PORCH PONDERINGS

New Year's Eve

I sit here on New Year's Eve, watching some videos online, listening to fireworks outside, reading the last of a good book, working on computer stuff. Multi-tasking if you will.

Ever watch 'Slow Horses' on Apple TV? Oh my - such fun. Gary Oldman is the star actor with a great bunch of unknowns supporting him as the ne'er do well secret agents in London. Well, it's a good series, limited. So one thing he said tonight got my attention, and he has a lot of good cynical lines mind you, but these, 'Elvis shot JFK and Hitler built the pyramids'. Okay - that gave me a good laugh.

And then I thought, what good conspiracy theories those two ideas would be. Why not?? There are stranger ideas out there.

Then there is a series on Hulu called 'Nine Perfect Strangers' that has sucked me in, starring Nicole Kidman and some others. Now this is kind of quirky with people going to a 'wellness' spa and being subjected to 'micro-dosing' of hallucinogens but is that part of some other sinister plot?? Hmm.

I just finished two excellent books. 'The Kingdom' by Jo Nesbo and 'Our Missing Hearts' by Celeste Ng. Both good writers with unusual story ideas.

Nesbo has two brothers in Norway, owners of land. It deals with childhood trauma, murder most devious, trickery, building a hotel, and just an excellent tale of family drama. Then Ng has a story of prejudice and a dystopian society that sure does sound like it could happen, it was written this past year, perhaps not in the not-too-distant future. Pretty scary stuff.

After my last whiny post I've spent a lot of alone time, reading, listening to online music, really taking care of myself. Now that the holidays are over, I am clawing my way back to the top of a dark pit. I should be out of it in soon.

I have until 1 AM, that is when the fireworks are legally supposed to quit, I pray.