JaneG

Hello! I live in AZ with my husband and am mostly retired. I spent most of my working life in the book field: bookstores, a book distributor, and library assistant. As you can probably guess, I really like books.

I also really like to travel. For 18 years of my life I lived in England and was fortunate to visit many places in Europe. Now in my later years, I have become enamored by cruising. Annoyingly so. I will go on about it at length with little provocation. For me there's something incredibly exciting about being on a ship. This does not stop me from enjoying books, films, podcasts (Shipwreck Sunday) about shipwrecks.

Creepy aside - We're going to Lake Superior for my birthday this year and weirdly "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" has been playing recently when I'm listening to the radio. Coincidence? Omen?

I am also a huge fan of pole dance. Except at my age, I don't really do the dance part. I prefer the hanging upside down in a precarious position bit. I'm the oldest person in my pole class by at least a couple decades but I find it incredibly fun and always something new to learn. And with arthritis and osteoporosis, I found it is a great way to build muscle and strengthen bones. I'm inspired by Greta Pontarelli who, at the age of 73, is a 15x World Master Champion (she too has osteoporosis).

Quirky history, sea voyages and shipwrecks.

Scandinavian mysteries and good old fashioned ghost stories.

Folktales - especially those with unhappy endings.

Books with unreliable narrators.

For the 2025, I'm trying to read more non-fiction. Currently reading: Question 7 by Richard Flanagan. I'm waiting to start Book and Dagger (about librarians being spies in WW2)

Novels I've got lined up include: Poor Deer by Clare Oshetsky, Bat Eater by Kylie Lee Baker, Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor.

I'm always open to book recommendations, even if it has nothing to do with the swap.

To dance to - 1950's music.

To sing badly to - 1980's songs.

When I'm feeling wild - rockabilly.

When I'm feeling tired - mellow jazz, soft classical.

In the dead of night - spooky murder ballads.

My public playlists on Spotify (by hauntedfondue-us):

Hearing Double - a wide array of cool covers

Killer Murder Ballads - just what the name says

Vintage postcards

black and white photos

book and music recommendations

folk art and folk tales

urban legends

old maps and travel ephemera

ghost stories

bookmarks

patches - especially of places like parks or attractions

I enjoy when the sender adds their own personal touch to the card, however they feel inspired.

Religious tracts

political pamphlets

advertisements

a photo of your uncle asleep after Christmas dinner

Please don't feel limited by this list, I'd prefer you send what inspires you. But if you're wanting a few suggestions...

Vintage postcards are always good; quirky, roadside attractions; tourist cards from your area or somewhere you've visited; ships - from cruise ships to shipwrecks; local wildlife; vinegar Valentines; old amusement parks; stamp postcards; boring postcards (check out the books by Martin Parr)

Currently I'm liking ...

Shipwreck Sunday

Big Old Boats

Dark Histories

You're Dead to Me

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Radio Rentals

Snap Judgement - Spooked

Always open to suggestion for new history, ghost stories or weird science podcasts.

I like TV and movies well enough, just don't spend much time watching them. Things I've been liking recently are: Ludwig (with David Mitchell)

Good Ship Murder and Doctor Odyssey

Mysteries of the Abandoned