Some of you who have written comments on this blog might wonder why your comments don’t appear immediately. Well, do 2,199 current spams explain the problem?!? That is literally how many spams I have right now that my computer firewall (or whatever it’s called) has caught. Thank goodness for those computer aids that make our lives a little easier!

When I started allowing comments on my blog page, I had no idea that there would be so much spam. You name it, I have gotten it! From all types of medications to other "products," I have had literally hundreds of spams. I am absolutely amazed at what these spam machines are sending out. I usually just "delete all," but sometimes I feel like I should skim through the lists to make sure a verified comment isn’t going to be tossed out with the spam garbage.

And, by "garbage," I mean just that!

What is scary about this is that if a cozy mystery site can get this much unsolicited, unwanted, unread, and sometimes uncivilized mail, I can only imagine what types of things are going to unsuspecting children.

My children are both very much more computer savvy than I am. They both began using computers when they were toddlers… Ted E. Bear, Sesame Street, and Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes bring back such wonderful memories for me. Since I was able to supervise their time at our ONE computer back then, I knew that they were "protected." Twenty years ago, spam didn’t seem to be a problem, though. I guess that they hadn’t yet made programs that could shoot out thousands of garbage mail items at the click of a button. I am glad that both of our children grew up then, and not now, with all of these computer-generated mailings. I am guessing that all of this spam is a nightmare for parents of young children…

Anyway, as usual, I started writing to tell you about the "approve comment" button that I engage before allowing a comment to go on my site. And, the "delete all spam" button that I also use. It does seem a shame that companies are clearly benefiting from their spam tactics… I am assuming that if no one clicked on the spam items, they would quickly see that they aren’t profitable, and we would all have to buy less firewall technology… I wish I could just "Make it so!"

Well, first of all, let me say that I had a wonderful time with my daughter on our trip through the northeastern part of the U.S., and the adjoining Canadian area. Niagara Falls is without a doubt, one of the highlights that the U. S. has to offer…. (Of course, Canada has the same wonderful Falls!)

We went on the boat that took us up close to the Falls, and it truly was spectacular. I plan on taking my husband back out that way once he retires, which will be in a few years. (Once both our daughter and son are finished with college…)

I was going to try to write a blog when I got back from vacation…. but I found that I was very behind with some of life’s commitments. When I finally had time to write…. I was off to the hospital for major surgery… from which I am mending. So, I plan on spending some time writing my blogs and working on my author lists.

***** ***** ***** By the way…. before I forget….. if you get the TCM channel (Turner Classic Movies)……… I know that this is short notice…..***** ***** ***** Tuesday, August 21…. 1:30-3:30 AM (Central Time)….. MRS. POLLIFAX: SPY with Rosalind Russell and Darren McGavin. I haven’t seen it yet, so can’t vouch for it… but anything with Rosalind has absolutely got to be good. And, if you are reading this blog…. you know you can’t get much cozier than Mrs. Pollifax!

Anyway, I should be back to writing my blogs on a more regular schedule now that I am home… Go set up your TIVO, ReplayTV, VCR, DVD Recorder, or just set your alarm clock! Mrs. Pollifax will be on television in just a few hours!