I know that I have mentioned our "puppy" before in at least one of my blogs. And, as I said before, Sprite really isn’t such a puppy… She’s a thirteen year old dog who, when spotted on our nightly walks, probably looks like an over-weight, old dog to others. But, to us, she’s still our puppy.

Last month, during her yearly exam, our vet suggested that she get her teeth cleaned again. For those of you who don’t have dogs or cats, this is done at the vet’s office while the pet is sedated. As usual for me… when I have a decision that will require sedation… I deliberate for a little while before having the procedure done. We have always followed our vets advice and we have always felt like he has given Sprite (and thus, us) the very best care. But since he hadn’t said there was a huge rush to clean Sprite’s teeth, I was still "getting around" to making the appointment.

All of that changed last Monday when I found one of her front teeth on the couch. When I looked in her mouth to see what exactly was going on in there, I discovered that one of her back teeth had cracked into two sections. All of a sudden, there was a reason to rush her teeth cleaning ordeal.

She had some rather major dental extractions last Thursday, which is why I have been remiss in blogging. I thought that I would quickly write this since I just brought her upstairs and she is happily sleeping at my feet. She does a lot of  comatose-type sleeping these days, during which time I get a lot done.

I decided to go ahead and buckle down for some much-needed "new" reading! Of course, I always have a book going all of the time (acutally two books going>>> since I listen to my audio book in the car)… but recently, I have been trying some new authors, which doesn’t always make for the best reading for me. My problem seems to be that I have so many authors who I absolutely adore… so when I try a new author, he/she already has some pretty hefty competition amongst the TBR authors/books on my bookshelf.

And, as it is my opinion that I really shouldn’t give an opinion (unless of course, it is an extremely strong-felt opinion!) then I won’t divulge those authors who just haven’t been "making the cut" for me. [I know that I have written about this odd belief of mine… but I truly believe that if I write a negative opinion about an author’s book… that might somehow discourage others from trying that author. And, you know what they say about "tomato/tammatto"… or should that be "potato/pattatto"?!]

No, I don’t have an "inflated opinion about my opinions"… but I do know that when I hear that other cozy readers don’t like an author… and they can state their opinions… that does color my interest in that particular author. And, of course, I do enjoy (and seek out) sites that give book reviews…. unless the sites always offer inflated/positive reviews… to keep authors happy. But, those are "review sites," of which this is not.

Anyway, I have recently tried a few new authors who I have not cared for… which means I have all the more books to donate to my library (or some other type of "disposal" which will enable people who enjoy those authors/books to read them). Unfortunately, each author means at least three books, since I very rarely try a new author unless I have accumulated at least the first three books in the series. (Can you tell by this site that I have a wee  obsessive/compulsive disorder?) My husband cannot understand why I have to have the first few books in a series before I actually know if I will like that particular author’s series…. but he also doesn’t line his books up on his bookshelf alphabetically AND chronologically… shifting the books each time a book is taken out of the sequence!

(If the above sounds abnormal to you… then, welcome to my world!)

I have been getting so many recommendations! I actually have four lists of mystery authors who I will eventually get posted on the site. The reason I have four lists is because I have gotten the recommendations in different ways. My number 1 list is comprised of authors who you, the cozy mystery site readers, have let me know about.

The second and third lists have authors who I have accumulated from the different web boards I have belonged to at one time or another. These are authors who I annotated and who I thought I would get to very quickly when I first started the Cozy Mystery website, but who have been placed on the back burner for now… until I finish up the authors who you all have actually told me about.

The final list I have is authors who I got from the Malice Domestic queue of authors who were "registered attendees" either last year or the year before… I thought that if they were willing to go to the convention and meet "ordinary people" like us, well then, doggone it, good for them (and good for us! ) Hopefully, I will someday get to that fourth list of authors…

If you have recommended an author, and have been wondering why it is taking so long to see that particular author on the site>>> Did I mention that I have twenty four authors on my #1 "Authors To Do" list?!?

Boy! Have I been enjoying myself! My daughter came home for her spring break, and we have been having a lot of fun just hanging out together… We went shopping for clothes (hers, not mine!) one day, shopping for shoes (hers, not mine!) another day, and we’ve even enjoyed watching schlock TV.  (Yes, it’s true, yours truly enjoys a schlocky show every once in a while… I won’t mention the names, but I can tell you that they are found on the three major networks any night of the week…. they aren’t that difficult to find!)

Unfortunately, my son didn’t get this week off from his classes, but we have been able to enjoy his company when he hasn’t been busy with exams or presentations. It has been a great time for this mom! And, of course, my husband has been enjoying the company, too…. when he is home from work.

I have been experiencing some pangs of Cozy Mystery site withdrawals, though. I find myself planning to get up before I doze off to sleep to get in a few minutes of site-work, but before I know it, it’s morning… So, I have been neglecting the site… but with a great reason… Unfortunately, next week I will have all the time in the world to work on the site…