Kate Collins's Blog, page 227
June 23, 2013
Sibling Rivalry
by Kate CollinsI read an article in this week's Parade Magazine entitled, "The Science of Siblings." There were a lot of research results in it, such how the stereotypes of the firstborn, middle and lastborn children are based in fact, and how important it is for parents to be fair and show no impartiality. I'm very happy to say my mother was extremely fair and always loved us equally, and I have striven to follow her example with my own children.
What surprised me about the article was how important sibling relationships continue to be in adulthood, especially in middle age and beyond. According to experts, there's what is called "sibling drift", where siblings move away, start careers, and have families, with little time to connect. Then in middle age, as other loved ones pass away, siblings become important sources of comfort and support.
In fact, according to this article, the happiest, healthiest and least lonely people have strong sibling relationships. Again, I thank my mother for helping my sister, brother and I achieve that. It's not that we agree on everything or think alike, (I can hear them chortling now) but we do share a strong bond that we've made a priority to keep.
Do you think sibling support is necessary? Are you close or on good terms with your siblings?
June 22, 2013
The Honor System
by Leann
Moving to a more rural part of the country was a good move. It's beautiful in the Carolinas--and peaceful. But I do miss many things about the Texas town where we lived. I could find organic foods and those without preservatives much easier. (I'm super sensitive and have a host of food allergies.) Now, travel time to get those things is about an hour each way. But the good news is, the traffic is, well, non-existent! I do NOT miss Houston traffic one bit.
But "organic" can be found in other ways. And one of those is right around the corner from our rental house. An older couple has a fruit and vegetable stand in their front yard--and it's all paid for with the honor system. Here's what I found once I stopped there:
Beautiful tomatoes, cukes, yellow squash and peppers! Nice, huh?
There are signs you can see giving the prices--most things are 3 for a dollar--and they have a container with plastic grocery bags so you can bag up your purchases. And here's how you pay:
Just slide your money in the slot of that old lock box--and there's a scale for your convenience--I guess for when they put out fruits and veggies sold by the pound. That's not the case just yet.
Refreshing throwback to a less busy time? You betcha! This is how they do it in rural South Carolina. And the watermelons? One dollar. Yummy!!!
Moving to a more rural part of the country was a good move. It's beautiful in the Carolinas--and peaceful. But I do miss many things about the Texas town where we lived. I could find organic foods and those without preservatives much easier. (I'm super sensitive and have a host of food allergies.) Now, travel time to get those things is about an hour each way. But the good news is, the traffic is, well, non-existent! I do NOT miss Houston traffic one bit.
But "organic" can be found in other ways. And one of those is right around the corner from our rental house. An older couple has a fruit and vegetable stand in their front yard--and it's all paid for with the honor system. Here's what I found once I stopped there:
Beautiful tomatoes, cukes, yellow squash and peppers! Nice, huh?There are signs you can see giving the prices--most things are 3 for a dollar--and they have a container with plastic grocery bags so you can bag up your purchases. And here's how you pay:
Just slide your money in the slot of that old lock box--and there's a scale for your convenience--I guess for when they put out fruits and veggies sold by the pound. That's not the case just yet.Refreshing throwback to a less busy time? You betcha! This is how they do it in rural South Carolina. And the watermelons? One dollar. Yummy!!!
June 21, 2013
The Power of Peanut Butter
By Ellery Adams
I've officially unplugged for the second half of June in order to spend some quality time with the family and to have a few adventures. One of these adventures occurred close to home and involved lots of peanut butter.
After church one Sunday, the members of the congregation were given fortune cookies. Inside each cookie was a mission. Mine was to find a new way to "spread love".
Sounds easy, right? Give someone a hug, pay a compliment, call an old friend, be kind to a stranger. Nah, not good enough. None of those things were new. Besides, when I heard "spread" I immediately pictured my mom making me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Later that day, I heard a plea from our area food bank saying that they needed peanut butter because with school getting out, they had loads of kids to feed this summer.
The Food Bank's kid-friendly staple? You guessed it! Peanut butter sandwiches!
The universe was trying to tell me something and I did my best to listen. I sent out an email to everyone in our neighborhood asking for peanut butter and in two weeks, we collected 100 jars. This is what 100 jars of peanut butter looks like.
I got a big bonus from this experience. I met neighbors I hadn't met in the two years living here. And every time the doorbell rang, we'd all race to answer it, hoping to find a jar of peanut butter in our "PB Bucket" or a smiling face on our stoop. The second bonus? My kids got to tour the Food Bank and see how many people give of their time to feed our area hungry.
What about you? Have you done something to spread love lately?
I've officially unplugged for the second half of June in order to spend some quality time with the family and to have a few adventures. One of these adventures occurred close to home and involved lots of peanut butter.
After church one Sunday, the members of the congregation were given fortune cookies. Inside each cookie was a mission. Mine was to find a new way to "spread love".
Sounds easy, right? Give someone a hug, pay a compliment, call an old friend, be kind to a stranger. Nah, not good enough. None of those things were new. Besides, when I heard "spread" I immediately pictured my mom making me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Later that day, I heard a plea from our area food bank saying that they needed peanut butter because with school getting out, they had loads of kids to feed this summer.
The Food Bank's kid-friendly staple? You guessed it! Peanut butter sandwiches!The universe was trying to tell me something and I did my best to listen. I sent out an email to everyone in our neighborhood asking for peanut butter and in two weeks, we collected 100 jars. This is what 100 jars of peanut butter looks like.
I got a big bonus from this experience. I met neighbors I hadn't met in the two years living here. And every time the doorbell rang, we'd all race to answer it, hoping to find a jar of peanut butter in our "PB Bucket" or a smiling face on our stoop. The second bonus? My kids got to tour the Food Bank and see how many people give of their time to feed our area hungry.What about you? Have you done something to spread love lately?
Who would think giving away books would be so hard?
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Earlier this week, I posted on Facebook that I had some large-print editions of my books to give away. In fact, six of them. All I asked is that they go to a library that would NOT immediately toss them to the Friends of the Library's next sale for a quarter.
The silence was deafening.
In these days of slashed library budgets, you would think that libraries would WANT to stock books. I'm not talking used, dog-earred books. I'm talking brand new, hardcover (well, 4 of them were), books that retail for $35 dollars EACH. (The softcovers? They retail for $25.)
Several people piped up that they would condescend to take them but only if they weren't older than five years old. (They weren't. In fact, One Hot Murder is only four months old.) But then, they didn't follow through and contact me ... so I guess they didn't really want them after all.
Several of my author friends looked to see if they could find homes for the books. One of them, asked the retirement/assisted living center where her parents live. Nope. They do NOT accept ANY books. One of them, who had recently gifted her new-to-her library (she moved to a new town) with half a dozen of her large print books, which were apparently gracefully received, but found that none of them had been added to the library's catalog. Yup, sold for a quarter each at the last sale.
I know it costs money to catalog a book. I know it takes time. But I also know that visually-impaired people who cannot afford an e-reader so that they can change the font size of a book, and can't afford to buy large print books, are hungry for something--ANYTHING--to read. This fact was driven home to me by my mother-in-law who, at age 99, has lost the capacity to read. It's the only pleasure she has left. (We've got an appointment with a surgeon to talk about cataract surgery, but it isn't until August. That's a LONG time when you cannot read. And BTW, the assisted living center where she lives joyfully accepts large print books--and, in fact, ANY books for their library.)
Two lovely librarians did step up to the plate. They contacted me off Facebook and the books will be mailed today. One library is getting four of them (including all three Victoria Square books), and the other will get one Victoria Square (One Hot Murder) and one Booktown (Sentenced to Death). And ... when I get the next large print edition, they will be the first people I contact to give copies to.
The libraries are: The Bridgeview Public Library (in Bridgeview, IL) and the Sudlersville Memorial Library in Sudlersville, MD.
I hope my stories will bring a smile to the visually impaired citizens of these towns and give them a few hours of entertainment. But I can't help thinking of all the other libraries around the country that don't have many large print books and how if given the opportunity to voice an opinion, their patrons would have welcomed a new book to their shelves.
Earlier this week, I posted on Facebook that I had some large-print editions of my books to give away. In fact, six of them. All I asked is that they go to a library that would NOT immediately toss them to the Friends of the Library's next sale for a quarter.
The silence was deafening.
In these days of slashed library budgets, you would think that libraries would WANT to stock books. I'm not talking used, dog-earred books. I'm talking brand new, hardcover (well, 4 of them were), books that retail for $35 dollars EACH. (The softcovers? They retail for $25.)
Several people piped up that they would condescend to take them but only if they weren't older than five years old. (They weren't. In fact, One Hot Murder is only four months old.) But then, they didn't follow through and contact me ... so I guess they didn't really want them after all.Several of my author friends looked to see if they could find homes for the books. One of them, asked the retirement/assisted living center where her parents live. Nope. They do NOT accept ANY books. One of them, who had recently gifted her new-to-her library (she moved to a new town) with half a dozen of her large print books, which were apparently gracefully received, but found that none of them had been added to the library's catalog. Yup, sold for a quarter each at the last sale.
I know it costs money to catalog a book. I know it takes time. But I also know that visually-impaired people who cannot afford an e-reader so that they can change the font size of a book, and can't afford to buy large print books, are hungry for something--ANYTHING--to read. This fact was driven home to me by my mother-in-law who, at age 99, has lost the capacity to read. It's the only pleasure she has left. (We've got an appointment with a surgeon to talk about cataract surgery, but it isn't until August. That's a LONG time when you cannot read. And BTW, the assisted living center where she lives joyfully accepts large print books--and, in fact, ANY books for their library.)
Two lovely librarians did step up to the plate. They contacted me off Facebook and the books will be mailed today. One library is getting four of them (including all three Victoria Square books), and the other will get one Victoria Square (One Hot Murder) and one Booktown (Sentenced to Death). And ... when I get the next large print edition, they will be the first people I contact to give copies to.
The libraries are: The Bridgeview Public Library (in Bridgeview, IL) and the Sudlersville Memorial Library in Sudlersville, MD.
I hope my stories will bring a smile to the visually impaired citizens of these towns and give them a few hours of entertainment. But I can't help thinking of all the other libraries around the country that don't have many large print books and how if given the opportunity to voice an opinion, their patrons would have welcomed a new book to their shelves.
June 19, 2013
Door County
by Julie
We loved our vacation! We took off last Monday with our good friends, Rene and Mike, for a few days of R&R and fun in Door County, Wisconsin. Exactly the time off I needed, now it's back to work! But hey, I love writing, so no complaints.
After we'd made our reservations, we found out that the Bed and Breakfast we'd chosen in Sturgeon Bay isn't in the heart of Door County - it's more at the base. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Scofield House. Beautiful rooms, fabulous breakfasts, enjoyable discussions with the other guests... but next time we visit, we may head a bit farther north into Fish Creek or Egg Harbor. Sturgeon Bay is lovely, but Fish Creek and Egg Harbor are the more quaint locations Door County is known for. Still, no biggie. And if we ever want to go up there and stay in a quiet spot, we will definitely remember The Scofield House.
Plus, Sturgeon Bay was about halfway between Von Stiehl in Algoma (one of the coolest wineries) and the northernmost winery we visited on the Door County wine trail. So, it all worked out.
Highlights of the trip included a ghost tour. We *loved* Bob, our guide. Here he is at the cemetery we visited. The man knows his stories and he tells them well. I highly recommend you take his haunted trolley tour.
We also went to a fish boil. We've gotten the impression that if you visit Door County (and this was our first time there), you must go to a fish boil. We went to the White Gull Inn and watched as Tom cooked our dinner. The whitefish we were served was good, the tartar sauce fabulous, but it was the spectacle that was the most fun.
Did I mention wineries? We hit the seven spots suggested on the wine trail map. Doing so (and getting a stamp at each) won us souvenir wine glasses. The last place we visited almost didn't want to give us our glasses because one of the stops along the way hadn't stamped it properly. They'd signed their name instead. No idea why --
maybe they misplaced their stamper? In any case, the final spot finally relented and handed over the glasses. It had taken us two days to hit them all - they're miles and miles apart - and I have to say that the man's reluctance to give us our glasses (which probably cost them all of 50 cents each) left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. He argued that the "signature" could have been forged by one of us. Really? Seriously?
Anyway, we'd done the wine trail for the fun of it, and it had been fun, so I'm putting that man's unpleasantness out of my mind. I'm specifically *not* mentioning his winery because he may be the only sour grape of the bunch (get it? Sour grape?). We loved most of the stops, in particular Von Stiehl, as I mentioned, and The Door Peninsula Winery where we tasted wine, vodka, olive oil, and fudge. You can't beat that!
We stayed busy, which is something we like to do on our vacations. And we enjoyed hanging with our great friends, Rene and Mike.
What's your favorite kind of vacation?
We loved our vacation! We took off last Monday with our good friends, Rene and Mike, for a few days of R&R and fun in Door County, Wisconsin. Exactly the time off I needed, now it's back to work! But hey, I love writing, so no complaints.
After we'd made our reservations, we found out that the Bed and Breakfast we'd chosen in Sturgeon Bay isn't in the heart of Door County - it's more at the base. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Scofield House. Beautiful rooms, fabulous breakfasts, enjoyable discussions with the other guests... but next time we visit, we may head a bit farther north into Fish Creek or Egg Harbor. Sturgeon Bay is lovely, but Fish Creek and Egg Harbor are the more quaint locations Door County is known for. Still, no biggie. And if we ever want to go up there and stay in a quiet spot, we will definitely remember The Scofield House.
Plus, Sturgeon Bay was about halfway between Von Stiehl in Algoma (one of the coolest wineries) and the northernmost winery we visited on the Door County wine trail. So, it all worked out.
Highlights of the trip included a ghost tour. We *loved* Bob, our guide. Here he is at the cemetery we visited. The man knows his stories and he tells them well. I highly recommend you take his haunted trolley tour.
We also went to a fish boil. We've gotten the impression that if you visit Door County (and this was our first time there), you must go to a fish boil. We went to the White Gull Inn and watched as Tom cooked our dinner. The whitefish we were served was good, the tartar sauce fabulous, but it was the spectacle that was the most fun.Did I mention wineries? We hit the seven spots suggested on the wine trail map. Doing so (and getting a stamp at each) won us souvenir wine glasses. The last place we visited almost didn't want to give us our glasses because one of the stops along the way hadn't stamped it properly. They'd signed their name instead. No idea why --
maybe they misplaced their stamper? In any case, the final spot finally relented and handed over the glasses. It had taken us two days to hit them all - they're miles and miles apart - and I have to say that the man's reluctance to give us our glasses (which probably cost them all of 50 cents each) left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. He argued that the "signature" could have been forged by one of us. Really? Seriously?Anyway, we'd done the wine trail for the fun of it, and it had been fun, so I'm putting that man's unpleasantness out of my mind. I'm specifically *not* mentioning his winery because he may be the only sour grape of the bunch (get it? Sour grape?). We loved most of the stops, in particular Von Stiehl, as I mentioned, and The Door Peninsula Winery where we tasted wine, vodka, olive oil, and fudge. You can't beat that!
We stayed busy, which is something we like to do on our vacations. And we enjoyed hanging with our great friends, Rene and Mike.
What's your favorite kind of vacation?
June 18, 2013
Sixty and Suddenly Single: Like a Bird
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
It doesn’t matter anymore how or why I came to be here. Like a bird with a broken wing, I’ve landed on my feet. I tuck under a dense, protective thicket and begin the healing process. It’s a given – I am really alone with me, myself, and I. This new world is so different, with all the unfamiliar sounds of a new home and neighborhood, and sometimes no sound at all other than my own unpredictable thoughts.
The stages of grief are spelled out for us, whether widowed or, in my case divorced, and for me they have been passed through; anger, sadness, fear. I have tried to lock onto words of hope. “Pass through” implies a journey that will end.
But where exactly is this destination?
I realize I've been on auto-pilot and that it is totally my call. I am the only one who can create a new ‘me’ from the remnants of ‘we’. It’s time to get out a map and study it, make a few solid plans, but leave some of it to chance.
I feel excitement returning. Hey, old friend, I thought you had abandoned me. The possibilities are endless. My wing has healed.
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Remember as you fall, to land solid, and take the time to heal. One day you will want to leave the thicket behind and take to the air again. Go gently at first, testing, until you find your wings. After that, soar high and wide, and catch the wind…as long as it’s blowing in the direction of your dreams.
---------------------------------------------------------
It doesn’t matter anymore how or why I came to be here. Like a bird with a broken wing, I’ve landed on my feet. I tuck under a dense, protective thicket and begin the healing process. It’s a given – I am really alone with me, myself, and I. This new world is so different, with all the unfamiliar sounds of a new home and neighborhood, and sometimes no sound at all other than my own unpredictable thoughts.
The stages of grief are spelled out for us, whether widowed or, in my case divorced, and for me they have been passed through; anger, sadness, fear. I have tried to lock onto words of hope. “Pass through” implies a journey that will end.
But where exactly is this destination?
I realize I've been on auto-pilot and that it is totally my call. I am the only one who can create a new ‘me’ from the remnants of ‘we’. It’s time to get out a map and study it, make a few solid plans, but leave some of it to chance.
I feel excitement returning. Hey, old friend, I thought you had abandoned me. The possibilities are endless. My wing has healed.
--------------------------------------------------------
Remember as you fall, to land solid, and take the time to heal. One day you will want to leave the thicket behind and take to the air again. Go gently at first, testing, until you find your wings. After that, soar high and wide, and catch the wind…as long as it’s blowing in the direction of your dreams.
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June 17, 2013
June Is Busting Out All Over!
by Maggie SeftonOhhh, what beautiful weather we're enjoying here in Northern Colorado. Love it,
love it. Temps are in the 80s, sunny every day, clouds form in afternoon for brief sprinkle. . .or not. Gorgeous. I know the folks near Colorado Springs farther south are fighting a horrendous wildfire and have lost nearly 500 homes. Last year our June was filled with mega-heat and wildfire, thanks to Nasty La Nina. It was dreadful, and it stole our summer. We finally got summer back in August when it was on way out. This year, thanks to those weeks of late spring snow, we have our snowpack back over 100% and have plenty of water here in Northern Colorado.
I'm reveling in Relaxing outside as I do revisions to the Kelly Flynn mystery I've been writing and now finishing. Doggies and I are enjoying the shade of the backyard patio, enjoying my hanging baskets of fuschia, Bougainville, and salmon pink geraniums. At night, temps drop no matter how high they were during day,
so it's cool and fresh. I open all my screened windows on all three levels of my tri-level house. Breezes blow through every day. At night, it actually drops enough in temps that I close windows on lower and middle levels and only keep ones on upper bedroom level open. But I don't even keep the window all the way open in bedroom where I sleep because it would get too chilly overnight. Really. Often I'm getting up in middle of night and closing windows because of a mountain breeze. And I need a blanket on my bed, believe it or not.This the first time I get to spend the entire month of June here in Colorado. June is usually our most gorgeous month, so I'm delighted. I actually thought back and realized I've been traveling half to 3/4 of June every previous year since the Kelly Flynn mysteries first came out in 2005. Either traveling for each new Kelly Flynn release and/or traveling for family stuff like graduations. That's EIGHT years! I'd say I was overdue for a gorgeous June in Colorado. Where's your favorite place to relax at your home in summer?
June 16, 2013
The Handyman From Hell
by Kate CollinsHave I got a handyman story for you!
Once upon a time, I decided to downsize and build a condo home. The home came with a basement that I could have finished according to the developer's plan or I could hire someone to finish it to my specs. Being the fiercely independent (read: stubborn) person that I am, I opted to go my own way. I contracted with a handyman my husband had used to keep his law offices in good repair, whom we subsequently used to do a partial remodel of our former house's basement.
Fast forward to me being alone, and this handyman, who bills himself as a home remodeler, treating my basement as his after school project. Instead of putting in the walls, storage closet, doors, and trim, and getting them ready to paint by the time I moved in (he had 2 months) he had barely begun the drywall when I had to move. Once I was in, he would spend two hours one evening, an hour or two one morning, on and off, for another month, until I got so exasperated that I told him he had two weeks to finish.
So he brought in his two helpers, slapped up the tape and mud, made a big mess with the sanding, handed me the remainder of his bill (I had paid 2/3rds already) and waited for his check.
Being totally naive, I paid him and said that in the spring he'd have to come back and finish the trim and prep the drywall for painting.
Yeah, right.
Fast forward to March, when I had a painter take a look at walls in the basement to give me a quote. He said they were so bad, there was no way he could paint. He said they would need at least 2 more coats of mud and a lot of sanding (Oh, the mess!). So I contacted the handyman who promised to come finish.
Let's move to May. I finally get the handyman to bring in a professional drywaller who takes a long look and says there is no way he can do it in the time slot he has. He practically runs from the house.
After hounding the handyman for another two weeks, last week he brings another drywaller, who said he only works in evenings and it will take him at least a month to fix it. I say to the handyman, No, way. This has to be done by the end of June. This is nearly 9 months from the start of this project.
Handyman says he will have to call the "big stores" and hire them to do it. He tells me he'll have to "bite the bullet," which I'm assuming means it'll cost him big bucks. That was a week ago. I haven't heard back.
I have two options now: I can remind him that I have a lot of lawyer friends and I am not above seeking legal remediation, and force him to fix it, to be responsible for his bad act; or I can take him to small claims court and make him pay me back, then I will have to hire someone to fix his mess.
I'm leaning toward making him be responsible for fixing his mess, but I'm wondering if any of you ever had a similar experience and what you did about it.
What really angers me is that if my husband were alive, this man would never have pulled this with him. He feared/respected my beloved Greek but obviously does not me. Isn't that just sad?
June 15, 2013
Memories Are Made of This
by Leann
Last week we traveled to NYC to attend several performances of my daughter's most recent dance/performance art piece. Based on a German fairy tale about a strong young woman who defies the conventions of her time (in the 1800's), I was thrilled to see the show (titled Vulture Wally) two nights in a row. Amazing is all I can say. She (choreographer and performer)and her
director/writer husband weaved a wonderful story.
Not that it was easy getting there the first night. One of the reasons we left Texas was because of the weather--hurricanes in particular. So what happened the day we flew out? A tropical storm flew right along with us. We bumped through the sky and landed late afternoon. It was raining. Not awful rain, but raining. Still, we had plenty of time to get to the theater near Union Square after we checked into our Brooklyn hotel. Or so one would think. The taxi ride took longer than our flight and cost almost as much as one of our plane tickets. Never travel in NYC during rush hour on a Friday with tropical weather bearing down. You cannot move on the highways. You cannot get over the bridges. You sit and watch that meter in the cab tick higher and higher. We decided after we finally checked in to the hotel to take the subway back to Manhattan. We got out of the train station (with four blocks to walk) just as that storm hit full force. By the time we reached the theater (with 10 minutes to spare), both my husband and I were sopping wet. No umbrella can guard against horizontal rain.
It was worth the trip. Just a magical, special show. Well after we had gone to bed back in Brooklyn hours later, my husband's sister and our two nieces arrived from Boston and my son and granddaughter #1 arrived from Seattle. We all met up at breakfast the next morning. Nice. We then saw my daughter and son-in-law's darling Brooklyn condo that sits a few hundred feet from the Verrazano Bridge.
Highlights? The performance, the family time, introducing my granddaughter to her first cannoli, her first chocolate crepes and playing
games like twenty questions to help her endure the subway rides. She was quite the little trooper. Her mom wanted her to go the Statue of Liberty and I loved her response over the phone. "I saw it from the Top of the Rock. I don't need to get closer." I was with her on that one! I also got to witness yet again what an amazing dad my son is. So happy father's day to him!
There were many other special moments but my favorite came on a subway ride. My granddaugher had to stand and as she hung on to the pole, she began singing a song in Japanese that she'd learned in preschool. Sitting right across from her was gentleman who suddenly cracked a huge, warm smile. See, he was Japanese.
Any memories you have of very special time with family and friends where things didn't always go perfectly--but still turned out wonderful?
Last week we traveled to NYC to attend several performances of my daughter's most recent dance/performance art piece. Based on a German fairy tale about a strong young woman who defies the conventions of her time (in the 1800's), I was thrilled to see the show (titled Vulture Wally) two nights in a row. Amazing is all I can say. She (choreographer and performer)and her
director/writer husband weaved a wonderful story.Not that it was easy getting there the first night. One of the reasons we left Texas was because of the weather--hurricanes in particular. So what happened the day we flew out? A tropical storm flew right along with us. We bumped through the sky and landed late afternoon. It was raining. Not awful rain, but raining. Still, we had plenty of time to get to the theater near Union Square after we checked into our Brooklyn hotel. Or so one would think. The taxi ride took longer than our flight and cost almost as much as one of our plane tickets. Never travel in NYC during rush hour on a Friday with tropical weather bearing down. You cannot move on the highways. You cannot get over the bridges. You sit and watch that meter in the cab tick higher and higher. We decided after we finally checked in to the hotel to take the subway back to Manhattan. We got out of the train station (with four blocks to walk) just as that storm hit full force. By the time we reached the theater (with 10 minutes to spare), both my husband and I were sopping wet. No umbrella can guard against horizontal rain.
It was worth the trip. Just a magical, special show. Well after we had gone to bed back in Brooklyn hours later, my husband's sister and our two nieces arrived from Boston and my son and granddaughter #1 arrived from Seattle. We all met up at breakfast the next morning. Nice. We then saw my daughter and son-in-law's darling Brooklyn condo that sits a few hundred feet from the Verrazano Bridge.Highlights? The performance, the family time, introducing my granddaughter to her first cannoli, her first chocolate crepes and playing
games like twenty questions to help her endure the subway rides. She was quite the little trooper. Her mom wanted her to go the Statue of Liberty and I loved her response over the phone. "I saw it from the Top of the Rock. I don't need to get closer." I was with her on that one! I also got to witness yet again what an amazing dad my son is. So happy father's day to him!There were many other special moments but my favorite came on a subway ride. My granddaugher had to stand and as she hung on to the pole, she began singing a song in Japanese that she'd learned in preschool. Sitting right across from her was gentleman who suddenly cracked a huge, warm smile. See, he was Japanese.
Any memories you have of very special time with family and friends where things didn't always go perfectly--but still turned out wonderful?
June 14, 2013
The June 2013 Report
Welcome to Dru's Cozy Report: June 2013. This month we introduce three new series. * * * * *
Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin is the first book in the new "Weaving" mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, June 2013
We are introduced to Della Wright whose recent move to Briar Hollow to open up her own small business is marred when one of her students is accused of murder. Believing in her heart that he is innocent, Della, despite warning from her friend stumbles upon clues that cast some negativity on her new neighbors. With help her friends, Della will have to untangle a few pieces of yarns before the binding is wound tight.Della Wright has come to peaceful and picturesque Briar Hollow, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to realize her lifelong dream of owning a weaving studio. To promote her new business, Dream Weavers, Della is offering weaving workshops for all levels of ability. In her first class, she meets half a dozen of the town’s colorful characters, who seem as eager to gossip as to learn how to work a loom.
But when a shady local businessman is found murdered, Briar Hollow suddenly appears a lot less idyllic. And when one of her weaving students is suspected of the crime, Della can’t help getting entangled in the investigation—with some help from her criminologist friend, Matthew. But can she weave together clues as well as she weaves together yarn—and stop a killer from striking again?
This is a great debut series. I love the tone and friendliness of the story. The mystery was good with plenty of suspects and a few twists to keep you caught up in the action throughout this lighthearted drama. Della is very likable as are her friends who are quirky with their own idiosyncrasies that make this delightfully charming. The author did a good job in keeping me vested in this nicely woven story and I look forward to the next book in this engaging series which is a great addition to the cozy genre.
Carol Ann is the pseudonym of Monique Domovitch and you can visit her at www.moniquedomovitch.com
FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of this book, in hopes I would review it.
Mayhem at the Orient Express by Kylie Logan is the first book in the new "League of Literary Ladies" mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, June 2013
What a great concept. Three bickering women ordered to join a reading discussion book group and the first book they pick comes to life in their small island home of South Bass when they along with a fourth member find the body of their favorite restaurateur. A snowstorm keeps all the suspects in one place and the trio put on their sleuthing caps to expose a killer.Most folks aren’t forced by court order to attend a library-book discussion group, but that’s just what happens to B and B proprietor and ex-Manhattanite Bea Cartwright, hippy cat lover Chandra Morrisey, and winery owner Kate Wilder after a small-town magistrate has had enough of their squabbling. South Bass, an island on Lake Erie, is home to an idyllic summer resort, but these three ladies keep disturbing the peace.
The initial book choice is Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, and that sets their mouths to watering. The Orient Express is the island’s newest Chinese restaurant. They might not agree about much, but the ladies all love the orange chicken on the menu. But their meal is spoiled when the restaurant’s owner, Peter Chan, has the bad fortune of getting murdered. Now, with Christie as their inspiration, the League of Literary Ladies has a real mystery to solve…if they can somehow catch a killer without killing each other first.
I love it. Kylie has created a wonderful new series with three strong and determined women who collectively make a great team, each keeping their own individuality. The writing was so good that once I started reading, I could not put this book down as I got caught up in the non-stop action between this eclectic cast of characters that was delightfully entertaining in their pursuit of a killer hiding in plain sight. The author did a good job with the mystery keeping me guessing with some interesting twists that I applaud especially the killer’s identity. This is an excellent beginning in this debut series and I can’t wait to see what literary road we’ll be traveling to next.
Kylie Logan is the pseudonym of Casey Daniels and you can visit her at www.caseydaniels.com
FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of this book, in hopes I would review it.
You Cannoli Die Once by Shelley Costa is the first book in the new "Italian Restaurant" mystery series. Publisher: Pocket Books, May 2013
This is a fun read where chef Eve has to do some fast cooking if she wants to clear her grandmother's name and get her out of jail. Enlisting family and friends, this team will sift through all the clues to thaw out a killer.At Miracolo Northern Italian restaurant, one can savor brilliantly seasoned veal saltimbocca, or luscious risotto alla milanese, but no cannoli. Never cannoli. Maria Pia Angelotta, the spirited seventy-six-year-old owner of the Philadelphia-area eatery that’s been in her family for four generations, has butted heads with her head chef over the cannoli ban more than once. And when the head chef is your own granddaughter, things can get a little heated.
Fortunately, Eve Angelotta knows how to handle what her nonna dishes out. But when Maria Pia’s boyfriend is found dead in Miracolo’s kitchen, bludgeoned by a marble mortar, the question arises: Can a woman this fiery and stubborn over cream-filled pastry be capable of murder?
The police seem to think so, and they put the elder Angelotta behind bars, while Eve, sexy neighborhood attorney Joe Beck, and the entire Miracolo family—parenti di sangue and otherwise—try every trick in the cookbook to unravel a tangle of lies and expose a killer.
I had such a good time reading this fast-paced and delightfully amusing whodunit. The mystery kept me guessing with its smattering of suspects and some twists that surprised me just before the killer was revealed. The antics and escapades Eve and her friends encountered in their search to free Maria Pia had me laughing. I love that the author took the time to develop this diverse cast of characters and I enjoyed their quirkiness which helped to get the job done. Eve is a great character and I can't wait to learn more about her and her family. This is an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book in this engaging series. Bonus cannoli recipe included.
You can visit Shelley at www.shelleycosta.com
FTC Full Disclosure - I bought this book.
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