I was just finishing a nightly episode of Poirot when your newsy letter arrived and I thought to myself how much you and Poirot have in common. Both of you use your little grey cells to the max.
Attention to the tiniest little thing gives us such a wonderful backstory for Emma.
Rather wonderful too, that the impetus for your detective work came from Mary B. I remember reading about that little book and her comment - 'Rebecca would love this...'
Soon, Rebecca, I shall expect to see you in the most perfectly tailored grey suit, maybe with patent shoes with spats. I can't wait to see what your next moment of sleuthing reveals.
A whole book of lists is so delightful. I wish I had kept my own adolescent book of lists - I loved to make lists then, in the very best sparkly gel pen ink - I would send it to you if I had it!
'while S would stuff a basket with as many volumes of teen fiction as would fit, and would try to convince the librarian that she needed to borrow more than the prescribed four-volume limit² because ‘I am very intelligent and can read very fast.’'
Hey Rebecca! Long time no comment from me. The weird thing: I fell off of your email list somehow, and I feared you were disconsolate or dead or something even worse, and had quit Substack. Glad to see you're still here! The other thing of note: I owe my career (or, at least its launch) to the original BOL, which I reinterpreted to a ten-page "Resume of Lists." Just as weird as it sounds! Nonetheless it won me several job interviews and my very first journalism job, working for a techno-futurist magazine called NEXT. It died after a couple of years. That's the future for you. Glad to be back here! I missed your wanderings!
Taco cat goat cheese pizza!! WE LOVE this game. Oh my goodness, this is one of our card games along with Skip-Bo and UNO. This post made me smile and Pepperdine...my bother went there for Grad school. What a beautiful University. Have a great weekend Rebecca with your adventures! I believe The London Marathon is tomorrow. It's on my list. :)
Oh my! So much here to take in! I’m always making “lists” on scraps of paper, and they littler my dining table next to my appointment book. A dear friend—now passed—introduced me to a small book years ago she dubbed, “A Capture Device”. When I quizzed her on it, she said it’s a blank book where you jot down lists; thoughts; things to do… etc. I thought that was brilliant and got myself one. Mostly it contained the bills I paid, medicines, groceries, and doctor appointments I attended to for my dad when I cared for him for 7 years. I still have it.
That little stylized elephant on the back of the booklet, looked like a stylized turtle to me going in the opposite direction. Funny what one perceives at first glance. 🤔😉
Wow! What a post! If I had found the MBoL, I would have instantly thought, "Rebecca!" and sent it to you. What a detective's mind you have. I loved everything here.
Of course I loved this! You have a wonderful way of turning something possibly ordinary into a full-blown, multi-chapter adventure story! And the mention of the American vs UK vocabulary choices had me smiling with recognition. I always chuckle remembering each time I learned that anything that had the prefix "English" on it as I had learned in America, it is usually just the plain word here: like Cucumber, or the band the Beat. But why not "English muffins"? Perhaps you can suss that one out sometime! 🤣🤣
I do hope Emma came into the Austin Library to reclaim her book of lists; that is, unless she's filled it and started another one. Thank's for this tour through multiple lives in the UK and Austin. I love Austin.
Just catching up on my stacks this morning, Rebecca. Like you, I’m so behind! The MBoL cover reminds me of my good friend (she’s Thai) who owns a mini-cooper! Apparently, it’s a popular car there. Before I moved my shopping list digitally, the notebook reminded me of my analog days. As always, a lovely and delightful read!
I was just finishing a nightly episode of Poirot when your newsy letter arrived and I thought to myself how much you and Poirot have in common. Both of you use your little grey cells to the max.
Attention to the tiniest little thing gives us such a wonderful backstory for Emma.
Rather wonderful too, that the impetus for your detective work came from Mary B. I remember reading about that little book and her comment - 'Rebecca would love this...'
Soon, Rebecca, I shall expect to see you in the most perfectly tailored grey suit, maybe with patent shoes with spats. I can't wait to see what your next moment of sleuthing reveals.
Cheers...
❤️
A whole book of lists is so delightful. I wish I had kept my own adolescent book of lists - I loved to make lists then, in the very best sparkly gel pen ink - I would send it to you if I had it!
'while S would stuff a basket with as many volumes of teen fiction as would fit, and would try to convince the librarian that she needed to borrow more than the prescribed four-volume limit² because ‘I am very intelligent and can read very fast.’'
Did this work for S?
Just curious. :).
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is one of our favorites around here! Way too fun seeing adults play it. 😂
This list-keeper seems to live a full and interesting life! Felix is a wonderful name.
Hey Rebecca! Long time no comment from me. The weird thing: I fell off of your email list somehow, and I feared you were disconsolate or dead or something even worse, and had quit Substack. Glad to see you're still here! The other thing of note: I owe my career (or, at least its launch) to the original BOL, which I reinterpreted to a ten-page "Resume of Lists." Just as weird as it sounds! Nonetheless it won me several job interviews and my very first journalism job, working for a techno-futurist magazine called NEXT. It died after a couple of years. That's the future for you. Glad to be back here! I missed your wanderings!
I love miniature books and books of lists!!! This post was such fun!!! Thank you!! And it is fun to find things in library books!
Taco cat goat cheese pizza!! WE LOVE this game. Oh my goodness, this is one of our card games along with Skip-Bo and UNO. This post made me smile and Pepperdine...my bother went there for Grad school. What a beautiful University. Have a great weekend Rebecca with your adventures! I believe The London Marathon is tomorrow. It's on my list. :)
Oh my! So much here to take in! I’m always making “lists” on scraps of paper, and they littler my dining table next to my appointment book. A dear friend—now passed—introduced me to a small book years ago she dubbed, “A Capture Device”. When I quizzed her on it, she said it’s a blank book where you jot down lists; thoughts; things to do… etc. I thought that was brilliant and got myself one. Mostly it contained the bills I paid, medicines, groceries, and doctor appointments I attended to for my dad when I cared for him for 7 years. I still have it.
That little stylized elephant on the back of the booklet, looked like a stylized turtle to me going in the opposite direction. Funny what one perceives at first glance. 🤔😉
Love this!
I think you need to make and sell these little books, Rebecca! I’d love one.
Wow! What a post! If I had found the MBoL, I would have instantly thought, "Rebecca!" and sent it to you. What a detective's mind you have. I loved everything here.
Of course I loved this! You have a wonderful way of turning something possibly ordinary into a full-blown, multi-chapter adventure story! And the mention of the American vs UK vocabulary choices had me smiling with recognition. I always chuckle remembering each time I learned that anything that had the prefix "English" on it as I had learned in America, it is usually just the plain word here: like Cucumber, or the band the Beat. But why not "English muffins"? Perhaps you can suss that one out sometime! 🤣🤣
I do hope Emma came into the Austin Library to reclaim her book of lists; that is, unless she's filled it and started another one. Thank's for this tour through multiple lives in the UK and Austin. I love Austin.
Very inter, Rebecca and, as ever, meticulously researched.
Just catching up on my stacks this morning, Rebecca. Like you, I’m so behind! The MBoL cover reminds me of my good friend (she’s Thai) who owns a mini-cooper! Apparently, it’s a popular car there. Before I moved my shopping list digitally, the notebook reminded me of my analog days. As always, a lovely and delightful read!