h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Good comedy books, GDZ?

Pratchett, obviously, the earlier the funnier. I suppose I ought to mention DNA, someone mentioned the Dirk Gently books, and I do prefer them to the HHGG series.

I don't know many USian awriters, but I also found early Neal Stephenson very funny, (Zodiac and The Big U, for example) and PJ O'Rourke usually makes me laugh, again his earlier stuff is funnier.

It has been a bitch of a year, hasn't it?

Ben

Rather, but it's getting a whole lot better!

As far as comedy books go, Jon Stewart is a hoot, and I've always had a soft spot for both Dave Barry and Paul Reiser. The latter's book "Parenthood" is damned funny. I also liked Drew Carey's "Dirty Jokes and Beer" -- the jokes are really, really dirty, and funny!

The ex is having the same work-related problems in Afghanistan that he had in the US, and I'm trying to think of a very, very gentle way to say that frankly, his employment problems are one of the reasons I wanted him out of my life, so please quit complaining to me. Anyone have any suggestions?

I've just been invited to Idaho for a week with the BF...I said yes pending his agreement to go to Montana and meet my friends there. FG, can we borrow your floor for a bit, do you think? (I'm going to bring an Aerobed!!)

How is your ex complaining?

Is it by phone or by email or by letter? To be honest, if it is email or letter I'd let him carry on for a while because they are relatively easy to read and then get on with your own life. Phone calls are much harder to deal with.

Otherwise I guess the thing to say is that people change and you are moving on, and you feel it is time for him to do the same. Be prepared to say it more than once though.

Ben

Tom Holt's worth a look too. Similar sort of thing to Prachett, but set on (or above) Earth. He's a tad patchy: for a while there he seemed to be churning out versions of the same book, but Who's Afraid of Beowolf and the Flying Dutchman were pretty good I seem to remember, and he seems to have started an actual series lately, the first of which is A portable Door, which I thouroughly enjoyed.

[MTG just home from the club]

'Twas the second original Star Wars film, Ben, Episode 5. The third, Episode 6, is on today at 12.35 pm. And you do know if you are tempted to the dark side, the Jedi rules for both sides are quite specific. My character although Force Sensitive, she isn't going to do the Jedi training as she currently uses both sides as Teras Kasi Master and yes, I'm still obssessed with the game *sigh*.

P.G. Wodehouse, you can't have a library without him to raise a smile.

Hi Gw7en,good to have you back.

We still have this fluey cold bug, I think it will be an early night tonight rather than celebrating.

For a rather surreal look at military life in the second world war there is always Spike Milligan's autobiography - Hitler: My Part In His Downfall, Rommel? Gunner Who? and Monty: His Part in My Victory. Or of course other wiritings by Spike.

This will now be my last posting of the year, unless I think of something else to say in the next ten minutes or so. I will pass on your regards to those I'll be seeing the old year out with (notably B17) and hope the new year starts peacefully for you all.

Ben, it's on the phone. By email or letter, as you pointed out, it's a lot easier to deal with. I've tried to just hand the phone to D when he calls, but she's been so bratty lately after she talks to him that I've been trying to limit their time on the phone.

Ah well. Really, what does it hurt to let him vent, except that perhaps my letting him vent at me as he did during our marriage makes him think there's a chance he'll take me back, perhaps? I don't know.

It is always difficult to know when the boundary between "being there and making a difference" and "having the life sucked out of you" is about to be crossed. It does harm you, do doubt in that.

The question is does it harm you more than it helps him? And how easy is it for you to recover, and how fair is it on those around you for you to be harmed in this way?

Tricky call.

Went into Sainsburys and came out with my Christmas Present to me. They were selling loads of CDs cheap, and I have got 'Let it Be', 'Diamond Dogs' and some Lou Reed and some Proclaimers, plus 'A Reggae tribute to the Beatles' which has to be the bargain of the year at £2.99.

I confess I am counting the hours until we can say goodbye to this year. I guess it is tempting fate to say that I cannot remember a worse one, and that includes 2001.

I find myself praying to the goddess for her mercy and kindness for us all for 2005. But I fear, too.

B

is that the time?

*raises a glass of to Ben having a better 2005, and me having one just as good as 2004, and the rest of the salonistas having just want they want.*

I'm off to Brighton for New Year. (which seems an awfully long way).

Being a prat I washed only the clothes I needed for the trip to Brighton and then discovered I was missing a button on my shirt, and I don't have a spare button. And Downstairs was out of safty pins. I shall have to ask A's mum to sew on one for me when we pop in for on the way down.

See you all next year

Have a good time, Z, and say hello to Brighton and another hello to A and the folks from me.

B

I will do Ben, do you want me to converse with any particular bit of Brighton, though it will be dark by the time we arrive.

And I seem to have a lost a purple duvet. I still haven't managed to tidy the living room y'see.

B, I really sympathise. I too will be very glad to wave goodbye to 2004 - my luck in matters related to and simply HAS to improve.

But I do have some creative projects lined up for early 2005 that I'm really looking forward to. I'm going to be acting in a short film made by some of my fellow Uni students, appearing in another stage play, and taking a short-story writing course among others.

I've bought a Beatles item too - the official 2005 calendar. I just want to turn over the page from the cover of 'Anthology 1' (Sept-Dec 2004) to the cover of 'Please Please Me' (January) and get on with 2005!

for Ormy and, hell-dammit why not, a group for the Atelier as a whole.

Just Brighton, generically, Z, Though I lived in the Lanes, and was fond of the North Laines, and the Palace Pier, and the Pavillion, and the Marina, and the West Pier, and Hove actually, and... and... and...

B

Z, sit down. Difficult concept coming up. When you don't have a button for a shirt, you find a shirt you won't be wearing for a while and you *borrow* a button off it using nail scissors.

Of course, 'Getting Someone Else to Sort It Out' is also a good strategy .

*goes off to do A Review of the Ant Year 2004*

*Joins in group , sings*:

'When I find myself in times of trouble, Lil's Atelier comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be...'

>> 'Getting Someone Else to Sort It Out' is also a good strategy



Me - I call that 'delegating'.

When my dad was a PoW he had to sew buttons and make button-holes for the first time in his life. He cut the button-holes round to match the buttons. He had never actually noticed in all his 30 years on the planet, that buttonholes are straight.

Ben

>> 'cut the buttonholes round'



I recommend Carl Hiassen's novels for inducing . And, although it is not necessary, I was glad that I read them in order as there are a few characters that progress through the books. One in particular is an ex-governor of Florida that makes me laugh out loud.

Now, that was a mistake. 2004 was much worse than I thought and now I've upset myself thinking about things that I'd conveniently forgotten.

The good bits: my health has improved and I have taken up running. In 2005 I hope to do more running - perhaps I'll do a half marathon. I'd also like to find a better work-life balance and restart my PhD studies. And I want to do more painting.

On the balance, I think that 2004 was a year that was balancing between average and OK

to those that need one for the old year running out, to everyone and all to start us nicely on the new year - and to take care of all the rest. Lots of

And now, don't do anything I wouldn't do...

(which conveniently leaves you with pretty wide options )