I am a rare books cataloguer and librarian by profession
I love books, research, and all manner of records.
Here are a few of my favorite library inks.
The Plantin-Moretus House -- A remarkable (still-functioning) museum in Antwerp encompassing the works of these very prolific printers (in Dutch and English)
I have assembled a nice list of useful internet reference links.
They really encompass a wide swath of subjects. I hope you find some of them useful.
Here are merely a few to explore. More will be added as I find them.
I've always had a very skewed, twisted sense of humor. It's a combinaiton of cruel, absurd, tasteless and obscure.
Let's put it this way - I find squibs (you know those little bags of fake blood) exploding hysterically funny!
So, here are a few web sites of things I find tremendously, uproriously and questionably hilarious.
Some are not meant to be funny just an area of interest or something that intrigues me.
I hope you can enjoy some of them, as well.
And, for your information, the rest of the world thinks I'm barking mad too!
I am also and avid reader. I read mostly history and non-fiction.
Nevertheless, I love the work of Tanith Lee and also of Angela Carter.
Jim Pattison and Paul Soanes began a stellar bibliography of Tanith Lee's works, now residing on the Internet.
It has now fallen to me to continue the Daughter of the Night.
If you have never heard of Tanith Lee, be sure to feast youreyes on this wonderful site.
I have also provided some tried and true book search links. Happy hunting!
The Engraged Musician, an engraving by William Hogarth
I live for music. I eat, breathe, and sleep it. I also travel for it.
I have very eclectic tastes. I love everything from Early Music and Classical to Rock to International to Chanson.
My favorites, however, if I had to choose, would have to be some Progressive Rock, especially Renaissance,
Scandinavian, IQ, Porcupine Tree, and Opeth; and Folk Rock, especially Fairport Convention,
Malicorne, and Steeleye Span. Other favorites are singer-songwriters, such as Sandy Denny, Nick Drake and Gabriel Yacoub.
David Sylvian's music is a new discovery for me, and I am absolutely in love with all of his solo work now.
I also like industrial, alternative, gothy and "hard to classify" music - I love Nick Cave with and apart from the Bad Seeds,
Einstürzende Neubauten and Blixa Bargeld's solo projects, Interpol, NIN, Gary Numan, Siouxsie Sioux, Sisters of Mercy, Sigur Rós, Razed in Black and others.
Alysoun's Eclectic Music Links
3 Mustaphas 3 -- World Music / Balkan Wonderful Weirdness
Blixa Bargeld -- Actor, musician, philosopher, artist
Nick Cave Online -- From the Birthday Party to the Bad Seeds and beyond
Entre Tête et Nuages -- Sound files, films and photos of the wonderful Gabriel Yacoub and archival Malicorne footage hosted by Robert Chalut
Alysoun's Additional Music Links
My favorite instrument is the Hurdy-Gurdy, or Vielle-a-Roux (wheel fiddle, literally translated from the French).
Its origins are still a bit mysterious. If you have never heard a hurdy-gurdy, be sure to check out Alden and Cali Hackman's website.
Please feel free to browse the other great and informative music links below.
A Hurdy-Gurdy, or Vielle-a-Roux, made by Olympia Musical Instruments
FrogProg -- I hate the name!!! But it is the beginning of a great journey in the world of Francophone Progressive Rock (in French and English)
Music India Online -- Whether it be Bhangra or Karnatic, I am a big fan of all Indian Music
Where do I find these CDs and records, I am always asked.
Through a long time of experience and investigation, is the answer.
I have listed several companies, both large and small, that I get my CDs and records from.
All of the places listed have great service, ship in a good amount of time and the people there really know their stuff!!
Happy hunting!!
Feeding the ducks and seagulls on an Amsterdam Canal
I love to travel, it's in my blood.
Here a few of my favorite travel links and resources.
And some photos from my travels as well.
Grab your suitcase, here we go!!!
Lonely Planet -- A great resource to plan your next jaunt
Iceland Air -- when I travel overseas, I fly Iceland Air, the best airline to fly to Europe
Ekit -- Global phone cards, quad band phones, sim chips, etc.
A beautiful tree-lined path in Grolloo, Drenthe, the Netherlands
In 1998, I visited "The Lady's" Grave in Putney Vale cemetary in order to pay tribute to the one and only Sandy Denny
Nibbles Woodaway, the Big Blue Bug, mascot of New England Pest Control and a Rhode Island landmark
Alysoun's Friends and Fronds
The Three H's in Ogunquit -- the official ban(ne)d photo
From left: Koen (Netherlands), Richard (England), and Chris (Canada),
in Ogunquit, Maine, during their visit in 1998.
This is their official (when they form one, that is) band photo. Don't they look silly?
Here are some additional links to friends' pages
Koen's Home Page -- My good friend Koen's homepage (in Dutch and English)
Marco de Niet's Page -- a good friend, fellow librarian and music lover (in Dutch and English)
Valeria's Page -- a friend and colleague's project for historical Brazilian documents
Third Ear -- Andrew Holborn's Pages and radio program
Prog Montréal -- Prog in Montréal - built and maintained by my very good friend Robert (in French and English)
Distant Early Warning -- Gordon Tanner's Internet Radio Show from Vancouver, B.C. on 92.9 CKJN FM (Saturdays, all night)
Here are some strange and wonderous photos of friends of mine and some photos of my little monster, Ginsu.
Eugene and Marco on Scheveningen Beach in Den Haag
Gathered at the Hoofsteenge Cafe, Grolloo, for Koen's wedding, from left to right: John, Richard, Dick, Arthur and Chris
Some of the gang in Montréal, from left to right: Robert, Yves, Hugues, and Ian
My monster, Ginsu, at six weeks of age
Ginsu, looking haughty, at one year of age
My new adoptee, Gabrielle, a very cool cat
Ginsu and Gabrielle are still getting to know eachother
But sometimes they get close to one another and this was the first time that I have seen this!
This is a very rarely seen thing - I blame it on the excellent reading material ...
Finally, I found a really nice picture of me when I was about 16, brings back lots of memories
