Ripley in her natural habitat… snuggling up to me on the couch in the home theater as I decide what to view tonight.

Haze of smoke from wildfires in northern Minnesota and Canada hanging over my office…

I just picked this up from Varese Sarabande. I usually buy soundtracks for movies/shows I've seen, but this two-disc set of music from four low-budget movies I've not seen features scores by Gerald Fried, whose work I know from his Star Trek Original Series scores. It did not disappoint!

Here's a pic of a wee toad for all your wee toad pic needs.

I’ve had these book-club editions on my shelves for forty years and I’m going to get crazy and actually read them. Note that they didn’t spring for different cover art for the two volumes.

Gonna start a rewatch of Firefly… on DVD, the way the pioneers watched it.

In honor of the announcement below, an issue from my archive! Ah, 1977, when Star Wars was simply that, no subtitle or Roman numerals…

One of my faves, 1954’s THEM, the giant ant movie, which I just picked up in 4K. The fab William Schallert has an uncredited small role as an ambulance attendant, and a young Leonard Nimoy turns up as an army sergeant, also uncredited. James Whitmore and James Arness star. Plus lots of ants.

Clearly there’s room for two more bottles of gin here? What should I get? And my apologies to the various vineyards who have seen a drop in sales since I belatedly found gin.

Got a quick glimpse of this baby bunny this morning. Posted especially for @davidmack.pro!

Bumblebee!

Could there have been a more perfect title for this book? No, no, I don’t think so.

This year’s robin hatchlings are growing fast.

She’s right behind me, isn’t she?

In my geeky hand! The new Species Sourcebook for the Star Trek Adventures RPG from Modiphius. Too many people involved too tag them all, but you know you are and well done—it’s fab to work with you all!

In my geeky hand! A George Harrison double feature (IYKYK)!

In my geeky hand! My short story collection featuring a spiffy new cover by Jeffrey Hayes! Available from that website which unfortunately has kind of cornered the market... www.amazon.com/Sad-Rains-Ma...

Then there’s the Ten Bells… morbid historical note: some of Jack the Ripper’s victims were known to have a few there.

Or try the bar or garden room in Rules, the oldest restaurant in London. We decided the food was beyond our budget but got a cocktail—also pricey, but, hey, it’s London!

Owned by Ian McKellen, it has Gandalf’s staff behind the bar. It’s right on the Thames.

CATURDAY. Say hi to Ripley.

Added a little backdrop for the Orca.

In my geeky hand! Had such a gratifying experience working with my pals @davidmack.pro and @daytonward.bsky.social on these novels, and just wait until the next books come out later this year, another from Mack and one from the inimitable @unamccormack.bsky.social!

Happy Alien Day to all who celebrate!

In my geeky hand! Picked up at my local indie bookstore on Independent Bookstore Day.

Getting ready to make a little something.

Since Criterion has announced their 4K release of Lynch's The Elephant Man, here's a pic I took when I visited Joseph Merrick's burial plot, which was tracked down in the City of London Cemetery in 2019 by Joanne Vigor-Mungovin, author of "Joseph: The Life, Times, and Places of the Elephant Man."

Ripley watching the xenomorph behind me.

Ripley in her fave sleep mode… front legs folded backward and head hanging over the edge of the couch.

So I’m not the only one!