Joyce Lavene Will be Missed by Many
This is a very sad time for the Cozy Mystery world. Joyce Lavene passed away yesterday. Most of us read at least one of her Cozy series which she co-wrote with her husband of forty four years, Jim Lavene. As a team they co-authored many, many Cozy Mystery series, both as Joyce and Jim Lavene and also as J.J. Cook and Ellie Grant.
Rest in Peace, Joyce. She will be sorely missed by many, and our sympathy goes out to Joyce’s family and friends.
Favorite Cozy Mystery Themes
Yikes! As I was watering some flowers this morning the heat absolutely got me down! Here we are in mid-October, and it’s currently 94º! Yes, I know that for those of you who are familiar with San Antonio weather this may sound like a cool day, but good grief! It’s almost Halloween!
Also, for those of you who have been with me for a while, you know that this is the time of year when I start complaining about how much I miss my seasons! Because of San Antonio’s lack of seasons, I have come to rely on my Cozies to remind me that there is more weather than hot, hotter, and hottest! I pretty much rely on my holiday Cozies to get me in the holiday mood >>> or at least remind me of what some of you are enjoying: crisp, fall days with a spectrum of beautiful golds, oranges, and reds. I don’t have lightly falling snow to look forward to during the Christmas season, nor do I have chilly Thanksgiving weather that requires a fire to be made in the hearth. I rely on my Cozies for those atmospheric seasonal touches.
While I was standing outside watering my plants, I started thinking about my holiday Cozies, and came up with the realization that the holiday Cozy Mystery theme is probably my very favorite theme >>> which in turn got me wondering about your favorite Cozy Mystery themes >>> which inspired me to ask you ALL, what is your favorite Cozy Mystery theme? Do you like your Cozies with recipes? Does your sleuth absolutely have to have a dog? Do your favorite sleuths have British accents? Do you prefer your sleuths to teach, write, or travel? Or do your sleuths live in the same area of the country as you do? (Here’s my Cozy Mysteries by Theme page if you would like to be reminded of some of the themes.)
What is your favorite Cozy Mystery theme? Would you please post a comment with your favorite Cozy Mystery theme, and also >>> would you include why you prefer this theme over all of the others? Thank you!
Your Examples Are Even Worse!
First of all, thank you for your well wishes about my daughter being home. It has been great! We lived in the D.C. area years ago and are looking forward to visiting her and revisiting many of our favorite places.
Second >>> I have read all of the comments you all have written, and encourage all of you to read them. (Here’s yesterday’s entry: Oh No! Not Another Rant and Rave! followed by the comments). Some of them are absolutely incredible! I just don’t get how so many people think they’re exempt from following the rules when they’re behind the wheels of what I refer to as “killer cars”! Clearly, they have an “I’m special.” attitude. And it’s like a lot of you stated, they’re not just endangering themselves, but every other person on the road. I really don’t get it!
I am shocked by some of the things you all have witnessed! Are people really so hungry that they’re willing to drive their killer cars while eating spaghetti? Is their personal hygiene such an issue that they have the need to brush their teeth, shave, dry their hair, or apply makeup while driving? The only time they can find for polishing their nails is while driving? Are they really that busy they need to use their steering wheel to prop up a plate, book, map, mail, or papers? They can’t check an audio book from their local libraries because they prefer actually reading the books while driving? And how about the two instances of women brushing their hair >>> one with both hands, and the other while flipping her head down below the console so she could brush it from the roots? And how about the woman who was searching for something that had rolled on the floor of her passenger side, with her head under the console?
Really? YES! Really!!!
As for the texting and holding phones while driving >>> don’t even get me started on this one! We have a no holding-of-phones or texting law here in San Antonio, but that doesn’t stop lots of people from brazenly holding their phones while driving.
I’ve decided that I would write this follow-up entry instead of responding to each of your comments. Thank you so much for your absolutely incredible stories about crazy drivers. I only wish we were all just sitting around, trying to write a skit for a “you-won’t-believe-it TV show” rather than talking about true things we have seen on the roads!
Here’s yesterday’s entry: Oh No! Not Another Rant and Rave!