the Friday mailbag. Always something fun here. Fun...or disturbing. Aside from the usual note I receive each week (see 2nd entry), we have here an envelope coated in slightly damp dust with the logo of the Bleak Library of Bleak, Nebraska. The letter looks like it's been torn in half, but it's not hard to place the two pieces together and read its contents:

Dear Professor Throgapple,

We, the West Walnut Historical and Cribbage Society, are very excited about your upcoming lecture at our library concerning the history of the Bleak family and its subtle, but far-reaching influence into the politics of the day.

At last week's gathering, a few of us members were gathered about the punch bowl discussing the Bleaks and were hoping that you might address a few specific questions that crop up from time to time. To whit:

1. Was Mary Bleak ever found following the events of The Night of Knives?

2. Where do Henry Bleak's coded correspondences with President Harrison now reside?

3. How many children were officially born of Constance Bleak and how many officially reached maturity?

4. Is it true that all of the members in the infamous painting of Washington Crossing the Potomac (save General Washington himself) are members of the Bleak family? Was the infamous British colonel John "Frothing Dog" Bleak related to the colonial Bleaks?

5. PT Barnum once had on display in the sideshow the tattooed skin of Witherspoon Bleak. Where does it now reside?

6. Horace Bleak once leased office space in Redchapel, this much we know to be true. He was a former surgeon, a rabid mysogynist, and suffered from delusions. We know he was interviewed by the London police. What proof got him removed from the list of suspects as Jack the Ripper?

7. Genevieve Bleak had three sons all named Genevieve who named all their sons Genevieve. No Genevieve of any generation died of natural causes. Was this some kind of tax dodge, or were they trying to hide something in that certain branch of the family?

8. The naming and appearance of Charles Lindburg Bleak seems coincidental. It's not really, is it?

You can tell us.

We look forward to your talk. Please remember that the light to the rear entry to the library flickers, and that the stone steps are a little loose. Use caution. And come alone.

Your servants,

The West Walnut Historical and Cribbage Society
Bleak, Nebraska

The Bleaks, are of course, well known. In short, the answers to the above questions are obviously (in no particular order): No, Yes, Falstaff, Seven, Both, a Feather, Kiev, and "depending on how you define the terms."

This week we also received the usual rag-pressed paper with crimson ink. It seems things are finally afoot:

Dear sirs,

The hunt is on!

(You know what we mean.)

At last. At last. At last!

(unsigned)

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It's been a good week. I love it when a week comes together and all my little projects remain on schedule. Without going into all the gory details as I do each day, suffice it to say that some items are indeed headaing to the printer. Others to authors. I have some correspondence to catch up on. Some loose ends to track down and tie up, but for the most part--it's been a nicely productive week.

I'm going to devote some time today to make sure my TumbleTap projects are all in good order. They are, for the most part, but I need to work on some covers. And follow up on some other small details, all of which make up the devil--so to speak.

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Brian Gari had posted a photo on Facebook of him with some folks including Alison Arngrim, the actress who played Nellie Olsen on Little House On the Prairie. I had commented on the photo how neat I thought that was, as I had had a little crush on her when I was a kid. Something about those eyes, I think--because Nellie herself was a horror. Anyway. Imagine my surprise when I check my mail this morning and find that my comment made its way back to Ms. Arngrim who has added me as a friend on facebook.

How cool is that?

So today's link is in her honor, it's the The Official Alison Arngrim: Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - Nellie Olsen Website. It's a very up-to-date webpage with all the latest news on Alison Arngrim's appearances and activities. Plus there's a pretty cool photo gallery.

Well worth checking out--especially if you had a secret crush on her too. (I know I wasn't the only one.)

Cheers!