Summerabbacat

Perhaps a "relapse" on Charlie's part @Gary L, or more dramatically, a major hissy fit thrown by their mother resulting in both lads having to visit to console her. Charlie may have slapped her silly resulting in her shrieking like a banshee and having to be sedated for her own health, as well as that of Neil and Charlie. I had a good laugh at the following statement "There was a festival each autumn—the Sternbacher Festtage—focusing on chamber music and song, and unusually they seemed to enjoy contemporary music." I wonder what is regarded as "contemporary" music by aficionados of chamber music and song. Although not contemporary, I know some of my favourite English acts from the 1970's were enormously popular in Germany (as they were in Australia too) e.g. Suzi Quatro, Gary Glitter, Sweet and Smokie. Kraftwerk are still active so perhaps they may be considered contemporary, or maybe it really is contemporary music e.g. Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Adele, Olivia Dean or the fabulous Jessie Ware. I am not familiar with any contemporary German music, most of the German music I like is also from the 1970's through to the 1990's and, with one exception was disco, the exception being Kraftwerk. A bit of a cliffie there @Robert Hugill. You've got @Gary L preocupado.

I don't @dboggs9700 as I don't have a Facebook account or any other social media account(s). Well that did not go at all well. I don't think it would have mattered what Owen wore, it would have made no difference to the outcome. Ryder is understandably aggrieved by the extent of Owen's deception, which although intentional, was not done with any sense of malice. I must confess I had forgotten about the fake engagement ring, which I daresay is the omission which upset Ryder the most. Methinks Ryder is far more sensitive than what Owen perceived him to be. The carefree tough guy construction worker is his "performance". I think you may be right @dboggs9700; it will be Ryder who extends an olive branch and reconnects first. I suspect any relationship between the two will be conditional. I doubt Ryder will agree to play it on the down low like Jules has with Margot, which will be a real test for Owen and Margot's friendship. As has been commented upon before by several readers, Margot has called all the shots to date on the lavender relationship she and Owen have and she may not be prepared to relinquish any of that control. Did you know this was going to be the outcome of the first meeting @weinerdog?

Andrew Ridgeley and a George Michael impersonator lip-synching Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go?

And a little something for Owen from Ryder (tongue in cheek) from a legendary Aussie rock group from the 1970's.

A little something for Aunt Beth for being so observant of both Owen and Ellie. Something for her to wear to the next Ohio Funeral Directors Association annual dinner.

I almost rated this chapter with the 'ha ha' emoticon @mastershakeme for the swifty (an Aussie slang term for trick not a Taylor groupie) you pulled on we readers at the end. A cliffhanger to rival 'who shot JR?'. "I stood in front of my closet for twenty minutes. This was unusual because I’d never once in my life cared about what I was wearing. I owned jeans and t-shirts and one suit for funeral home events and that was the entire Owen Donnelly wardrobe. Fashion was not a thing I’d ever developed opinions about. Margot had opinions about fashion. I had a closet." Billy has his work out, but at least he will be starting with a clean slate, no bad habits to correct, other than Owen not caring how he dresses. It will be interesting to see what Billy is dressed in and what Owen and Ryder's reactions will be. I have a sense Ryder may have been raised in either a single parent household where money was tight, or by parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics where money was tight, or in foster care where he was not well treated. I don't know why I think this and it is terribly cliched, but it is my gut instinct. I think both Ryder and Owen are going to be pleased when they meet the other in person.

Yes he was in Ice Castles. I have not seen it (it was released when we were in Year 9 in high school), but was familiar with its name, probably because of the theme song by Melissa Manchester.

Fantastic song and suitably fantastic video @Philippe. I very much like Nancy as a singer, and she looked hot in those boots.

I remembered him and thought he was cute back in the day. I don't recall ever seeing him in a movie or TV show, so must only be familiar with him from magazines. I just Googled him and I think he is way hotter now, a very handsome Silver Daddy, who has aged very well. He has two children, a daughter, Lyric, and a son, Zephyr. He has had serious heart problems since his early 20's so it is a miracle he is alive and still looks so fine.

And I forgot to comment on Jeannie's (C. Riley not Barbara Eden) outfit and those Nancy Sinatra boots @Mark Ponyboy Peters and @weinerdog. She must have caused quite a stir herself, she was not dressed modestly like a "good" country female singer should have. She was dressed more like a hipster 60's chick. Looking at the entire ensemble and Jeannie's big ironed hair, I have to wonder if she may have inspired or influenced the early look the fabulous Kate Pierson from The B-52's adopted.

Unlike @Mark Ponyboy Peters I did not know this @weinerdog. I checked Barbara Eden's Wikipedia entry and noted it was also made into a TV series Harper Valley PTA , in which she also starred, which ran for two seasons in 1981-1982. I was aware of the song (I am not sure how) and have just played the Youtube clip. I am very surprised in that I am not sure I have ever heard the song before. I certainly like the message it sends.

Ryder is alarmingly perceptive. He either has a crystal ball, tarot cards or tea leaves to rival those which have been passed down through @weinerdog's family from his great, great, grandmother Madame Zelenska, a Czech fortune teller of mixed Slavic and Romany blood, or he is a very astute observer of people. I suspect it is the latter. Not bad for a construction worker (maybe he is related to David Hodo, the original construction worker from the Village People, whom I always thought was smokin' hot). I sense some possible conflict on the horizon with Margot, although my crystal ball, tarot cards and tea leaves are vastly inferior in their powers of prophecy to those in @weinerdog's possession.

Billy Porter may be able to give you etiquette advice on the "right way" to snort cappuccino @mastershakeme.

What makes you think that @drpaladin? The Blue Plate is a diner with a difference; a nude sex-on-premises dining experience, hence its name the Blue Plate. Ryder likes the missionary position best and the dining tables are large and have lube dispensers strategically affixed beneath the tabletop. Billy Porter will also be giving Owen fashion tips on sexy underwear and douching.

I just revisited the previous chapter and found "I told Mom I'd drive myself. She gave me a look but didn't argue. Dad and her left first. I followed a few minutes later, feeling the phone in my pocket like a heartbeat that didn't belong to me." I thought @drpaladin had made a mistake, but alas he had not. Owen really has no excuse now for having worn that appalling suit, shirt and tie to the funeral home. Billy Porter will be meeting Owen and Ryder at the diner in Cambridge to give Owen some fashion tips.

The only horse I was not familiar with was Torbino. The field had two prior winners, Tauto won the Cox Plate in 1971 and Abdul won it in 1970.

He was certainly an outstanding racehorse, a real showoff apparently. The year he beat All Shot and Magnifique in the Cox Plate was an exceptional field. Fuck, watching that stirred up my bloody "hay fever" again, and pissed me off with the fucking whipping. The run from All Shot was extraordinary. He was right off the track even before they came to the Valley turn where madness is the norm (and Kingston Town can't win, LOL). Magnifique was magnificent too. She should have won the Melbourne Cup that year. Was your mother and/or father a fan of country music? The reason I ask is how did you know about Tex Williams? I don't remember country music being played on the radio much, although if it had I probably would have taken little notice of it anyway. Neither of my parents were country music fans so I had no exposure to it from them. I do remember there was a country music show on TV, maybe on the weekend, with Reg Lindsay and Emma Hannah. I must have seen it once at my grandparents I think because neither was my cup of tea. My earliest favourites, pre-ABBA, were Suzi Quatro and Alvin Stardust.

OMG he must have borrowed that outfit from Liberace (and possibly his hair too). I thought I recognised his name, but a little research indicated I had him mixed up with Tex Morton, who I thought was an Aussie (he was Kiwi born), who sang The Goondoowindi Grey about Gunsynd. Such was his popularity, Gunsynd that is, that the song was a top 10 pop hit in 1973. Do you remember it @Mark Ponyboy Peters?

OMG Jeannie must have spent an age ironing her hair. Her hair would have been the envy of Jan Brady.

OMG could it be the proprietor(s) of the gallery are Danny and Jake, named after Jake's Sandman. If this be the case you had best give me a tissue warning @Mark Ponyboy Peters, actually it't too late, just thinking it might be the return of Danny and Jake has my "hay fever" burning hot like a Disco Inferno. Doodz is a great name. My brother who lives at Old Bar has been a surfie for 45+ years and I think the name would appeal to him.

"The afternoon unfolded gently, as if the town itself was in no hurry to reveal all its secrets at once. After lunch on the boardwalk overlooking the lake, Matt and Luke took Levi for a further wander around the streets of Thompsonville. They strolled along Main Street, where Matt pointed out the automotive parts store where he worked – currently closed at this hour on a Saturday – and the bakery, the Sandman Art Gallery and Doodz surf shop, which were all close by. Levi tried to picture his father working behind the counter in the auto store, helping people, and making his life here by the sea. Knowing where he came from, it still felt strange." What a delightfully languid opening to this chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Of course, it inspired a song, Summer Breeze. Take your pick which version you like best, the original by Seals & Crofts, or covers by The Isley Brothers or local band, Stylus. @Summerabbacat likes all three, but for me it will always be The Isley Brothers. And what a wonderful "shock". Matt, Luke and Levi explored the town on foot, rather than by car. Well done lads. I had to laugh at the name of the Sandman Art Gallery as I immediately thought of a gallery where all the paintings, sculptures and any other pieces of art were all of a Sandman Panel Van. And Doodz surf shop, what a great name. Although it is a fictional town, all the towns along the coast of NSW north of Newcastle have outrageously expensive housing now. My brother lives in Old Bar, a seaside village which had less than 1000 people when we were kids in the 1970's/early 1980's. A 2br apartment near the beach will set you back $1 million plus now. The further north you go, the more expensive the real estate. A beautiful part of the world though.

Geez, the mountain lion attack made Frida’s “attack” on me last year pale in comparison. I think I will stick to adopting DSH cats. Short and savage @Lee Wilson, with significant tension due to the non-human animals. What a shame you did not have a spare mountain lion or two when Kathy and Abel Taft were committing their heinous crimes; more environmentally-friendly than my “friend” the 18 wheel semi-trailer too. Well done as usual.

A truly horrid creature @Gary L, and so wholly believable.

You may have to “top” that abundance of testosterone yourself @drsawzall. If the Volvo’s a rockin’ don’t come a knockin’. LOL.

Hopefully not too pure @mastershakeme.