The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Well, it’s not West Virginia, but I am going “home” this week to visit my mother and her beau, as well as my younger brother. Destination: Colorado Springs.

[I’ll be gone for less than a week, and have pre-written a few entries that will post while I am gone… I am going alone, so my husband and son will be here to “keep down the post” >>> or whatever that ol’ sayin’ is…]

Although I really consider my “home” while growing up to have been my grandmother’s house in Northwood, Iowa, the place my parents moved while I was still in college is Colorado Springs. Unfortunately, they didn’t stay in that first house, and right when I considered it “home,” they moved to an area in town that was rather secluded, on a hill/mountain. After my father suffered a stroke, they decided to move “down,” off of that hill/mountain… which is now where my mother lives with her beau. (He’s terrific, by the way!)

The last time I was out visiting in Colorado Springs was last summer, when my daughter and I made a road-trip trek up to Pike’s Peak country. This year, however, I am flying solo. No, that’s just an expression… I’m not a pilot. And as those of you who have recently been on board our friendly carriers, there is absolutely nothing “solo” about flying these days.

Fortunately, I was able to book my tickets far enough in advance that I am “assured” of a window seat… Unfortunately, the airplanes I will be flying on are booked to the full capacity, so there will be someone in the middle seats… up close and personal, if you know what I mean!

As someone who could stand to lose several pounds… I am sure that the person in the middle seat will be chanting: “Please not here!” as I walk down the aisle, and stop right at his/her aisle’s side. I consider myself lucky to have booked all window seats on all four flights. Those people who waited to book their flights might learn a little something about procrastinating. If they had gotten their tickets (perhaps only a week earlier) they could be looking forward to having to walk in front of them in order to get to their seat by the window , and they could also look forward to scrunching themselves into the window/wall so that the person to their left/right can commandeer the arm rest.

Oh, oh… I am off task again! And, don’t even get me started about having to pay for your suitcase to be checked! Good Grief!!! Actually that payment warrants a GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing my mom, her beau, and my brother… and even my mom’s spaniel who does not like anyone invading his house. As a dog person, every time I see that little… rascal (?!?) I think that I will soon win him over. That hasn’t happened yet!

My husband just had to update this blog’s program, which I usually do NOT like. I’m like an old dog who can’t (Strike that! >>> DOESN’T WANT TO sounds more appropriate!) learn new tricks… I don’t like it when my husband changes anything that has to do with my computer. It seems like just as soon as I commit something to my memory… and no longer need notes all over the place with sequences of things to do, he tells me that something “has” to change… and that I will be happy with all of the new “extras” that those changes bring.

NOPE!!! I usually am not happy with the new “benefits” that come with the necessary updates, and I try to remind myself NOT to enjoy the new and improved side-effects.

But, this time I actually can’t complain! The new “Site Search” box that is found at the top of this blog’s page really is a new “extra” with new “benefits” and “improved side-effects”  which really are neat!

The new “Site Search” box actually brings up information from the Cozy Mystery Site, which is something it didn’t used to do. So, let’s say you are looking for China Bayles >>> You can type China Bayles in the “Site Search” box and the different times that China Bayles has been referenced will pop up.

So, this time I won’t complain to my husband about his updating… but, hopefully he won’t have to make any more changes to the site anytime soon!

Oh my goodness! We are experiencing a “cold front” here in San Antonio! This week we are sitting pretty in the 90ºs and I am beside myself! I have noticed that my husband and I are talking less and less about finding a cooler area of the country to move to when the time comes for him to retire (years down the road.) And, with our hottest day this week only reaching 97º, we are enjoying  a little respite from what we have thought of as the worse (as in heat) summer we have yet to experience since we moved down here fifteen years ago.

It is so “cool” that I have even noticed two different birds outside actually sunning themselves. All of this cooler weather has Sprite (our 14 1/2 year old dog) feeling quite frisky! She has actually taken a few (leisurely!) strolls around the perimeter of the yard, like she used to do daily. She likes to inspect and protect!

Poor Sprite… when she does finally see a bird, she must get frustrated when they don’t acknowledge her presence with fear. Usually Sprite is totally oblivious to the birds, but every once in a while she can actually spot one. Today she saw a bird in HER yard and got in her old I’m-going-to-run-after-you stance, but she doesn’t have a lot of get-up-and-go anymore. So, she just stood there and barked at the trespassing bird.

This bird not only didn’t fly away in fright, but it looked at Sprite, looked at the ground, and then continued searching around for little tidbits to eat. Poor Sprite! I wonder if she is aware that she is now the Beta dog to all of these little alpha birds and squirrels.

I guess she should be happy though… At least the birds aren’t swooping down at her, as if she is the interloper! At least they haven’t done that yet…