Wow!  I'm here and reading The Accidental Sleuth / Helen Marie Osterman.

Good to see you Marla!  Just the thought of what you did has me reeling!  Believe it or not mom and I went to see a condo, thinking we might downsize.  Found one we liked in our price range.  Almost told the sales person to hold that lot.  It would have to be built and that would take eight months.  We came home, looked around and said where would we put our stuff?  Then thought of the work involved in painting and wallpapering before we'd move in.  Then we thought of packing up 16 years of life in this house!  We were exhausted and decided to stay right where we are!!!  We both agree we should start in one corner and see if we can't downsize some of the stuff in the house though.

Do it, Geri...the getting rid of stuff, I mean.  I kept thinking about doing that, but never quite got around to it...which is why I was in the mess when I moved!  It's hard.  When you have room for stuff, you keep thinking "well, I might need that one day"!  I can't believe how much "stuff" I got rid of.  Some of it I liked and really didn't want to part with, but just shut my eyes and did it.  Really only kept my books (TBR pile and books on my bookshelf) and a lot of my quilting fabric.  Whether I'll ever be able to get back to that I don't know, but decided if he could keep everything, I could find a bit of space for my fabric scraps.

Really timed the whole thing right...woke up this morning and it's SNOWING furiously...on May 1!   Not sticking to the streets, but everything else is covered. 

Dearest Marla --- It was so wonderful to see your name here!!!  I have been missing you and worrying about you with all that work you  had ahead of you.  As I wander around this house looking in all of these rooms and a full basement, I certainly feel a kinship to what you have just endured.  I know that ultimately I will be moving from here, the expense of keeping up all the outside gardens, etc. is too much for the budget I believe I will have to live with, but I am putting it off for a little while, longer if possible.

YIPPEE for getting rid of the blue velvet suit!!!!  I must say I cannot truly understand the mindset of a "keeper" --- my bent is the totally opposite direction and oft times rid myself of something I find that I must re-buy!!!

Still reading my same book --- my old man is not getting any kinder, but I know that, at this point, I must find out what happens to the old Nazi and the gold!!!!

We're having a church rummage sale and I've got three boxes of stuff to get rid of next week.  Okay not much but a small start.  My mom is the who has a problem getting rid of things.  Not exactly a hoarder but she's close.  I look at cupboards and closets and think I'll get rid of that.  I pull it out and she says oh wait we should keep that.  I say why we haven't used it in ...and the correct answer is... we might need it.  As per the Blue Velvet Suit I have snuck some stuff out!

Oops, forgot we are in a new month!

Oh, Marla, not the blue velvet suit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   LOL    Glad to see you back, as everyone has said, we sure have been thinking about you.  It sounds to me like after making this move, you and Cameron could start your own part-time moving business!  (just kidding)

Talking about keepers.......my Dad has lived in the same house for 51 years.  In addition, he has four garages that are packed full of junk, I mean stuff.  He is constantly chuckling about how much fun I will have with it all when the time comes.  Warped sense of humor, my Dad.  :)

Almost done with "Garment of Shadows."  As this novel takes place in Morocco, it will work for the mystery challenge.  It is funny, the book takes place mostly in the town of Fez in that country - a couple days ago I saw a travel agency ad for a trip to Fez.  Never heard of the place, not Morocco; Fez, before I started reading this book, now, if I want to fork over thousands of dollars, I can travel to Fez.  Almost makes you think advertisers can read your mind.........   :)

Becky, know you are still in my thoughts and prayers.

Oh Joy --- Morocco, and Fez, are so high on my travel wishlist.  David and I were planning an African Safari when he died and I was so trying to convince him one more little week and a stop in Morocco would be wonderful.  Alas, I have put off the safari for the time being.  Not to say that I will not ever do it.  I just think it is a bit soon, but I do not want to wait forever, or I sincerely will be too old.  I would have to have a "bearer" not just for bags, but for ME!!!!

Howdy howdy...happy May Day, or Beltane if you're a Celtic pagan! Here in Minnesota, we're under a winter storm watch, waiting for 6-9" of snow overnight! Fergawdsakes...Mother Nature is really having PMS this year! LOL We just FINALLY had some nice 60-70 degree weather for a few days this weekend after all that OTHER snow we've been having. Bleh! I'm really ready for spring.

Oh--HI MARLA! :)

Books, books...I am listening to A FISTFUL OF COLLARS by Spencer Quinn, #5 Chet & Bernie mystery. So far so good, but only about an hour in. In print, I'm re-reading #15 Brother Cadfael mystery, THE CONFESSION OF BROTHER HALUIN by Ellis Peters. On my Kindle, I'm reading GETTING OLD IS A DISASTER by Rita Lakin, #5 Gladdy Gold mystery. Surprisingly I'm enjoying all of them...I've had a boatload of DNFs this past month or so, even in series I previously enjoyed...so it is good to have these go-to series that I know I will like.

Hope to take some time at the weekend and do some reading back and see what you all have been up to. Just taking a quick moment at work to check in here as it's not too busy at the moment.

Cheryl

Just finished One For The Money, the first Stephanie Plum book. My sister loves these books and has been bugging me for years to read them. I liked it, a little girly for me but not too much. I'll probably read more of them. I can't stand Katherine Heigl and I kept thinking of her while reasding it which didn't help. They really screwed up the movie opportunity for these books.

Barb --- That first book was my favorite.  Loved the grandmother.  Think I got thru number 5 before I quit.  I agree that they cast the lead character incorrectly.  Personally, I picture her with dark hair and eyes and a little hard looking.  However, I am sure that every person here who reads the books has a different image of Stephanie!!!!!

Oh gosh Barb, my mom and I read the first Stephanie when it came out and we still laugh at Grandma with the gun at the dinner table and wanting Doc Marten's like Stephanie's.  I somehow managed to disassociate the movie and the book.  I remember the book more than the movie!

The series did get tiresome though I read them all.  About book 10 somewhere in there it was a chore to read them.  Then I picked up the last two and thought they were heading back in the right direction - funny!

Finally, I found the book I had started before the "moving mess" really took over.  I knew I had put it, a couple of other books and a few things I thought I might need before everything was unpacked in a tote bag and carried it over here.  Somehow, it got underneath some other tote bags.  So, tonight I am going to READ again!!!

Can't say I was terribly ambitious today.  Got 3-4 boxes of kitchen stuff put up, a couple of tote bags emptied and some bathroom stuff organized...bandaids and associated items.  (If I'm around, you definitely need to know where the bandaids are...I am a complete klutz!!  LOL)  But, after the past few weeks of going full tilt, decided I would just puddle around today. 

Still snowing and really cold.  Spring snows are not unusual in Denver, but we don't normally get the really cold temperatures.  Glad I'm here and not at the old place trying to clean out a basement.

Back to the book now.......

Marla everywhere I went yesterday people were saying isn't the sunshine great?  Aren't you glad you're not in Denver?  Just to let you know you were the talk of my town. 

I've taken a lesson from you too.  I cleaned off my bookshelf.  I'm donating the books and starting out fresh.  Tomorrow I'll have a few that I've finished and haven't posted but for today - bare shelf!  The two book cases in front of me are bare!

It's a new month and a new Heather Graham, The Unholy.  This is the "new" Krewe of Hunters and I've just started to dip into it.

Holy cow, snow in May!!  Cannot imagine it.

Barb, I read One For the Money and thought it was stupid.  The premise just didn't seem real to me, and I had to slog through it.  So, I thought maybe it was just the first one, but Two for the Dough was just as bad.  Quit reading that author after two duds.

I am still working on Cookbook Collector.  I haven't been reading a lot.  I have to have surgery in three weeks, and I am not happy about it.  In fact I am scared witless.  But the constant pain is finally winning so I have to do something.  Having been in the medical field for more than 20 years, I know all too much.  I know I'll be out for about a month.  I don't know how much I'll be able to read or post.

I need to get busy and post all the paperbacks I need to send out before I am out of commission for a while.

Actually, finally, finished the book I had started a month ago...Fractured/Karin Slaughter...the second in the Will Trent series. 

I do know where my TBR books are...packed them and brought them over prior to the move so they wouldn't get lost in all the other boxes...which happened the last time we moved.  But, I haven't really felt like digging them out and sorting them all out...so, since I had to do grocery shopping today, stopped at Goodwill and picked up a couple!  Is that lazy or what?  Good excuse to hit Goodwill.  The closest one has really turned upscale in terms of decor, not prices...even have a rewards card program!!

I am actually thinking about clearing out my PBS bookshelf and starting over, too, Geri.  I packed all of those in plastic tubs thinking I would be able to find them.  But, with four guys carrying in boxes, I lost control and they are buried somewhere in the 200+ books stacked in the living room.  Either have to do that or get Cameron over and start moving boxes around.

  I finished another cozy  Corpse in the Crystal Ball (Fortune Teller, Bk 2) :: Kari Lee Townsend  It was okay. The main character is a bit ditzy but I like the cat a lot. He might be the most interesting character!! Hate the main characters name Sunny Meadows. Really just silly

I agree, Alice. Read the first one when it came out and didn't like the main character and didn't bother to go any further.

Hello All --- I finished "Don't Ever Get Old" and will say that they kept the bad guy reasonably well hidden thru most of the book.  The grumpy old detective came a bit better in the end and overall, I enjoyed the book.  Certainly not a 5-star, but good enough to keep me going.

I started a book last night by Elizabeth Chadwick, a heroine of the Historical forum.  Somehow I had never read one of hers and this one stars William Marshall and the name is:  "Greatest Knight".  It was a Kindle $1.99 book and I spent the money with an unclear conscience, so I am reading it right away.  Thus far it really enmeshes you in the story very quickly. 

Becky ~ I'm so glad you finished your book!  It was starting to get a bit old wasn't it?  ROFL   I just crack myself up.   :)

I did finish "Garment of Shadows" and really did like it.  I read "Oak and Dagger" by Dorothy St. James and am 2/3 of the way through "To Brie or Not to Brie" by Avery Aames.  Julie Hyzy does a great job with her White House Chef series, and St. James has a really good series going with the MC as one of the White House gardeners.   "To Brie......." is based around the main character who owns a Cheese Shop with her cousin who owns the Whine Shop portion of the business.  There are alot of characters in this series, and almost all of them are piled on within the first 2-3 chapters.  Trying to remember who is who and what role they play takes a bit of doing.  But the story is great.  I recommend these cozies if you haven't read them.

Carole, I am sorry you are going to have to have surgery.  As a veteran of several I can sympathize.  Funny thing is with me, I worry more about them getting the IV done - I hate that! - after they've got it in I pretty much have little nervousness about the rest of it.  Sending you good thoughts and prayers!

Joy, thank you, I was beginning to think that no one read my post.  I have several Avery Ames cheese shop novels, will get those out for the recovery time.

Carole --- It is understandable to have some fear going into any surgery.  Do you have truly good feeling about your surgeon???  I do think having faith in one's physician helps.  Is your surgery going to be just a day surgery, or will you be staying in hospital for a time???  In this day and age they almost consider hip replacements day surgery it seems.  Just take good care of yourself and I will be sending up prayers for you.  When you feel up to it, just let us know how you are going.  You know we will all be wondering.

Marla --- you are a funny one --- my book getting "old"!!!!

Carole...Will keep good thoughts re your surgery going your way.

Was reading one of my Goodwill books last night (non-mystery) and, in describing the outfit one character was wearing, said that her "well-cut trousers flowed over the cuffs of her shoes".  Now, the book was written in 1995 and possibly I missed "cuffed shoes".  LOL

Marla I had cuffed boots back about 1980 does that count? 

I was reading a book and the names of two characters seemed almost interchangeable.  Once it was Stacie and the next sentenance it was Maria. 

Still reading The Unholy.  It's a little draggy in spots.

The weather is very nice here for the fourth day in a row and I worked outside!  We planted flowers in pots.  We don't have them outside yet, just planted in pots and living in the garage right now.  We put them out in the sun every day and when the nights become a bit more stable they'll be our flower garden on the back porch.  No flowers dead before their time due to killer frosts!

Funny thing is with me, I worry more about them getting the IV done - I hate that! - after they've got it in I pretty much have little nervousness about the rest of it.

I'm with you on that. Once they get it in my arm and I know they don't have to stick my hand I'm ok. I HATE hand IVs. Hope everything goes ok Carole. One good thing about being a medical professional, you should know who the good doctors are.

I don't have any mysteries going, just finished the second book in the Game Of Thrones series (those are long ones) and I started a bio of Bill Hicks.

Thank you Becky and Marla, I appreciate all the good thoughts!!  Barb, that's true, I am going to the best surgeon in the area.  I do have a lot of confidence in him, he has done this kind of fusion hundreds of times.  I have sent some of my patients to him and they have had good results.  It is just different when it is me in the patient role, LOL!  I will be in the hospital just one day and overnight if all goes well.

Barb, I have Game of Thrones book 3 on its way to me.  It is good to spread those out, they are so long!!